US445156A - Folding chair - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

J. W. BQWEN.

FOLDING CHAIR.

No. 445,156. Patented Jan. 27,1891.

nrnnr OFFICE.

JOIIX \V. BOW'EN, OF JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,156, dated January 27, 1891.

Application filed March 4, 1890. Serial No. 342,675. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. BOWEN, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Jacksonville, in the county of Morgan and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Chairs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable-others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain improvements in that class of folding chairs commonly known as camp-chairs, and it consists in certain novel features of the device shown in the annexed drawings, as will be hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings just referred to, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved chair with the seat fabric removed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the chair, and Figs. 3 and 4- are similar views with the near leg removed, the said Figs. 2, 3, and 4 illustrating the movement of the several parts in the operation of folding the chair. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the latch.

Referring to the drawings particularly by letter, A B designate the legs of the chair, which are pivoted together at (Z and are braced by the bars 11, as clearly shown. The back is composed of the side bars E and the crossbars D, connecting the same, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1, and it is pivoted to the legs by means of pins 7c, passed through the side bars E and the upper ends of the rear legs A.

The seat 0 is composed of any suitable flexible material, such as carpet, canvas, or the like, and is secured to and extends between the cross-bar I, connecting the upper ends of the front legs B, and the cross-bar F, connectin g the lower ends of the bars E, the said crossbar F having its ends projected beyond the said bars E to form the rests G, which strike against the rear edges of the rear legs near the upper ends of the same, and thereby prevent the back swinging rearward when the chair is in use.

L designates a latch, which is pivot-ed at its upper end to the outer side of the bar E, between the pivot of the rear leg and rest G, as showmand this latch is provided near its free end with an L-shaped slot Z2, engaging a pin 0 011 the side of the front leg B.

c is a pin on the side of the leg l3,below the free end of the latch, and which is adapted to come into contact with the latch when the chair is being folded to disengage the latch from the pin 0.

In practice when the chair is in use it is set up, as shown in Fig. 1, and will be firmly supported by the latch engaging the pin 0 and the rests G impinging against the rear legs. hen it is desired to fold the chair,it is necessary only to swing the upper end of the back forward and downward, turning the back 011 its pivotal connection with rear legs. The latch will thus be drawn rearward and the front legs caused to fold upon the rear legs. hen the back has been swung nearly over upon the front legs, as shown in Fig. 3, the pins 6 will impinge against the latches and release them from the pins 0, and the back will then fold flat against the front legs. It will thus be seen that the chair will be folded into an exceedingly compact form and that this result is accomplished by a single continuous motion on the part of the operator, who manipulates the entire chair through a single part. Of course in setting up the chair the motion is the reverse of that j ust described, it being necessary only to swing the back upward and rearward.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that I have provided a chair that is very simple in its construction, efficient in its operation, and which is strong and durable. The chair can be quickly and easily folded and set up for use without necessitating the manual operation of a large number of parts, and its advantages are thought to be evident.

-While the seat in my device serves to some extent to hold the legs in position, the latch is an essential feature in accomplishing this result, as it effectually prevents accidental movement in either direction. The seat becomes worn and weakened through use, and consequently when a heavy weight is placed suddenly upon it it is liable to give way and permit the chair to fold. This danger is efficiently guarded against by employing the latch.

Having thus described my invention, what pins on the front legs engaging said slots, and I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patlateral pins on said legs below the front ends ent, isof the latches adapted to impinge against the The combination of the legs pivoted tosame, substantially as described. 15 5 gether, the back pivoted to the upper ends of In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the rear legs, the seat connecting the upper the presence of two witnesses. ends of the front legs and the lower end of g I the back, the latches having their rear ends JOHN BOTWEN' pivoted to the sides of the back near the lower lVitn esses: 10 end of the same and provided near their front .8. A. FAIRBANK,

ends with longitudinal L-shaped slots, lateral CHAS. A. BARNES.

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