US2325141A - Chair - Google Patents

Description

July 27, 1943. E. J. LLOYD 2,325,141

CHAIR Filed Nov. 28, 1959 Y QME/Q J Azarp,

Patented July 27, 1943 CHAIR Elmer J. Lloyd, Worcester, Mass., assignor to The American Steel and Wire Company of New Jersey, a corporation of New Jersey Application November 28, 1939, Serial No. 306,561

1 Claim. (01. 155-189) This invention relates to chairs, and more particularly to those which are used on tramways, such as aerial ski tramways, although not limited thereto.

Recent developments have given rise to aerial ski tramways which carry skiers from the bottom of ski courses to the tops thereof in order that the skiers are not compelled to walk these distances, which are usually very long. desirable to carry the skiers back up the ski course in a manner involving as little effort as possible on the part of the skiers; and in such manner that they may be absolutely safe in transit.

Such an aerial ski tramway is disclosed in Patent No. 2,152,235 to Bannerman, Curran and Trout, dated March 28, 1939.

One object of the present invention is to provide a chair of the class described which is extremely safe, simple to use, and one which, at the same time, is reassuring in safety to the occupant.

Another object is to eliminate the use of belts of a type which will be referred to hereinafter.

Public life insurance must be carried by any company furnishing transportation to the general public; and the insurance companies require that a chair of the type referred to be equipped with a belt or guard. Originally, ski tramways have been equipped with chairs which are provided with broad canvas belts fitted with hooks. In using such a chair, the occupant must attach the hook to the framework thereof after seatin himself and while the chair is in motion. In addition, the occupant must unhook the belt just before dismounting. While such broad canvas belts are safe, they do not give to the occupant of the chair as great a feeling of security as could be desired. The operation of attaching the belt is very easily understood, but it has been observed that many occupants of the chairs are confused by it and some actually fail to make use of the same. When not in use, these broad canvas belts hang down and flop loosely from side to side, which is also undesirable.

The invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and as particularly pointed out in the claim, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail the certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being indicative of but one of a number of ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

The foregoing and further objects will be apparent after referring to the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the chair of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation; and

Figures 3 and 4 are fragmentary views taken at right angles to each other and illustrating structural details.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 2 designates generally a hanger which is suitably connected to the conveying rope or cable (not shown) of an aerial-tramway or other support in connection with which the device of the invention is to be employed.

As shown in Figure 1, the larger portion of the hanger 2 extends substantially vertical, while the bottom thereof is bent atright angles, as shown at 3. Disposed horizontally and at right angles to the portion 3 of the hanger 2 is a pair of parallel bars t which form a portion of the basic framework of the chair. These parallel bars a are provided with extensions 5 which extend downwardly at an oblique angle and carry at their extremities a transverse connecting bar 6 which forms the lowermost portion of the chair.

The basic framework of the back of the chair of the present invention is formed by a pair of coextensive bars 8 which are connected to and extend diagonally upward from the parallel bars 4. The uppermost ends of the parallel bars I are rearwardly and forwardly curved, as shown at ill and II, respectively, and provided at their extremities with horizontal extending portions l2.

Immediately below the rearwardly and forwardly curved portions ill and II, respectively, of the extensions 8 of the parallel bars 4, there is provided a transverse rod ll which connects the latter.

Disposed immediately above the parallel bars 4 and connecting the extensions 8 of the latter there is a bar l5 which is parallel with the transverse rod l4.

Between and connecting the transverse rod ll and bar l5 there are a series of bars H which serve as a backrest for the chair.

In order to provide for securing the passenger within the chair against accidental displacement therefrom, the transverse rod It carries in pivoted relationship with each of its ends awire loop 20 which comprises adjacent its open end a pair of parallel portions and a closed end portion 2|. It will thus be seen that the loop 20 may be rotated into position around the body of the passenger after he has taken his place in the chair.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, it will be perceived that the device of the invention provides side or arm portions for the safety and ,comfort of the occupant. More specifically, the inner side as shown in Figure 1, or the left-hand side as shown in Figure 2, comprises a member 22 formed of an upright portion which is connected to the adjacent bar t and a horizontal arm rest portion 23 which is connected to the extension 8 of the said bar 4. On the other side of the chair there is provided a member 22, generally similar to the member 22 described hereinbefore but comprising a horizontal arm rest portion 23 which extends in parallelism with the similarly numbered portion of the earlier described element 22, except that it is somewhat extended and is secured intermediate its ends to the vertically depending portion of the hanger 2. The extended part of the horizontal portion 23 of the second-named member 22 therefore extends beyond the corresponding portion of the first-named member 22 and terminates in a substantially vertically depending portion 24 which is secured at its lowermost portion to the adjacent bar 4. If desired, suitable diagonal braces may be employed for rigidiiying the second-named member 22. According to the foregoing construction and arrangement, the members 22 on either side of the chair enable the portions 23 to provide horizontal arm rests; while the one on the side thereof which is connected to the hanger 2 is longer in order to provide increased safety and comfort, the opposite and smaller of the members 22 permitting the occupant to easily leave the chair.

The parallel bars 4 and downward extensions 5 thereof are provided with cushions of any suitable design. Each of the elements forming the framework of the chair is a commercially rolled metallic round; and the connections referred to hereinbefore are efiected by welding. This provides for extreme durability without involving substantial expense.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of the present invention, it will be seen that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claim.

I claim:

An aerial ski tramway chair comprising a substantially vertically extending member adapted to be secured to the traveling rope of the tramway, said member being provided with a substantially right-angular extension in spaced relationship with respect to said rope, a seat secured to said right-angular extension, a back rest, an arm rest secured to said seat and to said back rest, a rigid loop member having its ends pivotally connected to said back rest, said rigid loop member being adapted to freely swing into and out of such position that the seated occupant of the chair is enclosed thereby, and at least one laterally-extending member carried by said back rest and adapted to restrain said rigid loop member against excessive backward swinging movement, said last-named member being of suflicient size to also function as a handle. A

ELMER J. LLOYD.

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