US677383A - Convertible chair. - Google Patents

Description

Patented July 2, 19m.

E. L. THOMPSON. CONVERTIBLE CHAIR.

. (Application fllnd 1:. as 1901. (No Model.) r

a Zwziwl. Tizor za as-owa I is NlTEED STATES PATENT O rricn.

ELWIN L. THOMPSON, OF BALDWINSVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

CONVERTIBLE CHAOIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 677,383, dated July 2, 1901. Application filed March 28,1901. Serial No. 53,282. on model.)

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, ELWIN L. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Baldwinsville, county of Worcester,and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Convertible Chairs, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts. 7

This invention relates to chairs which can be changed from high to rocking chairs, and vice versa; and it has more particularly for its object the production of novel locking means whereby the chair is securely maintained elevated until it is desired to convert it into a rocker.

Various novel features of my invention will be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the following claims.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a convertible chair embodying one form of my invention, the chair being shown elevated. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the chair when lowered to form a rocker. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the chair when elevated. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail on the line a: :0, Fig. 3, looking to the right to show the locking means. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail showing the position of the locking means and adjacent parts when the chair is lowered, and Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modification to be described.

The cross-legs a b, which serve as legs when the chair is elevated, are curved or longitudinally convexed on their inner under edges, as at 0% b to form rockers when they are spread by the lowering of the chair,'as shown in Fig. 2, the legs being pivotally connected at 2 in pairs, and the said pairs of legs will in przgctice be connected by transverse rounds to The seat a of the chair 0 is provided with a rigid depending base (shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4 as depending) and crossed legs 0 c rigidly secured together and to the seat, and the base so formed is fulcrumed on the upper ends of the cross-legs a by rigid metal straps 4:, bolted or otherwise secured to the front ends of the legs 0. The other pair of legs 0 are connected with the upper ends of the pair of cross-legs b by links (1, pivoted at their upper ends at (Z' to the chair-base and at their lower ends at d to the upper ends of the cross legs b.

When the chair is elevated,the links will be in substantially vertical position,with the pivotal points d 01 practically one above the other, so that the weight upon the chair-seat is transmitted downwardly and directly to the cross-legs I) through the said links.

When the chair is lowered to form a rocker, the links swing rearwardly on their pivots d, as shown in Fig. 5, as the upper ends of the cross-legs are spread or separated.

I have herein shown a stop, made as a pin or projection 3, on each of the legs I) to engage the rear edge of the adjacent link when the chair is elevated to thus limit the closing movement of the cross-legs, and preferably each of the links will be notched, as at ri to receive its cooperating stop.

In order to maintain the links and stops in the relative position shown in Fig. 4that is, when the stop is elevated--I have provided a simple and very effective locking device consisting, substantially, of a Hshaped bar, the sides e, which form latches, being fulcrumed at e on a forwardly-extended ear d of each link, the latches projecting rearwardly beyond the links and having notches e in their lower edges to straddle the stops 3 when in looking position, the connecting-piece e between the latches constituting a handpiece to manually release the locking device.

Each link is herein shown as having a second ear 61 to which is secured one end of a spring 3, the other end thereof being attached to the extension 6 of each latch projected f0rward beyond its fulcrum e the springs nor mally tending to throw the latches downward into engagement with the stops.

If the chair is elevated and it isdesired to lower it, and thereby convert it into a rocker, the operator lifts the connectingpiece e thereby rocking the latches on their fulcra e and releasing the stops 3 from the notches e, whereupon the weight of the chair-seat operates to spread the cross-legs a b, the links swinging as described, and the chairassumes the position shown in Fig. 2, at which time the cross-legs ct b have their curvededges in parallelism and rest upon the floor to form rockers, while the chair-base c o is firmly supported above them.

To change the chair over from the rocker to elevated position, the chair-body is grasped and lifted, and as soon as the links assume a substantially vertical position the springs s cause the latches to snap into operative engagement with the stops, as shown in Fig. 3.

The locking mechanism thus automatically operates to set itself and lock the chair in elevated position.

In Fig. 6 the cross-legs and the locking mechanism are substantially as hereinbefore described and shown; but the chair-base comprises rigidly-attached depending front and; back legs 0 0 the former pair having the straps l attached thereto, while the upper ends of the links 01 are pivotally connected with the back leg 0 In either case, however,

the depending base is rigidly secured to the chair-seat and forms a firm and secure sup-Q port therefor either in elevated position or} when lowered to form a rocker.

Each of the latches e is provided with a: transverse slot 6 into which projects a pinv or projection d on the adjacent link to limit the pivotal movement of the latch.

In another application, Serial No. 53,287, filed by me concurrently herewith, I have broadly claimed in a convertible chair the seat having a rigid base and with cross-legs, l

the base being fulorumed on the upper ends claimed.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 3 Patent, is

rockers when the chair is lowered, and trans a rigid base fulcrumed on the upper ends of one pair of cross-legs, links pivoted to the base and to the upper ends of the other pair of legs, stops on the latter to engage the links when the chair is elevated, and locking means to normally maintain such engagement.

2. In a convertible chair, pivoted cross-legs a rigid base fulcrumed on the upper ends of I one pair of cross-legs, links pivoted to the. base and to the upper ends of the other pairl of legs, stops on the latter to engage the links when the chair is elevated, and means mounted on the links to engage the stops when the chair is elevated and prevent pivoted movement of the links.

Verse connections between opposite pairs of was said legs, combined with a chair-seat having a rigid base fulcrumed on the upper ends of one pair of cross-legs, depending links pivoted to the base and at their lower ends pivoted to the upper ends of the other pair of crosslegs, stops on the latter to engage the links when in substantially vertical position, the chair being elevated, and means to lock the links in such position.

4. In a convertible chair, pivoted cross-legs curved on their inner, under sides to form rockers when the chair is lowered, and transverse connections between opposite pairs of said legs, combined with a chair-seat having a rigid base fulcrumed on the upper ends of one pair of cross-legs, links pivoted to the base and to the upper ends of the other pair of legs, stops on the latter to engage the links when the chair is elevated, and connected notched latches fulcrumed on the links and adapted to cooperate with the stops when the chair is elevated, the connection between the latches constituting a handpiece.

5. In a convertible chair, pivoted cross-legs curved on their inner, under sides to form rockers when the chair is lowered, and transverse connections between opposite pairs of said legs, combined with a chair-seat having a rigid base fulcrumed on the upper ends of one pair of cross-legs, links pivoted to the base and to the upper ends of the other pair of legs, stops on the latter to engage the links when the chair is elevated, connected latches fulcrumed on the links and adapted to cooper ate with the stops when the chair iselevated, and means to limit pivotal movement of the latches.

6. In aconvertible chair, pivoted cross-legs curved on their inner, under sides to form 1. In a convertible chair, pivotedcross-legs I curved on their inner, under sides to formf rockers when the chair is lowered, and transverse connections between opposite pairs of said legs, combined with a chair-seat having verse connections between opposite pairs of said legs, combined with a chair-seat having a rigid base fulcrumed on the upper endsof one pair of cross-legs, links pivoted to thebaseand to the upper ends of the other pair of legs, stops on the latter to engage the links when the chair is elevated, connected latches ful crumed on the links and adapted to cooperate with the stops when the chair is elevated, and means to automatically set the latches when the chair is changed from loweredto elevated position.

7. In a convertible chair, pi voted cross-legs curved on their inner, under sides to form rockers when the chair is lowered, and trans verse connections between opposite pairs of said legs, combined with a chair-seat having a rigid base fulcruined on the upper ends of one pair of cross-legs, links pivotedto the base and to the upper ends of the other pair of legs, stops on the latter to engage the links when the chair is elevated, connected latches fulcrumed on the links and adapted to cooper- 3. In a convertible chair, pivoted cross-legs curved on their inner, under sides to formf rockers when the chair is lowered, and transate with the stops when the chair is elevated, means to limit pivotal movement of the latches, and means to set the latches when the chair is elevated from lowered position.

erases I g 8. In a convertible chair, pivoted cross-legs notches in its sides to receive the stops and curved on their inner, under sides to form thereby lock the parts from relative moverockers when the chair is lowered, and transment when the chair is elevated. verse connections between opposite pairs of In testimony whereof I have signed my 15 5 said legs, combined with a chair-seat having name to this specification in the presence of a rigid base fnlcrumed on the upper ends of two subscribing witnesses. one pair of oross-legs,1inks ivoted to the base T i and to the upper ends of the other pair of legs, ELVVIN THOMPSON stops on the latter to engage the links when Witnesses: 1c the chair is elevated, and an n-shaped bar W. P. ABBOTT,

fnlcrnmed at its ends on the links and having 1 C. G. SPEARE.

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