A PORTABLE CHAIR
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Millard, of Duncannon Street, Trafalgar
Square, in the County of Middlesex, Military Outfitter, for the Invention
of "A PORTABLE CHAIR."
Sealed the 2nd August 1858, and dated the 9th February 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Millard at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on, the
9th February 1858.
I, RICHARD MILLARD of Duncannon Street, Trafalgar Square, in the
County of Middlesex, Military Outfitter, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "A PORTABLE CHAIR," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of an improved portable chair with a moveable back,
the frame of said chair being constructed of metal with the back of the same
connected to the seat by a hinge, so that the said back can be set to any
required inclination, and also be retained thereat by means of a catch falling
on to a stud placed at each side of the chair beneath the seat. The catch
which is in the form of a quadrant can be easily lifted from the stud, and the
back of the chair adjusted by the occupant to the required inclination (where
it is held by the said catch), without rising from his seat. By lowering the
back of the chair on a level with the seat, and also lengthening the same by
the addition of a foot rest, the whole is formed into a couch, and when not
in use either as a chair or as a couch, can be folded up in a compact form, and
made portable when so required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Millard in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th August 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
MILLARD, of Duncannon Street, Trafalgar Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Military Outfitter, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Richard Millard, Her special licence that I, the said Richard Millard,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Richard Millard, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exer-
cise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle. of Man, an Invention for "A PORTABLE CHAIR,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Richard Millard, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Millard, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention consists of an improved portable chair with a moveable back,
the frame of said chair being constructed of metal, with the back of the same
connected to the seat by a hinge, so that the said back can be set to any
required inclination, and also be retained thereat by means of a catch falling on
to a stud placed at each side of the chair beneath the seat. The catch, which
is in the form of a quadrant, can be easily lifted from the stud, and the back
of the chair adjusted by the occupant to the required inclination (where it is
held by the said catch) without rising from his seat. By lowering the back
of the chair on a level with the seat, and also lengthening the same by the
addition of a foot rest, the whole is formed into a couch, and when not in use

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a side view of the chair when in use; Figure 2, a side view of
the same when folded up; Figure 3, side view of the.chair when drawn out to
form a bed or couch; similar letters of reference are placed upon and denote
corresponding parts, in so far as such parts appear or can be seen at each of
such said figures respectively.
Upon referring to Figure 1, it will been seen that I make the frame A of
the chair of metal, wood, or other suitable material, and attach the back
thereof B to the frame A by a hinge at C, the arms D being rivetted to the
back at E, and supported at their front ends by metallic props F, said props
being attached by their lower ends to the frame A by means of a thumbscrew
G, so that when it is desirable to fold the chair up when not in use (as at
Figure 2), the arms D can be thrown back, and the screw G inserted in the
hole at II in the back B, thereby allowing the whole to lie flat (as at Figure 2).
The back B can be lowered to any required inclination by the occupant
raising the quadrant I to escape from the pin or bar. J, which may extend
across the whole width of the chair, the quadrant I being attached by a bar at
K to a corresponding quadrant on the other side of the chair. To form the seat
of the chair a strong piece of canvas L is attached to the frame A, and the
back of the chair is made either of the same material or a piece of perforated
metal.
When it is desirable to form a couch or bed of this chair it is merely
necessary to lift the quadrant I, pull the back B down in a horizontal position,
and lengthen the whole by a foot rest M, which can also be hooked on to the
frame of the chair when in a sitting posture; at the upper end of the back B
is rivetted another rest N, which is let down to support the back (as at
Figure 3).
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of my said
Invention for a portable chair," together with the best means I am acquainted
with for carrying the same into practical effect, I would remark in conclusion,
that I do not confine myself to the precise shape of the parts herein mentioned

page_text: and shewn in the annexed Sheet of Drawings, as a slight deviation may be
made therein without in any way departing from the principle of my Invention;
but what I claim is the combination of the parts herein described, set forth,
and represented by the hereunto annexed illustrative Sheet of Drawings, and
for the purposes herein mentioned.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Millard, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
RICHARD MILLARD. (L.S.)
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE, Patent Agent,
4, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross.