Improvements in Folding Stools, Seats, Chairs, and Tables, specially intended for Use at Counters in Retail Shops.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24.h Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 31st Jan., 1895-Accepted, 30th Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding Stools, Seats, Chairs, and Tables, specially
intended for Use at Counters in Retail Shops.
LLEWELLIN MORGAN LEWIS of Avondale House, Erdington in the County
of Warwick, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has for its object the providing of a simple and convenient stool,
seat chair, or table (specially intended for use at counters in bars restaurants, and
retail shops) having all the steadiness and safety of an ordinary stool, seat, chair
or table when in use, but so constructed that it may occupy the least possible space
when not required for use.
A triangle of cast iron, wood, or other suitable material is mounted on castors at
the extremities of its base. This triangle is held in a perpendicular position by
means of a rod (of cast iron wood or other suitable material): one end of the rod
being pinned to the centre of the base or horizontal side of the triangle: the other
end being hinged to the base of a counter or wall; a strut which springs from the
rod at a suitable angle, and which is made to rest on the apex of the triangle (or
prong legs) forming (when the triangle is swung at right angles to the cross rod)
a third support or leg.
A bolt, suitably made, is inserted in a slit jaw of cast iron or other suitable
material, which jaw is affixed to the underneath side of a top or seat (being a disc
of wood or of other suitable shape and material) and pinned therein in such a
manner as to allow the top or seat to assume a position either at right angles or
parallel to the bolt.
The bolt, having a suitable top or seat attached in the manner described, is then
threaded vertically through the end of the strut, and the end of the bolt seated
into the apex of the triangle (or prong legs) to which it is rivetted.
In order that the seat or top may form a secure and firm seat it is necessary
that the triangle (or prong legs) should be always at right angles to the cross
rod from which springs the strut or third support or leg when the top or seat is in
a horizontal position: that is a position for being sat upon. And in order that the
stool, seat, chair or table (which it will be seen is allowed to swing at the radius of
the cross rod which is hinged to the base of counter or wall) may fold compactly
against counter or wall, it is necessary that the triangle (or prong legs) should
swing parallel to the cross rod when the top or seat is pressed into a vertical
position.
I attain this object in the following way-
At the extremities of the slit or jaw (to which the top or seat is attached and in
which one end of the bolt is pinned as before described) I make a projection or
stop. I seat the jaw in a segment of a socket which projects vertically from the
top of, and forms part of or vertical extension of the strut; the sides of this
segment of a socket forming curved inclined planes, on which the projection or
stop at either end of the slit or jaw rests. This segment of a socket being
suitably made, and the bolt (having top or seat attached to one end) being properly
threaded through it, and rivetted to the triangle (or prong) as before mentioned, it
is impossible to raise the top or seat into a horizontal position without causing the
triangle (or prong) to swing on the castors into a position at right angles to
the cross, rod from which springs the strut or third support or leg, because the

page_text: projection or stop at one extremity of the jaw, resting upon the segment of a
socket, must necessarily slide round the curved incline of the segment of a socket;
and in consequence the top (or seat) bolt and triangle (or prong legs) must twist to
the required position. Also it is impossible to press the top or seat into a vertical
position without top (or seat) bolt and triangle (or prong legs) twisting into a
position parallel to the cross rod, because the projection or stop at the other end of
the slit or jaw rests upon the other inclined side of the segment of a socket.
Dated this 21st day of August 1894.
Improvements in Folding Stools, Seats, Chairs, and Tables, specially
intended for Use at Counters in Retail Shops.
I, LLEWELLIN MORGAN LEWIS, of Avondale House, Erdington, in the
County of Warwick, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
.
-
• My invention has for its object improvements in folding stools, seats chairs, and
tables, especially intended for use at counters in retail shops by which I provide a
simple and convenient stool, seat, chair, or table for use at counters such as those
in bars of restaurants and retail shops and which has all the steadiness and safety
of an ordinary article while at the same time it may be easily and quickly folded
up so as to occupy the least possible space when not in use.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practise I have appended hereunto a double sized sheet of drawings upon
which I have fully illustrated the nature of my said improvements applied to a
stool-seat together with the mode of carrying the same into effect and from which
its application to other such articles will be readily understood.
Figure 1, is a side elevation of the stool when in position for use.
Figure 2, is a front elevation of Figure 1.
Figure 3, is a sectional elevation through the joint A, on line 1 Figure 2.
Figure 4, is also a sectional elevation through the joint A but taken in the
reverse direction to Figure 3, i.e. on line 2 Figure 1.
Figure 5, is a reduced plan of Figures 1 and 2 showing the stool in position
for use.
· Figure 6, is a similar plan to Figure 5 but showing the stool during the
operation of folding.
Figure 7, is also a similar plan to Figure 5 but showing the stool folded up.
For convenience of illustration the strut c¹ is not shewn in Figures 2, 5, 6 and 7.
In carrying my invention into effect I mount the seat E upon the supporting ball
pivot A which is slotted at a to form a jaw into which the head of the standard B
is fitted and secured by the pin F. The jaw A which is formed with an outer
configuration of a ball is seated in the segment cup or socket which forms part
of the supporting bracket C and strut c. Projecting stops a' and a³ are formed
upon the slotted ball A and work against or slide upon the cam incline which is
formed around the seating cup c³ of the supporting bracket or frame C. By this
means the one action of turning over the seat E into a vertical position causes the
standard B to turn upon the pivots and c as shown by Figure 6 until the
standard B is practically parallel with the supporting bracket or frame C as shown
by Figure 7 which thus allows of the said frame and seat being closely folded
against the counter or other erection to which it is fixed at K. Square shoulders 68
are formed upon the head of the standard B as also corresponding square
shoulders a upon the jaw A so that when the seat is horizontal any weight upon

page_text: the seat presses the jaw down until the square shoulders meet thus rendering the
seat firm and steady in position. This arrangement renders it necessary to slightly
raise the seat before folding to allow of which the slot 64 and clearance a' is
provided. It will be readily seen that the turning of the table E into the horizontal
position will by the reverse action of the stops a and as upon the inclined cam cas
before described bring the standard B into a position at right angles to the
bracket C as shown by Figure 5. To assist the action of folding, castors,
preferably of the ball form are provided upon the feet of the standard B at bi
and b. I do not confine myself to the use of the shoulders 68 and a* or to the
exact details of the connecting joint between the standard B and seat E so long as
the combined action herein described is obtained.
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 :-
1st. The improvements in folding stools, seats, chairs, and tables especially
intended for use at counters in retail shops, substantially as herein set forth and
shown upon the accompanying drawings.
2nd. In folding stools, seats, chairs, and tables the mode of and means for
operating the standard B by the seat or table E or vice-versa, substantially as
herein set forth and shown.
3rd. In folding stools, seats, chairs, and tables the connecting and operating
joint substantially as and for the purpose herein described and shown by Figures 3
and 4.
Dated this 30th day of 1885.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.