US2807311A

US2807311A - Adjustable chairs

Info

Publication number: US2807311A
Application number: US557756A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lelong Georges
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-01-13
Filing date: 1956-01-06
Publication date: 1957-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 1974-09-24

Description

Sept. 24, 1957 Filed Jan. 6, 1956 G. LELONG ADJUSTABLE CHAIRS 3 Sheeis-Sheet 1 P 1957 s. LELONG 2,807,311

ADJUSTABLE CHAIRS Filed Jan. 6, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 24, 1957 G. LELONG ADJUSTABLE cmms 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 6, 1956 United States Patent 2,807,311 ADJUSTABLE CHAIRS Georges Lelong, Paris, France Application January 6, 1956, Serial No. 557,756 Claims priority, application France January 1.3, H55 2 Claims. (Cl. 155- -115) The present invention relates to adjustable chairs, that is to. say such that the position of the chair seat with respect to the ground and the position of the seatand of the back. I of said chair. with respect to each other can be changed at will to obtain at least two diiferent adjustments. Oneobject of my invention is to provide a chair of this type which is better adapted to meet the requirements of practice from the point of view of simplicity and low cost of manufacture.

Another objectof my invention is to provide a chair of the above mentioned type which can be used either as a simple chair or as an arm-chair, owing to the provision of foldable arms.

Another object of my invention is to provide a chair of the above mentioned type which can be juxtaposed to other similar chairs so as to form a sofa or settee.

The adjustable chair according. to my invention is made of two units, to wit a rigid one, including the back of the chair and the front legs, and a deformable one, including the rear legs, fixed to each other, and the seat, pivoted, approximately along its rear side, to said rear legs, the rigid unit and therear legs being pivotallyv assembled together about an axis parallel to said rear sideof the seat and located not far below it. The top portions of the front legs are guided along lines fixed with respect to the seat and extending substantially alongthe lateral sides thereof. Finally, means are provided for fixing the rear legs. in any ofat least two diiferent positions, at will, with respect to said rigid unit, shifting from one of said positions to another one being obtained by relative pivoting of said two parts about theabove mentioned axis.

Preferred embodiments of my invention will be hereinafter described with referenceto the accompanying drawin'gs, given inerelyby way of example and in which."

7 Fig. l is a separate elevational view diagrammatically showing the above mentioned rigid unit of a chair accord ing to my invention.

Fig. 2 is :a similar view showingithe corresponding'demable u it; L1?

Figs. 3 and 4 are views similar to Fig. 1 and showing modifications, respectively.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view showing a chair according to my invention, constituted by the assembly of two units such as shown by Figs. 1 and 2 respectively.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the same chair in another position of adjustment.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the structure of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 diagrammatically shows the arrangement of folding arms to be mounted on a chair according to my invention.

Figs. 9 and 10 are views similar to Figs. 5 and 6, but corresponding to another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a chair according to my invention made according to the embodiment diagrammatically illustrated by Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view of the left hand side of the chair of Fig. 11 by a plane passing through ice the arm of said chair (said arm being supposed to be folded back against the back of the chair).

Fig. 13 is an exploded view of the righthand side of the chair, showing the parts as they are before assembly thereof.

A chair according to my invention is constituted by the assembly of two units as shown by Figs. 1 and 2 respectively. One of these units (Fig. 1) is rigid (this term meaning that said unit does not include parts pivotable or slidable with respect to one another, but not that the unit is incapable of being more or less resiliently deformed when stressed). It includes a back 1, two front legs 2 and bars 3 interconnecting said back with said legs. The deformable unit includes two rear legs 4, fixed with respect to each other and a seat 5 hinged to said rear legs 4 about an axis P parallel to the rear side of seat 5' and located close thereto. V

These two units are provided with cooperating pivoting assembly means 01 and 02 so that when they are assembled together, the rear legs 4 are pivoted to the rigid unit 1- 3 about an axis 0 parallel to axis P. I

Each lateral side of seat 5 is provided with an oblique slot 6 in which is guided a finger Q rigid with the corresponding front leg 2 and extending horizontally from a point thereof close to its top end. V 7

Each of the lateral sides of seat 5 carries, pivoted thereto about a pin 8, a locking member 7 a portion of the lower edge of which runs along guiding slot'6 and is provided with oblique notches 10 adapted to cooperate with fingers Q. A spring 9 fixed at one end tothe seat and at the other endto the locking member 7 urges said member downwardly.

The front ends of members 7 are interconnected" by a bar 11 running under seat 5 and close to the front side thereof. I i

It will be readily understood that'theposition of the rear legs 4 with respect to the rigid unit 1-'--'2-3' and of the seat 5 with respect to rear legs 5 and to front legs 2 will be determined when triangle OPQ is determined,'and will be modified when this triangle is itself modified. "Now the side OQ of this triangle. which extends between two points fixed with respe'ct'to the rigid unit 1' 2-'-3'is of constant length. Likewise, side OP, whichextends between two points fixed with respect to the'rearlegs 4, is also of constant length. Now, when. finger: Q is shifted from one notch 10 to another one, this obvionsly'clianges side PQ and modifies triangle OPQ.

Therefore, in order to change the position and adjust ment of the chair it suifices to lift bar 11 to disengage finger 11 from the notch 10 in which it is housed and to bring said finger opposite another notch (for instance by urging back 1 rearwardly orfrontwardly with respect to seat 5). When bar 11 is released spring 9 pullslocking member 7 into active position. The chair is now adjusted differently.

Figs. 3 and 4 show modifications in the shape of the rigid unit 1-23.

Figs. 9 and 10 show another embodiment of my invention according to which modifications of triangle OPQ is obtained by varying the angle on between sides OP and OQ (instead of varying side PQ as in the first described embodiment) In the construction of Figs. 9 and 10, the parts designated by reference numerals 1 to 6 inclusive are similar to those above described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6. But the rear legs 4 are provided with upward extensions 4a pivotally connected, at their upper ends 4b, to arms 12 movably carried by back I. Said arms 12 are provided with pins 13 slidable in slots 14 provided in the lateral sides of the back 1.

Arms 12 may occupy either of two positions, to wit 3 a folded or retracted one (Fig. 9) for which the extensions 4a of the legs (i. e. line P) make an angle a with line 0Q (fixed with respect to rigid unit 1-2-3), and an unfolded'position (Fig. 10) forwhich lines OP and 0Q make a difierent angle a' with each other.

In the construction of Fig. 11 which is practically the same as that of Figs. 5 and 6, arms 15 are foldably mounted on the sides of back 1. Fig. 8 diagrammatically shows said arms 15 in active position in dotted lines and in folded position in solid lines. Arm 15 pivots with respect to the back 1 about an axis 16. The rear face of back 1 carries an abutment 17 against which a metal fitting 15a carried by the rear end of arm comes to bear when the arm 15 is in active position. When arm 15 is pivoted backwardly to be located along the side of the back 1, its edge 15b (Fig. 8) comes to bear against abutment 17.

Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate how the parts forming my chair are to be assembled together.

The bent bars forming the front legs 2 and the connecting means 3 are disposed in parallel vertical planes (Fig. 13 shows the elements on the right hand side of the chair). Bar 3 carries, integral therewith, a vertical extension 3a intended to be housed in the back 1.

A transverse rod 18 is placed between the front legs 2. It is provided with small shoulders 18a which limit the distance between legs 2 to the desired value. The rear legs 4 are mounted in suitable position so that the. pins Q rigid with bars 3-3a are located opposite corresponding holes provided in the rear legs 4.

The two elements 2--3-*3a on either side are then moved toward each other so as to apply legs 2 against the shoulders 18a of rod 18. Simultaneously, pins 0 fit in their housings provided in the rear legs 4.

Then the seat 5, with the locking members 7-11 mounted therein, is engaged on the parts assembled as above described, the fingers Q carried by front legs 2 being inserted in slots 6. The front part of the chair is then assembled together.

The back 1 of the chair is then slipped over extensions 3a so that these extensions 3a fit in housings 19 of the back.

To assemblerear legs 4 with the seat 5, hinges 20 (Fig. 11) carried by the rear wall of the seat are welded to the bar 21 interconnecting legs.4.

Arms 15 are provided with threaded rods 22 secured therein by means of screws 23. The portions of back 1 located opposite said rods 22 are provided with iron fittings 24 housed therein. Said iron fittings are provided with inner screw-threads, to accommodate threaded rods 22. Washers 25 are interposed between each arm 15 and the corresponding side of the back 1.

Arms 15 are mounted by screwing their threaded rods 22 into the iron fittings 24 until the arms are adjacent to In a general manner, while I have, in the above description, disclosed what I deem to be practical and efficient embodiments of my invention, it should be well understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the accompanying claims.

What I claim is:

l. A chair which comprises, in combination, a rigid unit including a back, two front legs and means for connecting said front legs with said back in fixed position with respect thereto, a deformable unit including two rear legs fixed with respect to each other and a seat pivotally connected to said rear legs about a horizontal transverse axis parallel to the line of intersection of the general plane of said two rear legs with the general plane of said seat, means for pivotally connecting said rear legs with said rigid unit about an axis parallel to said first mentioned axis and located near the lower end of said back and near the upper ends of said rear legs, said seat having two vertical lateral sides each provided with an oblique slot, fingers carried by said front legs at points thereof the sides of the back respectively. Then the abutments 5 17 (in fact constituted by the ends of a transverse bar) are fixed by means of screws.

close to their top end portions slidably engaged in said slots respectively, levers pivoted to said lateral sides of said seat about axes parallel to said two first mentioned axes adapted to come along said slots respectively, the lower edges of said levers being provided with at least two notches and spring means for urging said levers downwardly so as to lock said fingers in the desired notches.

2. A chair according to claim 1, in which said oblique slots are constituted by grooves provided in the inner walls of said lateral sides of the seat and said fingers are horizontal and parallel to said axes, further including a transverse rod parallel to said fingers and substantially in line therewith, the ends of said rod being engaged in the top ends of said front legs, shoulders carried by said rod ends to keep said front legs at the desired distance from each other, said back including two elongated housings parallel and close to the sides of said back, said means for connecting said front legs with said back including two bars rigid with said front legs but transverse thereto extending rearwardly toward the sides of said back respectively, and two bars integral with said last mentioned bars respectively extending upwardly from the rear ends thereof, said upwardly extending bars fitting in said elongated housings of said back.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 847,880 Barker Mar. 19, 1907 2,717,027 Thatcher Sept. 6, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 184,694 Austria Feb. 10, 1956 203,913 Great Britain Sept. 20, 1923