US146432A - Improvement in folding opera-chairs - Google Patents

Description

uNITEn STATES] PATENT OFFICE. I

THOMAS J. oLosE, OE PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNon` To ROBERT woon, or SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING oPERA-bHAIRs..

Specification forming part of Leiters Patent No. 146,432, dated January 13, 1874; application filed October 21, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

`Be it known that I, THOMAS .1. CLOSE, of the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved FoldingSeat, of which the following is a specication:

My invention relates to that class of chairs' in which the seats can be folded up against the backs, so as to increase the width of the passage between rows of chairs in theaters, lecture-rooms, &c.; and the objects of my invention are simplicity in the construction' of chairs of this class, and the obtaining of more room between the rows of chairs, objects which I attain by connecting the seat A to the'stand B, through the medium of two pins, a af, attached to or cast on each edge of the seat, and adapted to a curved slot, b, in each stand, as

` shown in the side view, Figure 1, of the accompanyin g drawing.

The permanent or xed portion of the chair is composed of two stands, B B, and the` inclined back I), secured to the said stands, and

. serving to connect them together, as best observed in the perspective view, Fig. 2, an arm,

. 6.being cast on and forming a part of each of the said stands. On each edge of the seat, near the rear end of the same, are the two pins al a', referred to above, and best observed in the perspective view, Fig. 3, of the seat, the two pins on one edge of the seat projecting into the curved slot b, in one stand, B, and the two pins on the opposite edge of the seat projecting into a like curved slot in the opposite stand. These pins are, in conjunction with the said curved slots, the sole means of "connecting the seat to the stand, and of maintaining the seat, either in the Vdepressed or elevated position, to which it may be adjusted.

When the seat, for instance, is depressed, as shown in Fig. 1, the pins a bear against the front ends ofthe slots, which prevent any outward movement of the seat, while the pins a a', bearing against the upper edges of the slots, prevent its downward movement.

On elevating the seat, the pins will slide along the slots until the rear ends of thelat ter are nearly reached by the pins a af', when the seat will be folded against the back in the position shown in Fig. 4, where-it will be retained by the pins a a., the latter having passed the highest points of the slots, so that the seat will be self-sustaining 'in its elevated position, from which, however, it can be d c-p pressed, by a slight eifort.

It should be understood that the slots must l be depressed at the rear, and Inust be other wise formed and arranged in the manner I I shown, in order that the above results maybe attained. v

Simultaneously with the elevation of the front of the seat, the rear, following the course of the slots, will recede, and consequently the seat, when elevated, will be closer to the back than the pivoted seats of ordinary chairs of this class, and hence the space between rows of the chairs is increased, this space being y of especial importance in crowded theaters, as it permits the occupant of a chair, after ralsmg the seat, to stand far enough back topermit the free passage to and fro of those I who wlsh to leave or gain access to other seats.

In order to prevent disturbing noises, the pins a a are so arranged that the seat will be in contact with the back when the said pins I 'elevate the seat by a backward pressure of the legs against the front edge.

I do not claim, broadly, a seat having on its opposite edges two pins, adapted to `slots in the frame, irrespective of the shape of the slots; but A I I claim- 1. The combination of the seat A, having two pins, a a', at its opposite edges, with stands or frames having slots curved in the manger described, so that the seat can recede7 its s et forth.

2. The seat A and its pins, arranged in respect to the beek B and to the slots in the frame, in the manner described, so that the upward movement of the` seat shall be arrested by the beek, and not by the slot.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speoi'eaton in the presence ot' two subscribing witnesses.

THOS. J. CLOSE.

Vtnesses WM. A. STEEL7 HARRY SMITH.

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