AN IMPROVED ADJUSTING ACTION FOR CHAIRS AND COUCHES."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Barnby, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED ADJUSTING
ACTION FOR CHAIRS AND COUCHES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Barnby at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th June 1881.,
THOMAS BARNBY, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer.
"AN IMPROVED ADJUSTING ACTION FOR CHAIRS AND COUCHES."
This Invention refers to the description of adjusting action known as a rack
action, by which the back of chairs and the head and foot ends of couches may
be regulated at will to any desired angle of inclination; and my improvement
consists in making the rack, whether of metal or wood, by piercing or sinking the
slots of such rack in the form of a continuous scroll, a series of curves, so that there
are no angles or dead points to overcome, and thus much friction and twisting of
the parts of the chair or couch are avoided, whilst the inclination of the moveable
parts may be regulated without rising from the seat. The racks may be made in
metal and secured to the arms of a chair or side parts of a couch; or they may be
partially sunk in or cut through such arms or side pieces, the pin which is to work
in the racks being screwed into the backs or inclined parts.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Barnby in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd December 1881.
THOMAS BARNBY, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer.
"AN IMPROVED ADJUSTING ACTION FOR CHAIRS AND COUCHES."
"
This Invention referes to the description of adjusting action known as a "rack
action, by which the backs of chairs and the head and foot ends of couches may
be regulated at will to any desired angle of inclination; and my improvement
consists in making the rack, whether of metal or wood, by piercing or sinking the
slots of such rack in the form of a continuous scroll, a series of curves, so that there
are no angles or dead points to overcome, and thus much friction and twisting of
the parts of the chair or couch are avoided, whilst the inclination of the moveable
parts may be regulated without rising from the seat. The racks may be made in
metal and secured to the arms of a chair or side parts of a couch; or they may be
partially sunk in or cut through such arms or side pieces, the pin which is to work
in the racks being screwed into the backs or inclined parts.
I will now proceed to describe my Invention more fully in detail by the aid of
the annexed Drawings, in which (Figure 1) shews a view of a folding chair with
metal racks (a) of the form shewn full size in (Figure 4) screwed into the inner side
of each arm b, a stud upon each of the inclined parts forming the legs c engaging
in the grooves of each rack, so that by raising or lowering the arms 6 the inclination
of the back d may be regulated.
(Figure 2) represents the arms and back of a similar chair with the racks secured
to the inner sides of the upper ends of the arms, as at e, the studs being upon
outer sides of the back frame f.
the
In (Figure 3) the racks are upon the outer edges of the back frame g, and the
studs upon the inner edges of the upper ends of the arms at h, the action in both
the forms.
(Figures 2 & 3) being the same as in (Figure 1), namely, by raising and lowering
the arms, except that in the form seen in (Figure 1); this operation is performed
in front of the sitter and in the form shewn in the other two Figures it is at the
back of the sitter.
The same arrangements of rack and stud action may be employed for the
adjustment of the inclined parts of couches, the bar i, shewn in dotted lines as
passing behind the back and connecting the upper ends of the arms, ensures
uniform and simultaneous action of the parts.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
'which the same is to be performed,
I claim, the improved rack action for adjusting at will the inclination of the
backs or other moveable parts of chairs and couches, as herein more fully set forth
and specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Barnby, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty second day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.