US2291806A

US2291806A - Seat construction

Info

Publication number: US2291806A
Application number: US264281A
Authority: US
Inventors: Aloysius C Diehl
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-03-27
Filing date: 1939-03-27
Publication date: 1942-08-04
Anticipated expiration: 1959-08-04

Description

SEAT CONSTRUCTION Filed March 27, 1959 [N VENTO/6 Patented Aug. 4, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE SEAT CONSTRUCTION Aloysius C. Diehl,v Monroe, Mich.

Application March 27, 1939, Serial No. 264,281

Claims.

My invention relates to seats, and particularly to seat cushions formed in such manner and so secured together as to be foldable upon themselves to form a carrying case.

The inventive concept embodies the idea of providing a seat cushion and back cushion which preferably are exact counterparts of each other and which may be employed as separate cushions, or which are readily securable together in hinged relation to have the base of the cushions engage each other to form a carrying case. The cushions are hollow, having a border frame supporting arcuate spring strips which extend from opposite sides thereof and over which padding and upholstery material is disposed. Wings of separable hinges are secured to one of the sides of the border frame, while a handle is disposed on the opposite side thereof. The side edges of the frame are provided with headed studs by which the cushions, when disposed in seat and back relation, may be secured together. The securing element is preferably provided withseveral apertures so that a predetermined tilt of the back cushion relative to the seat may be obtained.

The releasable hinges are so disposed on the frame that they arf` the same on both cushions. This is also true of the securing means for retaining the two cushions in locked relation so that each cushion is exactly alike to simplify manufacture. Gusset plates may be employed in the corner of the frame, each having means for supporting a leg, whereby the cushion may be supported from the ground, on the legs, or on a plank seat such as that furnished in stadiums. Clamping arms may be provided on the side frame portions of the seat to be swung downwardly in position to pass under such a stadium seat to anchor the cushion thereon.

Accordingly, the main objects of my invention are; to provide like cushions which may be hingedly attached to each other and swung into a position to form a carrying case; to provide a carrying case constructed from two cushions which may be swung 270 degrees relative to each other to form a seat and back cushion; to provide a pair of cushions which are releasably hinged together and which are hollow and can be used as separate cushions, as a cushion and back of a seat, or moved into intimate relation f to form a carrying case; to provide a cushion with a swingable arm by which the cushion is secured to a, stadium seat; to provide a cushion with gusset plates at the corners to which legs may be attached; and in general, to form cushions in such manner that a pair of such cushions when secured together may form a seat and back or carrying case, all of which is simple in construction and economical of manufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of my invention will be either specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of my invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of cushions embodying my invention, secured together to form a carrying case;

Fig. 2 is a side View of the cushions illustrated in Fig. 1 when relatively rotatedthrough 270 degrees and secured together and to a stadium seat;

Fig. 3 is a view of structure similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2, supported on legs transportable within the cushions when in carrying case position; I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view, with parts broken away, of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view of the border frame illustrated on the structure of Fig. 4, with the ends 'of a spring strip secured therein and with a clip provided thereon for supporting the handle;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the abutting edges of the cushions illustrating the securing hinges therefor;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3, taken on the line 1-1 thereof; and,

Fig. 8 is an enlargedsectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken on the line 8-8 thereof.

It has been pointed out hereinabove that the pair of cushions I0 which form the carrying case illustrated in Fig. 1 and the seats illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, are preferably constructed exactly alike to simplify the manufacture thereof. It is to be understood that the cushions may be permanently hinged together and securing means may be provided which are different on each cushion. However, I prefer to construct each cushion exactly alike to` provide a unique seat which is transportable as a carrying case. Since the construction is such as to provide substantially the same area of luggage space as any case of similar dimension, with very little increase in weight, one can appreciate the many uses for my unique seat and case combination, since the cushions thereof are extremely rugged and resilient.

The cushion I is formed from a frame element. II illustrated more clearly in Fig. 5. In this arrangement the element is of channel formation having tunnels I2 formed therein at spaced intervals. The tunnels provide means for securing the end I3 of snuously formed spring strips I4 which are similar to those illustrated and described in the patent to Karl Kaden, No. 2,002,399, issued May 21, 1935. The border frame II is similar to that illustrated and described in the United States Letters Patent to Clarence H. Menge, No. 2,172,942, issued September 12, 1939. The particular border element II illustrated in Fig. 5 has attached thereto a channel element I6 to provide strength. A U-shaped clip I1 is soldered, brazed, welded, or otherwise secured to the frame by which a ring I8 of the handle I9 is secured. After the spring strips I4 are secured in the tunnels I2 the walls of the channel portion 2| through which the end I3 was inserted are crimped to prevent the reverse movement of the end from the tunnel.

. The opposite, or bottom portion of the border frame II, as viewed in the figure, has hinged wings 22 and 23 provided thereon disposed to be mateable with similar hinged wings 22 and 23 secured in like manner on the frame of another cushion. Headed studs 24 are bolted, welded, or otherwise secured to the side portions of the frames near the bottom edge thereof for the purpose of retaining the cushions in predetermined relation to each other when employed in seat and back cushion relation, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Interiorly of the cushions, clips 25 are secured to the side portions of the border frame, in which wires 26 are disposed for swinging movement about the frame to a position extending therebelow, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Gusset plates 21 may be provided in the corners of the frame, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and '7. 'Ihe gusset plate has a marginal channel portion 28 encompassing the channel I6 and is welded or otherwise secured thereto. 'I'he gusset plates are provided with flanges 29 internally threaded to receive the thread on the end of the legs 3 I The legs 3| are of such length as to be disposed within the cushion and therefore the case when secured together as viewed in Fig. 1.

A padding 32, which may be of felt, jute, hair,

'-rubber, or the like, is disposed over the spring strips I4 and a trim material 33 is disposed over the padding and secured about the edge of the frame in any well-known manner, herein illustrated as by stitching. The headed studs 24 project through the trim material, as illustrated in Fig. 1, as also do the U-shaped clips I1 to which the handles I9 are secured, and the hinge portions. YSuitable means may be provided on the cushions for locking the edges together when in carrying case position. For the purpose of illustration, I have shown straps 3B, one of which is secured at one end of the cushion near the top edge while a buckle or other means for securing the strap is attached to the opposite edge of the cushion. 'Ihis follows the concept .of having both cushions exactly alike to have a single manufacturing product when providing two cushions to form a carrying case.

In Fig. 8 I have illustrated a hinged partition 31 disposed across the base of each of the cushions with the end opposite to the hinge secured in position by a tab 38 carrying a glove fastener 39. When the compartment; within the cushion is packed with wearing apparel or other objects,

face so that the two elements may be separated without spilling the contents or either compartment. When the cushions are to be employed as a seat having a back, they are relatively swung through 270 degrees to the position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, after which a pair of links 4I are utilized to engage the headed ,studs 24 to retain the cushions in right angle relation to each other as illustrated in Fig. 2. In this gure, the seat cushion is illustrated as being disposed on a stadium seat and retained in position by the locking wires 26 which were swung to a position below the cushion.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated a link 42 having a plurality of apertures 43 therein to be selectively engageable with the headed stud 24 so that the back cushion may assume a tilted position relative to the seat cushion. When the cushions are suiiiciently braced, or when disposed on the ground, the occupant may assume a reclining position through the securing of the headed studs 24 in one of the apertures 43 on the links 42.

The cushions of the device are unique because they will support the weight of a person while providing a hollow compartment. Two of the cushions may be secured together in base abutting relation, hinged to swing from a carrying case relationship into a seat. Ample room is provided within the cushions ,when forming a case, while ample support as a cushion is obtained when the cushions are separated to form individual seats or` when swung into right angle position to provide a seat and back relationship. One-half of the case could be carried separately and used as a. seat, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, without the back cushion, and could be supported against a wall by the hinges 22 and 23 and the links 4I.

While I have described and illustrated but a single embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions, additions and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as set forth in the accompanying claims.

the partition 31 may be secured across the open 75 What I claim is:

1. The combination of a pair of frames, arched spring means spanning said frames, hinge means connecting an edge of one frame to an adjacent edge of the other frame whereby said frames may be folded together in base to base relation to form a hollow container or may be unfolded to extend at an angle one to the other in seat and back relationship, means for securing said frames in said seat and back relation, and means for securing said cushions in folded'base to base relation with said arched spring means forming the sides of the resulting container.

2. The combination of a pair of frames, a plurality of arched spring strips spanning said frames, hinge means connecting an edge of one frame to an adjacent edge of the other frame whereby said frames may be folded together in base to base relation to form a hollow container or may be unfolded to extend at an angle one to the other in seat and back relationship, means for securing said frames in said seat and back relation, and means for securing said cushions in folded base to base relation with said arched spring strips forming the sides of the resulting container. i

3. The combination of a pair of frames, a plurality of arched spring strips spanning said frames and upholstery covering said strips, hinge means connecting an edge of one frame to an adjacent edge of the other frame whereby said frames may be folded together in base to base relation to forni a hollow container or may be n resulting container.

4. The combination of a, pair of frames, a plurality of arched spring strips spanning said frames, separable hinge means connecting an edge of one frame to an adjacent edge of the other frame whereby said frames may be folded together in base to base relation to form a hollow container or may be unfolded to extend at an angle one to the other in seat and back relationship, and to be separated one from the other, means for securing said frames in seat and back relation, and means for securing said cushions in folded base to base relation with said arched springs forming the sides of the resulting container.

5. The combination of a pair of frames, a plurality of arched spring strips spanning said frames, hinge means connecting an edge of one frame to an adjacent edge of the other frame whereby said frames may be folded together in base to base relation to form a hollow container or may be unfolded to extend at an angle one to the other in seat and back relationship, means for securing said frames in said seat and back relation, means for securing said cushions in folded base to base relation with said arched spring strips forming the sides of the resulting container, and an arm connected to at least one of said frames which is hingedly mounted to extend therebelow for securing the frame toan element.

ALOYSIUS C. DIEHL.