Improvements in the Construction of Spring Seats, Back Rests, and Foot Rests.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 9th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Spring Seats, Back Rests,
and Foot Rests.
I, JOHN HARRINGTON, of 398 Fulham Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
In carrying my invention into effect in the construction of a seat, I employ a
lower and an upper frame, which are hinged together along their front edges, or I
hinge the upper frame to any existing seat frame or support. The upper frame is
preferably webbed and may be upholstered in any desired manner or a cushion
may be placed thereon. The upper frame rests at its back portion on springs
which are preferably formed of Hat steel fixed at one end to the forward part of
the lower frame or seat support and free at their rear ends, their front ends being
supported at such a height in relation to the rear part of the seat support as to
leave ample room for the play of such springs. The hinges may be fixed to
supporting springs, which may be also of flat steel but somewhat lighter than the
springs to support the back of the upper frame, or the hinges may be supported by
other description of springs.
The upper frame consists of a front and back rail connected together by cross
rails, which are so depressed as to prevent the possibility of the webbing coming
into contact therewith.
If desired the hinges may be connected directly with the lower frame or support
in lieu of being carried by springs as before described.
Back rests and foot rests are made in a similar manner.
Dated bus on day
JOHN HARRINGTON,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
JOHN HARRINGTON,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Spring Seats, Back Rests,
and Foot Rests.
I, JOHN HARRINGTON, of 398 Fulham Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
In carrying my invention into effect in the construction of a seat, I employ a
lower and an upper frame, which are hinged together along their front edges,
or I hinge the upper frame to any existing suitable seat frame or support.
The upper frame is preferably webbed and may be upholstered in any desired
manner, or a cushion may be placed thereon.
The upper frame is supported at its back portion on springs, which may be of
flat steel fixed at one end to the forward part of the lower frame or seat support
and free at their rear ends, their front ends being supported at such a height in
relation to the rear part of the seat support as to leave ample room for the play of
such springs.
The hinges may be connected directly with the lower frame or support, or
they may be fixed to supporting springs, which may be also of flat steel but
somewhat lighter than the springs to support the back of the upper frame, or the

page_text: hinges and the back of the upper frame may be supported by other description
of springs.
The upper frame consists of a front and back rail connected together by
cross rails, which, when not fixed at the ends of the front and back rails, are
so depressed as to prevent the possibility of the webbing coming into contact
therewith.
Back rests and foot rests are made in a similar manner.
And in order that my said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings, more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side or end view of a seat constructed according to my invention,
and
Figure 2 is a plan of the lower frame and a portion of the front rail of the upper
frame.
Figure 3 is a plan of the lower frame and Figure 4 is a vertical section on the
line 1. 1. of Figure 3 of a chair showing a different form of spring for supporting
the back of the upper frame.
Figure 5 is a plan of the lower frame and Figure 6 is a vertical section of a
chair of similar construction to that shown at Figures 3 and 4, but supported
by a central pivot around which it can swivel instead of being supported on
feet.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
Referring to the seat shown at Figures 1 and 2, a is the upper frame, which is
webbed across on its upper side, as is usual with chair seats, and it is upholstered
in any desired manner; or such upper frame a may be used without the
upholstering shown as fixed thereto, in which case it may be webbed or the area
of the same may be otherwise covered or partially covered and a cushion placed
thereon.
bis the lower frame consisting of front and back rails connected together by
cross rails.
ccare hinges by which the front rails of the upper and lower
frames ab are connected together. d, d, d, are flat steel springs, which are
connected at their front ends to the front portion of the lower frame b, whilst
their rear ends support the rear of the upper frame u. e is a leather or other
strap or band fixed to the lower frame and connected to the upper frame by a
loop passing over a stud f, or in other suitable manner. This strap or band serves
to limit the upward play of the seat or upper frame a, and to prevent vibration of
the same when not occupied.
The lower frame 6 is fixed to a seat support by screws passing through the
eyes b', or otherwise as may be found convenient, or it may be loosely placed on a
seat support.
Referring to the chair represented at Figures 3 and 4, the upper frame a is
hinged to a front rail 6 carried by blocks b³ fixed to the lower part of the frame b,
and the rear of the seat frame a is supported by springs d d formed of rod steel and
fixed one near each side rail of the lower frame b.
These springs dd have each an upper and a lower arm connected together by
vertical coils d; their upper arms are fixed rigidly to a cross bar a fixed to the
underside of the frame a, and their lower arms are each hinged to the lower edge
of a leaf or plate d', which latter is hinged at its upper edge to a plate fixed to
the back rail of the lower frame b. The lower arms of these springs are preferably
connected together by a cross rod d*.
Referring now to Figures 5 and 6; the chair represented in these figures is
constructed exactly similar to that shown at Figures 3 and 4, with the exception
that instead of being supported on feet, it is supported so as to turn around a
vertical axis. For this purpose the frame 6 has cross rails 6, to which a plate fis

page_text: fixed, and this plate has a stud or axis f¹ which enters a socket formed in a
block g fixed to the flooring.
If desired the hinges c c of either of the arrangements shown may be supported
by springs somewhat lighter than those supporting the rear parts of the frames a.
The frames, instead of being formed of wood as herein described, may be constructed
of metal in any convenient manner.
Back rests and foot rests may be constructed in a similar manner to the seat
shown at Figures 1 and 2. My improved seats are particularly applicable to
railway and other carriages.
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 :-
1. The improved constructions of spring seats, back rests, and foot rests, sub-
stantially as herein shown and described.
2. In spring seats, back rests, and foot rests, an upper frame hinged along its
front edge to a lower frame and supported at its rear by springs, substantially as
herein shown and described.
1....... 1000
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JOHN HARRINGTON,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
JOHN HARRINGTON,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.