US36130A - Improved reclining-chair - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.`

VILLIAM H. VAN NORTVICK, OF BORDENTOVVN, NEV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND R. S. VAN RENSSELAER, OF SAME PLACE.

llVlPROVED RECLlNlNG-CHAIR.

Specification forming part of Letiers Patent No. 36,130, dated August 5, 1862.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that l, WILLIAM H. VAN NORT- WICK, of Bordentown, Burlington county, New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements in Reclining Seats or Chairs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists of a chair with the front of the seat and the lower end of the back i so hinged to the legs or substitutes for thesame that on lowering the seat the back will be lengthened and on raising the seat the back will be shortened, thereby rendering the chair comfortable when used as an ordinary seat and at the same time most convenient when converted into a reclining-couch.

My invention further consistsin combining the said back and seat with certain arms and rods or their equivalents, whereby the movement of the back and that of the seat are rendered si mullaneous and dependent on each other.

My invention also consists of a self-locking device, described hereinafter, for retaining the seat and back in an elevated position.

In order to enable others to make and use my invention, l will now proceed to describe the manner of constructing and operating the same.

On reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of'this specification, Figures l and 2 are side views of my improved reclining chair or seat, illustrating the different positions which the moving parts can be made to assume. Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. l.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The permanent frame of my improved chair consists of the front legs, A and A', and rear legs, B B', the several legs being properly secured together by longitudinal rails C, as well as by suitable transverse rails.

The seat D of the chair is composed of a simple frame of wood or metal, to whichspring or other suitable cushions may be secured in the usual manner, the seat being hinged near its front edge to the frontlegs, A and A', in such a manner that it can be made to assume the horizontal position shown in Fig. 1 or the in- @lined position illustrated in Fig. 2.

The back E consists of a light properly padded frame, and is hinged at its lower end to plates a a, one of which is secured to each ofthe legs B or to each longitudinal rail C, or to both legs and rails.

F and F' are the arms of the chair, the rear end of each arm being hinged to one side of the back E, and the front end being jointed f to a bent arm, G, which is hinged by means of a pin, b, to the side of the seat. A rod, H, is hinged ath to each arm G, the lower end of each rod being jointed lo one of the rails C. I and l are guards, one of which is secured to each side of the seat D, the guards and seat combined serving to maintain the lever G, and consequently the arms Fand F', in their proper lateral position.

To the inside of the front rail of the seat D is secured a bracket, K, to a pin, k, on which is hung a lever, L, and to the short arm of the latter is jointed one end of a rod, M, the opposite end of which passes through and is guided by an opening in one side of the seat D, a similar rod, M', passing through a similar opening in the opposite side of the seat, and this rod being jointed to the same lever,L,at a point on the opposite side of the fulcrum ot' the said lever from that to which the rod Mis jointed, so that on moving the lever in one direction the rods M and M will be simultaneously projected outward, and on moving the lever in the opposite direction the rods Will be drawn inward. The two rods are so arranged that their projecting ends serve as stops for retaining the bent arm G G in the position shown in Fig. l. Aslong as the arms are thus held the seat with its superincumbentweight will be supported in front by the front legs, A and A', and at the rear by the two rods H and rails C. The back E must also remain fixed in the position illustrated in Fig. l as long as the arms G are held by the rods M and M'. The momentthe latter rods are drawn inward, however, thereby releasing the arms G, the seat D and back E are at liberty to be moved to the inclined position shown in Fig. 2, and this simultaneously, owing to the peculiar ary rangement of the arms G and rods H and thev manner in which they are connected to the back and seat, for on moving the back E from a vertical to an inclined position (the fulcrum of the arms G being on the pins h) the bent portions of the arms will be raised and the .straight portions Will be lowered, thereby depressing the rear of the seat. In like manner, if the seat is movedfrom a horizontal to an inclined position, the straightvportions of the arms willbe depressed, the bent portions elevated, and through the arms F will move the back E to an inclined position.

It should be understood that a spring, N, tends to maintain the ends of the rods M and M projected outward from the sides of the seat, and that the extreme ends of the rods are beveled, so that on elevating the back and seat from an inclined position the beveled edges of the arms G will strike the beveled edges of i the rods and' force the latter back until the arms G have been moved past the ends of the rods,when the latter, through the spring N,will be projected outward, and serve to maintain the chair in the position shown in Fig. l, as,

described above.

The above-described chair, although generally useful as an article offfurniture for reclining purposes, and especially for invalids, has been especially designed for sleeping-cars.

Many plans of reclining-seats have been proposed and to some extent adopted for this purpose; but all have been more or less objection` able, for the reason that the seats, although Well adapted for reclining purposes, were inconvenient When required to be used as ordinary seats, or they might be convenient enough `for day use, but uncomfortable when converted g into recliningcouches.

, port for the head. y

Vhen my improved chair is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the top of the back is at a proper height frornthc seat D for a passenger who desires to maintain a sitting position.

When the chair is brought to the position shown by Fig. 2, however, the back is elongated by the depression of the rear of the seat and presents suficient length to afford a proper rest'for the head and shoulders of the passengers. At the same time the relative position of the back and seat is such that the body of the passenger will assume the most comfortable position.

A board may be applied to the seat D, so as to afford a rest for the feet of areclining passenger, the board to be raised by any suitable devices simultaneously With the lowering of. the seat, or operated and adjusted by independent mechanism.

The readiness with which the chair may be adjusted from the position required for an ordinary seat to that desired for reclining purposes will be apparent.

The simple movement of the lever L will cause the back and seat to assume the desired inclined position Aat once, while the simple vraising of the back and the selflocking device Vabove described are all that is necessary for the chair to be brought to and retained in a proper position for forming an ordinary seat. I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. So hinging the front of the seat and the lower end of the back to the legs or to any substitutes for the same that on lowering the scat the back will be lengthened and on raising the seat the back will be shortened, as set forth.

2. In combination with the b ack and seat hinged to the legs or their substitutes, as set forth, the arms F and G and rods HH, or their equivalents, whereby the movement ofthe back and that of the seat are rendered simultaneous and dependent on each other.

3. The self-locking device composed of the rods M and M', lever L, and spring N,or their equivalents, when applied to and combined with the hinged seat D and arms G, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

XVM. II. VAN NORIWVICK.

Witn esses:

HENRY HoWsoN, .THOMAS BENNETT.

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