US3246277A - Electrical outlet device for rotatable elevativable chair - Google Patents

Description

R. w. SANDS 3,246,277

CHAIR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 A x -il 12, 1966 ELECTRICAL OUTLET DEVICE FOR ROTATABLE ELEVA'I'ABLE Filed June 4, 1962 s E 2 B FIG. I

INVENTOR. RONALD w SANDS ATTORNEY April 12, 1966 ELECTRICAL OUTLET Filed June 4, 1962 n FIG.

jg 8 8m R. W. SANDS DEVICE FOR ROTATABLE ELEVATABLE CHAIR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

RONALD W. SANDS ATTORNEY p 1966 R. w. SANDS 3,246,277

ELECTRICAL OUTLET DEVICE FOR ROTATABLE ELEVATABLE CHAIR Filed June 4, 1962 FIG. 8

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. I: I

I40 FIG. I0

INVENTOR. RONALD W. SANDS ATTORNEY A ril 12, 1966 R. w. SANDS 3,2

ELECTRICAL OUTLET DEVICE FOR ROTATABLE ELEVATABLE CHAIR Filed June 4, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. RONALD W. SANDS BY 1%. M

ATTORNEY A ril 12, 1966 R. w. SANDS 3,

ELECTRICAL OUTLET DEVICE FOR ROTATABLE ELEVATABLE CHAIR Filed June 4, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. I8

317 3I9 FIG. 22 FIG'ZI 2 INVENTOR RONALD W. SANDS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,246,277 ELECTRICAL OUTLET DEVICE FOR RGTA'IABLE ELEVATABLE CHAIR Ronald W. Sands, 2111 E. Dayton St., Madison, Wis. Filed June 4 1962, Ser. No. 199,699 20 Claims. 3!. 339-5) This invention relates to the combination of an electrical outlet device with an elevatable rotatable chair and more particularly to the combination with a barbers chair of means to provide an electrical outlet on a rotatable elevatable portion, thereof which may be easily and quickly attached to or detached from the chair.

Devices heretofore proposed for providing electrical current to an electrical outlet or other electrical device attached to the seat back or other portion of a rotatable elevatable barbers chair have been of such nature that it, is relatively difiicult to attach them to such a chair which has already been installed so that it has been necessary to provide them as part of the chair at the time the chair is originally manufactured.

Itis therefore an object of my invention to provide means for supplying electrical current to an electrical outlet attached to the rotatable elevatable portion of a barbers chair.

v Another object is to provide such means that may be readily attached to and detached from such a chair.

Another object is to provide such a device which may be readily attached to and detached from such a chair, wherein the device comprises collector rings attached to the base of the chair or -to the elevatable rotatable portion of the chair and contact members to contact said rings.

Another object is such device wherein the collecting ring surfaces face downwardly and the contact members are u'rgedupwardly thereagainst to minimize the adverse effect of loose hair resulting from hair cuttings.

Other objects will become apparent from the drawings and from the following detailed description in which it is intended to illustrate the applicability of the invention without thereby limiting its scope to less than that of all equivalents which will be apparent to one skilled in the art. In the drawings like reference numeral refer to like parts and:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the device of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the device of FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 3-7 are fragmentary cross-sectional views showing modifications of collector rings, mounting member and ring contacting means;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view from below of a modified form of collector ring carrying member showing modified means for contacting the collector rings with rollers;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 9a is a blown-up cross-sectional fragmentary view of the wires leading from the contacting device in FIGURE 9, taken at 9a therein;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modification of the embodiment of FIGURE 1 showing modified means for providing connection of electrically conducting members to the embodiment of FIGURES 8 and 9;

FIGURE 11 is a view corresponding to that of FIG- URE 10 showing the embodiment of FIGURE 10 in a different position;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a modification of the embodiments of FIGURES 8 and 9;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a modification of the embodiment of FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of 3,246,277 Patented Apr. 1 2, 1966 a further modification of the embodiments of FIGURES 8, 9, 12 and 13 wherein rollers are not used and wherein connection thereto is provided in the manner shown in FIGURES 10 and 11;

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a modification of the embodiment of FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a further modified embodiment in which connection thereto is provided by the means shown in FIGURES 10 and 7 FIGURE 17 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a modification of the embodiment of FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View of a modification of the embodiment of FIGURE 16;

FIGURE 19 is a partially cross-sectional partially cutaway elevation from the side of the embodiment of FIGURE 18;

FIGURE 20 is a fragmentary partially cutaway elevational view from the side of a modification of the embodim'ent of FIGURE 19;

FIGURE 21 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a modification of the embodiment of FIGURE 18.

FIGURE 22 is a detail side elevation of block 16 in FIGURE 1 and members attached thereto.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown an elevatable rotatable chair comprising a stationary base pedestal member 1 having a substantially cylindrical outer surface and having a rotatable elevatable cylindrical member 2 extending upwardly therefrom and extending slidably downward thereinto. Attached to the top of cylindrical member 2 there may be provided a conventional barbers chair or other chair having seat portion 2' and back portion 2". Band 3 extends around base pedestal member 1 and the ends of band 3, which may be tabs 3' extending outwardly as shown, are attached together with bolt 4 so that terisioning of bolt 4 attaches the ends of the two bands together and provides tension in the band so that the band is held firmly attached and relatively immovably attached to the outer surface of pedestal 1 by frictional engagement of the inner surface of band 3 with the outer surface of member 1. Attached by any suitable means such as adhesive or welding (not shown for simplicity) there may be provided member 20 which may be provided with rod 13 slidably received in a substantially vertical hole therein and may also be provided with a bushing, insulating member or grommet 14 through which wire 11 may extend. Encircling member 2 there may be provided a pair of collector rings 7 which may be attached to circular supporting member 19 by bolts 9. As described below, member 19 and each of members 7 may comprise two members, each of which is generally semi-circular in form. One of rings 7 is preferably greater in diameter than the other, as shown; they may be coplanar as shown; their contact surfaces preferably face downward as shown. Supporting member 19 is preferably made of a suitable insulating material such as a ceramic or preferably hard rubber or plastic and if desired may be provided with annular groove or recess 19" between rings '7 and with downwardly extending portions 29 and 29 adjacent its lower outer edges. Members 29 and 29 serve to prevent accidental contact between a user of the device and the surfaces of the collector rings and also to serve to prevent fallen hair resulting from a barbers operations coming in contact with the collector rings. They may also serve as a guide in the manner hereinafter described.

Encircling member 2 there may be provided band 5 having ends 5 which form outwardly extending tabs which are held together by bolt '24. Tightening of bolt 24 causes the ends of band 5 to be held together and causes the bands to be tensioned and held firmly against tively, other means may be used such as have with respect to the axis of member 2. Bolts 6 may extend through slots 8' and connect member 19 to members 8.

Member 19 is preferably provided as two portions or halves, respectively 19' and 19", to facilitate its installation around a member such as member 2. Each of collector rings 7 is preferably correspondingly provided in two separate pieces, each of which corresponds to and is attached to one of parts 19' and 19". By reason of slots 8' in members 8, member may be attached to a member 2 which has any one of a number of different diameters without it being necessary that a different member 19 (of different size) be used. Thus a member 19 of a single size having collector rings 7 of a single size may suitablyebe attached to any one of a number of diiferent barber chairs wherein the cylindrical portion 2 is of different diameter in each.

Wires 1-1' .are connected to collector rings 7 at 18 and extend upwardly to conventional electrical receptacle outlet 17 which may be attached to the chair on back 2'? as shown or may be attached at any other suitable place on the chair.

Rod 13 which extends upwardly from member 20 and is slidably received in member 20 may be provided at its upper end with 'block member 16 which may have an upwardly extending ridge 16 in its center and may be provided with two brushes or sliding contact members 15. Block 16 is preferably made of an insulating material and may be made of ceramic or preferably of hard rubber or plastic. Wires 1-1 which extend upward- -ly from member 14 may be connected to brushes or contact strips 15 at 10. Compression spring 12 encircles rod 13' and acts between block 16 and member 20 to bias block 16 upwardly and thereby to bias members 15 into contact with contact strips 7. Ridge v16' may be suitably extended into groove 19' and cause block 16 to be so located with respect to member 19 that members 15 suitably contact members 7. If the ridge16' is omitted the block 16 may suitably be guided by sliding contact between its sides and flanges 29 and 29'. Wires 11 are preferably coiled as shown.

When in use the device operates by allowing current from any suitable source to pass operably through wires 11, thence to members 15 which are in contact with members 7, thence through members 7 and through wires 11' to outlet 17 where a clipper or any barbering or other instrument may be plugged in. When the chair is elevated or lowered'so that member 2 moves up or down, the coil of wire 11 respectively lengthens or shortens and rod 13 slides upwardly or downwardly in member 20 while spring 12 urges block 16 and contact members 15 against contact strips 7.

Although certain means are shown for fastening together andtensioning the ends of bands 3 and 5 respecbeen described heretofore for fastening together the ends of bands which attach the ends of rubber hoses to tubes. Such devices may include worm screws acting on worm racks.

One end of each of the bands may extend over the other end of the band.

construction of the device and to provide a structure in which the likelihood is reduced of hair trimmings coming in contact with the collector rings or brushes. Member 8" is attached to and extends outwardly from memher 5 and collector ring mounting member 39 is attached thereto by bolts 6' which extend through slot 8" in member'S". Collector rings 37 are retained in member 39 by any suitable means (not shown for simplicity) such as by flat headed screws, threadedly engaged in member 39, or adhesive. Collector rings 37 may be retained in member 39 by placing the rings in a mold and.

molding member 39 in the mold to provide an integral structure in which the rings are molded into member 39.

Member 39 and collector rings 37 may be made in two parts to facilitate the assembly, asdiscussed in connection with member 19 and brushes 7.

Block 40 is mounted on rod 13 and biased upwardly by spring 12'. Spring members or spring-like members 42 and 42' are attached thereto with screws 43 and 43'. Members 42 and 42 serve as brushes and frictionally engage collector rings 37. Wire-s 44 and 44' are attached to thebrushes and lead into cord 45 which may extend downwardly and outwardly through block 40 and may extend to any suitable source of electricity. Correct orientation of block 40 with respect to member 39 is maintained by frictional engagement of the inner and outer sides of the block with the inner surfaces 36 of downwardly extending portions 35 of member 39.

' I Referring now to FIGURE 4, another modification of means for mounting the collector rings and of means for providing contact with the collector rings may be provided in order to achieve economy in the construction of the device and to provide a structure in which the likelihood is reduced of hair trimmings coming in contact with the collector rings or brushes. Member 8" is attached to and extends outwardly from member 5 and collector ring mounting member 59 is attached thereto by bolts 6 which extend through slot 8" in member 8". Collector rings 57 are retained in member 59 by any suitable means (not shown for simplicity) such as by fiat headed screws, threadedly engaged in member 59, or adhesive. Collector rings 57 may be retained in member 59 by placing the rings in a mold and then forming member 59 in the mold to provide an integral structure in which the rings are molded into member 59. Member 59 and collector rings 57 may be made in two parts to facilitate installation of the device, as discussed in connection with member 19 and brushes 7.

Block 60 is mounted on rod 13 and biased upwardly by spring 12'. Spring members or spring-like members 62and 62 are attached thereto with screws 63 and 63. Members 62 and 62' serve as brushes and frictionally engage the collector rings. Wires 64 and 64' are attached to the brushes and lead into cord 65 which may extend downwardly and outwardly through block 60 and may extend to any suitable source of electricity. Correct orientation of block 60 with respect to member 59 is maintained by frictional engagement of the inner and outer sides of the block with the inner surfaces 56 of downwardly extending portions 55 of member 59.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, another modification of the means for mounting the collector rings and of the means for providing contact with the collector rings may be provided in order to achieve greater economy in the construction of the device and to provide a structure in which the likelihood is reduced of hair trimmings coming in contact with the collector rings or brushes. Collector ring mounting member 79 may be supported in the manner shown for members 39 and 59. Collector rings 77 may be retained in member 79 in any suitable manner as discussed in connection with FIGURES 3 and 4. Member 79 and collector rings 77 may be made in two parts to facilitate the assembly, as discussed in connection with member 19 and brushes 7.

Block 80 is mounted on rod 13" and biased upwardly by spring 12". Spring members or spring-like members 82 and 82' are attached thereto with screws 83 and 83; wires 84 and 84 are attached to the brushes and. lead into cord 85 which extends downwardly and outwardly through block 80 and may extend to any suitable source of electricity. Correct orientation of block 80 with respect to member 79 is maintained by frictional engagement of the inner and outer sides of the block with the inner surfaces 76 of downwardly extending portions 75 of member 79.

In FIGURE 6, collector ring mounting member 99 may be attached to a chair in the manner described hereinbefore in connection with the embodiments of FIG- URES l to 4 and collector rings 97 may be attached to member 99 in the manner described hereinbefore in connection with the embodiments of FIGURES l to 4. The embodiment of FIGURE 6 provides means for containing the collector rings which reduce or eleminate sliding friction between the collector rings and brushes, thus reducing wear and providing improved contact. Block 100 is supported on rod 31" and biased upwardly by spring 12". Spring or spring-like members, which may also be referred to as brushes, 102 are attached to block 100 by screws 103 and wires attached to each of the brushes lead to a suitable source of electricity through cord 105. Brushes 102 are shown as spring brushes but may be any other brushes. Rotatably mounted on an axle or axle-s 106 there are provided wheels 1107. If desired, a single axle or shaft or two axles or shafts may be suitably rigidly mounted in block 100, and the wheels may be rotatably mounted thereon. Alternatively a single shaft or axle may be provided and may be rotatably mounted in the block and the wheels may be rigidly attached thereto. In any event, the wheels are mounted to suitably rotate with respect to the block and are so spaced from the block that brushes 102 are maintained in contact with the sides of the wheels. Electricity may thus be conducted from the wires leading to the brushes, through the brushes, and thence through the wheels to collector rings 97. Suitable orientation of the block with respect to member 99 is provided by an upper portion of the block which extends into groove 96 in member 99 and may be suitably shaped to conform to the interior configuration of the groove.

Referring now to FIGURE 7, a device is provided wherein improved contact is made between collector rings and wheels engaging the collector rings with rolling friction by reason of the contact area being reduced. Thus the unit pressure on the contacted area is increased where the upward biasing force is provided by spring 12 and is thus identical with that of the embodiment of FIGURE 6. Collector rings 1 17 are mounted in and attached to collector ring mounting member 109* in the manner hereinbefore described. Block 120 is mounted upon rod 13" and biased upwardly by spring 12' in the manner hereinbefore described. Brushes 122 are are mounted on block 120 with screws 123 in the man ner described for brushes 102 in FIGURE 6. Wheels 127 are mounted on axle or shaft 126 to rotate with respect to bloclr 120 in the manner described for wheels 107 in connection with the embodiment of FIGURE 6, and differ from wheels 107 principally in being provided with rounded peripheral edges. Brushes 122 may engage with wheels 12-7 in the manner described in connections with the brushes and wheels of FIGURE 6 so that electrical current may be carried from the wires contained in cord 125 which are attached to the brushes, through the brushes and thence through the wheels tothe collector rings with which the wheels are in engaged relation, the area of contact between each wheel and its corresponding collector ring being relatively much smaller in extent than in the embodiment of FIGURE 6 so that contact pressure per unit of contact area is substantially increased.

Referring now to FIGURES 8 and 9, there is shown another embodiment wherein collector rings 137 are mounted in collector-ring -retaining member 13-9 in any suitable manner such as described hereinbefore, for example, by reason of being provided as inserts in a mold in which the material of member 139 is cast or molded. Means for engaging the collector rings comprises a principal carriage member 140 and a secondary carriage member 141 pivotally attached thereto by pin 146. Rotatably mounted on pin 14% there is also provided a grooved wheel or sheave 147. At the opposite ends respectively of members 140 and 141, there are provided two additional grooved wheels or sheaves 14-7 and 14 respectively mounted to rotate on pins 146' and-146. Members 140 and 141 are. urge-d apart from each other by compression spring 148. mounted thereinbetween sothat wheels 147 and 14 are biased outwardly against the collector rings which they respectively contact. Memers 140, and 141 are preferably made of insulating material and mounted thereupon there may be provided brushes 142 and 14-2 which may be attached thereto as shown by screws or bolts 143 and 143' to which wires 144 and 144' may be connected. The wires may be led into a suitable cord 145, which may have a crosssection shown, in FIGURE 9a. Brushes 14-2 and 142' are mounted to frictionally engage the sides of wheels 147' and 14-7, so that electric current may be conducted from wires 14 i and 144' through screws and bolts 143 and 143' and thence through rotating wheels 147' and 147" to collector rings 137.

Referring now to FIGURE 10, member 139 may be attached to rotatable elevatable member 2 as shown and as hereinbefore described. Contact-carrying member or carriage 140' schematically represents the device of FIGURES 8 and 9 or of any of the embodiments of FIGURES 12-21. Cord 145' extends therefrom at a relatively acute angle to the horizontal and schematically represents cord 145 or the comparable electrical current carrying member of any of the embodiments of FIG- URES 1221. In addition, cord 145' may have the cross-sectional appearance of cord 145 shown in FIGURE 9a or may be provided with an additional member to bear tension stress which may be conductive or nonconductive to electricity but need not be connected to carry electricity. Such an additional tension resisting member alternatively may be provided externally to cord 145 and may be attached thereto or not attached thereto. Cord 145' leading downwardly and sidewardly from carriage 140' extends substantially once around rotatable member 2 and is fixedly attached to member 1 by any suitable means such as clamp 134. The outer coating or layer of cord 145' is preferably made in whole or in part of a material having a relatively low co-effioient of friction with respect to metals, for example, nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene or the like. It may be in the form of a coating of such plastic material applied to the exterior of the cord; alternatively an extruded tubing of such material may form the outer layer of the cord or a braided tube of fibers of such material or a tube made from fabric woven. from fibers of such material may constitute the outer layer.

If the chair (not shown) and member 2 are rotated counter clockwise (when viewed from above), from the position shown in FIGURE 10, the outer surface of cord 145 will slide on the outer surface of member 2 and carriage 140 will. be maintained in place with respect to member 1 by the action of cord 145, while traveling along collector rings 137 (not shown) in member 139.

If the chair and member 2 are rotated clockwise (when viewed from above) from the position shown in FIGURE 10, carriage 140 will not move with respect to member 139'. Cord 145' will become more and more slack until after rotation of about one turn the device will have the appearance shown in FIGURE 11. If the chair and member 2 are then rotated for another turn clockwise from the position shown in FIGURE 11, the cord will then extend around member 2 in the manner such as outlet 17 on the chair.

In FIGURE 12 there is shown a modified form of the embodiment of FIGURES 8 and 9 wherein collector rings 157 are mounted in member 159 and are engaged by wheels 167 which are rotatably mounted on pins 166 which extend respectively from carriage parts 160 and 161. The carriage parts are urged outwardly from each other by a spring (not shown for simplicity) as in the embodiment of FIGURES 8 and 9 so that the wheels are biased apart from each other into contact with the collector rings. Brushes 162 which may be spring-like members are attached with screws 163 to carriage parts 160 and 161 respectively which are of insulating material and electrically conductive wires i164 lead from the brushes to which they are connected to a suitable source of electrical current. The device has the advantage over that of FIGURES 8 and 9 that the wheels may be provided at less cost and the collector rings may be provided at less cost.

In FIGURE 13 there is shown a modified form of the embodiment of FIGURES 8 and 9 wherein collector rings 177 are mounted in member 179 and are engaged by wheels 187 which are rotatably mounted on pins 186 which extend respectively from carriage parts 180 and 181. The carriage parts are urged outwardly from each other by a spring (not shown for simplicity) as in the embodiment of FIGURES 8 and 9 so that the wheels are biased apart from each other into contact with the collector rings. Brushes 182 which may be spring-like members are attached with screws 183 to carriage parts 180 and 181 respectively which are of insulating material and electrically conductive wires 184 lead from the brushes to whichthey are connected to a suitable source of elec trical current. The device has the advantage over that of FIGURES 8 and 9 that the wheels may be provided,

at less cost than the collector rings may be provided at less cost. 7 e

The device of FIGURE 13 has the advantage over that of FIGURE 12 that the wheels are not maintained member 219. Inwardly extending portions 216 and 216' may be attached to member 219 by screws as shown. Block 220 may be provided with spring-like brushes or collector ring contacting members 222 which are attached thereto with screws 223 which also connect wires 224 thereto, Wires 224 may lead to cord 225 which may extend from block 220 in the manner shown for cord 145 in FIGURES 10 and 11.

Referring now to FIGURE 16 there is shown an embodiment wherein gravity is relied on to provide contact pressure between collector rings and wheels which travel in engaged relation with collector rings. Thus, collector rings 237 may be mounted in extending portions 236 of member 239 which may be integral as shown or may be attached in the manner of members 196 and 216 in-FIG- URES 14 and 15.

. bodiment wherein gravity is relied on to provide contact place by frictional engagement with extending portions 7 156 which are shown in FIGURE 12,but are maintained in place by reason of engagement with grooves in the collector rings so that there is no possibility of wearing away of plastic portions which might result in possible failure of the device of FIGURE 12, due to such wear of portions -156.

It may be noted with respect to the embodiments of FIGURES 8 and 9, 12 and 13, that by forcing the carriage parts together with a persons fingers, the carriage may be downwardly removed from the tracks which are provided by the collector rings.

As shown in FIGURES Hand 15 devices may be provided for contacting the collector rings which do not utilize wheels but do utilize the means shown in FIGURES tend from block 200 in the manner shown for cord 145' in FIGURES 10 and 11.

In FIGURE 15, collectorrings 217 are mounted in ,with respect to the brushes.

pressure between collector rings and wheels which travel in engaged relation with collector rings. Thus, collector rings 237 may be mounted in extending portions 236 of member 239 which may be integral as shown or may be attached in the manner of members 196 and 216 in FIGURES 14 and 15. Grooved wheels or sheaves 247 are mounted on one or two axles 246 in any one of the alternative manners discussed in connection with FIG- URE 6 so that they are rotatably mounted with respect to block 240 in which the axle or shaft is or are mounted. Spring-like members 242 which may serve as brushes may be attached to block 240 with screws 243. Wires 244, which may be connected to the brushes by said screws, may extend to cord 245 and thence extend downwardly through a suitable hole in the block whereby cord 245 may be operated in the manner described for cord in FIGURES 10 and 11. r

' mounted in member 259. Block 260 is provided, having brushes 262 extending downwardly therefrom and received in suitable recesses provided therein-which fit the brushes'relatively closely and cause a desired alignment of the brushes with respect to the block to be maintained. Within each of the recesses there may be provided a spring 268. Springs 268 biasedly urge brushes 262 downwardly with "respect to block 260; being compression springs, or may be considered to urge block 260 upwardly Wires 264 are electrically connected to brushes 262 and are brought together in cord 265 which acts in the manner of cord 145 and extends to a suitable source of electrical current.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 18 and 19, a modification of the embodiment of FIGURE 16 is provided wherein gravity is not relied upon to ,provide contact pressure between the collector rings and the members which contact them but instead a spring is suitably provided to provide such pressure. Thus referring to FIG- URES 18 and 19, collector rings 277 are suitably attached to collector ring mounting member 279. Grooved wheels or sheaves 287 are provided which engage the collector rings in the manner in which railroad wheels engage the tracks of a conventional railroad. Thus the wheels may have the shape of conventional railroad car wheels rather than being grooved as shown. The wheels are suitably mounted on suitable axles or shafts 286 to rotate with respect to bl0ck'280. Spring-like brush members 282 source of electrical current. Also attached to block 280 there is provided a spring 288 having a semicircular shape at its periphery. Thus when cord 285 is caused to extend at a similar angle due to the passage of the cord downwardly through an aperture (as shown) in block 280, but despite the fact that the block may extend at any one of a number of dilferent angles, suitable and substantially equal contact pressure is provided between the wheels and collector rings at all times due to engagement of some portion of the upper surface of spring 288 with the upper portion of member 279.

Referring now to FIGURE 20, there is shown a modification of the embodiment of FIGURES 18 and 19, wherein the carriage has four wheels (only two of which are shown, said two being those which travel on a single collector ring or the two being those being engaged with the same collector ring). The carriage or block in the embodiment of FIGURE 20 does not tilt in the manner of that in FIGURES 18 and 19, but contacting engagement of the wheels with the collector rings is provided in part by spring pressure, in addition to gravity. Thus as shown in FIGURE 20, collector rings, of which collector ring 297 is one, are mounted in the manner hereinbefore' described in a collector ring mounting member 299. A block orv carriage 300 is provided having suitable shafts, pins or axles extending therefrom on which there are rotatably'mounted four wheels, of which wheels 307 and 307' are two on 'one side of the carriage. In the manner hereinbefore described in connection with other embodiments such as that of FIGURES 18 and 19, contact members are provided which frictionally contact the wheels to provide for transmission of electric current from the wheels through wires 304 which may lead through cord 305 to a, suitable source of electrical current. Attached to carriage 300 by any suitable means such as a screw as shown, there may be provided spring 368 which provides additonal contacting pressure between the wheels and the collector rings in additon to that provided by gravity.

Referring now to FIGURE 21, there is shown another embodiment wherein a modification of the embodiments of FIGURES 18, 19 and 20 is provided in which spring pressure acts against gravity rather than augmenting gravity in order to provide contact pressure between the wheels and collector rings. Thus collector rings 317 ;are .mounted in collector ring supporting member 31$! having lower extending portions 316 which may be integrally provided as shown or may be separte parts which are attached in the manner described in connection with FIGURES 14 and 15. Carriage or block 320 is provided with wheels 327 mounted on axles, pins or shafts 326 to rotate with respect thereto and'spring-like members 322 may be attached to member 320 by any suitable means such as by screws 323 as shown to provide sliding frictional electric contact between them and the sides of wheels 327. Wires 324 may be electrically connected to members 322 and may lead through a cord 325, which may act in the manner of cord 145', to a suitable source of electrical current. The spring members 328 may be mounted on block 320 and may act as cantilever springs (or leaf-springs) with their tips pressing downwardly on the upper surface of portions 316 to bias block 320 and wheels 327 upwardly against collector rings 317.

The cord of all of the embodiments shown may be like the cord of FIGURE 9 in that FIGURE 9a may represent a cross-sectional view thereof.

The materials of which the collector ring mounting member may be made in each of the embodiments described may be as described in connection with the embodiment of FIGURES l and 2 and likewise the material of which the block or carriage member may be made in each of the embodiments may be as discussed in con nection with block 16 in the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2.

It may thus be seen that the invention is broad in 1Q scope and includes such modifications as will be apparent to those skilled in the art and is to be limited only by the claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a chair device which comprises a stationary cylindrical base pedestal, a rotatable elevatable cylindrical member and a chair portion attached to the upper part of said rotatable elevatable cylindrical member: of a device attached to said chair and means to supply electrical current to said device wherein said means comprises a pair of collector rings encircling said rotatable elevatable cylindrical member and a pair of brushes in contact with said rings, means to resiliently bias said brushes against said rings, a band having two end portions, said band extending around said elevatable rotatable member, said band attached to said member by frictional engagement therewith, said hand held in frictional engagement therewith by tensioning means attaching said end portions of said band together to provide tension in the band, a plurality of members extending outwardly from said band into supporting relationship with said collector rings, another band having two end portions, said other band extending around said cylindrical base pedestal, said other band attached to said cylindrical base pedestal by frictional engagement therewith, said other band held in frictional engagement therewith by tensioning means attaching said end portions of said other band together to provide tension in said other band, insulated electrical conductor members insulatedly attached to said band extending around said cylindrical base pedestal and conductively connected to said brushes, said means to resiliently bias said brushes upwardly against said rings comprising a member extending from and supported by said second band.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said rings are of the same diameter and one is above the other and said brushes are biased upwardly into contact with said rings.

3. Means for supplying electrical current to an outlet attached to a chair which comprises a rotatable elevatable seat and back portion, a stationary cylindrical base pedestal and a rotatable elevatable cylindrical member extending upwardly from said pedestal and supporting said seat and back portion, wherein said outlet is attached to said seat and back portion and wherein said means comprises: a pair of collector rings encircling said elevatable rotatable member, one of said rings being of greater diameter than the other, means attached to said elevatable rotatable member and extending from said elevatable rotatable member to support said collector rings, a pair of brushes extending into contact with said rings, means to resiliently bias said brushes against said rings, a band having two end portions, said band extending around said pedestal, said band held in frictional engagement with said pedestal by tensioning means attaching said end portions of said band together to provide tension in the band, insulated electrical conductor members insulatedly attached to said bands extending around said pedestal and conductively connected to said brushes, and means extending from said bands to support said brushes.

4. The device of claim 3 in which said collector rings are in the same horizontal plane and the contact surfaces thereof face downwardly.

5. The device of claim 3 in which said brushes are urged upwardly against said contact strips by a spring loaded in compression.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein said collector rings are attached to a circular insulating member, each of said bands and said insulating member being divided into two portions on a diametral plane.

7. The device of claim 3 wherein said contact members comprise three rollers hingedly attached to provide a pair of rollers biased laterally by a spring against one of said rings and the other of said rollers biased laterally in the opposite direction against the other of said rings and wherein said contact members are connected respectively to insulated flexible electrical conductors which extend in draped fashion to said band extending around said pedestal member and which are insulatedly attached to said band.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said rollers are grooved sheaves.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein said rollers are sup- .ported by inwardly extending lips of insulated material below said rings.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein each of said rings is .groo'ved and said contact members are supported in place by said rollers being biased into said grooves.

11. The device of claim 3 wherein said contact members are brushes and said brushes are supported by an insulated block and spring biased away from said block, and said block slides on lips extending inwardly below said collector rings;

12. The device of claim 3 wherein said contact membets are brushes which are held in place by an insulated block and are spring biased downwardly with respect to said block against the collector rings, thereby supporting said block above said collector rings, said contact members being connected respectively to insulated flexible electrical conductors which extend in draped fashion to said band extending around said pedestal member and which are insulatedly attached to said band.

13. The device of claim 3 wherein said contact members are rollers which rotate on a horizontal axis, brushes are biased against said rollers and said rollers are biased downwardly by gravity against said collector rings, said contact members being connected respectively to insulated flexible'electrical conductors which extend indraped fashion to said band extending around said pedestal member and which are insulatedly attached to said band.

14. The device of claim 3 wherein said contact members are rollers which rotate on a horizontal axis, brushes are biased outwardly against said rollers and said rollers are spring biased downwardly against said rings, said contact members being connected respectively to insulated flexible electrical conductors which extend in draped fashion to said band extending around said pedestal member and which are insulatedly attached to said band. 7

15. The device of claim 3 wherein said contact members are rollers which rotate on a horizontal axis, brushes are biased outwardly against said rings and said rollers are spring biased upwardly against said rings by springs which act against lips which extend below said rings, said contact members being connected respectively to insulated flexible electrical conductors which extend in draped'fash ion to said band extending around said pedestal member and which are insulatedly attached to said band.

16. Means for supplying an electrical current to an electrical receptacle outlet attached to a chair, said chair comprising a stationary cylindrical base pedestal member,

a rotatable elevatable cylindrical member and a rotatable elevatable seat and back portion supported by said cylindrical member, said outlet attached to a rotatable elevatable portion, wherein said means comprises: a first collector ring, a second collector ring larger in diameter than said first collector ring, said collector rings encircling said elevatable rotatable member, each of said rings being attached to a circular supporting member of insulating material which encircles said cylindrical member, a first brush extending upwardly into electrical contact with said first collector ring, a second brush extending upwardly into contact with said second collector ring, said brushes attached to an insulating member, spring means to resiliently bias said insulating member upwardly to force said brushes into contact with said collector ring, a band having two end portions, said band extending around said pedestal member, said ba'nd attached to said member by frictional engagement therewith, said hand held in frictional engagement therewith by tensioning means attaching said end portions of said band together to provide tension in the band, insulated electrical conductor members insulatedly attached to said band extending around said pedestal member and conductively connected to said brushes, means attached to said band to support said spring means which resiliently biases said insulating member.

17. The device of claim 16 characterized by the outer of said rings being higher than the inner of said rings 'to provide improved electrical ins'ulative spacing thereinbetween.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein the inner of said rings is higher than the outer of said rings to provide improved electrical insulative spacing thereinbetween.

19. The device of claim 16 wherein each of said contact members is a roller, and a brush is provided in sliding contact with each of said rollers, said rollers being biased upwardly against said rings and said brushes being biased outwardly against said rollers.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein each of said rings is a portion of a conic surface.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,347,970 7/ 1920 Overstreet 3395 1,651,266 11/ 1927 Fortier 339-5 2,453,073 11/1948 Jones 1 3395 2,543,740 2/1951 Ridgely et al. 339-251 X 2,575,409 l1/195l Cooper et al 3395 2,586,595 2/1952 Ashby 339-5 3,112,971 12/1963 Eck 3395 JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. 3. MEANS FOR SUPPLYING ELECTRICAL CURRENT TO AN OUTLET ATTACHED TO A CHAIR WHICH COMPRISES A ROTATABLE ELEVATABLE SEAT AND BACK PORTION, A STATIONARY CYLINDRICAL BASE PEDESTAL AND A ROTATABLE ELEVATABLE CYLINDRICAL MEMBER EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID PEDESTAL AND SUPPORTING SAID SEAT AND BACK PORTION, WHEREIN SAID OUTLET IS ATTACHED TO SAID SEAT AND BACK PORTION AND WHEREIN SAID MEANS COMPRISES: A PAIR OF COLLECTOR RINGS ENCIRCLING SAID ELEVATABLE ROTATABLE MEMBER, ONE OF SAID RINGS BEING OF GREATER DIAMETER THAN THE OTHER, MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID ELEVATABLE ROTATABLE MEMBER AND EXTENDING FROM SAID ELEVATABLE ROTATABLE MEMBER TO SUPPORT SAID COLLECTOR RINGS, A PAIR OF BRUSHES EXTENDING INTO CONTACT WITH SAID RINGS, MEANS TO RESILIENTLY BIAS SAID BRUSHES AGAINST SAID RINGS, A BAND HAVING TWO END PORTIONS, SAID BAND EXTENDING AROUND SAID PEDESTAL, SAID BAND HELD IN FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PEDESTAL BY TENSIONING MEANS ATTACHING SAID END PORTIONS OF SAID BAND TOGETHER TO PROVIDE TENSION IN THE BAND, INSULATED

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