US2787316A

US2787316A - Folding chair

Info

Publication number: US2787316A
Application number: US503913A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ezra L Moore; Cleo E Smith
Original assignee: Arvin Industries Inc
Current assignee: Meritor Inc
Priority date: 1955-04-26
Filing date: 1955-04-26
Publication date: 1957-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 1974-04-02

Description

April 2, 1957 E. MOORE ET AL 2,787,316

FOLDING CHAIR Filed April 26, 1955 INVENTORS. 22/1 1 11/0055 @7111 BY 6 1E015 SM/f/l,

ilnited States Patent FOLDING CHAIR Ezra L. Moore and Cleo E. Smith, Columbus, Ind., assignors to Arvin Industries, Inc., Columbus, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application April 26, 1955, Serial No. 503,913

Claims. (Cl. 155-143) This invention relates to collapsible chairs, and more particularly to collapsible chairs adapted for manufacture from light-weight metal tubing. Objects of the invention include improved construction and an enhanced strength and rigidity in chairs of the type indicated.

A preferred form of chair embodying my invention includes two crossed, pivotally interconnected structures each formed from a single length of metal tubing bent into a U-shape. In the first of these structures, the sides of the U-shaped tubing extend upwardly, desirably at a slightly rearward inclination, from the pivotal axis to provide a back-support, and downwardly and forwardly from the axis to'provide front legs, the intermediate stretch of the U-shaped tubing being located-at the top of the structure. In the second structure, the sides extend forwardly from the axis to provide support for a seat and rearwardly and downwardly from the axis to provide rear legs, and the intermediate stretch of the U- shaped tubing is located adjacent the front of the seat. The seat-supporting, and leg-forming portions of each side of the second structure are rigidly interconnected by a brace secured to them at points spaced from the pivotal axis, the two braces conveniently being the sides of a third U-shaped tubular member the intermediate portions of which serves as a stretcher extending between the rear legs. A second stretcher extends between the front legs in a position to be engaged by the braces to limit extension or opening movement of the chair. If the chair is to have arms, such arms may be pivotally connected at their rear ends to the sides of the first tubular structure, and at their front ends to supports which extend downwardly and are pivotally connected to the respective braces. The arm supports may project below their axis of pivotal connection with the braces and engage the front legs, desirably being formed at their lower ends to partially embrace the front legs whereby to restrict any relative lateral movement.

A preferred form of chair is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the chair in extended condition;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the chair, likewise in ex tended condition;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the chair in collapsed condition; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4 of Fig. 2.

The chair illustrated in the drawing comprises a first length of metal tubing bent into an inverted U-shape to provide an intermediate portion and sides 11. A second length of tubing is bent into a U-shape to provide an intermediate portion 12 and parallel sides 13. The width of the structure formed by the second tube is less than that of the structure formed by the first tube so that the sides 13 can be received between the sides 11 and pivotally interconnected therewith as by bolts or rivets 14. A chair-back 15, conveniently of fabric, woven plastic, or similar flexible material, is stretched between and secured to the upper portions of the sides 11, such "ice upper side-portions extending upwardly, preferably with a rearward inclination, from the axis of the pivot bolts 14. At or adjacent the pivot bolts 14, the sides 11 are bent forwardly to provide front legs for the chair. Desirably, the leg-forming portions of each side has an intermediate bend 16, defining an upper leg-portion 17 of relatively slight inclination to the horizontal and a lower portion 18 of greater inclination.

A chair-seat 20, which may be of material similar to that of the back 15, extends between and is secured to the front portions of the sides 13 of the second tubular member. At or adjacent the pivot bolts 14, the sides 13 are bent to extend downwardly and rearwardly to form rear legs 21. The lower ends of the

legs

18 and 21 may be tipped with feet 22 of rubber or other appropriate material.

To stilfen and strengthen the sides 13, each of them is provided with a brace 24 which is secured to the rear leg 21 at a point in rear of the pivotal axis of the bolts 14 and which extends forwardly below such axis to have its front end secured to the side 13, near the front of the seat 20. Conveniently, the braces 24 are the sides of a third length of metal tubing bent into a U-shapeand having an intermediate portion 25 serving as a stretcher rigidly interconnecting the rear legs 21. In the form shown, the body of each brace lies well below the seatsupporting portion of the associated side 13, its front end being bent upwardly and secured to such seat-supporting portion and its rear end being bent to extend along the lower side of the rear leg 21, to which it is secured by rivets 24'.

The front legs of the chair are interconnected by a second stretcher 26 secured to them desirably adjacent the bends 16 and in position to be engaged by the braces 24 when the chair is in its extended condition.

Arms 30, conveniently of sheet-metal formed into an L-shaped cross section, have their rear ends pivotally connected to the sides 11 by bolts or rivets 31 located above the axis of the pivot bolts 14. The front ends of the arms are pivotally connected, as by bolts or rivets 32, to arm-supports 33 which extend generally downwardly and are pivotally connected to the braces 24 by pivot bolts or rivets 34. Desirably, the arm-supports 33 continue downwardly below the bolts 34 so that their lower ends may engage the lower stretches 18 of the front chairlegs. As will be apparent from Fig. 4, the arm-supports 33 are desirably formed of metal tubing, and at the lower end of each support the rear wall of such tubing is collapsed against the front wall to provide a rearwardly opening recess or groove the sides of which partially embrace the lower portion 18 of the front leg. Such interfitting of the lower ends of the arm-supports with the front legs restricts the lateral movement of the lower ends of the arm supports; and since the arm supports are connected to the braces 24 by the bolts 34, lateral movement of the upper ends of the arm supports and of the front ends of the arms will likewise be restricted.

As previously noted, the sides 13 of the structure supporting the seat and providing the rear legs lie inside the sides 11 of the structure which supports the back and provides the front legs. Each brace 24 lies substantially in the same vertical plane with its associate side 13, and therefore also lies inwardly of the sides 11. The armsupports 33 lie outwardly of the sides 13 and braces 24, and their lower portions therefore lie in the same vertical planes respectively with the sides 11. Above the pivot bolts 34, however, the arm-supports 33 are offset outwardly so that their upper ends may occupy lateral positions adapting them for pivotal connection to the arms 30.

When the chair is in the extended position shown'in Fig. 2, the braces 24 engage the stretcher 26. Because of the presence of the braces 24, the seat-supporting structure is extremely rigid in a vertical plane and well adapted to sustain the weight of the occupant of the chair. Portions of such weight are transferred to the front legs, through the pivot bolts 14 and through the stretcher 26. The engagement of the lower ends of the arm-supports 33 with the lower portions 18 of the front legs imparts stilfness and rigidity to the support of the front ends of the arms 30.

To collapse the chair, it is necessary only to apply an effort designed to move the intermediate stretches and 12 of the first and second structures toward each other, the various elements of the chair swinging about their points of pivotal connection with other elements until brought into the position illustrated at Fig. 3.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a collapsible chair, crossed first and second structures pivotally interconnected on a horizontal axis at their point of crossing, a chair back, said first structure having two sides extending generally upwardly from said axis to support said back and forwardly and downwardly from the axis to provide front supporting legs, said second structure having a seat portion projecting forwardly from said axis and rear legs extending rearwardly and downwardly from the axis, arms pivoted to said sides above said axis and projecting forwardly therefrom, and generally vertical arm supports pivotally connected to said arms near the front ends thereof and to said second structure at points spaced forwardly from said axis, said arm supports continuing downwardly below their points of pivotal connection to said second structure and engaging said front legs, the interengaging portions of each arm support and front leg having interfitting provisions restricting their relative lateral movement.

2. In a collapsible chair, crossed first and second structures pivotally interconnected on a horizontal axis at their point of crossing, a chair back, said first structure having two sides extending generally upwardly from said axis to support said back and forwardly and downwardly from the axis to provide front supporting legs, said second structure having a seat portion projecting forwardly from said axis and rear legs extending rearwardly and downwardly from the axis, arms pivoted to said sides above said axis and projecting forwardly therefrom, and generally vertical arm supports pivotally connected to said arms near the front ends thereof and to said second structure at points spaced forwardly from said axis, said arm supports continuing downwardly below their points of pivotal connection to said second structure and engaging said front legs.

3. A chair as set forth in claim 1 with the addition that the sides of said first structure are formed of circular stock the lower ends of said arm supports being concave rearwardly to partially embrace the stock forming said front legs.

4. A chair as set forth in claim 3 with the addition that said arm supports are formed of metal tubing, the rear wall of such tubing at the lower end of each arm support being displaced toward the front wall to render the lower end of the arm support rearwardly concave as aforesaid.

5. In a collapsible chair, a first tubular member bent into an inverted U-shape to provide a horizontally extending intermediate portion and two downwardly extending sides, a second tubular member bent into a U- shape to provide an intermediate portion and two sides, the respective sides of said two members crossing each other and being pivotally interconnected on a common horizontal axis, a seat carried by the sides of said second member in'advance of said axis, a back carried by the sides of said first member above the axis, the end portions of the sides of the first member constituting front legs extending forwardly and downwardly from said axis and the ends of the sides of the second member constituting rear legs extending rearwardly and downwardly from said axis, a stretcher extending between said front legs at a point spaced forwardly and downwardly from said axis, a third member of elongated stock bent into a U- shape to provide an intermediate portion and two sides, said third member being secured to said rear legs with its intermediate portion extending between them and its sides extending forwardly across and in engagement with said stretcher, the sides of said third member, at points where they engage said stretcher, being spaced downwardly from the sides of said second member, the ends of the sides of said third member extending forwardly and upwardly and being secured to the sides of said second member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 157,042 Vass Nov. 17, 1874 240,498 Bartell Apr. 26, 1881 271,857 Johnson et al. Feb. 6, 1883 404,589 Batt June 4, 1889 1,342,650 Schlegel June 8, 1920 2,639,762 Westcamp May 26, 1953