IMPROVEMENTS IN. THE MANUFACTURE OF CHAIRS, SOFAS, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES OF FURNITURE
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN. THE MANUFACTURE OF CHAIRS, SOFAS, AND SIMILAR
ARTICLES OF FURNITURE." A communication from abroad by William
Gardner and Oliver L. Gardner, both of the City and State of New York,
United States of America..
Sealed the 13th September 1878, and dated the 17th April 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th April 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
CHAIRS, SOFAS, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES OF FURNITURE." [A communication
from abroad by William Gardner and Oliver L. Gardner, both of the City and
State of New York, United States of America.]
This Invention appertains to improvements in articles of furniture for sitting,
recumbent, and other purposes, and it consists in constructing articles, such as chair
and sofa seats, and backs, and the like, of two or more veneers of wood, arranged
with their grains crossing each other; the said veneers of wood being united by
suitable adhesive substance.
It consists further in securing the seat and back, which may be made in one con-
tinuous piece, to a rail uniting the front legs to the hind legs, and to a rail uniting
the back standards. By this construction the seat frame is dispensed with, cheapness
and simplicity are promoted, and the manufacture of these articles is facilitated.
The seat may be made either solid or perforated, and with a slight concavity.
The said seat may be perforated to conform to any desired design or configuration,

page_text: either by hand or machinery adapted for the purpose. The perforating of the seats
ventilates and renders them ornamental.
The veneers of which this seat is constructed rest upon an inner shoulder or flange
of a frame which surrounds them. The veneers with the grains crossed or diversified
and glued together, become homogeneous, thus making a solid piece of wood, from
which the seat bottom is made. The bottoms thus made may be either left solid
or perforated. The bottom is framed and adjusted in position upon the legs and to
the back standards, as described.
The second part of this Invention is carried into practise, as follows:-The seat
is made preferably with a continuous back composed of veneers of wood, put together
as above described, and may be perforated or left solid.
The continuous seat and back are fastened by nails or other suitable means to
the rail uniting the front legs to the upper ends of the hind legs, and to the rail
uniting the back standards. By thus constructing the seat and back and adjusting
them in position, the seat or bottom frame is dispensed with.
The arms of the chair are curved downward and fastened at both ends to the
seat, or bolted or screwed to both the seat and the front rail and to the hind legs.
By adopting the latter course the arms will assist in bracing the forward and hind
legs together. The lower ends of the back standards are made to unite with and
are fastened to the upper ends of the hind legs to form a broad bearing surface or
surfaces for the rear-curved end of the seat, thus further strengthening the chair or
other article.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
(
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
October 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
CHAIRS, SOFAS, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES OF FURNITURE." A communication from
abroad by William Gardner and Oliver L. Gardner, both of the City and State
of New York, United States of America.
This Invention appertains to improvements in articles of furniture for sitting,
recumbent, and other purposes, and it consists in constructing articles, such as chair
and sofa seats, and backs, and the like, of two or more veneers of wood arranged
with their grains crossing each other, the said veneers of wood being united by
suitable adhesive substance.
It consists further in securing the seat and back, which may be made in one
continuous piece, to a rail uniting the front legs to the hind legs, and to a rail
uniting the back standards. By this construction the seat frame is dispensed
with, cheapness and simplicity are promoted, and the manufacture of these articles
is facilitated.
In the accompanying Drawing I have illustrated the application of three layers
of veneer in the construction of the seat of a chair and of a continuous seat and back
for a chair.
'
Figure 1 is a plan, partly in section, of a seat with the said improvements
applied to the same, and showing the layers of veneer of which it is composed.
Figure 2 is a vertical section, shewing the said seat and its frame, and Figure 3
is a similar view, showing the said improvements applied to a rocking chair.
The arrangement of the said layers of veneer, according to the first part of my
Invention, is as follows:-These layers of veneer are denoted by the letters A, B,
and C. The grain of veneer A crosses that of the veneer B, as shown in Figures 1
and 2, and the grain of the veneer B crosses that of the veneer C, as seen in
Figure 2. Veneers when thus arranged, that is to say, with the grains crossing each
other or diversified, will make a seat, which, for durability and economy, will be
found very useful. The seat may be made either solid or perforated, and with a
slight concavity, as seen in Figure 2.
The said seat may be perforated by boring holes therein, according to any desired
design or configuration, either by hand or machinery adapted for the purpose. The
perforating of the seats ventilates and renders them ornamental, but if desired the
seat may be solid or unperforated.
The veneers of which this seat is constructed rest upon an inner shoulder or
flange fof a frame F, which surrounds them, as shown in Figure 2 of the Drawing.
The veneers with the grains crossed or diversified and glued together, become
homogeneous, thus making a solid piece of wood, from which the seat or bottom
is made, which seat or bottom when perforated and varnished is ready for the
market.
A slight concavity may be imparted to the bottom, as shewn in Figure 2, which
greatly adds to the comfort of the occupant of the chair to which it is attached.
The bottom is framed and adjusted in position upon the legs and to the back
standards as shown.
The second part of this Invention will be understood from the following
description:-The seat A is made preferably with a continuous back A¹, composed
of veneers of wood, put together in the manner above described, and may be per-
forated as shown, or left solid.
The continuous seat and back are fastened by nails or other suitable means to
the rail a, thus uniting the front legs B to the upper ends of the hind legs C, and
to the rail d, which unites the back standards D. By thus constructing the seat

page_text: and back, and adjusting them in position, the bottom frame is dispensed with,
expense is saved, and the weight of the chair is diminished.
E, E, are the arms of the chair, which are curved downward, and fastened at both
ends to the seat, or bolted or screwed to both the seat and the front rail a, and to
the hind legs C. By adopting the latter course the arms will assist in bracing the
forward and hind legs together, and will thus increase the strength of the chair.
The lower ends of the back standards are made to unite with and are fastened to
the upper ends of the hind legs, so as to form a broad bearing surface or surfaces
for the rear curved end of the seat, thus further strengthening the chair or other
article.
These improvements are applicable to sofas, settees, couches, or other articles of
furniture.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. In a chair, sofa, or other like article of furniture, the construction of the
bottom or seat, or the back, of two or more veneers or thin layers of wood, with the
grain of one layer crossing that of the adjacent layer or layers, and the whole secured
together with an adhesive substance, and either solid or perforated, and with or
without the curved configuration or concavity on the upper side of the seat, as above
set forth.
Second. The adaptation of the said Invention to the construction of a con-
tinuous seat and back for a rocking chair or other article of furniture, as above set
forth.
Third. The combination with the seat frame of a seat or bottom, constructed
according to this Invention, as above set forth.
Fourth. In a chair or other like article, a wooden bottom or seat provided with
perforations for ventilation or ornamentation, as above set forth.
Fifth, A wooden seat provided upon its upper side with a concavity and a
straight rim or margin for its attachment with the assistance of suitable fastenings
to the seat frame, as above set forth.
Sixth. The seat and back, composed of one piece, in combination with the rail of
the front legs, the hind legs, and the rail of the back standards, with or without the
arms, as and for the purpose set forth.
"
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my.
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
.thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight..