Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1893-Accepted, 17th June, 1893
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
The object of my invention is to produce a combined cane and camp stool, which
presents a neat appearance either as a cane or a camp stool, and which possesses
improved elements of convenience, strength and durability.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the cane;
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the camp stool;
Figure 3 is a detail view, showing the means for retaining the legs of the stool
in place;
Figure 4 is a similar view, showing in cross section the arrangement of the
collapsible head; and
Figure 5 is a view of the barrel joint used in the collapsible head.
Referring to the figures on the drawing, 1 indicates the body part of the cane.
It preferably consists of a round piece of wood provided with a reduced portion 2,
at its upper end which is protected by a flared band 3, which encircles the shoulder 4.
5 indicates a sleeve which surrounds the reduced part of the body portion above
the band, and is preferably provided with a flange 6 for giving it a solid bearing
portion on top of the band. It is adapted to rotate freely, and is provided with a
transverse partition 7 which is perforated as indicated at 8 to receive a screw 9 that
is adapted to hold the sleeve in place upon the top of the head. 10 indicates a
sliding ring or collar surrounding the sleeve, and provided with an inside groove 11,
which may be made annular, but is preferably of octagonal or many sided shape.
12 indicates radially disposed kerfs in the side of the sliding ring through which
the shanks of the brace ribs 13 may move. The ends of the ribs are provided
with enlarged heads, preferably barrel shaped that are set in the groove on the
inside of the ring, between it and the side of the sleeve, and thus held in place.
The barrels upon the ribs serve to prevent side play of the ribs, which, in a device
of this kind is particularly objectionable. The sliding ring is adapted to slide
upon the sleeve between its lower flange and the head 14, secured by suitable means
in the top of the sleeve. 15 indicates an annular groove, which may be made to
correspond with the groove in the sliding ring. This groove is located upon the
top of the head. 16 indicates a cap-plate having a central aperture 17. 18 indicates
a screw adapted to screw into the top of the head and hold the cap-plate in place.
19 indicates an annular or other groove in the bottom of the cap-plate, corresponding
in position when the cap is in place upon the head, to the groove in the head, so as
to form a continuous annular recess in the top of the sleeve. 20 indicates radial
kerfs in the cap-plate, within which pass the shanks of the seat ribs, which are
similarly to the brace ribs, provided with barrel heads that fit into the annular
recesses in the top and bottom of the head and cap-plate respectively, and are so
held securely in place. The brace ribs are provided with eyelets 22, and the seat
ribs with eyelets 23, which are united together in practice. The eyelets of the
brace ribs are formed entirely upon the upper part thereof, so as to present a
smooth surface above their points of union with the seat ribs, substantially as
illustrated.
It will be seen from this description that by operating the sliding-ring the brace
ribs will cause the seat ribs to assume positions in line with the body part of the

page_text: cane, or at right angles to it.
When folded it may be retained in position and a
finish given to the upper part of the cane by a cylindrical sheath 23¹, which is
preferably provided with a tapering lower end for holding it in place upon the
body portion, and for forming a close fit when the sheath is in position over the
folded ribs. 24 indicates a cap which is adapted to be secured to the upper end of
the sheath and form a head to the cane. The flared part of the band 3 is provided
with an inwardly projecting rib 25. 26 indicates the feet of the stool which are
three-sided and of such size as to form, when put together, a continuation of the
body portion of the cane. The feet are preferably three in number but more
might be employed if desired. 27 indicates spreaders, which are pivotally fastened
near one end of the body portion and near the ends of each of the feet, respectively,
28 indicates longitudinal grooves formed in the adjacent ends of the feet, and the
body portions, respectively, to receive the spreaders when folded and hold them
flush with the remainder of the stick. The ends of the feet are preferably provided
with shoes 29 for protecting them against wear. 30 indicates a spreader sheath
which is adapted to fit snugly over the spreaders when the feet are folded and hold
them firmi. On their ends, opposite the spreaders, the feet are provided with
plates 31, provided with notches 32. All the plates when the feet are united, form
a metallic end for the feet, are provided with corresponding screw threads 33, upon
which is fastened a screw-ferrule 34 for protecting the ends of the feet and
completing the cane for use. This ferrule may, for convenience, be screwed upon
the end of the body portion when the feet are separated and form a protection for
that part at the same time as it provides against the loss of the ferrule.
35 indicates a bearing ring, located below the flared ring 3, and is provided with
cut-away portions 36, against which the ends of the legs bear when they are
separated and brought together upon the bearing ring to form a stool, as illustrated
in Figure 2 of the drawing. 37 indicates recesses of a position corresponding
with the legs, and adapted to receive the lower ends of the legs when they are
separated to form the stool. 38 indicates springs in the bottom of the recesses
and 39 indicates similar springs upon the metallic ends of the legs. The springs
may be ordinary leaf springs, or springs of any desirable form, their purpose being
to compel the engagement of the notches 32 in the metal tubes of the legs with the
flange 6 in the ring 10.
While I have shown springs in both the recesses and in the side of the legs, in
most cases one spring upon one or the other will be sufficient for the purpose.
The operation of my device is as follows. Suppose the owner to have it in the
form shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and desires to convert it into a stool, the
two sheaths are slipped one upon the other upon the body portion 1, and the seat
ribs spread out at right angles thereto. In this manner a strong and comfortable
seat may be formed. The lower ends of the legs are brought up, their ends
inserted in the recesses 31, and hooked upon the flange 6 of the ring 10. The
opposite ends of the legs are set into their proper positions by the spreaders and
the stool is formed complete.
While I have called certain parts of my device feet, it should be observed that
in practice the body portion of the stick forms a central support for the seat, and
thereby enables me to make those parts which I call the feet smaller in size than
otherwise I should be able to.
In devices of this kind it is essential that the parts should not break or give way,
because they might otherwise under the weight of a heavy person seriously
injure one.
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 :-
1. In a combined cane and camp stool, the combination of a body portion having
a reduced end, a ring thereon, a flanged sleeve upon the ring revolubly secured to
the body now

page_text: a sliding ring upon the sleeve, seat ribs and brace ribs connected with the head and
with the ring to form a seat, substantially as specified.
2. In a collapsible stool head, the combination with a sleeve and a sliding ring
provided with an inside groove and kerfs, a head fitted into the end of the sleeve,
a cap-plate secured to the head, and a groove between the head and the cap-plate,
kerfs in the cap-plate, brace ribs and seat ribs pivotally united together, each
respectively provided with shanks having enlarged heads, the shanks adapted to
fit within the kerfs in the ring and cap-plate, respectively, and the enlarged heads
to enter the grooves therein and retain them in place, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
3. In a joint for uniting the parts of a head of a collapsible stool, the combination
of one piece provided with a groove, and another piece adapted to close the
groove, a kerf communicating with the grooves, and a picce adapted to be
supported in the grooves, and provided with a barrel head for insertion within the
groove, whereby the piece is pivotally fastened in place and lateral motion is
prevented, as and for the purpose specified.
4. In a combined cane and camp stool, the combination with the body portion, of
a ring, an inwardly projecting annular flange, recesses under the ring, feet secured
at one end to the body portion provided at the other end with notches adapted to
be inserted under the flange of the ring, and means for holding the notches in
engagement with the flange, substantially as set forth.
5. In a combined cane and camp stool, the combination with the body portion,
of a ring, an inwardly projecting flange recesses under the ring, feet movably
secured at one end to the body portion and provided at the other end with notches
adapted to be inserted under the flange of the ring, and a spring located between
the body portion and the notched end of the feet to fasten the feet in place,
substantially as set forth.
6. In a combined cane and camp stool, the combination with a body portion of
a ring, an inwardly projecting annular flange, recesses under the ring, feet movably
secured at one end to the body portion, notches on the other end of the feet adapted
to engage the flange of the ring, and a bearing ring in proximity to the flanged
ring for supporting the notched ends of the feet, substantially as set forth.
1000
5 Signed in the presence of
JOSEPH L. ATKINS,
G. T. MYERS.
WILEY WARD.