IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GARDEN SEATS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Augustus William Noel, of Stanhoe Rectory, in the
County of Norfolk, Rector of Stanhoe, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Augustus William Noel at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th November 1880.
AUGUSTUS WILLIAM NOEL, of Stanhoe Rectory, in the County of Norfolk,
Rector of Stanhoe. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GARDEN SEATS."
The object of this Invention is to provide a garden seat combined with a
foot-board, which may be readily wheeled from place to place as desired, and which
when no longer required for use may be instantly tipped into such a position as
will leave it best protected from the action of the weather, and render it less liable
to be fouled by birds than other garden seats at present in use.
To this end I construct a garden seat of strip iron and laths of wood of any
convenient form as regards its upper part, and I mount it on front legs of such a
shape as will prevent them from unduly indenting the lawn when pressure is put
upon them, and will enable them to serve as the fulcra when the seat is to be
placed in a tipped or tilted position preparatory to its removal from one place to
another, or when it is to be left in the tilted position exposed to the elements.
.
The back legs I form in a somewhat similar way, that is to say, they are so
shaped as to afford a fairly large bearing surface.
To these back legs near their feet I hinge or pivot by means of a rod of iron, or
in any other convenient manner, a frame composed of some three or more bars
of iron or wood; the said frame when in its normal position underlying and
extending in front of the seat proper, and on the forward end of this frame
I mount transversely of the main frame bars, and parallel to the laths composing
the back and seat proper, three or more laths similar to those composing the upper
part of the seat. These laths form a foot board which will keep the feet of those
using the seat from injuring the grass, and will also ensure for them a dry footing
when the grass is damp.
At the foremost extremity of each of the main bars composing the frame, and
slightly in advance of the front bar or lath of the foot-board, I mount a wheel,

page_text: preferably of hard wood, and of sufficient breadth and diameter as will serve to
carry the weight of the seat and footboard combined, and allow of its removal with
facility from place to place when required.
In order to remove the seat as described, it will be necessary to push the top rail
thereof over towards the front, so that the entire seat may be partially rocked over,
its front legs serving as its fulcra. This action will cause the back legs to be
tipped up, and the rear end of the frame, which is hinged or pivotted to the said
legs, will be simultaneously tipped up until its further movement is arrested by the
front rail or lath of the seat proper.
It will then be found that by grasping the back rod or rail of the frame, and
raising it so as to lift the front legs clear of the ground, the entire weight of the
seat and foot board will be thrown upon the wheels already described, which are
situate slightly in advance of the foot board.. The seat when:in this position may
be easily moved about as desired. When however the seat is no longer needed for
use, it can be left out of doors in the tipped or tilted position just described, for the
several parts of my improved garden seat are so proportioned and arranged that it
will stand firmly in the said tilted position, whereby the top rail or lath will be
made to overhang the seat proper and protect it from the droppings of birds, and
in some degree also from the weather. The seat proper will also be placed at such
an angle when in this position that any rain will quickly run off, thus facilitating
its rapid drying after showers.
The foregoing description refers more particularly to a seat adapted to hold three
or four persons, but the same principle of construction is equally applicable to
garden seats or chairs for a single person.
It is obvious that my improved garden seat may be made entirely of wood or of
metal; but I prefer to employ a combination of these materials, as above indicated.
The construction of the foot board and frame on which it is carried may also be
modified to suit various circumstances; but in all cases the principle of con-
struction and the operation of the several parts will be the same, and directed to
the attainment of the same results, as are above set forth.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Augustus William Noel in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th May 1881.
AUGUSTUS WILLIAM NOEL, of Stanhoe Rectory, in the County of Norfolk,
Rector of Stanhoe. " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GARDEN SEATS."
The object of this Invention is to provide a garden seat combined with a
footboard, which may be readily wheeled from place to place as desired, and which
when no longer required for use may be instantly tipped into such a position as
will leave it best protected from the action of the weather, and render it less
liable to be fouled by birds than other garden seats at present in use.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 shews my improved seat in end elevation,
and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.
The seat proper is composed of side frames of wrought iron a, a, held apart by
means of transverse strips or bars of wood b, b, which are secured in place by bolts
and nuts, as is usual in garden seats of this construction, and constitutes a
horizontal and inclined support for the persons using the seat.
The front legs of the seat it will be seen are formed of looped strips or bars of
iron, which are intended to form moving fulcra for the seat when tipped. The
back legs .terminate in eyes for the reception of a transverse bar c, which forma
hinged joints for connecting a horizontal frame d with the garden seat.
This frame is composed of parallel bars of iron, which are held apart by means of
transverse bars or strips of wood e, e, secured thereto by bolts and nuts. These
bars of wood form the footboard of the garden seat.
The horizontal frame d is fitted at front with rollers f.f, which serve to keep
the frame d clear of the ground, and are mainly intended to facilitate the
transference of the seat from place to place. I have said that the back legs of the
seat are hinged to the horizontal frame d, and that the front legs are forined so as
to constitute moving fulcra. The object of this arrangement is to allow of the seat
being tipped forward and retained in the position shewn in the side elevation
Fig. 3 when the seat is out of use.
At this time the lowermost of the bars b rests upon the frame d and thus
prevents the seat from tipping further forwards. While the seat is tilted, as in
Fig. 3 of the Drawing, and it is desired to remove the seat to a new position, it
will only be necessary to grasp the transverse bar c and raise it so as to lift the
front legs clear of the ground, when the entire weight of the seat and footboard
will be thrown upon the rollers f, which are situate slightly in advance of the
footboard. The seat when in this position may be easily moved about as desired.
When the seat is placed in position, and is not for the moment required to be.
used, it may be left in the tipped or tilted position just described, for the several
parts of my improved garden seat are so proportioned and arranged that it will
stand firmly in the said tilted position, whereby the top strip or bar b will be
made to overhang the seat proper and protect it from the droppings of birds,
and in some degree also from the weather. The seat proper will also stand at
such an angle that any rain will quickly run off, thus facilitating its rapid drying
after showers.
The foregoing description refers more particularly to a seat adapted to hold three
or four persons, but the same principle of construction is equally applicable to
garden seats or chairs for a single person.
The advantages of this seat besides those enumerated are that it will not harbour
insects or remain damp like folding seats of the ordinary construction, and by
reason of its having a foot board which is clear of the ground, it will be a

page_text: protection against damp feet, and will not become sodden or injure the lawn on
which it may be placed.
It is obvious that my improved garden seat which I have named "The Stanhoe,"
may be made entirely of wood or of metal, but I prefer to employ a combination of
these materials, as above indicated.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in the
Construction of Garden Seats," and explained the manner of carrying the same into
effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters
Patent I claim,-
In combination with a garden seat, a footboard frame hinged thereto and fitted
with wheels or rollers for facilitating the transference of the seat from place to
place, such seat being furnished with moving fulcra, as and for the purpose above
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Augustus William Noel, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.