U.S. patent number 3,711,151 [Application Number 05/082,939] was granted by the patent office on 1973-01-16 for folding furniture construction.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Etowah Manufacturing Company, Inc.. Invention is credited to Hugh Max Upton.
United States Patent |
3,711,151 |
Upton |
January 16, 1973 |
FOLDING FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION
Abstract
An all metal folding furniture construction having front and
rear sets of pivotally connected cross legs including a jointed
locking bracket connecting the cross members extending between each
pair of aligned front and rear legs. The jointed bracket includes a
pair of U-shaped links pivoted to each other at one end and to the
cross members at their other ends. Abutment surfaces are provided
to lock the rotational position of the bracket when the joined ends
of the links pass below the line joining the pivots at the cross
members. The chair includes a side rail and an overlying runner
pivoted thereto between which the fabric seat passes. The hinges
connecting the rails and runners are spaced further apart than the
depth of the seat and a pair of co-operating retaining flanges hold
the welt and core of the seat in place regardless of the pivotal
position of the side rail and runner. The side rail also defines an
anvil spaced inwardly from the retaining flange to support the seat
and in co-operation with the clamping flange on the runner, serves
to selectively clamp the seat in position. The stool includes a
side rail having a curved support surface to support the seat
adjacent the welt and core and a key hole slot which passes along
the length thereof to selectively retain the welt and core of the
seat therein.
Inventors: |
Upton; Hugh Max (Gadsden,
AL) |
Assignee: |
Etowah Manufacturing Company,
Inc. (Gadsden, AL)
|
Family
ID: |
22174414 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/082,939 |
Filed: |
October 22, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/45;
297/423.41; D6/368 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C
4/283 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47C
4/48 (20060101); A47C 4/00 (20060101); A47c
004/28 () |
Field of
Search: |
;297/45,36,37,441,44,43,42,24,25,52,57,56,47 ;108/81 ;5/57R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Zugel; Francis K.
Claims
I claim:
1. A folding chair construction including two pairs of pivotally
connected legs, a side rail connecting the upper ends of each pair
of said legs, an arm assembly for each side rail including a runner
and a rear post, a back rest detachably connecting said rear posts
to maintain said chair in a set up condition, each of said side
rails including an upstanding first retaining flange along the
outboard edge thereof and an upstanding first hinge ear at the
forward and rear ends thereof, each of said runners including a
depending second retaining flange along the outboard edge thereof
and a depending second hinge ear at the forward and rear ends
thereof, said first and second hinge ears defining aligned
apertures therethrough, a pivot pin received through each set of
said aligned apertures in said hinge ears pivotally connecting said
side rails to said runners, a flexible seat slidably received
between said first and second retaining flanges and including a
looped welt at opposite ends thereof, and a core member slidably
received in each of said welts, said welts with said core member
therein having a total diameter greater than the maximum opening
defined between said first and second retaining flanges to prevent
passage of said welts with said core members therein between said
first and second retaining flanges regardless of the relative
pivotal position of said flanges.
2. The folding chair construction of claim 1 wherein said first and
second hinge ears are located forwardly and rearwardly of said
first and second retaining flanges and define an opening
therebetween greater than the length of said core members for said
core member and said seat to pass therebetween to be retained by
said first and second retaining flanges.
3. The folding chair construction of claim 2 wherein said side
rails each further includes an upstanding anvil along the inboard
edge thereof and wherein said runners each further include a
depending clamping flange along the inboard edge thereof adapted to
overlie said anvil when said side rail and said runner are pivoted
toward each other to clamp said seat therebetween.
4. A folding chair construction including two pairs of pivotally
connected legs, a side rail connecting the upper ends of each pair
of said legs, an arm assembly for each side rail including a runner
and a rear post, holding means connecting said rear posts to
maintain said chair in a set up condition, each of said side rails
including an upstanding first retaining flange along the outboard
edge thereof and an upstanding first hinge ear at the forward and
rear ends thereof, each of said runners including a depending
second retaining flange along the outboard edge thereof and a
depending second hinge ear at the forward and rear ends thereof,
said first and second hinge ears defining aligned apertures in said
hinge ears pivotally connecting said side rails to said runners, a
flexible seat slidably received between said first and second
retaining flanges and including a looped welt at opposite ends
thereof, and a core member slidably received in each of said welts,
said welts with said core member therein having a total diameter
greater than the maximum opening defined between said first and
second retaining flanges to prevent passage of said welts with said
core members therein between said first and second retaining
flanges regardless of the relative pivotal position of said
flanges.
5. The folding chair construction of claim 4 wherein said first and
second hinge ears are located forwardly and rearwardly of said
first and second retaining flanges and define an opening
therebetween greater than the length of said core members for said
core member and said seat to pass therebetween to be retained by
said first and second retaining flanges.
6. The folding chair construction of claim 5 wherein said side
rails each further includes an upstanding anvil along the inboard
edge thereof and wherein said runners each further include a
depending clamping flange along the inboard edge thereof adapted to
overlie said anvil when said side rail and said runner are pivoted
toward each other to clamp said seat therebetween.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Heretofore, folding furniture such as chairs and stools have used a
jointed bracket connected to the front set of cross legs to hold
the legs in an expanded operative position. Because these jointed
brackets have had little lateral strength, they have frequently
collapsed causing the furniture to be rendered useless. Moreover,
since the bracket was located nearer the pivot point of the cross
legs than the forces exerted on the legs when in use, the brackets
were subjected to high stress levels causing a high wear rate and a
low useful life. The fact that the bracket was located on only the
front set of legs caused the stability of the furniture to be
affected.
Also, most prior art furniture either had the fabric seat
permanently attached to the frame structure or the frame structure
had to be partly disassembled in order to remove the seat. In both
instances, the replacement of the fabric seat was both tedious and
time consuming. This furniture generally had the fabric seat
connected to the frame structure through a relative narrow area in
the vicinity of the welts at opposite sides thereof. Such a
connection caused localized high stress levels which resulted in
early fabric failure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other problems and disadvantages associated with the
prior art are overcome by the invention disclosed herein by
providing a jointed locking bracket for maintaining the furniture
in a set up operative condition which has sufficient lateral
strength to prevent collapse during use and which is located to
produce a stable structure. Moreover, the fabric seat can be
removed easily without partly disassembling the furniture and the
seat is supported along an area spaced from the welts therein to
increase the seat life. The furniture frames are of an all metal
construction to further provide a more stable structure.
The construction described herein is shown in two embodiments, a
chair and a stool. Both embodiments have front and rear sets of
pivotally connected cross legs with cross members extending between
each pair of aligned front and rear legs, the cross members being
connected by a jointed locking bracket to hold the frame in an
operative set-up position. The bracket includes a first U-shaped
link and a second U-shaped link which have a common center pivot
with the other ends of the links pivoted on the cross members. The
links have abutment surfaces which engage each other when the axis
of the common central pivot passes below a line joining the pivots
between the links and the cross members to hold the frame in an
operative set-up position.
Each pair of aligned front and rear legs of the chair are connected
by a side rail at their upper ends which includes a clamping and
support anvil along its inside edge, an upstanding retaining flange
along its outside edge and an upturned hinge ear at each end
thereof adjacent the retaining flange on the outside thereof. An
arm rest assembly is pivotally connected to each side rail which
includes a runner. The runner overlies the side rail in its
operative position and includes a depending clamping flange which
overlies and clamps the fabric seat between it and the anvil, a
retaining flange along the outside thereof which overlies the
retaining flange of the side rail, and a depending hinge ear at
each end thereof adjacent the retaining flange on the outside
thereof. The juxtaposed hinge ears are pivoted in such a way that
the retaining flanges are never spread as far apart as the diameter
of the cores in the end welts of the fabric seat but the fabric
seat will be supported and clamped between the anvil and clamping
flange.
Each pair of aligned front and rear legs of the stool are also
connected by a side rail at the upper ends thereof. The side rails
define an upper curved support surface and are recessed along their
outer edges with a keyhole slot to retain the cored welt of the
fabric seat therein. Thus, the seat can be easily removed and is
supported over a wide area to reduce the stress in the seat.
These and other features and advantages of the invention disclosed
herein will be more fully understood upon consideration of the
following specification and accompanying drawings wherein like
characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout
the several views and wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention
embodied in a chair;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the
invention embodied in a stool;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3 in FIG. 1
showing the jointed locking bracket;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of
the locking bracket;
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 in
FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5 showing the arm
rest assembly being folded;
FIG. 7 is a partial side elevational view showing the hinge
connection of the chair of FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a partial elevational view of the chair of FIG. 1 showing
the back post with the fabric back removed;
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9--9 in FIG.
8;
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10--10 in FIG.
2;
FIG. 11 is a partial elevational view of the stool side rail
showing the fabric seat removed and,
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6 showing the arm
rest assembly in an open condition.
These figures and the following detailed description disclose
specific embodiments of the invention, however, it is to be
understood the the inventive concept is not limited thereto since
it may be embodied in other forms.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the figures, it will be seen that the invention is
embodied in a chair 10 and a stool 11. Both the chair 10 and stool
11 include a frame F with a front set of pivotally connected cross
legs 12 and a rear set of connected cross legs 14. The legs 12 and
14 are pivoted along a common axis A as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. A
cross member 15 connects each aligned pair of front and rear legs
adjacent the lower ends thereof. The cross members 15 are connected
through a jointed locking bracket 16 as best seen in FIGS. 3 and
4.
The jointed locking bracket 16 includes a first U-shaped link 18
including a central web portion 19 and a pair of flanges 20 along
the sides of web portion 19, and a second U-shaped link 21
including a central web portion 22 and a pair of flanges 24 along
the sides of web portion 22. The width of the second link 21 is
such that it will just fit between the flanges 20 of link 18. The
flanges 20 and 24 define aligned apertures 25 through one of their
ends through which a pivot pin 26 is received. The web portions 19
and 22 are recessed at the juxtaposed ends of the links 18 and 21
along with those portions of the flanges 20 and 24 adjacent the web
portions so that the web portions 19 and 22 can be aligned. The
recessed ends of webs 19 and 22 provide abutment surfaces 28 which
engage each other to lock the bracket 16 as will be explained
below.
The opposite ends of flanges 20 and 24 are apertured at 29 which
are aligned with like apertures 29 in pivot brackets 30 attached to
the center of the cross members 15. An anchor pin 31 is received
through each pivot bracket 30 and that end of the link 18 or 21
positioned therein to pivotally connect the bracket 16 between
cross members 15. Thus, links 18 and 21 are pivoted to each other
along a first axis B and to its corresponding cross member 15
through axis C or axis D. The abutment surfaces 28 are arranged so
that they engage each other when the axis B moves a prescribed
distance d below an imaginary line L passing through axes C and D
as seen in FIG. 3 to prevent further downward pivotal movement of
bracket 16 to lock the chair or stool in an operative set-up
position. When the joined ends of links 18 and 21 are forced
upwardly to move axis B above line L, the surfaces 28 will be
pivoting away from each other to allow the chair or stool to be
folded. In order for this arrangement to operate, axes B, C and D
must be parallel to each other and to the common axis A.
Referring specifically to FIGS. 1 and 5-7, it will be seen that a
side rail 31 connects the upper ends of each pair of aligned front
and rear legs 12 and 14. Side rail 31 is a plate having a pair of
reinforcing ribs 32 formed therein along the length thereof to
incorporate sufficient strength in the rail 31 to support fabric
seat 33 without collapsing. An anvil 34 is provided along the
inside edge of each side rail 31 and an upstanding retaining flange
35 is provided along the outside edge of rail 31 to retain 31 to
retain seat 33 as will be explained. An upstanding hinge ear 36 is
provided at the forward and rear ends of the side rail 31 to
pivotally connect the arm assembly 40 to side rail 31. Since the
length of side rail 31 is greater than the depth of seat 33, the
seat will pass between the front and rear ears 36.
An arm assembly 40 is pivotally connected to each side rail 31 and
includes a runner 41 which overlies the side rail 31. Each runner
41 is a plate having reinforcing ribs 42 along the length thereof
similarly to the rail 31 with depending hinge ears 44 at each end
thereof which lie in juxtaposition with the hinge ears 36 of rail
31. Aligned apertures 45 are defined by ears 36 and 44 arranged
along a common axis E and a pivot pin 46 is received through the
apertures 45 in the front ears 36 and 44 with a like pivot pin 48'
received through the apertures 45 at the rear ears 36 and 44.
The runner 41 includes a retaining flange 48 which overlies the
retaining flange 35 when the runner 41 is in its operative set up
position as seen in FIG. 5. A clamping flange 49 is provided along
the inside edge of the runner 41 and overlies the anvil 34 to
selectively clamp the seat 33 between the flange 49 and anvil 34 as
will be explained.
The fabric seat 33 is generally conventional in construction with a
hem 38 along the front and back edges with a looped welt 37 on
opposite ends thereof. A core 39 is carried in each welt as best
seen in FIG. 7 and has a reduced diameter portion at each end
thereof that fits within the hem 38 at the welt 37 to support the
welt 37 at a constant diameter along its length and retain core 39
in the welt.
The spacing between the common axis E and the flanges 35 and 48 is
such that welt 37 with core 39 therein will not pass between the
flanges regardless of the relative pivotal position of the side
rail 31 and runner 41 as best seen in FIG. 12. Thus, the seat 33 is
installed by removing the cores 38, inserting the welts between the
flanges 35 and 48 so that the welts 37 lie outside of the flanges
and re-inserting the cores in the welts. When the bracket 16 is
locked, then the seat 33 will extend between the side rails 31 and
the cored welts 37 will be retained by flanges 35 and 48. The seat
rests on and is supported by the anvils 34 spaced inwardly of the
welts 37 and flanges 49 of runners 41 may be used to clamp the seat
33 to further reduce the stresses at the welt as will be explained.
The flanges 35 and 48 are appropriately recessed at each end
thereof as indicated at R to permit the passage of the hems 38
therebetween as seen in FIG. 7.
Each arm assembly 40 further includes a front upstanding post 50
attached to and extending upwardly from runner 41 and a rear post
51 also attached to the runner 41. An arm rest 52 extends between
posts 50 and 51 with post 51 extending above the arm rest 52 to
mount the fabric back rest 54 thereon as best seen in FIGS. 1, 8
and 9.
Referring specifically to FIGS. 8 and 9, the post 51 is provided
with a plastic positioning member 55 which mounts the back rest 54.
The member 55 is slidably received over the upper end of post 51
and has an upper retaining ridge 56 around its upper end with a
lower retaining ridge 58 around its lower end.
The fabric back rest 54 is constructed similarly to the seat 33
with looped welts 59 at its opposite ends receivable over the
members 55. The height of the back rest 54 is such that it will
just fit between the retaining ridges 56 and 58 and the dimensions
of the frame F are such that when the arm assemblies 40 are in
their operative positions and the back rest 54 has been positioned
over members 55, the back rest 54 will be taut when the locking
bracket 16 is locked to hold the chair in its set up operative
position.
The movement of the arm assemblies 40 toward each other is
prevented by the flanges 49 of runner 41 engaging the anvils 34 of
side rails 31. This also causes the hems 38 of seat 33 to be
clamped by the flanges 49 and anvils 34. When a person leans back
against the back rest 54, this serves to tighten the clamping
action of the flanges 49 and anvils 34.
Referring now to FIGS. 2, 10 and 11, it will be seen that the stool
11 includes a pair of side rails 100, one of which connects the
upper ends of each pair of aligned front and rear legs 12 and 14.
Each side rail 100 defines a support surface 101 along the top
thereof which extends to a key-hole slot 102 that extends along the
length of rail 100.
The seat 33 is also used for the stool 11 but has a smaller size
core 39' received therein which extends between the hems 38 so as
to be received in the key-hole slot 102. The slot 102 has an
enlarged circular portion 104 within which the cored welt is
received and is connected to support surface 100 through a narrow
opening 105 so that a lip 106 is formed on each side of the opening
to retain the cored welt while the seat proper passes through the
opening 105 which faces the outside edge of the rail 100. The
surface 100 has a transitional primary support portion 108 adjacent
the lip 106 which supports the seat 33 in its unloaded condition.
The surface 100 also has a secondary support portion 109 adjacent
the inside edge of the portion 108 which additionally supports the
seat in its loaded condition. Portion 109 conforms to the catenary
curve assumed by the seat when normally loaded so as to prevent
high stress areas within the seat fabric.
Since the seat 33 can be easily slipped out of the slots 102 once
the locking bracket 16 is released, the seat can be easily
replaced. Moreover, the seat life is increased because the stress
level within the fabric of seat 33 is kept to a minimum.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed
herein, it is to be understood that full use may be made of
modifications, substitutions and equivalents without departing from
the scope of the inventive concept.
* * * * *