An Improved Three-legged Folding Chair.
Year: 1899

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Three-legged Folding Chair.
I, ALBERT ROTT, of Freiheit, near Osterode, in the Empire of Germany, Master
Joiner, 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 any by
the following statement:-
The present invention relates to an improved three-legged folding chair, which
is of utility where limited space necessitates the folding up or storing away of
articles of furniture, when such articles are not required for immediate use.
This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in such folding
chairs, and it has for its object to simplify and cheapen the construction and to
render more efficient, durable, and serviceable in operation this class of articles.
To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain the same con-
sists in the peculiar combinations and in the novel constructions, arrangements,
and adaption of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described, shown in the
accompanying drawings and set out in the appended claims.
My improved folding chair is rendered fit for use by turning forward one leg
thereby rigidly supporting the chair without necessitating the employment of
special fixing means.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of my improved chair ready for use.
Fig. 2 is an inverted plan of the chair as shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. is a rear elevation of the chair when folded up.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 3.
The folding chair consists in the usual manner of the back. the seat and a
third movable leg attached to the back. The two side parts of the back serve
at the same time for constituting two of the legs of the chair. These two side
parts a bare connected together by means of four cross bars c d e f, of which
the two top ones constitute the frame for the back rest. The back may be
upholstered caned or fitted in any suitable manner, or it may be fitted, as shown
in the drawings, with vertical rails g.
The cross bar e serves for attaching the seat by means of hinges h. This
cross bar c, in combination with the cross bar f, at the same time serves as a
support for the rotatable leg k, said leg k being pivoted in corresponding holes
in the two cross bars e f.
The lower side of the seat is fitted with the device for holding the leg kin
operative position. On a ledge 1, transversely secured to the lower side of the
seat i, levers are rotatably fitted around screw pivots m. These levers » are
shaped, at their free extremities so that extensions are formed. On the ledge!
a piece of metal is fastened extending beyond the inner edge of said ledge
and affording on the ledge a stop or rest for the two extensions o of the levers » :
a further and essential purpose of this plate p will be pointed out later on.
means of spiral springs or the like the two levers will constantly show a
tendency to return to their position of rest on the back of the plate p.
By
The leg or support k the rear part of which is shaped so as to assume the form
of an ordinary third leg of the chair as indicated in Fig. 3, is fitted at the front
with an extension r, a slot s being provided in same a short distance from the
top edge, see Fig. 3.

page_text: ん
In unfolding the chair the part 4 of the support or leg is pulled out (it is a
matter of indifference from which side) the seat being raised thereby, as the
extremity of the extension r travels along its underframe. On coming to bear
against one of the levers n the pressure exerted in turning the support presses
the lever n back, the influence of its spiral spring not being sufficient to counter-
act same, until the extremity of the lever is reached when the extension r will
press against the recessed part at the extremity of the second lever ; the first
lever n then returns to its original position owing to the influence of its spring,
whereby its extension o like the extension o of the second lever n bears against
the extremity of the support k thus locking the same in position. The slot s in
the support is then occupied by the projecting part of the plate p, which locks
the seat in its position, so that it can neither be raised nor lowered. The tongue
formed by the slot s is of reduced length, so as not to come in contact with the
levers n, but simply to travel inside the ledge and in such travel to pass beneath
the plate 2 projecting from the ledge 1, for the purpose above indicated.
The two free extremities of the levers may be connected by a suitable length
of chain t to prevent opening them out too far.
In folding the chair it is simply necessary to retract one or both of the levers n
and to turn the support in either direction, whereupon the seat will drop by
gravity.
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.) In a three-legged folding chair having the third leg vertically supported
in two of the cross bars of the back frame and the seat hingedly suspended so as
to be raised by the action of turning, from either side, of the extension of the
third leg, the combination of a pair of spring-influenced levers pivoted to a ledge
on the underside of the seat, said levers adapted to open outwards but prevented
from turning inwards when in alignment, and of a plate secured centrally to the
ledge on the underside of the seat partly projecting inwardly and adapted to
engage a slot in the extension of the third leg, substantially as and for the pur-
poses set forth.
2.) In combination with the seat of a three-legged folding chair of the kind
described, a ledge transversely secured to the underside thereof, said ledge
carrying pivoted thereto a pair of spring influenced levers and a plate centrally
attached thereto, preventing the levers from further turning inwards when in
alignment, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3.) In combination with the back frame of a three legged folding chair of
the kind described a support forming the third leg, pivoted vertically rotatable
to two of the cross bars of the back frame, the shorter end of the support adapted
to raise the seat in its turning and to engage fixing means provided at the lower
side of the seat, a slot at the top end of the support serving for preventing the
seat from being raised or lowered when in position, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
4.) An improved three-legged folding chair, the whole constructed, arranged
and adapted to operate substantially as described with reference to the accom-
panying drawings.
Dated th
3
1000
B. REICHHOLD,
International Patent Office,
24, Luisen Strasse, Berlin, N.W., Germany,
Agent for the Applicant.