US2587543A

US2587543A - Portable foldable chair

Info

Publication number: US2587543A
Application number: US153143A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter H Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-03-31
Filing date: 1950-03-31
Publication date: 1952-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 1969-02-26

Description

Feb. 26, 1952 w SMITH PORTABLE FOLDABLE CHAIR 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed March 31, 1950 In I/fl for Z0&Z/er (i (5972 z'ffi 29% ozmfpm Feb. 26, 1952 w. H. SMITH PORTABLE FOLDABLE CHAIR 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed March 31, 1950 Patented Feb. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE FQLDABLE CHAIR Walter H. Smith, Eureka, Ill. Application March 31, 1950, Serial No. 153,143

be folded into small compass; is light in weight;

is rugged and strong and can be folded and unfolded quickly and conveniently.

One of the important features of the invention resides in the provision of a portable, strong,

light weight folding chair which comprises a seat having a back, the seat and back including a suspended fabric which renders the chair exceedingly comfortable.

Another important feature of the invention resides in a portable folding chair having a seat portion and back portion which are supported by a tripodconstruction which gives stability to the chair.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and following detailed construction.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a side elevational vie of my portable folding chair.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the chair shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken, on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the chair in collapsed or folded position. 4

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the chair in collapsed or folded position.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 5.

1 Referring in detail to the drawings, the portable chair comprises essentially three legs I, 2 and 3, a fabric seat and back 4 and .a combination handle and housing 5, the parts being so related and secured together that they may be extended or opened to form a seat and back or may be folded into small compass of walking stick form. v

The

legs

2 and 3 are of substantially the same length and are pivoted together intermediate their length by a pivot pin 6 which carries a head I at one end and a collar 8 intermediate the length of the pin, the head and collar bearing upon

members

3 and 2 respectively to hold the members in contiguous relationship adjacent the pivot. When the chair is unfolded the

legs

2 and 3 are disposed in the form of an X and are maintained at a desired angular relationship with respect to each other by means of a lug 9 secured to the leg 2, said lug being formed with a shoulder I0 (Figs. 1 and 6) which engages with 8 Claims. (01. 155136) 2. an edge of plate II secured to the side of leg 3.

When the legs are in this described position,

shown best in Fig. 2, said legs are prevented, by weight which may be placed upon the chair, from collapsing.

Coacting with the

legs

2 and 3 when the chair is in unfolded position is the leg I which, together with

legs

2 and 3 forms a tripod. The leg I is provided with an elongated slot I2 intermediate the length of the leg, the assembly being such that said slot is normally positioned adjacent the pivot of

legs

2 and 3. Pivot pint beyond collar 3 terminates in a tongue I3 which is pivoted, as at I I, to a locking bar I5, said bar being provided with a slot I6 in which tongue I3 is positioned. The face end of bar I5 protrudes through slot I2 in leg I, bar I5 carrying a transverse pin H which, among its functions, prevents unintended removal of bar I5 from slot I2.

A pair of similar guide plates I8 are mounted, in spaced relationship with respect to each other, upon leg I adjacent the opposite defining sides of slot I2. Each plate is provided with a flange so formed as to have a projection I9, a notch 26 and notch 2I spaced from each other and the flanges of each plate are so disposed with respect to each other as to have corresponding parts transversely opposite each other.

The arrangement is such that pin I I, depending upon the folded or unfolded position of the chair, is positioned adjacent projections I9 (Figs. 5 and 6) or is disposed in either pair of

notches

20 or 2| (Figs. 1 and 3).

In unfolded position bar I5 protrudes transversely through slot I2 and pin II registers with either

notches

20 or 2| depending upon the desired angular relationship of leg I with respect to

legs

2 and 3. To render the three-way joint thus formed more rigid stops 22 and 23 are positioned upon leg I which are respectively engaged by the side edges of

legs

2 and 3.

Leg I is intended to comprise the rear support for the chair and is extended above

legs

2 and 3, as shown best at 24 in Figs. 1 and 2. The extension 24 thus functions as the support for the back of the seat. The leg I may carry a reinforcement 25 to further strengthen'said back support. At the upper ends of legs I, 2 and 3, ring posts 26 are carried and a substantially triangular shaped fabric 21 having post-engaging rings 28 carried at the corners thereof is adapted to be suspended from the ends of the legs, the corner rings 28 being removably threaded upon the posts 26.

The device has heretofore been described essentially in its unfolded position. To fold the device,

the fabric seat 21 is first removed from the posts 26;

legs

2 and 3 are then swung about the pivot 6 to bring the post-ends of the legs adjacent each other, as shown best in Fig. '7, and simultaneously the

legs

2 and 3 are swung about pivot I4 to bring

legs

2 and 3 and le I into parallel planes. The projecting end of pivot pin 6 is then moved into slot [2 positioning bar l exteriorly of said slot. Bar I5 is then swung about pivot M in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3, until bar 15 occupies a position slightly inclined with respect to leg I and between the flanges on the spaced plates l8.

Legs

2 and 3 and leg I are then moved longitudinally in opposite directions with respect to each other until pin I1 abuts the spaced projections 19 This movement brings the tapered portion 29 of bar I'5 into the end of slot l2 and, hence, the bar l5 becomes loosely wedged between the flanges of plates 18 and the three legs I, 2 and 3 are removably secured together in p1aneparallel relationship.

The upper end of the back support 24 carries a transverse pin 30. The member 5 comprises a hollow handle portion 3| and a hollow housing portion 32. The housing portion 32 is provided with oppositely positioned elongated slots 33 in which the opposite ends of pin 30 engage. Hence, the member 5 is swingably and slidably movable with respect to the back support 24.

When the parts have been assembled in folded position as has been hereinbefore described, member 5 may be moved slidably in embracing relationship with the back support 24 and the upper ends of legs 2 and-3,. as shown best in Fig. '7. The lower edge of the housing 32- is provided with notches 3A which engage the protruding ends of a pin 35 transversely carried by the back support Ed. A swingable spring clip 36 is carried by leg 3 and an aperture 3'! is provided in the housing 32 adjacent its lower edge. Engagement of a pin 38 carried by the spring clip 36 in aperture 31 serves to lock the member 5 upon the upper ends of the folded legs. 1

A plate 39 is hinged at 40 to the inner upper wall of the handle portion 3|, said plate extending downwardly adjacent the ends of legs .2 and 3. A space H is thus provided for the reception and storage of the folded fabric seat 21, the plate 39 when the member 5 is in embracing position being disposed adjacent theback support 24. When the member 5 is moved upwardly away from the ends of the legsplate 39 may be swung outwardly, as shown in broken linesin Fig, '7,

whereby seat fabric 2'! may be removed. In unfolded position, the member merely hangs upon pin 38, as shown best in F .8- 1 and}.

The legs I, 2 and 3 although shown as being constructed of wood may be constructed of metal such as aluminum or magnesium and although shown and described as being of solid construction, may, of course, be tubular. Such modifications and other obviousadaptations and modifications are contemplated-in myinvention as being well within the province of any one skilled in the art.

I claim as my invention;

l. A folding chair comprising a pair of legs each having upperyand lower'ends, a-pivot pin securing said .legs together intermediate their length, alocking bar pivotally connected-to said pivot pin, a third leg having an upper and lower end provided intermediate its length" with an elongated slot in which said .locking bar is posid tioned, means upon said locking bar for engaging said third leg to secure said legs together in pivotal fashion intermediate their length to form a tripod when the legs are disposed angularly to each other about the respective pivots, stop means upon said third leg for engaging each of said other legs, stop means upon one of said pair of legs for engaging the other leg of said pair, and a flexible fabric seat suspended from the spaced upper ends of said legs.

2. A folding chair comprising a pair of legs each having upper and lower ends, a pivot pin securin said legs together intermediate their length, an end of said pivot pin projecting from said legs, a locking bar pivotally connected to the projecting end of said pivot pin, a third leg having an upper and lower end provided intermediate its length with an elongated slot in which said locking bar is positioned, anchor means disposed upon said third leg adjacent said slot, means upon said locking bar for engagement with said anchoring means to secure said legs together in pivotal fashion intermediate their length and to form a tripod when the legs are disposed angularly to each other about the respective pivots, stop means upon said third leg for engaging each of said other legs, stop means upon one of the legs of said pair of legs for engaging the other leg of said pair, and a flexible fabric seat removably suspended from the spaced upper ends of said legs.

3. A folding chair comprising a pair of legs each having upper and lower ends, a pivot pin securing said legs together intermediate their length, a locking bar pivotally connected to said pivot pin, a third legof greater length than each of said other legs having an upper and lower end provided intermediate its length with an elongated slot in which said locking bar is positioned, said slot being closer to said lower end than to said upper end, means upon said locking bar for engaging said third leg to secure said legs together in pivotal fashion intermediate their length to form a tripod when the legs are disposed angularly to each other about the respective pivots, stop means upon said third leg for engaging each of said other legs, stop means upon one of said pair of legs for engaging the other leg of said pair, and a flexible fabric suspended from the spaced upper ends of said legs to form a seat and back for said chair.

4. A folding chair comprising a pair of legs each having upper and lower ends, a pivot pin securing said legs together intermediate their length, a locking bar pivotally connected to said pivot pin,v a third leg having an upper and lower end provided intermediate its length with an elongated slot in which said locking bar is positioned, means upon said locking bar for .engaging said third leg' to secure said legs together in pivotal fashion intermediate their length to form a tripod when the legs are disposed angularly to each other about the respective pivots, stop means upon said third leg for engaging each of said other legs, stop means upon one of said pair of legs for engaging the other leg of said pair, and a substantially triangular flexible fabric seat suspended at its corners from the spaced upper ends of said legs.

5. A folding chair comprising a pair of legs each having upper and lower ends, a pivot pin securing said legs together intermediate their length in plane-parallel relationship, said pin having a portion extending laterally from said legs, a locking bar pivotally connected to the extendingportion of said .pivotpin, a third leg having an upper and lower end provided intermediate its length with an elongated slot in which said pivot pin extension is positioned, spaced flanged means upon said third leg adjacent said slot, means upon said locking bar for engaging said flanged means to secure all of said legs together in plane-parallel fashion, and tubular means carried by said third leg for embracing the upper portions of said legs to hold the same in longitudinally parallel relationship.

6. A folding chair comprising a pair of legs each having upper and lower ends, a pivot pin securing said legs together intermediate their length in plane-parallel relationship, said pin having a portion extending laterally from said legs, a locking bar pivotally connected to the extending portion of said pivot pin, a third leg having an upper and lower end provided intermediate its length with an elongated slot in which said pivot pin extension is positioned,

' spaced flanged means upon said third leg adjacent said slot, means upon said locking bar for engaging'said flanged means to secure all of said legs together in plane-parallel fashion, and

tubular handle means carried by said third leg for telescopically engaging the upper portions of said legs to hold the same in longitudinally parallel relationship.

7. A folding chair comprising a pair of legs each having upper and lower ends, a pivot pin securing said legs together intermediate their length in plane-parallel relationship, said pin having a portion extending laterally from said legs, a locking bar pivotally connected to the extending portion of said pivot pin, a third leg 3 having an upper and lower end provided intermediate its length with an elongated slot in which said pivot pin extension is positioned, spaced flanged means upon said third leg adjacent said slot, means upon said locking bar for engaging said flanged means to secure all of said legs together in plane-parallel fashion, and tubular handle means carried by said third leg for telescopically engaging the upper portions of said legs to hold the same in longitudinally parallel relationship and means carried by one of said legs for locking said handle means in telescopic position upon the upper portions of said legs.

8. A folding chair comprising three legs, a pivot pin for pivotally securing two legs together in plane-parallel relationship, an extension on said pivot pin, a link pivotally connected to said extension, means upon said link for pivotally and slidably engaging said link in an elongated aperture provided in the third leg whereby the third leg is pivotally secured to the other two legs, and has limited longitudinal movement relative thereto, means carried by certain of said legs for locking engagement with adjacent legs to lock said legs together in a predetermined angular relationship, and a flexible fabric seat carried by the ends of said legs.

WALTER H. SMITH.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS