IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FOLDING CHAIRS OR SEATS AND TABLES, WHICH IMPROVE- MENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER ARTICLES OF FURNITURE AND UTILITY
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Goulding, of Leicester, Agricultural
Implement Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF FOLDING CHAIRS OR SEATS AND TABLES, WHICH IMPROVE-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Goulding at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 31st January 1874.
I, WILLIAM GOULDING, of Leicester, Agricultural Implement Maker,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FOLDING CHAIRS OR SEATS AND TABLES, WHICH IMPROVE,
MENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER ARTICLES OF FURNITURE AND UTILITY," to
be as follows:-
1
The Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of
folding chairs or seats and tables, which improvements are applicable to
other articles of furniture and utility. For this purpose I employ, as
heretofore, a cross frame, the two parts of which are pin-jointed

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Goulding in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 30th July 1874.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Goulding, Her special license
that I, the said William Goulding, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Goulding, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercisc, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FOLDING CHAIRS OR SEATS AND TABLES, WHICH IMPROVE.
MENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER ARTICLES OF FURNITURE AND UTILITY," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Goulding, my
exccutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and scals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Goulding, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:
-
The Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of
folding chairs or seats and tables, which improvements are applicable to
other articles of furniture and utility. For this purpose I employ, as
heretofore, a cross frame, the two parts of which are pin-jointed
together; but instead of connecting the upper ends thereof together
by means of a top formed of webbing or other fabric, as heretofore, I
connect thereto by pin joints links or connecting rods, which are also
connected together at their inner ends by pin joint, preferably in the
form of a rod or rail extending across the article from one side frame to
the other. The links or connecting rods are connected together by
means of bars with spaces between them, or they may be completely
covered, but so that the two central bars or the two halves of the
covering butt against each other, and thus form a stop to prevent the

page_text: joints f, g, and these links or connecting rods d, e, are also connected
together at their inner ends by pin joint, preferably in the form of a rod
or rail / extending across the article from one side frame to the other.
The links or connecting rods d, e, are connected together by means of.
bars, slats, or rails i, with spaces between them to form the top of the
seat or stool, as shown, or they may be completely covered; but in either
case the two central bars, slats, or rails i, or the two halves of the
covering or top, are arranged so as to butt against each other, and thus
form a stop to prevent the top of the seat, table, or other article falling
below the horizontal or other desired position; or if desired stops.or
bolts may be otherwise applied for this purpose.
At Figures 2, 4, and 5 it will be seen that the top of the seat or stool
at the centre where the two halves thereof meet together is formed with.
an opening k, so that when folded together the scat or stool may be
readily carried by the hand grasping the cross rod or rail h.
At Figures 6 and 7 two views are shown of a seat similar to that.
shown in the previous Figures, but having the addition of a folding back
applied thereto. Figure 6 shows the seat or chair opened out in position
for use, and Figure 7 shows it folded up.
b
The back consists of two upright bars 7 connected together at their
upper ends by a cross rail or bar m and pin-jointed to brackets n fixed to
the part of the cross frame, whilst the upright bars / when in use rest
against studs or projections o fixed to the links e, which are slightly
prolonged as shown to receive the studs o.
Figure 8 is an end view, and Figure 9 is a side view of a long folding
stool or rout seat capable of affording sitting accommodation for several
persons, and showing it open in position for use; and Figure 10 is a
side view; and Figure 11 an end view, showing it as it would appear
when folded up. This stool or rout seat is made in a precisely similar
manner to those before described, except that there are extra parts a, b,
to the cross frame, and the slats or rails i are longer and stouter than
those shown in the other Figures, whilst extra tie rods or rails pare
employed to connect and stiffen the parts a, a, a, and b, b, b, forming
the folding cross frame.
Figure 12 is a side view of a table constructed according to the
present Invention. This table is made almost precisely similar to the
seat shown at Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, the proportions and dimensions

page_text: of the parts being only slightly varied to suit the purpose for which it is
intended.
In the seat shown at Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11, and in the table shown
at Figure 12, the opening k in the top is dispensed with as being
unnecessary.
The arrangement of parts, as herein described, may be employed for
various useful purposes; for instance, by the addition of a rising rim, as
shown by the dotted lines in Figure 12, around the top of the article,
it may be used as a butler's folding tray, the tray and stand being con-
nected together; or by varying the proportions and dimensions, and
causing the two parts of the top of the article to stand at an angle to
each other, the article may be employed as a reading or writing desk, or
as a music stand, or as a saddle airer.
In the Drawings the various articles are shown as they would appear
when made of wood, but it is evident that iron or other material may be 1
employed in their manufacture.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the mode
in which the same is carried into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim as my Invention in the construction of folding chairs or
seats and tables and other articles of furniture and utility is, the novel
combination and arrangement with a folding cross frame a, b, of links
or connecting rods d, e, pin-jointed thereto and to each other, such links
or connecting rods d, e, having the top i of the article fixed thereto, all
in manner and for the purposes substantially as herein shown and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Goulding, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of July, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.