US2702587A - Folding chair - Google Patents

Description

J. M. WIEGEL FOLDING CHAIR Feb. 22, 1955 6 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Oct. 9, 1953 iiiiiliiiilillliihilliilll JOHN MAso/v W/EGEL fiM ATTORNEY Feb. 22, 1955 J. M. WIEGEL' 2,702,587

FOLDING CHAIR Filed Oct. 9, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JOHN MASON W/EGEL ATTORNEY Feb. 22, 1955 J. M. WIEGEL 2,702,587

FOLDING CHAIR Filed Oct. 9, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

JOHN MASON W/EGEL BY W 3 82 ATTORNEY Feb. 22, 1955 J. M. WlEGEL FOLDING CHAIR 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed 001;. 9, 1953 INVENTOR.

JOHN MASO W/E 65 L mm 21.

ATTORNEY United States Patent FOLDING CHAIR John Mason Wiegel, Oakland, Calif.

Application October 9, 1953, Serial No. 385,174

21 Claims. (Cl. 155-139) This invention relates to an improved folding chair and particularly relates to a folding chair that is very light in weight but is quite strong, and which takes up a very small amount of space when folded.

Many long-standing problems have been solved by this invention. For example, chairs made of lightweight material, such as aluminum, were not heretofore strong enough to withstand continued use unless they were so reinforced with steel or wood that they lost any weight advantage that might have been gained by using the lightweight material. The present invention solves that problem by a novel structural arrangement that makes it possible to produce a strong chair from lightweight sheet aluminum and aluminum tubing.

Another disadvantage of folding chairs heretofore in use was that suitably strong chairs were too bulky when folded. Most prior-art chairs were no shorter when folded than when unfolded, and some of them were longer, because their legs then projected beyond the back frame. In the present invention, all the component parts of the folded chair lie within the area of its back frame, and the over-all length of the chair contracts when the chair is folded, so that it may then be about 26" long, 13% wide, and less than 1" thick. Approximately one dozen of these chairs may be stored in an ordinary legal-size file drawer.

Prior-art folding chairs were not well adapted to their intended purposes. For example, they had no place to put ones hat or purse when they were used as auditorium chairs, and no place to put refreshments when used as card-table chairs or television chairs at a party. The present invention solves this problem by providing a relatively large shelf or platform below the chair seat and spaced away from it. At the same time, this shelf braces the chair and increases its stability and strength. The shelf can be made from lightweight sheet aluminum so that it adds nothing to the storage space consumed by the chair and only a negligible amount to the weight.

Another problem with folding chairs has been to provide sufiicient flexibility along with the required stability. When a chair was too rigid, it was easily broken by normal use and was broken very soon when subjected to such abnormal use as children or nervous people give it. The present invention provides the necessary flexibility without detracting from the stability, due to novel structural relations between the component parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a positive self-locking means for holding the seat in its open position until it is unlocked by manually releasing the look when folding the chair.

Another feature of the invention is a novel structure for the ends of the legs which engage the floor. This structure eliminates the necessity for separate glides, which must be installed in other chairs in order to prevent scratching the floors. In the present invention, the aluminum tubing which forms the legs is so constructed and shaped that the legs rest flat upon the floor with the ends serving as integral gliding feet.

Another problem not solved by the prior art was how to lock together any number of folded chairs so that they could be stored more easily and carried from place to place more conveniently. The present invention has solved this problem, first, by providing a novel chair structure so that each chair folds flat and so that successive chairs can be nested one upon another in a minimum amount of space and, second, by providing novel locking means by which the chairs can be attached to each other "ice in any number and will stay attached until the locking means is unlatched. The combination between the chairs and the locking means enables the latching and unlatching operation to be done rapidly and easily.

The chair which has solved all these problems has a back and frame member with two central cut-out portions separated by a generally horizontal cross member. The bottom. and side edges of the frame are provided with forwardly extending flanges and, through the bottom flange there are a pair of openings, one on each side of the frame, to receive the rear legs. The seat is pivotally attached adjacent its rear edge to the cross member, preferably by piano hinges, and also to the frame sides. A shelf or platform is similarly pivoted adjacent the lower edge of the frame so that it is below and spaced from the seat. The four legs are lengths of aluminum tubing, all pivotally secured along the same axis to the forward edge of the seat. A piano hinge connects the seat with a bracket secured between the front legs, and another such hinge joins the front legs to the forward edge of the shelf. The rear legs extend back and down from the forward edge of the chair seat through the openings in the bottom flange of the frame member, the openings thereby serving as guides. Releasable latch members may be provided to lock these rear legs in open position, and another set of latch members may be provided on the back frame for locking the chairs together in series.

Other features of the invention and other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment given in accordance with 35 U. S. C. 112 but without intending to limit the scope of the invention to the details herein described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a chair embodying the principles of the present invention. The chair is shown in its opened position.

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the chair of Fig. 1, also in its open position.

Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation of the chair of Figs. 1 and 2, also in its open position.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the same chair, also in its open position.

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the same chair in its closed or folded position.

Fig. 6 is a view in front elevation of the chair in its folded position.

Fig. 7 is a view in rear elevation of the chair in its folded position.

Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of the chair in its folded position.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the chair in its folded position.

Fig. 10 is an exploded isometric view of the major components of the chair.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged view in side elevation and in section, taken along the line 1111 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 12 is a view in section taken along the line 1212 in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a view in section taken along the line 13-13 in Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, partly in section, showing the pivot arrangement of the legs with the seat.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, partly in section, showing where the rear leg extends through the back frame, and the latching mechanism thereat.

Fig. 16 is a view in section taken along the line 1616 in Fig. 2, with the seat cover and upholstery pad removed.

Fig. 17 is a view in section taken along the line 17--17 in Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a view in section taken along the line 18-18 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 19 is a view in section taken along the line 19-19 in Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary view in section taken along the line 2020 in Fig. 18.

Fig. 21 is a view in section taken along the line 21-21 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary view in section showing a portion of the side edges of the back frames of two chairs joined together by a novel side bracket arrangement.

Fig. 23 is a view in perspective of the side bracket for joining chairs together.

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary view in section showing a portion of the lower margins of the back frames of the chairs latched together.

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, partly in section, of the lower end of one of the front legs of the chair.

Fig. 26 is a bottom plan view of the leg portion of Fig. 25.

Fig. 27 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, partly in section, of the lower end of one of the rear legs of the chair.

Fig. 28 is a bottom plan view of the leg portion of Fig. 27.

The chair of this invention may be assembled from a relatively small number of components. As shown in Figs. 1 and 10, its principal components are a back frame member 30, a seat 31, a shelf or platform 32, two front legs 33 and 34, two rear legs 35 and 36, a pair of brace plates 37 and 38, and a latch assembly 39. These members when assembled with the hinges, pivot pins, staples, screws and so on, form the completed chair. Of these members, the legs 33, 34, 35, and 36 are preferably made from aluminum tubing while the members 30, 31, 32, 37 and 38 are preferably made principally from sheet aluminum and their parts may be stamped out by dies and formed to the desired shapes.

The back frame 30 The back frame member 30 is generally rectangular in shape and has a pair of relatively large openings 40 and 41 stamped out from it, one above the other and separated by a central cross member 42. At the upper end of the frame member and bridging across it is the contoured chair back 43, which may be recessed at 44 and provided with upholstery or padding 45 (Figs. 11 and 12) and with a non-metallic (preferably fabric or plastic) cover 46, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 12. Preferably, the back 43 is hollow and has a reinforcing rear member 47, thereby giving lightness, strength, and additional body thickness at the same time. The chair back structure and its upholstery constitute the subject matter of a separate patent application, Serial No. 386,937, filed October 19, 1953.

The side margins 50 and 51 of the frame 30 and the lower margin 52 are preferably provided with forwardly extending side flanges 53, 54, and 55 whose outer edges 56 are preferably curled over these flanges for greater strength and in order to provide round edges as shown in Figs. 4, 7, l0, and 11. The side margins 50 and 51 are each preferably strengthened by integral ribs 57, 58 that are shaped to provide recesses in which the legs 33, 34, 35, and 36 nest (Figs. 7, 10, and 18). The lower flange 55 is provided with generally round openings 60 and 61 adjacent each end. Through these openings 60, 61 the rear legs 35, 36 extend snugly, as will be explained later.

The upper edge 62 of the central member 42 (Fig. 10) and the upper edge 63 of the lower margin 52 are provided with cut-out portions 64 and curled-over edges 65 that define a central passage 66. This structure constitutes half of a piano hinge to which the seat 31 and platform 32 respectively are connected, in a manner explained below. The central portion 42 may be ribbed at 67 for greater strength.

The seat 31 The forward edge 73 of the seat 31 is provided with splayed corners 74, tabs 75 being bent over at this point and secured to the lower surface 76 of the seat 31 (Fig. 18) by staples 77. This gives added strength and rounded edges. The remainder of the forward edge 73 has a shallow rounded downturned flange 78, and deeper flanges 80, 81 are provided at the sides, these side flanges 80, 81 terminating in inturned flanges 82, 83.

Corners 84 are cut out from each side at the rear of the seat 31, and a rear portion 85 of the seat extends on past the back 30 when the seat is opened (Figs. 16 and 18), to give added comfort to the sitter. A curled rear flange 86 includes elongated tabs 87 at each end that provide holding means for a rod 88 fitting in a seam 89 in the seat cover 72, so that the cover 72 is held taut.

Openings 90 through the side flanges 80, 81 match openings 91 through the side flanges 53, 54 of the frame 30, and a short rivet 92 or other type of pivot pin is pro. vided. The seat 31 and frame 30 are also joined by a pintle 93 directly in line with the pin 92. For this purpose a hinge member 94, stapled to the seat 31, is provided with curled over edges 95 that fit in the openings 64 and with openings 96 that accommodate the projecting portions 65 of the frame. Passages 97 are in line with the passages 66 and with the openings 90 and 91. When the pintle 93 is inserted in the passages 97 and 66, the piano hinge 98 is complete, and the seat 31 is pivotally attached to the frame 30.

The piano hinge 98 gives great strength to the connection between the seat 31 and the frame 30 and also helps protect fingers from getting caught between them, as they might with other types of hinges.

One half 100 of another piano hinge 101 is stapled near the forward edge 73 of the seat 31, being provided with recesses 102 and folded-over edges 103. In line with the passages 104 are openings 105 in a pair of brackets 106, concealed in the side flanges 80, 81.

The platform or shelf 32 The platform or shelf 32 is spaced below the chair seat 31. Its rear edge is formed into half of a piano hinge 111, which is completed by the half hinge 63 on the upper edge of the lower frame margin 52, a pintle 112 being passed through the passages through the curled over edges. The forward edge 113 of the platform 32 is likewise formed to make a piano hinge section 114.

Preferably the shelf 32 is dished in at 115 to provide a generally flat surface 116 bounded by higher marginal edges. This prevents objects from falling off the shelf too rgadily and also increases the strength and stability of the c arr.

The bracing members 37 and 38 The bracing member 37 is formed with a piano hinge section 120 on its upper edge that is joined by a pintle 121 to the piano hinge section 100 near the front of the seat 31 to form the piano hinge 101. Otherwise, the brace 37 is a sheet aluminum member, bowed out for strength and with depending portions 122, 123 stapled to the front legs 33, 34.

The bracing member 38 is similar to the bracing member 37. Its lower edge is a piano hinge section that mates with the hinge section 114 on the front edge of the shelf 32 and the pintle 131 to form the piano hinge 132. Its upwardly extending portions 133, 134 are stapled to the front legs 33 and 34.

The braces 37 and 38 aid in stabilizing the chair, both by the fact that they are made from bowed strip material having great strength lengthwise and by the fact that they provide a piano hinge connection between the seat 31 and shelf 32 and the front legs 33, 34.

The legs 33, 34, 35, 36

All four legs 33, 34, 35, 36 are made from tubular material, preferably aluminum. Their lower ends 140, 141 are cut ofl at an angle so that they will lie substantially flat on the floor surface when the chair is open. These ends 140, 141 are curled in at 142, 143 as shown in Figs. 25 to 28 and serve as integral glides, thereby offering a relatively wide surface that will not scratch the floor and that eliminates the need for a separate glide member.

The pintle 121 that joins the brace 37 to the seat 31 at the piano hinge 101 extends out through the openings 105 in the brackets 106, and the four legs 33, 34, 35, 36 are all pivoted on this pintle 121, between the hinge 101 and the brackets 106.

The front legs 33, 34 extend down from the pintle 121 in a direction generally parallel to the frame 30 when the chair is open. The legs 33, 34 are braced by the members 37, 38, which may be secured to them by staples.

The rear legs 35, 36 extend back and down from the pintle 121, to protrude slightly through the snug openings 60, 61 in the frame base 30 when the chair is closed and thereby be held in place, and to extend therethrough when the chair is opened. The rear legs 35, 36 are not additionally braced, but the frame 30, especially the flange 55, acts as a brace. A slight play between the legs 35, 36 and the snug openings 60, 61 gives the chair flexibility, for if the chair were too rigid it would tend to break easily, especially under abnormal use.

The leg-locking mechanism 39 Preferably there is a self-acting locking means 39 between the frame 30 and the rear legs 35, 36. This may be provided in the manner shown in Figs. 10, 15, and 21..

A stationary latch member 150 is rigidly secured to each of the rear legs 35, 36 at a location, which (when the chair is opened) lies immediately above the openings 60, 61. These members 150 may have a V-shaped creasedin portion 151 extending out from a strap portion 152. A curved or round wire or latch rod 153 is journaled for rotation on three brackets 154, 155, 156, each bracket being rigidly secured to the base of chair frame 30. One bracket 154, 155 is located at each end, preferably just inside each of openings 60, 61 and the.other bracket 156 is centrally located. Each of brackets 154, 155 has a crimped lower edge 155a, against which the lower edges of portions 151 of latch members 150 press when the chair is open, thereby acting as stops to prevent rear legs 35, 36 from extending too far. A handle or latch release 157 may be welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the curved wire 153 adjacent its central portion so as to extend out through an opening 158 provided in the chair frame 30 (see Fig. 24). For convenience in moving the latch release member, a stationary bracket 159 may be rigidly secured to the frame 30 at the opposite end of this central opening 158. Then the user can place his thumb on either the latch release member 157 or the stationary grip member 159 and his first finger on the remaining member and press the movable member 157 in toward the stationary member 159 to rotate the wire 153 and so release the latch.

By having the wire 153 curved as shown in the drawings a spring action is obtained without having to provide a separate spring member. Since it is to serve as a spring, the latch rod 153 is preferably not excessively stiff. The outer ends 160 of the latch rod 153 are preferably bent over to provide catches that engage the V-notch 151 in the latch members 150 on the legs 35, 36. The latch rod ends 160 will ride into the crease 161 when the legs 35, 36 are lowered and then will lock and will prevent retraction until the rod is turned by pressing the members 157 and 159 together.

Nesting brackets 170 and latch 175 The chairs may be nested together when folded, and may be locked together for movement of a group of them as a unit.

For this purpose, side brackets 170 (see Fig. 23) may be provided on the frame 30 (see Fig. 22). The bracket 170 has a hooked end 171 extending beyond the frame 30 and another flanged end 172 extending in through an opening 173 of the frame. The portion 172 of one bracket l70 is adapted to engage the portion 171 on the succeeding chair, and the portion 172 is preferably cammed as shown for that purpose.

A latch 175 may also be provided on the Wire 153, preferably as an extension of the handle 157. This latch 175 is adapted to automatically engage in an opening 176 in the member 159 on the adjacent chair, when the two chairs have been nested together. It is released by squeezing the handle 157 toward the member 159.

Operation A folded chair is opened simply by holding the back 43 in one hand and pulling down the seat 31 with the other hand. The seat 31 and shelf 32 force the front legs 33, 34 out and down and the rear legs 35, 36 are simultaneously projected down through the openings 60, 61. The latch 39 catches when the chair is opened, and it will not close accidentally.

When opened, the chair is comfortable and convenient, the shelf 32 adding to the convenience. It is also steady, for the parallelogram formed by the chair seat 31, the front legs 33, 34 (together with the braces 37, 38), the

shelf 32, and the frame 30 give a great amount of strength per weight and the four piano hinges at the corners of this parallelogram aid in making this a strong connection, extending over the whole length of each of these parts. These piano hinges consume the minimum amount of room while providing great strength and pivotal action.

To fold the chair, the latch 39 is released by pressing the tab or handle 157 toward the tab 159, rotating the rod 153 and releasing its ends from the notch 151. Then the front end of the seat 31 is raised, folding the chair.

To lock the chairs in nested position, one chair is placed over another chair, with the end of one chair displaced from the other, the back of one chair against the front of the other chair, and a little higher. The members 171 and 172 are engaged and the chairs snapped together. The latch 175 will automatically catch in the opening 176 and prevent further movement until it is released by means of the handle 157 and the chairs taken apart.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

I claim:

1. A folding chair, including in combination: a back frame with a forwardly-extending flange on its bottom edges having openings therethrough adjacent each side of said frame; a seat with its rear edge pivotally attached to said frame a substantial distance above the lower edge of said frame; a shelf below and spaced from said seat, with its rear edge pivotally attached to said frame, adjacent said frames lower edge; a pair of front legs pivotally secured to the forward edge of said seat and to the forward edge of said shelf; and a pair of rear legs pivotally secured at their upper ends to said seat along an axis collinear with said front legs and extending out through said frame flange openings.

2. The chair of claim 1 in which there are a pair of bracing members, each secured rigidly to and between said front legs, one hinged to said seat coaxially with the pivot for said legs, the other hinged to said platform adjacent its forward edge.

3. The chair of claim 2 in which the connections between said seat and said frame, between said seat and its said bracing member, between said shelf and said frame, and between said shelf and its bracing member comprise piano hinges.

4. A folding chair, including in combination: a back frame member with a large central opening bridged by a cross-member and with a forwardly-extending flange on its bottom edges having a pair of openings therethrough at each end thereof; a seat member with its rear edge pivotally attached to said frame cross-member; a platform below and spaced from said seat and with its rear edge pivotally attached to the bottom edge member of said frame; a pair of front legs pivotally secured to the forward edge of said seat and to the forward edge of said platform; and a pair of rear legs with their upper ends pivotally secured to said seat along an axis collinear with said front legs and extending out through said frameflange openings.

5. The chair of claim 4 in which the upper edge of said frame cross-member forms one-half of a piano hinge, the other half being provided on the lower surface of said seat and in which the upper edge of said frame bottom edge forms one-half of a second piano hinge, the other half being formed by the rear edge of said platform.

6. The chair of claim 5 in which two braces are provided bridging said front legs and attached, one to the lower surface of said seat, the other to the forward edge of said platform, both by piano hinges.

7. A folding chair, including in combination: a frame; a seat pivotally attached to said frame; a pair of front legs pivotally secured adjacent the forward edge of said seat; a pair of rear legs with their upper ends pivotally secured to said seat along an axis collinear with said front legs; and releasable latch means for locking together said frame and said rear legs in open position.

8. The chair of claim 7 in which said frame is provided with latch members whereby an unlimited series of said chairs, when folded, may be locked together, each chair being secured to the succeeding adjacent chair.

9. A lightweight folding chair, including in combination: a frame member formed from sheet aluminum having a portion adapted to serve as the back of said chair, and having a pair of openings through its lower edge; a seat formed from sheet aluminum and with its rear edge pivotally attached to said frame; a shelf formed from sheet aluminum below and parallel to said seat and pivotally attached to said frame; a pair of tubular aluminum front legs pivotally secured to the forward portion of said seat and to the forward portion of said shelf; a pair of tubular aluminum rear legs with their upper ends pivotally secured to said seat collinear with said front legs and extending through said openings and a pair of sheet aluminum bracing members, one stapled to said front legs and hinged to said seat along a pintle coaxially with the pivot for said legs, the other stapled to said front legs and hinged to said shelf.

10. The chair of claim 9 in which the connections between said seat and said frame, between said seat and its associated bracing member, between said shelf and said frame, and between said shelf and its associated bracing member, all comprise piano hinges.

11. The chair of claim 9 in which the lower, floor engaging ends of the tubular legs are cut off at an angle and curled in to provide a level foot smoothly curved in around the rim so that they serve as integral glides parallel to the floor.

12. A folding chair including in combination: a unitary back frame comprising a generally rectangular sheet of lightweight metal having a pair of generally rectangular relatively large openings therethrough, one above the other, bounded by generally vertical relatively narrow side margins also having a central member dividing said openings and a lower, relatively narrow margin joining said side margins, and said side and lower margins having forwardly-extending side flanges so that they are generally L-shaped in cross-section, openings being provided at each end of said lower margin through its said flange; a lightweight metal seat member pivoted to the side flanges of said frame and to said central member, said seat having a thickness smaller than the width of said side flanges so as to nest between them when said chair is folded; a pair of forward legs with their upper ends pivoted to said seat adjacent its forward edge; a pair of rear legs with their upper ends pivoted to said seat collinearly with the upper ends of said forward legs and extending down through said openings through said lower margin flange, the diameter of said legs being less than the width of said flanges, and adapted to nest in said frame and within said seat bottom when said chair is folded; a shelf of sheet, lightweight metal disposed beneath said seat and spaced away therefrom and adapted to nest in said frame when said chair is folded; a pair of bracing members each bridging between said forward legs, one being hinged to the lower surface of said seat and extending downwardly therefrom, and the other hinged to said shelf and extending upwardly therefrom.

13. The chair of claim 12 in which said legs are tubes of lightweight metal with their lower floor-engaging ends terminating in an angularly cut-off end, with the tube walls curled inwardly to form a rounded surface thereat parallel to the floor.

14. The chair of claim 12 having a latch member on each said rear leg adapted to be near and above said flange openings when said chair is opened and to be spaced considerably thereabove when said chair is folded; a rod journaled to said frame and bridging between said rear legs adjacent said flange and having outturned latch ends adapted to engage said latch members for locking said chair in its open position by spring action; and means to rotate said rod to disengage said outturned latch ends so that said chair may be folded.

15. The chair of claim 14 in which each side flange is provided exteriorly with a projecting hook member and interiorly with a projecting cam member, whereby a series of chairs can be locked nested together against all but relative longitudinal sliding movement, and in which said latch rod has a finger secured thereto and each frame is provided with a member against which the finger of an adjacent chair locks by spring action when chairs are nested as stated, said finger being releasable by rotating said rod and otherwise locking said chairs against relative longitudinal movement.

16. The chair of claim 14 in which said means to rotate said rod comprises a lever secured to said rod and a stationary member extending from said frame, whereby relative movement between said stationary member and said lever rotates said rod to release said latch.

17. The chair of claim 14 in which said rod is journaled to the chair frame bottom at each end and in the center, the three journals being out of line so as to create tension on said rod and thereby force it to serve as its own spring.

18. The chair of claim 12 in which each side flange is provided exteriorly with a projecting hook member on the back and interiorly with a projecting cam member directly opposite said hook member, whereby chairs can be locked together when folded by sliding said hook member into said cam member.

19. The chair of claim 12 in which said seat member and said frame member are formed with ribs and re cesses that accommodate said legs when said chair is folded so that they nest tightly.

20. A folding chair including in combination: a unitary frame comprising a generally rectangular sheet of lightweight metal having a pair of generally rectangular relatively large openings therethrough, one above the other, bounded by generally vertical relatively narrow side margins, a relatively wide upper end, joining said side margins and serving as the contoured chair back, a lower relatively narrow lower margin joining said side margins, and a central member dividing said openings, said side and lower margins having forwardly-extending side flanges so that they are generally L-shaped in crosssection, the upper unflanged edge of said lower margin and the upper edge of said central member being curled to provide half of a piano-hinge, openings being provided at each end of said lower margin through its said flange; a seat pivoted to the side flanges of said frame and having a mating piano-hinge portion adapted to mate with the half-hinge of the upper edge of said central member, collinear with the pivoting to said frame; a pair of forward legs pivoted adjacent their upper ends on the lower surface of said seat adjacent its forward edge; a pair of inclined rear legs with their upper ends pivoted collinearly with the upper ends of said forward legs and inclined thereto and extending down through said openings through said lower margin flange, all four of said legs being metal tubes with their lower floorengaging ends curled inwardly to form a rounded surface thereat parallel to the floor; a platform disposed beneath said seat and spaced away therefrom and mating with the half-piano-hinge on the lower margin to form a piano hinge; a pair of bracing members each bridging between said forward legs, one being hinged by a piano hinge to the lower surface of said seat and the other hinged by a piano hinge to said platform and extending upwardly therefrom; a latch member on each of said rear legs adapted to be near and above said flange openings when said chair is opened and spaced considerably thereabove when said chair is folded; a spring-activated rod journaled to the base of said frame and bridging between said rear legs adjacent said flange and having outturned latch ends adapted to engage said latch members for locking said chair in its open position; and means to rotate said rod to disengage said outturned latch ends so that said chair may be folded.

21. A lightweight, compact folding chair which, when closed, contains all its component parts within the space of a one-piece generally rectangular flanged backframe, said chair comprising a one-piece generally rectangular flanged backframe; a seat which, when said chair is open, is horizontal in front but sloping adjacent its rear edge; a shelf below and parallel to said seat; and front and rear legs; said one-piece backframe having a top which serves as a reinforced posture-contoured backrest, flanged sides whose flanges enclose the seat when the chair is closed, said sides being ribbed and crimped for strength and provided with side pivotal attachments to said seat and with grooved catches whereby one closed chair may be attached to another for carrying and storage purposes, the middle of said backframe being piano-hinged to said seat and acting as reinforcement for the chair, and the bottom of said backframe having two snug-fitting holes through which the rear legs project and mounting a spring leg-locking mechanism, which additionally serves in locking the chairs together for carrying and storing, said bottom being piano-hinged to said shelf; a brace midlocated on and between the two front legs and pianohinged to said shelf; both front and rear legs in turn being piano-hinged at their tops from a single axis located adjacent the forward edge of the seat and also attached to the side of the seat along the same axis, the use of four sets of piano hinges permitting the use of lightweight metal construction and giving sufficient flexibility to absorb tensions; said legs thereby opening when the seat is lowered by pivoting it out of the backframe, this movement extending the front legs by pivoting them forward and extending each rear leg out through its snug hole below and to the rear of the frame base into their 10 2,550,993

10 tations, and a release handle on said rod adapted to release the hooks when the chair is to be folded, thereby freeing the rear legs to permit their retraction when the seat is closed pivotally within said backframe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,727,255 Simmons Sept. 3, 1929 Goldfine May 1, 1951 2,675,860 Schroeder Apr. 20, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 26,389 Great Britain 1911 570,898 Great Britain July 27, 1945

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