IMPROVEMENTS IN SEATS, PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE FOR USE IN THEATRES AND OTHER PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Patrick Willian Nolan, of the City, County, and
State of New York, in the United States of America, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEATS, PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE FOR USE
IN THEATRES AND OTHER PUBLIC BUILDINGS."
Sealed the 20th January 1874, and dated the 7th August 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Patrick Willian Nolan
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
`the 7th August 1878.”
I, PATRICK WILLIAN NOLAN, of the City, County, and State of New
York, in the United States of America, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHATS, PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE
„FOR USE IN THEATRES AND OTHER PUBLIQ BUILDINGS," to be as follows:—
The Invention relates to a novel construction of folding seat adapted
for use in theatres, opera houses, concert, and other public halls where
it is desirable to economize space, accommodate the largest possible
number of seats, and at the same time to facilitate ingress and egress
between the rows of seats, Numerous efforts have been made to attain

page_text: these ends, but so far as I am informed these efforts have only been
partially successful, owing to the difficulty of constructing a folding seat
which could be brought within the required limits when folded, and at
the same time could be made to answer the imperative demand for ease
and comfort when in use. Thus for the comfort of the occupant it is 5
essential that the back of the chair when in use shall be inclined, and
this construction caused the back to overhang in part the space in rear
and between the seat to which such inclined back was applied, and
that immediately behind it. Again, the ease and comfort of the occupant
demanded that the seat should be provided with arms, and these when 1
the seat is folded overhang the space in front, and a row of chairs thus
formed necessarily tended to obstruct the passage between them and the
adjacent rows, both in front and rear, and the result has been either the
employment of chairs uncomfortable to the occupant, or the sacrifice of
valuable space in the effort to secure comfortable seats.
The object of this Invention is to overcome the recited, and to this
end the Invention consists in a novel construction of seat, whereby
when in use it is provided with an inclined back, which when the
chair is folded is made to assume a vertical position, and also with
arms, which when the seat is folded are also folded out of the way, and
both of which, when both are used, are firmly locked in the desired
position of comfort for the occupant whenever the seat is occupied, thus
giving the elements as enumerated as essential to comfort in use, and
bringing it within the smallest possible limit when folded for permitting
ingress and egress between the rows.
•
In carrying out the Invention uprights or frame pieces are secured to
a base plate, or directly to the floor, one at each end of a seat, said
standards being of a width from front to rear about equal to the
combined thickness of the seat and back, and of any desired ornamental
outline or configuration, and between these the seat is pivoted in
bearings. The back is also pivoted in uprights by pins or pivots which
are free to slide up and down in vertical or slightly inclined slots formed
in the uprights.
The vertical sides of the back have metallic straps or arms secured to
them, which extend downward, and are provided with lateral horizontal
spurs or pins which project outwardly, and enter curved or angular slots
near the lower ends of the standards, which are provided at or near
1

page_text: their upper ends with ears, to which arms are connected by horizontal
pivots.
Pivoted links or braces inclining downward and backward from the
pivoted arms are connected with the arms or straps by pins or
spurs formed upon or attached to the latter. The spurs or pivots by
preference are armed with hubs or friction rollers located between the
strap or arm and the link or brace. The seat is also provided with side
straps or arms which project in rear of the pivots, passing underneath
the pins, and bent or curved upward into an angular, curved, or hook
form. The rear faces of the standards are provided with shields or
guards which cover and protect the curved projecting ends of the side
straps or arms.
The operation of the several parts above described is as follows, viz.:-
Supposing the parts to be in position for use, and it is desired to fold the
chair, all that is necessary is to simply seize the top of the back, draw or
thrust it forward, causing it to turn upon its pivot until it assumes a
vertical position, the pin moving backward through the curved or
inclined slot until it comes to the angle or curve of said slot, when, by
its own weight or by pressing down upon it the back is forced downward.
The pins or pivots by means of which the back is pivoted to the uprights,
and the lateral horizontal spurs or pins descending through their slots,
and the pins connected with the arms or straps acting upon the arm
links, and also upon the projecting seat straps causes the arms to fold
downward and the seat upward, until the several parts assume a folded
position.
In reversing the action by simply turning the seat outward and down-
ward the straps are made to lift the spurs or pins, and with them the
back and arms, until the pins or spurs reach the horizontal or inclined
portion of the slot, when the form of the hook straps is such as to draw
the pins and with them the foot of the straps forward through such
horizontal portion of the slot, and by the same movement lifting the
pivoted arms into a horizontal position through the links. By this
arrangement when in use the parts are all made to assume the position
most favorable to the comfort and requirements of the user. When
folded the seat, arms, and back are withdrawn, and folded compactly
together within a compass from front to rear, about equal to the
combined thickness of the back and seat only, leaving no overhanging
or inclined portions to obstruct the space between the rows of seats.

page_text: When the seat is occupied the relation of the curved or unguial Syau
straps or hooks to the pins or spurs to which the back straps and links.
are connected is such as to effectually lock the back and arms in the
required. position, and release them for folding only when the seat is.
vacated.
The second part of my Invention relates,—
Firstly. To the construction and arrangement of the folding arms
relative to the folding seats, whereby a single intervening arm
used between two adjoining seats will be thrown up and retained in
proper position for use when either of said seats is in position for 1
occupancy, and folded out of the way only when both seats are folded or
unoccupied.
And, Secondly. To a novel means for connecting the folding seat and
pivoted back, whereby a positive movement in either direction is
imparted to one by the movement of the other, as will be described. In
this arrangement an upright or standard of any suitable configuration is
employed, but by preference cast open with front and rear upright bars
connected at the lower ends with a horizontal flange or foot piece
adapting it to be firmly secured to the floor or platform, with the
forward leg extending to about the required height for the pivot of the
seat, and there connected by a transverse web or bar with the rear or
main upright, which extends upward to form a pivoted support for the
pivoted back, at or near which point the said standard is provided with a
forward projection, to which the arm is pivoted. The seat is provided
on each side with straps armed with pivots, through which the seat is
pivoted in the standards, and these straps extending in rear of the
seat are curved upward and forward, forming arms eccentric to the pivot,
which are provided with the curved eccentric slots. The pivoted backs
are also provided with side straps, which extend below the back, and
are provided with pins or spurs which enter the eccentric slots, the
arrangement being such that when the seat is folded upward to a vertical
position the pins are moved outward traversing a slot, and cause the
back also to assume a vertical position, and when the seat is thrown
down for use a reverse movement of the back takes place, causing it to
assume an inclined position for use. The same result is attained by
moving the top of the back forward or back, a positive movement being
imparted through the pin and slot for either folding the seat or bringing
•

page_text: it into position for use. The relation of the pin and slot are such that
when the seat is in position for use the pin rests in the lower end of the
slot, and serves to lock the seat and back against further movement;
but as a further safeguard, and to prevent any straining of the parts,
3 other stops may be used, such as an extension of the back strap, provided
with a pin adapted to rest against the forward leg when the seat is in
position for use, or a similar stop applied to the seat straps, and so located
as to rest against the web or a spur formed thereon. The armis are pivoted
loosely in the lugs, as explained, and when not upheld by one or the other
of the eccentrics on the adjacent sides of adjoining seats drop either from
their own gravity, or may be forced downward by springs, if preferred,
into a vertical or folded position out of the way, but when either of two
adjoining seats is thrown down into position for use the cam projection
on the seat strap forces the intervening arm upward into position for use,
and retains it until both the adjoining seats are again folded, when the
arm again drops out of the way into its folded position.
Where from any cause it may be necessary to shorten the cam straps,
or the relative arrangement of the seat and back is such that the length
of the cam would be so great as to interfere with the seat a slide rod may
be pivoted to the under side of the arm provided at its lower end with
spurs or pins, one on each side, so arranged as to be operated by either
arm or cam when either seat is thrown down into position for use, and
so retained until both are folded as before.
The base plate may be made to support several pairs of seat standards,
or said standards may be secured directly to the floor, if desired, and
where thus placed in rows adjacent sides of adjoining seats and backs
may be connected with a single intervening standard of slightly increased
thickness to accommodate the independent pivots.
Guards or shields covering the arms may be extended across from one
upright to the other, or made angular so as to cover the inner faces of
the sliding arms. The pins or spurs traversing said slots may be armed
with friction rollers for facilitating their movement.
Seats constructed as described may be folded and packed for trans-
portation within a comparatively small compass, thereby enabling them
to be readily shipped from one point to another at greatly reduced cost.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Patrick Willian Nolan in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 6th February 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PATRICK
. WILLIAN NOLAN, of the City, County, and State of New York, in the
United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty.
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Patrick Willian Nolan, Her special
license, that I, the said Patrick Willian Nolan, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Patrick Willian Nolan,"
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 the Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEATS, PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE FOR USE IN THEATRES
AND OTHER PUBLIC BUILDINGS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Patrick Willian Nolan, my executors or admini-
strators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, 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 Patrick Willian Nolan, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, and forming part of this Specification, that is to
say:-
My Invention relates to a novel construction of folding seat adapted

page_text: number of seats, and at the same time to facilitate ingress and egress
between the rows of seats. Numerous efforts have been made to attain
these ends, but so far as I am informed these efforts have only been
partially successful owing to the difficulty of constructing a folding
seat, which could be brought within the required limits when folded,
and at the same time could be made to answer the imperative demand
for ease and comfort when in use. Thus for the comfort of the occupant
it is essential that the back of the chair when in use shall be inclined,
and this construction caused the back to overhang in part the space in
rear and between the seat to which such inclined back was applied, and
that immediately behind it. Again the ease and comfort of the occupant
demanded that the seat should be provided with arms, and these when
the seat is folded overhang the space in front, and a row of chairs thus
formed necessarily tended to obstruct the passage between them and the
adjacent rows, both in front and rear, and the result has been either the
employment of chairs uncomfortable to the occupant or the sacrifice of
valuable space in the effort to secure comfortable seats.
The object of this Invention is to overcome the difficulties recited, and
to this end the Invention consists in a novel construction of seat,
whereby when in use it is provided with an inclined back, which when
the chair is folded is made to assume a vertical position; and also with
arms, which when the seat is folded are also folded out of the way, and
both of which, when both are used, are firmly locked in the desired
position of comfort for the occupant whenever the seat is occupied, thus
giving the elements enumerated as essential to comfort in use, and
bringing it within the smallest possible limits when folded for permitting
ingress and egress between the rows.

page_text: .
:
Figure 4 is a plan view of the seat partly in section, and showing
*connections with the back; and Figures 5, 6, and 7 are views repro-
senting a slight modification in the construction of the chair, as herein-
after more fully described.
In the Drawings similar letters of reference are employed to indicate
corresponding parts wherever they occur.
A represents a base plate or board of a length corresponding to the
'width of the seat, and of a width from front to rear about equal, more
or less, to the combined thickness of the seat and back when folded into.
a vertical position is arranged as shewn in Figure 2. This plate when
used is intended to be secured to the floor of the hall in any usual or
*convenient manner. Uprights or frame picces B are secured to this base
plate, one at each end of a width from front to rear about equal to the
width of the base plate A or to the combined thickness of the seat and
back, and of any desired ornamental outline or configeration, and between
these the seat C is pivoted in boarings c, c. D is the back also pivoted in
uprights B by pins or pivots d, which are free to slide up and down in
vertical or slightly inclined slots 6 formed in said uprights B.
The vertical sides of the back D have metallic straps or arms D'
secured to them, which extend downward, and are provided with lateral
horizontal spurs or pins d', which project outwardly and enter curved or
angular slots b' near the lower ends of the standards B. The standards B
are provided at or near their upper ends with ears B' to which arms E
are connected by horizontal pivots at e.
F, F, are pivoted links or braces inclining dackwards and downwards
from the pivoted arms, and are connected with the arms or straps D' by
pins or spurs de formed upon or attached to the latter. The spurs or
pivots are by preference armed with hubs or friction rollers located
between the strap or arm D¹ and the link or brace F, as shown by
Figure 3. The seat C is also provided with side straps or arms C¹, which
project in rear of the pivot c passing underneath the pins d³, and bent
or curved upward into an angular. curved or hook form, as represented
for the purpose herein-after more fully explained. The rear faces of the
standards B are provided with shields or guards G, which cover the
curved projecting ends of the side straps or arms C³.
The operation of the several parts above described is as follows:-
Supposing the parts to be in position for use, as shown by Figure 1, and

page_text: -
it is desired to fold the chair, all that is necessary is to simply seize the
top of the back door or thrust it forward, causing it to turn upon its
pivot d until it assumes a vertical position, the pin & moving backward
through the curved or inclined slot 6' until it comes to the angle or
curve of said slot, when by its own weight or by pressing down upon it
the back is forced downward; the pins or pivots d by means of which
the back is pivoted to the uprights B, and the lateral horizontal spurs or
pins descending through their slots b, b³, and the pins a connected
with the arms or straps D' acting upon the arm links, F, and also upon
the projecting seat straps C¹ causes the arms to fold downward and the
seat upward until the several parts assume a folded position, as shown
by Figure 2.
In reversing the action, by simply turning the seat outward and
downward the straps C¹ are made to lift the spurs or pins d³, and with
them the back and arms until the pins or spurs d' reach the horizontal
or inclined portion of the slot ', when the form of the hook straps Cris
such as to draw the pins & and with them the foot of straps D' and
pins & forward through such horizontal portion of the slot, and by the
same movement lifting the pivoted arms E into a horizontal position
through the links F.
By the construction and arrangement shown and described it will be
seen that when in use the several parts are all made to assume the
position most favourable to the comfort and requirements of the user,
and when folded the seat arms and back are withdrawn and folded com-
pactly together within a compass from front to rear about equal to the
combined thickness of the back and seat, only leaving no overhanging or
inclined portions to obstruct the space between the rows of seats.
When the seat is occupied the relation of the curved or angular seat
straps or hooks O¹ to the pins or spurs d³ to which the back straps and
links Färe connected is such as to effectually lock the back and arms in
the required position, and to release them for folding only when the seat
is vacated.
I will now proceed to describe a slight modification of my Invention
fn reference to Figures 5, 6, and 7.
Figure 5 is a perspective view; Figure 6, a side elevation partly in
section; and Figure 7, a perspective view of the seat and its connecting

page_text: This modification consists,-
:
Firstly. In the construction and arrangement of the folding arms
relative to the folding seats, whereby a single intervening arm used
between two adjoining seats will be thrown up and retained in proper
position for use when either of said seats is in position for occupancy,
and folded out of the way only when both seats are folded or un-
ocupied.
And, Secondly. To a novel means for connecting the folding seat and
pivoted back whereby a positive movement in either direction is
imparted to one by the movement of the other. In this arrangement A
represents an upright or standard of any suitable configeration, but by
preference cast open with front and rear upright bars a, a', connected at
the lower ends with a horizontal flange or foot piece a³, adapting it to be
firmly secured to the floor or platform with the forward leg a extending
to about the required hight for the pivot of the seat B, and these con-
nected by a transverse-web-or-bar a³ with the rear or main upright A
which extends upwards to form pivotal support at for the pivoted
back C, at or near which point the said standard A. is provided with a
forward projection A¹ to which the arm D is pivoted at d, as shown.
The seat B is provided on each side with straps B¹ armed with pivots b
through which the seat is pivoted in the standards.A at a point indicated
by dotted lines, Figure 5, and these straps extending in rear of the seat
are curved upward and forward, forming arms eccentric to the pivot b
which are provided with the curved eccentric slots b'. The pivoted
backs C. are also provided with side straps C³ which extend below the
back, and are provided with pins or spurs c¹ which enter the eccentric
slots 6', as shown in Figure 5, the arrangement being such that when
the seat is folded upward to a vertical position the pins are moved
outward, traversing the slot b', and cause the back also to assume a
vertical position; and when the seat is thrown down for use a reverse
movement of the back takes place, causing it to assume an in-
clined position for use. The same result is attained by moving the
top of the back forward or back, a positive movement being imparted
through the pin C¹ and slot 6¹ for either folding the seat or bringing it
into position for use. The relation of the pin C¹ and slot 6¹ are such
that when the seat is in position for use the pin rests in the lower end of
the slot and serves to lock the seat and back against further movement,
but as a further safeguard and to prevent any straining of the parts

page_text: other stops may be used such as an extension of the back strap pro-
vided with a pin (indicated by dotted lines at o* Figure 4) adapted to
rest against the forward leg a when the rest is in position for use, or a
similar stop applied to the seat straps, and so located as to rest against
the web a or a spur formed thereon. The arms D are pivoted loosely
in the lugs A' as explained, and when not upheld by one or the other of
the eccentrics on the adjacent sides of adjoining seats drop either from
their own gravity or may be forced downward by springs, if preferred,
into a vertical or folded position out of the way, but when either of two
adjoining seats is thrown down into position for use the cam projection
on the seat strap forces the intervening arm D upward into position for
use and retains it until both the adjoining seats are again folded, when
the arm again drops out of the way into its folded position.
When from any cause it may be necessary to shorten the cam straps,
or the relative arrangement of the seat and back is such that the length
of the cam would be so great as to interfere with the seat, a rod may be
pivoted to the under side of the arm D or by a horizontal T piece to the
rear arm of the standard, and provided at its lower end with spurs or
pins, one on each side, so arranged as to be operated by either arm or
cam when either seat is thrown down into position for use, and so
retained until both are folded as before. It will be apparent that various
modifications in the construction of the several parts may be made
without departing from the spirit of my Invention, thus:-The
base plate may be extended and made to support several pair of seat
standards, but in practice I prefer to dispense with the base plate
and secure said standards by lugs or flanges directly to the floor, or to
the floor and risers if desired, and where thus placed in rows the adjacent
sides of adjoining seats and backs may be connected with single inter-
vening standard of slightly increased thickness to accommodate the
independent pivots.
The form of the seat and back and of their side straps or arms may be
varied as taste or comfort may dictate, and both may be cushioned in any
desired manner. The outer seat standard of a row of seats may be faced
or covered with any suitable material and made in any desired style of
ornamentation. The form of the seat straps or hooks may be varied,
and the guards or shields G covering such arms -may be extended across
from one upright to the other, or made angular so as to cover the inner

page_text: •
sides or faces of the sliding arms D¹. The form also of the angular slots
'may be varied, and the pins or spurs traversing said slots may be armed
with friction rollers for facilitating their movement. These however are
only obvious modifications such as would naturally occur to the skilled
¨. workman, and need not therefore be more particularly described.
.
It will also be apparent that the seats constructed as described may be
folded and packed for transportation within a comparatively small
compass, thereby enabling them to be readily shipped from one point to
another at greatly reduced cost.
"
"
Having thus described my Invention and means by which the same is 1
carried into effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the exact details shown and described, as the same may vary
without departing from the peculiar nature of said Invention; but what
I do claim is,
.
First. The pivoted back D in combination with the slotted side. ]
standards B, substantially as and for the purpose described..
Second. The folding seat provided with angular or curved straps in
combination with the pivoted back, substantially as described.
Third. The folding arms in combination with the pivoted back, sub-
stantially as described.
[Fourth. The combination of the pivoted seat, folding arms, and pivoted
back, substantially as and for the purpose described. .
Fifth. The seat standards or uprights provided with the vertical or
inclined and curved or angular slots in combination with the folding
seat and pivoted back, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Sixth. The shields or guards G in combination with the standards B
for covering the projecting curved or angular ends of the seat straps O³,
as described.
2
2
. Seventh. A single pivoted or folding arm between two adjoining seats
in combination with. independent cams or an equivalent device on the 3
adjacent straps or sides of said seats for operating said arm, substantially
as described.
◉Eighth. The combination of the pivoted back with the pivoted seat,
provided with curved slotted straps or plates, whereby a positive move-
..ment is imparted to the back in both directions by the movement of the 3

page_text: seat, and also to the seat by the movement of the back, substantially as
described.
Ninth. The slotted cam-shaped straps in combination with the pivoted
back and arm for operating said back and arm, substantially as de-
scribed.
In witness wherof, I, the said Patrick Willian Nolan, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of January, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four
!
PATRICK WILLIAM NOLAN. (L.S.)