US2521281A

US2521281A - Auxiliary raisable chair seat

Info

Publication number: US2521281A
Application number: US713723A
Authority: US
Inventors: Brousseau Rene
Original assignee: BETTER SEATS CO
Current assignee: BETTER SEATS Co
Priority date: 1946-12-03
Filing date: 1946-12-03
Publication date: 1950-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 1967-09-05

Description

Patented Sept. 5, 1950 2,521,281 AUXILIARY ltAISABLE lGHAIR SEAT iten lir-ousseau, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, as-

s n r to. Better Se t .0 Montre Qu bec,

Canad Application December 3, 1946, Serial No. 713,723

l 2 Claims.

The present invention relatesto chairseats and, more particularly, such a seat adapted to, be used in conjunction with a chair and raisable there from.

The main object of the invention, therefore, resides in the provision of improved means for increasing the. effective height of a chair seat.

Another object is the. provision of an auxiliary seat of the character described which is highly efficient and versatile for the purpose, in View.

A further object concerns an auxiliary seat which is. rigidly attachable to a chair in a remove able manner.

Still another object contemplates a chair auxiliary seat which is rugged, simple. and easy to adjust.

A still further object envisages a seat of the character described, which is easily produced at relatively low cost.

th r: b ec nd advan ages of he i n i will become apparent, or be p ted out further, during th description tov follow.

As an example, and for purposes of illustration only, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the annexed drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational. view showing. the invention in use,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the auxiliary seat attached to an ordinary chair,

Figure-3 is a side elevational View of the seat of the invention,

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional View taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a partial front elevation view of one corner of the auxiliary seat, and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing, in enlarged form, the supporting means from the inside.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters represent corresponding parts throughout, the reference letter C indicates generall an ordinary chair to which the auxiliary seat A of the invention is removably secured. As shown to advantage in Figures 1 and 2, the auxiliary seat is adapted to be adjustably elevated or lowered with respect to the chair C, the mechanism for eifectuating this adjustment forming the subject-matter of the present invention.

The mechanism noted above consists essentially of a plurality of toggle joints J, one of which is secured to each corner of the auxiliary seat, said joints being connected in pairs to transverse spaced parallel base bars l0 resting on the seat of the chair C and removably secured thereto by special clamps H to be described later.

T e. toggle o n are s cured to h s t A by means o a b ac t '2 ha a Q n a -lv depend-ing ear l3 to which car the upper link [4 of th t g le jo nt s iv t or otherwise ivot d- The lower link [5 is in turn riveted at its lower end o. a mil r ra ket i g an up a d n ar 2 said r ke being t c e o secu d d: la nt the c rend ro and r ar a ev bars .0710: re p cti ly, nd ada ted o. o n each, the front toggles of the seat and the rear toggles her f Th inn nd of the inks M a d I5 are pivoted et e b m ans of a b '3. ha n a tightening wing nut 2 -I-. Thus, from the mechanism described: so far, it will be readily vident that the auxiliary seat A maybe raised or lowered from the seat, of the chair (3; whenever the toggle j ints. are extended or collapsed.

The correct positioning ofthe toggles, in strictly similar angularrelation between each other, is efiectuated by means of spurs 25, one of which is associated with each toggle by pivoting one end thereof over the boltv t9 already disclosed and joining together the inner ends of the links 141-115 the lower end of the spur is cut at an f angle to form a sharp edge adapted to engage. the

ratchet teeth 26 formedin the upper surface oi a crossbar 21 disposed right, angularly with respect to, the bars l:ll;,,2ll:, each of said cross bars 21 joining together in proper spaced relation the outer end of the base bars, so as to form a square frame.

The teeth 26 being symmetrically disposed with respect to the toggles, as shown clearl in Figures 2, 3 and 6, the extension of the toggles will be strictly identical at all corners provided the spurs are each engaged with the proper tooth, this adjustment being easily effectuated by counting or otherwise. For a, purpose to be apparent later on, the cross bars 21 are provided with upstanding end flanges 28 the effective height of which above the bars 21 must be slightly more than the combined thickness of the joints J, spurs 25 and other mechanism when completely collapsed downwardly; in other words, the said flanges 28 act primarily as a stop against which the auxiliary seat A may rest when in its lowest position.

As already mentioned, the spurs 25 are useful for blocking inward movement of the toggles and also for correctly positioning the same; since, however, the said spurs are not effective to prevent outward movement of the toggles, tension arms 30 are also mounted on one end onto the pivot bolt l9, said arms converging centrall together towards the bracket 3| having the depending ear 32 supporting the screw 33.- The outer end of the arms is slotted to allow passage of the screw 33 therethrough, the arms being clamped together and to the ear 32 by means of a win nut 35.

Thus, the position of the toggles is at all times rigidly maintained by the spurs and also by the arms which additionall resist any tendency of the toggles to change their position. As a result, the elevating structure for the auxiliary seat A is a rigid linkage having great strength for supporting substantial weights and so interconnected as to sustain successfully any tipping tendency caused by applying a weight to the edge or a corner of the auxiliary seat.

The means for securing the frame of the auxiliary seat to an ordinary chair consist in the clamps I I which are adapted to secure the frame to the seat of the chair C. For that purpose, the clamps in question engage toothed extension 40 formed at the end of the base bar Ill and a third extension 4| connected right angularly to the centre of the rear base bar 20. As shown to advantage in Figure 5, for instance, the clamps II have a yoke 45 engageable by the teeth of the extension, said engagement being maintained by a spring finger 46 contacting the underside of the seat of the chair C and adjustably secured to the yoke 45 by means of the screws 41 for adapting the clamp to varying thicknesses of chair seats.

From the foregoing description, the operation of the auxiliary seat should be fairly obvious: primarily, it is intended to serve as an attachment permitting the use of ordinary chairs by children who, otherwise, would not be able to sit properly at the dining table, for instance. Obviously the seat may be used by anyone for specific purposes although, in any case, the auxiliary seat A would have to be smaller than the seat of the chair to which it is attached so as to leave the necessary extension for clamping purposes and the like.

Due to the adjustable feature, the auxiliary seat is easily applicable to variously aged children, or used constantly by one child and adjusted downwardly in accordance with the growth of said child, thus giving him a new measure of confidence and allowing him to acquire early proper table manners with adults.

From the foregoing it must be realized that the present invention is an advance of the art in that it provides an adjustable auxiliary seat which is strong, easily adjustable and which, once adjusted remains rigidly in position Without tipping or other deformation tendencies. Again, the said auxiliary seat may be quickly adapted for attachment to ordinary chairs without; marring same or necessitating drilling, nailing or other defacing operations.

It must be understood various changes as to the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In an auxiliary seat for a chair, adjustable in height relative thereto, a quadrangular frame securable to the chair, a pair of toggle links at each corner of said frame, an auxiliary seat supported by said links, the links of each pair being pivoted together and at their outer end to the frame and seat respectively, arms pivoted to the links pivots and meeting in pairs centrally be neath the seat, and means for releasably clamping said arms in pairs to prevent outward spreading of the toggle links.

2. In an auxiliary seat for a chair, adjustable in height relative thereto, a quadrangular frame securable to the chair, a pair of toggle links at each corner of said frame, an auxiliary seat supported by said links, the links of each pair being pivoted together and at their outer end to the frame and seat respectively, arms pivoted to the links pivots and meeting in pairs centrally be neath the seat, means for releasably clamping said arms in pairs and to said seat to prevent outward spreading of the toggle links, and means limiting movement of the linksjnwardly.

RENE BROUSSEAU.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS France Apr. 10, 1933