Improvements in Chairs and other Seats.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Feb., 1897-Accented, 20th Mar., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Chairs and other Seats.
We, ARTHUR WILLIAM MCLEOD KEEN, of 97 Winston Road, Stoke Newington, in
the County of Middlesex, Inventor and THOMAS AUSTIN CHENNELLS, of, 25 Henslow
Road, Dulwich, in the County of Kent, Butcher, 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 :—
The invention has for its object to provide a chair or other seat of any convenient
size and shape that will be more comfortable and cleaner than those now in use, and
in carrying our invention, into, effect we dispense with the stuffing materials, springs
and upholstery usually employed.
We will describe our invention by the aid of the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a chair and Fig. 2 is an underside view of the same.
To produce our improved chair or seat we take the frame or skeleton of a chair or
other seat and fit a block or shape on the seat frame a of the shape required for the
seat; over this block or shape we draw and fit the seat covering material b, such as
leather, velvet &c. and fix said covering material b to the chair or seat frame, a by
nails in the usual way, we then remove the block or shape, which for such purpose is
made in a number of sections, and substitute therefor an air chamber c made
preferably of material such as that known as macintosh.
We preferably construct this air chamber by the aid of the block or shape used in
fitting the covering material 6 to the chair or seat frame; we cut the material to such
forms as to fit over the block or shape and join or seam the parts together in the
usual manner, some of these joins or seams may be made while the material is on the
block or shape, and then after removal of the latter the remaining joins or seams are
made. We also fix an air supply tube and valve d to the air chamber c so that the
latter may be inflated by means of a pump or otherwise as may be convenient.
We fit to the bottom of the chair a door or support e which acts as a support to.
the air chamber c; a convenient way of supporting this door or support e is to hinge
it at the back e' and to fit it with bolts eat the sides and front which bolts are
arranged to enter suitable holes forined in the chair or seat frame a. An opening is
made in the support e to permit the air tube d to be passed therethrough.
Thus when the air chamber c is placed in position and the support e securely
fastened, the air chamber c is inflated when, as it is made of the form of the covering b
the latter will be fully distended and a neat appearance and comfortable elastic seat
obtained.
It will be evident that various modifications may be made in the method of
carrying our invention into effect without departing from the peculiar character of
our invention; for instance instead of employing a hinged support e bolted in position,
the air chamber may be placed in a tray or drawer and slidden into position, the
frame of the chair or other seat being suitably constructed for such purpose as will be
well understood.
A chair or seat thus constructed is cleaner, lighter and less liable to damage in
moving as the air cushion is detachable, and in storing, the article is not liable to
harbour vermin &c.
We also by dispensing with springs and stuffing avoid the unsightly appearance
caused by dislodged and broken springs and the accumulation of dust produced and
encouraged by the methods of upholstering now in use.

page_text: Our invention also affords greater facility for repair, even within the home, and at
the same time provides a more substantial and durable article than those heretofore
in use.
A chair or seat thus constructed is also of great advantage to invalids and others
as the resiliency of the seat can be regulated to any requirements.
We would here remark that we are aware that loose air cushions have been placed
on chairs and other seats and that irremovable air chambers have been fixed to chairs
and other seats but so far as we are aware a removable air chamber has not
been placed underneath the fixed covering material of the seat and supported and
made to fit the same as herein described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a chair or other seat, the combination of a seat frame, a seat covering
fitted thereto as described, a loose air chamber underneath such covering, a movable
and fixable support for such air chamber and means for inflating and deflating
said chamber substantially as herein shown and described.
2. In a chair or other seat, the peculiar combination and arrangement of parts
forming an adjustably resilient seat having a removable air chamber, substantially as
herein described.
Dated February 19th 1897.
HARRIS & MILLS.
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.