US3123395A

US3123395A - Body supporting furniture of the polygonal tension type

Info

Publication number: US3123395A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1964-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 1981-03-03

Description

3,123,395 BODY SUPPORTING FURNITURE OF THE POLYGONAL TENSION TYPE H. P. GLASS March 3, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 26, 19 1 H. P. GLASS March :3, 1964 BODY SUPPORTING FURNITURE OF THE POLYGONAL TENSION TYPE Filed Sept. 26. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.6.

FIG.8.

INVENTOR. HENRY P. GLASS United States Patent 3,123,395 BODY SUPPORTING FURNITURE OF THE POLYGONAL TENSION TYPE Henry P. Glass, 666 Lake Shore Drive, Chicago 1, Ill. Filed Sept. 26, 1961, Ser. No. 140,939 8 Claims. (Cl. 29716) This invention relates to furniture and more particularly to body supporting foldable furniture wherein flexible members are arranged along the periphery of the furniture to form a polygonal tension type structure.

There has been developed heretofore a wide variety of body supporting foldable furniture, but in many Ways these prior art structures have been unsatisfactory for a number of reasons. Many of them are fabricated with a plurality of supporting elements which are connected together at several pivots, which results in complex structures that are diflicult to fold and unfold. Others have the disadvantage that when folded for storage the folded package is not sufficiently regular in shape and compact to store easily. In other devices the construction requires the use of bulky support elements to sustain the load and employs pins for sliding in slots formed in other elements, which unduly complicates their manufacture.

The body supporting furniture claimed herein utilizes entirely different principles of construction from the known structures and these principles have extensive application in furniture construction to provide a polygonal tension type structure. In this disclosure polygon is intended to mean a figure having many sides and angles. All members or parts of the disclosed structure are subjected to tension and/ or pressure only. None are intended to carry a bending moment. This lends itself to graceful and economical dimensioning. The claimed structure uses a flexible means following its periphery which is detachably secured, for example, at one point to the frame for erecting the structure and upon release therefrom permits collapse of the structure.

In accordance with the invention claimed new and improved body supporting furniture of the polygonal type is provided comprising a collapsible supporting frame. The frame is set forth as comprising a plurality of pivotally mounted frame members movable to extended position to form the corners of a polygon. The members are fulcrumed within the periphery of the polygon. Flexible means are provided for interconnecting the corners of the frame members along the periphery of the polygon to hold the frame in a tension type arrangement.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide new and improved body supporting furniture.

Another object of this invention is to provide new and improved body supporting furniture in which the parts are subjected to tension and pressure.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved body supporting structure of the polygonal tension type.

A'still further object of this'invention is to provide new.

and improved body supporting structures in which flexible means around the periphery. of the structures are used to erect, hold erect and cause collapse of the structures.

A still further object of this invention is to provide new and improved polygonal tension type structures which can be readily folded into compact assemblies substantially of the thickness of the individualstructural elements for shipping and storage.

Objects and advantages other than those set forth will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a body supporting chair structure employing U-shaped frame members in erected position and embodying the invention;

3,123,395 Patented Mar. 3, 1964 FIG. 2 is a partial top view of the structure shown in FIG. 1 in collapsed position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a modification of the structure shown in FIG. 1 and employing T-shaped frame members;

FIG. 4 is a partial side view of the structure shown in FIG. 3 in a collapsed position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a lounge structure embodyin g the invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial top view of the structure shown in FIG. 5 in collapsed position;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a cot structure embodying the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a partial top view of the structure shown in FIG. 7 in collapsed position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings by characters of reference wherein similar parts in the several figures of the drawings are provided with identical reference characters, FIGS. 1 and 2 disclose a collapsible polygonal tension type body supporting chair structure 10. Chair structure 10 comprises a frame having a plurality of supporting members of any desirable shape which are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as, for example, U-shaped

members

12, 13, 14 and 15.

Members

12, 13, 14 and 15 have their

legs

12a, 13a, 14a and 15a pivotally mounted on a common pin 16 and their

legs

12b, 13b, 14b and 15b pivotally mounted on a common pin 17. Each of the U-shaped members 12 through 15 are progressively smaller in size, as shown in FIG. 2, so that they can be arranged flat in the same plane when the chair structure is collapsed. When the U-shaped members are moved to the chair extended position shown in FIG. 1 the fulcrum point of the U-shaped members, i.e.

pins

16 and 17, are arranged within the periphery of the edges of the polygon formed by the

bights

12c, 13c, 14c and 15c of the U-shaped

members

12, 13, 14 and 15. I

The U-shaped frame members are held together and are arranged to be expanded to a given position by tension members such as the continuous rings or

straps

18 and 19 formed by

tension portions

18a, 18b, 18c and 18d and 19a, 19b, 19c and 19d. Portions 18a and 19a are arranged between and fastened to the bights 14c and of U shaped

members

14 and 15, portions 18b and 1% are arranged between and fastened to the bights 13c and 140, portions and are arranged between and fastened between the

bights

12c and 130, and

portions

18d and 19d are arranged between and fastened to

bights

12c and 15c. The

straps

18 and 19 may be formed out of suitable strap, string, cord or fabriomaterial either in a continuous ring fastened to the bights of the U-shaped members at suitable places or of individual and separate parts which together form the ring or strap.

Straps

18 and 19 are arranged to extend around dilferent ends of the frame structure and around the periphery of the polygon structure formed thereby.

Strap portions

18d and 19d are detachably connected to the bight 15c of U-shaped member 15 and are provided with clamping means 20 and 21 at the ends thereof to facilitate this connection.

A flexible body supporting means such as, for example, a canvas 22 forms the seat and back rest of the chair and is suspended between

bights

12c and 130. At the point between the back and seat portions of canvas 22 is arranged a cord or rod 23 extending transversely across canvas 22 which is fastened to

pins

16 and 17 by suitable flexible means such as cords 24 for forming the seat back structure. i

In accordance with the invention disclosed a continuous ring of

tension members

18 and 19 is provided around the periphery of the polygonal type chair structure. These rings are fastened at or near the periphery of the edges of the polygon. The positions of the edges of the corners of the polygon are determined by the length of the flexible ring portions between the various bights of the U-shaped members. The braces supporting the body supporting canvas 22 are the legs of the U-shaped members and the ends of these legs are joined together in two axially aligned fulcrums as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In view of the fact that the canvas 22 forming the body supporting structure and the

rings

18 and 19 are formed from flexible material, the structure can be easily collapsed into the form shown in FIG. 2 for easy storage or shipment.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a modification of the chair shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein the structure is generally the same as in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that the frame is formed by T-

shaped members

25, 26, 27 and 28. The legs a, 26a, 27a and 28a of the T-shaped

members

25, 26, 27 and 28 are pivotally mounted in a fulcrum structure 30. The pins 31 pivotally connect the T-shaped members to structure in a common plane such that when the structure of FIG. 3 is collapsed the T-shaped members lie one above the other in parallel planes as shown in FIG. 4.

The

cross members

25b, 26b, 27b and 28b form the corner edges of the polygon forming the chair structure in the same manner as the bights of the U-shaped members of FIGS. 1 and 2. The

straps

18 and 19 of FIGS. 3 and 4 are the same as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and function accordingly. The body supporting canvas 22 has its rod 23 suitably fastened by cords 32 to the fulcrum structure 30 for forming the canvas 22'into the desired shape.

FIGS. 5 and 6 disclose a lounge type chair 35 comprising a generally rectangularly shaped floor engaging base as having pivotally mounted on pins 37 extending through base 36 the ends of

legs

38a and 38b of a U-shaped member 33. Member 38 forms the back support of the lounge. A pair of

U-shaped members

40 and 41 have their

legs

40a, 40b and 41a, 41b pivotally mounted on

pins

42, 43 extending through base 36 on different sides thereof at the foot end of the lounge. A flexible body supporting member such as, for example, canvas 44 is fixedly secured to the bights 38c of U-shaped member 38, bight 41c of U-shaped member 41 and bight 400 of U-shaped member 40 to support the canvas in body supporting position.

A suitable flexible detachably mounted supporting means 32 is arranged to extend between bight 38c and the end mernber 3'6a of base 36. A similar flexible detachably mounted supporting means 33 is arranged to extend between bight 46c of U-shaped member 40 and end 36b of base 36. A rod is fastened to and arranged to extend transversely across canvas 44 at that line where the back portion 44a and the seat portion 44b of canvas 44 meet. Rod 45 at each end is fastened to pivot 37 by suitable means such as flexible cords 47. As shown in FIG. 5, the pivotally mounted U-shaped members are fulcrumed within the periphery of thepolygonal type structure formed by the U-shaped frame members and the base.

In this embodiment of the invention the flexible means extending around at least a part of the periphery of the chair to form a polygonal tension type structure comprises the canvas 44 individually and in combination withthe detachably mounted supporting

means

32 and 33. T 0 extend and hold the lounge chair in its body supporting position, supporting

means

32 and 33 need merely to be attached to ends 36a and 36b, respectively, of base 36. To collapse the lounge,

chair supporting means

32 and 33 are merely released from the ends of base 36 and the U-shaped members 38, 4t) and 41 rotated to their positions shown in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a further modification of the structures'shown in FIGS. 1-6 wherein a cot structure 50 is shown comprising a frame formed from a plurality of

U-shaped members

51, 52, 53, 54 and pivotally attached at their leg ends by a pin '56 extending there'between. A suitable body supporting means such as a canvas 58 is fastened to and arranged between bights 51a and 52a of

U-shaped members

51 and 52.

A suitable flexible strap means 60 is fastened to bight 51a of U-shaped member 51 and is arranged to extend to and is fastened at a predetermined point to the bight 53a of U-shaped member 53. Strap means 60 further extends from bight 53a to and is clamped on the bight 55a by a suitable clamping means 61. A flexible strap means 62 is fastened to bight 52a of U-shaped member 52 and extends to and is fastened on the bight 54a of U-shaped member 54. Strap means 61 further extends from bight 54a to and is clamped on bight 55a of -U-shaped member 55 by clamping means 61.

When in the extended body supporting position the

bights

53a, 55a and 54a form the floor supports for the cot. The

bights

51a, 52a, 53a and 54a form the corner edges of the polygonal tension type cot structure. The straps 6t) and 62 together with the canvas 58 form a flexible means around'the complete periphery of the polygonal structure to hold the U-shaped members in place. By merely releasing the strap means 60 and 62 the cot may be collapsed into the position shown in FIG. 8. In FIG. 8 all of the U-shaped members are arranged flat in a single line or common plane structure.

Although but a few embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Furniture of the polygonal type comprising a collapsible supporting frame, said frame comprising a plu rality of pivotally mounted frame members movable to extended position to form the corners of a polygon, two of said frame members when in their extended position defining a seat and back rest within the outline of said polygon, and flexible means extending along the periphery of said polygon for detachably connecting to said frame at one of the corners of said polygon for forming a polygonal tension type structure, said flexible means being'securely fastened to each of said frame members and said means when released from said one of said corners causing said frame to collapse.

2. A chair or the like comprising a collapsible supporting frame, said frame comprising a plurality of pivotally mounted frame members movable to extended position to form the corners of a polygon, said members being fulcrumed within the periphery of said polygon, two of said frame members When in their extended position defining a seat and back rest forming an acute angle within the outline of said polygon, and flexible means extending along at least a part of the periphery of said polygon for interconnecting the corners of said frame members to form a polygonal tension type structure, said flexible means being securely fastened to each of said frame members.

3. A chair or the like comprising 'a collapsible supporting frame, said frame comprising a plurality-of pivotally mounted frame members movable to extended position to form the corners of a polygon, said members being fulcrumed within the periphery of said polygon, two of said frame members when in their extended position defining a seat and back rest forming an acute angle within the outline of said polygon, and flexible means extending along at least a part of the periphery of said polygon for interconnecting the corners of said frame members to form a polygonal tension type structure, said frame when collapsed folding into a flat structure, said flexible means being securely fastened to each of said frame members.

' 4. A chair or the'like comprising a collapsible supporting frame,'said frame comprising a plurality of pivotally mounted frame members movable to extended position to form the corners .of a polygon, said members being fulcrumed within the periphery of said polygon, two of said frame members when in their extended position defining a seat and back rest forming an acute angle within the outline of said polygon, and flexible strap type means interconnecting the corners of said frame members along the periphery of said polygon for forming a polygonal tension type structure, said means being detachably connected to one corner of said frame causing said polygon formed by said frame to collapse when released therefrom, said flexible means being securely fastened to each of said frame members.

5. A chair or the like comprising a collapsible supporting frame, said frame comprising a plurality of T-shaped pivotally mounted frame members movable to extended position to form the corners of a polygon, the legs of said T-shaped members being fulcrumed Within the periphery of a polygon and two of said frame members when in their extended position defining a seat and back rest within the outline of said polygon, the cross members of said T-shaped members when moved to frame extended position forming the corner edges of the polygon, and flexible strap type means extending along the periphery of said polygon for detachably interconnecting the corners of said frame members for forming a polygonal tension type structure, said means being detachably connected to one corner of said frame for causing said polygon formed by said frame to collapse when released therefrom.

6. Furniture of the polygonal type comprising a collapsible supporting frame, said frame comprising a plurality of pivotally mounted frame members movable to extended position to form the corner edges of a polygon, said frame members being fulcrumed within the periphery of said polygon and when in their extended position defining a seat and back rest forming an acute angle Within the outline of said polygon, and two of said frame members tension means interconnecting the corners of said frame members for forming a polygonal type structure,

said tension means comprising a plurality of tension members each interconnecting different frame members and attached thereto, one of said tension members being releasably connected to a frame member so as to cause said frame to collapse upon release therefrom.

7. A chair or the like comprising a collapsible supporting frame, said frame comprising a plurality of U-shaped pivotally mounted frame members, the legs of said U-shaped members being fulcrumed on a common axis within the periphery of a polygon, the bight of said U-shaped members when moved to frame extended position forming the corner edges of the polygon, two of said frame members when in their extended position defining a seat and back rest, and flexible strap type means interconnecting the corners of all said frame members along the periphery of said polygon for forming a polygonal tension type structure, said strap means forming acute angles with said seat and back rest defining members in their extended position and said means being detachably connected to one corner of said frame causing said polygon formed by said frame to collapse when released therefrom.

8. The combination according to claim 5 wherein the legs of said T-shaped members are fulcrumed in a common plane Within the periphery of said polygon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 244,216 Fenby July 12, 1881 2,226,606 Giles Dec. 31, 1940 2,811,977 McClish Nov. 5, 1957 3,034,523 De Shano May 15, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 111,098 Switzerland July 16, 1925 846,155 Germany Aug. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 3 l23 395 March 3 1964 Henry P, Glass It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below Column 5 lines 34 to 37 strike out "and when in their extended position defining a seat and back rest forming an acute angle within the outline of said polygon and two of said frame members" and insert instead and two of said frame members when in their extended position defining a seat and back rest forming an acute angle within the outline of said polygon Signed and sealed this 10th day of November 1964La SEAL) inest:

:RNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER nesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. FURNITURE OF THE POLYGONAL TYPE COMPRISING A COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORTING FRAME, SAID FRAME COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PIVOTALLY MOUNTED FRAME MEMBERS MOVABLE TO EXTENDED POSITION TO FORM THE CORNERS OF A POLYGON, TWO OF SAID FRAME MEMBERS WHEN IN THEIR EXTENDED POSITION DEFINING A SEAT AND BACK REST WITHIN THE OUTLINE OF SAID POLYGON, AND FLEXIBLE MEANS EXTENDING ALONG THE PERIPHERY OF SAID POLYGON FOR DETACHABLY CONNECTING TO SAID FRAME AT ONE OF THE CORNERS OF SAID POLYGON FOR FORMING A POLYGONAL TENSION TYPE STRUCTURE, SAID FLEXIBLE MEANS BEING SECURELY FASTENED TO EACH OF SAID FRAME MEMBERS AND SAID MEANS WHEN RELEASED FROM SAID ONE OF SAID CORNERS CAUSING SAID FRAME TO COLLAPSE.