US2686527A - Canopy frame mounting for chairs - Google Patents

Description

g- 17, 1954 R. D. VANDERMINDEN 2,686,527

CANOPY FRAME MOUNTING FOR CHAIRS Filed June 10, 1952 27 g5 INVENTOR. 26 flofiel lfl Varzakrmimn ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 17, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CANOPY FRAME MOUNTING FOR CHAIRS York Application June 10, 1952, Serial No. 292,678

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a canopy frame mounting for chairs, more particularly folding chairs of the lawn or beach type.

In chairs of this type canopies of various types have heretofore been in use which are adjustably secured to the back uprights by means of bolts and wing nuts designed to be tightened on the bolts to secure the canopies in adjusted positions. One of the difiiculties frequently encountered with these arrangements is the loosening of the nuts on their bolts as a result of adjustment of the canopies or of closing of the chairs to folded condition and often the annoying loss of such nuts. This loosening occurs because of the motion of the canopy supporting straps on their bolts relative to the securing nuts with consequent loosening rotation thereof each time the canopy is swung for adjustment or to a folded position.

Principal objects and features of the present invention are the provision of novel canopy mounting means which eliminates entirely any tendency for loosening of the nuts on their bolts irrespective of the frequency or extent of pivotal adjustment or folding of the canopy relative to the body of the chair.

Further objects and features of the invention are the provision of novel canopy mounting means that is simple and effective mechanically and which may be utilized without modification on existing chairs.

Further objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a canopy frame mounted in position of use to a chair of the type described, only a portion of the chair being shown;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line II-II of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line IIIIII of Fig. 2.

The chair itself (only partially shown) includes the usual rear uprights iii and I! joined by a cross bar l2 which'serves as a support for the back l3 of canvas, duck or other suitable material.

The canopy frame comprises side bars 14 and Ida joined at their front ends, for example, by a front wire spreader l5 pivotally engaging each of the side bars and covered by canopy material It similar to that of the back l3.

The canopy frame mounting means by which the frame is adjustably secured to the uprights l6 and ll of the chair include a pair of straps l1 and I8 pivotally secured at spaced apart points l9 and 26 to opposite sides of each side bar 14 and Ida of the frame. The straps ll and it of each pair near their ends most removed from their pivotal supports it and 20 have non-circular holes 2| and 22 therein, which, preferably, are square or have other polygonal shapes. The straps l7 and Id of each pair are bent outwardly at Ila and ltd so that the spacing between the parallel portions thereof bearing holes 2| and 22 is sub stantially that of the thickness of the uprights it and H.

The uprights lo and I! near their upper ends each have a transversely extending bolt hole 25, preferably of somewhat larger diameter than that of the strap holes 2i and 22. Straps I? and 18 of each pair are positioned respectively to embrace one of the two uprights lo and I l and with their holes 2! and 22 aligned with the bolt holes 24 of these uprights. A headed bolt 25 having a portion 26 of non-circular cross section, corresponding in shape and. substantially with the dimensions of holes 2! and 22, is then inserted through the aligned holes 2E, 25 and 22 of each pair with its head 21 in surface contact with the outward face of one of the straps IT or I8 of each pair and with its non-circular portion engaged in, for example, the hole 2! of a strap N3 of each pair. A wing nut 28 or other suitable nut is screwed onto the threaded end 29 of each bolt 25 projecting outwardly of the hole 22 in strap ll of each pair and is tightened thereon to clamp the respective uprights ill or H firmly between a pair of the straps H and i8.

Because of the non-circular shape of hole 2! in each strap :8 and the engagement of its edges with the correspondingly shaped portion 26 of the bolt 25 extending therethrough, the bolt 25, members ll, it and wing nut 28 rotate as a unit whenever the canopy is rotated for adjustment, thereby eliminating possibility of accidental loosening of each wing nut 28 on its bolt 25. In consequence, repeated pivotal adjustments of the canopy frame to desired positions may be made without loosening or tightening of said nuts, thereby eliminating possibilities of loss of nuts or bolts.

Moreover, it will be noted that the respective pairs of straps ii and i8 lie on opposite sides of the respective uprights its and H and embrace them and that the heads 2? of the bolts and the wing nuts 23 bear respectively against the outward faces of the said straps. Thus the friction between the contacting surfaces of bolts, nut and straps has the tendency to rotate each bolt, nut

and their associated straps in unison, minimizing any tendency for the nuts to loosen or tighten on the bolts. Hence, even if the bolts are circular in cross section the canopy frame can be adjusted with minimum danger of loosening of the nuts. However, the preferable inclusion of the noncircular portions 26 on the bolts to engage in corresponding non-circular holes 21 in the straps I8 provides positive prevention of any accidental loosening or tightening of said nuts on said bolts during positional adjustments of the canopy frame.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and shown, variations in structural detail within the scope of the claims are possible and are contemplated. There is no intention, therefore, of limitation to the exact details described and shown.

What is claimed is:

1. A chair having back uprights provided with transverse holes and a canopy frame supported by said uprights, said frame having oppositely located side bars, and means for mounting the canopy frame adjustably from the uprights comprising a pair of straps secured pivotally at spaced-apart points to each side bar, each pair of straps having spaced-apart portions for positioning the straps of the pair to embrace an upright on its opposite sides, said straps having aligned openings in their spaced-apart portions for alignment with the transverse hole of the upright which they embrace, headed bolts, one extending through the aligned holes of each pair of straps and the transverse hole of the upright 4 which each pair of straps embrace with the bolt head engaging the outward face of one strap of said pair, the hole in one of each pair of said straps having a non-circular shape and the bolts having non-circular portions to fit and engage in the non-circular holes of said straps, and a clamping nut screwed onto each bolt engaging the outward face of the strap other than that engaged by the bolt head, the bolts, nuts and pairs of straps associated with them being rotatable as a unit during adjustment of the canopy frame, thereby eliminating accidental loosening of the nuts on the bolts during adjustment.

2. The chair of claim 1 wherein the straps of each pair are pivotally supported at opposite sides of the respective side bars and wherein the side bars are joined at their front ends by a wire spreader pivotally engaging each of the side bars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 624,908 Conchar May 16, 1899 764,111 Clark July 5, 1904 1,155,366 Myers Oct. 5, 1915 2,062,249 Tornquist Nov. 24, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 247,398 Switzerland Jan. 3, 1948

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