US2603274A

US2603274A - Foldable chair

Info

Publication number: US2603274A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1952-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 1969-07-15

Description

Juy l5, 1952 F. H. MCCLERNON v 2,603,274

FOLDABLE CHAIR Filed July 25, 1945 4 sheets-sheet 1 .bly

Juy'l, 1952 F. H. MGCLERNON 2,603,274

` FOLDABLE CHAIR Filed July 23, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ingenio?? Ramis .HMCZerizon mrneyd'.

july E5, 4w52 F. H. MCCLERNON FOLDABLE CHAIR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 filefl July 25, 1945 illlllll Inv/'enivre July 15, 1952 F. H. MccLl-:RNON

FOLDABLE CHAIR Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 25, 1945 wY ,m I.

Patented July 15, 1952 CE j FOLDABLE CHAIR y Francis H. Mc-Clernon, Springfield, Mo.

Application July 23, 1945, Serial No. 606,605 f 1s claims. (ci. 15s-152) l v This invention has to do with chairs of th folding type. Its purpose is to provide a folding chair having a back rest, side arms, and legs. all of which are foldable against the top and bottom of the seat so as to provide a closely assembled compact relation of the parts which will permit the chair, in folded condition, to be readily packed and transported; but which parts. when unfolded and in extended position, provide a sturdychair. kThe invention contemplates, further, a, relation between hinged and foldable members and other pivotally mounted members, such as pivoted arm and leg portions, which, when the hinged members are folded or unfolded will automatically actuate the pivotally mounted arm and leg portions and bring them to folded or unfolded positions. Y

In the drawings is illustrated one physical embodiment ofthe invention, and in said drawings: Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of Aa chair embodying the improvements, the parts being shown in their unfolded or extended positions.

,Figure 2 is a View in side elevation of the chair shown in Fig. 1. v

, Figure `3 is a view in front elevation showing the back and side arms in partially folded positions.

Figure 4 is a top plan view showing the back and side arms completely folded on the seat.Y

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view showing the chair legs incompletely folded position.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the chair bottom showing thepleg holding means and the seat pad securing means. Y y Figure 7 is a detail to show the common pivot for side ann and leg units and slotted bottom for leg clearance. Figure 8 is a detail of the leg and sidefsarm pivot, showing its attachment tothe seat flange, on lined-8 of Fig. '7. .7, Y

Figure 9 is a view in front elevation showing means for automatically folding, unfolding, and holding in place the side arms and leg members of the chair. A p Y Figure l is a view in side elevation of a portion of a chair showing the mounting of the arms and leg actuating members.l Y Figure 11 is an enlarged plan view on substantially the line II-II of Figure 10 of a portion of a chair showing the pivotal mountings of the parts. n

Referring to the drawings by numbers, the samenumbers designating the same parts in the several views, Il) is the seat portion of thechair 2 i which may be of any desired design insofar as shape, finish, and the like are concerned. .The seat'V ID is made up of a main bottom portion II. having at its edges upturned side and end flanges I2, so as to form a support for a suitable seat pad I3. Further, flanges I2 provide means forpivotally mounting the back, side arms, legs, and leg-actuating means, as will be hereinafter described. Pivotally mounted at suitable points on -a side flange I2, is a back portionIS, which back portion I5 may be swung on its pivots I4 to open or closed positions. rhe make-up -of the Vbaci: may be varied according tov the k*needs or design of the maker, it being essential, however, that it have an upper reach `or bar which will be curved for a purpose which willl presently be stated, and a transversely disposed bar I 5 sloping outwardly from a high center point I'Ito the up-j. rights I8 of the back to give substantially a wedgev formation. At the point of junction of the ends of the bar'l6 with the uprights I8, bar I6 Awill be provided with abrupt bends or notches I9` to r# ceive the side arms of the chair when the parts are brought to upright position..

The side arms 20 are made up of a top .limb and vertical limbs coupled together in any suit-V able mannerto yform a rigid structure, being here shown as integral. The vertical limbs of the side arms are pivotally mounted on suitable pivots 2`I on the endanges I2 of the bottom, the pivoted ends of thearms 20 being disposed exteriorly of the anges I2 so as to leave the interior of the anged bottom unobstructed forthe intro'duci tion of the seat pad I 3. and, further, as will presently appear, to permit the mounting vof the chair legs on the same pivots 2| that are used to pivotally support the side arms 20. The ends of the upright bars of the side arms 20 are slightly offset by curving them, so that they may be engaged withl the pivots 2I and yet, when in. un-

' folded, open position. be offset slightlyso as to be l:ln line with the margin of the seatY I0 and provide full seat width. i

The top bars of the side arms 20 engage the barII of the back I5, and when the back is 1 swung to open position, ride down the inclined portions of the bar from its high center point Il until they drop into the abrupt bends or notches I9. where they will be held against accidental displacement, and a rigid back and jside arm set-up provided. The back I5 will be'in clined rearwardly past the perpendiculanin its open position, so that even if folding pressure were exerted on the side arms 20, the position of the parts is suchthat they will resist ffolding arid engaged'with the"bottom;of 'the pad.

action until the back l5 is thrown forwardly past the perpendicular.

When the back I5 is moved from its open toward its closed position the curved upper reach or bar 22 will engage the horizontal upper bars 23 of the side arms 2U' as they leave the bends or notches I9 and carry them to folded position against the seat. The overall length of the back l5 will preferably be such that it will not extend, when folded, substantially beyond the margin or boundary of the seat I0, ensuring a compact, symmetrical folded position.

It will be seen that important features ofthis arrangement are the curved upper reach-or-ba`r 22 of the back l5 to bring aboutv folding of the side arms 20 when the back is'folded,`and the transverse intermediate bar ljsloping'inoppo- In Figs. 9 to 11, inclusive, a modified construction is shown. The side arms 33 and back 34 are identical in construction and operation with those heretofore described. The leg portions 35 are pivoted at 36 on a pivot 31 common to the legs and side arms as hereinbefore pointed out. The leg portions 35 are of the same general H-forrnation shown and described, but the transverselyV disposed bars or rungs 38.are disposed at a lower level or nearer the feet of the vertical leg members. These bars and rungs 38 are engaged by an actuating member 39 pivoted at 40 l' on the flange of the chair bottom and having aitransverse actuating bar 4l to engage the bars orrungsSS,k and fold or unfold them in the same "way' that the back 34 folds and unfolds the side `f arms'33,'as described hereinbefore and illustrated site directions from its high center Il to provide .A

a wedging angle, so as to effect unfolding of the side arms when the back is opened.

The folding legs are made up of substantially H-shaped members'having two upright leg portions 24 which are connected by a transversely disposed bar or rung 25, so that there is provided a single leg unit for each side of the chair. The floor ends of the leg portions 24 may be provided with any suitable feet, butv suction cup feet V'Mi are preferably provided for the reason that theyk givestabilityV to a'relatively light chair,

and more particularly, where a small, Ychild-s L chair is fashioned, Va greater degree ofsafety from upsettingis secured. y j Y' The upper ends of the' leg-portions N-{are preferably pivoted on the same-pivots 2l on which the side armsare mounted, the leg endsv extending'u'pwardly; inside -ofthe end angesf i2, through slots Ha in tlie'bottom ll of yseat I0, which slotsare extendedV so as to provide clearance for the legends asthey swing from open toclosed positions, theseslotsinsuring sufficient room for play of the slightly curvedends 21' of the legs. It willbe seen that-the curved ends 2l of the legs bring them 'toposition to engage pivots 2 I, and yetoffset the `legs' slightly to bring them to proper position under the outer boundary of the seat l0 for wide supportY and better-stability. Byusing the, same pivotsV forfthe sidefarms and the legunits, the construction-'number of parts,- andv assemblyV of thejparts is Vsi-rliplied'and'*a compact structure developed. Y f Y' Y, The cross barjor rung not onlyties thelegs 24' together so as to provide-a Vleg unit which ismanipulated asA a` single`v member, butY also' has the further function' of-acting as'a lockingbar to holdv the leg units in vk'extended position. Secured` to the bottom' offtlfeseat 'Hl' (see vEigs'f: lfand 6) Yin any"suitabldmannenfas byirivets 28; is a springy memberj'S-'having bar-engaging hooked ends 30. iii/"hen the v4leg 'units-arejm'oved to "extended supporting position the barf`' will slide out alongi the spring 29j and snap finto; the hooked ends 30.' rThe legswillbe firmlyheldin extended position, but can be readilyjI released by'springing theends'of member 29`to release -the bar or rung 25, and-.permitf'the leg unitftq'be foidedjagainst thev bottom ofthe seat: 'In' order to* give room for" the ends; 21j-'of the -legs-l which engage the' pivots 2l onthe inside v,of the 'anges l2, thevcushion or'pa'd` I3niaybejreducedbr cut awayslightly, asfalt '31,' so that no interference with' opening' or`foldin`g movement of the legs will' occur. TheA pad I`3"maybe secured' against accidental,displacement'by 'providing a` screw4 32 whih'may`be inserted through the'bot'tom H in the drawings. At its ends where it joins the vertical limbs of the actuating member 39, the transverse bar 4l has notched or offset portions l2 to receive'ltherungs 38T and hold them against accidental displacement. When 'brought toV extended position by operation ofV the actuating member 33 the leg portions will be held in place until the member 39 is'folded and they are swung to foldingposition in the same general manner in which theside arms are manipulated by the. notchedrbar -on the pivoted back portion, r'as shownand described. Except for. form 'anderlesign the parts are the same, and the mechanical actionin folding and unfolding the side arms and leg portions is-practically identical. Bythe-practice of this invention a compact, serviceablechair'construction is provided, which, when set up in its extended position, givessva sturdy. rigid. and safe seat and. when folde'dgcan be conveniently packed and transported.

Mechanical departures from the construction and assembly here specifically shown anddescribedlmay bemmade and still fall within the range of the invention `as dened yin the vappendedlclaims. v

Il claim: l.. A foldingI chaircomprising a seat; apairlof inwardly foluable, pivotally'mounted chairiarms, attached onerat eaclrside-of saidseat; asingle inwardly fold'able member pivotally mounted '-on said seat at right angles to said pair of arms; and arm actuating4 barsv on. said single member engagingreach'of said pair of arms` at rig-htangles to move` themto Vand from-folded and unfolded positionslwhen'sad -single memberis movedfto andvfrom its folded-andv unfolded positions.` .2. :A3 folding chair comprising aseat; 'a pair-'of inwardly foldable, pivotally mounted chair-Harms; attachedone at each side of said sea-t eachlaving'horizontal bars; a single inwardly foldable member pivotally mounted on said seat-.atright angles tosaidpair of armsanda plurality fzarm actuating bars integral with" said1 single member for moving engagement with'the horizontal -ba'rs of each of said pairof arms to-move thento and from folded and unfolded positions,when said single member is moved to andfrom'its folded and unfolded positions. fr 3. A .folding-chair comprising a vseatveterani of inwardly -foldab1e, vpivotally`r mountedehair arms, attached one at eachfside ofesaidseat each havinghorizontal' bars; a-sing-le inwardly foldable memberepivotally' mountedj on saidl seat at rightA angles to said pair ofV arms, a plurality of arm actuating bars on said single` member forr moving engagement-with the horizontal bars ofweach ofsaid pairl of" arms to move themto and from folded and-unfolded positions when said single member is moved to and from its folded and unfolded positions, one of said bars on said single member having bends at its ends to engage the horizontal bars and hold the pairs of arms in unfolded position.

4. A chair comprising a seat, a back pivotally mounted on said seat, side arms pivotally mounted on said seat, a transverse bar on said back to engage said side arms and fold them from upright to folded position when said back is folded, and a second transverse bar on said back spaced from said rst mentioned bar to engage said side bars and raise them when said back is raised.

5. A chair comprising a seat, a back pivotally mounted on said seat, side arms having horizontal and vertical limbs pivotally mounted on said seat, a curved transverse bar on said back to engage the horizontal limbs of said side arms and move them to folded position when said back is folded, and a second transverse wedge-shaped bar on said back spaced from said first named bar to engage said side bars and raise them when said back is raised.

6. A chair comprising a seat, a bottom, side and end flanges extending perpendicularly from said bottom; a back pivotally mounted on said side flanges; side arms pivotally mounted on said end flanges; a transverse bar on said back to engage the said side arms and move them to folded positions when said back is folded, and a second transverse bar on said back spaced from said first named bar to engage said side bars and raise them when said back is raised.

7. A chair comprising a, seat, a bottom, side and end flanges extending perpendicularly from said bottom; a back pivotally mounted on said side flanges; side arms pivotally mounted on said flanges; an upper curved transverse bar on said back to engage the said side arms and fold them on said seat when said back is folded, and a lower wedge-shaped transverse bar on said back spaced from said first named bar to engage said side bars and raise them when said back is raised.

8. A chair comprising a seat having a bottom, side and end anges extending perpendicularly upward from said bottom to form a pad recess; a back having arms curved at their ends to oiset said back relative'to said seat pivotally mounted on said side anges; side arms of substantially inverted U-shape having horizontal limbs and vertical limbs with curved ends pivotally mounted on said end flanges to offset said side arms relative to said seat; an integral curved upper bar on said back to engage the horizontal limbs of said side arms and move them from upright to folded positions when said back is folded, and an integral lower wedge-shaped bar spaced from said upper bar to engage the horizontal limbs of `said side arms and raise them when said back is raised.

9. A chair comprising a seat, a back pivotally mounted on said seat, side arms pivotally mounted on said seat, an integral transverse bar on said back to engage said side arms and fold them from upright to folded position when said back is folded, a second transverse bar on said back spaced from said rst named bar to engage said side bars and raise them when said back is raised, and interlocking means on said second bar to engage said side arms and hold them in upright positions.

10. A chair comprising a seat, a back pivotally mounted on said seat, side arms pivotally mounted on said seat, an integral transverse bar on said back to engage said side arms and fold them from upright to folded position when said back is folded, a second transverse bar on said back spaced from said first named bar to engage said side bars and raise them on said seat when said back is raised, and side arm interlocking means at the ends of said second transverse bar to hold them in uprightr position.

11. A chair comprising a seat, a back pivotally mounted on said seat, side arms pivotally mounted on said seat, an integral transverse bar on said back to engage said side arms and fold them from upright to folded position when said back is folded, a second transverse bar on said back spaced from said first named bar to engage said side bars and raise them on said seat when said back is raised, and side arms receiving bends at the ends of said second transverse bar to hold them in upright position.

12. A chair comprising a seat, a back pivotally mounted on said seat, side arms pivotally mounted on said seat, an integral transverse bar on said back to engage said side arms and fold them from upright to foldedposition when said back is folded, a second transverse bar on said back spaced from said first named bar to engage said side bars and raise them on said seat when said back is raised, side arms receiving bends in the ends of said second transverse bar to hold them in upright position, and foldable legs pivotally mounted beneath said seat.

13. A chair comprising a seat having a bottom provided with slots at its side edges. pad retaining flanges rising from said bottom Vin proximity to the bottom slots, pivots extending inwardly from the side flanges of said seat adjacent the bottom slots, pivotally mounted side arms independently mounted on said seat pivots, a back pivotally mounted on said seat, an integral transverse bar on said back to engage said side arms and fold them from upright to folded position when said back is folded, a second transverse bar on said back spaced from said first named bar to engage said side bars and raise them on said seat when said back is raised. foldable legs pivotally mounted beneath said seat, and a pad disposed Within said flanges and having its corners fashioned to provide clearance for the pivoted ends of said foldable legs. p Y

FRANCIS H. McCLERNON.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 181,969 Osgood Sept. 5, 1876 244,401 Powers July 19, 1881 1,061,935 Collier May 13, 1913 1,398,021 Holley Nov. 22, 1921 1,563,236 Smith Nov. 24, 1925 1,600,823 Hess Sept. 21, 1926 1,914,006 Brown June 13, 1933 2,050,114 Moore Aug. 4, 1936 2,131,722 Arthur Oct. 4, 1938 2,282,270 Vallone May 5, 1942 2,402,832 Muller June 25, 1946