US311882A - Joseph p - Google Patents

Description

(Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' J. P'. ELLAOOTT.

REGLINING CHAIR.

No.31 1,882. Patented Feb.10,188E- .v

IIIIHHIH Jiiomys Mines N. PEYERs. Phmoiilhopmphen Washington. D. c.

tion of the same.

JOSEPH P. ELLAOOTT, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION BRASS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

RECLlNlNG-CHAIR.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 311,882, dated February 10, 1885.

Application filed January 29, 1881. (Model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH P. ELLAOOTT, of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reclining Chairs, which are fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a chair having my improvements. Fig. 2 is a rear eleva- Fig. 3 is a section on the line was in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detailed rear elevation of the leg-rest of the chair shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 is a section on the line y y in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 2 z in Fig. 5, looking downward, the forward end of the lever F not being cut off, however. Fig. 7 is a detailed perspective view of thelever F, by which the inclination of the chairback is adjusted, and the forked lever G, which forms part of the device for regulating the rotary motion of the chair. Fig. 8 is a similar detailed view of the forked lever alone.

The same letters denote the same parts in all the figures.

My invention relates to chairs in which the back is adjustable at different angles to the 7 seat; and it consists in the several devices and combinations of devices for effecting such ad- 0 justment, for securing the parts in the several arrangements, and for rendering the chair reversible upon a fixed base, which will be fully described hereinafter, and definitely pointed out in the claims, the object-being to provide perfectly efficacious mechanism for effecting these results-more simple, compact, cheap, and convenient than any other with which I am acquainted.

My improvements have a special, though by no means exclusive, reference to the use of such chairs as part of the furniture of a railway-car.

In the drawings, A denotes the base, which (in the particular construction represented) is circular in fundamental form, and secured to the floor by screws. Its central part, A, rises in the form of a spindle, on which the spider B revolves by means of its tubular portion or sleeve 13. The upper end of the spindle A rises a little above B and receives a nut, A which secures the chair-frame to the base.

Immediately around the lower end of the spindle A is a flat circular platform, A raised a little above the lowest part of the base. It has near its circumference two diametricallyopposite sockets, a The spider B consists of the upright tubular portion B, the forward branching arm B", the two laterally-branching arms B the two backward-branching arms B, and the rim B connecting the upper ends of the arms and supporting the seat 13. The tubular portion B expands at its lower end, so as to cover the elevated circular platform A, on which it revolves, and it is surrounded at its upper end by a flange, from which the arms B B and B branch out. For its whole height it extends at the front intoa ridge or rib, b, which is continued under the forward arm B for the whole length of the latter. At the back it extends into a pair of similar ridges or ribs, 12, which are in like manner continued behind the backward arms B, forming a groove or guide. The arms 13*, at points about two-thirds of the way up from their connection with the tubular portion B, branch out'to the right and left, then turn directly backward, and extend behind,

the rim B to form enlarged bearings b, in which the chair-back O is hinged.

From the front part of the rim B on each side of the front arm, B", projects downward and backward a fixed hanger, b in which the frame D of the leg-rest D is pivoted. The hinge O, by which the chair-back Ois pivoted in its bearings b, extends upward along the back of the chair in a strengthening rib or spine, 0 which is suitably fastened to the chair-back, and downward in a plate, 0 of generally triangular form, having its flat surfaces at right angles to the plane of the chairback, and its upper edge inwardly and its lower edge saliently curved. This lower edge is notched at c, 0, c and 0", so as to constitute a ratchet, and to its rear end is attached one end of a coiled spring, E, which passes forward under the chair-seat, and is attached at its other end to the pin 6, supported in the ridges b, nearly on a level with the upper end of the tubularportion B of the chair-frame. The elasticity of this spring tends to draw the rear angle of the plate downward and forward, and thus to bring the hinged back G into the position where it makes the greatest angle with the seat.

Between the ridges If, at the point f, about two-thirds of the way from the pin 6 to the upper ends of the ridges, is pivoted a lever, F, whose short arm extends far enough back to engage with the foremost notch, c, in the ratchet 0 when the chair-back O is nearest to an upright position. The longer arm, from a point a little forward of the fulcrum f, bends upward and to the right, and terminates in a handle, f, under the front part of the rim B of the chair-frame and a little to the right of the right-hand hanger, b of the leg-rest. The weight of the longer arm overbalancing that of the shorter arm keeps the latter up, so as to engage in one or other of the notches when the position of the ratchet C admits of it, and the elasticityof the spring E, drawing downward and forward on the lower back angle of the ratchet, then presses the back of the notch against the under side of the lever, so as to lock it firmly in place and prevent any swaying of the back 0. By raisingthe handle f, which can easily be done while sitting in the chair, the short arm of the lever is disengaged from the notch, the contraction of the spring always drawing the back toward the position where it makes the greatest angle with the seat. The upper edge of the plate 0 coming in contact with the rim B prevents the back from tipping too far. The straight part of the lever F on each side of the fulcrum is thicker than the rest, and has in its front end a longitudinal slot which extends back of the pivot f and receives the central upright flange, g, of the forked lever G, which is also pivoted at f, but so as to vibrate or remain at rest independently of the lever F. Back of the pivot f the body 9 of G extends on each side and backward from the'lower edge of the flange g and under the short arm of the lever F, and curves upward at each side and at the end. A slot or bifurcation in this end admits of the forward motion of the plate (3 and of the motion of the lever F. This forked lever G is shown in detail in Fig. 8 of the drawings, and in its juxtaposition with the lever F in Fig. 7.

To the forward end of g at g is pivotally attached a rod, G, which has a vertical play in the groove between the two ridges b, and is bent near its lower end backward and again vertically downward, so as to pass through a hole in the circular rim at the bottom of the tubular portion B of the spider near its circumference and catch in one or the other of the sockets a in the circular platform A of the base. The flange at the upper end of the sleeve B extends so far at the back as to close at the top the upright portion of the groove.

This portion H of the flange is perforated, so

as to allow the rod G to pass through. A collar, H, is affixed to the rod itself at a point somewhat lower. Between this collar and the flange His compressed a coiled spring, 1, whose elasticity tends to force the two apart, and-consequently to press the rod G downward. By tipping the back 0 forward at the front corner of the plate 0 the pins 0 are brought in contact with the ends of the base g of-the forked lever G, and operate as a cam to force them down, thereby raising the other end of the lever G and lifting its lower end above the upper edgesof the sockets a. If, then, the chair be turned on the spindle A far enough to bring the rod G out of line with the socket a, the back 0 may be allowed to return to its former angle with the seat The chair being farther turned on the spindle until the rod G registers with the other socket, a, the expansiveforce of the spring I will immediately thrust it into the socket, and the chair will be locked faoingthe contrary way to its former position. The enlarged portion of the sleeve B,which covers the platform A, has a downwardly-projectingflange, p, on its circumference, which surrounds the edge of the platform and protects the bearing from dust. The upper rim, B ofthe spider is provided on each side with a notch, j, opening backward, and each of the chair-arms K has a downward prolongation,K,whi'ch corresponds in length andin the curvature of its front edge with the arc described by the chair-back in passing through its different positions,so that this edge is always inv the notch j. On the lower end of K is a forward projection or hook, is, which catches on the under side of the rim B when the angle of the chair-back to the seat is greatest, and thus afl'ords an additional support to the chair-back in this position of greatest strain on the hinge. The contact of the arms K with the upper surface of the rim B affords an additional security against any tipping of the chair-back too far forward.

The metal frame D of the leg-rest D consists of the two upright bars d and d, pivoted at their upper ends, respectively,to the hangers b on the rim B and of thetwo cross-bars d and d connecting the upright bars, theupper cross-bar, if, being far enough below the pivotal points of the upright bars to avoid contact with the rim B andthe ridge 1) of the spider in every position of the leg-rest. The horizontal breadth of each cross-bar in the middle is sufficient to admit of a hole,through which passes a bolt, elf, of a size to play freely through the bars, and long enough for its upper end to catch in the notches Z, Z, P, and Zflwhich are cut in the front edge of b, that edge being curved to correspond with the are through which D swings. From the lower back edge of the upper cross-bar a flange, m, extends downward to afford a fulcrum fora lever, M, whose short arm terminatesin a collar or eye,

IIO

M ,which surrounds the bolt (1, and is affixed to it by a transverse pivot, m at such aheight on (1* that when the upper end of (i engages with one of the notches on b the end of the short arm of M will be in contact with the lower surface of the upper crossbar, (2 A coiled spring, a, surrounding the pin between M and the lower cross-bar, tends to hold the lever in this position. The long arm of the lever M projects through aslot in the righthand bar, (1, and terminates in a handle, M

. within easy reach of a person sitting in the chair. By raising this handle the short arm of the lever is depressed, carrying down the upper end of the pin dflso that it will not catch in the notches. The frame D may then be turned on its pivots in the hangers b so as to hang below the seat, forming an obtuse angle with it, and thus being out of the way, or so as to be a forward continuation of the seat, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5, or to take positions between these extremes. It may be secured in either position by releasing the handle M so that the spring a may force the bolt (1* into the corresponding notch, Z, Z, Z or Z. The foot-board D", which may be affixed to the front or upper side of the frame D in any suitable way, has an extension, D hinged to its lower or front end, so as to be continuous with it or to form any desired angle with its front or upper face. A fixed foot-rest, 0, may also be secured to the back of the chair frame by the braces 0 and 0, so as to serve for the occupant of the chair next behind.

That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a reclining-chair,a chair-frame. a chairback hinged to the chair-frame, aratchet rigidly attached to the lower end of the chairends of the back arms, the ratchet O rigidly affixed to the chair-back and arranged beneath it and equidistant from the back arms, and the vertically-oscillatinglever F, pivoted in the ehairframe between the back arms, and arranged with one arm opposite to the ratchet, all constructed, arranged, and operating in combination substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The chair-base provided with the spindle portion A and surrounding platform A having the sockets a, in combination. with the spider provided with the tubular portion B, flange H, rim B and back arms, E the forked lever G, pivoted between the arms 18, the rod G, pivoted to one end of the forkedl lever and provided with the collar H andspring I, the chair-back O, hinged to the arms B", and the plate C rigidly attached to the chair-back and provided with the pins 0, all constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as and for the purposes described.

JOSEPH P. ELLAOOTT.

Witnesses: J NO. 0. MAOGREGOR, ALIoE HOLLISTER.

Images