US2555113A

US2555113A - Folding chair

Info

Publication number: US2555113A
Application number: US110291A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry C Burnham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-08-15
Filing date: 1949-08-15
Publication date: 1951-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 1968-05-29

Description

H. C. BURNHAM FQEDING CHAIR I May 29, 1951 Filed Aug. 15, 1949 EWWWQ Patented May 29, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING CHAIR Harry 0. Burnham, Grand Rapids, Mich. Application Aug'ustlfi, 1949, Serial No. 110,291

' 4' Claims.

1 This invention relates to folding chairs,,'and is of the same general'type and an improvement upon the folding chair disclosed in the pending joint application of myself and another, Ser. No.

87,918, filed April 16, 1949.

It is an object and purpose of the presentinvention to provide a simple and'economic'ally constructed folding chair in which the chair, in its'unfolded and operative position, transmits the bracing pressure of the rear legs of the chair to the front legs thereof at the backs of the front sides of said front legs, which are of hollow form through bearing links connecting the front legs, which are a part of the front frame of the chair, with the upper ends of the rear bracing legs. Such structure is foldable so as to bring the rear legs flat against and in parallel relation to the front legs and the connection of the front and rear legs by interposed arms is .a shorter and more sturdy connection than disclosed in the application previously identified.

An understanding of the invention .may behacl from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the chair open and unfolded in its operative position.

Fig. 2 is a generally horizontal section substantially on the plane of line 22 of Fig. 3 looking downwardly, and

Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section and side elevation substantially on the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawing.

In the structure of the chair, a front frame preferably of a generally inverted U-shape, has two spaced apart sides, the lower end portions of which form the front legs of the chair. Said frame member is made from flat metal and is hollow, each of the legs and the connecting portions at the upper ends of said legs having inner and outer spaced sides I, connected by an integral bend 2, closed at the rear sides by inturned flanges 3 which come together at their adjacent edges except that between the upper and lower ends of the legs I longitudinal slots 4 are provided, being cut away to space the adjacent edges of the rear flanges 3 as is shown in Fig. 1.

Within each of the leg portions of the front frame, a plate 5 of flat metal is permanently secured substantially at each of the slots 4. The plate of flat metal within each of the leg members of the front frame of the chair is longitudinally slotted, as indicated at 6, and, toward the upper end thereof, the slot is changed in direction as indicated at 'l to extend upwardly and forwardly of the main section 6 of said slot."

The legs 8, two in number, are also similarly shaped from sheet metal and at their upper ends are pressed inwardly and thence continue upwardly and in a forward direction in spaced ears 9. An arm ID of fiat relatively heavy metal has a pivoted riveted connection, by means of a rivet H, near one end of it to each of the fans of the ears 9 being located between them. A rivet I2 is carried by each arm HI a distance below the rivet II "and extends through the slots 6 and 1, being adapted to slidably traverse said slots in the movement of the rear legs 8 with respect to the front frame and legs of the chair when moved from folded to unfolded position.

The seat [3 of the chair is pivotally mounted upon and extends between the front legs of the chair, its rear portion extending to and having apivotal connection with a cross rod I4 which is between and connected at its ends to the two rear legs 8. The pivotal mount of the seat l3 to turn about a horizontal axis may be in any desired manner as shown in the previously identified application. Other cross rods connect the frontand rear legs adjacent their lower ends for reinforcing and strengthening, and each of the legs at its lower end may have a suitable foot member attached thereto of rubber or other suitable composition which preferably is of a friction character, and one which will not mar surfaces with which in contact.

When the chair is in its operative unfolded position, as in Figs. 1 and 3 the arms In at their forward edges Illa bear against the back of the U-bends 2 of the front legs of the chair, the rivets l2 bearing against the rear edges of the upper branch slots 1. The ears 9 and arms 10 may freely pass through and into the slots 4. When the chair is folded the seat I3 is turned upwardly with a consequent downward movement of the rear legs 8 causing the rivets [2 to first traverse the branch slots 1 and afterward the main slots 6, until the rivets occupy substantially the dash line position shown in Fig. 3 with the arms IE! extending downwardly and to the rear, with the legs 8 against and parallelingthe rear sides of the front legs.

The structure described is one of practical utility, strong and durable, readily manufactured and with no unsightly projections, thereby enhancing the appearance of the chair and adding to its utility in handling, collapsing and stacking all danger of damage to the hands or clothing of the one folding the chair being eliminated.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. A folding chair comprising, a front frame having spaced apart sides to provide front legs for the chair inclining upwardly and to the rear, said sides being connected together at their upper portions and the sides of said frame being hollow, each side at its rear and between its upper and lower ends having a longitudinal opening therein, a plate within each side of the front frame located adjacent the openings therein and permanently secured in place between the front and rear of said sides of the frame, each of said plates being slotted lengthwise thereof having lower portions substantially paralleling the length of the plate and an upper portion extending forwardly and outwardly from the lower slot portion, two arms of flat metal, a rivet through each arm passing slidably through the slot of an associated plate, rear legs pivotally connected at their upper ends, one to each of said arms, said rear legs extending downwardly and to the rear,

the front'edges of said arms bearing against the front portions of and within said sides of the frame, and a seat pivotally mounted upon and extending between the sides of said front frame at a point between the front and rear ends of the seat, said seat at its rear end having a pivotal connection to the rear legs whereby, upon said seat being turned upwardly at its front portion, said rear legs are moved downwardly to and against the rear sides of said sides of the front frame, and said rivets carried by said arms traverse the slots in said plates to the lower ends of said slots, said arms being swung downwardly and to the rear, the rear legs lying against and parallel to the lower portions of the sides of said front frame.

2. In a folding chair, spaced apart front legs adapted to extend upwardly and to the rear from their lower ends, a seat located between said front legs and mounted thereon for turning movement about a horizontal axis, means connecting the front legs at their upper ends at a distance above said seat, rear legsto which the rear end of said seat is pivotally connected at a 4 point below the upper ends of said rear legs, said rear legs being adapted to extend downwardly and to the rear, link connections between the upper ends of the rear legs and said front legs adapted to be housed within said front legs and bear thereagainst, said front legs having openings at their rear sides for the passage of said link connections therethrough and means for slidably and pivotally connecting said link connections to the front legs.

3. In a folding chair, spaced apart front legs adapted to extend upwardly and to the rear from their lower ends, said legs being hollow and at their rear sides having longitudinal openings therein, a seat located between said front legs and mounted thereon for turning movement about a horizontal axis, said openings in the legs being one adjacent each side of the chair seat,

,means connecting the front legs at their upper ends at a distance above the seat, rear legs to which the rear end of said seat is pivotally connected to a point below the upper ends of said rear legs, said rear legs being adapted to extend downwardly and to the rear, spaced cars at the upper end of each rear leg, two link connections" metal having an outer edge located against its associated front leg, within said leg, when the seat is in horizontal position.

HARRY C. BURNHAM.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,789,295 Bauer Jan. 20, 1931 2,233,749 Salomon Mar. 4, 1941' the