US2567341A

US2567341A - Folding deck chair

Info

Publication number: US2567341A
Application number: US146118A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter C Martin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-02-24
Filing date: 1950-02-24
Publication date: 1951-09-11
Anticipated expiration: 1968-09-11

Description

w. c. MARTIN FOLDING DECK CHAIR 3 Sheets-Sheet l Walter 6. Martin INVENTOR.

BY 1101550 915. :mmqs

Sept. 11, 1951 Filed Feb. 24, 1950 H" Ill II] I I Sept. 11, 1951 w. MARTIN FOLDING DECK CHAIR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 24, 1950 mm mm Waiter 6. Mari/n IN V EN TOR.

Sept. 11, 1951 w. c. MARTIN 2,567,341

' FOLDING DECK CHAIR Filed Feb. 24, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Walter C. Martin INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE FOLDING DECK CHAIR.

I 1 Walter C. Martin, Hinsdale, 111.

Application February 24, 1950, Serial No. 146,118.

6 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in folding; deck chairs of the crossed leg hammock seat type.

The primary object of my invention is to adapt such a chair for use as a rocker and for adjustment of the same under the weight of the occupant into diiferent reclining. positions selectively.

Another object is to-provide in such a chair for spring suspension of the occupant if. desired.

Still another object isto provide such a chair with a-leg rest vertically adjustable by adjustment of the chair into different reclining. positions to elevate or lower-the legs of the occupant in accordance with lowering or raising of the body of the occupant.

Another object isto accomplish the abovein a chair'of the type specified by means of simple construction and few parts which will not materially increase the cost of manufacture of such chairs.

Other andsubordinate objects, withinthe purview of my invention, to'getherwith the precise nature of my improvements will be readily underare read with reference drawings.

In said drawings:

Figure '1 is a view in perspective of my chair unfolded;

Figure 2'is a view in vertical longitudinal section taken. on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is. a fragmentary View in horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 and drawnto a larger scale; I

Figure 4 is a similar view taken on 'the line lQ-lof FigureZ; v

Figure. 5 isa fragmentary view similar to Figure 3 illustrating the use of the stop pins;

Figure 6 isa view in vertical transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4 and drawn to a, still..1arger scale; I s

Figure 7 is a view in longitudinal section taken on the. line 1.-! of Figure 3 and drawn to the same. scale;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view in rear eleva tion illustrating the. manner in which one end of theseat and back. forming sheet is secured in place;

Figure 9- is a fragmentary view in bottom plan taken on the line 9..9 of Figure 2 and illustrating the manner in'which the other end of the seat and back forming sheet is. secured in place;

Figure 10. is-a-view drawn to areduced scale to the accompanying improved and illustrating the chair partly folded and in ,stood when the succeeding description and claims side elevation;

Figure 11 is a similar'view illustrating, in full lines, the chair completely folded;

Figure 12 is a view in plan illustrating the chair completely folded in full lineswith the seat and back forming sheet illustrated in folded position.

Referring to the drawings, by numerals, my improved chair, as illustrated, comprises a base frame I including a pair of' side base bars 2 with longitudinal slots 3 therein, for a purpose presently'seen, and a rear base bar 4 underlying and bolted, asat 5, to the rear ends of said side bar 2 for rigidl'y'connecting the same.

A pair of" side leg bars 6, at opposite sides of thebase frame I are pivotally and slidably connected atlower ends thereof to said side base bars-2, for folding and unfolding, by bolts 1 extending through said ends and the slots 3, said leg bars 6' being cross-connected at'upper ends thereof'by a longitudinally slit cross bar'8 suitably fixed thereto, as at 8.

A pair of side leg bars 9, relatively longer than the. side leg: bars 6 are pivotally' connected at lower ends thereof to the front ends of the side base bars 2, for folding and unfolding, .in between the same, and. bymeans of lateral pivot. bolts H] with spacing collars. ll thereon between said bars 2 and 9'. A longitudinally slit cross bar l2 bolted in place, as at I3, cross connects the upper ends OffthGlSid leg bars 9.

Theside leg bars 6, 9, when the chair is unfolded, cross in the usual oppositely inclined manner with the shorterside leg bars 6 inclining forwardly, and upwardly from the side base bars 2' and; the pivot bolts 1 in the rear ends of the slots 3, with the crossbar 8 at the" front of the chair, while the. longer side leg bars 9 incline upwardly andrearwardly from the side base bars 2 with the cross bar l2 at. the back of. the chair.

The usual hammock type seat andback forming fabric sheet M has one end inserted through the slit cross bar 8 with a rod [5 hemmed therein to-prevent the sheet from pulling out of said bar 8, the other end-of said sheet Mbeing similarly extended through the slit cross bar l2 with. a rod. I6 hemmed therein for the samefpurpose as rod. IS. The. ends of the rod I6 are seated in notches I 6 in the side leg bars 9 to fasten said rod in place. A cushioned head rest I! is suitably attached to'the cross bar l2 by a flap I8.

Afolding leg rest frame I9 is provided on the side leg, bars 9 to extend, when the same is unfolded, forwardly of the rest of the chair. The leg, rest frame. l9- comprisesa, pair of side bars 20 pivoted at rear ends thereof by pivot bolts 2|, to the side leg bars 9 adjacent the lower ends of said bars 9. As will be seen, when the leg rest frame 9 is unfolded, the same is positioned substantially above the floor. A foot rest panel 22 is pivoted, as at 23, between the front ends of said bars 20 for adjustment under foot pressure about a horizontal axis. A cross bar 24 is bolted, as at 25, to the side bars 20 and connects the same for folding and unfolding in unison. A supporting bar 25 for the leg rest frame |9 extends across and is bolted, as at 21, to the side leg bars 9 below the pivot bolts 2| of said side bars 20, to support said bars 20 and consequently the leg rest frame, when said frame is unfolded.

Means is provided for yieldingly connecting the side leg bars 6 and 9 at opposite sides-of the chair for adjustment of the chair into different reclining positions and which will now be described. 1

A pair of arm bars 28 are pivoted, by bolts 29, at the front ends thereof to the upper ends of the side leg bars 6 for folding alongside said bars 6 when the chair isfolded, and for unfolding to extend horizontally across the side leg bars 9. A longitudinal top groove 30 is formed in each arm bar 28 and a shorter longitudinal slot 3| in the inner side thereof communicating with the groove 38 for a distance from the rear end of said groove suitable for a purpose presently seen. An arm rest panel 32 is bolted, as at 33, on each arm 28 and closes the groove 30. A lateral washerequipped, stud 34 extends from each side leg bar 19 through the slot 3| and into the groove 30 of the adjacent arm bar 28. A helical retractile spring 35 in the groove 30 of each arm bar 28 is anchored at its front end in the front end of said groove by a pin 36 with its rear anchored, as at 31, to the stud 34 extending into the groove.

As will be seen, upon reference particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 7, since the helical springs 35 extend forwardly of the studs 34, said studs 34 are normally pulled forwardly by said springs 35 against the front ends of the slots 3| so that when the chair is unfolded, and unoccupied, the side leg bars 9 are swung forwardly on the pivot bolts l and the chair is'thus adjusted into a normal reclining position in which the slots 3| extend rearwardly of the side leg bars 9. Thus, under the weight of an occupant of the chair, the-studs 34 may slide rearwardly in the slots 3| in oppositionto the helical springs 35, the side leg bars 9 swinging downwardly and rearwardly on the pivot bolts I0 and the side leg bars 6 swinging downwardly and forwardly on the pivot bolts I sothat the chair is adjusted into other, lower reclining positions until the studs 34 engage the rear ends of the slots 3| and establish the lowest reclining position of the chair.

I A pair of stop pins 38 are provided for insertion in pairs of vertically aligned openings in the arm rest panels 32 and arm bars 28, for controlling adjustment of the chair into different reclining positions, the pairs being designated 39, 140, respectively. The pins, 38 are vertically slidable in pivoted pin carrying cranks 4| on the arm rest panels 32 for swinging adjustment into verticalalignment with the pairs. of

openings

39, 40 selectively.

r As will be observed in Figures 4 and '7, the

pairs pf openings

39, 40 are positioned in the line of .the grooves 30, the pair 39 being adjacent the pom ends of the slots 3| and so that when the 'ins 38 are inserted in the pair 39, as shown in Figures 3, 4, and 7, rearward movement of the studs 34 in the slots 3| and grooves 39 is blocked by the pins and the chair locked against being adjusted out of normal reclining position. The pair of openings 40 is located rearwardly of the pair 39, substantially midway between said openings 39 and the rear ends of the grooves 39, so that when the pins 38 are inserted in said pair 40, said studs 34 may move rearwardly in the slots 3| and grooves 30 and the chair may be adjusted into a lower reclining position.

A third pair of vertically aligned openings 42 is provided in the arm rest panels 32 and arm bars 28 and offset laterally from the path of movement of the studs 34, and with which the pins 38 may be vertically aligned, by swinging of the pin carrying cranks 4|, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5. When the pins 38 are inserted in the pair of openings 42, said pins are positioned in an idle out-of-the-way position so that the studs 34 may move, if the weight of the occupant of the chair is sufficient, rearwardly in the slots 3| and grooves 30 into engagement with the rear end of said slots 3|, so that the chair may be thus adjusted into lowest reclining position, On the other hand, if the weight of the occupant of the chair is not suflicient, the chair may assume different reclining positions, with the occupant spring suspended in floating position, in a manner which will be apparent. In this connection, it is to be understood that the helical springs 35 are constructed and arranged to sustain oc-' cupants of different weight within a wide range of variations, and the lowest reclining position of the chair is principally a safety provision.

The operation of my improved chair will be readily understood from the foregoing and the followingdescription. The chair being unfolded, the studs 34 are'pulled forwardly in the slots 3| and grooves 30, which is to say, in the arm bars 28, against the front ends of said slots 3| so that the chair is adjusted into its normal slightly reclining position; This position of the chair may be established, selectively, for one about to occupy the chair, by inserting the stop pins 38 in the pair of openings 39 whereby the chair will be locked in normal slightly reclining position. If a lower reclining position is desired-the occupant of the chair may insert the pins in the pair of openings 40 and the chair, under the weight of the occupant, will assume a lower reclining position in the manner described. If a still lower reclining position is desired, the pins 38 may be inserted in the pair of openings 42 so that the studs 34 may play freely back and forth in the slots 30 and grooves 3|. The chair will then be adjusted according to the weight of the 00 cupant into a further, lower reclining position, with the occupant spring suspended and floatingly sustained, in the manner previously set forth. Obviously, in any position in which the chair is adjusted it may be rocked by foot pressure on the leg rest frame l9, the side leg bars 6 and 9 pivoting on the pivot bolts 1, I0, 29 and on the studs 34 to permit such rocking. Also, as will be obvious, the leg rest frame l9 will be tilted upwardly as the chair is adjusted into successively lower reclining positions since, under such adjustment, the side leg bars 9 are lowered on the pivot bolts I0 whereby the rest bar 26 will swing said frame |9 upwardly. The advantage is providing for'easy comfortable posture as will be clear. I

Referring now particularly ,to Figures 10 to 12', to fold the chair,the side leg bars 8 are swun upwardly and rearwardly by means of the-bar 8 which causes the pivot'bolts I to slideforwardly in the'slotsi 3, the side ,legbars' 9; to swing down wardly andrearwardly, and the arm bars 28- to "swing downwardly and rearwardly between the ,sidebase-bars-f and also between saidbars 6 and9 allasishown" in Figure 10in which the chair is shown partly folded, When the pivot'bolts l reacnthe front ends ofthe slots 3, the side'leg bars-'6', 9 and the arm bars 28 will fold substantially'fiatas shown in Figure 11. The leg rest frame l9 'may then-be swung-upwardly and rearwardly in between the'folded side leg bars 9, as shown in Figure 12.

The foregoing will, it isbelieved, suffice to imparta clear understanding of my invention, without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification, without departing from the inventive concept, andright is herein reserved to such modifications. as fall within theiscope ,offthe, appended claims,

tending across the side leg bars at opposite sides of the frame, a flexible seat-and back forming sheet suspended from said pairs of side leg bars, said side leg bars being pivotally connected to said side frame bars and to said arm bars for rocking movement of said side leg bars and arm bars relatively to form a rocking chair, and a leg supporting frame extending forwardly from said second pair of side leg bars for vertical rocking adjustment by rocking movement of said second pair of side leg bars, the pivotal connections between said second pair of side leg bars and arm bars being slidable rearwardly along said arm bars for swinging of said second pair of leg forming bars rearwardly to adjust the chair into different reclining positions, and spring means in said arm bars for opposing rearward sliding of said slidable connections and resiliently suspending an occupant of said seat.

2. In a deck chair, a base frame including a pair of horizontal side frame bars, rigidly connected, a first pair of side leg bars at opposite sides of said frame inclining upwardly and forwardly therefrom, a second pair of relatively longer side leg bars at opposite sides of said frame inclining upwardly and rearwardly therefrom across the first pair of side leg bars, a pair of arm bars extending across the side leg bars at opposite sides of said frame, a flexible seat and back forming sheet suspended from said pairs of side leg bars, said leg bars being pivotally connected to said side frame bars and to said arm bars for rocking movement of said side leg bars and arm bars relatively to form a rocking chair, the pivotal connections between said second pair of side leg bars and said arm bars being slidable rearwardly along said arm bars for swinging of the second pair of side leg bars rearwardly to adjust the chair into different reclining positions, and spring means in said arm bars for opposing rearward sliding of said slidable connections and resiliently suspending an occupant of said seat.

3. In a deck chair, a base frame including 6 a pairof horizontal'side frame bars, rigidly connected, a first pair of Side legbars at opposite "sides of"saicl "frame inclining upwardly and forwardlytherefi om, a second; pair of relatively longer side l'egbars at opposite sidesof said frame inclining upwardly andrearwardlytherefrom across the first pair of side-leg bars, a pair o f armgbars' extending across the side leg bars at opposite sides of said frame, a flexible seat and back forming sheet suspended from said pairs of" side leg'bars', said leg bars being pivotally connected to said side frame bars and to sai dj arm" bars for rocking movement ofsaid side legjba'rs and'arm bars relatively "to form a rocking chair, the pivotal connections between said second' pair of side leg bars, and said arm b'arsbeing slidable rearwardly along said arm bars for swingingof the second pair'of side leg bars rearwardl y'to adjust the chair into different reclining positions, spring meansirl' said'arm bars for op: posing rearward sliding of said slidable connections and resiliently-suspending an'occupant of said seat, and means for selectivelyestablishing different limits of rearward sliding movement of said slidable connections to predetermine the reclining position into which said chair shall be adjusted.

4. In a deck chair, a base frame including a pair of horizontal side frame bars, rigidly connected, a first pair of side leg bars at opposite sides of said frame inclining upwardly and forwardly therefrom, a second pair of relatively longer side leg bars at opposite sides of said frame inclining upwardly and rearwardly therefrom across the first pair of side leg bars, a pair of arm bars extending across the side leg bars at opposite sides of said frame, a flexible seat and back forming sheet suspended from said pairs of side leg bars, said leg bars being pivotally connected to said side frame bars and to said arm bars for rocking movement of said side leg bars and arm bars relatively to form a rocking chair, the pivotal connections between said second pair of side leg bars and said arm bars being slidable rearwardly along said arm bars for swinging of the second pair of side leg bars rearwardly to adjust the chair into different reclining positions, spring means in said arm bars for opposing rearward sliding of said slidable connections and resiliently suspending an occupant of said seat, and means insertable into said arm bars into the path of movement of said slidable connections to limit rearward sliding thereof and predetermine the reclining position in which said chair shall be adjusted.

5. In a deck chair, a base frame including a pair of horizontal side frame bars, rigidly connected, a first pair of side leg bars at opposite sides of said frame inclining upwardly and forwardly therefrom, a second pair of relatively longer side leg bars at opposite sides of said frame inclining upwardly and rearwardly therefrom across the first pair of side leg bars, a pair of arm bars extending across the side leg bars at opposite sides of said frame, a flexible seat and back forming sheet suspended from said pairs of side leg bars, said leg bars being pivotally connected to said side frame bars and to said arm bars for rocking movement of said side leg bars and arm bars relatively to form a rocking chair, the pivotal connections between said second pair of side leg bars and said arm bars being slidable rearwardly along said arm bars for swinging of the second pair of side leg bars rearwardly to 7 adjust the chair into different reclining positions. spring means in said arm bars for opposing rearward sliding of said slidable connections and resiliently suspending an occupant of said seat, and means for locking said slidable connections against rearward movement to prevent adjustment of said chair.

6. In a deck chair, a base frame including a pair of horizontal side frame bars, rigidly connected, a first pair of side leg bars at opposite sides of said frame inclining upwardly and forwardly therefrom, a second pair of relatively longer side leg bars at opposite sides of said frame inclining upwardly and rearwardly therefrom across the first pair of side leg bars, a pair of of side leg bars and said arm bars being slibable rearwardly along said arm bars for swinging of the second pair of side leg bars rearwardly to adjust the chair into difl'erent reclining positions, spring .means in said arm bars for opposing rearward sliding of said slidable connections and resiliently suspending an occupant of said seat, and means for locking said slidable connections against rearward movement to prevent adjustment of said chair including stop pins insertable in said arm bars into the path of rearward movement of said sliding connections.

- WALTER C. MARTIN.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 374,802 Meddins Dec. 13, 1887 2,046,644 Martin July 7, 1936 2,203,610 Bascom June 4, 1940