IMPROVE MENTS IN FOLDING STOOLS AND FOLDING CHAIRS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louisa Monzani, Widow and Administratrix of
Willoughby Theobald Monzani, late of St. James's Terrace, Blue Anchor
Road Bermondsey. Gentleman, deceased, for the Invention of "IMPROVE
MENTS IN FOLDING STOOLS AND FOLDING CHAIRS."-A communication from
MENTS IN FOLDING STOOLS AND FOLDING CHAIRS."-A communication from
her said late Husband.
Sealed the 29th May 1855, and dated the 10th April 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louisa Monzani at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with her Petition, on the 10th
April 1855.
I, LOUISA MONZANI, Widow and Administratrix of Willoughby Theobald
Monzani, late of Saint James's Terrace, Blue Anchor Road, Bermondsey,
Gentleman, deceased, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING STOOLS AND FOLDING CHAIRS " to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object various improvements in the construction
of folding stools and folding chairs. In making stools, two frames are used,
which cross each other, and move on an axis, as heretofore, and one
frame is made somewhat shorter or less than the other. The seating of
canvass or other material used is fixed to the upper rail of one of the
frames, and passes over the upper rail of the other frame; it then descends
and is made fast to the bar or axis which combines the two frames, and
according as this seating is more or less wound on the bar or axis, and re-
tained by stops, so will be the height of the stool, and the dimensions of the

page_text: seat. In some cases one of the frames of a stool is made in two parts, so that
the extent to which the upper and the under parts are opened when in use
will not, as heretofore, depend one on the other. In making folding chairs,
they are constructed with two frames, and, by preference, one shorter or less
than the other, similar to the folding stools, but in addition thereto they are
formed with backs, and the seating or canvass used, in place of being fixed
only to the lower frames, is in each case fixed to the front upper rail of one of
the lower frames, and to the upper part or rail of the frame which forms the
back of the chair. In some cases the upper end of the seating or canvass is
fixed to a roller or axis, on which (when the chair is in use) more or less of the
canvass or seating is wound, and this winding governs the size of the seat
of the chair. In this arrangement the seating or canvass in passing from the
front rail of a chair to the upper part of the back of the chair passes under a
back rail or bar, and then up to the roller, and the same is retained fixed, and
the parts of the chair are held in position by stops. Or, in place of simply
passing under a back rail, the seating or canvass is caused to pass over one
back rail, fixed to one of the seat frames, and then under another rail
fixed to or forming part of the back frame, and then the seating or canvass
is made fast to the upper part of the back frame. The lower part of the
back frame is the means of supporting the back of the chair in position
by resting against one of the frames which carries the scat. The outer or
back frame is larger than the seat frames, so that when folded the back frame
surrounds the other two frames.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Louisa Monzani in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th September 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LOUISA
MONZANI, Widow and Administratrix of Willoughby Theobald Monzani, late
of St. James's Terrace, Blue Anchor Road, Bermondsey, Gentleman, deceased,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Louisa Monzani, Her special licence that I, the said Louisa Monzani, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Louisa

page_text: Monzani, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING STOOLS
AND FOLDING CHAIRS," a communication from my said late husband, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Louisa Monzani, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Louisa Monzani, do hereby declare the
nature of the 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 thereof (that is to say) :-
This Invention has for its object various improvements in the construction
of folding stools and folding chairs.
In making stools, two frames are
used, which cross each other, and move on an axis as heretofore, and one
frame is made somewhat shorter or less than the other. The seating of
canvass or other material used is fixed to the upper rail of one of the
frames, and passes over the upper rail of the other frame; it then descends,
and is made fast to the bar or axis which combines the two frames, and
according as this seating is more or less wound on the bar or axis, and
retained by stops, so will be the height of the stool and the dimensions of
the seat. In some cases one of the frames of a stool is made in two parts, so
that the extent to which the upper and the under parts are opened when in
use will not, as heretofore, depend one on the other. In making folding
chairs, they are constructed with two frames, and, by preference, one shorter or
less than the other, similar to the folding stools, but in addition thereto they
are formed with backs, and the seating or canvass used, in place of being fixed
only to the lower frames, is in each case fixed to the front upper rail of one of
the lower frames, and to the upper part or rail of the frame which forms the
back of the chair. In some cases the upper end of the seating or canvass is
fixed to a roller or axis, on which (when the chair is in use) more or less of
the canvass or seating is wound, and this winding governs the size of the seat
of the chair. In this arrangement the seating or canvass, in passing from the
front rail of a chair to the upper part of the back of the chair, passes under
a back rail or bar, and then up to the roller, and the same is retained fixed

page_text: and the parts of the chair are held in position by stops. Or, in place of simply
passing under a back rail, the scating or canvass is caused to pass over one
back rail, fixed to one of the seat frames, and then under another rail fixed to
or forming part of the back frame, and then the seating or canvass is made
fast to the upper part of the back frame. The lower part of the back frame
chair in position, by resting against
The outer or back frame is larger
is the means of supporting the back of the
one of the frames which carries the seat.
than the seat frames, so that when folded the back frame surrounds the other
two frames.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows a side elevation in section of a stool constructed according
to part of the improvements, and Figure 2 shows the stool folded. a, b, are
two frames connected by an axis c. The seat is formed of strong canvass or
other fabric d, which is fixed at one of its ends to the upper rail a' of the
frame a; it passes over the top rail b¹ of the frame b, and is made fast to the
axis c, and according as less or more of the fabric d is wound on the axis c, so
will be the height of the stool and the extent of the seat. On the axis is
fixed a plate e, which (by means of the set screw f, which enters a "hole or
recess in the side of the frame a,) retains the two frames in any desired
position at the same time it prevents the fabric of the seat being further
wound or unwound. It will be seen that the upper part of the frame a is
made somewhat shorter than the frame b; hence the top rail a¹ can fold within
the top rail b¹.
I will now describe the second part of the Invention. Figure 3 shows a
side elevation in section of a stool constructed according to this part of the In-
vention; Figure 4 shows the same stool partly folded; Figure 5 shows the stool
when made to fold into the smallest compass; and Figure 6 shows the form
of the joint. 9, 9', is one of the frames of the stool. This frame is shown
to be of two parts, which when in use are made fast to each other by screws g².
By this arrangement the parts admit of being folded into a smaller size; but it
is not essential that this frame should be in two parts, as the frame 9. g', may
be all in one piece, in which case, however, the stool would not fold into a less
form than that shown by Figure 4; but by having the frame g, g', of two parts,
as well as the other frame h, h¹, the stool admits of being folded into the
sinall compass shown by Figure 5. When making the frame g, g', of the
stool of two parts, one part is less than the other, so that it will fold within

page_text: the other. The frame h, h¹, is made of two parts as shown. The part / is
made with fixed projections h², as shown, which coming against the edges of
the upper part of the frame g, g', retains the part h from opening out beyond
the extent determined. The parts h¹ are bent over at their upper ends at h³,
so as to come against the fixed or projecting stops g³ formed on the parts g¹ of
the frame g, g. In the Drawing the stops are shown to be arranged in such
manner that the frames h, h¹, and g, g¹, open out as much below the axis i as
they do above it; but this may be varied by altering the stops, so that the
frames may separate more on one side of the axis than the other; but what-
ever be the arrangement, the parts of the frame g, g, h, h, should be arranged
of different sizes, so as to fold one within the other as shown.
I will now describe the third part of the Invention. Figure 7 shows a
vertical section of a folding chair constructed according to this part of the
Invention, and Figure 8 shows the chair when folded. j, k, are two frames
which are connected together by the axis l. The front rail ¹ (carried by the
frame j) is hollowed out in the middle portion, across which hollow it is pre-
pared to have a piece of webbing. The strong canvass or fabric which con-
stitutes the seat and back is at one end fixed to the front rail, and is supported
across the hollow portion of the front rail by the webbing, so as to offer some
elasticity at the front of the seat, in place of the hard front rail forming the
front of the seat. m is the frame which forms the back of the chair. This
back frame m is connected to the frame k by an axis or a rod n, and the back
frame is stopped in position by pins passed through holes at the lower parts of
the frame m, such pins coming at the back of the frame k. The canvass or
strong fabric o which forms the seat and back is, as before stated, fixed at one
end to the front rail, and at the other to a roller p, at the upper part of the
back frame. The roller p is turned by the circular disc p¹, which at other times
is retained from turning by the pin or stop p², introduced into the hole p³,
or the winding and fixing of the canvass, or fabric may be by other convenient
means. The position of the back is regulated by there being two or more
holes at the lower ends of the back frame for receiving the stops or pins. g is
a rod or bar under which the canvass or fabric passes.
Figure 9 shows a vertical section of another form of chair, made according
to this part of the Invention; Figure 10, a plan of the frame when folded;
and Figure 11 shows a section of the parts when folded. In this arrange-
ment the seat is formed on two frames r and s, one less than the other, so as
to fold one within the other. These frames are combined together by axes
at t, t. u is a third frame for the back, of such dimensions as to receive
within it when folded the other two frames, so that the three frames fold flat

page_text: together, as shown at Figures 10 and 11. The back frame is connected to
the frames by axes v, v. The canvass or other strong fabric forming the seat
and back of this chair is fixed to the front rail of the frame r; it then passes
over the back rail of the frame s, then under the rail at the lower end of
the frame u, then up to the upper rail of the frame u, where it is fastened
as shown.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I make no claim to any
of the mechanical parts separately, and the details may be varied without
departing from the Invention. What I claim is,-
-
First, the combination of the parts a, a¹, b, b, c, d, e, and f, as above
described.
Secondly, I claim the mode of combining the parts of folding stools described
by reference to Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Thirdly, I claim the combinations of parts of folding chairs described with
reference to Figures 7 and 8, and Figures 9, 10, and 11.
In witness whereof, I, the said. Louisa Monzani, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Witness,
GEO. PITT,
4, Old Square.
LOUISA MONZANI. (L.B.)