US2893473A - Jointed arm rest - Google Patents

Description

K. PITTs ET Al.

July 7, 1959 JOINTED ARM REST 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. l5, 1957 ig?V E MSM Nv fwn m mme T N H T JMA. A y m E nm H n 1W. sa

BY g- WIM/a July 7, 1959 K. PITTS ET AL JOINTED. ARM REST 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 15, 1957 INVENTORS. Kennard P/lfsv Elmer A. Her/der Y THE Il? A TTOR/VE YS K. PITTS ET AL July 7, 1959 JOINTED ARM REST 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. l5, 1957 m am N mnr. M

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K. PITTS ET AL July 7, 1959 JOINTED ARM REST 4 Shams-SheetI 4 Filed Feb. l5, 1957 INVENTORS. Kennard Pffs Elmer A. Her/'der THE Il? A 7' TOR/VE YS 2,893,473 Patented July 7, 1959 ice JOINTED ARM REST Kennard Pitts, Detroit, and Elmer A. Herider, Dearborn Township, Wayne County, Mich., assignors to Rockwell-Standard Corporation, a corporation of Pennsylvama Application February 15, 1957, Serial No. 640,432

15 Claims. (Cl. 155-112) This invention relates to a jointed arm rest for vehicle seats, and more specifically a center arm rest construction therefor comprising a jointed pair of cushions which constitutes a movable midsection of the seating surface and in which the cushions can be relatively rotated where they join, to an erected position offset from the outer cushion sections in the seat so as to present the arm rest.

In vehicles such as automobiles having a three-passenger seat, it is desirable when there are fewer occupants in the seat to provide a center arm rest for their added comfort. The referred to jointed pair of cushions which form the movable midsection of the present seat readily perform that additional function. More specifically, the jointed cushions extend longitudinally forwardly from a back rest provided on the seat and the rear one of these cushions rotates about one end at a point below the bottom of the back rest such that when folded downwardly to straighten the joint therebetween it brings the front surface of the front cushion into transverse alignment with the front edge of the seat. A supporting link pivoted to the underside of the front one of the cushions completes a parallelogram linkage therewith for erecting the cushions, enabling the unused rear cushion to disappear as the joint starts to fold, but at the same time cooperating in the partially folded position to support the front cushion levelly in its role as the arm rest. The disappearance of the rear cushion upon rotating upwardly to unstraighten the joint results from the cushion moving into a rectangular recess provided at the center of the back rest for the seat. In split type back rests as specifically disclosed herein, this recess is provided by relieving the inner lower corners of the back rest halves. Removal of the arm rest and the restoration of the continuous seating surface occurs when the cushions are collapsed into the seat, a movement controlled by downward pressure of the operator in unfolding the cushions at the joint, causing them to align with one another as joint straightens and they settle in this fashion into the contour of the seating surface.

Further features, objects, and advantages will either be specifically pointed out or become apparent when for a better understanding of the invention reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which show a preferred embodiment thereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a vehicle front seat embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is a sectional View in plan taken along the lines Ill-lll of Figure 2, but to enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view taken along the lines IV-IV of Figure 3 and showing the cushions in a normal position;

Figure 5 shows a detail taken along the section lines V-V of- Figure 4; and

Figure 6 shows theseat cushions of Figure 4 inthe erected position.

More particularly in the drawings, the present invention is embodied in a vehicle front seat shown disposed between two hinged doors 10 on opposite sides of the passenger compartment of a vehicle 12. A steering wheel 14 adjacent the front seat structure is mounted in the usua-l way at the forward end of the passenger compartment.

A pair of outer cushion sections 16 and 1S forms the opposite end portions of the seat structure and, for purposes of turning from their midposition shown in solid lines, they each have eccentric mounting pivots 20 on which they shift with a combined outwardly turning and rearwardly shifting movement into the dotted line positions 16a and 18a (Figure 2) for ready access of passengers with respect to the door openings on which the doors 1t) are hinged. The outer cushion sections 16 and 18 mutually define a gap or recess 22 receiving a center cushion section having a joint in the middle dividing it into a front cushion 24 convertible into an arm rest and a secondary cushion 26 at the rear hinged to the front cushion. The center section and the outer sections 16 and 18 have a common longitudinally extending supporting frame formed of a front frame member 28 made of metal tubing having bow-shaped ends, and a rear frame member 30 made of similar tubing but having straight end portions. The supporting frame has identical opposite end portions which individually carry a foot bracket 32 formed of metal strap bridging between the front and rear members 28 and 30, each foot bracket being secured to a conventional seat slide 34 (Figure 4) providing for forward and rearward adjustment of the seat structure in the usual way. Both brackets 32 have a rearward strap extension 36, each carrying one of the eccentric seat cushion pivots 20.

The present seating assembly incorporates a split type folding back rest construction of which the cushions 38, constituting the two halves thereof, closely confront one another at their inner ends which bridge across the rear of the secondary seat cushion 26 and which are relieved at their lower inner corners to define an included gap or recess 40. The split back rest cushions 38 are identically carried by the respective outer cushion sections 16 and 18 at opposite ends of the frame and in the interests of brevity only the cushion section 16 and the associated cushion 38 and its construction will be described. The cushion section 16 has frame members including spaced cross straps 42 forming the cushion. frame and the cross straps 42 in that frame carry a curved channel rail 44 which guides on the adjacent bowshaped end of the front member 28 of the supporting frame as the section 16 pivots about the eccentric pivot 20. The cross straps 42 have rear strap extensions 46- forming back rest standards carrying a mounting bracket 4S (Figure 4). A back rest frame of inverted U-shape carries a pair of hollow cross members one of which is' indicated at 50 and has spaced depending legs 52 and 54 which are turned to form loops at their lower ends to pivot on a fixed hinge pin 56 carried by the mounting bracket 48.

Each of the two back rest cushions 38 includes a row of internal spring elements 58 and although the back rest surface is shown in outline only, these elements 58 are padded with the usual foam rubber and covered in con.A ventional way with upholstery cloth. The spring elements 58 which are of a two-piece construction having an arched helper spring 59 therewithin riveted thereto, extend in a row to the outer end of each cushion 38 and are identical with one another except for a foreshortened portion 60 formed on the innermost one or two of the elements to relieve the lower corner of that cushion so ,as to cooperate with the other cushion in defining the recess 40. The attaching terminals of the individual spring elements 58 protrude through lower side openings into the interior of theY cross' member 50 and they are anchored therein by means of a Z bar retainer 62 which slides to final position into the hollow cross member 50,

The front and rear cushions 24 and 2`6 forming the jointed center section overlie av subfran'le'formedof side rods having transversely aligned offsets 6'4Y at their portion; further having' downturned front claws 66Z grip andare welded to` an upwardly offset portion 68 in the frame front cross' member 28; and also having rear claws 70 which grip and are welded to a forward offset portion 72 in the rear framey cros's member 30. A bracket 74 which rigidly' interconnects' the offsets 64 in' the side rods` carries av bearing loop 76; A rod bent intoalgeneral U-shape has the base portion 78 thereof rotatably ref ceived in the bearing loop^76 and the spaced parallel legs' ofthe bent rod form the frontV supporting links 80 cfa' parallelogram linkage swing'ably mounting the front cushion 24- to the subframe. The subframeV has av rear extension constitutedV by the spaced parallel legs 82 of the side" rods which form xed cantilever supports for the rear cushion 26. The terminals of the legs 82 are offset upwardly and areV turned into loops 84.

The front and' rear cushions 24y and 26 mutually carry a depending set of front and' rear leaves forming a hinge 86; the front leaf of which has rivet openings and a row of rivets 88 therein securing the rear ends of a set of front cushion spring elements 90 thereto: The readily apparent downward olset of the hinge 86l provides for concealment thereof when the joint straightens out so as to hattenthefcushions- 24 and 26y in end to endl alignment with one another. The cushion elements 90 are steel hands made from strip spring stock which is turned at the front end so as to form aV loop 92 closed by a rivet 94, being of the type generally as shown and described in` the Pitts and copending Herider application, Serial No. 637,456; filed January 3l, 1957, now U.S. Patent No; 2,834,403, issued May 13, 1958l and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. A spring element retainer tube 95- carries a retaining strip 96 along its length to which the loops 92 are directly secured at their underside. At the opposite ends the tube 95 carries a pair of bearing inserts 98, Figure 3, arranged with coaxial sockets receiving the short inturned terminal portions of a generally U-shaped' trim wire 100 having the base thereof rigid with the front leaf of the hinge 86. In' operation, the retainer tube 95-settl`es onto the side rods of the subframe adjacent the front claws 66 thereof to limit unfolding of the joint- 86 so that it stops the cushions 24,

26 in a straight position. Adjacent the links 80 the walls' of the retainer tube 95 are slotted at points to provide aY short circumferentially extending portion 99 in which the adjacent link- 80 relatively rotates and also an intersecting longitudinally extending slot portion, not shown, by means of whichy the outturned ends of the links 80l are introduced to within the interior of the tube 95 and socketed to turn' inthe inserts 98;

A latch pivot bracket (not shown) secured to' the front leaf 102 of the hinge 86 carries a spring latch 104 which pivots on a xed axis therein for locking the hinge leaves in abutting relationship. AA coil spring 105 adjacent the bracket pivot has ananchored portion pressing rearwardlyv on the front leaf (Figure and a front portion-constantly biasing the forward part of the spring latch 104 downwardly as seen in Figure 4. A ilexible latch pull 106l passing downwardlyfthrough apassage in the cushion k2'4- has` its' lower end connected to an eye-formed in thelatch 1041 and has its upper end accessible-tome manuallyy lifted either by a direct tug exerted thereon or through a pivoted lever, not shown, butlocated substantially ush with the topsurface or' the cushion 24. The spring latch 104l passes through aV slot 108 in the other hinge leaf when' theY leaves confront s'o as to engage theV edge thereof'Y and latch them together under the bias of the latchspring" 105. The rear'leaf'off' the hinge 86T carries a r'owet"rivets- 110 securing thereto the front ends of a row of cushion spring elements 112 and theseelements 112 are made of steel strip spring stock and support the secondary cushion 26 which is shown in outline only, but which includes the usual foam rubber padding with upholstery cloth covering the same. The rear ends of the elements 112 are secured to a retainer tuhe`1`14i and a U-shaped, cushion frame rod 116 has short inturnedl portions on its legs which pass through the eyes of the lloops 84 and thus carry the retainer tube 114 for rocking motion. The base ofthe frame rod 116 which' actually is an' inverted U in shape, has' an' olfset near' the top and forms the permanent hinge pin of the hinge 86.

An arm rest erecting spring 1'18 (Figure 3*) arranged with coils coaxial to the tube 114 has an anchoring portion pressing downwardly on the offset 72 in the rear frame member 30 and has a forward portion 120 which makesengagement at two points and exerts an upward bias directly'on the rear' leaf ofthel hinge 86. The hinge 86 in the position' of Figures 4 and 5 is therefore suspended elastically for upand down movement mutually guided by the trim wire 1'00k and the rod 116 betweenk the dotted line lower position 86a (Figures 4 and 5)`A and the upper solidl line positionl 86 to which it is 'biased' by the biasing' portions 120 of the' erecting springv 118; A mounting Ibracket 122 for pivotally carrying a spring latch 124 is' rigidly secured to the retainer tube 114 for rocking movement therewith sov as to swing the pivot point of the latch in anoutwardly offset arc of swing. A latch spring having a forward portion 126 engages theA spring latch 124 so as tof bias the forward end thereof downwardly and keepit in continual wiping contact with' a fixed latch pin 128 which is bracket mounted in an offset position to the olfset 72 in the rear frame cross member 30. They resulting automatic spring engagement between the spring latch' 124 and the latchl pin 128 limits the yfolding movement of the'cushions 24`- and 26 as they rotate upwardly from theposition of Figure 4 so that the joint 86 never passes the partially folded position of Figure 6; A flexible pull chain 130 interconnects an eye in the spring latch 1'2'4y and the previously noted eye in the spring latch- 104 so as to transmit movement from the latter to` the former when the cushionsare in the erected position of Figure 6.

Y Iny use,l the cushion 24 is moved to the erect position shown by the dotted lines-24`a` in Figure 2 at the willr of a seat occupant who causes the latch pull 106 to lift so as to rotate the spring latch 104I clockwise as viewed in Figure 4; The biasing portions 120 of the erecting spring 118 partially unwind from the position of Figure 3 so as to'unstraighten the hinge joint 86 and rotate the arm rest cushion 24 upwardly to the position of Figure 6; The secondary cushion 26 is unused at this time, occupying the disappearing position within recess 40V but atV the same time' cooperating with the front links 80' of thejparallelograrn linkage to hold the arm rest cushion' 24 substantially level. The spring'la'tch 124` automatically engages to assist the erecting spring 118 in holding' the' arm rest erect for the period desired. Thereafter, operation of the same' latch' pull 106 by the operator enables him to release and move theV arm rest cushion from the dotted' line position 24a into the solid line position of Figurev 2; Such operation of the latch pull 106 causes clockwise rotating movement of the spring latch 104 as viewed in Fig'u're 6 which is transmitted through the depending chain 130 to the spring. latch 124 therehelow so as to release it'an'd thereafter manual pressure exerted forwardly and downwardly on the cushion24 causes bothl do their spring elements 90 and 112 tend to buckle by reason of this suspended type of hinge joint 86 as it deiiects into the dotted line position 86a of Figure 4 where it bottoms on the side rods of the arm cushion subframe. It is appreciated that the inverted U-frame rod 116 for the secondary cushion 26 forms the rear link of the parallelogram supporting linkage with the first or upper joint thereof at 86 arranged to swing on an arc about a fixed axis whereas the second or lower joint defines such a fixed axis passing through the eyes of the loops 84.

Variations within the spirit and scope of the invention described are equally comprehended by the foregoing description.

We claim:

1. Seating structure whichincludes a frame, a hingedly jointed pair of cushion pads thereon rotatable from a settled position to a partially folded position forming an erected arm rest, one cushion pad providing a first operative joint at its outer end to the frame to produce a control link action, a link operatively joined at one end to the frame and at the other end to the outer end of the other cushion pad, said link being of a length approximating the effective length of said one cushion pad to form therewith the front and rear members respectively of at least approximately a parallelogram arm rest control linkage, said cushion pads mutually unfolding the ,said hinged joint due to movement of said parallelogram arm rest control linkage so as to move through a normal path of motion and settle in the contour of the seating surface of said structure, there being means on said frame in engagement with said settled linkage defining spaced points of support located on opposite sides of said hinged joint, and means to latch said pair of cushion pads solidly in said settled position subject to limited overtravel movement of said hinged joint below the spaced points of support aforesaid.

2. In combination, a seat frame, a cushion section thereon having a front swinging link connecting the front portion thereof to the frame for movement from a position settled in the contour of the seat so as to swing upwardly on a fixed horizontal axis with respect thereto, said cushion section including first cushion pad means pivoting the section at the rear on a fixed axis in said frame and further including means hinging said frst cushion pad means to another cushion pad means at the front to accommodate movement of the cushion section about its fixed axis upon said front swinging link connection to said frame, thereby moving to a partially folded position presenting an elevated arm supporting surface, and means to automatically latch said cushion section in both positions comprising first and second spring catches, said first catch connected for revolving movement with one of lsaid cushion pad means at a fixed point thereon and pivoted at that point and engageable with means on the othercushion pad means to lock said cushion section in said settled position, said second catch being connected between pin means mounted to said first cushion pad means and to said frame and pivoted on one pin and engageable with the other to lock said cushion section in the elevated partially folded position aforesaid.

3. Means forming a swing joint in a seat cushion structure comprising a cushion-connected tube, inserts in the ends thereof, slots in the walls of the tube adjacent the inserts, and a pair of frame-connected links protruding into said slots and formed with coaxially bent ends socketed in the inserts to enable the links to swing in the slots.

' 4. In a movable section in a seating assembly, in combination with a subframe on said assembly, a cushion including a plurality of spring elements having a common retainer tube at one end of said elements, a support member with legs rotatably mountedy on the subframe and having short bent terminals received in and extending in opposite directions in the ends of the tube, a trim member with legs arranged along the bottom of the cushion and having short bent terminals received in and extending in opposite directions in the ends of the tube, and inserts in which the leg terminals of said members are socketed in the ends of said tube, at least one of said members having the legs thereof introduced into said tube through slots in the walls thereof.

5. A movable midsection for a seating assembly comprising in combination with a subframe on said assembly, a pair of front and rear cushions having a common hinge joint attheir adjacent inner end portions, and having other portions engaging the subframe at spaced points of support, a bent frame member included in the cushion frame of each cushion and extending from a point of connection to the common hinge outwardly to a point where each frame member has a pair of inturned ends connecting the same adjacent the one point of cushion support aforesaid for relative swinging movement on the sub-l frame, and means biasing one of said frame members upwardly about its swing connection so as to yieldably suspend the hinge joint whereby the mid-section bridges between its opposite ends enabling the cushions to iioat at their inner end portions with limited elastic movement up and down together.

6. Seating structure which includes cushion mounting means, a pair of cushions thereon adapted to be rotated to a partially folded attitude presenting an elevated arm supporting surface, and adapted to be unfolded to settle into a position forming a continuous seating surface with said seating structure, a hinge joint interconnecting the cushions for the aforesaid movement, spring means effective to bias the cushions upwardly from the last said position to the aforesaid attitude through a normal range of travel, means incorporated in said hinge joint abuttable together to initially limit the unfolding travel of the joint in settling into the position aforesaid, means in said cushion pads connected to the abutting means and fiexing to accommodate limited overtravel past the initially settled position, and means in said cushion mounting means effective to guide said hinge in the described limited overtravel when the load on said cushions eX- ceeds the upward bias of said spring means.

7. In a seat structure, a frame, an erectable arm rest thereon, front and rear members rotatably mounted at one end to the frame and operatively connected to the opposite ends of the arm rest to form at least approximately a parallelogram linkage therewith, the operative connection at one end of said arm rest including hinge leaves defining a joint which is inwardly offset for concealment, a spring latch which when the hinge leaves are folded together extends through the planes of the leaves and which has an operative position effective to hold the leaves folded together with the joint concealed, means to pivot said latch into an inoperative position including a flexible pull element, the axis through such pivot being spaced apart from the axis through the hinge joint aforesaid.

8. A seating structure having outer seat cushions spaced to define a first gap and upright back rest cushions relieved at a point to dene a second gap, a supporting frame, a front cushion member normally arranged in the first gap and having a link permanently connecting the cushion member to the seat frame to pivot upwardly to form an arm rest thereon, and a second member forming a rear cushion structure hinged to the front cushion member and pivoted to swing from a point.

aligned with the front member within the first gap to a position occupying said second gap and carrying a cushion unusable in that position, and spring catch means connected between pin means mounted to said rear cushion structure and to said supporting frameand pivoted on one pin and engageable with the other to arrest motion of and latch said rear cushion structure in its final movement in the direction of the last said position, the effcctive lengthv of said link and said' rear cushion structure being substantially equal to the height of said second gapv so that the-rear cushion structure in its unused position" cooperates to support theV front cushion levelly in the" arm r'est position at ak point extending frontwardl'y from the'v top of the second gap.

9. In a seat structure, the combination of a frame, an cree-'table arm rest thereon, andy front and rear members operatively joined at one end to the frame and joined at their other end to different ends of the armrest to forni at least approximately a parallelogram linkage therewith, said second named joint for one of said members including confrontingl hinge leaves and the first named joint for said one' member including a preloaded torsion springto bias the arm rest erect, and locking means forthe? first' a-nd second joints on said one member comprising` one latch effectivel between said hinge leaves to hold' them folded together and another latch operatvel-y' interconnected to the one latch and cooperating withV the' torsion spring to hold the arm rest erected, and a`y manual' actuator common to the interconnected latches andi alternately effective t'o'lift and release said one latch alone orV lift said one latch so as to cause tandem movement of both latches for releasing said other latch when the' arml rest is erected.

The combination of seat structure according to claim 9 wherein said arm rest comprises-one cushion and said one member' carries a complemental4 cushion cooperatively arranged to lie flush with the arm rest cushion when collapsed from their erected positions, said one latch# being effective to lock said second joint when the cushions are flush so as to overcome the bias of said torsion spring.

ll. A seat assembly having outer seat sections arrangedA with a main seating frame therebelow and with a back rest structure supported therebehind, said back rest structure having a relieved intermediate portion therein, said'. assembly further including a subframe mounted on an intermediate portion of the main seating frame between theA outer seat sections, an arm rest member carrying an arm. rest cushion and forming the upper link in at least approximately a parallelogram linkage swingable on'- the subframe, a forwardly disposed bent rod member forming the front links of the parallelogram linkage and passing' through side slots in the walls of a cushion element retaining tube which is secured to the arml rest member, means forming a joint between said front links and said retainer tube enabling the former to turn in said slots, arearwardly disposed bent rod member forming the rear links of said parallelogram linkage for lifting and supporting the arm rest in a level position, said rear member carrying a secondary cushion adapted to protrude into a concealed position in said relieved backl rest portion when the arm rest is lifted, a first joint betweenthe rear member and said arm rest member comprising hinge leaves having a downwardly offset hinge axis for normally concealing the hinge, a second joint between the rear member and said subframc including biasing means effective to lift the arm rest, and means for locking said linkage at its first and second joints comprising a latch between said hinge leaves effective to hold said arm rest cushion and said secondary cushion flush with said outer seat sections and a separate" latch for the second joint cooperating with said biasing means? to support the arm rest in its lifted position, and means effective to lift' said latches in tandem and having' a. common actuator VthereforV connected to one of saidA latches.

- 12: A seat assembly having outer seat sections arranged witha4 main seating frame therebelow andwith a back rest structure supported therebehind, said back rest stmoture having a relieved; intermediate portion therein, vsaid sea-t assembly furtherincluding `intermediateV cushion mnlntingz meanscomprising a subframe having a cantilever extension at the rear formed by spaced parallel 8. rod legs; a rodrotatably' incn'infte'dy on the s'ubframe and bent toA prei/inev spaced param-.F rod legs fern'nngy 'die' frontV links of' atvvv leastapproxiniately a parallelog'ram linkage on the' Vs'ubf'rai'ne'',- and' front and rear cushions having a first jointlcommon theretofor interconnecting same at the middle and` having a second joint between the rear' cushion and the spaced parallel rod legs forming the cantilever' extension on said subfrarne, a pivot joint connecting the front' cushion and'` the spacedA parallel rod legs forming the front links on= the subframe and cooperat-k ing with the firsty and secondlj'oints so as to complete the parallelogramc linkage,meansincluded at said second joint to bias the linkage and erect the cushions, and' meansv for locking the linkage comprising a latch at the first joint tohold the cushio'ns'fcollapsed against-the resistance of the bias means, and' another latch at the second joint to holdr the cushionsv erected, said latches being interconnected and having a common' latch pull.

lf3. In a seating means, a plural cushion structure having; seatcushions locatcdf one at each outer side of a center section, said structure comprising a frame having` meansV to pivot the outer seat cushions from individual laterally offset positions to al midposition mutually defining a first gap, a splitv type folding back rest construction formed of upright cushion elements pivoted to different ones of said outer cushions and: movable therewith, saidupright cushionV elements being relatively relieved at a` point in ltheirV adjacent edges for mutually definingl a second gap whenY said outer cushions reach the midposition, and a movably mounted center cushion section on said frame formed of mutually interconnected parts with parallelo'gram linkage mechanism having a settled position in said rst gap forming a portion of the seating sur-I face and rotatable into an elevated attitude in which said section presents an elevated arm supporting surface and in which a part thereof disappears into said second gap.

14. In a seating means, a plural cushion structure having pivoted seat cushions located one at each outer side of a center section, said structure comprising a frame carrying the pivoted outer seat cushions in a manner so that in the least lengthwise expanded condition of the seating means they mutually define a minimal first gap across the' center section, a split type folding back rest construction formed of upright cushion elements pivoted to different o nes of said outer cushions, and being relatively relieved at aV point in their adjacent edges to define a second gap whcnunfolded by movement into an upright position, and a movably mounted center `cushion section on said frame formed of mutually interconnected parts with parallelogram linkage mechanism having a settled position accommodated in said minimal first gap forming a portion ot the seating surface and rotatable into an elevated attitude in which to present an elevated arm supporting surface and in which a part thereof disappears into said second gap.

15. In a seating means, a plural cushion construction having aseat cushion located one at each outer side of a center section, said structure comprising a frame carrying the outer seat cushions so as to mutually define a first gap across-the center section, a split type folding back rest construction formed of a plurality of upright elements each mounted to said structure whereby it is operable thereon to fold on a generally horizontal axis in all positions and is movable from an individual laterally offset position to a midposition so as to mutually define with another upright element a second gap, and: a movably mounted center cushion section on said structure formed of mutually interconnected parts with-parallelogram linkage mechanism having a` settled position in said first gap forming a portion of the seating surface and rotatable into an elevated attitude in which said section presents an elevated armsupportingl surface and in which a part of saidsection disappears into said second gap.V

(References on following page) 9 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,337,557 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,085,836 Tatum July 6, 1937 2,224,825 Krakauer et al Dec. 10, 1940 2,249,849 owler July 22, 1941 293,620

10 Jones Dec. 28, 1943 Fair Nov. 20, 1951 Clark Nov. 20, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain July 12, 1928

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