US1275649A - Folding chair. - Google Patents

Description

F. BLA'NDO.

FOLDING CHAIR. APPLICATION FlLED JULY 12, I916.

Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

I 3 SHEETS-SHEET l- BLANDO. FOLDING CHAIR. APPLICATION FILED JULIIIZ- I916.

Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- F. BLANDO.

FOLDING CHAIR.

APPLICATION FlLED JULY 12. 1916.

Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ild

FRANK BLALNDO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING CHAIR.

aerate.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

Application filed July 12, 1916. Serial No. 108,8'i'f1l.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that l, FRANK BnANoo, a subject of the King of Italy, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Chairs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to folding chairs, and has for its object to provide an improved structure which may be folded compactly and carried like a satchel or suitcase, and which may be unfolded to form an ordinary arm-chair, or a steamer chair with adjustable back and foot rests, or a cot bed for use on camping trips or the like. Subsidiary objects will appear as the description proceeds.

The invention will be first hereinafter de' scribed in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts throughout. the several views, and then more particularly defined in the'claims at the end of the description.

Tn the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device folded into approximately the compass of an ordinary suitcase.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the device partly opened or unfolded.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the structure adjusted as an ordinary arm-chair.

Fig. -l is a side elevation of the device ar ranged as a steamer or lounging chair.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the structure arranged as a cot bed.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed view of one corner of the device folded as in Fig. 1, showing one of the pivoted keepers f0rre taining the device in folded position released from its latch.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged detailed perspective view of the hinged extension of the back frame, showing it fastened in line with the main back frame.

Fig. 8 is a detailed perspective view of a means for locking the legs in unfolded position.

Fig. 9 is a broken front elevation of the upper portion of the back frame with part of its covering displaced to show the. means for releasing the bolts which look said back frame at different angles with respect to the seat frame.

Fig. 10 is a broken plan view of the meeting portions of the seat and back frames, showing the means for locking thefoot supporting frame in folded position within said seat frame.

Fig. 11 is a detailed perspective view of one of the locks for holding the back frame at different angles with respect to the seat frame.

Fig. 12 is a detailed view of one of the spring latches which are designed to engage the hinged keepers for locking the extension of the back frame in folded position as in Fig. 1.

Fig. 13 is a detailed view of one of the hasps on the extension frame for locking the same in line with the back frame of the device, said hasp being shown in its folded position upon said extension frame, and

Fig. 14 is a detailed sectional view through the free end portions of the back frame and inclosing frame, showing the perforated lugs on the back frame engaged by the hasps on the extension frame and also by the latches on the inclosing frame.

The structure.comprises essentially a seat frame 1, a back frame 2 hinged at 3 to the rear edge of the seat frame, legs 4 foldably carried by the seat frame, a foot supporting frame 5 hinged to the front edge of the seat frame, and an inclosing frame 6 also hinged to the rear edge of the seat frame and designed to. cover the legs when the structure is folded up into compact form as shown in Fig. 1.

The legs a are j oined together in front and rear pairs, both pairs hinged at 7 to the under face of the seat frame, the two front legs swinging together and the two rear legs swinging together. The front legs are spaced farther apart than the rear legs in order to permit the latter to fold between the former as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A. pair of bracing links 8 and 9 connects each of the rear legs to the front leg on the same side, the link 8 being pivoted to the upper end of the rear leg, the link 9 pivoted to the lower end portion of the front leg and said links 8 and 9 being pivoted together at their other extremities; as at 10. The link 8 is longer than the link 9 to permit the former to fold first against the bottom of the seat frame, and the link 9 to afterward swing about on the pivot 10 so as to overlap the adjacent end portion of the link 8. To further brace the legs in unfolded position a pair of links 11 and 12 are arranged on each side, the link 11 being pivoted to the lower end portion of the rear leg, the link 12 being pivoted to the links 8 and 9 at 10, and said links 11 and 12 being pivoted together at their other ends as at 13. This pivoted connection 13 is preferably formed by a rod 14 extending across from one pair of links 11 and 12 at one side of the chair to the corresponding pair of links on the other side of the chair, so that both sets of links 11 and 12 may be folded or unfolded together. Shoulders 15 on the lower end portions of the rear legs serve as stops for limiting the downward swing of the links 11 at a point where the pivotal connection 13 between said links 11 and the links 12 is below the line determined by the pivot point 10 and the point of connection of the link 11 to the rear leg. The links 11 and 12 will thus be supported in a slight downwardly broken position when the legs are unfolded as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, in which position they will be normally held by gravity until it is desired to fold up the structure. To hold the links 8 and 9 in extended position, a swinging frame 16 is pivoted to the upper ends of the front legs and carries-a cross piece 17 having notches 18 adapted to snap into supplemental notches 19 in the links 8. When the notches 18 and 19 are engaged, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the bracing links 8 and 9 will be positively retained in extended position and the legs held rigidly opened or unfolded.

The foot supporting frame 5 folds fiat on top of the seat frame, and the pillow 20 may be placed between the coverings of said frames to form a cushion in the seat when the chair is used as shown in Fig. 3. When the foot supporting frame is swung out on its hinges 21, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and'5, the

pillow 20 is exposed and may be used either as a cushion or a head rest. The free end of the frame 5 is equipped with folding supports 22 which may be retained in folded position by spring clips 23. It will be ob served that the frame 5 folds within the plane of the side pieces of the seat frame which pieces are provided with sockets 24, Fig. 10, to receive the ends of spring-pressed sliding bolts 25 mounted on the free edge of the frame 5 and having finger pieces 26 located near the middle of said edge. It is obvious from the showing in Fig. 10 that by pressing the finger pieces together the bolts or rods 25 will be withdrawn from the notches 2-1 in the side pieces of the frame 1, permitting the frame 5 to be swung outward from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position illustrated in Figs. at and 5. When the frame is in folded position, Figs. 3 and 10, the springs 27 will hold the rods or bolts 25 in engagement with the sockets 24 and lock the foot supporting frame in folded position.

As best shown in Fig. 11, the back frame 2 carries a pivoted latch 28 at each side adapted to engage any one of a series of notches or perforations 29 in a plate 30 secured t0 the rear end of each of the side pieces of the seat frame 1. The latch 28 is normally held in ngagement with one of the notches 29 by a spring 31 interposed between an angularly bent arm 32 of the lever and the side bar of the frame 2. The free end of the arm 32 has a link 33 pivoted thereto. The other end of said link is connected by wires 34 which extend up along the inner face of said side bar of the frame 2. to a cross bar 35 mounted on headed pins 36 depending from the cross piece of the extension frame 38 at the end of the back frame 2. The cross bar 35 is normally retained in its lowest position where it rests upon the heads of the pins 36 by springs 37 coiled around said pins between said bar and the cross piece. The outer covering of the extension frame 38 is provided with a plaited portion 39, Fig. 9, opposite the middle of the bar 35 to provide sufficient fullness at that point in the covering to permit the fingers of the operator to be brought into engagement with the under face of the bar for raising it against the action of the springs 37 in order to retract the latches 28 from the notches 29, thus permitting the back frame 2 to be adjusted at different angles with respect to the seat frame 1. In order to effect the proper operation of the latch 28, the link 33 bears at an intermediate point against a pin 10 rigidly secured to the frame 2. It will be readily understood that when the wires 34, Fig. 11, are pulled upward, as when the bar 35 is raised, the upper end of the link will move to the left, whereupon the arm 32 of the latch 28 to which the lower end of said link is attached will be moved to the right owing to the bearing of the middle portion of said link against the pin -10. This movement of the arm 32 to the right will, of course, effect a movement of the lower end of the latch in the opposite direction, resulting in its withdrawal from the notch 29 with which it had been engaged. While three of the notches 29 are shown, providing for a corresponding number of adjustments of the back frame, it will be understood that the number of notches and adjustments may be varied to suit requirements.

Arms 41 are hinged at 42 to the back frame 2, and are connected to the seat frame 1 by straps 43 hinged at 44 to the under faces of the arms, and at 45 to the upper face of the seat frame, said straps and arms forming parallelograms with the seat and back frame so that the arms will be automatically folded or unfolded when the back frame is swung upon its hinges 3. The front end portions of the side pieces of the frame 1 are tat/acne position so that blocks 49 carried by the hinged end of said frame and other blocks 50 carried by the free end thereof may fill out the spaces at opposite ends of the folded legs 4, see Fig. 1, and to also permit said frame 6'to be swung upward so as to lie against. the rear face of the back frame 2, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The frame 6 may be secured in the latter position by pivoted latches 51, Figs. 2 and 12, mounted on the free end of said frame and projecting into sockets or depressions 52 therein. Each of the latches 51 is pressed by a spring 53 for normally holding it in locked position in the socket 52. Perforated lugs 54 projecting from the rear of the back member are adapted to enter the sockets 52 and have their perforations engaged by the latches 51 for locking the frame 6 to the back frame 2, as illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The latches 51 may be retracted by means of a wire 54 connected thereto and. extending along the free edge of the frame 6. Access to the wire 54 is to be had through a plaited portion 39 of the covering of the frame 6, see Fig. 2.

The same latches 51 are used for securing the extension frame 38 to the free edge of the inelosing frame 6 when the device is folded, as shown in Fig. 1. In this instance, pivoted keepers 55, Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 7 have their perforated portions 56 inserted in the sockets 52 so that the latches may engage said perforated portions 56.

The extension frame 38 is rule-jointed to the free end of the back frame 2 by means of the hinges 57 arranged on the inner faces of said frames. tension frame to be folded at right angles to the back frame when the device is folded up, or to be extended inline with said back frame when the device is unfolded, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The extension frame may be locked in extended position by hasps 58, Figs. 7 and 13, which are pivoted to the outer face of said extension frame and provided with slots to fit over the perforated lugs 54". These hasps, when engaged with the lugs 54', will not interfere with said lugs entering the sockets 52 in the frame 6, so that the extension frame may be locked in extended position and the inclosing frame 6 secured to the outer face of the back frame 2 at the same time. has an angular extension 59 on its pivoted end adapted to engage a spring leaf 60 for holding the hasp in folded position when the These hinges permit the ex-- Each of the hasps 58 device is collapsed or knocked down. The free end of each hasp is bifurcated and the portions at opposite sides of the bifurcation are bent in opposite directions, as indicated at 600, Fig. 7. This construction presents an upwardly extending finger piece, namely one of the parts 600, in either portion of the hasp, that is, when it is folded, Fig, 13, and also ghen it is engaged with the lug 54, Fig.

When the device is folded up as shown in Fig. 1, the inclosing frame 6 covers the under side of the seat frame and conceals the folded legs, While the back frame 2 covers the top of the seat frame. The extension frame 38 connects the back frame 2 to the inclosing frame 6 and covers the front edge of the seat frame. The frames 2, 6, and 38 are preferably covered on the outside by suitable waterproof material 61 which also extends along the double hinges 48 so as to cover the rear edge of the seat frame. This waterproof covering may be made in one piece extending from the free end of the frame 6 along said frame, across the rear edge of the seat frame, along the back frame and across the extension frame, so that when the device is folded it will have the appear ance of a suitcase or traveling bag.

it handle 62 is secured to one side piece of the seat frame for carrying the device when folded. As an additional means of securing the structure in folded position, a strap 63 may be fastened around it, as shown in Fig. 1, said strap being preferably passed below the handle 62. A pocket 64 may be formed in the lining of the inclosing frame 6 for carrying various articles of use to travelers.

It will be understood, of course, that the back frame, seat frame and foot supporting frame are covered on the inside with canvas or other suitable material 65. The pillow 20 is placed between these coverings of the seat frame and foot supporting frame to form a cushion seat when the chair is used as shown in Fig. 3.

When the back frame is let down to the position shown in Fig. 5, its outer end is supported by strips 66 suitably hinged to the frame 6 and connected at their outer ends by a cross piece 67. When the back frame is raised, the strips 66 are folded flat against the inside face of the frame 6 and are secured in folded position by a pivoted latch 68, Fig. 3. The free end of the frame 6 may also be provided with a handle bar 69 I for convenience in folding or unfolding the device.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A folding chair comprising a seat frame, legsattached to thebottom of said frame and adapted to fold upon the same, an inclosing frame to cover the legs and bottom.

of the seat frame, and an extension frame 'on the back frame for connecting the latter to the inclosing frame at the front edge of the seat frame.

2. In a folding chair the combination with a seat frame, of a back frame hinged thereto, a latch for holding the back frame at a predetermined position with respect to the seat frame, resilient means for normally holding the latch in operative position, said latch having an angularly bent arm, a link pivoted to said arm, a fixed pin against which the middle portion of said link bears, and means attached to the free end of the link for swinging the same upon said pin as a fulcrum for retracting the latch.

3. In a folding chair the combination with a seatframe, of a back frame hinged thereto, a latch for holding the back frame at a predetermined position with respect to the seat frame, resilient means for normally holding the latch in operative position, said latch having an angularly bent arm, a link pivoted to said arm, a fixed pin against which the middle portion of said link bears, and wires attached to the free end of the link-and extending up near to the top of the back frame for swinging said link upon the pin as a fulcrum for retracting the latch.

4. In a folding chair the combination with a seat frame, of a back frame hinged thereto, latches at the sides of the back frame for securing said frame in a predetermined position with respect to the seat frame, depending headed bolts near the top of the back frame, a cross bar mounted on said bolts, springs coiled about said bolts for normally holding the cross bar down against the heads of the bolts, and wires connecting the latches with said cross bar whereby said latches will be retracted Whenthe cross bar is raised.

5. In a folding chair the combination with a seat frame, of a back frame hinged thereto, a latch for holding the back frame in a predetermined position with respect to the seat frame, a cross bar carried by the upper end portion of the back frame, means of connection between said cross bar and the latch whereby the latter will be retracted when the cross bar is raised, and an outer covering for the back frame inclosing the latch and its operating means, said covering having a plaited portion opposite the cross bar to permit the same to be actuated through the cover.

6. In a folding chair the combination with a seat frame, of a back frame hinged thereto, a latch for holding the back frame at a predetermined position with respect to the seat frame, an extension frame hinged to the upper end of the back frame'and adapted to be turned at right angles thereto, n'ieans carried by said extension frame for operating the latch, and flexible connections between said latch and'opcrating means.

7. In a folding chair the combination with a back frame of an extension frame hinged to its upper end and adapted to be turned at right angles thereto, lugs on one frame, hasps pivoted to the other frame and adapted to engage said lugs for holding the extension frame in line with the back frame, angular extensions on the pivoted end portions of said hasps, and springs to engage said project-ions for retaining the hasps in folded position when not engaged-with the lugs.

8. In a folding chair the combination with a back frame, of an extension frame hinged to its upper end and adapted to be turned at right angles thereto, lugs on one frame, hasps pivoted 0n the other frame and adapted to engage said lugs for holding the extension frame in line with the back frame,

and oppositely bent finger pieces on the ends of said hasps for the purpose specified.

In a folding chair the combination with a back frame of an extension frame hinged to its upper end and adapted to be turned at right angles thereto, lugs on one frame, and hasps pivoted on the other frame and adapted to engage said lugs for holding the extension frame in line with the back frame. the outer ends of said hasps being bifurcated and the portions at opposite side of said bifurcations bent in opposite directions for the purpose specified.

10. In a folding chair the combination with a seat frame, of a back frame hinged to the rear edge thereof, folding legs carried by the seat frame, an inclosing frame also pivoted to the rear edge of the seat frame and adapted to cover the legs when folded, and means for fastening the free end of the inclosing frame to the back frame when the chair is unfolded.

11. In a folding chair the combination with a seat frame of a back frame hinged to the rear edge thereof, folding legs carried by the said frame, an inclosing frame also hinged to the rear edge of the seat frame and adapted to cover the legs when folded, perforated lugs on the back frame, there being sockets in the inclosing frame to receive said lugs, and latches in said sockets adapted to interlock with the perforations in the lugs for securing the inclosing frame to the back frame. when the chair is unfolded.

12. In a folding chair the combination with a seat frame of a back frame hinged to the rear edge thereof, folding legs carried by the seat frame. an inclosing frame also pivoted to the rear edge of the seat frame and adapted to cover the legs when folded, an extension frame hinged to the free end of the back frame, means for locking the extension frame to the inclosing frame when the chair is folded, and means for securing the inclosing frame to the back frame when the chair is unfolded.

13. In a folding chair the combination for interlocking with said keepers for secur--.

ing the chair in folded position.

14:. In a folding chair the combination with a seat frame of a, back frame hinged to the rear edge thereof, folding legs carried 10 the seat frame, an inclosing frame also hinged to the rear edge of the seat frame and adapted to cover the legs when folded, an extension frame hinged to the free end of the back frame, perforated keepers on the extension frame, there being sockets onv the inclosing frame to receive said keepers when the chair is folded, latches on the sockets for interlocking with said keepers for securing the chair in folded position, an operating wire attached to said latches'and extending across the inclosing frame, and a covering for said inclosing frame having a plaited ortion opposite said wire to permit access t ereto for operating the latches.

15. In a folding chair the combination with a seat frame, of a back frame hinged to the rear edge thereof, folding legs carried by the seat frame, an inclosing frame also hinged to the rear edge of the seat frame and adapted to cover the legs when folded,

an extension frame hinged to the free end of the back frame, erforated keepers on the extension frame, there being sockets in the inclosing frame to receive said keepers when the chair is folded, perforated lugs on the back frame adapted to enter said sockets when the chair is unfolded, and latches in said sockets for interlocking with said keepers for securing the chair in folded position, and with said lugs for supporting the inolosing frame from the back frame when the chair is unfolded.

16. In a folding chair the combination of a seat frame, of,a back frame hinged to the rear edge thereof, folding legs carried by the seat frame, an inclosing frame also hinged to the rear edge of the seat frame and adapted to cover the legs when folded, an extension frame hinged to the free end of the back frame and adaptedto be turned at right angles thereto, pivoted lugs on the back frame, hasps pivoted on the extension frame and adapted to engage said lugs for holding the extension frame in line with the back frame, there being sockets in the inclosing frame to receive the lugs, and latches in said sockets adapted to interlock with the perforations in said lugs after the hasps are engaged therewith for supporting the inclosing frame from the back frame when the chair is unfolded.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

Images