US1534270A - Barber's chair - Google Patents

Description

April 2.1, 1925.

w. F. KOKEN AaBsR's cuna Filed March 5. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 4Avril 21,1925. 1,534,210

W. F. KOKEN BARBERS CHAIR Filed. March 3. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 HTTQZNEY.,

April 21, 1925.

W. F. KOKEN BARBER f s" CHAIR Filegllarch s. 1923 4 Sheets-Sli` oet a m l l l I l u l IN WSA/Tg2 v@v/ller E of," l2- 'pril 2 1, 15325. 1,534,270v w. F. KOKEN BARBERS CHAIR Filed March s, 1923 -4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

IN @Ek/TOE War/fer Ko n.

Fatented Apr. Z1, 1925.

UNITED STATES 'WALTER F. rKOKEN, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

BARBERS CHAIR.

Application filed. March 3, 1923. Serial No. 622,518.

To all 207mm tm-'ay concern:

Be it known that l, WALTER F. KOKEN, a citizenof the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri,'liave invented a certain new and useful improvement in Barbers Chairs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appe'rt'ain's'to inane and use the sanne..

This "invention relates to chairs of `the kind' that are used by barbers, dentists andother specialists for supporting a' person on whom the Specialist isy operating, and Vparticularly to chairs of the type that comprise a 'seat that ran be adjusted vertically and a back that can be swung upwardly and downwardly relatively to the seat so as to arrange the baclteitherin an inclined position, commonly referred to as the reclincd position ot the back, or in an upright position.V

The main object ot my present invention is to provide a chair of the general type relierred to which is so constructed that the adjustment of the various parts of the chair can be effected by one hand of the operator in charge of the chair, thereby overcoming the necessity of requiring the operator to manually release a retaining device with one hand and use the other hand to move the part of the chair that is to be adjusted.

Another object is to provide a chair of the general type referred to that is equipped with an electrically-operated means of novel construction `ior raising the seat of Jrhe chair and for moving the back relatively to the seat to change the adjustment oi' the back.

And still another object is to provide a barbe-rs chair or the like that is equipped with an hydro-electric mechanism for adjusting the seat and adjusting the back, and a governing means tor said mechanism constructed in such a manner that only one hand ot the operator is required to raise or lower the seat or to arrange the back in an upright position or in an inclined position. @ther objc-rits and desirable features of my invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

To this end l have devised a chair that comprises a .ertically-movable seat that is adapted to be raised and lowered, and adjustable bach that is adapted to be arranged in an upright position or in an inclined position, mechanism for effecting the vertical movement of the seat and for moving the back relatively to the seat to change the of the chair, tliu'sleaving the otherfhando'f the operator treey to manipulate "an instrument that is being used in the workin which the operator is engaged. `Tlie mechanism that l prefer to use `tor moving the seat vertically and for moving theback relatively tothe 'seat consists of two' separate and dipstinct cylinders equippedwith pistons, and a motor-drivenpump Vfor circulating anoncompressible liquid that acts on said pistons, and the governing means that I have rherein illustrated for controlling theoperationjo'f said mechanism consists of a distributing vaivet'or governing: the circulation of 'the liquid that acts on the pistonsl and a switch for governing the motor circuit. I vwish it to be understood, however, that my broad ideaa contemplates the use of any suitable mechanism i'or moving the seat vertically and for moving the back relatively to the seat and any suitable governing means vfor said mechanism, andv further, that when said mechanism comprises pistons any suitable operating medium such as a circulating liquid or a iiuid under pressure can be used to operate said pistons.

i am aware of the fact that barbers chairs and the like have heretofore been devised that were equipped with an electrically-operated means for effecting the vertical movement of the seat ot the chair,-but such prior chairs did not'comprise a means for moving the bacl relatively to the seat to change the adjustment of the back. lWhile such chairs are an improvement on a chair of thekind in which the operator has to manually operate a device to raise the seat ot the chair, they do not ovei-ome the necessity of the operator laying down his instrument and manually moving the back each time the position of the back is changed. rlhe time lost by the operator in laying down the` instrument being used on the occupant of the chair and manually raising or lowering the back each time the position of the back is changed reduces the amount of work that a barber can do in a given time, and moreover, adds considerable to the fatigue of the barber. My invention overcomes this objectionable characteristic oit the conventional. barbers chair and of electrically-operated barllo bers chairs that have heretofore been devised, due to the i'act that it contemplates equipping a barbers chair or the like with a means controlled by one hand of the barber for ei'liecting the vertical adjustment ot the seat and for moving the back relatively to the seat to change the adjustment of the back. i

Figure l of the drawings is a vertical sectional view of a portion of my improved chair, showing the seat frame, the stem which carries said frame and the verticallydisposed socket or cylinder in which said stem is reciprocatingly mounted.

Figure 2 is a detail view, taken on the line`2-2 of Figure l, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view ot the distributing valve.

Figure a is a detail sectional view, taken on the line i-sl ont Figure 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figures 5 to 9, inclusive, are diagrammatic views, illustrating the various positions of the shaft that actuates the crank oi the stem locking means, the controlling element orn the distributing valve and the shiltable circuit closing device of the switch in themotor circuit.

Figure 92L is a perspective view oi' a portion ot the casing of the distributing valve.

Figure 9b is a perspective View oi' the controlling element of the distributing valve.

Figure lO is a diagrammatic view, showing how the motor and the switch in the motor circuit are electrically connected with the electric supply circuit.

Figures 1l and l2 are diagrammatic views, illustrating how the distributing valve controls the circulation of the operating medium in effecting the adjustment of the back ot' the chair.

Figures 13 and l-l are diagrammatic views, illustrating how the distributing valve controls the circulation ont the operating medium in raising and lowering the seat of the chair, the valve casing being shown in top plan and the socket and stem in vertical section; and

Figures l5 and 16 are side elevational views oi? the chair, showing the back arranged in an upright position and in an inclined position.

In the accompanying drawings l have illustrated my invention embodied in a barbers chair @t the type that comprises a vertically-adjustable seat A, an adjustable back B that can be arranged in an upright position` as shown in Figure l5, or an inclined position` as shown in Figure l, an apron C and arms D connected with the back i3 in such a manner that they will mov@ in unison with the. back, a supporting base or standard lll provided with a vertically-disposed socket or cylinder F and a piston or igaeiraro stem G in said socket connected at its upper end to the seat trame H of the chair. rllhe seat i of the chair is raised by pumping a non-compressible liquid such as oil into the lower end or the socket F in the standard, so as to force the stemGupwardly, and said seat :is lowered by permitting the liquid to escape from the socket Diny suitable kind of pump can be used for circulating the liquid that actuates the stem (i ot the chair, but l prefer to use a rotary pump l arranged in the seat iframe of the chair and operate said pump by an electric motor d which is also arranged in the seat trame oit' the chair. The means herein illustrated 'ier moving the back of the chair relatively to the seat consists oiI a horizontally-disposed cylinder li arranged in the seat trame and provided with a piston that is operatively connected by a piston rod l and a system ot links 2, 3 and -lto the apron C oit the chair in such a way that the out-ward movement ol' said piston causes the back, arms and apron ot the chair to move into the position shown in Figure 16 and the inward movenaent ot said piston causes said back, arms and apron to move into the position shown in Figure lli. ldlhen it is desired to recline the back ci the chair the operator actuates a device which sets the pump i in operation and also causes the operating medium to be supplied 'tothe cylinder l in such a way that the piston oi' said cylinder will move oiitwardly, and when it is desired to restore the back to its normal upright position, the operator actuates said device so as to cause the operating medium to move the piston in the cylinder l Ain the opposite direction. rlie vertical movement ot the seat oit the chair can als be effected by operating the device just referred to so as to cause the operatin;` inedium to be admitted to or e-liansted 'troni the cylinder F in the standard of the chair in which the stein (l recijirocates.

llhe means that l have herein illustrated for controlling` the circ lation oi tln operating medium consists of a distriluiting valve provided with a controlling element that is adapted to be i'noved into one position to cause the seat to move upwardly, into another position to cause the .smit lo move downwardly, into another pos ion to ce., che back to swing downwardly into an clined or reciined position, into another pesition to c use the baci: to swing upwarillg' into an upriglit position and into another position to hold the seat at a certain level and prevent the back from swinging in either direction relatively to the seat. The motor J which actuates the pump l controlled by a switch which is preierablji' coinbined with said distributing' valve in such a way that when the controlling element or illllfi

said `lvalve is moved to c-ause 'the seat to movel upward lyv or to cause'` the back: to swing upwardly korfdownwardly relatively to the'sealt, the motor will becomeloperative,I and' when the controllingelement ot said valve is moved tobring the seat torest or to` bring the back to rest, the motor will stop automatically, thereby enabling the adjustment ofthe various parts of the chair to be-,governedby afmeans that can le actuatedby one hand ofthe operator; 1n chairs of the vtypeA to^- which my invention relates tliefstemfG' is :usually mounted in the socket F insuchal way thatk ityca-n turn in said socket ,so as tu permitA the seat frame ci the chair Ltoberevolved, `and a `clamp-ingdevice is provided for holding said stem against rotary movement. The chairherein illustrated is provideduwith a stemhol'ding device Orclainping `device ot' the character referred to, and, said device is combined with-the ycontrolling means of the chair, previously .(ilesci'ibed, in such a way that the stem locking device will be rendered inoperative automatically whenever the 'controlling y*element oithe distributing; valve is moved to effect the adjustment `of the seat oriback ofV the-'chair and will be rendered -operative vautomatically/ whenever said controlling element is moved to cut oii' the circulationof the operating medium.

' Distributing calce.

`Any suitable kind of, distributing valve canbe used for controlling the circulation of the operating' medium, but 1I prefer to use a` distributing valve of the kind herein illustrated which consists of a casing, designated as an entirety by thei reference character L and equipped with circulating pas sageways, and an oscillatingY or rotatable controlling element Mprovided with ports and ducts that are adapted to be brought into registration with the passageways in said casing so as to permit the operating medium to pass to and from the cylinder F that forms part of the means for movingr the seat vertically and to and from the cylinder K that forms part of the means ,for moving the Vback relatively to the seat. Y As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the casing of the distributing valve comprises aportion 10 equipped with passageways 5 and 5-a that lead to the opposite ends of the cylinder K, as shownin broken lines in Figure 951, a web 6, a closed distributing chamber .7 arranged at one side of the web 6 and a sump or hollow space 8 on the other side of the web 6 that discharges'into a hollow space in the stem G, said hollowv stem G serving as .a reservoir for the liquid that is used to actuate the parts which'effect the movement of the seat and the back of the chair. The controlling element M of the ,distributing valveis disk--shaped and is arranged in the distributing ,chamber 7 oi the valve `casing in such a wayv that one' side of saincbears snugly aga-instthe web (i of the valve casing, said controlling element being rigidly `Connected to a governing shaft oroperi'ting shaftI N and beingxheld in snug engagement with the web 6 of the valve casing by meansof a springer other suitable device 9. 'ihecontrolling element M ,is provided with two ports 11 and lthat extend transversely through thel said element, and two vductsyor grooves 13 and ll'tliat are formed on ,the innerfface of 'said controlling element which bearsgagainst the web 6 oi the valve casing,

theduct.` 13 consisting otasliort straight groovelandJtheduct .14. consisting oi a lsubstantiallyanglefshaped groove. The web G of thevalve casing Lthat separates the distributingchamber 7 {fronithe sump 8 is proided=withytwomorts li-and 15a that-communicatefwithht e .passagcways 5 and in the? valve casing that leadtothe opposite ends ofthecylinder K, two ports 16 and l? that discharge-into thesump 8 of the valve casingfanda port 18 that-leads to a pipe or conduit 19 in the stem G whose lower end terminates in the end face of said `stem or projects downwardly below the same vso as to communicate with the cylinder or socket F in-.the standard of the chair. Thepuinp I isarranged at one sideoiu the casing o1c the distributing valve and is provided with an inlet pipe or'co-nduitQO that extends downwarolly into the stem G and terminates at la point above the lower end of said stem, as shownfin Figure -1, thereby establishing direct communication,between the housing of thepump and the hollow stem of the chair that forms a reservoir for the liquid operating medium. The discharge from thepuinp l communicates with va `passageway in the casing of theY distributing valve that leads into the distributing chamber 7 ot said valve casing, as indicated by the arrows in Figuresll and 12, y

When it fis desired to raisethe seat A of the chair the shaft N is turnedvint'o the pcsition shown in Figure 5 so as to setl the pump I in operation and cause the controlling element M of the distributing valve to be arranged iny such a position that theport 12 therein ywill register with theport 18 in the web of the valve casing. The pump I will then cause theiliquid in the hollow stem G to circulate upwardly through theinlet pipe 20 'ot the pump into `the distributing chamber 7 of the valve casing and then pass from said distributing` chamber through the ports 12 and 1 8 into the pipe 19 down through which it circulates into the socket F, as indicated by the arrows inFigure 14;, thuscausing vthe stem and seat frame to moveupwardly. 'It it is desired to stop the seat at apoint intermediate-thevhigh and ylow level .of the seat, theshaft N 4is-turned llO so to stop the pump and cause the controlling element M of the distributing valve to move into a position to close the port 1S. (hereby cutting oli' communication between the distributing chamber oi' the valve casing and the pipe 19 and trapping the liquid in the socket or cylinder F. 1n order to prevent the mechanism of the chair trom being damaged or injured in the event the operator tails to stop the pump and turn the controlling element M of the distributing valve into such a position as to trap the liquid in the socket F, after the seat trarne has reached its extreme upper position, said socket F is provided with a by-pass 21, as shown in Figure 1&1, that establishes communication between the socket or cylinder F and the interior ot' the hollow stem G when the stem reaches the end of its upward stroke. Consequently, it the pump is allowed to continue in operation after the seat has reached its extreme upper position, the liquid will continue to circulate from the s'oclet F up through the by-pass 21, upwardly through the pipe 2O into the distributing chamber T and from said distributing chamber back through the pipe 19 to the socket F, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 14.

To lower the seat the operator turns the shalt N into the position shown in Figure 8, so as to cause the angle-shaped duct 14 in the controlling element M of the distributing` valve to register with the ports 17 and 18 in the web G o'l the valve casino', thereby establishing communication between the pipe 19 and the sump 8 of the valve casing and causing the liquid in the socket F to be forced upwardly through the pipe 19 and be discharged into the hollow stem Gr, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 13, by the downward pressure which the stem G exerts on the liquid in the socket F, the stem continuing to move downwardly by gravity until it reaches the end of its downward stroke or until the controlling element M ot the distributing` valve is moved to cut ott communication between the ports 17 and 1S in the web ot the valve casing.

lt it is desired to move the back B of the chair from its upright position shown in Figure 15 into its inclined position shown in Figure 1G, the shaft N is turned into the position shown in Figure 6, so as to start the pump and cause the controlling element M of the valve to be arranged in such a position that the port 11 therein will register with the port 15 in the web 6 of the valve casing and the angle-shaped duct 1d in said controlling element will establish communication between the ports 15il and 16 in said web. The pump then causes the liquid in the hollow stem G to circulate upwardly into the distributing chamber 7, and thence through the ports 11 and 15 into the lett hand end ot the cylinder C, looking at Figure 11, thus causing the piston in said cylinder to more outwardly and the liquid iu trout ot said piston to be discharged through the port 5, duct lll and port 16 into the sump 8 ot the valve casing, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 11, the liquid.v ai'ter entering the sump or' the valve casing, escaping Afrom same down into the hollow stein (l. YWhen the controlling element M et the distributing valve is turned into a position to close the port 15 and cut olf communication between the ports 15 and 16 in the web G of the valve casing, the pump will stop and the back of the chair will come to rest and be retained in its adjusted position, due to the fact that the liquid is trapped in the cylinder K on opposite sides el the piston in said cylinder. H the opertor tails to stop the pump and change the position ol the controlling element ot the Uistributing valve aiter the back has reached its fully inclined position, the liquid will continue to circulate from the distributing criamber ot the valve casing through the left hand end portion of the cylinder 1i and then escape from said cylinder back into the sump S through a lateral discharge outlet 22 in the cylinder which is uncovered when the piston is at the end oit its stroke in this direction, thereby preventing damage or injury to the mechanism in the event the operator fails to stop the pump after the back has reached its fully inclined position.

To raise the back i'rom its reclined position into its upright position the sha'tt N is turned into the position shown in Figure 7, so as to start the pump and arrange the controlling clement M of the valve in such a position that the port 11 therein registers with the port 15LL in the web t3 ot the valve easing` and the straight duct 12E in said controlling element establishes communication between the ports 16 and 15 in said web, the pump causing the liquid to circulate trom the distributing chamber '2' into the right hand end ot' the cylinder K and the liquid in the opposite end portion ot said cylinder to escape from same through the port 15, duct 13 and port 1G back into the sump S, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 12. .lt the operator :tails to stop the motor after the back has reached its vertical position, the liquid that is admitted to the right hand end portion ot the cylinder l will escape through the lateral discharge outlet 22 leading from said cyliinder, and thus prevent damage or injury to the mechanism, said outlet port 22 being so arranged with relation to the piston that it is open when the piston is at the end of its stroke in either direction, but is covered by the piston at all other times. From the 'foregoing it will be understood that in a chair of the construction above described 'loo it is not necessary to Vreverse the motor J to change the direction ot movement of th-e seatA or to change the direction of movement of the back. On the contrary, the armature shaft ot the motor always revolves in the same direction and the change in the direction'oi movement ot the seat and of the back is eiiected by changing the direction of circulation ot the operating medium.

Switch.

As previously stated, the switch that governs the motor circuit is combined with the distributing valve in such a way that the motor will be started and stopped automatically when the controlling element M of the distributing valve is moved into cer tain positions. The switch that l prefer to use for controlling the motor circuit comprises two stationary contacts 23, arranged in the motor circuit, and a shittable circuit closing device 24 that is adapted to snap into engagement with said contacts in three different positions of the controlling element M. As shown in Figure l, the operating shaft N of the distributing valve projects outwardly through the seat frame H of the chair and is provided at its outer end with a governing handle O that has a hollow hub O which is rigidly connected to the shaft N. A stationary insulator 25 that is rigidly connected to the seat :trame of the chair and which projects into said hub O carries the contacts 23. rlhe circuit closing device 24 that co-operates with said contacts consists of a bar of con,- ducting material set in apiece ot insulation 26 carried by a pivotally mounted device 27 connected to the inside ot the hub of the handle O, as shown in Figure 2. Said device 27 is acted upon by a spring 28 that normally tends to move the circuit closing device 24 into engagement with the ccntacts 23 and the handle U is provided with a linger piece 29 that is connected by a link 30 with the device 2?, so as to move said device 2'? in a direction to disengage the circuit closing device 24 from the contacts" 28. The insulator 25 is provided at its outer end with a disk-shaped portion 31 on which the pivotally mounted device 27 rides when the handle O is moved to change the position of the controlling element of the distributing valve, and said disk-shaped portion is provided with four notches 31a shown in Figures 5 to 9 arranged in such a way that when the handle O is set in a position to cause the seat to move upwardly the device 27 will snap into one of saidv notches, thereby causing the circuit closing device 24 to engage the contacts 23 to close the motor circuit, whereupon the pump will be set in operation. Likewise, when the handle O is set in position to move the backdownwardlyyor set in position to move the back upwardly, the other notches 31a in the disk-shaped portion 31 of the insulator 25 permit the spring 28 to movethe'circuit closing device into engagement with the contacts 2B, so as to close Vthe motor circuit. As soon as the operator depresses the linger piece 29 preparatory to changing the position ot" the controlling element of the distributing valve the link 3() will move theA circuit closing device 24 out ot engagementfwith the contacts 23, thus opening the motor circuit and rendering the pump inoperative. Vifhenl the-handle"O is moved intol position to cause the seat to move downwardly, the pivotally mounted device 27 on said handle snaps into the fourth notch in the disk-shaped portion 3l ot the insulator 25, and thus indicates to the operator that the handle is in proper position to lower the seat. ln this position ot the handle the circuit closing device 24 will not engage the contacts 23, as it is not necessary tor the pump to be in operation when the seat is being lowered. Then the handle O is set in position to cause the seat and back to remain at rest, the unnotched partof the disk-shaped portion 3l of the insulator 25 will hold the circuit closing device 24 out of engagement with the con tacts 23.

Stem locking device.k

As previously stated, the chair is equipped with means for locking the stem G so as to prevent the seat frame of the chair from being revolved. In the form of my invention herein illustrated said means'conssts ot" a clamping device or shoe P mounted in the stem G of the chair in such a way that it is capable ot' being moved' into engagement shown in Figure 9 to hold the seat and back at rest, said crank R will exert pressure on the rod 32 in a direction to render the stem clamping device P operative, and when said handle O is set in any of its various other positions, the crank R will permit the rod 32 and expanding device Q, to move downwardly far enough to release the clamping pressure of the shoe P on the socket, and thus permit the stem to be turned.-

f Electric conductors.

In order that the chair willfnot have? 6 Lasagne numerous loose wires or flexible conductors that might interfere with the raising' or lowering of the seat or revolving the seat, or interfere with the movement of the back relatively to the seat, I attach a collector ring insulator S to the underside ot the seat 'trame H, as shown in Figure l, and combine the collector rings on said insulator with vertically-clisposed conductor bars T that are reciprocatingly mounted in the standard of the chair and arranged in slidingl engagement with contacts U in the standard to which electric supply wires lV are connected, the exposed portions of the conductor bars T being' covered with insulating,r material and each ot' said bars being provided at its upper end with a shoe or brush 38 equipped with a notch that receives one of the collector rings on the insulator S. One of the collector rings 34 is connected by a wire 35 with the motor and the other collector ring` 36 is connected by a wire 37 with one of the contacts 23, the other contact being connected by a wire with the motor. As shown in Figure l, said various wires are arranged inside ot the seat trame of the chair. The conductor bars T are mounted in the standard of the chair and are combined with the collector rings in such a way that they will move vertically in said standard when` the seat 'trame H is raised and lowered and the shoes or brushes 33 at the upper end ot said conductor bars are combined with the collector rings on the insulator S in such a way that the seat frame can be revolved without disturbing thc electrical connection between the supply wires W and the contacts 23 ot the switch in the motor circuit.

Having' thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A chair, comprising' a seat, a back, a piston device for adjustingl the seat vertically, a piston device 'for moving,r the back relatively to the seat, a pump ttor circulating an operating' medium that acts on said piston device, a motor for driving' said pump and a manually-operable means 'for starting and stopping said motor and Jfor controlling the circulation ot the operating medium that acts on both ot said piston devices.

2. A. chair provided with a scat, a back, an hydroelectric mechanism tor moving the seat vertically and tor moving` the back relatively to the seat, and a controlling means for said mechanism that causes the electric portion oi said mechanism to be rendered operative automatically when said controlling means is actuated to cause the seat to move upwardly or the back to move relative-ly to the seat and to remain inactive when said controlling' means is actuated to cause the seat to move downwardly or the back and seat to remain at rest.

f3. A chair, comprising; a seat, a back, an hydraulic means ifor moving 'the seat vertically and 'tor moving the back relatively to the scat, :in elcctrically-operated means 'tor circulating' a liquid that causes said hydraulic means to operate. and a controlling mechanism consisting' oit a governing means 'For said liquid and an electric switch coinbiucd in such a way that said electricallyoperatcd means will be rendered operativo and inoperative automatically in certain positions ot th'.` `c'oiferningv means tor said liquid.

A chair, comprising` a seat` a back, a vertically-:uliustablc stem that carries the seat, a socket in which said stem recipro- Cates` a cylinder equipped with a piston 'tor moving the hack relatively to the Seat, a pump 'for circulating an oilieratine' medium. and means for causing the operating' mcdium to be admitted to said soclct so as to raise the stem or admitted to either end oi said cylinder so as to raise or lower the hack,

5. A chair. comprising' scat. a back` a vertically-adjustahlc stem that carries the seat, a socket in which said stem reciprocates, a cylinder equipped with a piston tor moving` the back relatively to the seat7 a pump 'tor circulating' an operating medium. and means for admitting aud exhausting; the operating' medium to and from said socket to raise and lower the seat and 'tor admitting the operating medium to and Afrom the opposite ends oi" said cylinder so as to raise and lower the back.

G. A chair, comprising' a seat. a back. a stem that carries said seat and is provided with a hollow space that serves as a liquid reservoir, a socket in which said stem is reciproczfitingly mountedl` a cylinder provided with a piston for moving' the bach relatively to the seat. a pump 'for circulating an operating' liquid, said pump having` an intake that communicates with said liquid reservoir. a distributingvalve comprising' a casing having' a distributing' chamber that communicates with the discharge ot said pump and a sump that communicates with said liquid reservoir, and controlling element 'tor governing the escape ot the liquid from said distributing` chamber to said cylinders and 'for governing the escape oi the liquid 'trom said cylinders to said sump.

7. A chair, comprising' a seat. a back, a stem that carries said scat. ay liquid reservoir in said stem, a socket in which said stem is reciprocatinrly mounted` a cylinder provided with a piston Ylor moving the back relatively to the seat to raise and lower the back, a motor-driven pump for circulating' a liquid operating mediunr provided with an intake pipe that communicates with said liquid reservoir, a distributing' valve havine: a distributing chamber into which the liquid f lificluira'ed trom said. pump and equipped with` a sump that communicates with said liquid reservoir, and a controlling element that is adapted to oe set in one position to hold the seat and hack at rest, in a different position to cause the seat to move upwardly, in a different position to cause the seat to move downwardly, in a different position to cause the back to tilt downwardly and in a different position to cause the back to swing upwardly.

8. A chair, comprising a seat, a back, an hydro-electric mechanism, comprising an electric motor and a pump Jfor circulating a liquid that causes the seat to move vertically and causes the back to move relatively to the seat, and means for permitting said liquid to circulate freely, thus preventing said mechanism from being injured or damaged in thel event said mechanism is perL mitted to Continue in operation after the seat has reached its extreme elevated position or after the hack has reached its limit of movement in either direction.

9. A chair, comprising a seat, a back, a vertically-movable stem that carries said seat, a cylinder provided with a piston Jfor moving the back relatively to the seat, a motor-driven pump for circulating an operating medium that is used to raisey the stem and to actuate said piston, a device -for holding said stem against rotary movement, and a controlling means for actuating said stem holding device, for governing the circula- .tion of said operating medium and for c0n trolling the circuit that energizes the motor of said pump.

lO. A chair, comprising a seat, a back, a hollow stem that carries said seat, a socket in which said stem is reciprocatingly mounted, a cylinder provided with a piston for moving the back relatively to the seat, a motor-driven pump for circulating an operating medium, a distributing valve provided With a controlling element for the 0perating medium, a device for holding` said stem against rotary movement, and means for causing said stem holding device to be rendered inoperative automatically when the controlling element of said valve is moved to effect the adjustment of the seat or the hack of the chair and for rendering said stem holding device operative automatically when said controlling element is moved into a position to hold the back and seat at rest.

WALTER F. KOKEN.

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