Improvements in or relating to Out-door and like Seats.
Year: 1899

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Out-door and like Seats.
I, HERBERT ALFRED DEAN, of 3, Circular Road, Withington, Manchester,
Gentleman, 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 relates to and consists of a novel construction and adaptation
of temporary cover for an outdoor or like seat, which effectually covers the seat
when such seat is not in use, is readily raised by hand when the seat is required,
and, by a novel arrangement of devices which give the cover an initial impulse
in starting, automatically recovers the seat when the user rises.
The accompanying sheet of drawings illustrate my invention in detail.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 a rear elevation of a seat as commonly
used out of doors with my improvements applied thereto.
According to my invention I employ a metal, wooden or other light and durable
rectangular frame (A) corresponding in outside dimensions and outline to the
seat (B). On the top of such fraime I place a covering of water-proof material (C)
which is larger than and overlaps the edges of the frame on all sides as illus-
trated and is fastened to the frame on the under-side by lacing or other suitable
means.
This frame and water-proof material form the seat cover, which by means of
hinges (D) is hinged and secured to the rear of the seat. Upon such hinges the
cover is adapted to be raised by hand to the position shewn in dotted lines at
w and leave the seat ready for use, or to be lowered by hand or automatically to
the position shewn in full lines and thereby effectually cover the seat and keep it
dry in wet weather, the overlapping edges of the water-proof material project-
ing outwards and downwards and causing the water to drain off at a distance
clear of the seat.
To effect the automatic lowering of the seat after use, so as to guard against
the accidental omission to lower it by hand, I apply to the rear of the frame (A)
a bell-crank extension (E) and to the free extremity of such extension I link a
weight (F). This weight, whilst the cover is over the seat is sustained by a
cross-rod (G) fixed to the seat frame and the connection with the extension (E)
is such that when the cover is raised the said weight remains on the rod (G) until
the cover reaches the position shewn by dotted lines at r, after which, owing to
the tip (E) of the extension (E) coming below the weight, such weight com-
mences to rise and leave the rod (G) until the cover comes against the back (A³)
of the seat, when it, the weight, then occupies the position shewn by dotted lines
at y.
With the cover thus raised by hand the user sits down on the seat taking care
to hold the cover up until fully seated when he may then let go and hold the cover
up by sitting back. Immediately the sitter rises and the cover loses its support,
the weight (F) falls on to the rod (G), thereby imparting a slight forward im-
petus to the cover sufficient to carry it over the centre of movement and back

page_text: to the position shewn by dotted lines at æ, from which point it is then capable of
falling down on to and recovering the seat by its own gravitation. The power
or force required to effect the initial impulse being very slight it will be seen that
the weight (F) will offer very little resistance to the raising of the cover, and
scarcely be felt by the sitter. The friction of the weight upon the cross-rod
serves to let the cover fall quietly.
With two of my improved covers applied to a double seat (see Fig. 2) I form
the back cross-bar (H) of the seat with a sloping upper face, as shewn, so that as
the cover material may overlap without interfering with the raising and lowering
of the covers, and when one, or both, are lowered any water falling thereon will
drain towards the outside edges of the covers.
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: An out-door or like seat, a cover hinged to the said seat, an extension or
arm on the said cover, a weight linked to. the said arm, a cross-rod or support
below the weight, and all mounted and operating substantially as and for the
purposes herein set forth and illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 92nd day of Siantomhar 1800
HERBERT ALFRED DEAN.
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents, Manchester.