Improvements in Theatre and like Chairs.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Nov., 1894-Accepted, 29th Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Theatre and like Chairs.
I, ALBERT REUBEN DEAN, of Bull Street, in the City of Birmingham,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of chairs and seats principally used in
theatres, concert halls and other like places of amusement, and has for one of its
objects, a self-folding seat, and for another of its objects, a self-straightening back.
Now as space in such places of amusement is of the greatest importance, the
chairs or seats are usually arranged in close parallel rows, with intervening
gangway spaces coming between each contiguous row. As the gangway spaces are
thus limited and as the backs of the chairs or seats make them more so by over-
hanging the said spaces, persons getting to and leaving the seats have a difficulty
in doing so even when the occupants of adjacent seats rise to allow them to pass.
By my invention, the seats are not only made to fold automatically on a person
rising, but a sloping back is made to automatically take an upright position, so that
space is made both at the front by the self-folding of the seat and also at the rear
by the self-straightening of the back.
In constructing a theatre chair according to my invention, I take two uprights
or sides alike unto standards, of about the height of the arm-rests, and I pivotedly
mount the frame of the seat between the said sides, and counterpoise the back
either by additional metal in the framing or by otherwise weighing or loading the
same, whilst the pivots, which are excentrically arranged, pass through bearings in
the upright sides, and the front underside of the seat framing (when the latter is in
a horizontal or using position) comes against stops or ledge stops directed from the
inner sides of the frame standards.
The back, which consists of a frame, pivoted about its middle, is mounted within
opposite bearings at the inner sides of the frame standards at points below the arm
rests and above the seat. The back, which is alike unto a double-armed lever, has
its upper part upholstered upon its inner side whilst the end of its lower part or
half is heavily counterpoised so as to make the said back swing slightly forward
until it takes a perfectly vertical or erect position with the counterpoise part
resting under the seat.
It is understood that the said back is so hung that it admits of being swung
backwards or forwards to only a limited extent, and on the same being swung
backwards to a slight degree, the movement of the same is limited by its coming
against a stop.
The seat may be sensitively counterpoised so that a small weight, such as a
book, placed upon the front of it, will be sufficient to retain the saine in its using
position.
Under ordinary conditions, a person requiring to use the chair has simply to
nfold the seat and then sit and lean rearwards, when the back takes its proper
nclination. To make more room for a person passing along the gangway behind
he chair, the person seated has only to sit erect, when the back straightens itself
nd falls to the person, thereby leaving that part of the gangway at the back of the
hair clear.
On a person rising the seat folds up parallel to the back by the weight at its end
ravitating to its lowest position.

page_text: In another form of my invention, I may make the seat unfold by the action of
the counterpoised back, and then on a person being seated upon a chair the said
back resumes its normal condition as a counterpoised back only, that is, the same,
when not controlling the seat, can take an inclined position, or it may take a
vertical position when not being pressed upon. This is accomplished by making
inclined lugs of the one part impinge against like lugs of the other, or by connecting
the said parts together by links.
The seat may be counterpoised as well as the back, so that when at liberty the
one automatically folds and the other comes straight.
As a further form of my invention the alternative device may be employed by
which the sitting down upon the seat places the back in an inclined position.
Dated this 1st day of March 1894.
ALBERT REUBEN DEAN,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.
Improvements in Theatre and like Onairs.
I, ALBERT REUBEN DEAN, of Bull Street, in the City of Birmingham,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what mauner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
This invention relates to that class of chairs and seats principally used in
theatres, concert halls and other like places of amusement, and has for one of its
objects, a self-folding seat, and for another of its objects, a self-straightening back.
Now as space in such places of amusement is of the greatest importance, the chairs
or seats are usually arranged in close parallel rows, with intervening gangway spaces
coming between each contiguous row. As the gangway spaces are thus limited
and as the backs of the chairs or seats make them more so by overhanging the said
spaces persons getting to and leaving the seats have a difficulty in doing so, even
when the occupants of adjacent seats rise to allow them to pass.
By my invention, the seats are not only made to fold automatically on a person
rising, but a sloping back is made to automatically take an upright or erect
position, so that space is made both at the front by the self-folding of the seat and
also at the rear by the self-straightening of the back.
In constructing a theatre chair according to my invention, 1 take two uprights
or sides, alike unto standards, of about the height of the arm-rests, and I pivotedly
mount the frame of the seat between the said sides, and counterpoise the back
either by additional metal in the framing or by otherwise weighting or loading the
same, whilst the pivots, which are excentrically arranged, pass through bearings in
the upright sides, and the front underside of the seat framing (when the latter is
in a horizontal or using position) come against stops or ledge stops directed from
the inner sides of the frame standards.
The back, which consists of a frame, pivoted about its middle, is mounted within
opposite bearings at the inner sides of the frame standards, at points below the arm
rests and above the seat. The back, which is alike unto a double-armed lever, has
its upper part upholstered upon its inner side, whilst the end of its lower part or
half is heavily counterpoised, so as to make the said back swing slightly forward
until it takes a perfectly vertical or erect position, with the counterpoise part
resting under the seat.
It is understood that the said back is so hung that it admits of being swung
backwards or forwards to only a limited extent, and on the same being swung
backwards to a slight degree, its movement is limited by its coming against a stop

page_text: Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents, in side elevation, a theatre
chair, having, or being provided with, a self-folding seat and a self-folding back,
constructed and operating according to my invention.
The said seat is shown in the position which it assumes when in use.
Figure 2 represents a like elevation as Figure 1, with parts in vertical section,
and with the seat and back folded.
Figure 3 represents a front elevation of the said chair, with the mounting parts
shown in section, in order to exemplify the pivots of both the back and seat.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in Figures 1 to 3 of
the drawings.
a, a are uprights or standards, which may be terminated at their upper ends by
arm-rest brackets a' and arm rests a², and at their lower ends by feet a³, which are
secured to a floor or surface b by pins, bolts or other means. c is the seat, with the
frame c', coming between the standard sides a, and being mounted upon opposite
and fixed pivots a³, carried by and directed from the inner sides of the standards a,
and taking into the socketted bearings c², attached by upright brackets or plates c³,
to the opposite sides e, of the seat framing. A counterpoise weight e, is let
within the back e, of the seat, so that when the said seat is unoccupied, it self-folds
into the position represented in Figure 2.
Rest stops a and (if necessary) back stops a, may be provided. The seat comes
against the latter when folded, as represented in Figure 2, and against the former
when in use, as in Figure 1.
The back consists of a frame d, or of sides d', and top and bottom connecting
parts 2, 3, upon the inner faces of which opposite sides, combined fixed pivots and
stops d, d, are arranged, which pivots d', take into bearings a', situated within
the two opposite sides of the standards a, whilst the stops ³, comic against
like stops a³, formed solid with the metal of the standards and partially coming
around the bearings and having are clearances between themselves and the stops on
the pivots, to admit of the swinging of the said back, whose lower part ³, is
counterpoised by the bar, or by a separate weight, whilst the back part 6, is
upholstered at d.
It will be understood that the seat part is of little less breadth than the inside of
the back frame, so as to admit of the said seat folding therein.
The seat may be sensitively counterpoised so that a small weight, such as a
book, placed upon the front of it, will be sufficient to retain the same in its using
position.
Under ordinary conditions, a person requiring to use the chair has simply to
unfold the scat, then sit, and lean rearwards, when the back takes its proper
inclination. To make more room for a person passing along the gangway behind
the chair, the person seated has only to sit erect, when the back straightens itself
and falls to the person, thereby leaving that part of the gangway at the back of
the chair clear.
On a person rising the seat folds up parallel to the back, by the weight at its
end gravitating to its lowest position.
In another form of my invention, I may make the seat unfold by the action of
the counterpoised back, and then on a person being seated upon a chair the said
back resumes its normal condition as a counterpoised back only, that is, the same,
when not controlling the seat, can take an inclined position, or it may take a vertical
position when not being pressed upon.
This is accomplished by connecting the said parts together by links.
The seat may be counterpoised as well as the back, so that when at liberty the
one automatically folds and the other comes straight.
Figure 4 represents a seat constructed according to this form of my invention.
a are the standards or supports, a¹ is the bracket for supporting the arm rest a²;
c is the self folding seat, pivoted at a', to the side supports a, and having a counter-
poised rear end and rest and back stops a, a, whilst the opposite sides are
provided with links g, connected at their inner ends at g', to the opposite sides c*,

page_text: of the seat c, rearward of the pivots a', upon which the said seat is mounted
and at their other or outer end 92, (which are slotted at g³) to pivots or studs d¹º,
standing from the sides d', of the frame d, which may be connected at top and
bottom at d², d³, and pivotedly mounted at , with like stops as in the previous
arrangement.
The lower end d³, is counterpoised, so as to admit of the back straightening itself
or becoming erect, on the seat which is also counterpoised, folding.
Assuming that a person requires to be seated, it is only necessary to press
backwards the folding back d, when the seat will be automatically unfolded through
the medium of the link g. On a person rising, then the seat self-folds, and so also
does the back, and by the folding of the seat, the back end of the slot of the link
is brought into the position represented in Figure 4. ready again for unfolding.
Assuming however that the seat is unfolded only, then the back remains quiescent,
and the slots in the coupling links make an idle traverse, and the back is inclined
by a person sitting upon the seat and reclining.
As a modification, the back need not be counterpoised, but may be brought back
into its folding position by the link on the folding of the seat, and, as a further form,
the back may be inclined by the turning down of the seat. This is accomplished
by not having slotted ends to the links, but only plain holes taking over the seat,
so that the folding by hand of the seat slopes the back or vice-versa.
Instead of employing links upon both sides of the frame one only upon one side
of the chair may be used.
Figure 5 represents a side elevation of a further form of my invention. In this
arrangement, the folding and unfolding is accomplished through the medium of
toothed lugs or parts carried by the axes of seat and lug respectively and intergearing
with one another.
a are the uprights, e the folding seat, pivoted at at, and with the said pivots, or
the seat sides, carrying pinions or toothed lugs a", engaging with the teeth of
toothed lugs or sectors a¹², made fast upon the axes d', upon which the back is hung
or mounted. The seat is counterpoised at c, whilst the back may be counterpoised
at d, although this is optional, as a single counterpoise upon one of the components
only is necessary.
On the seat being unfolded and turned upon its pivots at, the pinions a" are
rotated and through them the back is inclined rearwardly through the medium of
the toothed lug or sector a¹².
On a person rising from the seat, the same then self-folds, and with it the back,
as represented.
It is understood that the seats may be only partly counterpoised so that the
slightest touch of the hand will be sufficient to place and retain them in their
desired positions.
Instead of employing folding seats, I may employ fixed seats with counterpoised
and pivotedly mounted backs.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. In theatre and like chairs making the seats and backs self-folding, by
pivotedly mounting the same, and fitting counterpoise weights to or within the
after ends of their frames or parts, substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly. In the backs of theatre and like chairs, making the same folding or
self-folding by mounting, pivoting and counterpoising them, substantially as described
and set forth.
Thirdly. In theatre and like chairs, the improvements in the construction,
arrangement and combination of the parts of the same, substantially as, and for the
purpose as, described and set forth in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
Fourthly. In independently folding seats and backs, or combined folding seats
and backs, of theatre and like chairs, operating, controlling or working the same

page_text: through the medium of a slotted link or links, or a plain link or links, arranged and
combined with respect to the said movable parts in the manner and by the way
substantially as described and set forth.
Fifthly. In theatre and like chairs, the combination with combined folding
5 seats and backs, of operating and controlling mechanism, substantially as described
and set forth in Figure 5.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1894
ALBERT REUBEN DEAN,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.