IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING CHAIRS
Year: 1878

page_text: -LETTERS- PATENT to- William Bendall, of- Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Cabinet Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING
CHAIRS."
Sealed the 14th January 1879, and dated the 15th July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Bendall at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th July 1878.
WILLIAM BENDALL, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Cabinet Maker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING CHAIRS."
This Invention consists in applying rockers to chairs of the above description, used
chiefly for garden, beach, and deck seats, and also for children's or nursery chairs,
the rockers being so constructed as to fold with the several other parts of the chair.
This I effect by attaching a curved or segmental piece to each of the feet of the
chair, such curved pieces being pinned together in the centre of each side, so that
by means of a cotter pin or other mode of fixing applied beyond the centre pin the
two curved pieces on each side may be joined to form one rocker attached to the
front and back leg on each side of the chair; thus the chair may be a stationary
one when the parts of the rocker are released or a rocking chair at will; or these
rockers may be in one piece, and pinned to either the back or front leg on each
side, turning up to the arms when not in use, and secured to the free leg on either
side when required as rockers.
My Invention also consists in making the elevating stands and the chairs of
children's or nursery chairs, each part upon the folding principle, the top of the stand
being jointed to fold upwards, and the rest of the construction being upon the same
plan as ordinary folding chairs with cross legs, so that when not required as
an elevated seat, the chair being removed and used as a seat, the stand forms a
child's table.
My Invention also consists in applying to folding chairs and to hammock chairs,
whether folding or otherwise, india-rubber spring pieces, either at the ends or sides,
or in both positions, of the part forming the seat.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Bendall in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th
January 1879.
WILLIAM BENDALL, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Cabinet Maker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING CHAIRS."
This Invention consists in applying rockers to chairs of the above description,
used chiefly for garden, beach, and deck seats, and also for children's or nursery
chairs, the rockers being so constructed as to fold with the several other parts of
the chair. This I effect by attaching a curved or segmental piece to each of the feet
of the chair, such curved pieces being pinned together in the centre of each side, so
that by means of a cotter pin or other mode of fixing applied beyond the centre
pin the two curved pieces on each side may be pinned to form one rocker attached
to the front and back leg on each side of the chair; thus the chair may be a
stationary one when the parts of the rockers are released or a rocking chair at will;
or these rockers may be in one piece, and pinned to either the back or front leg on
each side, turning up to the arms when not in use, and secured to the free leg on
either side when required as rockers.
My Invention also consists in making the elevating stands and the chairs of
children's or nursery chairs, each part upon the folding principle, the top of the stand
being jointed to fold upwards, and the rest of the construction being upon the same plan
as ordinary folding chairs with cross legs, so that when not required as an elevated
seat, the chair being removed and used as a seat, the stand forms a child's table.
My Invention also consists in applying to folding chairs and to hammock chairs,
whether folding or otherwise, india-rubber spring pieces, either at the ends or sides,
or in both positions of the part forming the seat.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
(Figures 1, 2, and 3, Sheet 1) represent views of a chair constructed according
to my Invention, the general parts being those of a chair of ordinary folding con-
struction but with curved pieces attached, as at (a), to each of the leg pieces; these
curved pieces are pinned on a centre (b), so as to fold inwards and pack compactly,
as seen at (Figure 3), but by the application of a cotter pin (c) Figure 2) at some
distance from the centre, the two curved pieces on each side of the chair are pre-
vented from turning upon the centre pin, and thus form a rocker, as seen at
(Figure 2). Figures 4 and 5 shew a variation of this arrangement, in which a
rocker (a) is attached to one leg of the chair on each side, and when required as a
rocker is pinned by a cotter to the other leg; but when a steady chair is wanted,
the cotter being removed, the rocker (a) is brought up into the position shewn in
dotted lines (b). When folded the chair assumes the position shewn in (Figure 5).
(Figures 6 and 7, Sheet 2,) represent my improvements in nursery chairs, in which
the chair (a) is made upon the folding principle as well as the elevating stand (b); this
latter part is separable from the chair and forms a table, and the whole may be
placed upon rockers, as in the chairs already described, and these rockers may also
be furnished with wheels, as at (c), upon which the chair may be moved without
lifting.
(Figures 8, 9, and 10) represent another form of child's chair, which is convertible
into a go-cart. A low seat (a) is fitted with folding legs (b) attached to rockers (c)
at the ends of which are wheels (d) by suspending the rockers by means of a strap
from the under side of the seat (a) to the bar (e, Fig. 10); the whole is supported
on the wheels (d), and the child by the motion of its feet on the floor can wheel
itself about, the apparatus being in the position shewn in (Figure 8).
Figure 9 shews the whole folded up when out of use, and Fig. 10 the position

page_text: when required for a rocking chair.
the rockers at either end.
In this chair other seats may be placed upon
The cotter pins employed in these chairs may be so made as to obviate their being
entirely loose, and thus liable to be lost, by attaching them permanently by a link
or chain to one part, the other part being fitted with a socket, which socket may
have a spring in it to partially throw out the pin upon one or two turns being
given, which causes the fastening or releasing of the parts to be more speedily
effected.
The next part of my Invention, which is applicable to all kinds of folding or
hammock chairs, is shewn in (Figures 1, 2, and 4, Sheet 1) x, x, x), are rings or
springs of india-rubber attached to the seat and passed over the bar to which the
ends of the seat are fixed, so that an amount of elasticity is gained, and the seat
better accommodates itself to the body; or these springs may be so fitted as to
connect the seat to any portion of the framework of the chair.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I do not confine myself to the exact forms of
chairs herein shewn and illustrated, as many other forms may be similarly con-
verted into rocking chairs; but I claim the several improvements in the con-
struction of folding chairs, by which they may at will be converted into rocking.
chairs, and also the construction of folding nursery chairs, substantially as herein
more fully set forth and specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Bendall, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine..
WILLIAM BENDALL. (L.S.)