US2329697A

US2329697A - Swivel seat

Info

Publication number: US2329697A
Application number: US241768A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herman Carrington
Original assignee: FLOSSIE P SHADDEN; SHIRLEY ANNE DAVIES
Current assignee: FLOSSIE P SHADDEN; SHIRLEY ANNE DAVIES
Priority date: 1938-11-22
Filing date: 1938-11-22
Publication date: 1943-09-21
Anticipated expiration: 1960-09-21

Description

Sept. 21, 19.43.

A.'E. DAVIES SWIVEL SEAT Fil ed Nov. 22, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Sept. 21, 1943. A. a DAVIES 1 I v v2,329,697

- SWIVELSEAT Filed Nov. 22, 193B 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 later, and therefore the pedestal must be properly oriented at the time of installation. Ap-

proximate orientation of the pedestal relative to the lunch counter or other object with which the chair may be associated, is effected by rotating the base 1 into desired position before securing it to the floor with bolts of screws. However, it is often not convenient to exactly orient the base I prior to securing it to the floor, and I therefore provide means for limited rotary adjustment of the columnfi relative to the base I. To this end (referring to Figs. 8 and 9,'as well as to Fi-g."2), the bottom wall l2 of the column 6 is provided with a pair of downwardly projecting lugs I8 symmetrically disposed on oppositesides of a central vertical plane of the column, and the base! is provided with a pair of threaded recesses [9 receiving screws 20, which project from the inner end of the recesses l9, and contact with the lugs I8 on the .column. Obviously, by'oppositely shifting thescrews 20, the column may be rotatablyadjusted with respect to the base 1 and when both screws are tightened up against the lugs i8,- any further relative rotation between the column and base is positively prevented. In practice, the bolt I6 is slightly'loosened, the screws 20 are turned to orient the columnsto the proper position, and then the bolt IGtightened. v V V The construction disclosed in Figs. 2 to? geomprises a swivel mechanism completely contained L within an oil-tight housingjz, Which housing 22 is tubularin form and'is' suspended within the column 6. Thus referring to Fig, 2, the upper end of the tubular housing 22, hereinafter referred to as a tube, is internally threaded and receives a threaded plug member 23, which is shown in perspective in Fig. 4. The tube 22 is suspended from the plug member 23 by virtue of the threaded connection therebetween, and the plug 23 in turn is supported by the column 6. a

The column 6 is provided with cylindrical inner bearing surfaces 24, which snugly receive the tube 22 and prevent anytilting or radial movement of the latter. However, the entire vertical forces applied to the tube 22 are transferred through the plug member 23 to the column 6. Thus the upper end of column 6 is enlarged to a diameter substantially greater than the diameter of the tube 22, defining shoulders onwhich wings26 of the plug member 23 rest. The contaoting surfaces of the shoulders in the column 6 and on the wings 26, instead of being flat horizontally, are inclined, as shown to best advantact of vertical edge surfaces 21. on the wings against juxtaposed vertical surfaces 28 on the column 5. However, the resistance-to movement afforded by the friction between the supporting shoulders on.the column 6 and the supported shoulders on the Wings 26, is ordinarily sufficient to prevent, the movement continuing until the surfaces 21 contact against the surfaces 28.

To furtherlprovide for increasing the resistance to rotation of the member 23 relative to the tage in the developed view of Fig. 6, in which view the lower contacting surface of each wing 26 is substantially wedge-shaped and the cooperating supporting surface on the column 6 is similarly shaped. It will be observed that by virtue of these wedge-shaped contacting surfaces the member 23 and the tube 22 will normally remain ina fixed position of rotation relative to the column 6. However the supporting shoulders on the column are wider circumferentially than the shoulders on the wings 26 so that limited rotation of the tube 22 relative to the column,

column 6 prior to contact of the surfaces 21 and 28, each shoulder on the column 6 comprises a pair of central flat intersecting surfaces 29 which merge at their outer ends into flat surfaces 30, which latter surfaces are steeperthan the surfaces 29. The wings 26 have a pair of intersecting surfaces 3| having the same'inclination as the" surfaces 29, but being shorter than the latter. 7

These surfaces 3| merge into outer flat surfaces 32 which have the same inclination as the surfaces 30, i. e., surfaces 32 are parallel to surfaces 30, just as the surfaces 3| are parallel'to the juxtaposed surfaces 29; It is obvious, by virtue of the fact that the surfaces 3| are shorter than the surfaces 29, that the

juxtaposed surfaces

30 and 32 are normally spacedfrom each other sothat they do not function to restrain initial rotary movement of the wings 25; such initial movement is restrained only bycontact-between the surfaces-29 and 31. The inclination of the-surfaces 29 and 3] is such as to ordinarily restrain rotationbf the member 23 relative to the column 6. However, should a strong torque be applied to the member 23 so that the friction between the

surfaces

29 and 3| is insuflicient to restrain movement, then when the movement continues a short distance, the

surfaces

30 and 3 2 will be brought together and these surfaces, because of their greater inclination-from the horizontal, oppose increased resistance to further rotary movement and usually function to stop the motion'prior to contact of the vertical surfaces 21 and 28.

Obviously the cooperating surfaces of the wings 26 andthe column omight be curved to provide continuously increased resistance to motion. However, an advantage of employing the cooperating flat surfaces 3I29, 3032 is that they provide surface contact of relatively large area, so that wear is reduced and thelife of the parts lengthened. If continuously curved surfaces were employed, the surfaces on the column member 6 would have to have a larger radius of curvature than the cooperating surfaces on' the wings 26 and-hence there would be only line contact between the cooperating surfaces, resulting in excessive wear and. relatively rapid deformation of th'e'surfaces.

The structure described involving the wing members 26 and the cooperating supporting surtively rigid: with nespect-gtoi the.- tube- 22;: thus. it;

may be: provided. with. an. enlarged; rib; or shot-1'1;-

der 3&- which fitssnuglywithim the: tube to prevent; any radish motion. of the: lower end. of the: stem withzrespect to the. tube. At-its. lower end; the stem 35 terminates: in a cam surfacewhich; consists ct atlowermost convex orwedge-shaped: surface. 31' which. merges: at: its: upper ends. into.- straighhvertical surfaces: 38'... At their upper' ends, the vertical. surfaces; 38. merge into con-- ical surfaces. 312a, which extend upwardly and toward each.- other, terminating: at aihi'gh point diametrically opposite the apex of' the surtace 3J2 Positioned immediately below the stem 35) isarotary cam member Mikhail-ins arr upper cam surface: complementary to the cam surfaces on the'lower end of stem 35, previously described This cam member 411 is looselyfitted in. the tube 22- and 'isguided for vertical movement. by the spindle, which supports the seat I.

This spindle 3' is: cylindrical throughout its upper portion. and is snugly rotatabl yfittedi in. a

central bore 42 in. the body member 23, the cylindrical portion of the spindle 3 extending substant'iallythrough the stem 35 of the menuher 23".

At its lower end, the spindle or stem 3"- ismade square incross section instead of" circular. The square-portion of the stem fits snuglyin a squareif aperture 43 in: the member 40 so that the latter is constrained to rotate with the stem 3", but the stem is free to move vertically through the cam member. The lower end of the stem 3restsupon and is supported by a ball 44 which in turn is supported ona helical spring 45, the lower endof the spring resting on the bottom wall of the tube 22- and being supported thereby. A seat member 46 may be provided between the upper end of the spring; 45 andtheball M. A

relatively light helical spring- 41 is' normally compressed between the seating member 4 5 and" thelower end of the cam member; the sole function of this spring 41 being to maintain contact between the cam surface on the member and thecam surface on thelower end' of stem 35'. p

The spring 15 is of such stiffness that it does not compress in response to the normal weight of the seat I-, but is compressed bytheaadditional weight of an occupant on the seat. Therefore, when the seat is unoccupied, it is maintained in: the uppermost position shown in Fig. 2, in whichv position the ball 44 not onlyrests against the} lower en-dof the stem 2'4 butalso rests against the lower endofthe cam member' iii' so that the relatively stifi spring -65 is efiective to urge the cam surfaces together. This spring force is suchas to. cause the seat to rotate into and assume the position shown Fig. 2; in which the complementary portions of'the cam surfaces on the members 35-? and t9 are juxtaposed to each other. This is the. normal. position of the seat. If theseat: is turned away from this normal position, the rotation of the cam member 3h: relative to. the cam surface on the lower end of stem 35., forces the member 4i downwardly, thereby further compressine the spring 45; Atthe same time, the spindle 3 follows the ball- M downwardly. If the seat is turned far enough, it will cause oneof theverticalsurfaces 38' on the stem member 35'- to be engaged by one of the com-pie mentanr terti al surfaces; 4-8 on. the; am me ber 4a; ther by preventin ans fiurth a iv r ta. tion. between; those pa ts: hereafter, if the rotary tome; is suifici ntlr reat, th nt a sembly' including the tube 22 will be rotated to movathe wing! members 26 relative to the columne iii-the:- manner-previously described. When themtary tome: is removed. from the seat, the entire assembler, inclu in tube it: is restored to normal.. position with: respe to: the column 6-,. srauitm. and the snihdlefi: is restored to normal po itionwith, respect, to; the. tube 227, by the force of: the, shrine Whichin rerexpanding causes member 48 to slide along the cam surfiaces. on the stem ht; into the;. normalv position. shown in Fi .2:

It is: desirable that the mechanism positively restore. the; seat to; normal, position when it is. umzccuried, ermit relatively ree.- swivelv action when the'seatis occupied. Such a r sult. is: presided with; the structure d scrib d-- 1 Thus reterring: to Fig, 3-, when the Weight. of air occu hant; is on; the seat; It, the spring #5 is camhrcssed. by the spindle h and the ball 4-4! is carried; 01st: of contactwith the; member. 4E3. Therefiorethe only-upward force.- acting. upon the cam, member 414) that exerted; by the relatively weak: all As hreviously stated, spring 4'1 is; preterablybarelystrong. enoughto support; thewei'sht. or the cam; member w. Therefore: the resistance it'presentsz to; downward movement of the cam ill in response to rotation of the pindle 3L isnes1ieibleiaud an occupant, of the seat can turn it, either direction without noticing. any

; arrpreciable resistance: to movement as; the in cam. member Mt. and thereafter the force of the springefiective to urge the cam Ml.- upwardly, causing it to.- rotateinto normal position.

As previously mentioned; the.- tube 22 is inoperforate. and-is adapted to contain lubrieating oil. so that all ofthecontactins S r a are tinually"v lubricated. In order toprevent inter ference or the verticalmovemen ithe cam member Ml... due to. a. dashbot eff he t i r surface of thelatteris: cut. away, as indicated at 50,. to: providechannels for the oil to by-Pass through. as the; cam moves up and down.

Furthermoregasthespindle: moves up anddown,

it (ilSTl1EQQS;'0i1f'fIOm.thf lower portion of the tube 2'2, and to permit, escape of such displaced oil, the collarlifi; is. provided; with one or more channels: 5:2,; andrc e or more holes 5 r are provided above: the collar... for oil tow n an out of a chamber 55.- A vent hole 53 is provided in the body member to permit airt flowinto and out of thechamber 55 asthe oil. level therein falls. and rises with movement of the spindle 3. This vent hole 53 may also be. employed, as. anoil filler hole.

A simpler embodiment of the structure. within. thetube'22. isdiscl'osed in; Fig. 10, in which, parts corresponding to those: in the remaining fi ures bearthe same reference num rals with he. fi l-f5 a. In thiSflmQdifiGfiin nnb. the ball. .44 auxr iliary spring 41; are.-e1iminateu,.the spring 45d bearing directly against the cam member 40a and the lower 'end of the spindle 3a, instead of being slidable through the cam member 40a, is supported thereby so that the cam member moves down with the spindle. Thus the spindle 3a may have a very short reduced squared end thereon fitting into the squared aperture in the cam 46a. In order to reduce resistance to rotation when an occupant is on the seat, the spring 45a is preferably supported on an antifriction bearing 60 in the bottom of the tube 22a. It is to be understood that such an antifriction bearing may also be employed in the structure shown in Fig. 2, although it is not so necessary there because of the interpositioning of the ball M, which itself offers low resistance to rotation relative to its contacting members. Of course, if desired, an antifriction bearing can be provided at the top of the spring instead of at the bottom thereof, in the modification of Fig. 10.

In the operation of the modification shown in Fig. 10, when the seat is occupied, the spindle 3a moves down to compress the spring 45a, and the inclined surfaces of the cam member 4% are carried clear of the cooperating complementary surfaces on the stem 35a so that there isno restoring force. However, when the occupants .weight is removed from the seat, the full force of the spring 25a is effective to urge the cam surfaces together, causing them to slide into the position of equilibrium shown in Fig. 2, the cam surfaces in the modification shown in Fig. having the same shape as those shown in Fig. 2.

Although for the purpose of explaining the invention two specific embodiments thereof have been described in detail, it is to be understood that the numerous changes may be made from the particular structure shown without departing from the invention, which is to be limited only to the extent set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A swivel seat comprising a seat member, pedestal means, a spindle depending from said seat member into the pedestal member, a first cam in said pedestal means having a downwardly facing cam surface, a second cam below said first cam and adapted when urged upwardly against said first cam to be rotated thereby into a predetermined position, said spindle extending through and being vertically slidable with respect to both said cams and rotatable with re.- spect to the first cam but non-rotatable with respect to the second cam, spring means for normally, yieldably supporting said second cam against downward movement away fromsaid first cam, and means including said spindle for depressing said spring means out of supporting relation with said second cam. in response 'to a load on said seat member.

2. The combination described in claim 1, with additional means for supporting said second cam when said spring means is depressed. by said spindle. i

3. The combination described in claim 1, with auxiliary spring means of substantially less stiffness than said first-mentioned spring means for yieldably supporting said second cam when said first-mentioned spring means is depressed by said spindle.

4. A seat comprising a seat member, a pedestal including a base member adapted to be rigidly anchored to a floor and a column member ising therefrom, means for normally supporting said seat member on said column in predetermined position of orientation with respect thereto, means for securing said column member to said base member against vertical and lateral movement withrespect thereto, and means for rotatably adjusting said column member on said base member and rigidly maintaining it in adjusted position comprising a pair of stop members on said column member disposed on opposite sides of the center thereof, and a pair of screw members in said base member on opposite sides 'of the center thereof and adapted to abut against said respective stop members, whereby said column member may be arcuately adjusted with respect to said base member by tightening one of said screws and loosening the ot er.

5. A swivel seat comprising a seat member, a spindle downwardly depending therefrom, a pedestal having a recess in the upper end thereof, a casing supported by said pedestal within the recess therein, a plug member positioned in and attached to the upper end of said casing, said plug member having a central aperture therein for receiving said spindle and having an inclined cam surface on the lower end thereof, the upper portion of said spindle being cylindrical for free rotation in said plug member and the lower end portion being polygonal and of smaller lateral dimension than the upper porion, a movable cam member within said casing below said plug member, having an aperture for nonrotatably receiving the polygonal lower end portion of said spindle, the spindle projecting through said plug member into said movable cam member, and spring means supported by the bottom wall of said casing for yieldably support ing said spindle and said movable cam member, said spindle being freely movable upwardly with respect to said movable cam member, whereby it may be lifted out of said casing.

6. A seat comprising a seat member, a pedestal,means for supporting said seat member for rotary and vertical motion on said pedestal and defining a chamber in the pedestal containing oil, and a spindle on said seat member depending into said chamber, said chamber including means for guidingly supporting said spindle, said spindle displacing oil from the lower part of said chamber in response to downward movement, and means defining oil ducts for conducting oil so displaced to the portion of said spindle within the upper part of said chamber to lubricate the same.

7. In a swivel seat, a seat member, a spindle secured to and depending from said seat, a pedestal having an upstanding hollow column, casing means within said column, said casing means having a guide aperture in the upper end thereof for receiving said spindle, mechanism within said casing means for yieldably supporting said spindle for a limited range of rotary motion with respect to casing means, and-means supporting said casing means in said column comprising cam means on the casing means and cooperating cam means on the column for engaging andsupporting said cam means on the casing means, said cooperating cam means forcing said casing means to move upwardly simultaneously with rotary movement in either direction from a predetermined normal position of orientation with respect to said column, said mechanism within said casing means offering less resistance to rotary movement of said spindle within said limited range of rotary motion than said cooperating cam means offer to relative rotary motion between said casing means and column, whereby said mechanism yieldably resists rotary motion of said spindle with relatively less resistance than said supporting means.

8. A swivel seat comprising a seat member, pedestal means, a spindle depending from said seat member into the pedestal means, a first cam in said pedestal means having a downwardly facing cam surface, a second cam below said first cam and adapted when urged upwardly against said first cam to be rotated thereby into a predetermined position, said spindle extending through and being vertically slidable and rotatable with respect to said first cam and movable both vertically and rotatably with said second cam, spring means for normally yieldably supporting said second cam against downward movement away from said first cam, and means including said spindle for depressing said second cam out of contact with said first cam against force of said spring means in response to a load on said seat member, said cams having normally engaged inclined surfaces for yieldably permitting rotation of said seat member through a predetermined arc, and having vertical surfaces which interengage and prevent rotation beyond the end of said arc, said vertical surfaces being of such length as to interengage in all vertical positions of said second cam.

, ARTHUR E. DAVIES.