An Improved Adjustable Easy Chair or Lounge.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Sept., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 16th June, 1899-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1899
An Improved Adjustable Easy Chair or Lounge.
I, JOSIAHI HARPUR SYDNEY MAY, of 2, Stranmillis Park, Belfast, in the County
of Antrim, in Ireland, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:
My invention relates to chairs or lounges for sitting in or reclining upon and
consists in providing means for the adjustment thereof to various positions of
the head, trunk thighs and legs independently and to consequent changes of the
posture and pressure of those parts at the will of the person using the article.
For this purpose I hinge the back at its base to the frame of the chair or
lounge so that it may easily be changed from a vertical to an inclined or hori-
zontal position, or the reverse, and I furnish it at the top with a head rest which
is hinged or pivoted to it and may be likewise changed from one incline to
another as desired or required.
The seat of the article is only of sufficient depth to carry the lower end of
the trunk, and underneath this seat I employ horizontal cross bars bearing two
vertical pivots each having attached, at or near its top, a flanged plate to which a
narrow longitudinal frame to support the thighs independently of each other is
pivoted and capable of moving horizontally and vertically so that each knee
may be shifted in the same directions.
To each longitudinal frame at its outer end and upon each side of it I
attach a hinged or pivoted arm or lever capable of being tilted vertically and
carrying between them a leg rest which is so connected with them as to swing
freely and adapt itself to the direction of the leg of the person occupying the
chair or lounge and according to the length of his or her thigh.
Under each thigh support there is a frame making with it a triangular figure,
through a slot at the bottom of which a rack for the purpose of adjustment
passes, such rack being hinged at one end to the vertical pivot. And from the
levers supporting the leg rests another rack passes through a higher slot in
the same triangular frame for the same purpose. It will be seen that the thigh
and leg supports with the parts described for maintaining their positions and
the racks for adjusting them are borne by and turn horizontally with one or
other of the vertical pivots.
The position of each movable part of the chair or lounge is adjusted and secured
independently, by means of a single rack. The rack in each case locks the mov-
able part connected with it by falling by its own gravity or by the pressure of
a spring and is unlocked by an elastic or other cord or chain, by a lever or by
a pneumatic or electric agent at the will of the person occupying it.
And in order to aid the adjustment, each movable part when free is lifted or
moved by a spring or springs so as to follow the movements of such person.
1000
HUGH HYNDMAN,
10, Chichester Street, Belfast, Agent for Applicant.

page_text: I, JOSIAH HARPUR SYDNEY MAY, of 2, Stranmillis Park, Belfast, in the County
of Antrim, in Ireland, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to chairs or lounges for sitting in or reclining upon and
consists in providing means for the adjustment thereof to various positions of
the head, trunk, thighs and legs independently and to consequent changes of the
posture and pressure of those parts at the will of the person using the article.
For this purpose I hinge the back, at its base, to the frame of the chair or
lounge so that it may easily be changed from a vertical to an inclined or hori-
zontal position, or the reverse, and I furnish it, at the top, with a head rest which
is hinged or pivoted to it and may be likewise changed from one incline to
another as desired or required.
The seat of the article is only of sufficient depth to carry the lower end of
the trunk, and underneath this seat I employ horizontal cross bars bearing two
vertical pivots, each having attached, at or near its top, a flanged plate to which a
narrow fongitudinal frame to support the thighs independently of each other is
pivoted and capable of moving horizontally and vertically, so that each knee
may be shifted in the same directions.
To each longitudinal frame, at its outer end and upon each side of it, I
attach a hinged or pivoted arm or lever capable of being tilted vertically and
carrying between them a leg rest which is so connected with them as to swing
freely and adapt itself to the direction of the leg of the person occupying the
chair or lounge and according to the length of his or her thigh.
Under each longitudinal thigh rest there is a frame making with it a tri-
angular figure, through a slot at the bottom of which passes an adjustable rack
hinged at one end to the vertical pivot; or such rack may be hinged to the
lower part of the frame and passed through a slot in the vertical pivot. And
upon the levers supporting the leg rests another adjustable rack passes through
a higher slot in the same triangular frame.
It will be seen that the thigh and leg rests, with the parts described for
maintaining their positions and the adjustable racks, are borne by and turn
horizontally with one or other of the vertical pivots.
The position of each moveable part of the chair or lounge is secured inde-
pendently by means of a single rack which locks the moveable part connected
with it by falling, by its own gravity or by the pressure of a spring, and is
unlocked, by an elastic or other cord or chain, by a lever, or by pneumatic or
electric agency at the will of the person occupying it.
The adjustment of the moveable parts to the postures of such person is aided
by springs.
And in order that my said invention may be more fully understood I shall
now proceed to refer to the figures on the several sheets of drawings hereunto
annexed, the same letters of reference indicating the same or corresponding parts
of said chair or lounge throughout all the figures.
Fig. I. is a longitudinal vertical section through the middle of an easy chair
showing (amongst other parts thereof) a portion of the frame carrying a shallow
fixed seat, with the back hinged or pivoted to the chair or seat frame and
surmounted by a head rest hinged or pivoted to it; one of the thigh rests
hinged or pivoted between flanges on a plate in front of the seat and capable
of being moved or oscillated horizontally with a vertical pivot to which it

page_text: it attached; the parts supporting such plate; a pyramidal frame, attached under-
neath the thigh rest, with a rack pivoted thereto for locking the thigh rest at
any desired inclination vertically; the leg rest hinged by a pivot or rod between
two similar hinged or pivoted arms depending from the thigh rest so as to swing
freely and adapt itself to the length and incline of the limb of the person using
the chair or lounge.
Fig. II. is a front view of the chair as shown in Fig. I showing (among other
parts thereof) the frame of the chair; the shallow seat; the frames of the
back and head rests; the sides of a thigh rest hinged or pivoted to the flanges
of one of the plates; the parts supporting such plate and the pivot on which
the rest is moved or oscillated with it.
Fig. III. is an enlarged front view of parts of the chair showing the sides
of a thigh rest in the same position as in Figs. I and II; the pyramidal frame
attached to it and the rack pivoted to the lower part of such pyramidal frame;
the frame of the leg rest and the arms between which it is swung and by which
it is hung from the thigh rest; the lever and spring by which the leg rest is
raised and the rack by which it is locked when brought into the position
desired.
Fig. IV. is a detail showing an end of a slab forming the base of the back
rest and a bar or link which is bolted thereto at one end and pivoted at the
other end to plates bolted to the side of the chair.
Fig. V. is a plan of the flanged plate to which the thigh rest is pivoted.
Figs. VI. VII and VIII are enlarged details showing the means for adjusting
the head rest and locking it in the position desired, and
Fig. IX. is an enlargement of a spring attached to the cord or chain for
unlocking or releasing the rack of the back, thigh or leg rest when a change of
position is desired.
The frame of the chair is indicated by the letters A, A, representing the
sides, and a, a uprights between the front and back thereof, connected by the
cross rails C, C1, C2, C3 and C4, the rail marked C being secured at either end
to an upright and forming a bottom for the shallow fixed seat; and, for the
purpose of keeping the upholstery of the seat clear of the movement of the thigh
The sides of the
rest, a rail C may be attached in front of the cross rail C.
back, B, are connected, at base and top, by the cross bars, B2 and 133, and the
cross bar or slab, B2, is connected at each end to the adjacent upright, a, by
a link, B¹, screwed or bolted at one end to it and pivoted at the other to such
This
side at a point in front of the back and some distance above the seat.
latter pivot may be formed by passing a pin through two metal plates, m, bolted
to each side of the upright bar, a. The sides of the back rest frame may be
strengthened by side stays, B, and, if desired, an additional crossbar, 135, may
be employed for tacking the cover to. By placing the pivots in the position
indicated I centre the back rest so that the head rest hereinafter described will
always be in the same position relatively to the head of the person occupying
the chair or lounge, whatever may be the inclination of the back rest. Under-
neath the back edge of the bar or slab, 132, I hinge or pivot a rack, R, the other
end of which passes through a slot in a vertical bar, 0, fixed to the cross rails ()
and C¹. A bolt or pin, b, across the slot in the vertical bar, O, engages a notch
in the rack, R, and holds the back rest firmly in any required position. A cord
or chain, c, is attached to the free end of the rack for the purpose of unlocking
it, and setting the springs, S, on opposite sides of the back rest, each being
attached at one end to a pin between the plates, m, above and behind the pivot
on which the link, B', centres and at the other end to a pin at the opposite
extremity of the link, B', free to raise the back rest upwards.
Thus the person occupying the chair or lounge by pulling the cord or chain
attached to the rack, R, may disengage the rack and while so disengaged, with
the aid of the springs S or by controlling them, alter the inclination of the back

page_text: rest at pleasure and by again dropping the rack upon the bolt or pin, b, may
secure it when the desired position has been arrived at.
The head rest, surmounting the back rest, consists of a frame, H, H¹, H¹
and H2, of which the sides H', H', may be in an elliptical form. For adjusting the
inclination of the head rest I attach it to the sides of the back rest, B, by two
internal metal strips, h, h, fastened within the sides, H', H', and pivoted, at
their lower ends, to the sides of the back rest, B, at i, i, a little below the top
cross bar, B³, so that the whole head rest may move on a centre outside it and
give even support to the back of the head in all positions.
In order to keep the metal strips, h, h, clear of the stuffing of the back rest I
enclose the lower portion of such strip h, within a triangular casing, k, fastened
within the side of the back rest, B, and, if it be desired to keep the head rest of
the full width of such back rest, I introduce blocks of wood between the metal
strips, h, h, and the sides H, H, as shewn.
The arrangement for locking the inclinations of the other parts of chair or
lounge, by dropping a rack upon a bolt or pin, are unsuitable to the head rest.
The special means which I employ in the latter case are more fully illustrated
in Figs. VI, VII and VIII. For these purposes I fix a block of wood, W, on
the top rail, 133, of the back rest, B, and to this block, W, I attach a latch, Y,
by a pivot at or near its centre and preferably guided by a slotted metal
plate, w, on the end of the block, W, and to the lower rail, H2, of the head
rest I attach a flanged rack or plate, X, as shewn in Fig. VII notched on the
upper side and standing out at right angles from the rail, H2, so as to cross
the latch, Y, near to the slotted metal plate, w, at the end of the block, W.
I provide the free end of the rack or plate, X, with a projection or stop to
prevent its passing beyond the range of the latch so as to let the head rest too
far forward.
To operate the latch, Y, I form the end farthest from the rack or plate, X,
as shewn in Fig. VIII, with a bend and I pass a small spiral wire, y, through
holes in that end and through the lower extremity of a small spiral spring, Z,
which is suspended from the top of the cross bar, B3, and has attached to its
lower extremity a cord or chain, 3, passing down within the side, B, of the
back rest through a small pulley on the cross rail, C, up to the arm of the
chair. When the cord is pulled, with the head still leaning upon the head rest,
the spring wire, y, will be bent and, when the head is lifted, the latch, Y, will
be disengaged by it from the rack or plate, X, to enable the head rest to be
adjusted. When the cord is again released the spring Z, will restore the latch, Y,
to one of the notches in the rack or plate, X.
A spring, S¹, at the back of the head rest presses against the flange of the
rack on plate, X, and the top bar, B³, of the back rest so as to force the head
rest forward. This spring may be kept in position by pins or studs of wood or
metal, one attached to such flange and the other to the top bar, B³.
The whole frame work supporting each thigh and leg is attached by a hinge
or pivots, p, to flanges at the ends of a horizontal T shaped plate, t, which is
fixed to the top of a vertical pivot, P, capable of turning horizontally in
borings in the cross rails, C and C₁. The plate, t, is stayed by a wooden strut, t¹,
bolted at, 6, its lower end to the vertical pivot, P. The thigh rest turns
vertically on the pivot, p, and has its bearings in the flanges of a metal plate, t²,
fastened internally to its sides T, T, which may be connected by a cross rail, 13,
behind the pivot, p. The plate, t2, also serves to prevent the thigh rest deviating
from its rectangular form. A spring, S, having a straight prolongation at
each end, one of which bears against the metal plate, 12, while the other passes
through the plate, t, encircles the pivot, p, and raises the thigh rest and the
parts connected therewith when desired. A light cross rail, t, between the
sides, T, T, at their other ends will carry the upholstery at that end.
To support the thigh and leg rests I construct a frame of an inverted

page_text: pyramidal form underneath the thigh rest. This frame consists at the back of
a metal strap, v, bent double, with the legs diverging, and secured at the upper
ends respectively between the thigh rest side, T, and the internal metal plate, 12,
by a pin or screw passing through them. The front of the frame is a tapered
board or plate, V, the edges of which may be of any desired form but preferably
lying between the sides, T, T, of the thigh rest and having shoulders passing
beneath and to the outer edge of such sides, T, T. A recess or perforation in
the back of the board or plate, V, receives the bend of the metal strap, v, and
within this bend I place the fixed end of the rack, R', the pivot of which, e,
passing through the board or plate, V, secures both the bend of the metal strap
and the fixed end of the rack in position. The free end of the rack, R', moves
in a slot in the vertical pivot, P, in which a pin, 6', engages one of the notches of
the rack and thereby locks the thigh rest, T, in any desired position, while a
stud at that end prevents the rack from passing out of such slot.
A cord or chain, c', is attached to the free end of the rack, R¹, for unlocking
it in like manner as before described in connection with the rack, R.
The leg rest, L, L, consists of a rectangular frame swung upon a bar or
pivot, d, below the centre thereof and working in bearings carried by a plate of
metal, g, turned up at each end and having the turned up portions extended like
arms, g', g', and reaching to the sides T, T, of the thigh rest. The upper ends
of such arms, g, g', turn on pins or studs in the centre of the outer ends of the
thigh rest sides, T, T, which pins or studs are preferably passed through small
metal plates screwed to the inner sides, T, T, below the cross bar, t.
At the lower end of the plate, g, two perforated projections, g², g², provide
bearings to carry the bar or pivot, d, on which, as a centre, a metal plate, j, j,
and the leg rest swing, the metal plate, j, j, being furnished with bent ends
screwed to the leg rest sides, L, L, internally. The top of the leg rest should,
at all inclinations, be capable of passing clear of the cross rail, t, of the thigh
rest. Below the metal plate, g, are two other projections, g³, g³, carrying a
pin, e, on which two small plates, 2, 2, turn and between the outer ends of
these plates, 2, 2, the rack, R2, for locking the leg rest in position, is secured
by a bolt at the end and two small screws in the middle, providing an open
space at that end of the rack, R2, for the passage of the lever, 7, by which the
leg rest is raised vertically. The free end of the rack, R², moves in a slot in
the lower end of the board or plate, V, and locks the position of the leg rest by
engagement with the pin, 62, and is unlocked by the aid of a cord or chain, c³,
in the same manner as the back and thigh rest racks, R and R'. It also is
provided with a stud to prevent its passing out of such slot.
Thus the leg rest, in addition to its horizontal motion with the thigh rest,
has two independent motions, one vertically round the end of the thigh rest and
locked by the rack, R2, and the other a free swing on the bar or pivot, d.
The upper end of the lever, 1, passes through a slot near the top of the board
or plate, V, and turns on a pin in this slot. From its short end, beyond the
pin, depends a spring, S3, which is secured at its opposite extremity by a pin
fixed in the lower slot of the board or plate, V, a little above the rack, R2, and
the back of the board or plate, V, is recessed to receive such spring. The
lower end of the lever, /, travels on a roller carried by the pin, e¹, between the
plates, 2, 2.
The arrangement which I have described of the lever, l, and spring, S³, besides
obviating the difficulty of placing a spring in any other position to raise the
leg rest will give it a greater leverage when it is shorter and has (the leg rest
being higher) at the same time more work to do. To give the greatest benefit,
the upper end of the spring, S3, should be bent on one side and the short end
of the lever, l, should be bent up as much as possible to bring the fulcrum of
the lever and the two points of application of the spring as nearly in a line as
practicable without pressing the side of the spring against the lever when the leg
rest is at the lowest position.

page_text: For the purpose of supporting the heel, when necessary, I provide a slide, f,
(Fig. I) which passes through recesses in the lower cross rail of the leg rest and
between the plate, j, and the bar or pivot, d, with small blocks of wood screwed
underneath the plate, j, for guides. A ring may be attached to the upper part
of the slide to enable the person in the chair to move it up or down.
The notches in the racks, R, R' and R2, and the plate, r, are cut so as to hold
against the pressure of the back, thigh, leg or head in one direction and the
springs, S, S2, S3, and S1, respectively, in the other directions and should be
made an easy fit for the pins.
Near the lower ends of the cords, c, c1, c2, attached to the racks, R, R¹ and R³,
for the purpose of disengaging them as described, a spiral spring may preferably
be introduced in each case and fastened at its opposite ends to points in the
cord sufficiently apart from each other to allow the spring to be stretched without
overstraining it, as shewn in Fig. IX. By this arrangement it is only when the
pressure of the part of the sitter upon the appropriate rest is being lifted off
that the rack becomes disengaged and the spring, S, S2, or S3, begins to operate.
The chair or lounge may be upholstered according to taste and with or without
springs in the back and seat.
The lines, u, u, u, u, suggest the shape of the middle of each part when
upholstered.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it to be under-
stood that I do not claim as of my invention nor the exclusive use of an easy
chair or lounge having its parts independently capable of adjustment to various
positions of the head, trunk, thighs and legs of a human body when sitting or
reclining thereon except when the same is constructed and employed substantially
in the manner hereinbefore described, nor do I claim the rests, racks, springs,
pivots, bars, rails and frames or any of the separate mechanical parts constituting
my improved adjustable easy chair or lounge, but I declare that what I claim
is:
1. The use in easy chairs or lounges of cords or chains, such as C, C1 and C2,
in combination with racks, such as R, R and R2, constructed and employed
substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
shewn in Fig. 1 of the drawings hereunto annexed.
2. The use in easy chairs and lounges of a rest for each thigh separately and
independently adjustable to different lateral and vertical positions of the thighs
constructed and employed substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-
before described and shewn in the drawings hereunto annexed.
3. The use in easy chairs and lounges of leg rests depending from separately
and independently adjustable thigh rests and capable of swinging free therefrom
preferably below the centre thereof constructed and employed substantially in
the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shewn in the
drawings hereunto annexed.
4. The use in easy chairs and lounges of a flanged plate oscillating horizontally
upon a vertical pivot constructed and employed substantially in the manner and
for the purposes hereinbefore described and shewn in the drawings hereunto
annexed.
5. The use in easy chairs and lounges of a pyramidal frame constructed and
employed substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described
and shewn in the drawings hereunto annexed.
6. The use in easy chairs and lounges of a lever, 7, combined with a spring, $3,
constructed and employed substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-
before described and shewn in Figs. I and III of the drawings hereunto annexed.
7. The use in easy chairs and lounges of an adjustable back rest linked to the
sides thereof constructed pivoted and employed substantially in the manner and

page_text: for the purposes herein before described and shewn in Figs. I and II of the
drawings hereunto annexed.
8. The use in easy chairs and lounges of triangular boxes or casings a block
of wood carrying a latch guided by a metal plate and a flanged rack or notched
plate attached to the head rest at right angles and a spring between the rack or
plate and back rest constructed and employed substantially in the manner and
for the purposes hereinbefore described and shewn in the drawings hereunto
annexed.
9. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting my improved adjust-
able easy chair and lounge constructed and employed substantially in the manner
and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated by the figures on the
several sheets of drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 15th day of June 1800
HUGH HYNDMAN,
2, Wellington Place, Belfast, Agent for Applicant.
HUGH HYNDMAN,
2, Wellington Place, Belfast, Agent for Applicant.