Improvements in Seats applicable for Shop Assistants' use and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 17th Sept., 1900-Accepted, 15th Nov., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Seats applicable for Shop Assistants' use and the
like.
We, ALBERT EDWARD FOLLOWS, and DONALD JOHN GUNN MILLER, A.E.F., of 7
and 8, Commutation Row, in the City of Liverpool, Dentist and Engineer respec-
tively, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object a seat which can be instantly moved aside
when not wanted, and yet be always in a position for being drawn out and used,
and is especially useful for shop seats.
We fix a low spindle to the floor close to the counter or other convenient posi-
tion. On this spindle is placed a T or L socket into which is screwed a light
tube having a Tsocket at the other end. Through this T socket slides a spindle
carrying the hinged seat at the top. The seat is hinged to the top of this spindle,
and has a spring catch fixed at its back to catch on to a projection on to the
spindle, so that by pressing a trigger the scat can be swivelled on the spindle
and turned at right angles to it, and thus placed in the vertical position, and
yet on being brought back to the horizontal the catch instantly catches and holds
it firm until the spindle be again pressed. If desirable another spring can be
arranged, or the seat so weighted that the moment the trigger is pressed, the
seat of its own accord flies into the vertical position and remains so. If desired,
the seat can be supplied with arms and a back swivelled in such manner that
when the seat is horizontal the arms and the back are in the position of the
arms and back of an arm chair, but when the seat is placed vertically the arms
being hinged, and the back, lie pressed together also in a vertical position. The
shank of the seat is preferably screwed into the tubular spindle with a long screw
so that it can be placed at any height to suit the user, and if desirable a hole
can be drilled through the tube and numerous holes through the spindle, so that
a pin can be placed through the two, and thus hold the seat stationary at any
desired height. The spindle is preferably rounded or pointed at the bottom and
has a step below the T so as to prevent the seat from being withdrawn entirely
from the T. The point fits a socket or series of sockets in a round, square, bow
shaped, or segmental plate in the floor. The horizontal bar at the bottom is
preferably supplied with a spring having a short spindle at each end sliding in
a tube. One spindle presses against the spindle of the seat and thus gives a
resistance to it being moved, the other spindle is rounded at the end and presses
against the salient angle of a notch cut in the spindle, this notch having a salient
angle at the centre. The result is, that when the seat is swivelled the rounded
end of the small internal spindle pressing against the retreating surface of the
spindle causes the horizontal bar and the seat to fly round to a
position at right angles. A stop fixed on the projecting part of the
spindle below the socket coming against a step on the socket, prevents
the seat from flying round to too great a distance. The stationary spindle

page_text: .
fixed to the floor is preferably drilled at the
In
top and a stud and washer
placed over the T socket to keep it from lifting up. It is obvious that the
spindle instead of being fixed to the floor could be fixed by a bracket to the side
of the counter, also that the horizontal bar instead of being straight could be
bent so as to almost touch the floor between the seat and the fixed socket.
place of having a pointed spindle for the seat and a series of sockets on the floor,
in cheaper arrangements we may have simply a bent tube running close to the
ground and then turned up to hold the seat. The tube could have a spring
attached to it if desirable to make it fly to the wall, and the spindle and hori-
zontal bar being all in one an arrangement could be adopted whereby the socket
could rise on the vertical stationary spindle sufficient to clear the point out of
the hole, or in place of a point, a roller could be used, or the bar itself could
drag on the floor or loose collar on the bar roll on the floor. These seats can be
used both for the shop assistant and for customers.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The shop assistant lifts slightly on the seat and swings it into place, and
presses the point into the hole at right angles, or whichever other hole he
desires. He then turns the seat proper, and sits down. When he wishes to push
the seat to one side, he simply lifts the seat, presses on the trigger, when the
seat assumes the perpendicular and flies off at right angles to the side of the
counter. To use it again he simply brings it back presses the point into the
socket and turns the seat down and it clutches in the trigger.
Dated the 14th da.. of V
1000
QUALI LEIM DIECIFICATION.
Improvements in Seats applicable for Shop Assistants' use and the
like.
We, ALBERT EDWARD FOLLOWS and DONALD JOHN GUNN MILLER, of 7
and 8, Commutation Row, in the City of Liverpool, Dentist and Engineer respec-
tively, 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 has for its object a seat which can be instantly moved aside
when not wanted, and yet be always in a position for being drawn out and used,
and is especially useful for shop seats.
The invention will be understood from the following description, reference being
had to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a side elevation;
Figure 2, a plan;
Figure 3, a detail view in cross section of the slot with salient angle for spring:
Figure 4 the spring arrangement for causing the seat to fly round parallel with
the counter.
We fix a low upright spindle A to the floor close to the counter or other con-
venient position. On this spindle is placed a Tor socket B into which is
screwed a light tube Chaving a T socket at the other end. Through this T
socket slide a spindle D carrying the hinged seat E at the top. The seat E
is hinged to the top of this spindle, and has a catch F fixed at its back to catch

page_text: on to a projection G on to the spindle, so that by pulling the trigger f, the seat
can be swivelled on the spindle and turned at right angles to its former position.
It is thus placed in the vertical position, and yet on being brought back to the
horizontal, the catch can be made to instantly catch and hold it firm until the
trigger be again pressed. The catch F can have a spring so as to catch onto the
projection automatically when the seat is brought back to the horizontal. If
desirable another spring can be arranged, or the seat so weighted that the moment
the trigger is pressed, the seat of its own accord flies into the vertical position
and remains so. If desired, the seat can be supplied with arms and a back
swivelled in such manner that when the seat is horizontal, the arms and the
back are in the position of the arms and back of an arm chair, but when the seat
is placed vertically, the arms & back lie folded together also in a vertical posi-
tion. The shank H of the seat is preferably screwed into the tubular spindle D
with a long screw so that it can be placed at any height to suit the user, and if
desirable a hole can be drilled through the tube and numerous holes through the
spindle, so that a pin can be placed through the two, and thus hold the seat
stationary at any desired height The spindle is preferably rounded or pointed
at the bottom and has a stop I below the T so as to prevent the seat from being
withdrawn entirely from the T. The point fits a socket J or series of sockets in
a round, square, bow shaped, or segmental plate in the floor. The horizontal
tube C at the bottom is preferably supplied with a spring K having a short
spindle L at each end sliding in the tube. One spindle L presses against the
spindle D of the seat and thus gives a resistance to it being moved, the other
spindle L is rounded at the end and presses against the salient angle of a
notch M cut in the spindle A, this notch having a salient angle at the centre.
The result is, that when the seat is swivelled, the rounded end of the small
internal spindle pressing against the retreating surface of the notch M causes the
horizontal bar and the seat to fly round to a position at right angles, that is
parallel with the counter. A stop N fixed on the projecting part of the spindle
below the socket coming against a
step 0 on the socket, prevents the
seat from flying round to too great a distance. The stationary spindle
fixed to the floor is preferably drilled at the top and a stud P and
washer placed over the T socket to keep it from lifting up. It is obvious
that the spindle A instead of being fixed to the floor could be fixed by a bracket
to the side of the counter, also that the horizontal bar C instead of being straight
could be bent so as to almost touch the floor between the seat and the fixed
socket. In place of having a pointed spindle D for the seat and a series of
sockets on the floor, in cheaper arrangements we may have simply a bent tube
running close to the ground and then turned up to hold the seat. The tube
could have a spring attached to it if desirable to make it fly to the wall, and the
spindle and horizontal bar being all in one an arrangement could be adopted
whereby the socket could rise on the vertical spindle sufficient to clear the point
out of the hole, or in place of a point, a roller, could be used,
the bar itself could drag on the floor or loose collar on the bar roll on the
floor, the object being to provide a support for the vertical spindle to resist
weight of sitter, and an anchoring arrangement to resist accidental moving aside
of the seat. These seats can be used both for the shop assistants and for
customers.
or
The arrangement of the tubes or spindles is such that when the seat is swung
into a position for use, there is always a free space in front of it above the
bottom bar for the legs or skirts of the sitter, thus avoiding any obstruction to
sitting down. The bottom bar or member can be strengthened by additional
bars or members if desired, and likewise the bar or member which supports the
seat can be strengthened by the addition of additional members.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The shop assistant lifts slightly on the seat and swings it into place, and
presses the point into the hole at right angles, or whichever other hole he desires,

page_text: thus anchoring the apparatus in position. He then turns the seat proper, and sits
down. When he wishes to push the seat to one side, he simply lifts the seat,
presses on the trigger, when the seat assumes the perpendicular and flies off at
right angles to the side of or under the counter. To use it again he simply brings
it back, presses the point into the socket and turns the seat down and it clutches
in the trigger.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The improvement in or relating to seats applicable for shop assistants use
and the like, which consists in forming them with a frame or arrangement of
bars or tubes, comprising a member (or members) located in close proximity to
the ground, or such manner as to leave a clear space for the legs or skirts of the
sitter, and pivotted or hinged at one end to or near the counter, wall or other
object so as to be capable of being swung in an approximately horizontal plane
against or flush with said object, or into a position at an angle thereto, and at
the opposite end turned up or provided with another member (or members) in
such a manner as to support and hold the seat at the required height above the
ground and distance from pivot or pivots, whereby the seat when swung out into
a position for use has always a free space in front of it for the legs or skirts of
the sitter, thus avoiding any obstruction to sitting down, while when not required
for use it can be swung aside out of the way, substantially as described.
2. In seats applicable for shop assistants use and the like, one or more tubes or
bars placed in close proximity to the floor or arranged in such a manner as to
leave a clear space for the legs or skirts of the sitter, and pivotted at one end
at or near counter, wall or other object so as to be capable of being swung
horizontally or approximately so, against or flush with said object, or into a
position at an angle thereto, an upright tube or bar sliding in a socket at oppo-
site end of the bottom bar, a seat hinged to the top of the upright bar having
a catch which locks it horizontal, or enables it to be placed in a vertical position
when released, and means for supporting the upright bar at bottom to resist the
weight of the sitter, or for anchoring it so as to prevent the seat being acciden-
tally pushed aside, substantially as described.
or
3. In seats of the kind described having the combination of a pivotted tube
radius bar, a bar or bars (for supporting the seat proper) socketted
or provided at opposite end of the radius bar to that of the pivot,
an anchoring device forming a support for said seat bar, and for
locking it in a position at right angles or other angle to the
counter or other object, and a spring device arranged to cause the radius bar with
its seat bar and seat to instantly swing automatically against or under the counter
or other object, when the anchoring arrangement is released, substantially .as
set forth.
4. In a seat of the kind described, forming the seat with a shank, which is
screwed into the tubular upright spindle D with a long screw so that it can be
placed at any height to suit the users, substantially as set forth.
5. The special arrangement of spring device for giving a resistance to the seat
spindle being moved, and also for causing the pivotted bar and the seat to swing
instantly against or under the counter or other object, when the force that held
the said bar stationary is released, substantially as described.
6. The devices for (a) preventing the bottom bar with its seat from flying
round to too great a distance, and (b) for preventing the seat bar from being with-
drawn entirely from the socket, substantially as described.
7. Arranging the hinged eat and its catch in such a manner that immedi-
ately the catch is released, the seat of its own accord flies.into a vertical position
and remains so, while on being brought back to the horizontal the catch engages
and holds it firm, until the catch be again pressed, substantially as described.

page_text: 8. The seat for shop use and the like, constructed arranged and operating sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and shewn in the drawings
annexed.
Dated this 17th day of Santamba 1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Patent Agents, of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London.