Improvements in Chairs or Seats for Facilitating Ventilation.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Dec., 1887
Specification Accepted, 6th Jan., 1888
RESS
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Chairs or Seats for Facilitating Ventilation.
I WILLIAM YOUNG OBER of Lynn in the County of Essex, and State of Massa-
chusetts; one of the United States of America, Inventor do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object to construct an opera-house chair or such like seat
whereby fresh air issuing from any suitable air-forcing apparatus, as for instance a
blower, and forced through suitable pipes, may be conveyed or distributed into
a theatre room or hall in proximity to the persons in attendance, to thus supply fresh
air at points most needed.
The invention consists of a chair the frame work of which, comprising the standard
and back is made hollow to form an air passage, an air chamber or receptacle being
formed at the top of the back of the chair, the said chamber having an open side or
face covered with gauze or open-work plate, the chamber having a valve or regulator
under the control of an individual near the chair to thus permit air to pass outward
through the said gauze or open-work plate into the room.
My invention also consists of a chair, the frame-work of which is made hollow to
provide an air passage, combined with a chamber or receptacle located at the top of
the chair, and having an open side or face through which the air is discharged.
Also in a chair frame-work made hollow to provide an air passage extending
vertically thereof, combined with a tube leading from the said air passage near its
upper end and a perforated air chamber or receptacle attached to the end of the
said tube.
I have shown the said air chamber or passage as having connected with it a flexible
tube provided at its end with a perforated air distributer, the admission of air to the
distributer being controlled by any suitable cock or plug.

page_text: Figure 1 shows in side elevation a chair embodying this invention.
Figure 2 a face view of the chamber at the top of the chair.
Figure 3 a detail of the valves and means for operating them.
Figure 4 shows in side elevation an opera chair or like seat having a movable seat
and back provided with an air-distributing apparatus.
Figure 5 a side elevation of the air chamber or distributer shown in Figure 4
enlarged, and
Figure 6 a rear side view of said air chamber or distributer shown in Figure 5.
The chair or seat herein described more particularly with reference to Figures 1, 2,
and 3 is composed essentially of a standard or post a, back b, and arm c, all preferably
cast in one piece, and constituting the frame-work of the chair.
A bottom or *
seat" is pivoted or otherwise connected with the front arm or
standard c in any usual manner.
The frame-work of the chair is cast hollow, as shewn by dotted lines, Figures 1
and 2, so as to leave passages through which air may be forced.
The air passage extending through the frame-work terminates in an air chamber or
receptacle e located at the top of the chair back b, one side of the said chamber being
open and covered with a screen or other perforated or open-work plate f.
Two valve plates 2, 3, see Figure 3, mounted upon shafts 4, 5, are placed within
the chamber e to permit or to prevent as may be desired, the passage of air outward
through the said screen or plate f.
The shafts 4, 5, of the valves have their bearings in the ends of the said chamber.
One end of one shaft, as 5, is provided with a crank 6, by which it may be rotated,
a toothed wheel 7 is mounted upon the opposite end of the said shaft, which meshing
with a similar toothed wheel 8 secured to the shaft 4, rotates the latter shaft, so that
the valves may be opened and closed by rotating the said crank.
In lieu of the valve plates 2, 3, the plates 08, 08, shown in Figures 4 and 5 may be
substituted, they being turned one side to expose the opening to the air chamber.
An opening n in the back of the chair and communicating with the air passage has
attached to it a flexible tube n¹ provided with a perforated ball n² preferably mado of
rubber, the passage of air from the tube to the ball being controlled by any suitable
cock or plug n³.
A chair constructed as described, being seated over the end of an air supplying
pipe A firmly secured to the floor, and a suitable rubber washer w having been inter-
posed to make a tight joint, air is forced through the supply pipe A by any suitablo
air forcing apparatus, such for instance as an ordinary fan-blower, the air passing
upward through the frame-work of the chair passing out through the gauze plate /,
or through the perforated ball n², or both, at the option of a person at, or near the
chair.
In order to apply my invention to opera chairs having a pivoted back or top
portion, to which the air chamber is attached, as shown in Figures 4 and 5 a pipe o
leads from the air chamber downward and is connected to the main air pipe by a
flexible pipe 24, or these pipes 23, 24, may be a single flexible pipe.
It will be seen that by the invention herein described, fresh air may be admitted
to a theatre or hall at just such points as it is most needed, and may be controlled by
the individual in attendance, thus amply providing for all, and in instances where a
slight draught of fresh air is desired the perforated ball only may be used, the said
hall being as previously stated, attached to a flexible tube that it may be placed and
allowed to remain at any desired point.
The chair shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, consists of a frame o, pivoted seat o', and
pivoted back o² all constructed in usual manner, the seat and back being connected
one with the other by a pin and slot connection whereby movement of the seat into
its vertical position shown in dotted lines moves the back into a more nearly vertical
position, also shown in dotted lines.
An air chamber or distributer o³ of any suitable size and shape is attached to the
rear side of the pivoted back o² by a strap o³ near the top, said air chamber or

page_text: distributer having an exit for the air at its rear side, and provided at its upper side
with a curved guard o to direct the course of the air issuing from the chamber.
The exit is closed by a plate o, having an opening o', and one or more plates o³,
herein shown as two in number, are pivoted to the plate of and adapted to close the
opening o7, suitable pins or studs o' rising from the upper sides of the plate o³ being
employed to move them.
A pipe o¹ leads from the air chamber or distributer o³ downward and connects
with the main or supply pipe ol which is preferably located beneath the floor of the
building by a flexible pipe o, beneath the chair.
In lieu of the pipe o", which is herein shown as of metal and the flexible pipe o¹8,
a single flexible pipe may be employed.
It will be seen that by providing a flexible pipe as a whole or part connection
between the main air supply pipe and the air chamber or distributer, the said chamber
or distributer which is attached to the top portion or back of the chair may be moved
with said top portion or back so that the seat o' may be turned upward into its
vertical position when unoccupied, which movement moves the back into a more
nearly vertical position to give greater space between the rows of seats.
Many theatres, halls, etc., are now provided with seats of this kind and flexible
connection is of the greatest importance in order that the air distributer may be
attached to that part of the chair to which it is best adapted to subserve its
usefulness.
The valve plates of each one of the chairs are under the control of the persons
sitting in the chairs located adjacent to and immediately in front of them, so that an
air distributing apparatus is in fact located directly in front of each person and under
his personal control.
It is obvious that the flexible tube n and its distributer may be attached to an air
conduit of any form desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a chair or similar seat the frame-work, comprising the standard and back
constructed with an air passage, as described, combined with a chamber arranged at
the top of the back and having a perforated or open side, and valves controlling the
passage of air therethrough, substantially as described.
2. In a chair, or similar seat the frame-work, comprising the standard and back
constructed with an air passage, as described, combined with a chamber arranged
at the top of the back and having a perforated or open side, substantially as
described.
3. In a chair or similar seat, the frame-work thereof made hollow to form an
air passage or pipe, as described, combined with a tube n¹ leading from said air
passage, and an air distributer attached to the end of the said tube, substantially as
described.
4. An air conduit combined with a tube n¹ leading from said air passage, and an
air distributer attached to the end of said tube, and a valve or cock controlling the
passage of air to said distributer, substantially as described.
5. A chair or similar seat provided with a back, combined with the air chamber e
arranged upon the rear of the back at its top, and having only a rearward opening,
with the foraminous plate covering the same, substantially as described, and with the
conduit to supply the said chamber with air, substantially as described.
6. A chair or similar seat provided with a back, combined with the air chamber e
having the foraminous plate, and valves, and arranged upon the rear of the back
and at its top and opening rearwardly, and with a conduit to supply air to the said
chamber, substantially as described.
7. In an opera chair or similar seat, the frame-work, seat and movable back or top
portion and an air chamber or distributer attached to said movable back or top

page_text: portion, and valves controlling the issuance of air from said distributer, combined
with the main air supply pipe, and a flexible connecting pipe, substantially as
described.
8. In an opera chair or similar seat, the air distributing chamber located at the rear
side of the back thereof, and having an opening at the rear side of the back, combined
with a curved guard to direct the current of air rearwardly, and the valve
controlling the issuance of air from the chamber, substantially as described.
Dated the 5th day of December 1887.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents.