An Improved Folding Chair.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1898-Accepted, 28th May, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Folding Chair.
I, DANIEL WITSCHER, Manufacturer, of Lennep, Rhenish Prussia, in the German
Empire, 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 the accompanying drawings is shown a readily adjustable and collapsible
folding chair, Figs. 1, 2 and 2 being side views of the chair when in use, while
Fig. 3 represents the chair when folded to occupy a minimum of space. The side
rods of the back are extended below the pivot and are here connected by one or
two scissor-blade-shaped or other suitable links s, with the support or leg f of the
chair. The scissor or shear blades s of the arrangement here shown are revoluble on
the pivots m and n,which join them to the back and foot rest, respectively, and they
are provided with a stud or stop o which keeps them from folding upwards and,
in fact, retains them in the condition of supports, wherein they are depicted in
Figs. 1 and 2. The arm rests a are movably attached to the stays c, which are
secured to the trestle frames 6 61. The stays may be provided with sleeves en-
closing the arm rests, or-as is assumed to be the case in the form of chair repre-
sented in the drawings-they may each, by means of a stud concealed from view,
engage in a groove or slot which in the downward direction is reduced in width
by a metal plate or any other suitable means; or other provisions may be made
for their displacement or adjustment; the arm-rests for example, being pivoted
or linked to the stays; or again, the arm rests may be made adjustable from the
back of the chair. The chair may be folded up completely, and in the folded
condition forms an article considerably reduced in length. When it is desired
to fold the chair, the shear blades are moved close together; the back is turned
down, and the seat is brought to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3.
In the arrangement shown, as the chair is folded, the shear blades move into
the folded position of their own accord; and when the chair is to be opened for
use, the said shear blades have to be spread out into the supporting position; by
which arrangement the manipulation of the chair is materially simplified; when
a person sits down on the stretched out chair (Fig. 2), the stays c which are stopped
from moving further by the end of the groove, prevent the back of the chair from
inclining further rearwards, and the foot rest f from rising, whilst, however, the
chair is unoccupied, if the back be further turned down in the rearward direction,
the resulting strain sustained by the pieces c, draws back the legs b somewhat,
when the shear blades will meet the cross piece q, as, in consequence of the pivotal
movements of the back and foot rest, they rise to a horizontal position (the said
cross piece 9 at the same time serving to support the seat); or they may impinge
on special stops provided for the purpose; whereby the links in the middle will
be so far depressed, that the position of the pivot will be below the line supposed
to extend from one point of attachment (m) to the other (n)-see Fig 2³. Hence
the said shear blades-which, in addition to what is stated above sustain the
weight of the foot rest-will turn downwards on their pivots; when the back rest
may at once be turned round in the rearward direction and the legs b b¹ may be

page_text: so moved into contact with each other, that the whole structure shall take the
shape illustrated in Fig. 3. When it is desired to erect the chair once more in
the operative position, the back is raised and the trestle frames are moved apart.
When the back has been fully restored to its forward position, the bent portions s¹
of the shear blades s touch either the cross piece above referred to, or the stops t
whereby they are raised back into the position shown in Fig. 1. When the back
is once more forced rearwards, the foot rest will rise at the same time.
g
The frame for resting the feet upon, is also adjustable, being fitted with pins,-1
guided in slots ft. The framer is provided with stops which prevent down-
ward sliding or swinging.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A folding chair having detachable links similar to shear blades situated
under the seat and serving to connect the chair back with the foot rest, and mov-
able arm rests, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
2. In a folding chair of the type specified, a set of supporting links similar to
shear blades s provided with a bend s adapted to impinge against stop pins t when
the chairback is turned forward, and thereby to lift the links until arrested by the
stops o, the said links being also adapted to impinge against a stop 7 and to fall
down when the chairback is turned backward for folding the chair, so as to avoid
the necessity of lifting and releasing the supports by hand, substantially as
described.
3. A folding chair constructed and adapted to operate substantially as described
with reference to the drawings.
1. 1000
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
Agents, 37 & 39, Essex Street, Strand, London.