US3112137A

US3112137A - Jig for making custom chairs

Info

Publication number: US3112137A
Application number: US166333A
Authority: US
Inventors: John B Drenth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-01-15
Filing date: 1962-01-15
Publication date: 1963-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 1980-11-26

Description

Nov. 26, 1963 J. B. DRENTH JIG FOR MAKING CUSTOM CHAIRS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 15, 1962 INVENTOR. 1M apr'e zzzfl ATTORNEYS United States Patent lll.

This invention relates generally to an upholsterers jig providing an upholstere-r a tool or device for making custom upholstered chairs and more particularly to an upholstering method and an adjustable upholsterers jig for making personalized custom upholstered chairs.

A personalized custom chair is made to fit the contours and build of a particular person. The jig or gage of the present invention is capable of proper, simple adjustments in measuring a prospective buyer.

Although so-called custom chairs have been provided heretofore, no upholsterers jig known to the applicant has ever been provided with a plurality of measuring means that are individually adjustable and capable of being adjusted from a single position. According to prior art practices, the upholsterer or chair builder is required to make the measurements by continuously moving around a frame to make adjustments on various movable frame members. That type of measurement would subject a purchaser to long tedious hours of measurement if he wanted a personalized custom chair. Also, even after all these multiple adjustments, the personalized chair would not end up correctly because it would be practically impossible to coordinate all the numerous individual adjustments with the desires of the prospective user. Further, in most prior art arrangements the frame is physically incorporated into the finished chair, thereby precluding duplication of the chair or further use of the frame as a jig.

The long, tedious, and time-consuming process of making personalized custom chairs with the available prior art jigs would make the manufacturing of such chairs unfeasible since long hours and the work required to obtain the measurements for the personalized chair would unduly raise the expense of such a chair, discourage prospective purchasers, and even after these long hours of measurement, the chair would not have the desired characteristics.

The present invention substantially eliminates the deficiencies of prior art practices by providing a jig or fixture having adjustment means for determining all vital parts of a custom chair quickly and conveniently.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a jig for customizing chairs having a plurality of tiltable back sections adjustable forwards and backwards and combined with an adjustable seat and adjustable arms in such a manner that all the parts may be adjusted with accuracy, versatility and speed.

it is another object of the instant invention to provide a jig for personalizing a custom built chair, wherein the adjusting means include actuator portions extending into a common accessible area to allow the operator to quickly and conveniently adjust the jig components to the desired positions.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a jig of the present invention for personalizing custom built chairs;

FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the jig shown in FIGURE 1 of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective partial rear view of the jig of the present invention.

As shown on the drawings:

According to the present invention a jig or fixture or gage means is provided for personalizing a custom built chair so the chair may be built to the personal specifications with respect to contour, height, and cushionability desired by an individual user.

3,ll2,l3i Patented Nov. 26, 1963 Referring to PTGURE 1 there is shown a side view of the jig 11 of the present invention. The jig 11 has a frame 12 mounting a multiple section back shown generally at 13, an interchangeable seat portion M, and adjustable arms 16 on each side of the jig -11.

The frame 12 is composed of a base support frame 18, a side support frame 23, and an upright support frame 33. The base support frame 18 has a pair of side angle iron supports 19 with the angles facing towards the seat portion 14%. The sides 19 are generally parallel to each other and are on opposite sides of the seat portion 14. The two sides 19 are joined together at their front end by a front angle iron (not shown) which is positioned forwmdly of the seat portion 14- with its angle facing towards the seat portion 14. Near the rear ends of the sides 19 is a rear angle iron 21 with its angle facing towards the seat 14 and adjacent thereto. The front and rear angle irons are generally parallel to each other and together with the side angle irons 19 form a frame or enclosure to enclose the seat portion 14.

The base frame 18 has the side frame support member 23 attached thereto. The side frame 23 has mounted at the rear end of each side support 19, vertical angle irons 24 attached at its base. normal to the sides 19.

Between the rear base support 21 and vertical support angle iron 24, there are two more vertical angle irons as, one mounted on each base side support 19. The vertical angle iron 26 is preferably normal to the side supports 19. The side and vertical angle irons are attached to one another by welding, bolting or other suitable means. It should be understood that while angle irons are disclosed for the support, other structural shapes of metal forms could be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The upper end of the vertical support 26 is connected to the upper end of the vertical support 24. A horizontal longitudinal angle iron 27 is parallel to the side support 19 The longitudinal support angle iron 27 forms a vertical rectilinear configuration with the side 19 and the vertical supports 26 and 24. However, only support 26 is attached to an end of the longitudinal support 27. The opposite end of support 27 extends rearwardly beyond the upper end connection of vertical support 24. The upper ends of each angle iron 27 are connected to each other by a horizontal transversely extending channel iron 28. The rear end of the horizontal longitudinal bars 27 are connected to each other by the rear horizontal transversely extending angle iron 29.

An inclined angle iron 31, disposed on each side of the jig, is attached at its top end to the junction of the angle irons 26, 2'7, and 29. The angle iron 31 extends from this junction to the base side 19. It is attached to the base side 19 at 32 which is towards the front of the jig in front of the center of the seat portion 14. The angular support 31 forms a right triangular configuration on each side of the jig with vertical support 26 and base side support 19.

The upright support frame 33 has two support bars 34 disposed angularly to the transverse plane but parallel to the longitudinal plane of the jig lit. The support bars 3-4 are connected to the rear base supports 21 at their base ends 36 and incline towards the rear of the jig and are parallel to each other. The supports 34 are joined adjacent their upper ends by the transverse cross support 29.

An upright support frame 33 is centrally affixed to the cross support 29. The angles on the support frame 33 as well as the irons 34 face rearwardly. The upright support frame 33 is parallel to the supports 34- and is connected at its bottom end to the rear angle iron 21 and its top end is the top of the back frame. The upright The angle iron 24 is preferably fit {a support frame 33 and the supports 34 are affixed to the front side of the cross support 29.

The multiple back section 13 has a plurality of cushions 39, 41, 4-2, 43, 44 and 46. Each cushion extends the width of the back section and forms a portion of the height of said back section. Mounted on the rear flat surface of the cushions are pairs of brackets 47, 4 3, 49, 51, 52 and 53, respectively. The pair of mountings on each cushion allows each cushion to be detached and replaced by a cushion of another density and degree of hardness. Thereby individual preference as to the type of cushion is easily and readily determined.

The

cushions

39, 41 and 43 have respective pairs of brackets 47, 48 and Each bracket in a pair of brackets is so spaced along the length of its back cushion to give stability to its back cushion. Adjusting means 54, 56 and 57 are attached respectively to cushions 3%, 41 and 42.

The adjusting means 56 and 57 are detachably mounted and pivotally connected to the brackets 4-7, 48 and 49 by respective brackets 58, 59 and 61. brackets 58*, 59 and 61 are respectively mounted on the brackets 47, 4-3 and 49 by

respective pins

69, 71 and 72 which pass rotatably therethrough and are afiixed to brackets 47, 48 and 49 respectively.

Flat boards

62, 63 and 64 are provided and have the respective pair of brackets 58, 59 and 61 mounted thereon. A threaded

rod

66, 67 and 68 is rotatably carried by the -upright support frame 33 for each respective board 62,

63 and 64 and engages a

mounting bracket

69, 71 and 72 which may take the form of a clevis or U-shaped member having legs disposed on opposite sides of a lug projecting from the rear support of the corresponding cushion. As each rod is threaded in the frame 33, the corresponding cushion is adjusted selectively forwardly or rearwardly. Since the cushions are pivotally mounted in each corresponding bracket 65, the cushions will tilt to an adjusted position conforming to the back of the user.

The

rods

66, 67 and 68 extend toward the rear of the jig 11 and rotatably pass through the upnight support 38. Turning handles 73, 74- and 76 are mounted on the ends of the rods to aid the operator in turning the

respective rods

66, 67 and 63.

Since the upper three cushions 39, 4-1 and 4-2 have only one

screw rod

66, 67 and 63 respectively, the jig is provided with stabilizing

rods

77, 78 and 79 each disposed below a corresponding screw rod and fastened to a corresponding bracket 58, 59 and 61 as at 62. The

rods

77, 78 and 79 slidably extend through

sleeve openings

77a, 78a, and 79a provided in the frame 33. Thus rotation of the cushions is prevented.

The

cushions

43, 44 and 46 have respective pairs of brackets 51, 52 and 53. The brackets in each pair are spaced adjacent each end of a corresponding cushion and pivotally engage corresponding lugs on the cushions. Flat boards 38, 89 and 91 extend the length of the cushions and are spaced rearwardly from the back face of the

respective cushions

43, 44 and 46. Attached to the front face of the back boards respectively are

brackets

81, 82 and 83. The bracket means 81, 82 and 83 are pivotally connected to the respective brackets 51, 52 and 53 by

pins

84, 86 and 87.

There are two pairs of

brackets

31, 82 and 33 on each of the boards 88, S9 and 91, as well as two

pins

84, 86 and 87 for each pair of brackets and two pairs of brackets 51, 52 and 53 and each cushion.

Three pairs of rods 92, 93 and 94 are provided, one pair for each

board

88, 89 and 91, one rod of each pair being on each side of the jig 11. The rods engage the brackets and are threaded in the frame members 34 thereby to adjust the

cushions

43, 44 and 46 forwardly or rearwardly.

The arms 16 each have an arm rest support 99. On top of the support 99 is mounted a cushion arm rest 1421. Dctcnt means in the form of a slot and a pin provided The 4 between the arm rest support 99 and the arm rest 101 supply the arm rests with means to adjust the length of each arm rest independently of the other arm rest. The arm rest is also adjustable laterally by virtue of a sleeve means formed in the bottom of the arm rest 10!.

Mounted towards the rear end of the arm rest 99 are rods 1%. The top of the rod is attached to the rear of the arm rest 99 and extends downwardly as at 182 therefrom. The rods curve at 103 and extend parallel to the base side 19 at 104. The end of the horizontally extending section 164 is attached to the end of veutical rod means 166. The vertical rod means 106 extends perpendicular to the horizontal rod 104 and parallel to vertical angle irons 26.

The vertical rods 166 are slidably supported in sleeves I07 mounted on the vertical angle irons 26. The tops of the two rods 166 (one on each side of the jig 11) are connected to transversely extending angle irons 103, 108.

The angle irons 168 extend upwardly at 109, 109 and parallel to the side of the back upright support 33. The angle irons 169, 1 39 slidably engage the sides of the upright support 33 as best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

Mounted on each side of the jig are angle rods 117 that engage

angle irons

108, 108 and the rear of the arm base 99.

Afiixed to me support 33 is a transverse bracket 116 which guides the angle irons 10-9, 109. A plate 118 is connected to the angle irons 09, 169 and slidably engages the support The plate 118 has r tatably secured on its top end an adjusting rod 119. The adjusting rod 119 is screwthreaded through the transverse bracket 116 and has a handle 121 on the upper end thereof. By turning the adjusting rod 119 the plate 118 is moved up or down and carries the arm irons 1.639, 169 for adjustment up and down relative to the support frame 33. T he vertical motion of the angle irons 1G9, 169 vertically moves the rod sections 166 through the sleeves 107. Thus, the arm base 99 is raised or lowered towards the desired level by turning the adjusting rod 119 by its handle 121.

The seat has a base board 22 with slots formed therein to fit over the front edges of the angle irons 19. On top or within the confines of the base board 22 on each side of the jig 11 is a base spring seat 123 which is slidably adjustable in a track mounted on the base formed by the side angle irons l9, and angle irons 29 and front angle irons (not shown). On top of the spring base 123 is placed a cushion 124. By interchanging the spring base 123 and the cushion 124 the desired density and degree of hardness of the cushion 124 may be obtained.

In back of the upright support 34 and the rear of the jig 11, between the two side frames 1?, is a hydraulic lift 126 operated by a foot pedal actuator 127. The hydraulic lift is used to raise and lower the entire seat to the level desired by the purchaser. The hydraulic lift 126, by the foot handle 127, raises and lowers a piston 128 movable within a cylinder. On top of the piston 128 is mounted a channel member that extends transversely to form a transverse bar 129.

The transverse bar E29 extends just beyond the sides of the hydraulic jack 126 and is attached to one end of vertical bars 131 descending perpendicular thereto. The opposite end of the perpendicular bars are centrally attached to longitudinal bars 132 which are normal to the vertical bars 131 and are adjacent to the sides of the jack 126. The rear end of the longitudinal bars 132 are connected to an angle iron 133. The angle iron 133 is connected to the longitudinal bars 132 at each end by studs 134 which are held onto the angle irons by threaded U-clarnps.

The front end of the longitudinal irons 132 has attached thereto vertical irons 136. Connecting the tops of the two vertical irons 136 is a transverse angle iron 137. The

' transverse angle iron 137 is also connected directly to the piston 128 and also contacts the bottom surface of the transverse angle iron 29.

The transverse bar 133 has a rod 139 rotatably mount ed thereon. The rod 139 extends vertically upward and is screw-threaded through the transverse bar 28 and extends therethrough. The rod 139 has a handle 141 to facilitate the turning thereof.

The chair is raised by actuating the foot pedal 127 thereby actuating a hydraulic pump or cylinder and raising the piston 128. The piston 128 raises the transverse bar 129 and the transverse bar 137. The transverse bar 137 engages the bottom of angle iron 29 and thus the entire jig is raised.

To adjust the tilt of the jig, the operator turns the rod 139 by the handle 141. By turning the rod 139 the operator either increases or decreases the space between the transverse bar 133 and the transverse iron 28, thus pivoting the bar 29 relative to the fulcrum provided by the transverse bar 137. The entire frame is thus adjustably tilted on the bar 137.

The present invention provides an upholsterer with a jig for rapidly custom building an upholstered chair. The prospective user sits in the jig which is selectively adjusted in height, tilt and contour as well as for spacing adjustment with respect to the arms and supports and the density and hardness of the cushion sections.

In operation, the height is adjusted by actuating the hydraulic jack 126 by the foot pedal 127. This raises the entire frame 12 by the raising bar 29. The hydraulic jack 126 actuates a hydraulic cylinder 128 which raises transverse bar 129 which is connected to raise bar 29. The frame then may be tilted by turning the tilting rod 139 by its handle 141, thereby moving the transverse bar 28 and tilting the frame by pivoting the raising bar 29 on the support 137.

After the degree of tilt has been determined, the arms are adjusted to their correct height and length and width (or separation) and the back rest is adjusted to the desired contour. The contour of the back may be adjusted, for example, by Working from the last back cushion 46 upwards to the first back cushion 39. Arms may be adjusted when the position of the back cushions is determined. The back is adjusted to its contour by moving the individual cushion back rests 39, 41, 42, 43, 44 and 46 forwards and backwards by the

respective control rods

73, 74 and 76, 92, 93 and 94. Along with the forwards and backwards adjustment of the individual cushioned back rests, the tilt of the back cushions is also determined by the brackets 58, 59, 61, $1, 82, and 83.

Although various minor modifications of the present invention may become readily apparent to those skilled in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody Within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such embodiments as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. An upholsterers jig for customizing an upholsteredchair comprising,

a frame,

an adjustable back on said frame having,

a plurality of sections,

each of said sections extending the width of said back,

means connected to each back section to tiltably support each back section,

means connected to each back section to movably support and confine each section for movement forwards and backwards;

two adjustable arms on said frame,

each having an arm rest,

support means carrying said arm rest on said frame for adjustable movement to raise and lower said arm rest,

and including means supporting and confining said arm rest for movement forwards and backwards relative to said frame,

and an adjustable seat on said frame having means confining and guiding said seat to raise and lower said seat on said frame,

and including means to tilt said seat,

and means to move said seat forwards and backwards,

whereby said jig may be universally adjusted to the individual requirements of a user.

2. A gage for personalizing custom built chairs comprising,

a frame,

an adjustable back on said frame having a plurality of sect-ions,

each of said back sections extending the width of said back,

each back section being detachably mounted on said frame to provide interchangeability of said back sections,

pivot means mounted on each back section,

means on said frame to pivot each back section relative to said frame,

means connected to each back section and to said frame to move each back section forwards and backwards;

an adjustable arm on opposite sides of said frame each having a cushion arm rest,

said arm having means to raise and lower said arm rest,

and means to move said cushioned arm rest forwards and backwards;

and an adjustable seat on said frame having means to raise and lower said seat relative to said frame,

means to tilt said seat relative to said frame,

and means to move said seat forwards and backwards relative to said frame,

whereby said jig is universally adjustable to accommodate the requirements of the prospective user.

3. A gage for personalizing custom built chairs comprising,

a frame, an adjustable back on said frame having a plurality of sections,

each of said sections extending the width of said back,

means on said frame connected to each back section to tilt each back section,

means on said frame connected to each back section to move each section forwards and backwards;

adjustable arms on opposite sides of said frame each having an arm base,

a cushion arm rest movably mounted on said arm base for adjustable lengthwise movement,

rod means connected to both adjustable arm bases and slidably mounted on said frame,

and means to slide said rod means to raise and lower said arms;

and an adjustable seat on said frame having means to raise and lower said seat,

means to tilt said seat,

and means to move said seat forwards and backwards,

whereby said jig is universally adjustable.

4. A gage for persona lizing custom built chairs comprising,

a frame,

an adjustable back on said frame having a plurality of sections,

each of said sections extending the width of said back,

means on said frame connected to each back section to tilt each back section,

adjustable arms on said frame and having means including a cushion arm rest forming :a vertically adjustable arm supporting surface,

said arms further including means to move said cushioned arm rest forwards and backwards;

and an adjustable seat on said frame having,

a spirng base,

a seat cushion over said spring base,

said spring base having detachabie mounting means affording interchangeability of base and cushions to selectively vary the density and de ree of hardness of the seat,

a hydraulic jack mounted in the rear of said jig,

means for actuating said hydraulic jack to raise and lower said frame to adjusted elevations,

means to tiltably mount said frame on said hydraulic jack,

and means to adjustably pivot said frame to provide the desired amount of tilt to the frame,

whereby the jig is universally adjustable.

5. A frame for a jig used to custom build chairs comprising,

a back section having a plurality of mounting boards connected thereto,

said mounting boards having means to detachably and pivotally mount a sectional back cushion thereon,

pivotal and longitudinal adjusting means connecting said back boards to said back frame,

said back frame being mounted onto a base and side frame of said jig,

said base section having a means to detachably mount a spring base seat thereon,

said frame pivotally mounted to a hydnaulic jack that raises and lowers said frame,

and means mounted on the frame to pivot said frame with respect to the pivotal connection of the frame on the hydraulic jack,

an arm base mounted on said frame,

longitudinally adjustable detachable cushion arm rests mounted on said arm base,

rod means connecting said arm base slidably 'with said frame, and means mounted on said frame to raise and lower both arm bases simultaneously.

6. A frame for a jig used to make custom built chairs comprising,

a back section having a plurality of mounting boards connected thereto,

said mounting boards having brackets to detachably and pivotally mount a sectional back cushion thereon, pivotal and longitudinal adjusting means rotatably attached to said back boards,

said longitudinal adjusting means being screw-threaded through said back frame,

said pivotal adjusting means rotatably and slidably passing through said back frame,

said back frame being mounted onto a base and side frame of said jig,

said frame pivotally mounted to a hydraulic jack that raises and lowers said frame,

an arm base mounted on said frame,

slots in said arm base providing means to adjust a detachable cushion arm rest longitudinally thereof,

rod means connecting said arm base slidably with said frame, means mounted on said frame to raise and lower both arm bases simultaneously.

7. A jig for custom building an upholstered chair com- 25 prising a hydraulic cylinder disposed on a vertical axis,

a piston in said cylinder having a chair jig frame connected thereto for adjustment to selected elevations,

and means forming adjustable back, seat and arm portions for said chair jig frame,

each of said adjustable portions and said cylinder having actuator portions extending into a common access zone for actuation by the operator.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 958,356 Bode May 17, 1910 2,549,902 Hibbard Apr. 24, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 150,117 Great Britain Sept. 2, 1920

Claims

1. AN UPHOLSTERER''S JIG FOR CUSTOMIZING AN UPHOLSTERED CHAIR COMPRISING, A FRAME, AN ADJUSTABLE BACK ON SAID FRAME HAVING, A PLURALITY OF SECTIONS, EACH OF SAID SECTIONS EXTENDING THE WIDTH OF SAID BACK, MEANS CONNECTED TO EACH BACK SECTION TO TILTABLY SUPPORT EACH BACK SECTION, MEANS CONNECTED TO EACH BACK SECTION TO MOVABLY SUPPORT AND CONFINE EACH SECTION FOR MOVEMENT FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS; TWO ADJUSTABLE ARMS ON SAID FRAME, EACH HAVING AN ARM REST, SUPPORT MEANS CARRYING SAID ARM REST ON SAID FRAME FOR ADJUSTABLE MOVEMENT TO RAISE AND LOWER SAID ARM REST, AND INCLUDING MEANS SUPPORTING AND CONFINING SAID ARM REST FOR MOVEMENT FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME, AND AN ADJUSTABLE SEAT ON SAID FRAME HAVING MEANS CONFINING AND GUIDING SAID SEAT TO RAISE AND LOWER SAID SEAT ON SAID FRAME, AND INCLUDING MEANS TO TILT SAID SEAT, AND MEANS TO MOVE SAID SEAT FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS, WHEREBY SAID JIG MAY BE UNIVERSALLY ADJUSTED TO THE INDIVIDUAL REQUIREMENTS OF A USER.