US779327A - Folding chair. - Google Patents

Description

110,779,327. PATENTED JAN. 3, 1905. J. H: STIGGLEMAN.

FOLDING CHAIR.

LPPLIOATIOI FILED MAR. 24, 1904.

' WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES Patented January 3, 1905.

JAMES H. STIGGLEMAN, OF WVABASH, INDIANA.

FOLDING CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 77 9,327, dated January 3, 1905.

Application filed March 2 1, 1904.. Serial No. 199,690.

To all whom, it iii/my concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES H. STIGGLEMAN, a citizen of the United States. and a resident of Wabash, in the county of Wabash and State of Indiana, have invented a new and Improved slot in the adjacent crossed leg of the chair to permit the folding of the chair into a minimum of space and to permit the use of straight short legs connected near their lower ends with an ordinary round or reach.

In order to render the nature of the invention clear to persons skilled in the art to which it pertains, I will describe and illustrate its embodiment in an ordinary folding chair having the back and the seat portion thereof formed of veneer.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a chair constructed in accordance with this invention, a portion of one leg of the chair being broken away to show the improved connecting-bearing. Fig. 215 a vertical sectional view through the chair set up for use. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the chair folded, and Fig. & is a detail view in perspective of the improved connecting-bearing.

Referring to the drawings, 1 1 designate a pair of long chair-legs, between the upward extensions of which the back 2 of the chair is secured in the usual manner. 'Arranged outside of the long legs 1 1 are a pair of short legs 3 3, which are preferably straight, as shown, while the long legs are preferably curved forward at their lower ends. Transverse rounds or reaches 4 and 5 are disposed between the lower portions of the long legs 1. 1, and a similar round or reach 6 connects the lower ends of the short legs 3 3.

The seat 7 of the chair is supported near its rear margin upon a cross-bar 8, the ends of which are preferably secured in hangers 9, pivotally mounted upon the inner faces of the long legs 1 1. The forward portion of the seat is preferably supported upon a transverse rod 10, connecting the upper ends of the short legs 3 3 of the chair and turning in bearings 11, secured upon the under side of the seat 7.

The short legs 3 3 are arranged for pivotal and sliding movement with reference to the long legs 1 1 when the seat of the chair is raised and lowered, and provision for this movement is made by forming upon the inner face of each of the short legs 2 a longitudinally-disposed slot 12 and providing upon the outer faces of the long legs 1 l a pair of suitable connecting-bearings 13, each of which is provided upon one face with a stud or gudgeon 14, adapted to enter a socket provided therefor in one of the long legs of the chair and having upon the face opposite that from which the stud 14 projects an eccentricallyarranged flange 15, adapted to fit loosely into the slot 12 upon the inner face of one of the short legs and sliding freely therein.

When the parts of the chair are assembled, one of the connecting-bearings 13 is provided upon the outer face of each of the long legs 1 1 of the chair with the stud or gudgeon 14: of the bearing introduced into a suitable socket in the long leg. Each of the bearings 13 when so connected with one of the long legs of the chair has the eccentrically-disposed flange 15 directed outward and in engagement with the slot 12 in the adjacent short leg 3. The slots 12, in which the flanges 15 slide, are of suflicient length to permit the chair to be folded in the position shown in Fig. 3 or to be unfolded and set up in the position shown in Fig. 2. When the chair is unfolded for use, the sliding movement of the legs 3 upon the bearings 13 is positively limited by the contacting of the flanges of the bearings with the upper ends of the slots in which those flanges slide. hen the chair is folded, the flanges of the bearings 13 approach the lower ends of the slots 12, as shown in Fig. 3.

By providing the short legs of the chair with longitudinally-disposed slots and providing the connecting-bearings between the legs of the chair with flanges which slide in the slots I am able to overcome the disadvantages of the ordinary pin-and-slot connection employed between the crossed legs of chairs of the type to which this invention relates. The principal objections to the ordinary form of pin-and-slot connection are that the pin presents such a small surface of contact with the sides of the slot that the slot is rapidly enlarged by wear thereon, and the connection does not permit the chair to be folded into very small compass if straight short legs are used, and a round or reach is used to connect the legs at their lower ends.

On reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the eccentric arrangement of the gudgeon and flange of the improved connectingbearing permits the use of straight short legs and allows the chair to be folded into very small space without interference from the round or reach that is disposed between the lower ends of the short legs of the chair. Besides permitting the chairs provided therewith to be folded into very small space the improved connecting-bearings of this invention make the chairs provided therewith very staunch and durable and do not detract in any way from the pleasing appearance of the chair.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a folding chair, the combination with two crossed legs, one being provided on its inner surface with a longitudinally-disposed slot and the other being provided on its outer surface with a socket, of a connecting-bearing disposed between said legs and having a stud or gudgeon engaging the socket in one of the legs and a flange engaging the slot in the other.

2. In a folding chair, the combination with two crossed legs, one having a longitudinallydisposed slot therein and the other being provided with a socket, of a connecting-bearing disposed between the legs and having upon one side astud or gudgeon engaging the socket in one of said legs, and having upon the other side an eccentrically-disposed flange arranged for sliding movement in the slot in the other leg.

3. In a folding chair, the combination with a pair of inner legs each having a socket upon its outer face, of a pair of outer legs each having a longitudinally-disposed slot upon its inner face, and a pair of connecting-bearings each having a stud or gudgeon engaging the socket in one of said inner legs and an eccentrically-disposed flange engaging the slot in the adjacent outer leg.

4. In a folding chair, the combination with a pair of long curved legs each having a socket therein, of a pair of straight short legs each provided with a longitudinally-disposed slot, a pair of connecting-bearings each having a stud or gudgeon engaging the socket in one of the long legs and an eccentrically-disposed flange engaging the slot in the adjacent short leg, and a round or reach disposed between the lower ends of the short legs.

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

JAMES H. STIGGLEMAN.

Witnesses:

CLARK WV. WVEESNER, ELMER E. SLIoH.

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