AN IMPROVED PORTABLE FOLDING CHAIR
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Alfred James, of Cheltenham, in the County
of Gloucester, Esquire, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED PORTABLE
FOLDING CHAIR."
Sealed the 28th June 1867, and dated the 1st January 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Alfred James at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st January 1867.
I, HENRY ALFRED JAMES, of Cheltenham, in the County of Gloucester,
Esquire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
PORTABLE FOLDING CHAIR," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the construction of an improved portable folding
chair suitable for tourists, travellers, artists, invalids, and others who require
a chair or seat capable of being folded into a small compass, and of being
easily packed and carried from place to place.
The chair consists of a rigid frame of wood, or metal, or the two combined,
on which is attached by nails, rivets, or otherwise a canvas or other fabric
forming a surface for the seat; at the rear corners or extremities of this
frame the two uprights or sides of the back of the chair are joined or con-
nected by means of pivots or screws, so as to allow the back of the chair to
be set to any desired angle, and on the same pivot or screw and outside the
arms of the back, two of the legs of the chair are also connected to the back
and seat frame, such legs extending diagonally to the front of the chair, and

page_text: resting on the ground; these legs are strengthened in front by a cross bar.
The other legs are placed outside the first set and extend from front to back
of the chair, also diagonally, and being pivoted midway to the first series
form, as it were, a pair of lazy-tongs; they are strengthened and connected
together near each extremity by metal or wooden rods or 'ties and screws or
other attachments. Just below the joint on which the diagonal legs are con-
nected, and on the outer or last series of legs described, are attached by screws
two studs projecting inwardly, so as to form bearings or stops for the inner
legs to rest on, while the seat is being adjusted. At the front end of each
side of the seat frame a side plate is screwed, in which and in or through the
frame a curvilinear groove or slot is cut out; in these grooves or slots the
front metallic brace or tie rod of the outer legs is caused to enter, so as to
connect the seat frame with the legs, and thus prevent the tendency to a
diagonal strain, the frame thus acting as a brace to the diagonal legs, ticing
them together at the top. In order to support the back of the chair, which is
strengthened like the other parts by cross bars, I propose to use one or more
straps, bands, cords, or chains, or diagonal tie rods extending from the front
metallic bar supporting the seat to the back of the chair; or I may use a
single strap having a hook at one end, which is attached to the metallic cross
bar, and secured by a flat spring extending from the inner face of the shank
to the point of the hook; the strap may then be passed round or through the
back of the chair and diagonally on the other side to be connected by a
buckle or otherwise to the cross bar. By these arrangements it will easily be
understood that the back and legs can be folded flatly down alongside the
frame of the seat, thus bringing all the rods in the same plane, and forming
when so folded only a bulk equal to the thickness of the frame; a rug or
cushion may be then added, and the whole secured by means of the strap.
In folding up the legs are reversed, and a double-ended flat bolt screwed on the
surface of each inner leg serves, when turned, to secure the outer legs and
back flush with the surfaces of the frame, the under projections and tie rods
already mentioned securing them underneath.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Alfred James in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st July 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
ALFRED JAMES, of Cheltenham, in the County of Gloucester, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Henry Alfred James, Her special licence that I, the said Henry Alfred James,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry
Alfred James, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,. and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED PORTABLE FOLDING
CHAIR," upon the condition (amongst others), that I,, the said. Henry Alfred
James, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner. the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Alfred James, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This Invention relates to the construction of an improved portable folding
chair suitable for emigrants, travellers, artists, invalids, and others who
require a chair or seat capable of being folded into a small compass, and of
being easily packed and carried from place to place.
The chair consists of a rigid frame of wood, or metal, or the two combined,
on which is attached by nails, rivets, or otherwise a canvas or other fabric or
canework forming a surface for the seat; at the rear corners or extremities of
this frame the two uprights or sides of the back of the chair are joined or
connected by means of pivots or screws, so as to allow the back of the chair
to be set to any desired angle, and on the same pivot or screw, and outside
the arms of the back, two of the legs of the chair are also connected to the
back and seat frame, such legs extending diagonally to the front of the chair
and resting on the ground; these legs are strengthened in front by a. cross-
bar. The other legs are placed outside the first set and extend from front to
back of the chair, also diagonally, and being pivotted midway to the first
series form, as it were, a pair of lazy-tongs; they are strengthened and con-
nected together near each extremity by metal or wooden rods or tics and

page_text: screws or other attachments. Just below the joint on which the diagonal
legs are connected, and on the outer or last series of legs described, are
attached by screws, rivets, or otherwise two studs projecting inwardly so as
to form bearings or stops for the inner legs to rest on, while the seat is being
adjusted, or in lieu of such stops I use a small bar or rod crossing at the
same point from outer leg to outer leg, which will also serve the office of
bracing these two legs together firmly at that point; or I use either in con-
junction or not with the above-mentioned bar or rod a stop introduced
between the outer pair and the inner pair of legs, which is effected by
fastening a piece of metal on the inner surface of the outer legs, and
another on the outer surface of the inner legs, in such a position that they
shall come into contact with each other, when the chair is sufficiently
opened and prevent it opening further. At the front end of each side of
Le seat frame a side plate is screwed, in which and in or through the
frame a curvilinear groove or slot is cut out; in these grooves or slots the
front metallic brace or tie rod of the outer legs is caused to enter so as to
connect the scat frame with the legs and thus prevent the tendency to a
diagonal strain, the frame thus acting as a brace to the diagonal legs tieing
them together at the top; but when the chair is made in iron no additional
side plate is required, but the slot is cut out of the iron frame which forms
the seat, or if a piece additional is added there for strength it will be riveted or
brazed on. In order to support the back of the chair, which is strengthened
like the other parts by cross bars, I propose to use one or more straps; bands,
cords, or chains, or diagonal tie rods, extending from the front metallic bar
supporting the seat or from the framework itself of the seat to the back of the
chair, or I may use a single strap having a hook at one end which is attached
to the metallic cross bar and secured by a flat spring extending from the
inner face of the shank to the point of the hook; the strap may then be
passed round or through the back of the chair, and diagonally on the other
side to be connected by a buckle or otherwise to the cross bar. In the iron
chair these straps may be dispensed with by bending in the ends of the
upright supports of the back (as shewn in the Drawings) so that the bent
ends come against the under side of the seat frame when the back is open,
or by bending out the ends of the seat frame so that the back when open
comes against these bent ends (as shewn in the Drawing, Fig. 2). In the
wooden chair also I may dispense with the straps by making the top of the
inner legs project above the pivot by which they are attached to the seat and
back, and fitting thereon a metal plate with a projection, against which the
back may rest when open, see Fig. 4 of the Drawings. By these arrange-

page_text: ments it will easily be understood that the back and legs can be folded flatly
down alongside the frame of the seat, thus bringing all the portions of the
frame into the same plane, and forming when so folded only a bulk equal in
thickness to the thickness of the frame. A piece of carpet or canvas or other
fabric may be used for the seat of the chair.
When the wooden chair is folded up a double-ended flat bolt screwed on
the surface of each inner leg serves when turned to secure the outer legs and
back flush with the surfaces of the frame, the under projections and tie rods
already mentioned securing them underneath.
The double-ended flat bolt though applicable to wooden chairs cannot be
applied to an iron one. I substitute a short strap with buckle sewn on to the
seat, which in the iron chair is simply carpet or some other strong fabric sewn
round the back bar (on which the rear legs, seat, and back work) and again
round the front of the seat frame, and hanging loose at the sides.
Fig. 1 of the Drawings represents a side elevation of the wooden chair.
a is the seat frame; b, the back; c, the rear leg pivoted to the frame, with
the back between them; d, the front leg pivoted at d to the rear leg; e, e,
the cross bars strengthening the legs; and f the flat double-ended bolt for
securing the chair when folded up; g is one of the slotted metallic plates
attached to the seat for the reception of the metallic cross rod or bar g', the
opposite side of the chair being the counterpart.
In Fig. 2, which shews the back of an iron chair, the ends b, b, are bent
in so as to come against the under side of the seat frame, as described, d', d¹,
shewing the position of the pivots; or the ends may be bent outwards, as
shewn at Fig. 3.
Fig. 4 shews the back of the wooden chair, a, resting against a metallic
ledge or projection c on the inner leg b; on the other leg the position of the
projection corresponds and is placed on the inside of the leg to secure the
back in lieu of straps.
Fig. 5 represents the method of securing the legs when sufficiently opened
as described. A is the inner surface of the outer leg; B, the outer surface
of the inner leg. The dotted circles shew the position of a metallic washer
introduced to avoid friction between the legs. a, b, shew the position of the
pieces of metal fastened on the legs. When the legs have opened to the
desired angle these come together and prevent the legs from opening further.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be carried into effect, I would remark that I do not
confine myself to the exact details and configuration of parts I have expressed
and shewn, as the same may obviously be somewhat varied or modified without

page_text: departing from the principles on which the Invention is based; but what I
claim and desire to be secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters
Patent are, the general arrangement and combination of parts constituting
an improved portable chair of wood or iron, or both combined, substantially
as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Alfred James, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
CHARLES SNELGAR,
Training College,
Cheltenham.
HENRY ALFRED JAMES. (L.S.)