US2858876A - Universal communications operator's chair - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 4, 1958 w. E. WOODSON, JR 2,358,876

UNIVERSAL COMMUNICATIONS OPERATORS CHAIR Filed March 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WESLE E. woooso/v, JR

Nov. 4, 1958 w. E. WOODSON, JR

UNIVERSAL COMMUNICATIONS OPERATORS CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 23, 1956 INVENTOR- WESLEY E. WOODSON, JR WM 2- WM ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,858,876 UNIVERSAL COMMUNICATIONS OPERATORS CHAIR Wesley E. Woodson, Jr., El Cajon, Califi, assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy 1 The invention described hereinmay be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the UnitedStates for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to communications operator chairs and more particularly to a chair which is com pletely adjustable and which provides adequate support during rough sea or air flight operation.

Heretofore there have been many types of chairs with adjustable features such as those used as pilot seats, oflice chairs, dental and barber chairs, operating tables, drafting stools, and telephone operator chairs.- Although these chairs have many desirable features, none possess the complete adjustability desired by the operators nor are they suitable for holding the operator firmly in the seat during pitching and rolling of a ship or plane without the use of safety belts.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a chair completely adjustable to provide operator comfort, posture control and securely support the occupant in rough sea or air operation.

Another object is the provision of a chair designed to securely support the occupant in rough sea or air operation without the use of seat straps or the use of the occupants hands for support.

Still another object is the provision of a chair readily adjustable to meet the needs of the occupant and which utilizes novel arm rests, thigh clamps and kidney pads to maintain a steady secure body position in rough sea or air operation.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference as to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a pictorial view of one form of the chair;

Fig. 2 is a pictorial view of another form of the chair in which the kidney pads and back rest are upholstered to form one piece and in which the top portion of the arm rest-thigh support pivots inwardly to clamp the operators abdomen;

Fig. 3 shows the kidney pad vertical and tilt adjustment and the vertical arm rest adjustment;

Fig. 4 shows how the arm rest may be tilted inwardly for thigh support;

Fig. 5 shows structure for tilting the seat;

Figs. 6, 7, and 8 show the chair used in three of its several possible positions; and

Fig. 9 shows the means for pivoting and maintaining the upper portion of thigh supports of Fig. 2, in a fixed position.

Referring now to Fig. 1, chair 10 offers adjustments for the width of the kidney pads 11, height of pads, fore and aft movement of the pads, height of seat 12 from the floor, height of arm rests-thigh supports 13, distance between the upper portions of these supports, complete swivel of the entire seat, fore and aft movement of the adjustability of the chair makes it readily adapted for normal table height sitting as shown. in Fig. 6, counter height sitting as shown in Fig. 7, wherein the foot rest is used and the arm rests are used as thigh clamps for supporting the operator during rough sea or airoperation, or sit-standing as in Fig. 8 wherein the operator is utilizing the arm rest.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 3,-and 4, the two kidney pads 11 are laterally adjustablewith respect to each other from 10 to 15 inches in width by means of conventional resilient members 16 and the pads as a unit are laterally extensible by means of mounting member 20 which may be adjustably mounted on support rod 17 as by a knob. 44 having a portion 45 threadedly engaged in the rod 17 and disposed in a slot 46 in member 20 or in any known conventional manner. Support rod 17 is vertically adjustable to permit raising the kidney pads 11 r from 6 inches to 14 inches above the seat. Knob 18 frictionally secures rod 17 to the base of the chair. The fore and aft tilting of the kidney pads (up to 30") is accomplished by rotating knob 19 whichcauses bracket 21 to pivot about pin 22 which connects the bracket to the chair frame 23 as shown in Fig. 5. The height of the chair may be made adjustable from 18 inches to 32 inches above'the floor in any of many conventional ways. For example, extensible telescopic members 24, 26 with frictional stop 27 is shown in Fig. 1. The arm rest 13 is vertically adjustable up to 10 inches above the seat by means of rod 29 slidable through an aperture in mounting bracket 31 and frictionally retained by knob 32. Referring now to Fig. 4, the inward pivoting of the arm rest-thigh support 13 is accomplished when the operator pushes inwardly on the top thereof. Connecting rods 33 connect the mounting brackets 31, which pivot about 34 on the chair frame 23, with a bell crank 36 pivotally mounted on the bottom side of frame 23. Any type of locking means may be used to retain the thigh support 13 in its inward tilted position. For example, ratchet and release mechanisms or pin and keeper locks (not shown) may be used. Fig. 2 shows a modification of the chair in that the kidney pads have been designed to include a wraparound feature and a backrest. Fig. 2 further shows the upper portion 38 of the thigh support 13 pivoting inwardly above the operators thighs and against his abdomen, relative to the support 13. A pivot 28 as shown in Fig. 9 extends downwardly into support 13 and a set screw 15 is positioned to rest against the pivot 28 securing it in any selected position. Other types of locking means, convenient'to the operator, may be employed to maintain the upper portion 38 in a fixed position. The wraparound feature of the contoured back with its extended upper back support controls side sway and backward pitch, while the thigh clamps and seat contour (forward edge of seat higher than rearward edge) control side sway and forward pitch.

The forward tilt of seat 12 is best shown in Fig. 5 where it is shown pivotally connected to chair frame 23 at 39. Latch 41 pivotally mounted at pivot point 22 on frame 23 holds the seat 12 in its horizontal position until it is disengaged from pin 42 attached to the underside of seat 12. Linkage 43 limits the degree of tilt to the sit-standing position shown in Fig. 8. This chair is capable of 360 swivel action with means for locking it in any desired position. The fore-aft movement is shown in Fig. 1 wherein the base is slidable on tracks and can be locked in any desired position. In shipboard use on metal decks, the base may be locked to the deck through use of magnets housed in the feet of the base. The footrest 14 may be folded to non-used position as in Fig. 6 or may be telescopically adjustable as shown in Fig. 1. When the footrest is used it provides bracing support to enable the operator to press firmly against the kidney pads, insuring the operator of firmsupport' during pitching motion. -'The cross-.bar'of footrest 14 is longenough that the operator may firmly place his feet thereon in, spacedfr'elation to further provide firm support during swayingor side rolling motion.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the presentv invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It isithe'refore to be understood that within the scope of the appendedclaims the. invention maybe practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

" What is claimed is:

1; In a'chair of the class-described, means for positioning and supporting v an occupant in turbulent motion, said means .cornprising'kidney padsadjustably mounted to ...the rear-of the seat of saidlehairtofit against thelower region'of said occupants back and thigh clamps adjustably mounted on' the sides of said, chair to inwardly press .against said occupants' thighs, said ,kidney padsbeing of wrap-arounddesign and being adjustable inheightand. lateral position forplacement against said occupantsback,

. said thigh clamps having van upper portion thereofrotatable to press against 'said .occupants abdomen,.said kidney pads and thigh clampsfifirmly securingsaidoccupant against rearward pitch and side sway, saidupperportion of said clampss'ecuring said occupantagainst forward. pitch. 2. In a chair'of the classdescribed, a chair-base, means for positioning and supporting an occupant during. tur- 4 bulent motion,.said means including kidney pads mounted V on said base and adjustable to fit against an operators back, a seat having a raised front edge, adjustable arm rests pivotally mounted on the sides of said base to rotate inwardly to press against the operators thighs, and an adjustable footrest against which the operator may press his feet tov thereby firmly press hisback against vsaid kidney pads, said footrest having lateral width to permit the operators .feetto .be placed in spaced relation thereon,

said footrest, kidney-pads, raised seat edge and arm rests supporting the occupant during pitching and. rolling motion, said arm rests having a top portion thereof pivotally mounted to the lower portion-thereof to swing inwardly about one end thereof to support the occupants abdominal region to provide additional support during forward pitch of turbulent motion.

References Cited in the file of this patent I UNITED STATES PATENTS Miller Dec. 14,1954

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