CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN GARDEN CHAIRS AND OTHER USEFUL ARTICLES."
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Willian Swallow at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th June 1878.
WILLIAM SWALLOW, of Netherton, in the County of Worcester, Manager of Tube
Works. "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN GARDEN CHAIRS AND OTHER USEFUL
ARTICLES."
The objects of this Invention, which relates to certain improvements in the manu-
facture of metallic garden and other chairs, and other useful articles, such as sofa
frames and sheep or cattle racks, are to economise the amount of metal used in the
manufacture thereof, and thus to considerably lessen the weight; to form and adapt
the parts in such a manner that they can be readily put together to form the
finished article, and as readily taken apart for removal or packing or stowing away,
and so that any broken or damaged part can be easily removed and repaired or
replaced without disturbing the other parts, and so that the back, sides, and seat or
other parts of the complete article can be piled or packed for export or removal in
a considerably less space than as at present, and thus economise the space necessary
for stowage and the cost of transit.
In carrying this Invention into practice I employ and construct the parts of the
article of tubular or half-round metal in lieu of constructing the article by casting
it or forming it of wrought metal, and this allows me to form the parts so as to be
interchangeable and with great facility.
In constructing, say, for example, a garden chair or seat, I form the legs, side, and
arm of each end of one piece of tubing, suitably bending it to any desired con-
formation, and screwing the feet thereon, and I connect these end frames by smaller
horizontal tubes forming the back and bottom or seat of the chair, these latter tubes
passing through the end bent tubes, and being secured on the outside by nuts.
The framework of the back I complete by uniting its horizontal bars (of which
there need be but one at the top and one at the bottom), by strips, uprights, or
stretchers suitably bent to the conformation of the back, so as to give the desired
contour to laths, which may be suitably connected thereto to form the back; and
I complete the framing of the bottom or seat by uniting its horizontal bars (of
which there need be but one at the back and one at the front) by cross tubes
017

page_text: suitably bent to the conformation of the bottom or seat, so as to give the desired
contour to laths, which may be suitably connected thereto to form the bottom
or seat.
The uprights or strips and the cross tubes mentioned above as completing the
framework of the back and bottom or seat are provided at their extremities with
eyes, through which the said horizontal tubes are passed previously to their being
passed through both end frames and screwed tight up, and at all their junctions
they are or may be firmly held together by nuts, pins, or bolts.
The frame of the foot rest is also formed of half-round metal, and is centred to
the front legs in such a manner that it can be turned either under the seat or out
in a horizontal position, as desired, and the framework of the awning is similar
formed of half-round metal (made solid however at the angles) the end frames
thereof rising from and being fastened to the back of the said end bent tubes or
end frames of the chair by screwed pins or otherwise, and being bent at their upper
parts to the desired conformation for the top, the framework of the awning being
completed by small horizontal tubes, which unite the said end frames and run
across the front, top, and back to support the canvas or other awning, the horizontal
tubes passing through and being rigidiy secured to the end frames of the awning by
nuts.
It will readily be seen from the above description that the parts can be easily
put together or taken apart and packed in a minimum of space, and these advan-
tages hold good with reference to any other useful article, such as those above
referred to, and the construction of which I effect upon the same principle, ensuring
moreover interchangeability of parts which will be of advantage, especially with
reference to racks and similar articles needed for the use of cattle should any part
get broken or otherwise damaged.