US1926840A - Folding chair - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 12, 1933.

R. w. DICK 1,926,840

FOLDING CHAIR Filed Feb. 15, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Hill/111 f:

@W 00% ATTORNEY.

R. W. DICK FOLDING CHAIR Sept. 12, 1933.

Filed Feb. 15, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

INVENTOR.

BY MW ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 12, 1933 UNEE Ararat if rszes io FOLDING onAra Ralph W. Dick, FortWayne, Ind assignor' to Louisltastetter & Sons Company, Fort Wayne, I

Ind.

Application February 15, 1932. SeritzlNd/Silifiiil 5 Claims. (Cl. 155-141) seat and forelegs are folded simultaneouslyagainst the back and rear leg'structure by manipulating the seat. Anotherobject is to pro vide mechanism operatively connecting the seat and forelegs of a folding chair with z the back and rear leg structure therefor'so arranged as to be substantiallyinconspicuous when the chair is extended for use. M

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying ,drawings, in-

which: i

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a chair in which the invention is embodied, a portion being broken away; i

Fig. 2 is a detail section showing a locking means for the seat and foreleg structure;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the chair ina partially folded position, other positions being indicated by dotted outlines; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary frontelevation showing the relative arrangement of the members that connect the seat and forelegs with the back and rear leg structure of the chair. 1

The illustrative embodiment of the invention comprises a rigid frame, constituting the back 1 and rear legs 2 'of a folding chair, a folding seat 3, a foreleg structure 4, and mechanism, hereinafter described, connecting the seat and foreleg structure'with the main frame in folding relation therewith.

The upper portion of the main frame has dis posed therein suitable back rests 5 and the rear legs are connected by cross-pieces 6 in the usual manner. The seat 3 has side and front frame members 6 and 7 respectively, and the forelegs 4 connected by cross-pieces 8 and 9 form the foreleg structure.

The mechanism for connecting the seat and.

the foreleg structure with the main frame consists of two groups of members, the one being the counterpart of the other, assembledsuitably for installation respectively in the right and left hand sides of the chair. In eachassembly are included an anchor plate 19, a hinge bracket 11 having an upturned extension 12 which is secured to said plate at the upper end thereof by a pivot 13', a. link 14 pivoted at one end thereof to said hinge bracket and provided at its oppo site end with a pivoted lug 15, a lever 16 pivoted. at one end therecf'to said hinge bracket at a point thereon spaced rearwardly from the inner endof said link-andprovided at its opposite end, with a pivoted lug 1'7, and an operating arm 18 one end of which is pivoted on said anchor plate at the lower end thereof and the opposite end of which arm is pivoted to said lever at a point located thereon between the ends, thereof.

The, anchor plate 10 of each assembly is secured to the inner face of the correspondingarear leg 2 by means of screws 19, the hingebracket 11 is secured to the inner face of the side frame members 6 ofthe seatby screws 20, and the lugs 15 and 17, are similarly secured respectively to the inner faces of the cross-pieces 8 and 9 in. the foreleg structure. I

The lever 16 has .a lateral offset 21 adjacent its connection with the hinge bracket 11 (Fig.4) so that sufficient space between the hinge bracket and the lever is provided to accommodate the arm when in folded position. Also, the link 14, lever 16 and the arm 18 are suitably curved to permit folding thereof without obstruction.

A locking means is provided for securingthe seat to the foreleg structure when the chair is in extended position for use. An example of such' means is shown in Fig. 2 which consists of a perforated spring tongue 22, mounted on a: block 22' in the foreleg structure, which tongue has latching engagement with a pin 23, that projects from the inner face of the front seat frame member 7,.when the seat rests upon the foreleg structure, and is disengaged therefrom by means of a push-rod 24 disposed movably in the front seat. frame member 7.

In operation, the seat is released from latched engagement with the tongue by applying pressure to thepush rod, and is then swung upwardly into folded position against the back of the chair. Concurrently with the folding movement of the seat the foreleg structure is drawn backwardly into folded position beneath the seat and against the rear legs by action of the lever 16-and the operating arm 18 connected therewith, and is guided by the link 14. When the seat is moved from folded to extended position the lever is thrust outwardly by the operating arm causing the foreleg structure, guided by'the link, to assume its proper position for supporting the seat.

Another feature of the invention is that the frame are so disposed as to preclude liability of the fingers to become pinched orclothing to become wedged between any of the folding parts of the chair structure. r

I claim:

1. In a folding chair, a rigid frame constituting a back and rear legs, a seat, a foreleg structure, and mechanism operatively connecting the seat and foreleg structure with said main frame, said mechanism consisting of right and left hand assembled groups of members, in each of which are included an anchor-plate secured to said main frame, a hinge bracket seciu'edto said seat and pivoted on said plate, link and lever members pivotally secured at their ends to said hinge bracket and foreleg structure at points thereon spaced apart, and an arm having pivot connections at its ends with said plate -and. lever' connection.

2. In a folding chair, a rigid f ame constituting aback and rear legs, aseat provided with means pivotally connecting it with said-frame, aforelegstructure adapted to support said seat when in extended position, link. and leveri'members the ends of which are pivotallysecured to said seat and foreleg structure at? points. thereon spacedapart, an arm pivotally connected at its ends with said main frame and lever membertor actuate said lever member when the seat is swung from one of its positions to the other" and thereby cause folding or unfolding of said foreleg structure accordingly, and locking means for securing said seat and foreleg structure to-- gether' whenlin their extended position. 1

3; In a folding chair, a rigid frame constituting a back and rear legs, a seat'provided with means pivotally connecting it with said frame, a foreleg structure adapted'to support said seat when in extended position, link and lever members the ends of which are pivotally secured to said seat and foreleg structure-at'points thereon-spaced apart, and an arm pivotally connected at its ends with said main frame and lever member to actuate said lever member when the seat is swung from one of its positions to the other and thereby cause folding or unfolding of said foreleg structure accordingly.

4. In a folding chair having'a rigid frame constitutingv aback and rear legs, a folding seat, and a folding foreleg structure, two groups of assembled members connecting said frame, seat and foreleg structure, one for each side of the chair, each group having an anchor plate attached to said frame, a bracket hinged to said plate-attached to said seat, lever and link members each pivoted at one end to said bracket and having at their opposite ends pivoted members attached to said foreleg structure, and an arm pivotally connected at its opposite ends respective to said plate and lever member.

5Z ..A-'iolding chair1having a frame constituting awback 'and irear legs; aseatconnected pivotally in: the framei and. disposed tov fold upwardly againstisaid frame, aforeleg structure, a mechanismzdisposedinzeach sideof said chair, each mechanism. including-members connecting said seatzand the forele'glstructure to which said membersare pivoted at their ends at' corresponding pointsathereonv spacedapart, and a complemental operating. arm connecting said frame and one of said members to which said arm is pivoted respectively at its ends, the members and arnnof each mechanism being so arranged 'thati uponaf'oldingthe seatthe foreleg structure is moved out of contact with said seatand' into folded position againstsaid rear legs, and upon unfoldingth'eseat said foreleg structure is moved into:=seat supporting; position beneath thefront end ofi'thezseat.

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