US2541131A - Folding chair - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 13, 1951 THAL 2,541,131

FOLDING CHAIR Filed May 5, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l lNVE/VTOR BERNAR D THAL BY M A R/VEY Feb. 13, 1951 THAL 2,541,131

FOLDING CHAIR Filed May 5, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 56 BERNARD THAL ATTORNEY B. THAL FOLDING CHAIR Feb. 13, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 5, 1948 /Nl E/\/7 C7Q BERNARD THAL BY Maw! ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 13, 1951 FOLDING CHAIR Bernard Thal, Allston, Massl, assighorto Bridge Tables & Novelties, Ina, Lowell; Mass,a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 1948, Serial N0. 25,270

7 Claims. (Cl. 155-148) The present invention, though having also other fields of usefulness, relates more particularly to folding chairs.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved folding chair that shall be more rugged in construction and sturdy than folding chairs heretofore in use.

Another object is to improve upon the connections between the front legs and the mechanisms for simultaneously actuating the back and rear kegs of folding chairs.

Another object is to provide a new and ion-- proved mechanism for locking two relatively mov able members against movement.

Other and further objects will be explained hereinafter and will be more particularly pointed. out in. the appended claims.

The invention will now be more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is an elevation of a chair embodying the invention. in preferred form, shown in fully open or extended or unfolded position; Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the chair partly collapsed or closed; Fig. 3 is another similar View; showing the chair fully folded, collapsed or closed; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, upon a larger scale, but in vertical section upon the line 'l-l of Fig. 10, looking. in the direction of the arrows and with parts broken away, for clearness; Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary views similar to Fig. 4,. but with the parts in relatively different positions, and upon a still larger scale; Fig.7 is a view similar to Fig. i, but with the parts in still further different relative positions; Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 6, showing further parts, upon a still larger scale and with the parts in the relative difierent positions shown in Fig. 7; Fig 9 is a diagram explanatory of the operation of the parts when occupying the positions illustrated in 8; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary underside plan, upon a larger scale still; Fig.3. is a similarly enlarged. perspective, partly in section upon the line llll of Fig. '2, looking the direction of the arrows; Fig. 12 is an underside perspective of the metal parts in the neighborhood of the hinge for pivoting one of the front legs; Fig. 13- is a perspective, upon. a larger scale, of the meshanism shown in Fig. 8, showing also additional parts; and Fig. la is a section taken upon the line i l -i 4- of '2, looking upward, in the direction of the arrows, the scale being the same in Fig. 1

The foiding chair of the present invention is of the type in which a back l pivoted at the rear of a horizontal disposed seat member as l e 5 to fold toward and away from the upper side of -the seat member 5, and rear less 2 and front legs 3 are respectively pivoted at the rear and the front of the seat member 5 respectively to fold as units toward and away from the under side of the seat member. In chairs of this type, the back member I and the rear legs 2 fold for ward and the front legs 3 fold simultaneously rearward to collapse or close the chair, and the back member I and the rear" legs 2 fold rearward and the front legs 3 fold simultaneously forward to open the chair. The back member I may be constituted of the customary two wood side bars rigidly connected together to fold as a unit by wood cross bars, not shown. The two rear legs 2,- if also of wood may be similarly connected to gether rigidly by the customary wood cross bars, not shown, so as similarly to fold as a unit, and: the same for the wood front legs 3.

As illustrated more particularly in Fig. 10, the seat member 5 may comprise a three-sided seatsupporting frame having wood side bars, rails or cleats 4, and a wood front bar, rail or clcat it, the seat-supporting frame being open at the rear.

-. The bars 4 and 13 may be secured together in any desired manner, as by means of glue, nails, screws and the like. The seat member 5 is secured in place in rabbeted or L-shaped grooves 9' provided in the side rails or bars 4 and the front rail or bar l3 of the seat-supporting frame by screws H and 12. The seat member 5 is of substantially.

trapezoidal shape, as the front bar 53 is wider than the open space at the rear of the three-sided seat frame. The side bars or cleats 4 are there-'- fore inclined toward each other from the front toward the rear along the non-parallel sides of the trapezoid, As the legs 2 and 3 are positioned at the corners of this eat frame, the front legs 3 are therefore spaced farther apart than the rear legs 2, thus enabling the rear legs 2 to fold compactly between the front legs 3.

The long-stem or body portions of horizontally dis-posed rear T-shaped metal plates 42 are each provided with a. pair of outwardly projecting shorter-than the front arms 54 in order that a b isposed in vertical planes at right angles tothe parallel sides of the trapezoid.

The back member i is shown pivoted at M, about an axis substantially parallel to the parallel sides of the trapezoid, to the upper arms of the Ts at the rear of and above the upper side of the seat member 5. The rear legs 2 are shown pivoted 43, about an axis substantially parallel to the parallel sides of the trapezoid, to the lower arms of the Ts at the rear of and below the under side of the seat member. The pivots ii and 33 are shown as rivets mounted in bushings 44.

The front legs are also pivoted about an axis substantially parallel to the parallel sides of the trapezoid. This pivoting is effected through the medium of front-leg metal hinge plates 58 that may be secured in any desired manner, as by means of rivets 21, to the inner faces of the upper. ends of the front legs, opposite to the rear legs 2. The upper ends of the plates 58 are shown provided with rolled-over cylinders 59 through which extend hinge pintles 28. Though the cylinders 59 of each plate 58 are shown divided into two parts, axially alined substantially parallel to the parallel sides of the trapezoid, this is for convenience only. U-shaped metal hinge plates 22, provided with downward projecting terminal arms, are secured by rivets 2| to the under face of the seat member, at the corner junctions of the side bars 4; and the front bar I3, above the front legs 3. l'he pintles 28 extend not only through the cylinders 55, but also through the downward projecting terminal arms of the hinge plates 22. The metal plates 22 and 58 and the pintles 28 thus provide hinges by means of which the front legs 3 are pivoted below the seat member. The screws II and I2 for securing the seating portion 5 in place on the seat member extend respectively through the plates 22 and the inwardly projecting arms 55 of the T-shaped plates '42.

The rear end of each of two connecting or transfer'link levers 6 is shown pivoted below the pivot and above the pivot 43 to the front central pivot 31 of a toggle comprising two links 29 and 32. The front ends of the two toggle links 29 and 32 are pivoted to the central toggle pivot 31. Their rear ends are respectively pivoted at 41 and 51 to the back member i and the rear legs 2. The pivots 4! and 51, like the pivots 4i and 43, are shown as rivets mounted in bushings 44. Each central toggle pivot3i is mounted to slide in a horizontally disposed rear guideslot l 9 provided in the long-stem or body portion o'f'one of the T-shaped metal plates 42. It is therefore confined to movement parallel to the seat member 5 in the vertical plane of the corresponding metal plate 42. By reason of this guided movement of the toggle pivot 31, any movement of the back member I must b-ecommunicated, through the toggle links 29 and 32, to the rear legs 2, and. any movement of the rear legs 2 must similarly be communicated to the back member I. The back member and rear legs 2 are thus connected together by the toggles for simultaneous movement.

- A front metal slide plate 8 is secured to the inner face of each side bar 4 by rivets It extending through its front and rear ends it and it. Each metal plate 3 is provided with a guide slot having a front portion 1 inclining upward at a steep angle from the front toward the rear of the chair, a rear portion 62 inclining similarly upward, but not so steeply, and an intermediately disposed upturned portion 53 at the junction between the portions 1 and-62. The upturned portion 63 is disposed at 'thefend" of the guide-slot portion l near the guide-slot portion 62 in order, as will hereinafter appear, to serve as a locking recess. The distance between the bottom wall 64 of the portion '5 of each front guide slot and the top of the portion 63 thereof is equal tothe distance between a first pivot pintle 24 and a second pivot pintle 23, shown in the form of rivets. The metal plate 8 is shown L-shaped, with the longer arm of the L, between the rear unit I and the offset bend 3i of the L, disposed in a vertical plane substantially at right angles to the parallel sides of the trapezoid and to the rail tions 62 and 63 of the guide slot, in the said vertical plane along directions inclined to the horizontal seat member. The front end of a first link i4 is pivoted at to a right-angularly-projecting lug ZQdispo'sed at the lower end of each front-leg hinge plate 58. The pivots l5 are shown constituted of rivets extending through the first link it and the lug 29. The rear-end pivot pintles 23 of the first links I i are connected to the respective pivot pintles 24 by second links 25. The, lugs 26 are parallel to the longer parallel arms of the metal slide plate 8. As each link l4 therefore moves in a plane at right angles to the front bar, rail or cleat i3, it is shown straight, without any offset bends between the pivot l5 and the pintle 23. This contributes to the rigidity of the chair. By reason of the offset bends 3i, moreover. a space is provided between the longer arm of each metal plate 8 and the inner face of the side bar 4 to which it is secured in which the links it and 25 may be received. Though not illustrated, the inner faces of the side bars A may be gouged out or recessed to receive the rear ends of the respective links M and the links 25 in the collapsed or closed position of the chair.

The front legs 3 may be actuated about their pivoting pintles 28 into and out of collapsed or closed position, simultaneously with the actuation of the back member I and the rear legs 2, through the medium of two connecting or transfer link levers 6.

A single connecting or transfer link lever 6 and associated mechanism wouldtheoretically be effective for the purpose of folding and extending the rear and the front legs 2 and 3 rearward and forward as a unit and for simultaneously folding also the back member I, but it is preferred to employ two connecting or transfer link levers 6, one at each side of the chair, connected in the same way to the respective front legs 3 and the corresponding toggle links 29 and 32.

As will hereinafter be more fully explained, th connecting or transfer link levers 6 are adaptedto travel forward and rearward, in response to corresponding movement imparted to the toggle pivots 37, during the; actuation toward and from each other of the back member I and the rear legs 2. During the rearward travel of the link lovers 6, the pintles 23 and 24 are confined to; slide diagonally upward in the respective said vertically disposed planes of the longer arms of the L-shaped guide plates 8, along the inclines determined by the portions 62 of the respective front guide slots. During the forward travel of the link levers 6, the pintles 23 and 24 are confined to slide diagonally downward along. these inclines. of the link levers 6 the pintles 23 enter the por,- tions 10f the respective front guide slots;

- Just before the-'link'leverst reachthe'exti'eme Toward the end of the forward travel 1 limit of their forward movement, in order fully to open the chair, and to lock the front legs in this fully open position of the chair, the pintles 23 engage the lowermost walls 64 of the portions 1 of these respective guide slots L Then, as the link levers 6 are moved slightly further forward, the second links connecting the pivot pins 23 and 28 are caused to turn about the now stationary pintles 23 to the left. At the end of this turning movement of the second links 25, the pintles 24 become snapped into the upturned locking-recess portions 63 of the respective front guide slots. Thereupon the links 25 connecting the pivot pins 23 and 24 become alined with the respective links I4, as shown in Fig. '7, locked in the front inclined portions 7 of the respective front guide slots. This is rendered possible by the fact, as before stated, that the distance between the pivot pins 23 and 24 is substantially equal to the length of the portion 7 of each front guide slot, including the upturned portion 63. Each pivot pin 24 is thus enabled to engage in the corresponding upturned portion 63 when the correspond ng pivot pin 23 engages the lower end of the portion l of its front guide slot. As each pair of links I4 and 25 therefore serves also as a front-leg brace when the chair is open or extended, the front legs 3 become locked against collapse in the open unfolded or extended position of the chair, as illustrated in Fig. '7. The pivots I5, 23 and 24 are shown substantially alined beyond dead center in order to assure this locking in the open position of the chair.

This naturally serves, as well, to lock the back member I and the rear legs 2 in the open unfolded or extended position of the chair. The stability of the chair is increased, however, by providing two additional locking mechanisms for locking both the back i and the rear legs in the open unfolded or extended position of the chair.

One of the two additional mechanisms for locking the back I and the rear legs 3 in the open unfolded or extended position of the chair comprises a forwardly disposed locking latch 26 of each toggle link 32. for entering into, in order to become lockingly seated in, a locking latch recess 48 of a catch 30, pivoted at 53. The catches 3B are normally biased upward toward locking positions by a hand-release spring plate 49. acting through connecting lock extension rods 3'6 that are respectively pivoted to the catches 30 at 56. The spring plate 69 is held loosely to the inner face of the front bar I 3 of the seat by headed pins 5! extending through elongated opening in curved spring end portions 52 provided at the ends of the spring plate 49. This locking against movement of the link 32 naturally results also in similarly locking the link 29.

a The other of the two additional locking mechanisms for locking the back I and the rear legs 2 in the open unfolded or extended position of the chair is obtained by providing each link 32 of each toggle with an intermediately disposed lock latch 40 for seating in a corresponding intermediately disposed latch recess IIof the other link 26 of the toggle, when the li s 29- and 32 of the toggles become collapsed.

If desired, it is possible to obtain still additional locking effect by having the lower portion of the back member I engage solidly against the upper portion of the rear legs 2, as shown. more particularly in Figs. 1 and 8, and also to have both engage solidly against the rear faces of the side bars or cleats 4.. as is alscgg illustratedz in; r

" willremain ilrmlylocked open-by the I the spring plate 49 yield as the walls of the elongated openings 50 ride past the headed pins 5i. The connecting rods 36 are thereupon moved forward. The spring bias provided by the spring plate 42 upon the catches 30 through the connesting rods 36 being thus overcome, the catches 30 are caused to move pivotally about their pivots 53 out of the position of Figs. '7, 8, 9 and 13, thereby releasing the latches 26 from the latch recess 48 and unlocking the first of the two additional locking mechanisms of the chair before described.

Pressure may thereupon be applied to move the seat member and the back member I pivotally forward toward each other about the pivots 4 I from the open position of Figs. 1, 7, 8 and 10, through the partly collapsed position of Figs. 2 and 4, toward the closed or collapsed position of Fig. 3. Through the action of the toggle links 25 and 32, this will result in corresponding movement of the rear legs 2 as a unit about their pivots 43. The consequent horizontal rearward movement of the toggle pivots 31 in the hori-- zontally disposed guide slots I 9 will unseat thelocking latches 40 from the latch recesses I'l' from the position of Figs. 7, 8 and 13 toward the position of Fig. 4. It will result also in. causing the connecting or transfer link levers 6 to move rearward, as above described. The links 25 will become unseated from the position shown in I Fig. '7 and the pivots 24 will therefore become unseated from their upturned portions of the front guide slots. The pivot pins 23 and 24 will thereupon slide out of the portions I and 63 of the front guide slot, from the positions illustrated in Fig. '7, and into the portion 62, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The catch 30 will at the same time assume the positions shown in Fig. 6. With continued rearward movement of the connecting or transfer link levers 6, the pintles 23 and 24 will be caused to travel up the portions 62 of their inclined guide slots, thereby drawing after them the links 25 and I4 from the position of Figs. I and 7, and through the position of Figs. 2' and 4, thus causing the front legs 3 to assume once more the collapsed position, illustrated in Fig. 3

To fold open or extend the chair, all! that isnecessary is pivotally to move the back member I and the seat member away from each other about the pivots 4|. Upon the chair reassuming its fully open position, the front legs 3 will again become locked in place, the latches 40 will become reseated in the latch recesses I 1, and the spring ends 52 of the spring plate 48 will cause the connecting rods 36 to restore the bias of the catches 30, whereupon the latches 26 will become restored to their locking positions in the locking latch recesses 48, as illustrated in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 13. In order to facilitate the entry of the latches 26 into the latch recesses 48, their rear walls may be slightly inclined, as illustrated at 4'5, and the walls 46 of the latches 26 may be inclined to correspond.

Unless the plate 49 is pressed toward the front when threolook bar-alt, as before-described, the chair,

ing mechanisms described'above. Accidental unlocking is further safeguarded against, however,

by the fact that, as shown more particularly in Fig. 9, .at'tirnes when. the chair is locked open, the pivots '53 and 51 are alined with the latch 26. Unless the catch 30 is released by pressure upon the spring plate 49, therefore, any movement of the back member I or the rear legs 2 tending to collapse the chair would result in the rear wall 45 f 'the latch 26 binding against the cooperating engaging rear wall 46 of the latch recess 48, thereby resisting any such tendency to collapsing movement.

Modifications will occur to persons skilled in the art, and, all such are considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

- What is claimed is:

1.-A folding chair comprising a seat member provided 'with'front and rear guide slots, a back member pivoted at the rear of the seat member to fold toward and away from the upper side of the seat member, rear legs and front legs pivoted respectively at the rear and the front of the seat member respectively to fold as units toward and away from the under side of the seat member, means providing for simultaneous folding of the back member and the rear legs forward and the front legs rearward to collapse the chair and for simultaneous folding of the back member and the rear legs rearward and the front legs for-' ward to open the chair comprising a toggle connecting the back member and one of the rear legs the pivot of which is slidably mounted in the rear guide slot, a lever the rear end of which is pivoted to the toggle pivot and the forward end ofwhich is provided with means slidably mounted in the front guide slot, a first link one ,end of which is pivoted to one of the front legs, and a second link pivoted to the other end of the first link and the'slidably mounted means, and means cooperating with the links to lock the chair open.

, ber, means providing fo simultaneous folding of the back member and the rear legs forward and r the front legs rearward to collapse the chair and for simultaneous folding of the back member and the rear legs rearward and the front legs forward to open the chair comprising a toggle connecting the back member and one of the rear legs, the a pivot of which is slidably mounted in the rear which is provided with means slidably mounted in the rear inclined portion of the front guide slot, a first link one end of which is pivoted to one of the front legs, and a second link pivoted to the other end of the first link and the slidably mounted means,- and means whereby the second link may be locked in the front inclined portion'of the front guide slot to lock the chair open.

.3. A folding chair. comprising a seat member provided with a guide slot having two portions at an angle to each other one of which is provided patternin two portionaa back memberpivq ed at the rear of the seat member to fold toward and away from the upper side of the seat member, rear legs and front legs pivoted respectively at the rear and the front of the seat member respective- 7 1y to fold as units toward and away from the under side of the seat member, and means providing for simultaneous folding of the back memher and the rear legs forward and the front legs rearward to collapse the chair and for simultaneous folding of the back member and the rear legs rearward and the front legs forward to open the chair comprising means connecting the back' member and one of the rear legs for simultaneous movement including a lever one end of which is provided with a first pivot slidably mounted in the guide slot, a first link one end of which is pivoted to one of the front legs and the other end of which is provided with a second pivot slidably mounted in the guide slot, and a second link connecting the pivots. the distance between the pivots being substantially equal to the length of the-- said. one portion of the guide slot in order that the first pivot may engage in the locking recess when the second pivot engages the other end of the said one portion of the guide slot, thereby to lock the chair open, and the pivots being slidable out of the said one portion of the locking recess and into the other portion of the locking recess during the collapse of the chair.

4. A folding chair comprising a seat member provided with a guide slot having two portions at an angle to each other one of which is provided with a locking recess at its end near the junction between the two portions, a back member pivoted at the rear .of the seat member to fold toward and away from the upper side of the seat member, and,

the front legs forward to open the chair compris ing a toggle connecting the back member and one I of the rear legs the pivot of which is slidably mounted in the rear guide slot, a lever the rear end of which is pivoted to the toggle pivot and the front end of which is provided with a first pivot slidably mounted in the front guide slot, a first link one end of which ispivoted to one of the front legs and the other end of which is provided with a second pivot slidably mounted in the guide slot, and a second link connecting the pivots, the distance between the pivots being substantially equal to the length of the said one portion of the 7 guide slot in order that the first pivot may engage in the locking recess when the second pivot engages the 'otherend of the said one portion of the guide slot, thereby to lock the chair open, and the pivots being slidable out of the said one portion of the locking recess and into the other portion of the locking recess duringthe collapse of the chair.

5. A folding chair comprising a seat member of substantially trapezoidal shape wider at the front than the rear and provided along its nonparallel sides with side bars inclining toward each other from the front toward the rear, a' back member pivoted at the rear of the seat member to fold towardand away from the upper side of the seat member about an axis substantially parallel to the parallel sides of the trapezoid,

rear legs. and front legs pivoted respectively'at the rear and the front of the seat member respectively to fold as units toward and away from the under side of the seat member about axes substantially parallel to the parallel sides of the trapezoid, a guide member fixed between the side bars to the under side of the seat member provided in a plane substantially at right angles to the parallel sides of the trapezoid with a guide slot having two portions at an angle to each other one of which is provided with a locking recess at its end near the junction between the two portions, and means providing for simultaneous folding of the back member and the rear legs forward and the front legs rearward to collapse the chair and for simultaneous folding of the back member and the rear legs rearward and the front legs forward to open the chair comprising a member guided by the guide member to move in a plane between the side bars below the under side if the seat member provided with a first pivot slidably mounted in the guide slot, a first link disposed between one of the side bars and the guide member one end of which is pivoted to one of the front legs and the other end of which is provided with a second pivot slidably mounted in the guide slot, and a second link connecting the pivots, the distance between the pivots being substantially equal to the length of the said one portion of the guide slot in order that the first pivot may engage in the locking recess when the second pivot engages the other end of the said one portion of the guide slot, thereby to lock the chair open, and the pivots being slidable out of the said one portion of the locking recess and into the other portion of the locking recess during the collapse of the chair.

6. A folding chair comprising a seat member of substantially trapezoidal shape wider at the front than the rear and provided along its nonparallel sides with side bars inclining toward each other from the front toward the rear, a back member pivoted at the rear of the seat member to fold toward and away from the upper side of the seat member about an axis substantially parallel to the parallel sides of the trapezoid, rear legs and front legs pivoted respectively at the rear and the front of the seat member respectively to fold as units toward and away from the under side of the seat member about axes substantially parallel to the parallel sides of the trapezoid, two guide members respectively provided with front and rear guide slots fixed between the side bars to the under side of the seat member in planes substantially at right angles to the parallel sides of the trapezoid, the front guide slot having two portions at an angle to each other one of which is provided with a looking recess at its end near the junction between the two portions, and means providing for simultaneous folding of the back member and the rear legs forward and the front legs rearward to collapse the chair and for simultaneous folding of the back member and the rear legs rearward and the front legs forward to open the chair comprising a toggle connecting the back member and one of the rear legs the pivot of which is mounted in the rear guide slot, a lever the rear end of which is connected to the toggle pivot and the front end of which is provided with a first pivot slidably mounted in the front guide slot, a first link disposed between one of the side bars and one of the guide members one end of which is pivoted to one of the front legs and the other end. of which is provided with a second pivot slidably mounted in the front guide slot, and a second link connecting the pivots, the distance between the pivots being substantially equal to the length of the said one portion of the guide slot in order that the first pivot may engage in the locking recess when the second pivot engages the other end of the said one portion of the guide slot, thereby to lock the chair open, and the pivots being slidable out of the said one portion of the locking recess and into the other portion of the locking recess during the collapse of the chair. '7. A device for locking two relatively movable members again t relative movement, one of the members being provided with a guide slot having two portions at an angle to each on other one of which is provided with a locking recess at its end near the junction between the two portions, a lever mounted upon one of the members provided with a first pivot pin mounted in the guide slot, a first link one end of which is pivoted to the other member and the other end of which is provided with a second pivot slidably mounted in the guide slot, and a second link connecting the pivots, the distance between the pivots being substantially equal to the length of the said one portion of the guide slot in order that the first pivot may engage in the locking recess when the second pivot engages the other end of the said one portion of the guide slot.

BERNARD THAL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 938,315 Gundelach Oct. 26, 1909 1,922,305 Kovats Aug. 15, 1933 1,981,387 Kovats Nov. 20, 1934 2,247,799 Boardman July 1, 1941

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