An Improved Chair.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 5th June, 1896-Accepted, 11th July, 1896
An Improved Chair.
I, FRITZ ULRICH, of Holzminden, in the Duchy of Brunswick, in the German
Empire, 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 :-
The present invention relates to a chair constructed in such a manner that the
slightest alteration in the position of the person seated therein will cause the chair
to adjust itself to a corresponding extent so as thereby always to provide an
extremely comfortable seat.
The chief results or feature of this improved construction consists in that the foot
rest, the arm-rests, and the back are connected together in such a manner that
those parts execute exactly corresponding movements. The subject of the
invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which;-
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the chair in one position, and
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the chair in another position.
The construction and arrangement are as follows;-The two frames of the
feet a a, a¹ a and b b, b¹ bare pivotted together at the points c c. The
back d d d is pivoted to the bars a a at the points e. Further, the arms ff are
connected to the bars d d by means of two sets of links h h, h¹ h¹ that are pivoted
at the points gg gg. To the arms ff there are fastened by means of screws or
the like angularly bent iron or metal pieces i. These pieces i are hinged or
pivoted at the points k to the correspondingly bent iron pieces which are pivoted
to the bars b by means of the bolts or pins m.
To the extension or prolongation of the iron pieces there is fixed the
frame n n n' of the foot rest. The foot rest proper p p p is pivoted by means of
pins o to the bars n n in such a manner that when the foot rest is in its lowest
position, its side bars p p will bear upon the bar n'. A strong material or fabric
is stretched tight across the foot rest frame for the purpose of affording a com-
fortable support for the legs. A fabric r is attached hammock-fashion to the
bar d' of the back and to the upper bar of the seat proper. Further, a
prolongations of the fabric r is stretched seat-fashion from the upper bar b¹ to the
upper bar a'. This fabric s has for its object to afford a secure support to the foot
frames a a a¹ a¹ and bb bb (which are capable of movement about the points c)
when the said foot frames are extended widely apart.
If now. a person be seated on the fabric r and if such person has placed his arms
upon the arm f of the chair, and his feet upon the footrest p', then if he shall alter
his position ever so slightly, the following will then take place;-The pressure
exerted either upon the back of the chair, or upon an arm of the chair, or upon
the footrest, will cause the back of the chair and also the arms and the foot rest
frame to move together or in correspondence. This is allowed by the peculiarly
movably jointed connection of the back, arms and foot rest frame, which are
capable of moving simultaneously about their pivots.
Figure 2 illustrates the chair in its position of greatest inclination, and it
will be readily perceived that by reason of the peculiar pivoted connection of
the parts coming into play, and also in consequence of the hammock like
suspended or supported fabric, the most comfortable position of the body is
ensured because all the parts of the chair conform to and follow up the slightest
movement of the body.

page_text: The several parts are hinged or pivoted together in such a manner as to allow
of the entire chair being folded up so as to be easy and convenient for transport.
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. A chair capable of adjusting itself to any position of the body and
characterized by the following features, the back (d d'd) being hinged or pivoted
to the arms ff by means of the links h h that are adapted to pivot about g g¹;
and the said arms ff being hinged or pivoted to the foot rest frames nn n', by
means of the angularly bent iron pieces i and which are capable of pivoting
about the points k and m; and said pivoted or hinged connections being such
that the three said parts (back, arms and footrest frames) can move in corre-
spondence and thus conform to every position of the body of the person seated in
the chair.
2. In the chair adapted to adjust itself to any position of the body of the
sitter, the arrangement of the angularly bent iron pieces i and which are
capable of pivoting about the points k and m so that the several respectively
rotating parts can be folded into one another and thus take up the least possible
-space.
Dated this 5th day of June 1896
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.