IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING CHAIRS CARRIAGES AND TABLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I JULIUS BECK, Manufacturer, of Lemnitzhammer near Lobenstein, in the
principality of Reuss, Gerinan Empire, do hereby declare the nature of the said
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING CHAIRS CARRIAGES AND TABLES" to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in folding chairs, carriages and tables.
According to my invention the seat of the chair the height of which is adjustable
rests directly upon the axis of rotation of the chair legs, and is so connected with
the legs and the back of the chair by means of joint bars as to give the back of the
chair a degree of inclination always suitable to the height of the seat; that is to
say, when the seat is raised to its highest position, the back is vertical or nearly so,
and when the seat is lowered, the back will incline backwards in accordance
therewith.
A notable feature in this construction of chair is that when the scat thereof is
raised or lowered the position of the axis of rotation of the chair legs is altered in
relation to the edges of the seat, and the latter are therefore provided with longi-
tudinal slots in which the axis of rotation moves backwards or forwards to the
required extent.
The seat is fixed in position by locking in position each side of the seat with one
pair of legs, and the joint bars connecting these two parts. This can be effected in
practice in several ways.
The seat edges are provided with longitudinal slots in which moves the axis of
rotation of both pairs of legs. The rear end of the edges of the seat is connected
with the lower end of the hind pair of legs by means of joint bars, so that these
three parts therefore form a triangle, the angles of which can be altered at will, and
on one side, by sliding the axis along the slots. The further forward the axis is
moved in the slots, the more upright will the legs and the joint bars become, and
consequently the seat of the chair will be correspondingly raised.
If on the contrary the axis of rotation be moved backwards in the direction of
the rear extremity of the slots, then the said triangle will become more and more
obtuse, and finally the parts will close up perfectly level, and can then be altogether
placed in between the front pair of legs.
For the purpose of locking the parts in position bars may be attached to the seat
dges in such a manner as to admit of their rotation and the said bars are connected

page_text: by means of a rod which, according to the position of the seat, fits into one of a
series of notches cut in the front pair of legs, and thus gives rigidity to the whole
when the seat is bearing a weight.
The locking of the parts of the chair may be effected by means of lateral teeth
upon rails which are placed close underneath the slots in the edges of the seat;
these teeth catch in a notch, which is cut in a rail attached to the front leg. The
rails upon which are the teeth are attached by one end to the edges of the seat in
such a manner as to admit of rotation, and at the other end they are connected by
means of a spring, which constantly presses the rails in an outward direction. For
the purpose of allowing of the adjustment of the chair, the said spring is drawn
towards the front, so that the teeth of the rails may release the front legs.
Or the locking of the parts of the chair may be effected by cutting a number of
slanting notches directly in the upper edge of the slot, for the axis of rotation to
drop directly into the slot, according to the various positions whereby rigidity of
the whole arrangement is effected by the weight put upon the chair seat by a person
occupying the chair.
It is obvious that instead of the herein before described arrangements for locking
the parts in position any other suitable means may be employed for the purpose
those I have described being merely given as illustrations of the principle.
In order that the back of the improved chair shall invariably and automatically
assume a degree of inclination suited to the varying height of the seat, the back of
the chair does not as is usually the case form an extension of the front pair of legs,
but I provide therefor a separate frame, the lateral edges of which are connected
with the seat edges and with the prolongations of the front legs in such a manner
as to allow of rotation; so that above the seat itself there is another arrangement
of triangles the angles of which are changed by the sliding of the axis of rotation
in a similar manner to that hereinbefore described. The back of the chair will
therefore become more upright in proportion as the seat is raised; but if the case
be reversed, that is if the seat be lowered in position, the back will still keep
sufficiently upright to secure a comfortable support for the person sitting in the
chair. This would not be the case if the back of the chair consisted of a direct
prolongation of the front legs.
It is obvious that the hereinbefore described arrangement of jointed parts could
be made available for children's folding carriages or, if the back rest be taken
away and the front pair of legs prolonged, for folding tables and seats generally.
Did the orth dow of N11004

page_text: Improvements in Folding Chairs, Carriages, and Tables.
I JULIUS BECK, Manufacturer, of Lemnitzhammer near Lobenstein, in the
principality of Reuss, German Empire, do hereby declare the nature of the said
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING CHAIRS, CARRIAGES, AND TABLES
33 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 to improvements in folding chairs, carriages and tables.
According to my invention the seat of the chair the height of which is adjustable
rests directly upon the axis of rotation of the chair legs, and is so connected with
the legs and the back of the chair by means of joint bars as to give the back of the
chair a degree of inclination always suitable to the height of the seat; that is to
say, when the seat is raised to its highest position, the back is vertical or nearly so,
and when the seat is lowered, the back will incline backwards in accordance
therewith.
A notable feature in this construction of chair is that when the seat thereof is
raised or lowered the position of the axis of rotation of the chair legs is altered in
relation to the edges of the seat, and the latter are therefore provided with
longitudinal slots in which the axis of rotation moves backwards or forwards to
the required extent.
The seat is fixed in position by locking in position each side of the seat with one
pair of legs, and the joint bars connecting these two parts. This can be effected.
in practice in several ways.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will proceed to describe
the same by reference to the accompanying drawing in which figures 1 and 1º,
represent elevations of a folding chair constructed according to my invention the
parts being fixed in position by means of bars or stays jointed to the seat and
resting in notches in the front legs of the chair; figure 2 is a similar view to
figure 1 but shewing the parts of the chair arranged so as to be locked in position
by means of lateral teeth on the chair seat which catch in notches on a rail attached
to the front legs of the chair; figure 2º is a sectional plan of the underside of the
chair and figures 2b, and 2, are details of parts of the chair drawn to a larger
scale; figure 3, is an elevation shewing a chair in which the parts are fixed in-
position by means of notches in the upper edges of the longitudinal slots-which
notches receive the axis of rotation; the chair is also shewn provided with arm
rests.
Figure 4 is a side elevation shewing the improvements applied to the construction
of a child's carriage; figure 5 is a side elevation shewing the improvements applied
to the construction of a child's chair.
Similar letters in all the figures represent similar parts.
I will first describe my invention by reference to figures 1 and 1ª. The edges of
the seat a, are provided with longitudinal slots b, in which moves the axis
of rotation c, of both pairs of legs d, and e, The rear end of the edges of the
seat a, is connected with the lower end of the hind pair of legs e, by means of joint
bars f, so that these three parts therefore form a triangle c, g, h, the angles of which
+

page_text: can be altered at will, and on one side, by sliding the axis c along the slots b. The
further forward the axis c, is moved in the slots b, the more upright will the legs d,
and e, and the joint bars f become and consequently the seat a of the chair will be
correspondingly raised.
If on the contrary (the parts for example being in the position shewn in figure 1),
the axis of rotation c, be moved backwards in the direction of the rear extremity
of the slots b, as shewn in figure 14, then the said triangle c, g, h, will become more
and more obtuse, and finally, if the axis of rotation c, be continued to be moved in
the said direction, the parts a, e, and f, can be closed up perfectly level, and can
then be altogether placed in between the front pair of legs d.
For the purpose of locking the parts in position, bars i, may be attached to the
edges of the seat a, in such a manner as to admit of their rotation as shewn and
the said bars i, are connected by means of a rod k, which, according to the position
of the seat a fits into one of a series of notches cut in the front pair of legs d, and
thus gives rigidity to the whole when the seat is bearing a weight.
As shewn in figures and 2, the locking of the parts of the chair may be
effected by means of lateral teeth upon rails, which are placed close underneath
the slots b, in the edges of the seat; these teeth catch in a notch m, as shewn in
the detached enlarged elevation and plan views at figurés 2b, and 2°, respectively,
which notch is cut in a rail n, attached to each of the front legs d. The rails Ɩ,
are attached by one end to the edges of the seat a, in such a manner as to admit
of rotation and at the other end they are connected by means of a spring o, which
constantly presses the rails 7, in an outward direction. For the purpose of allowing
of the adjustment of the chair, the spring o, is drawn towards the front, so that
the teeth of the rails 7, may release the front legs d.
Or as shewn in figure 3 the locking of the parts of the chair may be effected by
cutting a number of slanting notches or ratchet teeth directly in the upper edge of
the slot b, for the axis of rotation c, to drop directly into according to the various
positions, whereby rigidity of the whole arrangement is effected by the weight put
upon the chair seat a, by a person occupying the chair.
It is obvious that instead of the arrangements hereinbefore described and
illustrated for locking the parts in position any other suitable means may be
employed for the purpose, those I have described being merely given as illustrations
of the principle.
In order that the back of the improved chair shall invariably and automatically
assume a degree of inclination suited to the varying height of the seat, the back of
the chair does not as is usually the case form an extension of the front pair of
legs d, but I provide therefor a separate frame, the lateral edges of which are
connected with the edges of the seat a, and with the prolongations of the front
legs d, in such a manner as to allow of rotation; so that above the seat a, there is
another arrangement of triangles the angles of which are changed by the sliding
of the axis of rotation c in a similar manner to that herein before described.
back P, of the chair will therefore become more upright in proportion as the seat a,
is raised; but if the case be reversed, that is, if the seat a, be lowered in position,
the back will still keep sufficiently upright to secure a comfortable support for
the person sitting in the chair. This would not be the case if the back p, of the
chair consisted of a direct prolongation of the front legs d.
The
It is obvious that the herein before described arrangement of jointed parts could
be made available for children's folding carriages or (if the back rest p, be taken
away and the front pair of legs d, be prolonged) for folding tables and seats
generally.
In the children's folding carriage, shewn in figure 4 the front end of the part a,
corresponding to the seat of the chairs herein before described and shewn is suitably
lengthened and is additionally supported by bars r, resting upon the axle tree of
the front wheels. In order that the bearing point of the part a on the bars r, may
be raised and lowered with the raising and lowering of the carriage and more
especially in order that the folding of the bars 7, may take place without affecting

page_text: the level position of the part a, the bars r, are slotted as shewn so that the bearing
in them may be adjusted as required. It will be seen that when the parts are
closed up the front wheels will come in front and the hind wheels behind the ends
of the part a
In the child's portable chair represented in figure 5, the seat is as usual provided
with rails 8, and the front is fitted with a foot rest or board t.
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, carriage, or table, in which the lower end of one of the pairs of
legs is connected with the seat by means of joint bars, and the axis of rotation
common to the two pairs of legs is arranged to rest upon the seat edges in slots in
such a manner that the raising and lowering of the chair seat can be effected by
simply sliding the axis of rotation backwards or forwards in the said slots,
substantially as hereinbefore described and represented in the various figures of the
accompanying drawing.
2. In a folding chair or carriage such as that claimed in claim 1, the arrangement
of separate back rest connected, so as to admit of rotation, both with the chair
seat and with the prolongation of one of the pairs of legs, for the purpose of
preventing the back rest from assuming too great an inclination when the seat is
lowered substantially as hereinbefore described and represented in the various figures
of the accompanying drawing.