US3013840A - Folding chair and kneeler attachment - Google Patents

Folding chair and kneeler attachment Download PDF

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US3013840A
US3013840A US785367A US78536759A US3013840A US 3013840 A US3013840 A US 3013840A US 785367 A US785367 A US 785367A US 78536759 A US78536759 A US 78536759A US 3013840 A US3013840 A US 3013840A
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kneeler
legs
chair
attachment
pair
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US785367A
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John D Eves
Kenneth A Terpening
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Brewer Titchener Corp
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Brewer Titchener Corp
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    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47CCHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C16/00Stand-alone rests or supports for feet, legs, arms, back or head
    • A47C16/04Prayer-stools; Kneeling stools; Kneeling supports
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47CCHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C11/00Benches not otherwise provided for
    • A47C11/02Church benches; Confessionals

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  • This invention relates to folding chairs and, more particularly, to folding chairs having a kneeler attachment designed and adapted for use in churches, chapels and the like as a chapel chair.
  • An object of this invention is to provide such chairs with an improved kneeler attachment which is adapted to be independently collapsed without folding the mount ing chair, as well as being adapted to assume a collapsed and substantialy coplanar relation with respect to a fully collapsed or folded chair to thereby enhance the versatility and storage of such chairs.
  • Another object is to provide a folding chair construction housing a kneeler attachment which is adapted to be collapsed to a completely folded position during which it is structurally retained against undesirable movement and released therefrom only upon application of properly exerted forces and consequential deliberate movement.
  • a further object is to provide a similar folding chair structure wherein the kneeler attachment is adapted to be folded to a completely collapsed position at which time structural means cooperate to prevent the kneeler attachment from shifting past dead center.
  • An important object is to provide a folding chair with an improved kneeler attachment which is of simple construction, less expensive to manufacture, and advantageously and conveniently operable under practically all contemplated conditions of use as well as storage without affecting the proper and desired functioning of such chairs.
  • the present invent-ion comprises a kneeler attachment having a kneeling pad suitably supported in a frame assembly having rigidly connected thereto a pair of arms which extend forwardly andare pivotally attached to the rear support legs of a folding chair.
  • the point of attachment of this pair of arms to the rear legs is at a predetermined elevation with respect to the unfolded chair whereby the kneeling pad willmbe in a substantially horizontal position when the kneeler attach? ment is in an unfolded position.
  • this point of attachment is at a short distance beneath a cross-bar extending between the rear legs of the folding chair.
  • the kneeler attachment may thus be folded upwardly and forwardly to a collapsed position at which time it will be disposed substantially between the rear chair legs, with the supporting arms resting against this, cross-bar through stop means which also function to prevent any shifting past dead center.
  • a pair of legs are pivotally connected to the undersurface of the kneeler frame adjacent its rear edge for finding support on the selected floor surface.
  • a pair of links are pivotally connected at one end to the kneeler legs and at the opposite end to the, rear legs of the chair. These links serve to hold the kneeler legs in proper position to support the kneelerpad when in an operative position. When the kneeler is shifted to its collapsed position, these links force the kneeler legs to pivot downwardly and thusly to an ultimate disposition substantially coplanar with the rear chair legs.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an unfolded chair and 3,913,840 Patented Dec. 19, 1961 iCC kneeler attachment fabricated in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of this chair and kneeler attachment in a collapsed and completely folded position
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational front view of the kneeler attachment and its structural association with the rear supporting legs of the folding chair when both are in an unfolded condition with certain parts broken away and removed;
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4.-4 of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 5 is a similar view illustrating the kneeler attachment in its folded and collapsed position as well as a phantom representation of the disposition of its elements when in an intermediate position between a fully collapsed and unfolded condition;
  • FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 5;
  • FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-8 of FIG. 7.
  • a backrest 12 is pivotally associated with a seat 14 through means including a handle bar 16, which, in turn, additionally serves as a handle for carrying the chair 10 when in its folded condition.
  • the back-rest 12 has pivotally connected thereto a pair of front supporting legs 18 and 20 which terminate at their lower ends in the usual feet 22, which may be formed from suitable resinous material.
  • Seat 14, on the other hand, has .pivotally connected thereto a pair of rear supporting legs 24 and 26 which similarly include the usual plastic feet 28.
  • the supporting legs 18 and 24 are pivotally connected to one another intermediate their ends, whereas supporting legs 24 and 26 are similarly connected interme diate their ends.
  • Cross-bars or braces 30 and 32 extend between and are rigidly connected to supporting legs 13 and Ztl for purposes of cooperating to maintain the desired spaced-apart relationship of the chair supporting legs in addition to their other functions.
  • An additional cross-bar 34 is similarly connected to the supporting legs 24 and 26, but preferably is disposed interiorly and forwardly of the rear supporting legs 24 and 26, the purpose of which will become apparent from the following.
  • a pair of bearing brackets 36 and 38 are secured to the undersurface of seat 14 and are adapted to engage front supporting legs 18 and 20, respectively, when the chair 10 is in its unfolded operative condition.
  • application Serial Number 742,356, filed June 16, 1958 having a common in greater seating capacity for a given area.
  • reinforcing angles 39 are inserted in each of the front legs 18 and 2t and extend from the foot of each of these legs to the raised cross brace 30. These angles 39 serve to reinforce the unsupported portion of the front legs below the cross brace.
  • the kneeler attachment 40 comprises a kneeling pad assembly 42 and a collapsible frame 44 pivotally coupled with the rear legs 24 and 26 of the foldable chair It).
  • the kneeling pad assembly 42 is advantageously coupled with the collapsible frame 44 such that in a normal unfolded position it will be disposed substantially parallel to the plane of the fioor, which, under most circumstances, is ordinarily horizontal. In the fully collapsed or folded position the kneeling pad assembly will be substantially parallel to the plane defined by the pivotal connections of the collapsible frame 44, which are substantially coplanar with the plane of the rear legs 24 and 26 of chair 10.
  • the kneeling pad assembly 42 includes a pan 46 of substantially rectangular configuration with rounded corners 48.
  • the upstanding side walls of the pan 46 are folded or bent inwardly upon themselves to form substantially rounded upper peripheral edges 50 in an effort to minimize the number of exposed sharp edges on the kneeler attachment 40.
  • the base 52 of the pan 46 cornprises essentially an inwardly extending flange with extensions 54 and 56 suitably bored to receive a pair of attaching screws 58 and 60, respectively. These attaching screws 58 and 60 extend through similarly formed bores in a backing panel 62 which is anchored to the inside of the pan 46, as for example by spot welding.
  • a plywood panel 64, for the kneeler upholstery is secured to the pan 46 as well as the backing panel 62 by the attaching screws 58 and 60.
  • the kneeler upholstery which is conveniently attached to the plywood panel 64 by any of the well-known commercial techniques, comprises the usual cloth barrier 66 together with a vinyl plastic covering 63, both of which cooperate to encase the sponge rubber filler 70.
  • a pair of front supporting arms or bars 72 and 74- have secured thereto-as by weldinga pair of attaching angles 76 and 78, respectively. These angles, in turn, may be similarly welded to inward extensions 80 and 82, respectively, of base 52 of pan 46.
  • both supporting arms 72 and 74 are pivotally connected to the rear legs 26 and 24, respectively, of the chair by means of connections, each of which includes a bolt 84 extending inwardly through the associated rear leg of the chair 10, through a bore in an arcuately shaped attaching plate 86, through a fiber friction washer 88, through the suitably formed bore in the front end of the adjacent support arm and then into engagement with an adjustable stop nut assembly 90.
  • the attaching plate 86 is suitably curved to conveniently embrace the exposed and associated sectors of the supporting rear leg of the chair 10. In this connection, plate 86 serves to strengthen this rear leg at the point where it is pierced with holes which cooperate to attach the kneeler assembly to the chair 10.
  • the friction washer 88 functions upon displacement of the nut assembly 90 to either tighten or loosen the pivotal connection to thereby change, accordingly, the required force to effect relative movement of the parts.
  • Stop plates 92 and 94 are properly located on support arms 72 and 74, respectively, and are suitably secured thereto-as by spot weldingto their inner side faces. These stop plates 92 and 94 extend upwardly beyond the upper edges of the supporting arms 72 and 74, respectively, when the collapsible frame 44 is in unfolded posi tion. Accordingly, they are adapted to ultimately engage the cross brace 34 of the chair 10 when frame 44 is in its collapsed position to thereby prevent folding past dead center when assuming its ultimate collapsed position.
  • leg brace 106 suitably fabricated from proper gauged tubin. This leg brace 106, in addition to its function of cooperating to maintain the legs 100 and 102 in their desired spacedapart and parallel relationship, serves as a handle for the kneeler attachment 49 to thusly aid in collapsing and unfolding the frame 44.
  • a pair of connector link rods 108 and 110 are respectively coupled with the kneeler attachment legs 100 and 102 on one hand and chair legs 26 and 24 on the other. These rods 10% and 110 are of the desired offset configuration, as well as length, to properly effect the folding of the frame assembly 44 from its unfolded to folded position with the pivotal connections thereof disposed substantially in the same plane.
  • the connector links 108 and 110 are each pivotally connected to the kneeler legs 100 and 102, respectively, by means of rivets 112 and washers 114- with the offset sections of these links bowed inwardly to thus cooperate to permit unobstructed folding of the kneeler attachment to a proper collapsed position.
  • the distal ends of links 108 and 110, with the aid of attaching plates 86, are pivotally connected to the rear legs 26 and 24, respectively, of foldable chair 10 by means of rivets 116 and washers 118.
  • the pivotal connections thereof define a quadrilateral having unequal angles, as clearly shown in FIG. 4.
  • the kneeler legs 100 and 102 define a plane which is not parallel to the plane of the chair rear legs 24 and 26 nor one that is normal to the supporting floor.
  • the leg brace 106 When it is desired to collapse the kneeler attachment 40 While the chair 10 is in its unfolded position, the leg brace 106 may be grasped to hold the frame 44 upwardly and forwardly about its pivotal connections with the chair rear legs 24 and 26.
  • the kneeler attachment 40 will thus assume the position illustrated in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8 with an intermediate disposition of kneeler components illustrated in phantom in FIG. 5.
  • the collapsed kneeler attachment 40 at this time will be interposed substantially between the rear chair legs 24 and 26, and the pivotal connections of frame 44 disposed substantially coplanar with these legs. Further, to prevent it from shifting past this coplanar relationship, the stop plates 92 and 94 are in engagement with the chair leg brace 34. It should be understood that in folding kneeler attachment 40 to or from its collapsed position the various kneeler parts are adapted to clear one another. Consequently, uninterrupted and appreciably smooth movement and displacement of parts is efficiently attained.
  • the kneeling pad assembly 42 is located entirely within the confines of the chair frame and, accordingly, are not exposed to thereby detrimentally affect the chair appear-
  • a folding chair having a pair of rear legs, of a kneeler attachment including a kneeling pad assembly, and a collapsible frame assembly supporting said kneeling pad assembly and pivotal on the rear legs of said chair between an unfolded position rearwardly of said chair and a collapsed position substantially coplanar with the plane of said rear legs
  • said frame assembly comprising a pair of arms each being pivotally connected with one of said rear legs and fixedly secured to said kneeling pad assembly, a pair of kneeler legs each being pivotally associated with one of said arms, and a pair of links each being pivotally connected with one of the kneeler legs, and the pivotal connection of said arms with said rear legs comprising at least one stop nut and bolt assembly with interposed friction washer for adjusting the relative ease of collapsing said frame assembly with respect to said rear legs.
  • pivotal connection of said arms with said rear legs additionally comprises at least one interposed attaching plate embracing one of said rear legs, and said attaching plate also forming part of the pivotal connection of said links with said rear legs.
  • a cross-brace extends between the pair of rear legs of said chair and said frame assembly includes means for cooperating with said cross-brace for preventing said frame assembly from shifting past said single plane coplanar with the plane of said rear legs when said frame assembly is in its collapsed position, and said means comprises at least one stop plate extending beyond said frame assembly and adapted to engage said cross-brace when said frame assembly is in its collapsed position.
  • said kneeling pad assembly includes a pan secured to said frame assembly, a panel disposed within said pan and connected thereto, and a resilient member in covering relationship with respect to said panel.
  • kneeler legs, rear legs, arms and links form a pair of quadrilaterals each having unequal angles.
  • a leg brace extends between and is connected to said kneeler legs and is adapted to serve as a handle in collapsing and unfolding said frame assembly and further is disposed in other than a coplanar position with respect to said rear legs when said frame assembly is in its collapsed position.
  • kneeler legs, arms and links are so constructed and arranged with respect to said rear legs so as to provide means for cooperating to releasably lock said frame assembly in its collapsed position and permit release'of said frame assembly from such locked position only upon initial predetermined movement rearwardly of said kneeler legs about their pivotal connection with said arms.

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Description

Dec. 19, 1961 J. D. EVES ETAL 3,013,840
FOLDING CHAIR AND KNEELER ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 7, 1959 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 19, 1961 J. D. EVES ETAL FOLDING CHAIR AND KNEELER ATTACHMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 7, 1959 INVENTORS. Jo/m/ 0. sues lfA/A Ei'b' 4. raven/Na Dec. 19, 1961 v s ETAL FOLDING CHAIR AND KNEELER ATTACHMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan, 7 1959 6 M S m; V M. n M N #7 0E KM Y B ATTMA/Ers nited States Patent 9 3,613,840 HA? ANB KNEELER ATTAQHh/EENT Iiohn D. Eves and Kenneth A. 'llerpening, Cortland, N.Y.,
assignors to The Brevverfitchener lljorporation, Cortland, N332, a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 7, X959, Ser. No. 7%,357 9 tclairss. (Cl. 27-4Ta6 This invention relates to folding chairs and, more particularly, to folding chairs having a kneeler attachment designed and adapted for use in churches, chapels and the like as a chapel chair.
An object of this invention is to provide such chairs with an improved kneeler attachment which is adapted to be independently collapsed without folding the mount ing chair, as well as being adapted to assume a collapsed and substantialy coplanar relation with respect to a fully collapsed or folded chair to thereby enhance the versatility and storage of such chairs.
Another object is to provide a folding chair construction housing a kneeler attachment which is adapted to be collapsed to a completely folded position during which it is structurally retained against undesirable movement and released therefrom only upon application of properly exerted forces and consequential deliberate movement.
A further object is to provide a similar folding chair structure wherein the kneeler attachment is adapted to be folded to a completely collapsed position at which time structural means cooperate to prevent the kneeler attachment from shifting past dead center.
An important object is to provide a folding chair with an improved kneeler attachment which is of simple construction, less expensive to manufacture, and advantageously and conveniently operable under practically all contemplated conditions of use as well as storage without affecting the proper and desired functioning of such chairs.
In general, the present invent-ion comprises a kneeler attachment having a kneeling pad suitably supported in a frame assembly having rigidly connected thereto a pair of arms which extend forwardly andare pivotally attached to the rear support legs of a folding chair. The point of attachment of this pair of arms to the rear legs is at a predetermined elevation with respect to the unfolded chair whereby the kneeling pad willmbe in a substantially horizontal position when the kneeler attach? ment is in an unfolded position. Additionally, this point of attachment is at a short distance beneath a cross-bar extending between the rear legs of the folding chair. The kneeler attachment may thus be folded upwardly and forwardly to a collapsed position at which time it will be disposed substantially between the rear chair legs, with the supporting arms resting against this, cross-bar through stop means which also function to prevent any shifting past dead center. A pair of legs are pivotally connected to the undersurface of the kneeler frame adjacent its rear edge for finding support on the selected floor surface. A pair of links are pivotally connected at one end to the kneeler legs and at the opposite end to the, rear legs of the chair. These links serve to hold the kneeler legs in proper position to support the kneelerpad when in an operative position. When the kneeler is shifted to its collapsed position, these links force the kneeler legs to pivot downwardly and thusly to an ultimate disposition substantially coplanar with the rear chair legs.
Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description which is to be taken in conjunction with the attached sheets of drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, and in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an unfolded chair and 3,913,840 Patented Dec. 19, 1961 iCC kneeler attachment fabricated in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of this chair and kneeler attachment in a collapsed and completely folded position;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational front view of the kneeler attachment and its structural association with the rear supporting legs of the folding chair when both are in an unfolded condition with certain parts broken away and removed;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4.-4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a similar view illustrating the kneeler attachment in its folded and collapsed position as well as a phantom representation of the disposition of its elements when in an intermediate position between a fully collapsed and unfolded condition;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-8 of FIG. 7.
Reference is now made to the construction of the folding chair 10 which, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is adapted to assume an unfolded operative position from the folded, collapsed position of FIG. 2. In this connection, a backrest 12 is pivotally associated with a seat 14 through means including a handle bar 16, which, in turn, additionally serves as a handle for carrying the chair 10 when in its folded condition. The back-rest 12 has pivotally connected thereto a pair of front supporting legs 18 and 20 which terminate at their lower ends in the usual feet 22, which may be formed from suitable resinous material. Seat 14, on the other hand, has .pivotally connected thereto a pair of rear supporting legs 24 and 26 which similarly include the usual plastic feet 28.
The supporting legs 18 and 24 are pivotally connected to one another intermediate their ends, whereas supporting legs 24 and 26 are similarly connected interme diate their ends. Cross-bars or braces 30 and 32 extend between and are rigidly connected to supporting legs 13 and Ztl for purposes of cooperating to maintain the desired spaced-apart relationship of the chair supporting legs in addition to their other functions. An additional cross-bar 34 is similarly connected to the supporting legs 24 and 26, but preferably is disposed interiorly and forwardly of the rear supporting legs 24 and 26, the purpose of which will become apparent from the following. In an effort to secure the proper interrelationship of parts as well as distribution of stresses and strains, a pair of bearing brackets 36 and 38 are secured to the undersurface of seat 14 and are adapted to engage front supporting legs 18 and 20, respectively, when the chair 10 is in its unfolded operative condition. For a more detailed disclosure of a folding chair of substantially similar construction, reference should be made to application Serial Number 742,356, filed June 16, 1958, having a common in greater seating capacity for a given area. As a consequence of. the raising of cross brace 30, reinforcing angles 39 are inserted in each of the front legs 18 and 2t and extend from the foot of each of these legs to the raised cross brace 30. These angles 39 serve to reinforce the unsupported portion of the front legs below the cross brace.
The kneeler attachment 40 comprises a kneeling pad assembly 42 and a collapsible frame 44 pivotally coupled with the rear legs 24 and 26 of the foldable chair It). The kneeling pad assembly 42 is advantageously coupled with the collapsible frame 44 such that in a normal unfolded position it will be disposed substantially parallel to the plane of the fioor, which, under most circumstances, is ordinarily horizontal. In the fully collapsed or folded position the kneeling pad assembly will be substantially parallel to the plane defined by the pivotal connections of the collapsible frame 44, which are substantially coplanar with the plane of the rear legs 24 and 26 of chair 10.
The kneeling pad assembly 42 includes a pan 46 of substantially rectangular configuration with rounded corners 48. The upstanding side walls of the pan 46 are folded or bent inwardly upon themselves to form substantially rounded upper peripheral edges 50 in an effort to minimize the number of exposed sharp edges on the kneeler attachment 40. The base 52 of the pan 46 cornprises essentially an inwardly extending flange with extensions 54 and 56 suitably bored to receive a pair of attaching screws 58 and 60, respectively. These attaching screws 58 and 60 extend through similarly formed bores in a backing panel 62 which is anchored to the inside of the pan 46, as for example by spot welding. A plywood panel 64, for the kneeler upholstery, is secured to the pan 46 as well as the backing panel 62 by the attaching screws 58 and 60. The kneeler upholstery, which is conveniently attached to the plywood panel 64 by any of the well-known commercial techniques, comprises the usual cloth barrier 66 together with a vinyl plastic covering 63, both of which cooperate to encase the sponge rubber filler 70.
Referring now to the collapsible frame 4-4, it will be observed that a pair of front supporting arms or bars 72 and 74- have secured thereto-as by weldinga pair of attaching angles 76 and 78, respectively. These angles, in turn, may be similarly welded to inward extensions 80 and 82, respectively, of base 52 of pan 46. The forward end of both supporting arms 72 and 74 are pivotally connected to the rear legs 26 and 24, respectively, of the chair by means of connections, each of which includes a bolt 84 extending inwardly through the associated rear leg of the chair 10, through a bore in an arcuately shaped attaching plate 86, through a fiber friction washer 88, through the suitably formed bore in the front end of the adjacent support arm and then into engagement with an adjustable stop nut assembly 90. The attaching plate 86 is suitably curved to conveniently embrace the exposed and associated sectors of the supporting rear leg of the chair 10. In this connection, plate 86 serves to strengthen this rear leg at the point where it is pierced with holes which cooperate to attach the kneeler assembly to the chair 10. The friction washer 88 functions upon displacement of the nut assembly 90 to either tighten or loosen the pivotal connection to thereby change, accordingly, the required force to effect relative movement of the parts.
Stop plates 92 and 94 are properly located on support arms 72 and 74, respectively, and are suitably secured thereto-as by spot weldingto their inner side faces. These stop plates 92 and 94 extend upwardly beyond the upper edges of the supporting arms 72 and 74, respectively, when the collapsible frame 44 is in unfolded posi tion. Accordingly, they are adapted to ultimately engage the cross brace 34 of the chair 10 when frame 44 is in its collapsed position to thereby prevent folding past dead center when assuming its ultimate collapsed position.
The rear ends of the support arms 72 and 74, to which are attached angles 76 and 78, respectively, are pivotally connected by means of rivet 96 and washer 98, assemblies to kneeler legs 100 and 102, respectively, which may be formed from suitable gauged tubing. The free ends of these legs and 102 mount crutch-type feet 104 formed from suitable resinous material, which may be shrunk into tight engagement with the kneeler legs by conventional techniques, Extending between and anchored to the rear of legs 100 and 102 intermediate their ends is a leg brace 106 suitably fabricated from proper gauged tubin. This leg brace 106, in addition to its function of cooperating to maintain the legs 100 and 102 in their desired spacedapart and parallel relationship, serves as a handle for the kneeler attachment 49 to thusly aid in collapsing and unfolding the frame 44.
A pair of connector link rods 108 and 110 are respectively coupled with the kneeler attachment legs 100 and 102 on one hand and chair legs 26 and 24 on the other. These rods 10% and 110 are of the desired offset configuration, as well as length, to properly effect the folding of the frame assembly 44 from its unfolded to folded position with the pivotal connections thereof disposed substantially in the same plane. The connector links 108 and 110 are each pivotally connected to the kneeler legs 100 and 102, respectively, by means of rivets 112 and washers 114- with the offset sections of these links bowed inwardly to thus cooperate to permit unobstructed folding of the kneeler attachment to a proper collapsed position. The distal ends of links 108 and 110, with the aid of attaching plates 86, are pivotally connected to the rear legs 26 and 24, respectively, of foldable chair 10 by means of rivets 116 and washers 118.
Thus, when the foldable chair 10 and kneeler attachment 40 are both in their unfolded position, the arrangement of their parts will be disposed substantially as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 6. In order to accomplish the desired folding of the kneeler attachment 40, the pivotal connections thereof define a quadrilateral having unequal angles, as clearly shown in FIG. 4. To insure proper stress distribution from the kneeling pad assembly 42 to a supporting floor and further to reduce undesirable torques as well as minimize undesirable kneeler instability, the kneeler legs 100 and 102 define a plane which is not parallel to the plane of the chair rear legs 24 and 26 nor one that is normal to the supporting floor.
When it is desired to collapse the kneeler attachment 40 While the chair 10 is in its unfolded position, the leg brace 106 may be grasped to hold the frame 44 upwardly and forwardly about its pivotal connections with the chair rear legs 24 and 26. The kneeler attachment 40 will thus assume the position illustrated in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8 with an intermediate disposition of kneeler components illustrated in phantom in FIG. 5. The collapsed kneeler attachment 40 at this time will be interposed substantially between the rear chair legs 24 and 26, and the pivotal connections of frame 44 disposed substantially coplanar with these legs. Further, to prevent it from shifting past this coplanar relationship, the stop plates 92 and 94 are in engagement with the chair leg brace 34. It should be understood that in folding kneeler attachment 40 to or from its collapsed position the various kneeler parts are adapted to clear one another. Consequently, uninterrupted and appreciably smooth movement and displacement of parts is efficiently attained.
Additionally, there is a definite locking action presented when the kneeler attachment assumes the fully collapsed position illustrated in FIG. 5. In this position, with cross brace 106 pushed fully down so that legs 100 and 102 rest against the pan 46, it will be impossible for the kneeler frame 44 to be unfolded and opened unless cross brace 106 is grasped and pulled away from the pan 46 to initially pivot legs 100 and 102 about their respective rivets 96 to thus begin to effect the proper opening motion.
The kneeling pad assembly 42 is located entirely within the confines of the chair frame and, accordingly, are not exposed to thereby detrimentally affect the chair appear- Although a single embodiment of the present inven-' tion has been illustrated and described, other practical embodiments are contemplated by following the teachings enumerated and implied herein. Accordingly, the disclosed structure of details may be varied without departing from the principles of the present invention as well as its numerous advantages. Therefore, this invention is in no sense limited by the instant disclosure and is defined by the appended claims.
We claim:
1. The combination, with a folding chair having a pair of rear legs, of a kneeler attachment including a kneeling pad assembly, and a collapsible frame assembly supporting said kneeling pad assembly and pivotal on the rear legs of said chair between an unfolded position rearwardly of said chair and a collapsed position substantially coplanar with the plane of said rear legs, said frame assembly comprising a pair of arms each being pivotally connected with one of said rear legs and fixedly secured to said kneeling pad assembly, a pair of kneeler legs each being pivotally associated with one of said arms, and a pair of links each being pivotally connected with one of the kneeler legs, and the pivotal connection of said arms with said rear legs comprising at least one stop nut and bolt assembly with interposed friction washer for adjusting the relative ease of collapsing said frame assembly with respect to said rear legs.
2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the pivotal connection of said arms with said rear legs additionally comprises at least one interposed attaching plate embracing one of said rear legs, and said attaching plate also forming part of the pivotal connection of said links with said rear legs.
3. The combination, with a folding chair having a pair of rear legs, of a kneeler attachment including a kneeling pad assembly, and a collapsible frame assembly supporting said kneeling pad assembly and pivotal on the rear legs of said chair between an unfolded position rearwardly of said chair and a collapsed position substantially coplanar with the plane of said rear legs, said frame assembly being so constructed and arranged on said chair to be independently collapsible with respect thereto and independent of any folding thereof, said frame assembly comprising a pair of arms each being pivotally coupled with one of said rear legs and fixedly secured to said kneeling pad assembly such that said pair of arms and said kneeling pad assembly are free from any relative movement with respect to one another, a pair of kneeler legs each being pivotally associated with one of said arms and a pair of links each being pivotally connected with one of said kneeler legs and one of said rear legs, and each of the pivotal connections of said frame assembly defining a single plane substantially coplanar with the plane of said rear legs When said frame assembly is in its collapsed position, with said kneeler legs, rear legs, arms and links being substantially coplanar when said frame assembly is in its collapsed position. i
4. The invention in accordance with claim 3, wherein said planes are each substantially parallel to and spaced from a plane defined by said kneeling pad assembly when said frame assembly is in its collapsed position.
5. The invention in accordance with claim 3, wherein a cross-brace extends between the pair of rear legs of said chair and said frame assembly includes means for cooperating with said cross-brace for preventing said frame assembly from shifting past said single plane coplanar with the plane of said rear legs when said frame assembly is in its collapsed position, and said means comprises at least one stop plate extending beyond said frame assembly and adapted to engage said cross-brace when said frame assembly is in its collapsed position.
6. The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein said kneeling pad assembly includes a pan secured to said frame assembly, a panel disposed within said pan and connected thereto, and a resilient member in covering relationship with respect to said panel.
7. The invention in accordance with claim 3, wherein said kneeler legs, rear legs, arms and links form a pair of quadrilaterals each having unequal angles.
8. The invention in accordance with claim 3, wherein a leg brace extends between and is connected to said kneeler legs and is adapted to serve as a handle in collapsing and unfolding said frame assembly and further is disposed in other than a coplanar position with respect to said rear legs when said frame assembly is in its collapsed position.
9. The invention in accordance with claim 3, wherein said kneeler legs, arms and links are so constructed and arranged with respect to said rear legs so as to provide means for cooperating to releasably lock said frame assembly in its collapsed position and permit release'of said frame assembly from such locked position only upon initial predetermined movement rearwardly of said kneeler legs about their pivotal connection with said arms.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,846,392 Hambrook Feb. 23, 1932 2,548,098 Clarin Apr. 10, 1951 2,572,591 Booth Oct. 23, 1951 2,671,497 McIntyre Mar. 9, 1954 I 2,843,189 Locksin July 15, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 969,869 France May 31, 1950
US785367A 1959-01-07 1959-01-07 Folding chair and kneeler attachment Expired - Lifetime US3013840A (en)

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US785367A US3013840A (en) 1959-01-07 1959-01-07 Folding chair and kneeler attachment

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3102838A (en) * 1960-02-23 1963-09-03 John A Manning Paper Company I Fiber treatment and resulting product
US3203731A (en) * 1963-09-09 1965-08-31 Krueger Metal Products Multiple seating including stackable chairs with folding backs

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1846392A (en) * 1930-07-17 1932-02-23 Clarin Mfg Co Folding chair
FR969869A (en) * 1948-07-22 1950-12-27 Autocoussin Sa Improvements to folding seats
US2548098A (en) * 1949-08-12 1951-04-10 Clarin Mfg Co Folding chair kneeler attachment
US2572591A (en) * 1948-07-26 1951-10-23 Arvin Ind Inc Metal chair
US2671497A (en) * 1951-11-02 1954-03-09 William F Mcintyre Kneeling pad for collapsible chairs
US2843189A (en) * 1957-03-25 1958-07-15 Hampden Specialty Products Inc Kneeling stool

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1846392A (en) * 1930-07-17 1932-02-23 Clarin Mfg Co Folding chair
FR969869A (en) * 1948-07-22 1950-12-27 Autocoussin Sa Improvements to folding seats
US2572591A (en) * 1948-07-26 1951-10-23 Arvin Ind Inc Metal chair
US2548098A (en) * 1949-08-12 1951-04-10 Clarin Mfg Co Folding chair kneeler attachment
US2671497A (en) * 1951-11-02 1954-03-09 William F Mcintyre Kneeling pad for collapsible chairs
US2843189A (en) * 1957-03-25 1958-07-15 Hampden Specialty Products Inc Kneeling stool

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3102838A (en) * 1960-02-23 1963-09-03 John A Manning Paper Company I Fiber treatment and resulting product
US3203731A (en) * 1963-09-09 1965-08-31 Krueger Metal Products Multiple seating including stackable chairs with folding backs

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