US2249849A

US2249849A - Foldable arm for chairs

Info

Publication number: US2249849A
Application number: US332709A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas D Owler
Original assignee: Coach & Car Equipment Co
Current assignee: Coach & Car Equipment Co
Priority date: 1940-05-01
Filing date: 1940-05-01
Publication date: 1941-07-22
Anticipated expiration: 1958-07-22

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet l 1-. D. OWLER FOLDABLE ARM FOR CHAIRS Filed May 1, 1940 July 22, 1941.

Imf Thomas ,2 01/122 July 22,,194L- T. D. OWLER 2,249,849 FOLDABILE ARM FOR CHAIRS Filed May 1, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V InJev-um m 1750mm fizz/Z 1 Patented July 22, 1941 UNITED STATES OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved foldable arm for chairs, more particularly a central arm adapted when in normal active position to be located between a pair of adjacent chairs, or midway the length of a double seat provided with fixed arms at the ends thereof.

While this new foldable arm is adapted for use with various forms of seats or chairs, it is especially designed for double chairs such as are used on railway cars or buses. Such a chair comprises a supporting structure including a platform, at each end of which is a fixed sidearm, and the platform carries between these side arms a long'cushioned seat, or a pair of single seats laid side by side. A back memben-or a pair of single back members arranged side by side, are carried by the supporting structure at the rear of the seat and between the side arms. Preferably these backs are pivotally mounted adjacent their lower ends so that they may be swung rear- Wardly and locked in selected position so as to vary the inclination of the back with respect to the vertical, as is well known in this art. The back is formed with a pocket in the lower front portion to receive the folded central arm'when not in use. If, as is preferred, a pair of. independently swinging backs are used, this pocket may be formed half in each of the adjoining inner lower portions of the two back members, If the two back sections are not at the same inclination, obviously the folded arm will rest partially in the pocket section of the more erect portion of the back, and will project laterally therefrom. More usually, however, when the arm is folded into the pocket,'i-t will be desirable to have both backs at the same angle as parts of a single back for the long seat. Under these circumstances the folded arm will rest entirely in the pocket.

The auxiliary or central arm comprises a fixed supporting bracket mounted on the supporting platform and projecting upwardly and rearward ly into the lower portion of the pocket formed in the back. If a pair of independent back members are used, each back member is pivotally mounted at its outer lower side in or adjacent to one of the fixed side arms and at the inner lower side is pivotally mounted on the fixed central bracket member. A link member is pivotally mounted at its lower end on the upper end portion of the fixed central bracket and, when the auxiliary arm is in extended active position, engaging surfaces on the link and bracket will hold the link in a load-supporting position projecting upwardly and forwardly from the pocket, A

latch-member pivotally supported in the link has a hooked lower end engaging a notch in the bracket to normally hold the link in this active position, but when the latch is released, a spring functions to swing the link about its lower pivoted end back into the pocket. An arm-rest comprising a supporting plate and a cushioned portion carried thereby, is pivotally supported by means of a pin and slot connection with the upper end of the link so as to project forwardly when in active position, substantially parallel with and at the same height as the upper armsupporting portions of the fixed side-arms of the chair or chairs. By bodily lifting the central arm-rest, as permitted by the pin and slot connection, with the link, the rest can swing downwardly about the pin, and as it approaches a position substantially parallel with the link, the latch will be engaged by the rest and unlock, so as to permit the spring already described to swing the assembled rest and link back into the pocket until the cushioned surfaceof the rest substantially aligns with the front surface of the back. If the inclination of the back is changed, the spring will cause the arm-rest to swing with the back so that the relative alignment of the cushioned surfaces of the arm and back remain substantially unchanged.

The central arm can at any time be moved back to its original active position by simply lifting the arm-rest from the pocket and, pulling it upwardly and forwardly until the link is again latched in its upwardly and forwardly extended position, after which a downward pressure on the arm-rest will cause relative movement at the pin and slot connection to bring flat surfaces on the link and rest into engagement to support the rest in its normal forwardly projecting position.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved chair comprising a foldable central arm, as briefly described hereinabove and disclosed more in detail in the specifications which follow.

Another object is to provide an improved foldable central arm for-a double-chair.

Anotherobject is to provide an improved pin and slot supporting connection between one end of an arm-rest and an upwardly projecting supporting member.

Another object is to provide improved means for housing a folded arm member within a chairback so that the arm and back will swing as a unit with the outer cushioned portion of the arm Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the 1 22 of chair taken substantially on the line Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 is a partial elevation ofthe central portion of the chair, similar to Fig.1, but showing the arm in folded position within the pocket of the back.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the central arm (as shown inFig. 2) but with a portion of the link in section, and showing the arm-rest in dotted lines lifted to its unlocked position. 7

Fig.- 5 is abottom plan view of' the arm-rest.

Figs. Sand 7 are respectively frontpand side elevations of the intermediate link.

Figs. 8 and 9 are side and front elevations respectively of the upper end of the fixed supporting bracket. 7 g

" Fig. 10 is a central vertical section, on a larger scale, of thefolded auxiliary arm in position within'the pocket of the back, this view also showing in dotted lines the folded assembly after the latch has'been released but before the assembly has been swung back into the pocket. In the form hereshown, the chair comprises a supporting platform I mounted on a pedestal consisting of

end leg members

2 and 3 and longitudinallyextending beams 4. At the two ends of the chair the platform supports fixed sidearms 5 carrying arm-rests 6 at the top of the arms. Carried on top of platform I and between the side arms 51s a cushioned seat, or more usually 'a'pair of similarcushioned seats I arranged side by side.

The back of the chair will usually comprise apair of similar chair'backs 8 positioned side by side, each back section consisting of a supporting frame 9 on which ismounted a front cushioned portion l0. As far as the improved foldable central arm forming the particular subject matter of 'this inventionis concerned, a single continuous back 8 could be used, and this back might be mounted at a fixed inclination at the rear of the seat I and between the side arms 5. However, the back will preferably be pivotally mounted nearits lower end so that it may be swung. rearwardly' and locked in different selected inclinations,-as is. well known in the art. In this case, the back will preferably be formed of two separate sections 8'so that the two seats. can be adjusted-independently. 'In anycase, a pocket H will. be formed in the front cushioned portioniof the back near its lower end, this pocket receiving the folded central arm now about to be described. When two separate back sections 8 are used, this pocket I l willpreferablybeformed half in each of these sections, as shown in Figs. land 2.

A fixed supporting bracket 12 comprises a base 'or bottom plate l3 suitably mounted on platform I adjacent its rear edge, and the ,upwardly projecting portion I4 extending into the lower end of .pocket' H. The lower inner end portions of the backs are preferably pivoted on shaftsor studs l5' proje'ctin'g laterally from opposite sides of the post or bracket 14, the oppon site sides of the backs 8 being similarly pivoted in or adjacent to the side arms 5. Suitable means is provided for locking the back or backs in different selected positions, such means not being here shoWn in detail, but often comprising accessible controls extending through the side arms 5.

The central folded arm which is the particular subject matter of this invention comprises an upholstered arm-rest, indicated generally at [5,

"which, when in normal active position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, extends forwardly midway between the side arms and in front of the back at substantially the same height and inclination as the cushioned top portions 6 of the side arms 5. When this arm is folded back into the pocket H, asshown in Figs. 3 and 10, the upper upholstered surface of this arm rest will be in substantial aligmnent with the front cushioned surface I I) of the back 8.

The arm-rest 16 comprises an upper cushion portion mounted on a flat base plate I! (see Fig. 10) which in turn is secured by bolts or fasteners 18 to the metallic supporting plate I9 formed adjacent one end with a downwardly projecting lug 20 (see also Fig. 5) which is substantially Vertically slotted at 2| to receive a pivot pin 22. The outer end portion of lug 20 is formed with a flat bearing face 23 substantially parallel with slot 2!, while the lower end of the lug is rounded at 24 substantially concentric with pin 22 when this pin is in the lower end of slot 2|.

The link indicated generally at 25 (Figs. 6 and '7) is pivotally connected at its lower end with the upper end of fixed bracket l2, and is pivotally connected at its upper end with the rear end portion of arm-rest H5. The lower end of this link is apertured at 26 (Fig. '7) to receive the pivot-pin 26 mounted in the forked upper end portion of bracket i2 (see Figs. 8 and 9). A latch member 21 having a hooked lower end 28 is centrally pivoted at 29 between the side flanges 30 of link 25. The upper end portion 3l of this latch member projects forwardly from between the side flanges 39 near the upper end of the link. A flat bearing face 32 formed at the lower end of link 25 is adapted to bear against a similar flat bearing surface 33 formed at the bottom of the upper forked end of the post or bracket M when the link 25 is swung to its normal upwardly and forwardly projecting position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. At this time the hooked lower end portion 28 of latch 21 will engage in the locking notch or recess 34 formed in the forward portion of post M. A spring indicated generally at 35 has a central crossportion 35 bearing against link 25 above the pivot 25', while the similar side arm portions of the spring extend downwardly and are coiled around the oppositely projecting shaft sections 15 with the lower end portions 31 of these side arms extending down and bearing against the laterally projecting side flanges 38 of the post portion M of bracket !2. This spring is so tensioned as to tend to swing the link 25 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2) back into the pocket H of the back members. However, the link 25 will normally be held in the upwardly and forwardly projecting position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, against the tension of spring 35, as long as latch 2 is engaged with the locking notch;34 in the supporting bracket l2. p

' The pivot pin 22, which extends through slot 2! of the lug2ll of the arm-rest I6, is mounted between the .sides of the forked upper end portion 39 of link 25. When the arm-rest I is in its normal active position, as shown in Figs; 1, 2 and 4, the rest will be pushed down until this pin 22 is at'the upper 'end of slot 2|, at which time the fiat bearing surface 23 at the rear end of lug 20 will engage a similarfiat bearing surface 40 formed at the bottom of the forked upper end portion 39 of link 25 so that the arm-rest will be supported by the link in this normal forwardly projecting position. At this time the lower end portion 24 of lug 29 will engage the upper end 3| of latch 21 so as to prevent this end of the latch member being pushed in to disengage the hook 28 from notch 34. Consequently the entire auxiliary arm comprising the lower supporting bracket l2, intermediate link 25 and arm-rest [6 will be securely locked when in the relative positions shown in solid lines in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, as will be the case when the arm is in use.

It is desirable at times to effectively remove thiscentral arm to an inoperative concealed position, as when it is desired to use the two adjacent chairs as a single wide seat or chair. In order to accomplish this, the arm rest l6is first lifted to'the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, that is, until'the pivot pin 22 engages the lower end of slot 2!. The rounded lower end surface 24 of lugZll will now permit the arm-rest IE to swing about the pin 22 until it reaches substantially the downwardly hanging position shown in dotted lines in Fig. Before this position is reached, the lower-portion of the arm-rest will engage the upper end 3| of latch 21 and push this in so as to swing the lower hooked end 28'of the latch out of engagement with the latching In the form of chair here shown, a foot-rest M for the use of the occupant or occupants of the chairs directly behind the ones here shown, is carried by side members 42 projecting downwardly and rearwardly from platform "I.

'It will be understood that the improved-form of folding am here shown could be used in various other types of chairs or seats, for example in the rear seat. of an automobile.

, I claim:

1. A folding chair-arm comprisingan upwardly projecting bracket fixedly mounted on a. fixed support, a link-pivotally connected at its lower end with the upper end portion-of the bracket so that the link may swing rearwardly, there being supporting surfaces on the link and bracket respectively which engage to support the link in its active upwardly and forwardly projecting position, a latch to hold the link in this active position, an arm rest .pivotally connected at its rear end with the upper portion of the link, releasable means for normally holding the rest in its active position projecting laterally from the upper end of the link, the rest when released swinging downwardlysubstantially parallel to the link and releasing the latch and a spring functioning when the latch is released to swing the folded rest and link back to an ineffective position.

2. -A folding chair-arm comprising an upwardly projecting bracket fixedly mounted on a fixed support, a link pivotally connected at its lower end with the upper end portion of the bracket so notch 3A. As soon as this latch is released, the 7 spring 35 acts to swing the folded assembly of the rest l6 and link 25 back into the pocket H, as shown in solid lines in Fig. 10. At this time, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 10, the cushioned outer surface of rest it will be positioned substantially in alignment with the forward cushioned surface H] of the back 8. Also, as the inclination of the back is changed, the spring 35 will hold the folded arm in pocket It so that it will swing with the back and the cushioned surfaces of the back and arm will remain in substantial alignment.

Whenever it is desired to return the auxiliary arm to its normal effective position, it is merely necessary to pull the arm-rest l6 out of pocket H and lift it forwardly and upwardly. The link 25 will swing to its normal upwardly and forwardly projecting position and latch 21 will automatically engage with notch 34, The forwardly projecting rest [6 will now be pushed downwardly from the dotted line position shown in Fig. l to the solid line position, thus bringing the bearing surfaces 23 and into engagement to prevent the arm-rest from again swinging downwardly, and also looking the latch '21 in its effective position.

It will now beapparent that this central arm, when folded as above described, will be housed entirely in the lower portion of the back so as to be quite inconspicuous and not interfere with the comfort of the occupant or occupants of the chair or seat. The two self-operating locking devices serve to hold the three sections of the auxiliary arm in their normal effective positions, and the spring 35 serves to hold the folded arm in its concealed position. The only manual manipulations that are necessary are to move the; arm-rest 16 from one position to the other in the manner hereinabove described.

that the link may swing rearwardly, there being supporting surfaces on the link and bracket respectively which engage to support the link in its active upwardly and forwardly projecting position, a latching lever intermediately pivoted in the link and having a hooked lower end engageable with a recess in the bracket to hold the link in its active upwardly and forwardly projecting position, an arm-rest plvotally connected at its rear end with the upper end portion of the link, releasable means for holding the rest in its active position projecting laterally from the upper end of the link, the rest when released swinging downwardly substantially parallel to the link and engaging the upper end portion of the latching lever to release the latch, and a spring active when the latch is released to swing the folded rest and link back to a concealed position.

3. A folding chair-arm comprising an upwardly projecting bracket fixedly mounted on a fixed support, a l ink'pivot'ally connected at-its lower end with the upper end portion of the bracket so that the link may swing rearwardly, there being supporting surfaces on the link and bracket respectively which engage to support the link in its active upwardly and forwardly projecting position, a latch to hold the link in this active position, an arm-rest having a pin and slot connection at its rear end with the upper end portion of the link, there being fiat cooperating surfaces on the rest and link which engage, when the rest is lowered until the pin engages one end of the slot, to hold the rest in its active laterally projecting position, the rest being bodily movable upwardly to slide the pin to the other end of the slot whereupon the flat surfaces no longer cooperate and the rest will swing downwardly about the pin as an axis to a position substantially parallel to the link to release the latch, and a spring functioning, when the latch is released, to swing the folded rest and link backwardlyto an ineffective position.

4. A folding chair-arm comprising an upwardly projecting bracket fixedly mounted on a fixedsupport, a link pivotally connected at its lower endwith the upper end portion of the bracket so that the 'link'may swing rearwardly, there being supporting surfaces on the link and bracket respectively which'engage to support the link in its active upwardly and forwardly projecting position, a latching lever intermediately pivoted in the link and having a hooked lower end engageable with a recess in the bracket to hold the link in its active upwardly and forwardly projecting position, an arm-rest having a pin and slot connection at its rear end with the upper end portion of the link, there being fiat cooperating surfaces on the rest and link which engage, when therest is lowered until the pin engages one end of the slot, to hold the rest in its active laterally projecting position, the rest being bodily movable'upwardly to slide the pin to the other end of the slot whereupon the flat surfaces nolonger cooperate and the rest will swing downwardly about the pin as an axis to a position substantially parallel to the link to engage the upper end of the latching lever and release'the latch and a spring functioning when the latching lever is released to swing the folded rest and link. back to an ineffective position.

5. In a chair comprising a seat, side-arms and a back formed with an arm-receiving pocket in its lower central portion,'a foldable central arm comprising a. fixed bracketpositioned midway the length of the seat and projecting upwardly into the lower portion of: the pocket, a central folding arm comprising a link pivotally connected at its lowerend with the upper end portion of the bracket so that the link may swing rearwardly, there being supporting surfaces on the link and bracket respectively which engage to support the link in its active upwardly and forwardly projecting position, a latch to hold the link inthis active position, an arm-rest pivotally connected at its rear end with the upper end portion of the link, releasable means for normally holding the rest inrits active-position projecting laterally-from the upper end of the link, the rest when released @swinging downwardly substantially parallel 'to the link and-releasing the latch, and a spring active when the latch is released to swing the folded rest and link back into the pocket. i

6. In a chair comprising a seat, side-arms and a ba'ckforrned with an arm-receiving pocket in its lower central portion, a foldable central arm comprising'a fixed bracket positioned midway the'length of the seat and projecting upwardly into the lowerportion of the pocket, a central folding arm comprising a link pivotally connected at its lower end'with the upper end portion of the bracketpso that the link may swing rearwardly, there being supporting surfaces on the link and bracket respectively which engage to support the link in its active upwardly and forwardly projecting position, a-latching .lever intermediately pivoted in the link and having a hooked lower end engageable with a recess in the bracket to hold the link in its active upwardly and forwardly projecting position, an arm-rest pivotally connected at its rear end with the upper end portion of the link, releasable means-for holding the rest in its active position projecting laterally from the upperend of the link, the rest when released swinging downwardly substantially parallel to .the link and engaging the upper end of the latchingflever to release the latch, and a spring active when the latch is released to swing the folded rest and link backwardly into the pocket.

'7. In a chair comprising a seat, side-arms and a back formed with an arm-receiving pocket in its lower central portion, a foldable central arm comprising a fixed bracket positioned midway the length of the seat and projecting upwardly into the lower portion of the pocket, a central folding arm comprising a link pivotally connected at its lower end with the upper end portion of the bracket so that the link may swing rearwardly, there being supporting surfaces on the link and bracket respectively which engage to support the link in its active upwardly and forwardly projecting position, a latch to hold the link inthis active position, an arm-rest having a pin and slot connection at its rear end with the upper end portion of the link, there being flat cooperating surfaces on the rest and link which engage, when the rest is lowered until the pin engages one end of the slot, to hold the rest in its active laterally projecting position, and the rest being bodily movable upwardly to slide the pin to the other end of the slot whereupon the flat surfaces no longer cooperate and the rest will swing downwardly about the pin as an axis to a position substantially parallel to the link to release the latch, and a spring active to swing the folded rest and link backwardly into the pocket.

8. In a chair comprising a seat, side-arms and a back formed with an arm-receiving pocket in its lower central portion, a foldable central arm comprising a fixed bracket positioned midway the length of the seat and projecting upwardly into the lower portion of the pocket, a central folding arm comprising a link pivotally connected at its lower end with the upper end portion of the bracket so that the link may swing rearwardly, there being supporting surfaces on the link and bracket respectively which engage to support the link in its active upwardly and forwardly projecting position, a latching lever intermediately pivoted in the link and having a hooked lower end engageable with a recess in the bracket to hold the link in its active upwardly and forwardly projecting position, an arm-rest having a pin and slot connection at its rear end with the upper end portion of the link, there being flat cooperating surfaces on the rest and link which engage, when the rest is lowered until the pin engages one end of the slot, to hold the rest in its active laterally projecting position, and the rest being bodily movable upwardly to slide the pin to the other end of the slot whereupon the flat surfaces no longer cooperate and the rest will swing downwardly about the pin as an axis to a position substantially parallel to the link to engage the upper end of the latching lever and release the latch, and a spring active to swing the folded rest and link backwardly into the pocket.

portion of the pocket, a central folding arm comprising a link pivotally connected at its lower end withthe upper end portion of the bracket so that the link may swing rearwardly,there being supporting surfaces on the link and bracket respectively which engage to support the link in its active upwardly and forwardly projecting position, a latch to hold the link in this active position, an arm-rest pivotally connected at its rear end with the upper end portion of the link, releasable means for normally holding the rest in its active position projecting laterally from the ally supported adjacent its lower end between the side arms so that its inclination can be varied as desired, a foldable central arm comprising a fixed bracket positioned midway the length of the seat and projecting upwardly into the lower portion of the pocket, a central folding arm comprising a link pivotally connected at its lower end with the upper end portion of the bracket so that the link may swing rearwardly, there being supporting surfaces on the link and bracket respectively which engage to support 5 the link in its active upwardly and forwardly projecting position, a latching lever intermediately pivoted in the link and having a hooked lower end engageable with a recess in the bracket to hold the link in its active upwardly and for- Wardly projecting position, an arm-rest having a pin and slot connection at its rear end with the upper end portion of the link, there being fiat cooperating surfaces on the rest and link which engage, when the rest is lowered until the pin engages one end of the slot, to hold the rest in its active laterally projecting position, and the rest being bodily movable upwardly to slide the pin to the other end of the slot whereupon the flat surfaces no longer cooperate and the rest will swing downwardly about the pin as an axis to a position substantially parallel to the link to engage the upper end of the latching lever and release the latch, and a spring active to swing the folded rest and link backwardly into the pocket, and holding the folded arm within the pocket and against the rear wall thereof so that it will swing with the back to any selected position.

11. In a chair comprising a seat and side-arms, a back comprising a pair of similar sections positioned side by side, said back being formed with an arm-receiving pocket in its lower central portion, said pocket being formed partially in each of the back sections, a fixed bracket positioned midway the length of the seat and propocket, each section of the back being pivoted adjacent its lower end between one side-arm and the upper portion of the bracket so that the inclination of the back sections can be independently adjusted, a central folding arm comprising a link pivotally connected at its lower end with the upper end portion of the bracket so that the link may swing rearwardly, there being supporting surfaces on the link and bracket respectively which engage to support the link in its active upwardly and forwardly projecting position, a latch to hold the link in this active position, an arm-rest pivotally connected at its rear end with the upper end portion of the link, releasable means for normally holding the rest in its active position projecting laterally from the upper end of the link, the rest when released swinging downwardly substantially parallel to the link and releasing the latch, and a spring active when the latch is released to swing the folded rest and link back into the pocket.

12. In a chair comprising a seat and side-arms, a back comprising a pair of similar sections positioned side by side, said back being formed with an arm-receiving pocket in its lower central portion, said pocket being formed partially in each of the back sections, a fixed bracket positioned midway the length of the seat and projecting upwardly into the lower portion of the pocket, each section of the back being pivoted adjacent its lower end between one side-arm and the upper portion of the bracket so that the inclination of the back sections can be independently adjusted, a central folding arm comprising a link pivotally connected at its lower end with the upper end portion of the bracket so that the link may swing rearwardly, there being supporting surfaces on the link and bracket respectively which engage to support the link in its active upwardly and forwardly projecting position, a latching lever intermediately pivoted in the link and having a hooked lower end engageable with a recess in the bracket to hold the link in its active upwardly and forwardly projecting position, an arm-rest having a pin and slot connection at its rear end with the upper end portion of the link, there being fiat cooperating surfaces on the rest and link which engage, when the rest is lowered until the pin engages one end of the slot, to hold the rest in its active laterally projecting position, and the rest being bodily movable upwardly to slide the pin to the other end of the slot whereupon the flat surfaces no longer cooperate and the rest will swing downwardly about the pin as an axis to a position substantially parallel to the link to engage the upper end of the latching lever and release the latch, and a spring active to swing the folded rest and link backwardly into the pocket. 7

THOMAS D. OWLER.