Improvements in or relating to Folding or Collapsible Seats.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 12th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 16th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Folding or Collapsible Seats.
I, JOHN TOWNSHEND of 54 Stanley Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, General Broker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to folding or collapsible seats or chairs for tramcars,
steamers and other purposes, and is so designed as to fold or collapse when not
being used and protect the upper surface of the seat proper (when employed out of
doors) from the effects of the weather or from being soiled and thereby rendered.
unfit for use.
In carrying the invention into effect as applied to tramcars, omnibuses or the
like, make the seat proper of canvas, leather, or any other suitable flexible
material. One end is secured to an upright frame, forming the back of the seat,
and the other end is secured to the extremities of, or to a cross bar connecting,
arms, pivotted or hinged at or in proximity to the bottom of the frame or back
aforesaid. When the seat is open, the said arms assume a diagonal position while
the canvas seat is about horizontal. To fold the seat, the pivotted arms are moved
into an approximately vertical position against the back, the flexible seat collapses,
and its surface is protected by the back. The underside of the seat may be
waterproofed, if desired, and forms a suitable space for advertisements.
A strip
or guard may be secured to the back just above the end of arms (when folded
against the back) to prevent the entrance of rain or dust. A suitable spring is
provided when desired to cause the seat to automatically spring back or collapse
immediately the sitter rises.
One great advantage of this invention, not hitherto secured by others having a
like object, is that a wide passage or space, available for storage of luggage, etc.,
or to facilitate the passage of passengers or servants, is obtained when the seats
are folded.
Instead of fastening the seat to the back, the end may be left loose, and
provided with a weight. The loose end is then passed over a rail on the back,
and the tendency of the weight aforesaid is to draw the pivotted arms against the
back when the sitter gets up.
The invention, when used in combination with tables, is applied in a similar
manner. A bar is secured to the table at a suitable height, to which one end
of the seat or seats is attached, the other ends of the seats are secured to
pivotted arms or to a crossbar connecting said arms.
The construction of seats as applied to other purposes will be evident without
further description.
Dh
1... Manah 1901
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Folding or Collapsible Seats.
I, JOHN TOWNSHEND of 54 Stanley Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, General Broker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to folding or collapsible seats or chairs for tramcars,

page_text: steamers and other purposes, and is so designed as to fold or collapse when not
being used and protect the upper surface of the seat proper (when employed out of
doors) from the effects of the weather or from being soiled and thereby rendered
unfit for use.
The invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings; in
which
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a seat suitable for application to a tramcar,
steamer, etcetera ;
Figure 2 a transverse section of same;
Figure 3 a transverse section of a slight modification;
Figure 4 shews the seat applied to a table; and
Figure 5 the seat applied to the top of a tramcar.
To fold
A is the seat proper of canvas, leather or any other suitable flexible material.
One end of this is secured to an upright frame B forming the back of the seat,
and the other end is secured to a cross bar C connecting the arms D, pivotted or
hinged near the bottom of the frame B. When the seat is open, the said arms D
assume a diagonal position while the canvas seat A is about horizontal.
the seat, the pivotted arms D are moved into an approximately vertical position
against the back B, the flexible seat A collapses, and its surface is protected by the
back B. The underside of the seat may be waterproofed if desired, and forms a
suitable space for advertisements. A strip or guard may be secured to the back
just above the end of arms (when folded against the back) to prevent the entrance
of rain or dust. A suitable spring is provided when desired to cause the seat to
automatically spring back or collapse immediately the sitter rises.
One great advantage of this invention, not hitherto secured by others having a
like object, is that a wide passage or space, available for storage of luggage,
etcetera, or to facilitate the passage of passengers or servants, is obtained when the
seats are folded.
Instead of fastening the seat A to the back, the end may be left loose, and
provided with a weight E (Figure 3). The loose end is then passed over a rail F
on the back, and the tendency of the weight aforesaid is to draw the pivotted
arms D against the back when the sitter gets up.
The invention, when used in connection with tables, is applied in a similar
manner. A bar G (Figure 4) is secured to the table at a suitable height, to which
one end of the seat or seats A is attached, the other ends of the seats are secured
to a cross-bar C connecting the pivotted arms D.
The construction of seats as applied to other purposes will be evident without
further description.
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 or collapsible seat or chair for tramcars, steamers and other
purposes, the combination of the flexible seat A, upright frame B, and pivotted
arms D adapted to fold against said frame when the seat is not in use, whereby
the surface of the flexible seat is protected from the weather substantially as
described.
2. The general combined arrangement or construction of parts forming the
improved collapsible seat or chair for tramcars, steamers, tables or the like
substantially as described.
יו. נוח
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.