A Photographic Posing Chair.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 18th Oct., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Photographic Posing Chair.
I, JAMES MCKENZIE Dow, Photographer, residing at Ogdensburg, in the County of
St. Lawrence, and State of New York, one of the United States of America, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying drawings:
My invention relates to Posing Chairs, more especially adapted for photographers,
although equally adaptable to other purposes, and it consists in part, of the
combination with a suitable seat, of a series of adjustable parts, rest supports, and
braces, adapted for varied and independent adjustments for the bead, back, arms, etc.,
also in the construction and arrangement of said head, back and arm rests, combined
with other parts, whereby an independent vertical and lateral adjustment may be.
had; and thirdly, in the construction and combination of the several parts, whereby
such chairs may be utilized with a greater degree of efficiency, than when otherwise
constructed.
The object of my invention is to provide such chairs with such parts and adjust-
ments, that the subject to be operated upon, may be posed more properly, and to the
desire of the photographer or other person, posing, or being posed, than by any other
means, and at the same time insure the greatest amount of comfort to the party
being posed. Hence my invention.
Referring to the drawings
―
Figure 1, represents a perspective view of a posing chair, constructed in accord-
ance with my invention.
Figure 2, represents an enlarged detail view of the swivelled plates and parts
supported thereby.
Figures 3 and 4, detail views of the head-rest and supporting rods, and,—
Figure 5, a detail view of the under side of the arm-rest.
;
In the drawings:-A, represents a chair to which my improved appliances are
secured, and B, B, represent two rods which extend in a circle partially around, and
at a greater or less distance from the said chair or seat, A, and are secured at their
opposite ends in suitable brackets A¹, A', the latter being properly secured to the
opposite sides of the chair or frame, as clearly shown in said Figure 1.
The rods B, B, serve as a means to propel or move the chair about, and also as a
track and fulcrum upon which couplings C, C, are supported and adapted to slide and
operate.
Said couplings C, C, are provided with right and left arms c, c, which, in the
instance shown, are provided with eye-pieces c', c', through which latter the
rods B, B, extend; the object being to have said couplings secured on the rods B, B,
in a manner to allow them, to be moved laterally, and also pivot or fulcrum thereon,
for the partial adjustment of the head and back rests, in a manner as will hereinafter
be described. are springs secured at or near their centre to the couplings Con
their inner side or that side adjacent to the rods B, and at their free end bear upon
said rods B to produce a sufficient tension to hold said couplings C, stationary when
adjusted laterally to the proper position.
D, D, are tubular rods, which extend through and are carried and supported by
said couplings C, C, being adapted for the support of the back and head rests
supporting rods as will hereinafter be set forth, and at their lower end have a pivotal
connection with horizontally arranged rods F, F, which latter extend through and
are guided and partially supported in pivotal supporting sleeves, represented at G, G,
(clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings) which are pivotally secured to
swivelled plates G¹, G, the latter being swivelled in the instance shown, on rods G³
.

page_text: attached to the rung A² of the chair one above the other (as more clearly shown in
Fig. 2 which represents an enlarged view in detail of the swivelled plates and sleeves
thereon, in reversed positions to more clearly show the construction of the same)
although it is obvious that the said swivelled plates G¹ G¹ may have a swivel
connection to any suitable part of the chair or frame.
Said swivelled plates G' G' are provided at one end thereof, with a dog G2, adapted
to engage with serrations, (as clearly shown) with which the under side of said
horizontal rods F, F, are provided, to prevent the latter from sliding forward in
their said supporting sleeves, and to adjustably support the said tubular rods D, D, in
a manner to allow the same to be adjusted to a greater or less degree of incline, to
change the position of the back and head rests, as will hereinafter be more fully
described. The described method of connection between the said pivotal supporting
sleeves, and swivelled supporting plates, allows the said horizontal rods to be raised
from engagement with the engaging dogs, to be moved either forward or backward
for adjustment of the back and head rests, as will appear obvious, and the
plates G, G', being swivelled allows for the lateral adjustment of said rods, as will
also appear obvious. The said tubular rods D, D, are each provided with a coiled
spring H; located thereon at a point between the coupling C, and a collar or flange d,
located on the lower end of said tubular rods, adapted to exert a downward pressure
on said tubular rods to hold the same in position, and keep the serrated horizontal
rods F, F, having connection therewith, in engagement with the dogs G², G².
E, E, represent vertically arranged supporting rods for the back and head rests
adjustably supported within the said tubular rods D D in a manner to slide or operate
vertically therein, and are adapted to be held or supported in a stationary position
therein by a set-screw as shown.
J represents a compound, sliding, pivotal and clamping disc located and having
connection with the upper end of the vertical supporting rods E, E, and adapted, in
the present instance, for the adjustable support of the head and back rests supporting
arms represented at I and I, respectively, and consists of a plate or disc provided
with a lag or projection thereon, having a longitudinal opening therein, for the
reception of a rod or bar, said enlargement being cut away, or provided with an
opening therein, at a point between its ends, communicating with the said
longitudinal opening therein. (as clearly shown in Figure 3.) in which a clamping
plate (which is shown as raised or turned to one side of said opening, in Figure 3)
is located, adapted to clamp the rod extending through said longitudinal opening to
hold the same stationary, by means of a thumb-screw, which latter also clamps the
said pivotal disc, to a fixed plate j³, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3) located on the
upper end of said rods E, E. By this means, the rods or arms supported in said
pivotal clamping discs, may have a longitudinal adjustment therein, and be adjusted
either up or down to any degree of incline to change the position of the back or head
rests, by simply adjusting a single thumb-screw, as will appear obvious.
The head-rest represented at K, (more clearly shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4)
consists of two arms k, k, pivotally secured at their inner ends to a plate k¹, (as
shown in Fig. 4) which is adapted to be clamped to a fixed plate or flange k², located
on the end of a connecting rod k³, (with the ends of said arms between the two
surfaces) by a thumb-screw, to clamp the inner ends of said arms, and adjustably
hold their outer ends in a fixed position, and allow them to be adjusted in their
relative position to each other. Said connecting rod k³, at its opposite or inner end
has a swivel joint connection with the supporting rod 1 at k*, said joint consisting of
two plates, located on the connecting ends of said rods, adapted to be clamped by a
thumb-screw or other suitable clamping means, to allow for a further adjustment
of the head rest, other than that allowed by the compound, pivotal clamping
disc J.
M represents the arm-rest, supported on a vertically arranged rod m which is
supported in openings located in lugs a a on the bracket A in a manner to be
vertically adjustable, and is adapted to be held or supported in a stationary position
by a set screw m². Said arm rest is provided with a secondary plate M¹ secured to

page_text: its under side with an intermediate space between the same, in which a plate or
flange m² located on the upper end of the rod m exten:ls, and is provided with
projections m³ thereon, which embrace the opposite edges of said secondary plate as
more clearly shown in Fig. 5, in a manner to guide the arm rest M and allow it to be
adjusted longitudinally in its relation to said supporting rod m. By means of this
described method of construction and connection of parts the arm-rest M has a
vertical and longitudinal adjustment, and may be turned or rotated to any desired
angle.
The adjustment of the back and head rests is accomplished as follows:-
The operator grasps the supporting rods E, E, and moves the rests either to the
right or left around the subject as desired, and raises the same up to the proper
height in relation to the subject, and secures the same by tightening the set-screws,
which hold said rods as herein before described. Any minor adjustment of the said
back and head rests is accomplished through the medium of the said sliding, pivotal
clamping discs, as herein before described.
To adjust the incline of the supporting rods for the back and head rests, the
operator lifts the tubular rods D, D, to raise the horizontal rods (F, F.) from
engagement with the dogs (G², G³) and pushes the same backward or forward, as
the case may be, and upon releasing the hold on said rods, the springs H, press said
borizontal rods (F, F,) down in engagement with the dogs (G³, G³,) for the purpose
as hereinbefore set forth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
T
1. The combination with a suitable seat, of supporting rods extending around said
seat, and secured thereto, vertical supporting rods for the back and head rests,
loosely mounted on said supporting rods to slide and fulcrum thereon, whereby said
vertical supporting rods may be adjusted laterally, and means for adjustably
supporting the lower ends of said vertical supporting rods, in a manner to allow the.
same to be adjusted backward and forward, substantially as described and for the
purpose set forth.
"
2. The combination with a suitable seat, of horizontally arranged supporting rods
extending around said seat and secured thereto, couplings supported on said
supporting rods and provided with tension springs for engagement with said
supporting rods, and vertically arranged head and back rests supporting rods
supported by said couplings, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
3. The combination with a suitable seat or frame, provided with horizontally.
arranged supporting rods, extending around the same and supported thereby, of
vertically arranged supporting rods adjustably supported in couplings, said couplings
being loosely mounted on said horizontally arranged rods, and means for adjustably
supporting the lower end of said vertical supporting rods, whereby the back and
head rests; may have a vertical, lateral, and backward and forward adjustment,
substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a posing chair, the combination with a suitable seat or frame, and two or
more supporting rods, secured thereto, of tubular rods, mounted on said supporting
rods and having an adjustable connection at their lower end with horizontally.
arranged serrated rods, which extend and are loosely supported at their free end
beneath said seat or frame, and a dog supported by said seat or frame adapted to
engage said serrated rods, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
5. In a posing chair, the combination with a seat or frame, provided with
supporting rods secured thereto, of tubular rods, adapted for the support of the
back and head rests, loosely mounted on said supporting rods, and connected at their
lower end with horizontally arranged rods, and sleeves pivotally secured to swivelled
frames, supported by the said seat or frame and adapted to loosely support the free
end of said horizontally arranged rods, substantially as described and for the purpose
set forth.

page_text: 6. The combination with a suitable seat or frame, of supporting rods extending
partially around the same and secured thereto, vertically arranged supporting rods
loosely mounted thereon, and horizontally arranged serrated rods, to one end of
which said vertical rods are attached, a dog adapted to engage with said serrated
rods, and springs, located on said vertically arranged supporting rods, adapted to
keep the said horizontal rods connected thereto, in engagement with the said dog,
substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
7. In a posing chair, the combination with a seat or frame, provided with
supporting rods, extending partially around the same and secured thereto, of
vertically arranged rods, supported by said supporting rods in couplings to have a
vertical and lateral adjustment thereon, and horizontally arranged toothed or serrated
rods, to which the lower end of said vertically arranged rods are attached, and a
sleeve and dog, having a swivel connection with said chair or frame, adapted to
adjustably support and engage with the said horizontally arranged rods, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
8. In a posing chair, the combination with a seat or frame, of vertically arranged
supporting rods pivotally supported by said seat or frame, at a point between their
ends, and horizontally arranged rods connecting with and supporting the lower
ends of said vertically arranged rods, and sleeves pivotally secured to the chair or
frame, or a part thereof, for the support of the free end of said horizontally
arranged rods, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
9. The combination in a posing chair, with a seat or frame, of pivotally supported
vertically arranged rods, horizontally arranged toothed or serrated rods, connecting
with the lower ends of said vertically arranged rods, a dog for engaging said
toothed or serrated rods, and a spring adapted to exert an elastic pressure upon
said serrated or toothed rods, to keep the same in engagement with the said dog,
substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
10. In a posing chair, the combination with a suitable seat or frame, of a rotatable,
vertically and horizontally adjustable arm-rest, substantially as described and for the
purpose set forth.
11. The combination with a stationary plate, of a compound sliding, pivotal and
clamping disc, consisting of a plate or disc provided with a longitudinal opening
therein for the adjustable reception of a rod, a transverse opening communicating
with said longitudinal opening, a clamping plate, adapted to be seated in said
transverse opening, and a set-screw for adjustably supporting and operating said
secondary disc and said clamping plate, substantially as described and for the
purpose set forth.
12. A head-rest for posing chairs, consisting of two arms adapted at one end for
the support of the head or other object, and at their opposite end have a separate
pivotal connection with a supporting plate or disc, and a set-screw for adjustably
clamping said supporting plate or disc on a stationary plate or disc, with the pivoted
ends of said arms between the adjacent surfaces of the same, substantially as
described and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 25th day of August 1890
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James Square, Manchester, Agents.