US2542342A - Folding chair - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 20, 1951 C. E. MEEKER FOLDING CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 3, 1945 C. E. MEEKER Feb; 20, 1951 FOLDING CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M M r/42,5

Filed Dec. v25, 1945 Patented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING CHAIR Charles E. Meeker, Detroit, Mich.

Application December 3, 1945, Serial No. 632,357

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to chairs and in particular to foldable chairs.

One object of this invention is to provide a combination reclining chair and rocker which is collapsible into a small bundle for storage or transportation.

Another object is to provide a combination reclining chair and rocker having arm rests which are adjustable for height, thereby adding to the comfort of the occupant.

Another object is to provide a combination reclining chair and rocker having a flexible seat and back formed of textile material or the like with improved means for adjusting the length thereof and thereby adapting the chair quickly and easily to the comfort of the individual cupant or to occupants of different heights.

Another object is to provide a combination reclining chair and rocker having an attachable and collapsible leg rest which is also foldable in the same small bundle occupied by the rocker itself.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation of the combined reclining chair and rocker according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the leg rest attached thereto;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the chair shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the leg rest, taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical section through the leg rest taken along the line 44 in Figure 1, showing one of the spreaders therefor;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the spreader and its connections shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modification of the spreader shown in Figures 4 and 5;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the upper right-hand corner of Figure 2, showing the means for adjusting the length of the chair back;

Figure 8 is a cross-section along the lines 88 in Figures 2 and 7;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the upper end of the chair back and wedge stop shown in Figures 7 and 8; v

Figure 10 is an enlarged perspective view of one end of a cross bar of the chair; and

Figure 11 is an enlarged perspective view of one end of an upright of the chair cooperating with and fitting into the cross bar end shown in Figure 10.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention as consisting of a foldable chair unit, generally designated I0, to which is attached a foldable leg rest unit, generally designated II. The chair unit I0 consists of a pair of uprights I2 of elongated form and having angled lower ends I3 adapted to conform to the surface of the ground or floor when the uprights I2 are in their normal inclined position. The uprights I2 near their lower ends are provided with a spreader I4 pivotally secured thereto as at I5 and consisting of a pair of straps I6 and I1, preferably of metal and extending toward one another. The straps I6 and I! are pivotally interconnected by a pivot fastener I8 (Figure 2) and a portion I9 of the strap I6 is bent perpendicularly to the upper edge thereof to engage the upper edge of the strap I! at a short distance from the pivot pin I8. In this manner, the uprights I2 are permanently spaced apart by the spreader I l, but are also held together as a unit when the portions I6 and I! of the spreader I4 are folded into positions lying alongside the uprights I2.

The upper ends of the uprights I2 are forked to provide a slot 20 (Figure 11) adjacent which are arms 2| with flared portions 22 at the ends thereof. The arms 2| are interconnected by a fastener 23 to prevent splitting and to further strengthen the ends of the uprights I2. The ends of the arms 2| are tapered on their opposite lateral faces 24 and 25 to render them wedgeshaped.

The uprights I 2 are interconnected at their upper ends by a cross bar 26 (Figures 2 and 10), the ends of which are provided with downwardly diverging wedge- shaped grooves 21 and 28 on their opposite sides, these grooves corresponding to and mating with the tapered arms 2|. The bridge portion 29 between the slots 2T| and 28 is also of such width and thickness as to fit into the longitudinal slots 20 at the upper ends of the uprights I2. In this manner, the weight of a person in the chair I0 constantly urges the wedge-shaped arms 2| at the upper end of the uprights I2 into the corresponding wedge- shaped grooves 21 and 28, resulting in a tight connection therebetween which prevents wobbling, yet which is instantly separable when the chair is folded up.

The cross bar 26 is provided intermediate its ends with a slot 30 having sides 3| and 32 angled relatively to one another so as to provide a groove of approximately triangular cross-section (Figures '7 and 8). Insertable in the wedge-shaped slot 30 is a wedging unit 33 of roughly triangular cross-section mating with the slot 3|]. The Wedging unit 33 consists of a pair of elongated members 34 and 35 (Figure 9), each having a crosssection approximately that of a right triangle. The members 34 and 35 are clamped on opposite sides of the upper end of the chair back 36 and secured thereto by fasteners 31 with the bases of the members 34 and 35 upward. In assembly,

cupant, the upper end of the chair back 36 being rolled up upon the unit 33 as a core. Since the chair back 36 is of flexible material, such-as canvas or other textile material, the length there of may be varied as desired, and'the back shortened or lengthened. I

The opposite end of the chair back 36 .is setheuprights l 2.

changeable for the right or left arm so that only one rest has to be made for use on both arms. Moreover, this construction also enables the arm rests to be interchanged so that both are inclined inward so as to be used by a child. The arm rests 54 are adjustable up or down along the uprights 12 as shown in chain lines in Figure 1, merely by lifting their outer ends and sliding them along When the arm rest 54 is lowered at its adjusted position, the fastener 58 and groove end 59 cooperate to engage the forward and rearward. edges J60 and 6! of the uprights i l2. The weight of the users arms upon the arm cured to a lower cross-bar 38 (Figure 2) by loop ing'it around the cross-bar and securing thefree end to the back 36 as by the transverse stitching 39. The ends of the cross bar 38 are grooved on their opposite sides as at 30 with wedge-shap ed grooves similar to the grooves 21 in the ends of the upper cross bar 26 (Figure 10). Engaging and mating with the wedge-shaped grooves 39 are thewedge-shaped end arms ii of the pair of standards d2. configuration to the wedge-shaped end arms 2| on the upper ends of the uprights i2 (Figure 11) and have longitudinal slots d3 similarly engaging the bridge portion between the wedge-shaped grooves 40. This construction provides a firm yet instantly separable connection between the cross bar 38 and the standards 62, yet the weight of the occupant constantly urges these members together and prevents wobbling. The standards 42 are provided with fasteners 44 below the inner ends of the slots d3, thereby preventing splitting. The bottom ends 45 of the standards (.2 are cut off at an angle in order to fit the ground, floor or deck where the chair is being used.

The lower ends of the uprights l2 and standards 32 are interconnected by flexible connectors 45, these being preferably chains with their op .posite ends anchored to eye-bolts l? secured-respectively to the uprights I2 and standards 32.

The ends 48 of the cross bar 38 are provided with fasteners 33 (Figures 1 and 2) serving as pivots and anchorages for the end links 5b of flexible connectors 55, preferably chains. The opposite portions of the flexible connectors 5! are adjustably secured to hooks 52 secured to the uprights I2, which are provided with recesses 53 beneath the ends of the hooks so as to facilitate the insertion of a link of the flexible connector iii. In this manner, the length of the flexible connectors 5i may be varied to vary the inclination of the standards 12 and uprights l2 relatively to each other and to the ground, floor or deck.

The uprights l2 are provided with adjustable arm rests 54 provided with slots 55 arranged obliquely thereto in a lengthwise direction so that the arm rests 54 are angled outward. The slots 55 form spaced arms 55 and 5? (Figure 2) these arms engaging the sides of the uprights i2. The outward angling of the arm rests 5 1 by reason of the oblique1y-directed slots 55 prevents their interfering with or catching on the clothing of a person getting into or out of the chair, as well as insuring a more comfortable posture than if they were parallel. The arms 55 and 5? may be tightened against the uprights i 2 by tightening the screws or bolts 58 which extend across the ends of the slots 55, behind the uprights S2. The forward edge or end 59 of the slot 55 is preferably V-shaped in vertical cross-section (Figure l) with two relatively-angled'faces in order to fit the inclined forward edge of the upright l2 more accurately. This 7 makes the arm rests imer- The end arms 4! are similar inrests'5l3' increases the holding effect of the arm rests 54 at their adjusted positions. O

' The lower cross bar 38 is provided with apertures 62 adapted to receive the ends of bent hooks 63, these being mounted in the ends of the longitudinal frame members 64 of the leg rest H (Figures l land 3). The ends are preferably surrounded by ferrules 65 in order to prevent splitting.

Y Pivotallyinserted in sockets 55 in the inner sides of the longitudinal frame members 64 are pivot pins 8? embedded in the upper ends of leg members-68 and 69 interconnected intermediately by the pivot fasteners iii (Figure 3) The lower ends of the leg members 68 and 69 are angled as at it to fit'the ground, floor or deck and are optionally provided with anti-slipping elements 52, such as rubber cups, domes or sockets, or spikes. It will be evident that spikes are especially useful when the device is made up in the form of camp chairs, as thesespikes will enter the ground and firmly anchor the leg members 55 and 69 in position.

The longitudinal frame members 6d are interconnect-2d by collapsible spreaders l3 composed of straps l5 and (Figure 5) having slots 8 formed in their opposite ends to providehinge pin portions ll, the latter being pivotally held by the U-shaped portion 18 of brackets 19 secured to the longitudinal frame members 64. The inner end of the'strap M is similarly slotted as at iii) to provide a hinge pin portion 8! which is received within the U-shaped portion 82 of a bracket 83 secured to the strap '55. Located between the hinge-"pin portions ii and 8| of the strap M are notches 84 (Figure 5) extending inwardly from the edges thereof and engaged by projections 85 formed in the'free end of the strap l5 and bent at right angles thereto. The projections 85 are bent slightly toward one another to provide a detent action for releasably holding the straps l4 and E5 in engagement.

Extending between and secured at their opposite ends to the longitudinal frame members 64, as by the fasteners 36, are flexible cross members 81 and 38, preferably of textile material such as heavy canvas or web belting (Figures 2 and 4). Secured to the'flexible cross members iiland 8% are longitudinally extending slats 39 which provide leg rest portions for the leg rest unit I l. The slats 39 are secured to the flexible cross members 86 by any suitable means, such as by fasteners S9. The modification shown in Figure 6 consists of a collapsible spreader 9! having a similar function to the collapsible spreader is shown in Figure 5, but consisting of straps 92 and 93 of channel cross-section having their ends cut away as at 94 to provide ears 95 engaging the upper and lower'edges of the longitudinal frame members Gd-"andpivotally secured thereto by the pivot fasteners 95, extending through the cross members 54. The inner end of .the strap 92. is cut away as at 91 to provide cars 88 between which extends a pivot fastener 89, the intermediate portion of which passes through the tubular portion 188 of a bracket i li secured to the web portion 02 of the strap 93. The side portions H83 of the strap 92 are bent slightly toward one another relatively to their web portion so as to frictionally engage the side portions 585 of the strap 93.

The operation of the invention has been described to some extent in connection with the construction thereof. in the drawings in its set-up arrangement, let it be assumed that the chair is thus set up and is folded into a compact bundle. To accomplish this, the leg rest unit ii is detached from the chair unit it by unhooking the hooks 68 from the apertures 82 in the cross bar 98. Pressure is applied to the straps i i and E or 92 and 98 in the region of their hinge pin portions 81 or 89, as by placing the knee thereat, as a fulcrum, at the same time pulling the ends toward one another, thereby folding the spreader it or 9! so that the straps M and 75 or 92 and 93 lie alongside one another. While this is occurring, the longitudinal frame members (it are pushed toward one another until they lie alongside each other. The leg members 58 and 69 are swung toward one another, pivoting around the fastener iii (Figure 3) until their end pins 67 come out of the sockets 55, whereupon they, too, slide alongside one another like the halves of a pair of scissors. Meanwhile, the flexible cross members 87 and 88 have collapsed, causing the slats 89 to lie alongside the longitudinal frame members B l. All parts of the leg rest unit I i may thus be collapsed and strapped together into a single elongated bundle.

The chair unit Iii is collapsed by first unhooking the flexible connectors 5! from the hooks 52, after which the cross bars 26 and 3B are pulled out of their wedge and socket connection with the uprights I2 and standards 442 respectively. The spreader i4 is then collapsed by pulling the parts It and H thereof upward around the pivot pin l8, thereby enabling the standards 42 and uprights 2 to be folded into an elongated bundle alongside one another. The arm rests 5A are removed merely by lifting their outer ends upward and sliding them oh? the ends of the uprights 12. The flexible chair back 88 may be rolled up around one of the cross bars 26 or 38 or merely folded up. Optionally, the various parts of the leg rest unit H and chair unit iii, excepting the chair back 38 and cross bars 26 and 38, may be laid out on the floor, ground or deck, alongside one another and rolled up in the chair back 38, with the cross bars 28 and 38 inside and outside the bundle respectively. The entire assembly may then be stowed away in a small space, such as in a vehicle.

To set up the chair, the foregoing operations are reversed in an obvious manner.

While I have shown and described my invention in detail, it is to be understood that the same is.

to be limited only by the appended claims, for many changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is: 1. An adjustable arm rest for a chair having Since the chair is shown inclined uprights, comprising an elongated platelike member having near one end thereof an elongated aperture for the passage of said inclined upright, said aperture having a length exceeding the length of a horizontal section through said upright at the point of attachment of said memher, the inner end of said aperture having a doubly inclined portion of E -shaped cross-section with two relatively-angled faces, one of which faces is adapted to engage the inclined edge oi either upright, one of said angled faces being directed upward to engage said inclined upright as a limiting stop upon adjusting said rest and the other angled face being directed downward toabut said inclined upright in the working position of said arm rest.

2. An adjustable arm rest for a chair having inclined uprights, comprising an elongated platelike member having near one end thereof an elongated aperture therein arranged obliquely thereto in a lengthwise direction for the passage of said inclined upright whereby to position said arm rests out of parallelism with one another, said aperture having a length exceeding the length of a horizontal section through said upright at the point of attachment of said member, the inner end of said aperture having a doubly beveled portion of V-shaped cross-section with two relatively-angled faces, one of which faces is inclined at substantially the same angle to the horizontal as the inclined edge of said upright, one of said angled faces being directed upward to engage said inclined upright as a limiting stop upon adjusting said arm rest and the other angled face being directed downward to abut said inclined upright in the working position of said arm rest.

3. An adjustable arm rest for a chair having inclined uprights, comprising an elongated platelike member having near one end thereof an elongated aperture therein arranged obliquely thereto in a lengthwise direction for the passage of said inclined upright and efiecting divergence of the opposite arm rests relatively to one another, said aperture being of substantially the same width as said upright but having a length exceeding the cross-sectional dimension of said upright.

CHAS. E. MEEKER.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 766,484 Armstrong Aug. 2, 1904 829,888 Pyle Aug. .28, 1906 866,316 Watson Sept. 17, 1907 1,297,537 Brungard Mar. 118, 1919 1,427,581 Croft Aug. 29, 1922 1,460,721 Lister July 3, 1923 1576,900 Collier Mar. 16, 1926 1,995,739 Friesner Mar. 26, 1935 2,080,761 Crawford May 18, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 11,086 Great Britain 1912 118,821 Australia Aug. 15, 1944

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