Improvements in Rocking Chairs and the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 1st Feb., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rocking Chairs and the like.
We, GEORGE FRANKLIN HALL, of 399 Springfield Avenue, Newark, New Jersey
Inventor, and ELLES R. CARHUFF, Manufacturer 124 Orchard Street, Newark, New
Jersey, both in the United States of America, 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 consists in the construction shown and described herein for a
rocking-chair having a stationary base.
In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the entire chair; Figure 2,
a front elevation of the chair-seat, the base, and connections between the same.
Figure 3 is a side view of one of the connecting links with a sleeve provided with
means for locking the chair in position; Figure 4, a view at right angles to that
shown in Figure 3 of the lower half of the link and the parts applied thereto.
Figure 5 is a side view of the entire locking device; and Figure 6 is a view similar
to Figure 2 of one side of a chair, showing an alternative form of rocking device.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of a modified form of supporting frame.
In Figures 1, 2 and 6, a is the chair-seat; b, a downwardly projecting frame secured
to the lower edges of the same and provided with bearings ₁ and 62; c, the stationary
base, and d are frames projecting upwardly from the base c adjacent to the frame b and
provided with bearings d¹ and d².
e are links having studs e and e² at their ends projecting outwardly perpendicular to
the same, the stud 2 being provided with sleeves f, f fitted thereto. The studs e¹ are
fitted to the bearings d' of the frames d, and the sleeves f, fare provided with hollow
studs f, which are fitted to the bearings 61 of the frames b. One of the sleeves f is
provided, additional to the stud f2, with an ear h projecting from its inner end and
with an arm projecting from the end adjacent to the stud f.
m is a curved rod concentric with the forward bearing d¹ of the frame d, and shown
herein secured to the frame d and base c at its ends.
The ear his provided with a hole h', fitted loosely to the rod m and is adapted,
when the stude³, and consequently the link e, is vibrated by the movement of the
chair, to slide loosely upon such rod m.
p is a lever having two ears at its base, the ear p¹ being pivoted near one of the
upper edges of the chair-seat, and the ear p² being connected to the arm / by means
of a link o.
Such device forms a toggle-connection between the lever p, which is operated by
the occupant of the chair, and the arm 1. It is entirely immaterial to the invention,
however, what means is used to lock such arm in its operative position, so long
as some connection is provided from the same to the chair-seat adapted to be moved
by the operator.
The links e on each side of the chair are connected together by means of a rod r
securely adjusted in holes in the same by set-screws r¹. The sleeves f may be provided
with set-screws, as shown herein, to secure them upon the studs e² of the links e ; but
the sleeve, operating the locking device, is constructed to turn readily upon the
stud e, in order to perform its function properly.
The chair is operated, as in ordinary rocking-chairs, by a slight forward and back-
ward motion of the occupant, the ear / sliding freely upon the curved rod m. When
it is desired to stop the chair in any one position, the lever p is forced backwards, as
shown in dotted lines in Figure 5, thereby throwing the arm i of the sleeve f upward.
This causes a similar movement of the ear, and, being eccentric to the rod m,
bites or binds upon the same, thereby holding the lower end of the link in a fixed
position upon the rod m and arresting the motion of the chair.

page_text: In the construction shown in Figure 6, the stud e¹ only upon the link e is bent at
right angles to its body, and the rod r is passed entirely through the lower end of
such link and provided with the sleeve ƒ similar to that shown in Figure 2. It will
be seen that in this construction the outer end of the rod r operates the same as the
stude, and for the purposes of the present invention it may be considered as the
stud e, although integral with the rod r.
With some forms of chairs it may be found desirable to use the latter construction
instead of that described above, and shown in the other figures of the drawing. It is
obvious that the two frames d might be formed integral, and the invention is therefore
not limited to that particular construction, as the frames serve merely to support the
bearing d¹ and d², and their exact form is wholly immaterial to the invention.
The advantage of the present construction is that the total length of the stud e²
upon the link e, provided with the sleeve having the hollow stud f may be varied to
suit chairs of different widths and it is therefore necessary to use only one pattern in
casting the links, even where applied to chairs of different widths.
The invention is specially adapted for application to chairs designed for other
uses than as rocking-chairs; and the locking device, in connection with the rocking
feature, affords a very desirable construction for barber's chairs, or operating chairs
for surgeons or dentists. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not
limited to the application of the device to any particular style of rocking or tilting
chairs, as it would be found equally desirable for other styles of chairs than those
referred to specifically herein. In like manner the device may be applied to children's
hobby-horses. It is evident that in certain classes of chairs the frames d may be
fastened directly to the floor instead of to a base c, as shown herein, and it will be
understood that the invention is not limited to the chair provided with such base.
In applying the locking device to rocking and tilting chairs it is immaterial
whether sleeves f be applied to the other links besides the one having the locking
device. It is also evident that in order to secure the adjustable feature of the
links provided with studs having sleeves thereon such adjustable devices could be
used on one side of the chair only, if desired; but it is preferred to apply the
adjustable links upon both sides of the chair in order to give the latter a sym-
metrical appearance. In some cases it is desirable to pivot the end of the lever p
directly to the chair-seat, and the upper end of the link o to the lever above such
pivot. Therefore the invention is not limited to the exact construction of the lever
shown, herein.
As will be seen from Figure 7, the base cand the frames d may be made of one
piece, either of wood or metal, being provided with the bearings d³, similar to those
shown in Figure 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
:-
1. The combination with a supporting frame having bearings therein, of a seat also
provided with bearings suspended below the level of the bearings in the supporting-
frame, links connecting the said bearings and provided with studs and one or more
sleeves applied to said studs, for the purposes set forth.
2. The combination, with a base and supporting frame d, provided with the
bearings d¹ and d³, of a chair-seat provided with the bearings 6 and 63, suspended
below the level of the bearings d¹ and d³, the links e, connecting the bearings and
provided with the studs e¹ and e³, and one or more sleeves f, applied to one or more
of the studs e and provided with the studs f³, as and for the purposes set forth.
3. The combination, with a base and supporting frame d, provided with bearings d¹
and d³, of a chair-seat provided with the bearings 61 and 62, suspended below the
level of the bearings d' and d*, the links connecting the bearings and provided
with the studs e¹ and e², the rods r, connecting the links in pairs, and one or more
sleeves, applied to the studs e and provided with studs f³, as and for the purposes
set forth.

page_text: 4. The combination, with a base frame c and supporting frame d, provided with
the bearings d¹ and d², of a chair-seat provided with the bearings b' and 62, suspended
below the level of the bearings d and d², the links e, connecting the bearings and
provided with the studs e¹ and e², a sleeve f, applied to one of the studs e² and
provided with perforated ear h and arm l, as described, a stationary curved rod m
secured at its ends to the frame d and base c, concentric with the bearings d², and
passing through the aperture in the ear h, and means for turning the arm l, as and
for the purpose set forth.
5. The combination, with a base-frame c and supporting frame d, provided with
bearings d' and d², of a chair-seat provided with the bearings 61 and 62, suspended
below the level of the bearings d¹ and d², the links e, connecting the bearings and
provided with the studs e¹ and e², a sleeve f, applied to one of the studs e² and
provided with perforated ear h and arm l, as described, a stationary curved rod m,
secured at its ends to the frame d and base c, concentric with the bearing d2 and
passing through the aperture in the ear h, the lever p pivoted to the chair-seat, and
a link connecting the lever p with the arm 1, the whole arranged and operated as
and for the purpose set forth.
6. The combination, with the base-frame c and the supporting frame d, provided
with the bearings d¹ and d², of a chair-seat provided with the bearings 6 and 6,
suspended below the level of the bearings d' and d², the links e connected with the
bearings and provided with the studs e¹ and e³, a sleeve mounted upon the stud e²
and provided with perforated ear h and arm l, as described, a stationary curved rod m,
secured at its ends to the frame d and the base c concentric with the path of the stud
when the chair is in motion, and means for raising and depressing the arm l, as
and for the purpose set forth.
D
Dasamba 1880
GEORGE FRANKLIN HALL.
ELLES R. CARHUFF.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.