Improvements in Chairs or Seats for use in Theatres and other Public Buildings.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 20th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Chairs or Seats for use in Theatres and other
Public Buildings.
I, WILHELM SCHLEICHER, of Dusseldorf, in the Kingdom of Prussia, German
Empire, Architect, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to an improved chair for use in theatres or in concert or other
public halls, the said chair being provided with seat and back rests capable of being
folded laterally or turned away to one side of the chair so as to lie closely against one
of the side frames or standards of the chair, thereby leaving a free passage between
the two side frames or standards and thus enabling each person in an audience to
walk through the rows of chairs in a theatre or other public building in a direction
rectangular to that of the several rows of chairs.
By thus creating an additional means of exit from the seats besides the passages
between the several rows of chairs, it will be possible, in case of fire or other calamity,
to clear the theatre or other public building provided with these improved chairs in a
much shorter time than heretofore.
The improved chair consists of two side frames or standards on one of which the
seat is hinged or fulcrummed in such a way as to be swung upward or folded against
the respective side frame or standard.
When in position for use the other end of the seat, that is to say, the end opposite
to the hinged end, rests on a projection or bracket formed on the other side frame or
standard.
The upper and lower back rests of the chair consist of lovers fulernmmed near
their ends on the rear part of the same side frame or standard on which the seat is
hinged, in such a manner as also to swing or to turn laterally and to be capable of
being folded downward against the side frame or standard on which they are
fulcrammed.
The back rests when in position for use, that is to say in a horizontal position, bear
against, or engage with, a flange or suitable projecting part formed on the opposite
side frame or standard, with their free ends, so as to form a proper support for the
back of the person seated on the chair.
The seat and back rosts are connected with each other by means of connecting arms
in such a manner that, when the seat is in a horizontal position, the back rests will be
so likewise and that, when the seat is swung upward into a position rectangular to its
horizontal position of use or in other words when folded against its side frame or
standard, the back rests are, on their part, swung in their fulcrums in an opposite
direction, that is to say downward, in a corresponding angle until they are also folded
against their side frame or standard. This movement may be preferably effected by
connecting the arms with the back rests at their smaller ends that is to say, at the
ends nearest to their fulcrums, and by forming the connection with the seat part at a
point on the opposite side of its fulcrum or hinge.
In a continuous row of chairs of this kind the one side frame or standard of one
chair may, at the same time, form one of the side frames or standards of the next
chair.
Also, by applying springs or weights tending to draw the seat or back rests, or
both, into their folded positions, the seat and back rests may be caused to fold
automatically.
ديم
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Chairs or Seats for use in Theatres and other
Public Buildings.
I, WILHELM SCHLEICHER of Düsseldorf, in the Kingdom of Prussia, German
Empire, Architect, 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 to folding seats and chairs for use in theatres, concert and
other public buildings, and the invention consists in the peculiar construction,
arrangement and combination of such chairs with seat and back rests capable of being
folded laterally or turned away to one side of the chair so as to lie closely against one
of the side frames or standards of the said chair, all as more fully hereinafter described,
thereby leaving a free passage between the two side frames or standards, and thus
enabling each person in an audience to walk through the rows of chairs or seats in a
iheatre or other public building in a direction rectangular to that of the several rows
of chairs.
The object of my invention is thereby to create an additional means of exit for the
public besides the passages between the several rows of seats, so that in case of fire
or other calamity it will be possible to clear the theatre or other public building
provided with these improved chairs, in a much shorter time than heretofore.
In the accompanying drawing
Figures 1 and 2 are side and back views, respectively, of the improved chair
showing the seat and back-rests in a position for use.
Figures 3 and 4 are side and back views, respectively, showing the improved chair
with its seat and back-rests folded laterally or turned away to one side.
The seat A is hinged or fulcrummed to the side frame or standard B at a and b
and, when in position for use as shown in Figures 1 and 2, rests upon a projection or
bracket c of the opposite side frame or standard C.
D and D' are upper and lower back rests, likewise fulcrummed to the side frame or
standard B at d and d', respectively and movably connected with the seat. A by a
joint lever or connecting arm e, the latter being preferably connected with the seat A
in such a manner as to form an angle of approximately 45 degrees with regard to
the horizontal line, so that when the said scat A is folded and turned away to one side
until it lies against the side frame or standard B, the back rests D and D are on their
part caused to fold downward until they likewise lie against the said side frame or
standard B, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.
In a continuous row of chairs of this improved construction the one side frame or
standard of one chair may, at the same time form one of the side frames or standards
of the next or adjacent chair.
It is evident that by applying springs or weights tending to draw the seat or back
rests, or both, into their folded positions, the seat and back rests may be caused to
fold automatically.
It is also evident that by changing the position of the point of connection between
the seat A and its connecting rod e the former may be made to open the way by
folding in a downward direction instead of folding upward as illustrated in the
drawing.
By means of the arrangement of seat and back rests as hereinbefore described a
continuous passage is formed between the side frames or standards of each chair when
the seats and back rests of the said chairs are folded to one side thus enabling the
audience to walk through the several rows of chairs in a direction rectangular to the
several rows and by this additional means of exit to clear the theatre or other public
building in a much shorter time than heretofore.
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
claim is :-
J
First In a chair with seat and back seats capable of being folded laterally,
th

page_text: combination with the seat A fulcrumed to the side frame or standard B of a
connecting arm e and means for actuating the latter to turn the said seat A on its
fulcrums with a lever movement substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
Second-In a chair with seat and back-rests capable of being folded laterally a seat
fulcrumed to a side frame or standard and capable of being folded laterally in
combination with one or more back rests likewise fulcruined to the said sido frame or
standard and capable of being folded in a lateral or vertical direction, and a lever
connection between the said back-rest or rests and the said seat substantially as and
for the purpose, described.
Third In a chair, with seat and back rests capable of being folded laterally the
combination, with the seat A fulcrumed to one of the side frames or standards and
capable of being turned thereon in a direction towards the said side frame or standard,
of the lever arin e the back rests D and D' fulcrumed on the same side frame or
standard and the projection or bracket c on the opposite side frame or standard
substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 20th day of November 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.