A NEW OR IMPROVED CHAIR CON- VERTIBLE TO OTHER ARTICLES OF FURNITURE
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Burch, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED CHAIR CON-
VERTIBLE TO OTHER ARTICLES OF FURNITURE."
Sealed the 10th June 1879, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, and
..
1878
Sealed the 10th June 1879, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, and
dated the 3rd December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Burch at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd December 1878.
JAMES BURCH, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
OR IMPROVED CHAIR CONVERTIBLE TO OTHER ARTICLES OF FURNITURE."
" A NEW
This Invention relates to a new or improved chair convertible to other articles
of furniture, and has for its object to render the said chairs not only convertible
from a chair into a bed, as is done with those at present in use, but also convertible
into a crib, a rocking cot, or a right or left-hand couch; also to combine with it a
reading desk.
All the parts of the chair may be folded up one upon the other, so
as to occupy but little space.
The chair consists of a frame-work of iron forming the seat, and another forming
the back, and to these are attached legs and arms, which can be opened out and
fixed in position by rods, folding catches, or equivalent means.
Attached to the back of the chair is a hinged framing with legs, which being
unfolded when the chair back is lowered, the chair is converted into a full length-
bed. Hinged to the front of the seat part, and to the sides of both the seat part
and the back part, are flaps or framings, which when the back of the chair is turned
down level with the seat may be turned up at right angles and form the sides and
foot-end of the crib; the head-end of the crib being formed by turning up the part
which constitutes the extension to form a bed. The back-part is furnished with
folding legs to sustain it when turned down. Attached to the legs of the seat part
are curved "rockers," which may be turned down, and the crib will rest upon these

page_text: and the legs at the back, which are connected by (or for which may be substituted)
a curved strip, so that the crib resting on these "rockers" or curved pieces may be
rocked to and fro. The "rockers" may be fastened in their opened out or folded
position by loops or other fastenings. A couch may be formed by turning down the
back part level with the seat part; as in forming a cot; but raising only the end
piece upon the back part to form the head of the couch, and the two pieces at
either the one or the other of the sides of the seat and back parts, according to
whether a right or left-handed couch is required.
A reading desk may be combined, being jointed to arms connected with one, of
the arms of the chair, the parts of the arms and of the desk being so hinged
together that they can all be folded up and lie under the arm of the chair when
not in use.
The parts when turned into any of their various positions are secured by pins,
snaps, or loops, or other convenient fastenings.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Burch in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th June
1879.
JAMES BURCH, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
OR IMPROVED CHAIR, CONVERTIBLE TO OTHER ARTICLES OF FURNITURE."
"A NEW
My said Invention relates to a new or improved chair, convertible to other
articles of furniture, and has for its object to render the said chairs not only con-
vertible from a chair into a bed, as is done with those at present in use, but also
convertible into a crib, a rocking cot, or a right or left hand couch. All the parts
of the chair may be folded up one upon the other, so as to occupy but little space.
The chair consists of a frame-work of iron, forming the seat, and another forming
the back, and to these are attached legs and arms, which can be opened out and
fixed in position by rods, folding catches, or equivalent means.
Attached to the back of the chair is a hinged framing with legs, which being
unfolded when the chair back is lowered the chair is converted into a full length
bed. Hinged to the front of the seat part and to the sides of both the seat part
and the back part are flaps or framings, which when the back of the chair is turned
down level with the seat may be turned up at right angles and form the sides and
foot end of the crib, the head end of the crib being formed by turning up the part
which constitutes the extension to form a bed. The back part is furnished with
folding legs to sustain it when turned down. Curved pieces, constituting rockers,
are or may be attached to the legs of the seat part, which rockers may be turned
down and fastened by loops or otherwise, and the crib will rest upon these and the
legs at the back, which are or may be furnished with similar rockers, so that the
crib resting on these rockers may be rocked to and fro. The rockers may be
fastened in their opened out or folded position by loops or other fastenings. A couch
may be formed by turning down the back part level with the seat part, as in
forming a cot, but raising only the end piece upon the back part to form the head
of the couch and the two pieces at either the one or the other of the sides of the
seat and back parts, according to whether a right or left handed couch is required.
A reading desk may be combined, being jointed to arms or rods connected with
one of the arms of the chair, the parts of the arms and of the desk being so hinged
together that they can all be folded up and lie under the arm of the chair when
not in use.
The parts when turned into any of their various positions are secured by pins,
snaps, or loops, or other convenient fastenings.
And in order that iny said Invention may be properly understood I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used, or practically carried into effect, reference being had to the
annexed Sheet of Drawings and to letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say:
Figure 1 represents my improved convertible chair in front elevation; and
Figure 2, the same in side elevation. The frame-work of iron forming the seat of
the chair is marked A, and that forming the back of the chair is marked B. The
seat part A is furnished with legs a, a, and the folding arms b, b, are attached to
the seat and back parts in the ordinary way. Attached to either side of the seat
part A are flaps or framings c, c, and attached to the front part is the flap or
framing d; they all being binged to the said seat part, so that they can be folded
down thereupon. Similarly hinged to the back part B are the flaps or framings e
at the sides and the flap or framing fat the top; and to this part B, and also to the
flap fare attached folding legs marked g and h respectively. In order to convert the
chair into a bed the strut pieces i which retain the arins of the chair in position are
put back, and the back part B of the chair turned down, the legs g being unfolded for
the said back part B to rest upon; the flap is also folded out and rests upon the legs h,

page_text: and the parts A, B, and f, being all in a horizontal position, constitute a bed, as
illustrated in side elevation in Figure 3, and plan in Figure 4. Supposing the
parts to be in the position, Figures 3 and 4, in order to form a crib the flaps c, c,
and e, c, are turned up to form the sides of the crib, and the flaps d and fare
turned up to form the foot and head of the crib respectively; Figure 5 represents.
the crib so formed in side elevation. The flaps are fastened together when raised
into any of their various positions by means of pins, as at j, in Figure 5, passed
through holes in the ends of two adjacent flaps. Or other convenient means of
fastening the flaps together may be adopted.
In order to form a couch (supposing the parts to be in a position forming a bed)
the flap is turned up as in making a crib, as are also the flaps cand e on one side
only, according as to whether a left or right handed couch is required. The flap d
is or may be turned down in line with the seat part to form an elongation of the
couch, being supported in this turned down position by projections upon the seat
part. When in the form of a bed the flaps c, d, or e, may be turned up to retain
the pillows in place. Under one of the arms of the chair is or may be hinged a
folding arm or support, as shewn at in Figure 6, which may support by a set
screw, or otherwise a reading desk l, as shewn in full lines. The said reading
desk when not in use may be slidden down the arm k and folded up under the
arm of the chair, and supported there by the book at m, as shewn in dotted lines
in Figure 6.
In order to convert the crib into a rocking cot all the legs may be provided with
curved strips, which can be turned down, as shewn at n, with regard to one pair of
legs in Figure 7, and secured in that position by a loop or loops, as at p, upon the
legs being slipped over the ends of the said curved strips, which lie parallel with
the legs. The crib thus rests upon these rockers, and can be rocked to and fro as a
rocking cot. These rockers may be dispensed with if desired.
"
The chair is of course capable of being folded up into a small compass by folding
the back part upon the seat part and turning up the legs a, first disconnecting them
by unhooking the tie-rod a'.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said In-
vention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be
used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
ine by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
The new or improved convertible chair constructed so as to be convertible into
the various other articles of furniture, essentially as herein-before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Burch, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.