US2297845A - Stool attachment - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 6, 1942. J. o. TEMPLETON, JR

STOOL ATTACHMENT Filed Aug. 13. 41940 Patented Oct. 6, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STOOL ATTACHMENT James O. Templeton, Jr., Winchester, Tenn.

Application August 13, 1940, Serial No. 352,440

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a stool attachment for chairs and has relation more particularly to an attachment of this kind especially designed and adapted for use in connection with chairs for dentists, barbers, etc.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind adapted to be attached to the base or other suitable part of a chair for a dentist, barber, etc., and which attachment is so constructed and assembled to place the operator close to the chair and the occupant of the chair in a manner whereby the operator will be required to only slightly bend the knees.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind which is at all times under the operator regardless of the position at the chair he might assume.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind including a seat or stool so mounted as to be readily maintained in an out-of-the-way position when not in use.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved stool attachment whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a chair attachment constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a view in top plan of the supporting arm, the seat and its pedestal being removed;

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, B denotes the base of a chair such as used by dentists, barbers, etc., and to which is suitably secured, as at I, the plate 2 provided in its upper surface with a raceway 3 for the anti-friction members 4 herein disclosed as ball bearings. EX- tending upwardly through the central portion of the plate I is a king pin 5 which is also directed through the inner end portion of the elongated supporting arm A. The inner end portion 6 of this arm A is of considerable width and is provided in its under surface with a raceway 'I for the bearings 3. The upper surface of the inner end of the arm A is provided with a raceway 8 for the anti-friction members 9 herein disclosed as also ball bearings. These members or bearings 9 are engaged within the raceway I provided in the under face of a top plate II. The king pin is also directed through the axial center of this top plate II and threading upon the pin 5 above the plate II and in holding contact therewith is a nut I2. The lower end portion of the king pin 5 is provided with an enlarged head I4 whichl is snugly received within a socket I5 provided in the under surface of the plate 2.

The arm A, as herein disclosed, is materially heavy and has its outer end portion I6 upwardly offset, as at II, with respect to the inner end portion 6. The inner end portion 6 and the offset portion I1 as herein disclosed are gradually reduced in width from the inner end to the upper or forward portion I6 which, in the present embodiment of the invention, is substantially straight through its length. The portion I6 also is in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the inner end portion 6 and secured to the oiset portion I1. immediately adjacent to the inner end of the forward portion I6 is a hook member I8. This member I8 has engaged therewith an end portion of a coil spring I9, the opposite end portion of which is engaged with a hook 20 secured at a point substantially centrally of the pedestal 2I. The spring I9 is of a tension to constantly pull the pedestal 2l inwardly of the arm A and which movement is permitted in view of the fact that the lower extremity of the pedestal 2| is pivotally connected by a removable pintle 22 with the outer or free extremity of the forward portion I6 of the arm A. This portion I6 is provided therealong with the spaced openings 23 through which the pintle 22 may be selectively disposed to allow adjustable placement of the pedestal 2I upon the portion I6 of the arm A.

The inward swinging movement of the pedestal 2I is limited by contact of the stop member 24 with the top face of the portion I6 of the arm A. This stop member 24, as herein disclosed, comprises a shank threading through a bracket 25 fixed to the lower rear portion of the pedestal 2I. It is believed to be obvious that upon desired adjustment of the stop member 24 through the bracket 25 the inward swinging movement of the pedestal may be limited as preferred.

The pedestal 2l throughout its major portion is tubular and open at its top as clearly illustrated in Figure l. Riveted or otherwise fixed to the upper rear portion of the pedestal 2I is a plate 26. This plate 26 extends a desired distance above the top of the pedestal 2I and is formed to provide an angularly disposed bracket 21 overlying the upper open end of the pedestal 2l. Freely sliding through this bracket 21 is an elongated seat post 28. This post 28 is of considerable length and extends down` within the pedestal 2I. The portion of the post 28 within the pedestal 2l is surrounded by an expansible coil spring 29 suitably anchored, as at 30, to the lower inserted end portion of the post 28 While the opposite or upper end portion of the spring 29 is anchored, as at 3|, to the upper extremity of the pedestal 2l. The tension of the spring 29 automatically raises the post or rod 28 and, of course, such tension is increased upon lowering of the post 28 to adjust the seat S carried thereby to suit the operator.

Pivotally connected, as at 32, to the upper portion of the plate 26 above the bracket 21 is an end vportion of an elongated locking arm 33 provided therethrough with an opening 34. The rod or post 28 is disposed through this opening 38 and when the arm 33 is in raised position, as illustrated in Figure l, the rod 28 is effectively held in its desired adjusted position.

The rod 28 is held against downward movement by a second elongated locking arm 35 having an opening 3S through which the rod 28 passes. When the arm 35 is in its downward position, as illustrated in Figure 1r, it further holds the rod 28 in its desiredv adjustment. In this Figure l it is to be noted that the inner end portion of the arm 35 rests upon the upper end of the pedestal 2| in a manner to allow the arm 35 to have swinging movement. The arms 33 and 35 are normally maintained in their effective or locking positions by an interposed expansible member 3l, herein disclosed as a coil spring of requisite tension. The outer end portion of the arm 33 has pivotally connected thereto, as at 38, the central portion of a lever 39, the inner portion of which is connected to the lower locking arm 35r by a exible member 40 herein illustrated as a chain. The opposite end portion of; the lever 39 serves as a handle member so that when it is desired to release the armsV 33 and 35 from locking engagement with the rod 23 it is only necessary that the operator give downward swinging movement to the outer or handle end portion of the lever 39.

When it is desired to maintain the pedestal 2|v in an out-of-the-way position, it is swung outwardly as fragmentarily indicated by broken lines in Figure l, and the pedestal 2| is maintained inv such position by moving beneath the stop member 24 the slide plate 4| mounted upon the upper face of the forward portion |E of the arm A. As particularly illustrated in Figure 2, this plate 4| is provided therealong with an elongated slot 4Z through which is disposed a headed member 43 suitably engaged with the adjacent part of the forward portion I6 of the arm A. The extent of outward positioning of the pedestal 2| can be readily regulated by endwise adjustment of the stop member 24 through the bracket 25.

It is to be stated that in practice the pedestal 2| is of such length as to allow an adjustment of the seat S with respect thereto so that the occupant thereof can have his feet upon the floor or other supporting surface with his knees slightly bending. It is believed to be obvious that the arm A will readily swing as the operator changes his position about the chair proper to facilitate his working upon the occupant.

The seat S may be of any construction preferred and for which reason a detailed description and illustration thereof is thought to be unnecessary other than to state that it is preferably directly secured tothe upper end portion of the rod 23 through the medium of a leaf spring 44.

Before the operator occupies the seat S the rod 28 is forced inwardly of the pedestal 2| to bring the seat S in desired adjustment and the slide plate 4| retracted to allow the spring I9 to. pull the pedestal 2| to the limit of its movement inwardly of the arm A.

The occupant of the seat S can readily move to desired positions around the chair due to the pivotal mounting of the arm A and the spring I9 will allow the pedestal 2| to swing outwardly as the occupant of the seat S leans forward or toward the chair, and the constant pulling of the pedestal 2| by the spring I9 will result in the seat S being maintained under the operator when he rises upon his feet. It is, therefore, to be particularly pointed out that the attachment as herein comprised is of a character wherein the seat S at no time will slip or swing backwardly from beneath the operator.

Operatively engaged with the outer end portion of the arm A is a caster 45 riding upon the floor whereby additional support is provided for the attachment. It is to be stated, however, that it has been fully demonstrated in practice that it is possible to advantageously use the attachment with the caster 45 omitted.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a stool attachment constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

l. A chair attachment comprising an elongated arm, a pivotal mounting for said arm, an upstanding pedestal carried by the arm, means pivotally connecting the pedestal to the arm for oscillatory movement thereon, a seat structure carried by the pedestal, a retractile member secured to the arm and to the pedestal for swinging the pedestal inwardly toward the pivoted end of the arm, an adjustable member carried by the pedestal and having Xed positions of adjustment thereon for contact with the arm to limit the extent of oscillatory movement of the pedestal inwardly of the arm, and a slide plate carried by the arm to be moved into a position to be engaged by the adjustable member for holding the pedestal in an outward position.

2,. A seat structure comprising an elongated arm, means pivotally securing one endv of the arm for swinging about a vertical axis, a pedestalpivotally secured to said arm adjacent the other end for swinging movement inwardly toward the pivoted end and outwardly therefrom, a seat supported on the pedestal, a bracket carried by the pedestal on the side adjacent the pivoted end of the arm, an adjustment screw carried by the bracket for contact with the arm to limit inward swinging of the pedestal, and spring!` means connecting the pedestal with the arm and constantly urging inward swinging movement of the pedestal.

3. A seat structure as set forth in claim 2, with a member movably Supported upon the arm and adapted to be interposed between said screw and the arm to maintain the pedestal in outwardly swung position against the tension of said springmeans.

JAMES O. TEMPLETON, JR.

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