Improvements in Convertible Walking Sticks and Camp Stools.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 22nd Apr., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Convertible Walking Sticks and Camp Stools.
I, JAMES ARMSTRONG NIXON, a citizen of the United States, residing at
Titusville, in the County of Crawford, and State of Pennsylvania, United States.
of America, Mechanic, 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 :-
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7
The invention relates to improvements in convertible walking sticks or canes and:
camp stools for a variety of important uses, such as by persons upon excursions,
picnics and the like and its object is to produce such improvements in that class
of articles as shall render them best adapted for both uses; and whereby they may...
be converted with greatest facility.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 represents my device as ready for use as a cane;
Figure 2 shows the parts separated as in converting it into a camp stool;
Figure 3 illustrates the camp stool ready for use;
Figure 4 represents the legs spread to form a tripod, their upper ends closed,.
and the enclosing sleeve and other parts removed;
Figure 5 shows the same, with the legs closed;
Figure 6 is a central vertical section of the sleeve in detail, showing the legs..
and seat spread;
Figure 7 is a similar view, showing the legs and seat closed;
Figure 8 is a top plan view of the seat and central ring.
Referring to the figures on the drawings-particularly in Figure 1, the middle
portion therein illustrated comprehends the legs 1 of the stool. 2 indicates the...
lower end of the cane, and 3 the seat cover, which.in. practice forms the upper end
and head of the cane, being preferably for this reason provided with a knob 4 on
its upper end. The lower end 2, of the cane consists preferably of a simple solid..
stick, having a band jointed upon its upper end, which is adapted to slide over or
screw into, as preferred, the lower ends of the folded legs. The legs are
preferably triangular in cross section, and form, when folded together, a round :
stick (see Figs. 4 and 5). 5 indicates a metallic sleeve, provided with an inwardly
projecting annular retaining flange 6 on its lower end, and with interior screw-
threads 7 at its upper end. The office of the sleeve is to retain the legs when
closed, and to afford an outside bearing for them when open."
8 indicates an enlarged head upon the legs considered as a unit, which they are
in effect when folded, as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings.. The head. 8
serves to hold an elastic band 9 in place, and projecting beyond the flange 6 to.
prevent the dislodgement of the legs. The band 9 affords a yielding pivotal
bearing for the legs. The inner corners of the upper ends of the legs are chamfered, as
indicated at 10, to permit the opening of the legs upon their pivot 9. When open
the combined upper ends of the legs resemble the frustum of a cone (see Fig. 4): :
The heads of the legs are also chamfered, as shown at 11, in Fig. 7, thus bringing
their upper ends nearly to a sharp edge, so as to form, when united, a central
cylindrical or slightly tapered aperture, as indicated at 12 in Fig. 6. 13 indicates
a follower within the sleeve 5, having in its lower end a bevelled recess or
socket 14, adapted to receive the conical ends of the legs when spread (see Fig. 6).
The outer edge of the follower also slightly bevelled, as indicated at 15, so that
when the legs are closed the bevelled edge 15 rests against the chamfered edge 10

page_text: of the legs, and prevents them from rattling when folded as in the cane. The
neck 17 of the follower is provided with an annular screw-threaded projection 18,.
below which it is smooth. 19 indicates a screw-threaded collar adapted to screw
into the top of the sleeve 5, and to confine therein the follower 13. 20 indicates a
cylindrical supporting piece provided with an internal annular screw-threaded
projection 21, threaded to fit the projection 18 upon the neck 17. The width of
the projection 21 is a little less than that of the smooth part of the neck 17, so that
when screwed upon the neck, and beyond the projection 18, the supporting piece is
revolubly secured to the follower, from which it cannot be removed, except by
registering the screw-threads upon the projections 18 and 21, respectively and
unscrewing it. For the sake of strength, the supporting-piece is enlarged above
the collar 19, as indicated at 22, and is provided with radial slots or kerfs 23,
within which radial arms 24 are pivoted, as indicated at 25. The adjacent ends of
the arms and their slots are preferably correspondingly slanted, as indicated at 30.
26 indicates a screw plug adapted to be screwed into the threaded end 27 of the
supporting-piece. It is provided with a conical bottom 28, against which ends of
the arms 25 bear when the arms are spread. The angle of elevation of the arms
may be adjusted by turning the plug one way or the other.
The radial arms may be of any suitable number, as for example 4 as illustrated.
They form the collapsible seat of my device, and being attached to the supporting-
piece revolve with it, and so constitute a revolving seat.
In assembling the parts of my cane, the legs are first closed, as shown in Fig. 5,
and are slipped into the top of the sleeve 5, feet downward. The follower is then
set in place, the collar 19 next screwed into the top of the sleeve 5, and afterwards
the supporting-piece is screwed into place. In this position the elastic band 9
rests upon the flange in the bottom of the sleeve 5. The supporting-piece is
revolubly secured to the follower, and by the collar 19 the parts are all united
together.
In converting the cane to a camp stool in practice, the seat-cover 3, and the
lower end 2 are removed, the legs are spread, the end 2 is reversed and inserted
into the aperture 12 between the heads of the legs, thereby wedging them apart,
and adding stiffness to the seat. At the same time, being properly adjusted as to
length, it acts as a center support, as shown in Fig. 3. For convenience the cover
is provided with an aperture 29, in its upper end, whereby it may be slipped over the
end 2 before it is inserted into place between the heads of the legs, and danger of
its loss or displacement is avoided. The seat is then spread out, and the stool is
ready for use. By reversing the operation the stool may be restored to a cane
form with equal facility.
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 :-
:-
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1. In fa convertible cane and camp stool, the combination with a sleeve and
follower provided with a socket, of pivotally united legs carried in the sleeve and
having chamfered heads adapting them to fit into the socket of the follower, sub-
tantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. A convertible cane and camp stool consisting of a sleeve, a socketed follower
and supporting piece, slots in the supporting-piece, radial arms therein, and a screw
plug in the end of the supporting-piece above the arms, and pivoted legs carried in
the sleeve, all combined and co-operating, substantially as set forth.
3. In a convertible caue and camp stool, the combination with a sleeve, socketed
follower supporting ring, collapsible seat thereon, and a collar adapted to secure
the follower to the sleeve, of legs pivotally united within the sleeve, said legs being
chamfered, as described, to permit of their spreading, and to form a cylindrical
aperture in their head when spread, and a lower part 2 designed to form the end of

page_text: the cane, or reversed to form a central support for the stool, substantially as and.
for the purpose specified.
Titusville Po November 15th 1892.
Signed in the presence of-
JOSEPH T. CHASE.
JNO. HOPKINS.
JAMES ARMSTRONG NIXON.