US1952376A - Adjustable chair - Google Patents

Description

March 27, 1934. E. M. KNABUSCH ET AL 1,952,376

. ADJUSTABLE CHAIR Filed Sept. 18, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet l E. M. KNABUSCH El AL 1,952,376

ADJUSTABLE CHAIR March 27, 1934.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 18, 1930 March 27, 1934. E. N H ET A 1,952,376

ADJUSTABLE CHAIR 5 Sheet-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 18 1930 March 27, 1934. KNABUSCH r AL 1,952,376

ADJUSTABLE CHAIR Filed Sept. 18, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 am ,6 m @f/m 351 7 March 27, 1934. v E. M. KNABUSCH ET AL 1,952,376

ADJUSTABLE CHAIR Filed Sept. 18, 1930- 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 27, 1934 ADJUSTABLE CHAIR Edward M. Knabusch and Edwin J. Shoemaker, Monroe, Mich.

Application September 18, 1930, Serial No. 482,784

8 Claims. (Cl. 155-116) Our invention has for' its object to provide an efllcient adjustable chair. The chair may be used in connection with any form of support,

that is, the invention may be embodied in an ,ordinary oflice or house chair or it may be embodied in a vehicle chair or seat. When used in a vehicle the chair is preferably so constructed that it may be readily adjusted in its position with reference to parts of the vehicle, such as the steering wheel or post, or controlling mechanisms of an automobile, or with reference to other chairs located within the vehicle. Also, it is preferably so constructed that its back may be readily adjusted to the reclining position that the user of the chair desires to take. Where the chair is used in a vehicle, such as an automobile or bus, or in a railroad or electric car, it is also preferably provided with a shock absorbing means aside from the springs that form the cushioned parts of the chair which constitutes a part of the upholstering. Also, the chair T may be provided with a means for moving the back of the chair towards the front as the position of the back of the chair is reclined, which operates to eliminate, or reduce, the drag of the clothing on the back of the individual when he reclines.

The chair is also preferably so constructed that the reclining movement of the chair is brought about by pressure of the back of the individual against the back of the chair and the portion of the weight of the individual, resting on the back, is substantially counterbalanced by the weight of the portion of the body of the individual that rests upon the seat.

' Also, the chair is so constructed that, if desired, the back may be located substantially in the plane of the seat of th chair to form a couch of a length substantially equal to the length of the back and the seat. 01', if a second chair is located in line with the chair, embodying our in: vention, a full length couch will be formed of the two chairs. Also, the chair is so formed that the back may be folded onto the seat and the two turned up edgewise to reduce the iioor space occupied by the chair.- Thus the invention provides a chair that is particularly adapted for use in connection with automobiles and omnibuses, inasmuch as the chair operates to absorb the shocks in the course of a trip and affords opportunity, by the changes in position of the chair, to rest the body of the passenger using the chair. I

The invention embodies other features and advantages which will appear from the following description and upon examination of the drawv ings. Structures containing the invention may partake of different forms and may be varied in their details and still embody the invention. To illustrate a practical application of the invention, we have selected a vehicle chair embodying the invention, as an example of the variouschairs and details thereof that contain the invention, and shall describe the selected structure hereinaften'it being understood that variations may be made and that certain features of our invention may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features and without departing from the spirit of the invention. The particular structure selected is shown in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the chair embodying our invention which. has been selected as illustrative of the different chairs that contain our invention. Fig. 2 illustrates the chair folded and located in a position to occupy the minirnum amount of floor space. Fig. 3 illustrates the shock absorbing elements of the chair. Fig. 4 illustrates the couch forming position of the chair. Fig. 5 illustrates a side view of the elements that provide for the support of the back in the couch forming position illustrated in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 illustrates the elements that control the position of the seat and back, one relative to the other, when the back is located in different positions with relation to the seat. The figure illustrates a view of a section taken on the plane of the line 6-6 indicated in Fig. 1 when the back is in one position. Fig. 7 illustrates the elements that control the relation between the back and the seat when the'back and the seat are in a position different from that shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 illustrates an adjusting means to adjust the resistance to the movement of the back relative to the seat by the pressure of the user of the chair against the back. Fig. 9 illustrates an enlarged view of the adjustable parts shown in Fig. 8 and when the adjustment is located in one extreme position. Fig. 10 illustrates the said parts when the adjustment is located in the other extreme position. Fig. 11 illustrates an edge view of the elements illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. Fig. 12 illustrates a view of a section of the elements of one side of the chair taken on-the plane of the line 1212 indicated in Fig. 6. Fig. 13 illustrates a view similar to that shown in Fig. 12 taken on 5 the plane of the line 13-13 indicated in Fig. 7.

Fig. 14 is a composite view of the disassembled parts that enable movement of the back relative to the seat of the chair to'a couch forming position. Fig. 15 is an enlarged perspective broken view showing the supporting frames of the chair and the interframe connecting parts.

In the particular form of construction shown in the figures, means is provided for supporting the chair body in such a manner that endwise movement, or forward and backward movement, is permitted relative to the floor, or support, on which the chair is located, but, when such movement occurs, it will be yieldingly resisted and, hence, all endwise, or substantially horizontal, movement is absorbed by the yielding resistance. Therefore, when there is any shock caused by the change of the movement of the vehicle, it will be absorbed by the yielding resistance. To afford such yielding resistance, it is found preferable to cause the body of the chair to rise as it moves forward. In the particular form of construction shown, the body of the chair is suspended on links which swing forward or rearward and upward,

.in either case, to absorb the shock of change of movement of the vehicle in which the chair is located.

Thus, in the form of construction shown, the chair 1 is supported on a primary frame 2. The frame 2 may be located on a suitable floor or other support. Where the chair is used in a vehicle, it is preferably adjustably and pivotally supported to enable adjustment of the chair, with reference to other'chairs and objects in the car, that is particularly advantageous when the chair is used as the drivers seat of an automobile and enables forward and tilting movements of the chair giving more room at the rear of the chair and so locate. the chair that it will occupy a smaller floor area. The frame 2 is formed U- shaped. It extends from one side of the chair to the other side, the body of the chair being located within the legs 3 of the U. The legs of the U are also provided with arms 4 that extend parallel to each other and along opposite sides of the chair. The ends of the arms 4 are pivotally connected to the arms 5 which are secured to a bell crank lever or bent rod 6 that is supported for oscillatory movements in brackets 7 that are secured to the floor 8. The part 9 of the U-shaped frame 2, that interconnects the legs 3, is located beneath the chair 1 and may rest upon the floor 8. The forward end of the frame 2 is supported by the arms 5 and the rod 6. When the rod 6 is turned, the arms 5 swing and shift the frame 2 along the floor. The arms 5 are of a sufficient length and are so connected to the arms 4 that the chair may be swung on the pivot pins 10 that interconnect the arms 4 and 5 so that the frame 2 and the bottom of the chair may be placed in upright positions, substantially as shown in Fig. 2.

Rotation of the rod 6, to adjust the position of the chair along the floor, is produced by means of a screw 15 that is rotatably supported in a stirrup 16 which is connected to the bent rod 6 at the point where the rod 6 is located remote from its axis of rotation in the brackets 7. The screw 15 extends through a nut, or threaded block 17, which is rotatably supported in a bracket 18 that is also secured to the floor while the stirrup 16 is so connected to. the screw 15 that, while the screw 15-may rotate in the stirrup, longitudinal movements of the stirrup along the screw is prevented. Consequently, the screw 15, when rotated, operates on the bent rod 6 to swing the arms 5 and shift the frame 2 along the floor and adjust the position of the chair.

The chair is supported on the frame 2 by means of the links 20. It is thus suspended for Oscillatory movements on the frame 2. The links 20, depending from the arms 4, are connected to the chair 1 at their lower ends. Consequently, the chair 1 is susceptible to swinging movements, parts being maintained at a substantially constant angle, with reference to the floor 8, when subjected to any oscillatory movements. The links 20 have a length sufiicient that, they wil operate to absorb the shock of a-change, in movement in the body of the vehicle. Vertical movements of the body of the vehicle are, ordinarily, cared for and absorbed by the springs of the vehicle and the springs of the upholstering or cushion of the chair, but the swinging movements of the body of the vehicle or any forward and backward movements, due to its spring suspension, produces an excessive tiring effect on passengers and is not absorbed by any of the construction or part of the vehicle. The links 20 permit forward and backward movements of the chair and cause return movements of the chair, relative to the floor, subsequent to each forward and rearward movement of the vehicle, as indicated in Fig. 3. Such swinging movement of the chair is yieldingly resisted by the weight of the individual and, consequently, the shock of such forward and backward movements of the vehicle is absorbed by the suspension of the chair 1 by the links 20. I

The lower ends of the links 20 are connected to thelower edges of the plates 23. The plates are connected together by a rod 21 and with the plates form a secoondary frame 22. The frame 2 may be referred to as a primary frame and the frame 22 may be referred to as the secondary frame. A pair of links 24 and 25 are connected to each plate 23 near its upper edge by the rivets 27 and 28. The link 25 is an adjustable link and is formed of two parts as hereinfater described.

The lower ends of the links 24 and 25 are con-' nected to the seat frame 29 comprising a pair of curved bars 30, to which are connected a pair of L-irons, or brackets, 31, on which the chair bottom board 32 is placed and to which the board is secured. A pair of bent rods 33 are secured to the front and rear edge portions of the bottom board 32. The rods 33 extend along the outside of the lower ends of the supporting links 20 and afford a means for attaching the decorative upholstering material along its edges and at the sides of the chair to cover the supporting parts of the chair. The plates 23 and the links 24 and 25 form a means of connection between the frame 2 and the mechanism that controls the relation between the back and the seat of the chair and the forward and backward movements of the vehicle are absorbed by the swinging movements of the links 20 and consequently such movements are not transmitted to the chair body, that is to the seat and the back.

The back 36 is connected to the seat 1 by a means that will position the seat relative to the floor according to the position or angle in which the back is placed relative to the seat. In the ordinary use of the chair, the back and seat are manipulated by the pressure of the back of the user on the back of the chair. The connection is such that the position of the back of the chair and the position of the seat are maintained by the normal weight of the parts of the body of the user resting upon the back and the seat, respectively, of the chair and to change this relation a pressure or weight of either part of the body, on the corresponding part of the chair, will cause the change, the mechanism having means whereby the resistance tochange in the relative positions of the back and the seat of the chair may be adjustably varied, as may be desired. The inter-control mechanism, as between the back and the seat of the chair, has also a means for varying the forward movementof the back relative to the seat, whereby rearward movements of the back, relative to the seat, will prevent or reduce the drag on the clothing. The extent of the forward movement of the back, relative to the seat, to prevent dragging of the clothing on the back of the user, also may be adjusted as may be desired and, preferably, according to the thickness of the upholstering of the back of the chair. Furthermore, the connection of the back with the other parts of the chair is so constructed that the back may be located substantially in the plane of the seat of the chair to convert the chair into substantially a couch form. Thus the control mechanism' for controlling the relation of the seat to the back is provided with a means for supporting the back in not only any of the chair reclining positions but also in a couch formation and, when in any of the positions, the chair is oscillatably supported to absorb road shocks or vehicle movements.

In the particular form of construction shown in the drawings, the back 36 has a frame 37' that may consist of the strap border iron 38, to which is connected a suitable back or upholstering supporting board 39. A pair of elements or arms 40 are connected to the lower ends of the opposite sides of the frame of the back. Each arm'40 terminates in a scroll shaped hook 41 having a scroll shaped slot 42 at its end and '2. lug or pin 43 that is located on a projecting finger 44 and below the end of the slot 42. The ends of the arms 40 are located between two sets of elements connected to a chair supporting frame and to the seat, or seat frame. One set comprises a pair of slotted levers 45 which are pivotally connected to the curved bars 30, and the other set are a pair of levers 46 that coact with other elements to locate the back and seat one relative to the other, as hereinafter described. Each lever 45 has the slot 47 that has a curved portion 48 that terminates in a recess that forms a portion 49 of the slot 47. The portion 49 of the slot 47 extends centrally with respect to the center of the curvature of the portion 48. The lever 46 is provided with a pin 50 on which a roller 51 may be located. The pin 50 extends through the lever 45 and is riveted I over the edge portions of the opening 52 formed in the link 45 into which the pin 50 extends. The upper end of the lever is also provided with a curved edge portion 55 that terminates in a pair of notches or recesses 56 and 57. The end of the arm 40 is provided with a pin 58 that is located beside the inner end of the scroll shaped slot 42 and in the hook 59. When the arm 40, the lever 45, and the lever 46 are secured together by the pivot pin 50, the pin 43 is located in the slot 47 and the pin 58 is located on the curved edge 55 of the lever 46 and normally in either one or the other of the recesses 56 or 57. The pin 50 may be located in the slot 42 and, consequently, the arm 40 may be swung about the pin 50 as on a pivot, the pin 43 moving along the curved portion 48 of the slot 47, and the pin 58, moving along the curved edge portion 55, .until the pin 58 rests in either recess 56 or 57. The outer edge portions of the recesses 56 and 57 afford one means for limiting the pivotal frame operating to lift the seat frame.

movements of the arm 40 and, consequently, of the back of the chair in its swinging movements, relative to the seat of the chair. The inner end of the slot42 coacts with the pin 50 to alsov limit the movement of the arm 40 relative to the lever 46 and the pin 43 and the lower end of the curved portion of the slot 47 also affords a limiting means to limit the rearward movement of the back relative to the seat. If desired, a roller 51 may be located on the pin 50 so as to be positioned in the slot 42 to reduce friction of movement of the parts relative to each other. The recess 56 and the pin 58 and the upper end of the slot 47 and the pin 43 provide a means for limiting the forward or folding movement of the back towards the seat.

When it is desired to locate the back substantially in the plane of the seat, in couch formation, the back is moved relative to the seat so that each pin 43 will be positioned in the lower end of the curved portion 48 of the slot 47. The back may then be raised, the pin 43 moving along the part of the centrally extending portion 49 of the slot 47, while the edge of the slot 42 moves along the pin 50 and until the pin 50 .is located on the outside of the slot 42 and hook 59. The back is then allowed to drop while the pin 58 enters the recess 57 and the pin 43 moves along the centrally extended portion 49 of the'slot 47 to the end of the said portion, or recess. The pin 43 may move about the pin 58, as a central pivot pin, when it is thus located in the recess 57. The back will thus be held in its position in substantially the planeof the seat by the inter-engagement of the pin 58 in the recess 57 and the engagement of the pin 43 in the inner or more central end of the portion 49 of the slot 47, as is shown in Fig. 4. The back may be returned by the reverse movements of the parts.

The movements of the seat and the back, from the upright position of the back toward the reclined position of the back, are intercontrolled by the connection of the levers 45 and the levers 46 with the parts of the chair. The rearward movements of the back tend to raise the seat relative to the frame 2, the links 20 and the side plates.

The levers 45 are interlocked with the arms 40 by reason of the interlocking of the pins 43, in the lower ends of the curved portions 48 of the slots 47, and of the pins 50 that extend through the levers 46, the slots 42 and the openings 52. Each arm 40 and lever 45, under these'conditions, form a lever that pivots about the pin 50 to raise the seat relative to the supporting frame 2. The pivot pin, namely the pivot pin 50, is movable by the controlling mechanism towards the seat and, consequently, as the seat is raised when the back is tilted rearwardly, the back is drawn towards the seat. This prevents dragging of the clothing on the back of the user of the chair when the back is forced rearward in proportion to the forward movement of the pivot pin 50. The lower end of each lever 45 is connected to the end of the curved bar 30 that forms a part of the frame of the seat and, as described above, the frame of the seat is supported by the links 24 and 25. The links depend fromthe upper edge portion of the plate 23. Movement of the back from the upright position to the reclining position operates to swing the seat on the links 24 and 25 to raise the seat and move it forward, the levers 45 and the back The levers 46 are fulcrumed in the ends of the short links 60 which, in the same movement follow up the seat frame by reason of the upward movement of the links 45 and the links 60, swing upwardly and provide movable fulcrums for the levers 46. Each lever 46 is connected to the link 25 by means of the link 62 which draws the lever 46 forward as the seat frame is raised. The extent of the forward movement depends upon the points of connection of the link 62 relative to the pivot point of connection of the link 25 with the plate 23 and the point of connection of the link 62 with the lever 46 relative to the point of connection of the lever 46 with the link 60.

The link 62 is adjustably connected to the link 25 for varying not only the extent of forward movement of the back, relative to the seat, but also to vary the resistance of the adjustment of the back relative to the seat. I If the lever 46 were stationary, there would be a free forward and upward movement of the seat when the back was pressed rearward by the lifting operation of the combined action of the arm 40 and the lever 45, but, inasmuch as the swinging movement of the link 25 draws forward the back, the pressure required to adjust the back, relative to the seat. is increased, that is, the rearward movement of the back is reduced by the amount that the pivot pin 50 is drawn forward to produce the necessary lift against the pressure of the part of the trunk of the body of the individual in the chair. When there is a rearward rotation of the back rest about the pins 50 produced by a certain pressure on the back rest, the continued rotation of the back rest is resisted by an increasing pressure on the lever 45 due to a force exerted thereon by a certain pressure on the seat member, as it is caused to move out of equilibrium with respect to its suspension links, and the resisting pressure continues to increase as the seat is thrown farther out of equilibrium until the moment of this force about the pins 50 equals the moment about the pins 50 of the force exerted against the backrest member. Therefore, the pressures upon the back rest and the seat will at all times tend to counterbalance each other, no matter what the positions of these two members may be relative to each other. Furthermore, inasmuch as the back rest is connected to the seat so as to cause the seat to swing on the links 24 and 25, the weight on the seat is then more advantageously disposed to resist further forward movement of the seat and, consequently, to resist a further rearward swinging movement of the back rest. It is this combination that provides for the counterbalancing of the pressures exerted on the back and on the seat by the distribution of the weight of the occupant. When the occupant moves to a more erect position, there is then, a greater pressure exerted on the seat and a lesser pressure on the back rest, but the links then move to new positions wherein they sustain this --new difference in pressures and consequently the parts of the chair body, namely, the seat and the back. The seat and the back rest retain their relative positions in a counterbalancing relation and support the occupant without further movement relative to each other, unless a slight additional pressure is applied to the seat by a forward movement of the upper part of the body of the occupant, or unless a slight increase in pressure is exerted against the back rest, either of which changes in pressures will act to reposition the parts of the chair and again bring about a substantially balanced condition of the two parts. A corresponding return of the back is produced when the individual sits upright in the chair, while the back remains reclined or when there is a movement to release the pressure, due to the weight of the part of the body of the user of the chair on the back. This eliminates the use of springs that are sometimes used for yieldingly resisting adjustment of the backs of chairs relative to the seats and for returning of the backs to upright positions when they are released. The weight of the back thus counterbalances, in all positions, the seat of the chair by reason of the change in the moment of the weight on the back and the displacement of the seat that is supported by the swinging links 24 and 25.

Adjustment of the point of connection of the link 62 with the adjustable link 25 is obtained by shifting the point of connection of the link 62 to link 25. The adjustable link 25 is formed of two parts 68 and 69. The part 69 is pivotally connected at its upper end by the pivot pin 28 to the plate 23. The lower end of the part 68 is connected to the end of the curved bar 30 by means of an adjustable cam 70 which is eccentricly connected to a bolt '71 that extends through the end of the curved bar 30 and the end of the part 69 of the link 25. The upper end of the part 68 ofthe link 25 is provided with a pin '72 that is movable in a slot '73 formed in the part 69 of the link to allow for the adjustment of the part 68 of the link, relative to the part 69, by rotation of the bolt '71. The link 68 is secured in its adjusted position by the nut 74 which prevents rotation of the bolt. The link 62 is connected to the pin '72 and movement of the pin '72, along the link 25, changes the extent of the arcuate movement of the pin 72 and, consequently, the extent of the arcuate movement of the lever 46 to which the link.25 is connected by the link 62. This operates to vary the forward movement of 'the back relative to the upward movement of the seat. These two movements of the seat and the back operate to draw the parts towards each other and reduce the dragging of the clothing forward on the back of the user of the chair and vary the pressure on the back required to adjust the position of the back relative to the seat. Thelowering of the pin '72 to move it away from the pivot point 28 decreases the drag of the clothing and increases the resistance to the pressure that is required to move the back rearward and reduces the resistance to the restoration of the back and the seat, that is, to an upright position.

Suitable fibre sheets may be located between the metal parts to prevent rattle in the manner well known in the art.

Thus, by our invention, we have produced an exceedingly efficient chair that has many features and advantages for use, particularly in connection with vehicles, in that it provides for absorbing the major part of the shocks, and also wherein the chair may be folded and conveniently handled or used while still secured to the floor, or other relatively stationary member, and also one wherein an counterbalancing springs are eliminated, and wherein the objectionable drag on the clothing is avoided when the chair is moved into a reclining position; and also wherein the back may be located in a horizontal position in substantially the plane of the seat to form a couch. These features and advantage being accomplished by elements that co-ordinate to produce the results as described in each case and wherein the connections are comparatively simple and formed of parts that may be made cheaply, results in an exceedingly eflicient chair structure that may be made at a low cost of production.

We claim:

1. In a chair, a seat member and a back member, a frame, the seat member supported on the frame, a pair'of levers connected to the frame, a pair'of arms connected to the back member and having means for interlocking the arms with the said levers to cause the arms and levers to move together and including a pair of pins, the arms and the levers pivotally supported on the pins, a second pair of levers, pins pivotally connecting the said second pair of levers to the first named levers, a second frame comprising a pair of side members, links interconnecting the frames for supporting the first named frame and the seat member on the second named frame and links connecting the second pair of levers with the first named frame, the arms and the first named levers. operating to produce forward and upward movements of the seat member relative to the said second frame when the back member, the arms, and the first named pair of levers are moved about the said pivot pins.

2. .In a chair, a seat member and a back member, a frame, the seat member supported on the frame, a pair of levers connected to the frame, a pair of arms connected to the back member, the levers and the arms having means for interconnecting the said arms and levers for limited pivotal movements of the arms relative to the levers and to cause the arms and levers to move as a unit when the arms reach the limit of movement relative to the levers and including a pair of pins, the arms and the levers pivotally supported on the frames, a second frame, links interconnecting the ,zframes for supporting the first named frame and the seat member on the second named frame, back supporting members connected to the second named frame, the said pins extending through the back supporting members and the arms and the levers for pivotally supporting the said back, arms, and the said levers, the arms and the levers operating to produce forward and upward movements of the seat member relative to the second named frame when the back, the arms, and the levers are moved about the said pivot pins, the said arms and the said back member adapted to fold relative to the said levers and the said seat member by movement about the said pins.

3. In a chair, a seat member and a back member, a frame, the seat member supported on the frame, a pair of levers pivotally connected to the frame, a pair of arms connected to the back member, a second frame, a second pair of levers connected to the second frame, apin extending through one of each of the said second pair of levers for pivotally supporting the said arms and the said first named levers on the second pair of levers, links interconnecting the said frames for producing forward and upward movements of the seat member relative to the second named frame when the said back member, the said arms,

a and the said first named levers are moved about the said pair of pins, links interconnecting each of the second named levers with one of the first named links to move the said second named levers and the pivot pins forward a short distance when the seat member is moved forward.

4. In a chair, a seat member and a back member, a frame, the seat member supported on the frame, a pair of levers connected to the frame,

a pair of arms connected to the back member, a second frame, a second pair of levers connected to the second frame, a pair of pins extending through the first named levers, the arms, and the second named levers for pivotally supporting the said arms, the first named levers, and the back member on the second pair of levers, the first named levers and the arms having slots and pins to produce limited rearward movements of the arms and back relativeto the first named levers and the seat to produce positve movement of the levers with the arms when the arms are moved rearwardly beyond the limited-distance and enable folding movements of the arms and back towards the levers and the seat when the back member and arms are moved towards the seat member.

5. In a chair, a seat member and a back member, a frame, the seat member supported on the frame, levers connected to the frame, arms connected to the back member, a second frame, a pair of pivot supporting members supported on the said second frame, a pair of pins extending through the pivot supporting members, the arms, and the levers for pivotally supporting the arms and the levers on the pivot supporting members, the arms and the levers having slots andengaging pins, two of the engaging pins of the arms extending into the slots of the levers, the pivot pins extending through the slots of the arms and through the levers, the pivot supporting members having notches for engaging two of the engaging pins of the arms for supporting the arms in a position to locate the surface of the back substantially in the plane with the surface of the seat to form a couch of the seat and the back.

6. In a chair, a seat member and aback member, a frame, means for supporting the seat member on the frame, a pair of levers connected to the frame, a pair of arms connected to the back member, a second frame, a pair of pivot supporting members supported on the. second frame, pivot pins extending through thepivot supporting members for pivotally supporting the arms and the levers, the arms having engaging pins, the said supporting members having means for engaging the pins to locate the back substantially in the plane of the seat to form a couch of the seat and the back, the arms and the levers having slots and pins to enable forward movements of the arms relative to the levers for folding the back against the seat and limited relative rearward movements.

7. In a chair, a seat member and a back member, a frame, means for supporting the seat member on the frame, a pair of levers connected to the frame, a pair of arms connected to the back member, a second frame connected by links to the first frame, a pair of pivot supporting members supported on the second frame, pivot pins extending through the pivot supporting members, the arms, and the levers for pivotally supporting the arms and the levers, the arms having engaging pins, the said supporting members having means for engaging the engaging pins to locate the back substantially in the plane of the seat to form a couch of the seat and the back, the arms and the levers having slots and pins to enable forward movements of the arms relative to the levers for folding the back against the seat, a third frame, links interconnecting the said third frame and the second named frame for supporting the second named frame and means for pivotally supporting the said third frame for rotating the seat and the back to upright positions when the back is folded against the seat.

8. In a chair, a primary frame, a pair of plates and a connecting member, a plurality of links connecting the primary frame and the pair of of levers connected to the seat member, a second pair of levers connected to the aforementioned pair of plates by a third pair of links and adjustably connected to the front pair of seat member suspension links by a fourth pair of links, a pair of pins pivotally connecting each of the first mentioned pair of levers to 'one of the second pair of levers and adapted to be slidably received within the slot in one of the said pair of bifurcated arms, a second pair of pins, each of the said second pair of pins secured to the straight finger on one of the aforementioned pair of bifurcated arms and slidable along the slot in one of the first mentioned levers, the second mentioned pair of levers having cams and recesses located at ends of the cams, a third pair of pins, each of the said third pair of pins secured to a curved finger and movable over a cam and engaged by one or another of the recesses.

EDWARD M. KNABUSCH, EDWIN J. SHOE .1 as:

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