US2508905A

US2508905A - Infant's folding chair

Info

Publication number: US2508905A
Application number: US9450A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cohen Myer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-02-19
Filing date: 1948-02-19
Publication date: 1950-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 1967-05-23

Description

May 23, 1950 CQHEN 2,508,905

INFANT S FOLDING CHAIR Filed Feb. 19, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q Q Q) \g T M. COHEN INFANT May 23, 1950 S FOLDING CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1948 0 n I I I I I I n w Patented May 23, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- INFANTS FOLDING CHAIR Myer (iohem Beverly, Mass. v

Application February 19, 1948, Serial No. 9,450

'1 Claims. (Cl. 155139) The object of the present invention is to pro-- vide a folding chair for babies, which can be supported and moved over a floor or other smooth, level surface, or partially folded and applied to the seat of a motor vehicle for holding an infant safely thereon, or further folded into small compass for stowage. This object has been realized in a practical folding chair construction of which one embodiment is described in the following specification with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a folding chair embodying this invention fully extended in condition for use when supported on a floor;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the chair folded into minimum compass for stowage;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the folded chair as seen from the right of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the chair part1 collapsed and mounted for use in connection with one of the seats of a motor vehicle;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the chair as shown in Fig. 4;

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views taken on lines 6-6 and |--'l, respectively, of Fig. 4 and showing details of construction on a larger scale.

Like reference characters designate the same parts wherever they occur in all the figures.

The fundamental part of the chair structure v 2 p p when the framework is folded and opened out. It may be noted that the leg e'crosses leg I) at the outer side of the latter.

Disconnectible braces or locks are provided to hold the leg extensions in alinement with the respective upper leg sections when in the extended condition shown in Fig. 1. That associated with the leg 17 is a short flat bar i connected at one end to the leg section bby a pivot i on which a clamping wing nut 70 is mounted, and having a hook at its other end disposed to embrace the shank of a stud I mounted on the extension leg section b, and being displaceable from engagement with the stud. An identical brace or lock is similarly associated with each of the other legs. This is one of several various means that can be used for the same purpose and is to be considered here as genericallytypical of all such operative means.

20 Corresponding legs m and n, having similar comprises a four sided open frame a and legs piv- In the present illustration it hinged extensions, are mounted and connected in symmetrical relation with the opposite side member a of the frame a. Cross bar h has an end extension 71. which projects into the channel of the leg 11. and is adapted to slide therein.

It may be noted that the leg extension I) and the hinged extension m of the corresponding leg at the other side are made of a. single channel bar bent to form the parallel leg portions b and m, and a cross bar 0. Casters p and q are secured to the side of the cross bar 0 which comes underneath when the legs are extended. The

is made of a single metal bar of angle bar sec-" tion, bent to the prescribed outline and dimensions with meeting ends which are joined together by welding or in any other suitable way.

There are four legs, two at each side, each composed of an upper section and a hinged lower section. One leg 17, having a lower section b connected to it by a hinge c, is pivoted to the side member a of frame a by a pivot 12. A second leg e at the same side of the chair, having an extension e coupled by a hinge f crosses the leg band is connected to it by a pivot pin g. Both legs are of channel bar stock arranged with their channels facing the frame a. The latter frame has a pivotal and sliding engagement with the,

lower ends of the leg extensions 6 and n are see cured to a cross bar 8, the ends of which extend beyond these legs and carry casters -t and u.

Another cross bar 12 extends across between the legs c and n and is secured thereto at a height above the pivot axis 9 suitable for supporting the frame a, when extended, in a nearly horizontal position, but with a slight rearward and downward slant. This frame projects rearwardly between the legs e and m whenso extended, and its cross bar h rests onthe cross bar 11. A hook w extends rearwardly from the cross bar 1;, and is swiveled thereto so that it can admit, and overlap a cross bar a: secured to the leg extensions e' and n' at the forward side thereof and at adistance below the hinge axis I equal. to theheight of hOOk-1D above that axis. The hook is thus enabled to secure the leg extensions when foldedup against the upper leg sections, as shown in Fig. 2 and also inFig. The seat portion of the chair is a bag-like formation In made of textile fabric, havinga rectangular bottom, four' sides, and a stiffening frame H, (Fig. at the upper edge of the ba formation to which the fabric forming the sides of the bag is secured. Spaces for the infants legs are provided in the forward side wall of the bag. The marginal stiffening frame II is secured by rivets I2 to arms l3 and I4 (Fig. 5), which are connected at their rear ends by hinges l5 and I6 to the side members of the frame a. These last .namedarms are connected .at their fO1'W8.-I'1":8Ild$ :by'aa'cross piece: I'I. A- tray I8 for supporting food or playthings is mounted on the arms I3, I4 and cross piece I'I.

The structure constituted by said arms and cross piece is arranged to rest on the'upper side of the frame a when the latter is in theapproxi-- mately horizontal, or extended, position shown in Fig. 1; the hinges I5 and ifiibeingdisposediappropriately for this purpose and also to ,permitsthe forward part of the seat support to swing away leg sections e and n. The braces i of the hinged leg extensions are released, and these extensions are turned about their pivots f and cuntil they lie close against the upper leg sections and one an- 5 other. Such folding of the extensions permits the upper leg sections and the base frame a to be brought into the same plane. The hinged extensions are then locked in the folded position by thehook w. which is broughtpver thecross bar :a 10 :andtu-rned down in rear thereof. The :seat supporting frame I3, I4, 11 is then held in an outstanding position by the tie links 28 which have notches 33 in their under side near the rear ex- ;tremitywhich are placed over the tongues h and 15 h and are. interlocked with the upper edges thereof,'(Figs." l, 5 and 6). The hook links 29 and 30 -are-swung-about their swivel positions so as to extend to the rear.

*Theupper sections of legs e and n and the hooks from t forward part f t under frame o 29 and are designedxwith relation to the height leaf of-each of the hinges is provided with-a lug -I-Q-whichcxteridg beside the'inner'surface ofa side member of the frame -as shown-bydotted lines Hn F-igs. 1 and 4, and is riveted to -such side member.

A'back'ishinged to'theseat frame. Such back is constituted by two side rails 2!) and *2 I, a cross "rail ZL-and a breadth offabric 23 looped around tthe' cross: rail 22=and extending downward to conobstandard automobileseat backs such. that the :hooks extend overthetop and some way "down the reasside of suchaaseat. back when the folded :legs .are;-placed tozrest onthe seat cushion with ithe1 folded extensions; thereof between I the upper leg-sectionsand the=seat back. In Fig. 4 the back of aconventional;automobile seat is shown at 34 eand'the:seatecushion attfi. Seats of all makes .-and;-nearly=allstyles of commercial automobiles nection with the fabric which 'forms'the rear wall so A h nearly the samedimensions as-to the heieht df 'the seatbag-Ifl. The side r-ails are flat' bars pivoted at theirlewer --ends to rear extensions of the marginstiffener frame' II, and bent over toward one another at their upperends, as into which the back rises above the-seat cushion; and the rear seats of most cars;have'backs which are-capable. ofgheing embraced bythe" hook links lofmyrchair. iThusithe chair, made as here shown inm t trgn i gmq pivot n 5 and described,:when partiallyrfolded in-the mantthe side "rail fll isinfdioatecl-at t tin' l ig. 1. The crossraifzz is a similar flatbar, the ends of which are bentovento' lie against the inner faces of the rails 20 and zi beneat. lheturne'd over ends thereofsand-secured thereto bv rivetsZ-S. Jointed links 26 -arid '21 are connected *hetween the side rails -cf -the'baok andthe-side-armsl-a and I4-of ithe seat suppert to hold'the'back in anearly upi=ight position -when the ob air is extended out. as in FigiLa-ndtopei'mit thebackbeing brought nearlyparallel to theseat supporting'frame, as =shown' by'FigIZ.

-Tie'links--28- are pivoted to the sidea-rms' I3. and I5- (Sf-the seat-supporting "frame. and tie hooks 29 aud t!!! are connected by swivel pivots -3I and 32t0 the uoner-extreniitiesof thelegs e-and' n. whichextend unwardh well-above the position of theopen frame-ya. when"the chair is extended-as *showh inFig.-'1. The-pur ose of these-tie links and hook links will be nresentlvfiescribed.

-W-henthe chair is fully unfolde'dand extended. theoastersat thefoot extremities of its legs rest on-the floor. the annu ar supporting frame a "is-substantiallyhor zontal, being simported at its forward partby'the pivotal connection with the "legband; the corresponding leg'at the other side. 'and therear partof theframe is supported by 'the cross bar '0. *The seat supporting frame I 3, l 1'! then rests on the annular frame a and the back rest .is held in an a roximately upri ht. ,but ""slightly'ream ardly tilting, position .hy the confnecte'd links 25 andfll'.

"Inorder toe-dam he. chairifornsevwith the seat of anautomohile'the legs are turned about their coni'iectirug: pivots {.1 until. theirupper sec- .tions. are as nearly, in .the, same plane ,as. permfittedby the cross bars oand satjtheir footends. As .the legs, .,are;being brought into, that relation,

-;the tongue projections h'aand .h oftheannularframe aslide upward in'the channels of the upper aner represented bybFigsfll-andfi, can beplaced and supported OnIhGfCllShiOIl of any such seat sandcoupledztothet-back by -means of the hook links, being therebystably supportedand securely 0 ganchored against tipping *forward or a-sidewise.

Thereby a safe and: secure seat is provided for an infant too.young- -and-helpless to beseated and deft iunsupporteddirectly on the automobile. seat.

To fold the chair further into minimum comzzpassgthe hook? links arerturned: about their swivel "pivots-into thesame plane-with the legs, as shown by Fig.3, the tierlinks 28- are unhooked from the ;;tongue :h',h ,.1and:the.-seat frame allowed to swing downward around the hinges I 5 and I 5, as

. 50 :shown in Figs: Zand 3. Theaback rest is also per- --mitte.d, by :reason :of *the :articulation between :linkszzfi and 21; to-swing downward-as shown.

ZItcNViH be appreciated from; the foregoing descriptionathatflr have-provided a double purpose 5 =chair which canahequickly put'in condition either -for restingon a-fioor-orconnection with a vehicle -seat,-or'folded into compact conditionfor stow- -age; and that conversion from any one of these conditions-to either of the other two can 'be ac- -complished with the=-utmost-facility and very quickly. "When-in the-folded condition, either the-links 29 and-3il'or the-annular frame a can be used as a handle for carrying the chair, and -the"turned-up leg extensions are held-securely 6 by-the hook wfromdropping, while gravity nor- -mallyholds-the seat and back rest in the stable pendent position. When extended into either position for; holding an'infant, thechair is rigid and provides a safe and-secure support for the 7 1-infant.

"What; I claim is: 1. Afolding chair comprising abase frame of s-e rm o havine. sub tan ll par lele posite sides, a pair of legsflisposed. adjacent to each of said opposite sides, one of each pair of legs being pivoted to the adjacent side and the other leg of each pair having a pivotal and sliding connection with the same side of the frame at a distance from the pivot, the legs of each pair being pivoted together at a distance from the first named pivot connection with the frame for swinging movement between a position in which the legs are substantially in the same plane and another position in which they are crossed at a wide angle, said frame being slidable along the legs with which it is in pivotal and sliding connection into substantially the same plane with said legs, a seat-supporting frame mounted on the base frame, being in hinged connection therewith on an axis located between the points of engagement of the base frame with the respective legs, for relative swinging displacement between a position parallel to and resting on the base frame and a position extending away from the base frame, tie means between the seatsupporting frame and the base frame for holding the seat-supporting frame in the last mentioned position, and a seat held by said seat-supporting frame.

2. A folding chair comprising a base frame of open formation having substantially parallel opposite sides, a pair of legs disposed adjacent to each of said opposite sides, one of each pair of legs being pivoted to the adjacent side and the other having a pivotal and sliding connection with the same side of the frame at a distance from the pivot, the legs of each pair being pivoted together at a distance from the first named pivot connection with the frame for swinging movement between a position in which the legs are substantially in the same plane and another position in which they are crossed at a wide angle, the base frame being movable, by virtue of its pivotal and sliding connection with the legs into substantially the same plane therewith when the legs are in collapsed position, and into a relation making large angles with both legs when the legs are spread apart, the legs with which said frame has sliding connection being provided with means for supporting the frame when in the spread apart position, a seat-supporting frame hinged to the base frame at a point near the location of said pivotal and sliding connection whereby it can swing away from and toward the base frame, and being constructed to bear on the base frame in supported relation thereto, tie links disposed for interconnection with the seat-supporting frame and the base frame to hold the seat-supporting frame at a prescribed angle to the base frame, and a seat held by the seat-supporting frame.

3. A folding seat according to claim 2, in which tie hooks are connected with the legs which have the sliding connection with the base frame and are adapted to be engaged with the back of an automobile seat when the legs are brought into collapsed position and are placed on the body supporting cushion of such a seat.

4. A folding chair as set forth in claim 1, in which each of the legs is provided with an extension in hinged connection at a point below the pivot by which the legs are connected together, said extensions being foldable about their hinge connection into positions beside the legs to which respectively they are hinged.

5. A folding chair as set forth in claim 2, in which each of the legs is provided with an extension in hinged connection at a point below the pivot by which the legs are connected together, said extensions being foldable about their hinge connection into positions beside the legs to which respectively they are hinged.

6. A folding chair having a base frame, a pair of legs at each side of the frame pivoted together and having pivotal and sliding connection with the base frame for folding into substantially one plane and extension for use, a seat holding frame pivoted to the base frame to be supported thereby when the chair is extended for use and being rotatable about its hinge connection to a position projecting away from the base frame, detachable tie links disposed for holding the seat frame at substantially right angles to the base frame, a seat of bag formation secured to the seat-supporting frame and suspended therefrom, and hook links connected with one leg of each pair adapted to be placed over the back of a vehicle seat when the folded chair structure is located at the forward side of such seat back.

7. The folding chair combination set forth in 7 claim 6, in which each leg is provided with a hinged lower section below the pivot which connects the legs of either pair together, and with releasable means for holding such extension in rigid alinement with the rest of the leg, said hinged sections being foldable into positions close beside the legs of which they respectively form a part.

MYER COHEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 792,954 Bagnol Nov. 7, 1935 1,149,545 Sherry Aug. 10, 1915 1,800,107 Schmitt Apr. 7, 1931 1,910,736 Arthur May 23, 1933 1,949,492 Schermerhorn Mar. 6, 1934 2,272,307 Merrill Feb. 10, 1942 2,398,693 Bureau Apr. 16, 1946