Improvements in Folding-chairs Chiefly Designed for Use in Theatres.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding-chairs Chiefly Designed for Use in Theatres.
I, LOUIS EDWIN GRANGER of 519 West Congress Street, Chicago, Illinois, United
States of America, Gentleman 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 :-
This invention relates more especially to improvements in opera-chairs in which the
seat and the back are adapted to automatically fold up for the purpose of economizing
space; and it consists of certain novel features in the construction, arrangement, and
operation of the parts, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the skeleton chair frame in an unfolded position.
Figure 2 a similar view with the seat and back upholstered.
Figure 3 a vertical section of the chair showing the back and seat part folded.
Figure 4 a perspective view of the complete chair in a folded position; and
Figure 5 a detached sectional detail of construction.
Referring to the drawings, A represents a box-like pedestal adapted to receive and
inclose the lower half of the seat when in the vertically folded position illustrated in
Fig. 4; B the seat; and the back of the chair.
The seat consists of the center part a and the two wings or side parts a¹ a², hinged
to the respective sides of the center part and adapted to be turned inwardly at right
angles thereto when the seat is converted into a folded position.
The center part a of the seat is provided on the underside, and near its longitudinal
center, with the lugs, a3 a', embracing the corresponding lug, b, secured to the front
top edge of the pedestal. These lugs are perforated for the insertion of the fastening-
pin which secures these parts together and provides for a pivotal movement from
this point when the seat is being converted from one position to the other. This
pivotal point or bearing will be a little past the center of the seat in an outward
direction in order to throw the greatest weight inside and thereby cause the seat to
fold more easily.
The projecting end, 62, formed on and extending backwardly from the center part
of the seat, serves to automatically throw the back end of the seat downward and
bring the same to a vertically folded position when the weight of the person is
removed; the two sides or wings, al a³, being caused to fold inwardly and conform to
the change of position by having contact with the adjacent edges of the top part of
the pedestal or seat frame.
A strip of rubber or other suitable elastic material, 63, is recessed in and projects a
little above the top edges of the pedestal on each side, which protects the sides or
wings of the seat from injury and prevents rattling when the seat is unfolded.
An enlarged section of the rubber and pedestal is shown in Fig. 5.
The extension 62 of the seat frame is slotted as at 64, Fig. 3, and einbraces and rides
on the curved bar D.
The friction-rollers, d d, are journaled in the slotted extension 63 (see Fig. 3.) and
have contact with the upper and lower ends of the curved bar D and facilitates the
movement of the seat in changing positions.
The back of the chair consists of the center part E, and the sides or wings d' d'
having a hinged connection with the center part. These wings are thereby adapted to
fold inwardly at right angles to the center part of the back, thus corresponding to the
position of the seat when the chair is folded.
The upper end of the curved bar D is inserted in the downwardly projecting part d³
of the chair-back and is secured thereto by the pin đª.

page_text: The shoulder end, g, of the part d³ forms a stop for the seat when the same is
unfolded;
the extension, 62, coming in contact with the same, as shown in
Figs. 1 and 2.
The shoulder
provided with the rubber cushion g¹ (see more particularly
Fig. 3) which receives and eases the concussion of the seat."
The lower end of the curved bar D is provided with the stop g? which comes in
contact with the inside of the pedestal and prevents the back of the chair from being
strained backward beyond the properly inclined position when the chair is unfolded.
When the chair is in position for use, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the end of the
curved bar projects outwardly far enough from the front to receive and hold a hat.
When the structure folds up, the wings of the seat are turned inwardly by contact
with the top edges of the pedestal; at the same time the center part of the seat swings
on its pivot; the inner or lower end gradually depressing the bar D and forcing the
same backward, thus simultaneously bringing the back of the chair up to the position
shown in Figs. 3 and 4, by the operation of folding the seat.
The back part of the pedestal structure is provided with the adjustable feet F,
whereby the back part of the chair may be raised or lowered in changing the inclina-
tion of the same.
The feet Fare provided with the elongated slot, h, through which passes the
clamping-bolt which adjustably secures the feet and lower back part of the
pedestal together.
This construction, and arrangement, provides a strong, durable and simple structure
which is easily converted from one position to the other, folds up compactly, and may
be used to a great advantage in all public buildings, or in any place where convenience
and economy of space is an object.
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. In a folding-chair, the combination of a seat, consisting of a center part having
wings hinged to each side and forming part of the seat, and a supporting pedestal
having pivotal connections for said seat, substantially as described.
2. In a folding-chair, the combination with a supporting box-pedestal, having an
open top, of a seat pivoted to the pedestal at or near its front end and having wings
or sides folding inwardly at right angles to the center of the seat, when the seat is
turned up, substantially as set forth.
3. In a folding-chair, the combination with a supporting pedestal, of a chair-back
hinged thereto and consisting of a center part and folding wings hinged to the center
part, substantially as described.
4. In a folding-chair, the combination of the pedestal, a chair-back in three parts
and hinged thereto; the curved bar, connected at its upper end to said back; the seat
formed of a center piece and folding wings, the center part of the seat having an
extension which is slotted to embrace said bar, and provided with friction-rollers
bearing against the upper and lower edges of said bar to ease the movement of the
seat with reference thereto, substantially as described.
;
5. In a folding-chair, the combination with the folding-back; the folding seat and
the pedestal of the curved bar, secured at one end to the back, the inner end of the
seat riding thereon, and the stop, located on the lower end of said bar, substantially
as described.
6. In a folding-chair, the combination with the pedestal, of the adjustable feet
secured to the back part thereof, substantially as described.
7. In a folding-chair, the combination of the pedestal, the folding sides or wings of
the seat structure and the strips of rubber recessed in and projecting a little above the
top edges of the pedestal at each side, substantially as described.
8. In a folding-chair, the combination of the rear extension of the seat; the

page_text: corresponding downward extension of the back part; the curved bar; and the rubber
cushion, attached to the lower end of said back part, substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of August 1889.