US2736366A - Collapsible and folding seats - Google Patents

Description

1956 T. A. CALABRESE COLLAPSIBLE AND FOLDING SEATS Filed Sept. 28, 1954 I N VE N TOR 7770mw/4 Co/afirase United States Patent COLLAPSIBLE AND FOLDING SEATS Thomas A. Calabrese, Cambridge, Mass.

Application September 28, 1954, Serial No. 458,866

2 Claims. (Cl. 155-150) This invention relates to folding seats.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible and folding seat which is of increased simplicity and compactness when folded for convenient portability.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a collapsible and folding seat which, when not in use, may be easily and readily disassembled and carried in a convenient packet.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a collapsible and folding seat bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, is easy to use and eflicient in operation.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention shown in operative use;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a packet containing the disassembled parts of the invention; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, represents a length of hollow, cylindrical tubing of aluminum, steel or other suitable material, open at both ends, and provided near each end with a pair of radially spaced openings 11 having extensions 12 (Fig. 4) for a purpose which will hereinafter become clear. Four elongated rods 13 of aluminum, steel or other suitable material are adapted to pass through the openings 11 on the undersurface of the tubing 10, the upper surface of the tubing 10 being provided with the openings 14 aligned lineally with one of the openings 11 and through which passes upwardly the upper ends of the rods 13, as shown in Fig. 1. In order to retain the rods 13 within the tubing 10 in the arrangement of Fig. 1, each of the rods is integrally formed with a pair of oppositely disposed lugs 15 (Fig. 4) adapted to abut the undersurface of tubing 10 whereby to limit the upward displacement of the rods 13 therethrough. In order to prevent downward displacement of the rods through the openings in tubing 10, each of the rods 13 above the oppositely disposed lugs 15 is integrally formed with a lug 16 disposed at right angles to the lugs 15 and which engages the inner surface of the tubing 10. To mount the rods within the tubing, the latter are passed upwardly through the openings 11 with the lugs 16 thereof aligned with the extensions 12 (Fig.

, 2,736,366 Patented Feb. 28, 1956 4) until the lugs 15 abut the undersurface of the tubing 10 whereupon the rods are rotated through degrees to bring the lugs 16 out of alignment with the extension 12 and into abutment with the inner surface of the tubing.

A pair of elongated rods 17 are each provided near each end with openings into which fit the upper ends of the rods 13 (Fig. 1), the rods 17 being connected by the flexible canvas seat portion 18, the opposite ends of the canvas 18 being wrapped around the rods 17 and suitably secured thereto.

Rubber feet 19 are press fitted onto the lower ends of the rods 13.

In order to collapse or fold the seat, the rods 17 are first removed upwardly from the upper ends of the rods 13, whereupon the rods 13 are then removed from tubing 10 by rotating the same through 180 degrees until the retaining lugs 16 are in alignment with the extensions 12 and pass downwardly therethrough, permitting the complete removal of the rods 13. The rods 13 and 17 are then brought together and placed within the tubing 10,

which assembly may then be placed within a packet 20, having a cover 21 (Fig. 3) for easy and ready portability and storage. The cover 21 will be secured to the packet 20 by means of the complementary snap fastening elements 22.

It will be readily apparent that the lugs 15, 16 will re tain the rods 13 within the tubing 10 and will prevent the seat from swaying.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A folding seat comprising a hollow central portion open at both ends, said central portion at each end on the undersurface thereof having a pair of openings having extensions, said central portion on the upper surface thereof at each end having a pair of openings aligned lineally with each of said openings having said extensions, an elongated rod slidable through each of said lineally aligned openings, releasable means for retaining said rods in fixed position within said lineally aligned openings, flexible seat means secured to the upper ends of said legs, and resilient support means at the lower ends of each of said legs.

2. A folding chair according to claim 1, said releasable means for securing said legs within said central portion lineally aligned openings comprising oppositely disposed lugs carried by each of said rods and adapted to abut the undersurface of said central portion, a second longitudinally spaced lug above said oppositely disposed lugs, said longitudinally spaced lug being adapted to pass through said extensions and to abut the inner surface of said central portion upon being rotated about flie longitudinal axis of said legs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,189,174 Pheeney et al. June 27, 1916 2,225,114 Hoskins Dec. 17, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 281,921 Great Britain Dec. 15, 1927

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