IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTABLE OR FOLDING CHAIRS ALSO DESIGNED TO FORM OTHER ARTICLES OF FURNITURE AND TO SERVE AS LIFE-BUOYS
Year: 1882

page_text: 33
ETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the firm of Haseltine Lako
& Co Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTABLE OR FOLDING CHAIRS ALSO DESIGNED TO FORM
OTHER ARTICLES OF FURNITURE AND TO SERVE AS LIFE-BUOYS A commu-
nication from abroad by Frank Grant Johnson of Brooklyn and John Henry
Hayward, of Northfield, both in the State of New York, United States of
America, Gentlemen.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th August 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTABLE OR FOLDING
"
CHAIRS, ALSO DESIGNED TO FORM OTHER ARTICLES OF FURNITURE AND TO SERVE
AS LIFE-BUOYS a communication from abroad by Frank Grant Johnson, of
Brooklyn and John Henry Hayward of Northfield, both in the State of New York,
United States of America, Gentlemen
The object of this invention is to increase the convenience, comfort, and safety
of travellers upon ocean, river, and other steamers, which is accomplished by
providing a chair of such a peculiar construction that it can be readily adjusted to
different sized persons, and be put into any desired position, so that its occupant
can either sit upright or recline in it at any desired angle from an upright to a
horizontal position, and which chair can be employed as a reading, writing,
lunching or card table, and can also be employed on deck as a protection against
rain, wind, and sun, and as a life-preserver in case of necessity, and can be folded
closely upon itself for conveniently packing it away, when not in use.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a side view of a chair constructed according to the said invention.
Figure 2, is a front view of the same.
Figure 3, is a section on the line x, x Figure 1.
Figure 4, is a section on the line y, y Figure 5.
Figure 5 is a plan or top view and
Ties &
7 and on detail via

page_text: The said invention relates to the method of adjusting the height and pitch of the
seat A of the chair, without necessarily changing the slant of the back C; to the
method of changing the pitch of the back C independently of any alteration in
the height or pitch of the seat A; to the mode of arranging the arms I, I, attached
them to, and detaching them from, the seat of the chair independently of the back;
to the method of rotating and extending the arms I, I, so as to conveniently convert
them into a table for various uses; to the manner of adapting an adjustable folding
and detachable hood M to the back of the chair, so that it can be made to protect
the face and head of the occupant, irrespective of the uprightness or inclination of
the back of the chair; and to the method of rendering the chair capable of being
used as a life-preserver.
A and B are two legs of the chair joined together as shown in figures 1 and 2
by one end of the axle c. The leg B terminates at the joint c but is joined to the
side bars C, C, of the back by means of the tongued joint l, figures 2 and 7. The
legs A¹, A¹ extend beyond the axle c and form the side bars A* A* (figure 5) of
the seat. The legs A and B correspond with each other in length, size, and shape
to occupy as little space as possible when the chair is folded up. The seat A is
rendered adjustable, in height to suit persons of different height, by means of a
slotted hole c¹, in the bar A¹ figure 1, through which the axle c passes thus
enabling the axle c to be placed higher or lower. When the axle is thus placed,
it is securely held in position by means of a washer and clamp-nut w¹, 20,
figure 7.
The seat A is supported by the fulcrum or stop-bar b¹ secured to the front
legs B, B by means of a notch cut therein and a bracket secured to the leg and
passing over the bar b', which is round at its bearing upon the leg B, B. To
provide for the adjustment of the seat A to give it any desired pitch, and so adapt
it to the greater or less inclination of the back C, the fulcrum or stop-bar b' is
provided with, or made in the form of, a polygonal excentric 6 figure 8, where
the side bars A*, of the seat bear upon it. The object of making the excentric
polygonal instead of circular in form is to prevent it from turning by the pressure
upon the seat. When it is desired to elevate, or increase the pitch of the seat, the
said excentric is turned so that one of its sides more distant from the centre of its
motion will come under, or in contact with, the arms A* of the seat; and vice versa,
when it is desired to lessen the pitch of the seat. In order to make the chair fold
upon itself as conveniently as possible to save packing space, and to render the
chair more successful as a life-preserver, the arms I, I are mado and applied to the
chair in such a manner as not only to enable the occupant to readily detach the said
arms when not required, but also to enable the occupant to place them in such a
position as to employ them for other purposes than arms; for instance, as a writing,
reading, sketching, lunching and card table. The method of attaching and detaching
the arms is as follows; F is a piece which, for convenience, may be called the arm-
picce and which in size and shape corresponds substantially to the side arms A* of
the seat (best seen in figure 1). Upon the outside of the arm A* of the seat is
fastened a rib E, shown by dotted lines in figure 1. Upon the inner side of the
arm-piece F is cut a groove at E¹ (figure 3) corresponding to, and fitting upon, the
rib E (figure 1). This rib and groove extend nearly the entire length of the arm-
piece F. Through this arm-piece F is cut a long slot g (figure 1), the arm-piece,
around the slot g being suitably faced with metal G; at the rear end of this slot g
a circular enlargement g¹ (figure 1) is made to allow the arm-piece to pass over the
head of the clamp thumb-nut f. To this arm-piece is securely fastened the metallic
arm-carrying brackets H H. The front end of the arm I is held in the bracket H
by means of a pin h while the back end of the arm is held in the bracket H' by
means of a clamp-bolt h¹ and nut . To keep the arm I from turning on the
pin h and bolt h¹, a notched faced washer 11 is fastened to the arm I, which fits
into a similar washer "secured to the top of the bracket H. The placing of the
arm upon, and the removal from, the chair, and its operation while upon the chair
to convert it into a table, are described as follows:-To place the arm-piece (which

page_text: carries the arm itself) upon the chair, the enlarged opening g¹ (Figure 1) is passed
over the circular thumb-nut f; and the groove E¹ (figure 3) is placed on the rib E
(figure 1) and then the arm is slid back to the position shown in figure 1; and
then it is held in this position by turning up the thumb-nut f which is worked
upon a bolt securely fastened into the arm A° of the seat of the chair. The
rotating part of the arm I can now be turned completely around upon the
pins h, so that either the narrower or wider part of the arm I (that is the
part above or below the axis of motion) will be outward or inward, as may be
desired, whereby a small table is provided on either side of the occupant of the
chair.
By turning both arms I, I, inward and sliding them forward (by starting back
the clamp thumb-nuts f) on the ribs E and securing them by again turning up the
nuts, an ample table is provided in front of, and sufficiently far from, the occupant
of the chair, to conveniently serve for reading, writing, sketching, card playing or
lunching.
To render these arms still more useful as a table for these various purposes, the
cane-work J is attached to the frames of the arms I, I at the central line thereof,
as shewn by the dotted line in Figure 3, so that whether the arms be turned
outward or inward the platform of the table (or tables), which is the cane-work J,
will be surrounded with a rim or guard to prevent tumblers, bottles, dishes,
stationery, cards, books or other articles from sliding off by reason of the motion
of the ship or other causes.
These arms, when employed as tables or otherwise, are kept in any desired.
position by clamping the notched faced washers h¹¹, h with the bolt h and nut
The arms are detached from the chair by simply turning back the thumb-
nut f, and passing it through the enlarged opening g of the slot g (figure 1). So
far as the construction and operation of the chair have been described the latter is
independent of the back C.
The construction of the back and its operation and connection with the rest of
the chair are described as follows:-The sides C*, C* of the back C are connected
with the top of the front legs B, B forming therewith a tongue and groove joint
(figures 2 and 7) secured by the axle-rod c. Upon this joint the back of the chair
can be moved so as to incline at any desired angle without changing either the
height or pitch of the seat A or interfering with the arms. The means employed
to hold the back in any desired position are a pawl and ratchet. The ratchet D is
securely fastened to the inner surface of the hind leg A¹ and seat bar A*, (these
being made in one piece) and the pawl D' is fastened to the back C; as shown in
figure 1. To securely keep the pawl in the ratchet, a spring a' is set into and
concealed in the back C, one end being fastened to the back C and the other to the
pawl.
If the occupant of the chair desires to bring the back into a less inclined
position, it is only necessary to lean forward and draw the back of the chair to the
required position. If it is desired to give the back of the chair a greater inclina-
tion it is only necessary for the occupant, without rising from the seat, to lift the
ratchet from the pawl by means of the handle or hand piece d and lean back as
far as desirable and then release the handle.
Cand Care cross pieces between the upright pieces C*, C* to join them
(C*, C*) together and to furnish horizontal attachments for the canvas or cane of
the back, which, on the uprights C*, C*, is to be attached at the front edges for
reasons hereinafter explained.
A folding chair when made in the form of an X will not admit of the back being
varied in its angle of inclination without changing the pitch of the seat in the
opposite direction, which makes it impossible to retain the proper pitch of the seat
when the back is considerably inclined-this objection is wholly obviated by means
of an independently acting back, as above described; and which makes it possible
for the occupant not only to sit upright, but if desired to recline quite to the

page_text: horizontal position; thus rendering the device conveniently convertible into either
a chair or a lounge.
To adapt the chair for use upon uncovered decks of vessels it is provided with a
suitable hood M to shield the head, neck, and shoulders of its occupant from sun,
rain, and wind. The style of hood preferred is the calash, in order that it may be
folded back out of the way when not required. The peculiarity about the hood is
the manner of attaching it to, and detaching it from, the chair, and the manner of
rendering it adjustable for persons of different height, and to suit various tastes,
as some desire to be more or less shielded from the observation of others while
musing, reading, or otherwise occupied, and particularly to enable it to be so
adjusted, as to protect the face from the sun, when the back of the chair is inclined
to various angles. The method of obtaining these objects is as follows:-There is
fastened to the side of the arm of the back C a long metallic plate i (figures 1
and 2) through the longitudinal centre of which is cut a slot, and underneath
which a sufficient amount of wood is cut away to form space for the head of a
The
suitable post, upon which the bows of the hood are fastened and worked.
hood is held in any desired position, not only in the vertical, but also in the
horizontal direction, by simply clamping the foot of the bows of the hood to the
slotted plates i, i by means of the clamp thumb-nuts j j (figures 1 and 2),
Should the
the counterhold to the bolt or post being its head under the plate i.
back be placed in the horizontal position still the hood M can be drawn forward
so as to shield the face of the occupant from the sun. If desired, the hood can be
turned entirely over the back of the chair out of the way altogether. To raise or
lower the hood vertically it is only necessary to turn back the clamp thumb-
nuts jj and move the hood up or down as desired and then tighten up the nuts
again. To altogether detach the hood from the chair, all that is required is to start
back the clamp-nuts j, j and lift the hood until the head of the holding bolts (to
which the nuts jj are screwed) will pass out of the enlarged openings of the slots,
at the top of the slotted plates i, i, as shown in figure 1.
To render the chair a convenient and ready-at-hand life preserver a pad or float
of suitable thickness, width, and length, consisting of some light substance, for
example cork dust, is covered with india-rubber or other impervious cloth, and
permanently attached by suitable fastenings to the frame of the chair, in such a
manner that it will not be in the way of the occupant or at all interfere with the
close folding of the chair. The shape of this float and the manner of applying it
are shown in Figure 1, in which K and L represent the float. This float is made
of such width as to fit in between the uprights of the back C, and between the
front legs B, B, which prevents it from interfering with the back legs A¹ A¹ or
the seat of the chair when the latter is closed. The thickness of the float is such,
that when the front of it comes close to the cane of the back and the front lines of
the front legs B, B, it will extend from two to three inches behind the uprights
C, C of the back, and about the same distance behind the front legs B, B as
shown in figure 1. It is rounded at the bottom, and to accommodate itself to the
folding of the chair and the adjustability of the back, it is contracted as shown at
k and V.
To convert this float into a pillow, for resting the head of the occupant, and to
facilitate the fastening of it to the chair, as also to increase the size of the float, it
is made tapering at the upper end, and passed over the cross-bar C" and brought
down to a knife edge at 11, where it is suitably fastened to the cane work of the
back as seen in figure 1. The floating capacity of the chair thus arranged may be
about 150 pounds.
When the chair is folded the combined curves of the seat and back form a sort
of boat supported by the float; so that a person can employ it as a life-preserver
that will buoy his entire body out of the water.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my

page_text: foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim―
First. A portable folding chair provided with the float K, L, arranged substan-
tially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Second. In a portable folding chair, the combination of the pawl D¹ and ratchet D,
with the back C and legs A', whereby the inclination of the back C can be varied
without changing the pitch of the seat A of the chair, substantially in the manner,
and for the purposes described.
Third. In a portable folding chair, the slotted or elongated holes c¹ in the legs A',
in combination with the axle c and clamp-nuts w, w', whereby the seat of the chair
can be raised or lowered without varying the pitch of the seat or inclination of the
back, substantially as, and for the purposes described.
Fourth. In a portable folding chair, the polygonal cam bearings or supports b";
in combination with the supporting bar 61, whereby the pitch of the seat A of the
chair can be varied, substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
Fifth. In a portable folding chair, the detachable sliding and rotating arms I
which can be converted into tables, held and operated substantially as, and for the
purposes, described.
Sixth. In a portable folding chair, the detachable sliding and rotating arms I, in
combination with the notched faced washers h", h, the clamp nuts and the bolts,
substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
Seventh. In a portable folding chair, the rotating arms I, in combination with
the sliding bars F provided with the slotted openings g' and the clamp-nuts and
bolts, substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
Eighth. A portable folding chair, provided with the detachable folding and
adjustable hood M, attached and arranged substantially as, and for the purposes,
set forth.
Ninth. In a portable folding chair, the combination of the folding detachable
and adjustable hood M, the slotted plates i, i, and clamp thumb-nuts and bolts, in
the manner, and for the purposes, set forth.
Tenth. In a portable folding chair, the combination of the independently
adjustable back C, with the detachable folding and adjustable hood M, substantially
as, and for the purposes, described.
Eleventh. In a portable folding chair, the combination of the back C, adjustable
independently of the seat by means of the pawl D¹ and ratchet D, the seat A,
adjustable independently of the back by means of the vertical slot c' and axle c,
and the polygonal stops or bearings 61, and the detachable sliding and rotating
arms I, held by means of the sliding arm-pieces F, the brackets H, H, pin 7, bolt,
and notched faced washers h¹, ¹¹, all arranged and operating substantially as, and
for the purposes, set forth.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twelfth day of August in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two
W ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)