US2547699A

US2547699A - Combination chair and ladder

Info

Publication number: US2547699A
Application number: US70787A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry A Gelman; Gelman Mac
Original assignee: TRIPLE A PRODUCTS
Current assignee: TRIPLE A PRODUCTS
Priority date: 1949-01-13
Filing date: 1949-01-13
Publication date: 1951-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 1968-04-03

Description

April 3, 1951 H. A. GELMAN EIAL COMBINATION CHAIR AND LADDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 13, 1949 Z w a April 3, 1951 H. A. GELMAN EI'AL 2,547,599

COMBINATION CHAIR AND LADDER Filed Jan. 13, 1949 tread section and an Patented Apr. 3, 1951 Harry A. Gelman and Ma assignors to Triple A P c Gelman, Chicago, 111., roducts, Chicago, 111., a

Application January 13, 1949, Serial No. 70,787 Claims. (Cl. 228-30) The main objects of this invention are to pro- ;vide an improved form of chair which is easily convertible for use as a temporary step-ladder; to provide an improved form and arrangement of standards providing support for a seat, a back, and a tread extension; to provide a chair of this kind having an improved form and mounting of an auxiliary tread section conveniently shiftable in and out of position to convert said chair temporarily into a low step-ladder; to provide such an improved form and mounting of an auxiliary association therewith of will cause said tread secretracted under the chair resilient means which tion to be normally seat but will permit the tread section to be shifted to extended step-ladder position by the easy coaction of a, person's hand and foot without the necessity of bending or stooping; and to provide an improved chair of this kind which has the commendable dual characteristics of economical manufacture and attractive appearance.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a step-ladderchair combination embodying this invention, the tread section being shown in its folded or. retracted position; p

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, the tread section being shown in full outline in its extended position and in dotted outline in its folded position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail showing the arrangement of the retracting sprin for the tread section;

Figs. 4 and 5 are side elevations of this improved step-ladder-chair in two difierent positions incident to shifting the tread section into its extended position; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged bottom view of the chair taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2 and illustrating the manner in which the seat support standards are nested and Welded together.

A step-ladder-chair embodying this invention I comprising a seat support 1 whereon is mounted a seat 8 and back 9 and a step-ladder or tread extension l0.

The seat support I comprises three separately formed tubular members I I, I 2, and i3 bent to provide the usual four legs and horizontal and vertical supports for the seat 8 and back 9, respectively.

The member II is U-shaped, having a portion thereof adjacent to and connected by the transverse part I 4 bent to nearly right anglesto the remaining portion thereby providing a horizontal seat-supporting portion I 5 at th'upper end of the leg portion l6.

'21 is nearly twice as longas 'to' the parallel sections 25 end sections 25 on each of The members I2 and I 3 are identical, each being of tubular form and bent-intermediate its ends to provide an oppositely-extendin leg portion I1 and a back-supporting portion l8 connected by a transverse part IS.

The members ll, l2, and I3 are arranged with the transverse parts I 5 and I9 nested within each other and welded together asindicated at 20 in Fig. 6. This disposes the legs Hiand I! and the back-supporting portion l 8 in the desired relationship to position the seat 8 the desired distance above the floor and dispose the back 9 in proper relationship to the seat 8.

The seat 8 and back 9 are of more or less conventional structure, each embodying suitable upholstery mounted upon a base element of the desired shape which permit the seat 8 and back 9 to be appropriately attached to the members ll, l2,and l3.

The step-ladder or tread extension In comprises a, pair of identical members 2| whereon are supported the treads 22. The members 2| are hinged to the members l2 and I3 by a rod 23 and are normally urged into retracted positions by springs 24.

Each of the members 2| is a tube bent to provide four

sections

25, 26, 21, and 28. The end section 25 and the intermediate section 21 are parallel to each other and are transversely-disposed to the intermediate section 26 and the other end section 28. The intermediate section the end section 25.

The threads 22 are preferably covered with a layer of nonfri'ction material such as rubber or some plastic equivalent and are rigidly anchored and 21. The tread on the section 21 is positioned forwardly of the tread on the end section 25.

' The hinge pin or rod 23 extends through the the frame members 2| adjacent to the contiguous transverse part '26. At its ends the rod 23 is supported on the members l2 and I3 a distance above the median thereof which will dispose the treads 22 horizontal when the end sections 28 of the members 2! rest upon the floor forwardly of the members l2 and l 3, as shown in Fig. 2.

Coiled springs 24 embrace each end of the rod 23 intermediate the respective members 2| and adjacent member 12 or I 3. One end 29 of each spring 24 is appropriately anchored to the

member

12 or 13.. The other end 30 of each spring extends rearwardlyfandfis seated in an aperture in the section 26 ofv one of the members 2| intermediate the parallel sections 25 and 21 thereof. The number of coils for each spring urging said tread 24 and the tensionin thereof is such that when the chair is lifted off the floor a sufiicient distance the springs 24 will automatically swing the step-ladder or tread section ID into a retracted position under the seat 8 and hold the

sections

26 and 28 thereof practically horizontal, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Suitable friction caps 31 of rubber or other suitable material are placed over the ends of the sections I6, 11, and 28 of the members H, l2l3,and2l.

When it is desired to swing the tread section In into position to permit. the chair to be used as a low step-ladder, it is necessary only for a person to place the toe of his foot on the rubber cap 3| on one of the end sections 28 of the members 2| and press it down to the floor, as shown in Fig, 4. Then, with the hand grasping the back 9, the chair may be pulled upwardly and slightly rearwardly, as shown in Fig. 5. Such movement of the chair is continued until the chair, by its own weight, tends to gravitate to the floor whereupon the tread extension is positioned, as shown in Fig. 3, to permit one to conveniently step up onto the seat 8 to achieve access to the desired position above the floor.

Variations and modifications in the details of structure and arrangement of the parts may be resorted to within the spirit and coverage of the I appended claims.

We claim:

1. A chair of the class described comprising, a pair of spaced seat-supporting standards, seat supported on said standards, a pair of tread frame-members each formed with four sections wherein one end and one intermediate section are parallel and disposed transversely to the other end and intermediate intermediate section being parallel end section, treads spanning and connected to the corresponding parallel sections of said frame-members, said tread-connected frame-members being hinged to the respective standards above a median point lengthwise of said standards, said hinge being located on each of said frame-members adjacent the angle between said one end section and the adjacent section, said tread frame-members being free to swing in an arc below the hinge connection and between said standards, and resilient means normally urging said tread-connected framemembers toward their retracted positions.

2. A chair of the class described comprising, a pair of spaced seat-supporting standards, a seat supported on said standards, a pair of tread frame-members each formed with four sections providing one end section and one intermediate section which are parallel and which are disposed transversely to another end section and a second intermediate section, said one intermediate section being longer than said parallel one end section, treads spanning and connected to the corresponding parallel sections of said frame-members, hinge pins on said parallel end section of each of said tread frames located adjacent the contiguous transverse section of said tread frames, said hinge pins being mounted on said seat standards at a point which will dispose said treads in a horizontal position when said other end sections of each of said tread-frames rest upon the floor forwardly of said seatsupporting standards, and a spring normally frame members toward their retracted positions.

sections, said onelonger than said- 3. A chair of the class described comprising, a pair of spaced seat-supporting standards, a seat supported on said standards, a pair of tread frame-members each formed with four sections providing one end section and one intermediate section which are parallel and which are disposed transversely to another end section and a second intermediate section, said one intermediate section being longer than said parallel end section, treads spanning and connected to the corresponding parallel sections of said framemembers, hinge pins on said one end section of each of said tread frames and located adjacent the contiguous transverse section of said tread frames, said hinge pins being mounted on said seat standards at a point which will dispose said treads in a horizontal position when said other end sections of each of said tread-frames rest upon the floor forwardly of said seat-supporting standards, and a torsion spring coiled about each of said hinge pins having one end of each spring anchored to the adjacent standard and the other end anchored to said contiguous transverse section of each of said tread-frames. 4. A chair of the class described comprising seat supporting standards, a seat supported thereon, a tread frame including four sections providing a first tread section, a second tread section disposed parallel to said first tread section, an intermediate section interconnecting said first and second tread sections, and a supporting section connected to said second tread section and pivot means for pivotally interconnecting said tread frame and said supporting standards, said pivot means being connected to said tread frame at apoint adjacent the rear end of said first tread section and connected to said supporting standards at a point which will dispose said first and second tread sections in a horizontal position when said supporting section of said tread frame rests upon the fioor forwardly of said seat supporting standards and which will permit said tread frame to be swung intermediate said standards and in an arc below said pivotal connection to a substantially vertical position with the forwardmost edge of said second tread section disposed above the floor whereby said tread frame may rest beneath said seat.

5. A chair of the character described in claim 4 including a yielding means normally urging said tread frame toward its retracted position beneath said seat.

' HARRY A. GELMAN.

'MAC GELMAN.

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