Improvements in Theatre and Analogous Chairs.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Theatre and Analogous Chairs.
I, JAMES CHARLES DALMAN, of Chunk Foundry, River Street, in the City of
Birmingham, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention has relation to chairs or seats for use in theatres and other
places of amusement, and for analogous uses, and has for its object, to provide a
new construction of folding or tip-up seat, and also to obtain an improved method
of mounting such seats.
The improved seat consists of a frame supporting two or more seats and com-
prising two.ends or uprights with end bars terminated by a back rail and with
the end brackets having seatings or supports adapted to receive the ends of a
flat-topped rail, bar or angle iron, upon which a part of the underside of the seat,
forward of the hinge joint, comes and seats itself. Thus, each seat is provided
near the middle of its underside with eyed brackets through which, a rod or axis,
disposed behind the aforesaid rest rail, and carried by the end supports of the
framing, passes, so that when the seat is turned down into its position of use, the
underside of it comes upon and is supported by the rest rail, but when it is
turned up or out of use, then it inclines backwards and is stopped by the rear
underside end of the seat coming against the rail or the hanging underside edge
of the rail.
The axis may either turn with the seat, or it may be stationary with the
bracket eyes turning around it, whilst in order to prevent vibration when the
seats are turned back to allow a clear passage for persons passing in front spring
or rubber buffers may be employed at the contact parts, or a spring clip may be
attached to the rest rail against which the inner underside edge of the seat comes
and is thereby held.
The rest rail may be of any suitable form and may act in common for two or
more seats, or each single seat may have a separate rest rail carried by inde-
pendent supports.
JAMES CHARLES DALMAN,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
-
This invention has relation to chairs or seats for use in theatres, concert halls
and other places of amusement, and for analogous uses, and has for its object, to
provide a new construction of folding or tip-up seat, and also to obtain an
improved method of mounting such seats.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a front elevation of a series
of three folding or turn-up seats constructed and mounted in accordance with
my invention. This view shows the seats turned down or in their position of
use.
Figure 2 is an underside plan with the seats shown in the same positions as
Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a view showing the seats turned up and with parts of the framing
in section.
Figure 4 shows an end view of Figure 1, with the seats turned down.
Figure 5 represents a cross section of Figure 2, taken upon the dotted line,
whilst Figure 6 shows another cross section, but taken upon the dotted line...
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several
figures of the drawing.
This form of the improved seat which is particularly applicable for use in the
pits and like parts of theatres, consists of a frame supporting three fold-up
seats and comprising two ends or uprights, with end bars 71, terminated by
a back rail, and with the said end brackets having supports 7, adapted to
receive the ends of a flat-topped rail, bar or angle iron c, upon which a part of
the underside of each seat, forward of the hinge joint, comes and takes its bear-
ing when in use. Thus, each seat is provided near the middle of its under-
side with eyed brackets d, through which, a long rod or axis o, common to the
whole of the seats of the series, and disposed behind and parallel to the aforesaid
rest rail, passes, with its ends e¹, being carried by the end supports of the
framing, so that when the seats are turned down into their position of use as
shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, their undersides come upon and are supported by
the rest rail, but when it is turned up or out of use (see Figures 3, 5 and 6)
then they may be preserved in this position by stops or projections f. extending from
the eyed, bearing brackets d, on the undersides of the seats coming against the
inner edge of the horizontal web el of the rest rail, as clearly shown in Figure 6,
although I wish it to be understood that in some cases, the extend to which the
seats may be turned up or tilted backwards may be limited by their front edges
coming against the back rail 2, or against a supplementary rail provided for the
purpose. The elongated axis is centrally supported by a bearing bracket g,
attached to, and attending inwardly from the middle of the rest rail, and may
either be stationary, with the bracket eyes turning around it as shown, or it
may be arranged to turn with the seats in folding, whilst in order to prevent
vibration when the seats are turned back to allow a clear passage for persons
passing in front, spring or rubber buffers may be employed at the contact parts,
or a spring clip may be attached to the rest rail against which the inner under-
side edge of the seat comes and is thereby held.
The rest rail may be of any suitable form and may act in common for two or
more seats, or each single seat may have a separate rest rail carried by inde-
pendent supports.
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:-
:
First Folding or turn-up theatre and like seats, in which the seats are
arranged in series of two or more between suitable end standards or frames, and
are mounted to turn or fold with or upon a common axle or rod arranged under-
neath the seat, substantially as described and set forth.

page_text: Secondly: Folding or turn-up theatre and like seats, consisting of a series of
two or more seats arranged between suitable end standards or frames, and
mounted to turn upon a common axle rod disposed underneath the seats which
are supported in their turned down positions by a rest bar or rail arranged
forward of their joints and in their turned up position by suitable stops, or by
resting against a part of the framing, substantially as described and set forth.
Thirdly In folding theatre and like chairs or seats arranged in series of two
or more, the construction, arrangement and combination of the several parts,
substantially as described and set forth.
Dated this 21st day of October 1800
JAMES CHARLES DALMAN,
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.