IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF EASY CHAIRS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Wyburn, of East Street, Taunton, in the
County of Somerset, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF EASY CHAIRS."
Sealed the 7th June 1853, and dated the 14th April 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Wyburn
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 14th April 1853.
I, ROBERT WYBURN, of East Street, Taunton, in the County of
Somerset, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF EASY CHAIRS" to be as fol-
lows:-
It consists of an easy chair, made of wood, with moveable cushions,
and a reading desk, which also forms an invalid or other table. The
seat of the chair consists of a frame crossed with wooden strips, the side
rails of which being cut crooked and continued on four back legs. To
this frame strong arms are fastened. The back of the chair is a sepa-
rate piece of framework, attached to the seat by means of a thumb

page_text: screw on each side; to this are fastened two ends of two leather straps,
the other ends of which, having several holes, pass over the arms under
a stuffed pad, and fasten to a hook, by which means the back may be
placed in a perpendicular or horizontal position, thus forming a reclining
chair, when necessary: Underneath the seat is another frame, which
hinges to the front rail of the same, and may be turned out, thus
extending the length of the chair; this being supported by two folding
legs, and forming, in connection with the seat, a double incline plane,
particularly adapted, with the back, to give ease to the human body.
When this frame is not required, it fasteus back under the seat. The
front legs, being cut crooked, spread wider at the bottom than the
top, where they are attached by a strong hinge to the bottom side of
seat. The chair, when not in use, may be folded entirely up.
The reading desk may be attached instantly, and is formed by an
arm or crosspiece, through one end of which passes a wooden screw,
fixing into the end of a turned upright, which is fastened by two pins
to the arm of chair, having a flap at the other end of crosspiece, which
may be used flat as a table, or turned up as a desk; the height also
may be regulated at pleasure, and any horizontal position obtained.
The cushions fasten to the chair by means of straps going over brass
buttons for that purpose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Wyburn, in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 14th October 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, 2
ROBERT WYBURN, of East Street, Taunton, in the County of Somerset,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the six- a
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Robert Wyburn, Her special licence
that I, the said Robert Wyburn, my executors, administrators, and

page_text: assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Wyburn, 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 THE CONSTRUCTION OF EASY CHAIRS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Robert Wyburn, 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 Robert Wyburn, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement thereof (that is to say):
It consists of an easy chair, made of wood, with moveable cushions,
and a reading desk, which also forms an invalid or other table. The
seat of the chair consists of a frame crossed with wooden strips, the
side rails of which being cut crooked and continued to form back legs.
To this frame strong arms are fastened. The back of the chair is a
separate piece of framework, attached to the seat by means of a thumb
screw on each side; to this are fastened two ends of two leather
straps, the other ends of which, having several holes, pass over the
arms under a stuffed pad, and fasten to a hook, by which means the
back may be placed in a perpendicular or horizontal position, thus
forming a reclining chair, when necessary. Underneath the seat is
another frame, which hinges to the front rail of the same, and may be
turned out, thus extending the length of the chair; this being sup-
ported by two folding legs, and forming, in connection with the seat, a
double incline plane, particularly adapted; with the back; to give ease
to the human body. When this frame is not required it fastens back
under the seat. The front legs, being cut crooked, spread wider at the
bottom than the top, where they are attached by a strong hinge to the

page_text: bottom side of seat. The chair, when not in use, may be folded
entirely up.
:
The reading desk may be attached instantly, and is formed by an
arm or crosspiece, through one end of which passes a wooden screw,
fixing into the end of a turned upright, which is fastened by two pins
to the arm of chair, having a flap at the other end of crosspiece, which
may be used flat as a table, or turned up as a desk; the height also
may be regulated at pleasure, and any horizontal position obtained.
The cushions fasten to the chair by means of straps going over brass
buttons for that purpose.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed
to describe the manner in which the same is to be performed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1, is a perspective view of a chair, constructed according to
my Invention; Figure 2, is a side elevation thereof; and Figure 3, is
a plan. In each of these figures the same letters are used to indicate
similar parts.
a, is the seat; at the back of the seat the frame is
formed with the two hinder legs a₁, a'; and the front legs a², a², are
hinged to the front of the frame a', a; and at the front of the frame a, a,
is also hinged the leg rest b, b, as is shewn. c, c, is the back of the chair,
which moves on axes or thumb screws d, d, which pass through the
hinder parts of the seat a, and through the lower part of the back;
e, e, are straps, which are fastened to the back, and they pass over the
arms f, f, and are made fast to buttons g, g, at the front; and, in order
that the position and inclination of the back may be varied, there are
several holes in the front end of each of the straps. The arms f, f, are
fixed to the frame or side rails of the seat a, a. The stuffing h, h, of
the chair is made separate, and is fixed by straps. i, is a reading or
other table, its stem being fixed to the arm by buttons, which enter
slotted openings in a plate fixed to the side of one of the arms. In
place of the foot rest being hinged to the front of the chair, the same
may be made to slide in grooves or guides under the seat, and have
an India-rubber spring tending to draw it back when released by a
suitable catch.

page_text: Having thus described the nature. of my said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that
I make no claim to any of the parts or details separately; but what
I claim is, the combination herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Wyburn, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
Witness, FRED. A. TRENCHARD,
Sol, Taunton, Somerset.
ROBERT WYBURN. (L.S.)