A NEW OR IMPROVED COMBINED SEAT AND STOOL FOR USE AS A SCHOOL OR! WRITING SEAT, AS A MUSIC STOOL, OR AS A CHILD'S CHAIR, OR FOR OTHER A Dunn
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Stratford Malone, of Harold's Cross, in
the County of Dublin, Ireland, Schoolmaster, for the Invention of
"A NEW OR IMPROVED COMBINED SEAT AND STOOL FOR USE AS A SCHOOL OR!
WRITING SEAT, AS A MUSIC STOOL, OR AS A CHILD'S CHAIR, OR FOR OTHER
A Dunn "
+
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Stratford
Malone at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 22nd November 1873.
I, THOMAS STRATFORD MALONE, of Harold's Cross, in the County of
Dublin, Ireland, Schoolmaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED COMBINED SEAT AND STOOL FOR USE AS A
SCHOOL OR WRITING SEAT, AS A MUSIC STOOL, OR AS A CHILD'S CHAIR, OR FOR OTHER
SIMILAR PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a new or improved combination of parts
applicable as a whole for use as a school or writing seat, a music stool,

page_text: or a child's chair, or for other similar useful purposes, such as for banks
or public or private offices or rooms...
In carrying my Invention into practical effect I first construct a stool
or frame, which I provide with three or any suitable number of legs.
In the centre of the stool I place a tapped nut, or I form its centre so
as to admit of a screwed spindle being passed therethrough. On to the
top of the spindle I secure a seat, the kind or description of seat
depending upon the use for which it is intended, as hereafter mentioned.
The seat may be permanently secured to the screwed spindle (in lieu of
which I can use a racked bar), which is capable of adjustment vertically
in the tapped centre of the stool, or the seat may be made capable of
ready removal from the screw or spindle, so that when required as a
school or writing seat a suitable wooden seat may be attached to the
screwed spindle, or when required as a music stool a cushioned or more
ornamental seat may be attached thereto, or when required as a child's
chair a seat having a circular or other shaped back or railing may be
attached to the spindle.
The required adjustment of the seat may be obtained either by turning
it round by the hand or by turning the bottom end of the screwed
spindle, to which a curved handle may be attached for the purpose and
to facilitate the movement of the screw.
The writing seat may if required be furnished with footboards on two
sides, so that in schools where the pupils might be required to turn
rapidly from or to their desks without leaving their seats they would
have steps for their convenience.
These
From the front of the stool depend two screwed rods which at their
upper parts are strongly and suitably secured to the stool.
depending screwed rods pass through a removable footboard, which is
capable of adjustment in a vertical direction to suit the height of the
user, the required adjustment being obtained by tapped nuts or by the a
application of pauls engaging with vertical depending racked rods, or
by means of a screw to which a handle may be attached. To effect this
the two screws are attached to the block of wood which forms the under
part of the seat, as before described, their ends however being connected
by a bar parallel to the block above it. Through the centre of this bar
a screw may be passed having a handle at its end to facilitate its rotatory
motion: The top of this screw may be secured in or to the footboard,
which by the rotatory motion of the screw will be raised or lowered,

page_text: By means of the combined adjustable seat and adjustable footboard
greater facilities are provided for all persons, and particularly children,
in acquiring the art of writing and instrumental music.
The music stool is similar in construction to the writing seat, except
that it is intended to be more ornamental, and may have a case for
music attached to the back part of the block or under part of the seat,
hanging down by the two back legs or standards.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Stratford Malone in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 22nd May 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
STRATFORD MALONE, of Harold's Cross, in the County of Dublin,
Ireland, Schoolmaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Stratford Malone, Her
special licence that I, the said Thomas Stratford Malone, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas
Stratford Malone, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter, during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,
an Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED COMBINED SEAT AND STOOL FOR USE
AS A SCHOOL OR WRITING SEAT, AS A MUSIC STOOL, OR AS A CHILD'S CHAIR OR FOR
OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Thomas Stratford Malone, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: When securing the seat permanently to the spindle near the top of
latter (which may be made of hard wood or metal) I reduce, it in
circumference so as to form a shoulder, and form it square [as at x,
Figure. 8, and on such square part and resting on the shoulder I fit a
circular plate or cross bars 9, see Figure 9, of metal or hard wood (or
this may be permanently secured to the spindle or made therewith),
which I secure by screws or otherwise to the bottom of the seat 8,
previously screwing the projecting part y, Figure 8, of the spindle into
a central metal plate 10, Figure 9, or into the seat 8; but when required
to be readily removable the seat is secured by an ordinary thumb-screw
passing through the said circular plate or cross bars and into the seat,
by which means it is also prevented from revolving on the spindle. If
the said cross bars or circular plate 9 is made with or permanently
secured to the top of the spindle 6 the seat 8 is or may be secured
merely by screws.
A curved or other handle 11, see Figures 1 and 10, is or may be
secured to the lower end of the spindle 6 to facilitate its movement and
action, especially in cases of high seats, such as office stools or richly
upholstered seats to save the upholstery from being injured by the
fingering, the spindle 6 being actuated by such handle 11 so as to raise
and lower the seat 8.
The seat may if required be prevented from turning when adjusted at
the height required by means of a thumb-screw 12, see Figures 10, 11,
and 12, passing through and working in a convenient part of the block 1
(in a manner similar to the spindle 6), and engaging with a circle of
holes in the bottom plate 10 of the seat.
Another method of adjusting the seat which is specially applicable to
surgical or other like chairs consists in securing a strong racked bar 13,
see Figures 8 and 13, to the scat and passing it through a slot 14 made
in the centre of the block 1, and lined or cased with sheet metal 15,
portions of which extend over and upon the surface to the right and
left, and are secured by screws or otherwise. In gear with the racked
bar 13 and working in the slot 14 is a cog wheel 16, Figure 13, fitted on
a central square part of a rod 17, passing sideways through a tubular
passage made in the block 1, see Figure 13, and projecting at each side,
being secured at one end by a nut and provided at the other with a
handle 18, by which it is or may be turned. The ends of the tubular
passage are fitted with metallic bearings to support the rod 17.

page_text: In order to maintain the seat at any height the handle 18 is or may
be prevented from rotating by means of a thumb-screw 19 in a similar
manner to that hereafter described, or the same object can be attained
by sliding a bolt 20 secured to the upper or lower surface of the block 1
between the nearest disengaged teeth of the cog wheel 16 and bar 13,
and if required into a socket on the opposite side of the slot 14 to
receive it. On the bolt 20 being withdrawn the wheel is left free to
rotate.
The seat 8 may also be adjusted by using an interiorly and exteriorly
threaded nut 21 placed upon that part of the spindle 6 projecting below
the block 1 (the centre of which in this case is simply bored and not
threaded), and is held in position (but left free to rotate) by and between
two metal plates 22, secured by distance bolts 23. A screw rod 24,
which gears with the exterior threads of the said nut 21, is supported by
bearings 25 (one of which may be adjustable or movable suitably
attached to one of the plates 22, and provided with a handle 26, by which
it can be turned. The spindle in this case is prevented from having a re-
volving motion by its lower end being provided with a squared tongue t,
which slides in a grooved guide plate v.
In cases where necessary the chairs, stools, or seats may be furnished
with footboards 4 on one or both sides, so that in schools where the
pupils might be required to turn rapidly from or to their desks without
leaving their seats they would have steps for their convenience.
From the front of the block 1 depend the two screwed plain racked
or perforated rods or bars 3, herein-before referred to, which at their
upper parts are strongly and suitably secured to the block 1 or to the
front legs, see Figure 1. These rods 3 pass through a removable foot-
board 4, which at these parts is protected by metal sockets or plates 38,
Figure 1, and which is capable of adjustment in a vertical direction to
suit the height of the user, the required adjustment being obtained by
tapped nuts 27, Figure 5, or by the application of pawls or bolts 28
engaging with vertical depending racked or perforated rods 3, Figure 15,
or by means of a screw 29, to which a handle 30 may be attached, see
Figure 4.
In all cases the footboard 4 is made of such a size and shape as will
admit of its free un-and-down motion between the front pair of legs 2.

page_text: nuts 27, which may be placed on the pendent screw rods above and
below the footboard 4, and thus also keep it steady. I prefer to use
ordinary thumb or cone-shaped nuts with a widened bottom in order to
obtain a firm support; or I obtain the required adjustment by means of
the said screw 29, which is suitably secured to the footboard, and passes
through and revolves in a cross metal bar 31 parallel with the block,
and connecting the lower and screwed ends of the two pendent plain
rods 3, and secured by nuts 32 against shoulders 33 formed on the said
rods 3.
This method of adjusting the footboard is specially applicable to high.
seats, and where such are used the bar 31 is made of sufficient strength
to give firm support to the screw 29 and footboard; or I obtain the
desired adjustment by means of depending vertical rods or bars 3 racked
or perforated with holes opposite each other and at equal distances apart,
and into or through which pawls or sliding bolts 28 are adjusted or
thrust so as to secure the footboard at the height desired. In this case
the footboard is moved by hand.
This method may also be used in combination with the following:-
Sideways through the front portion of the block 1 I form a tubular
passage, through which I pass a metal rod, to one end of which I secure
a handle 34, Figures 10, 11, and 12, and the other end which projects
through the opposite side of the block I secure by a nut. I also make
two hollows in the under surface, and near the front right and left
corners of the block and to those parts of the said rod which pass
through these hollows I attach coils of suitable strong cords or chains 35,
Figure 11, the other ends of which I secure to the footboard 4 (which
is kept from side movement by the said pendent rod 3 passing through
it), and which is thus raised or lowered on the said rod being revolved,
which is effected upon actuating its handle 34. One end of the said rod
passes through a circular metal plate 36 attached to the side of the block
and perforated circularly with holes for receiving the point of a thumb.
screw 37, which when required is passed through the flange of the
handle 34 to prevent it and the said rod from rotating. When it is
desired to alter the position or height of the footboard the thumb-screw
37 is disengaged from the circular plate 36 so that the handle 34 is left
free to rotate. In using this said rod for-adjusting the footboard in the
case of office stools, it may be passed through ring bearings secured
in front of the upper ends of the two front.legs, the cords or chains 35

page_text: hanging vertically, and the brow of the stool being made to project a
little. The said bars or rods 3 are attached at or near the inner front
corners of the front legs so as to give ample footroom as the footboard is
thus brought out more in front of the seat, and they are hung vertically
to prevent the stool, chair, or other seat from overturning. :
By means of the above described combined adjustable seat and
adjustable footboard great facilities are provided for all persons, and
particularly children, in acquiring the arts of writing and instrumental
music and other like accomplishments.
The stools, forms, chairs, or other seats may be provided with backs 39 1
which may be permanently attached, Figures 1, 2, 3, 7, and 16, 'or made
adjustable, Figures 10, 11, and 12. If permanently attached they are
or may be fitted to the seat 8, Figures 1 and 7, or to the block 1, Figures
2, 8, and 16, 'in the usual way.
In order to allow of the back being adjustable I attach two jambs or 1
supports 40, or I mortice them into the hinder part of the block 1, and
I groove the inner sides thereof, and through these grooves the back 39
moves on pivots provided with friction wheels and secured to its lower
corners.
1.
Near the bottom edge of the back a metal band 41 is fixed having 2
a convex projection 42 rising from its centre, Figures 12 and 19.
The inside faces of the supports 40 are flanged or project in front of
the back to prevent it from falling forwards. The said supports may
stand erect or on a gentle incline to the rear, as shewn, and they may be
constructed so as to be a continuation of and one piece with the hind 2
legs so as to gain more strength.
"
Through the centre of the hind part of the back I pass a screwed
spindle 43 (in a manner similar to that of the spindle 6), on or near the
top of which I placè a nut 44, which bears against the said projection 42
and moves the back 39 upwards to the height required, but on the 3
spindle 43 being lowered the back falls on account of its own weight
and moves on its pivots with the sinking spindle to the required adjust-
ment; or the spindle may be connected to the projection by a ball.and.
socket arrangement or other equivalent connection.
Suitable strong cords or chains 45 are attached to the sides of the 3
back at points in a line with its centre, or nearly so, or they are attached

page_text: to a metal or other rod 46 of sufficient strength secured across the back,
and these cords or chains 45 are drawn through metal tubes (allowing of
their free movement) or through covered grooves secured to or formed
in two side rails 47, serving as arms for the chair, and which are secured
at one end to the supports 40, and are each supported near the other
ends by a rail 48 connecting it with the front portion of the block 1.
The front extremities of the arms 47 are formed as scrolls, 49, each of
which is slotted from front' to rear, and through which slot in each arm
a 'spindle 50 is passed with its ends projecting on both sides of the scroll,
and to the outer ends of these spindle handles 51 are attached the inner
ends, being secured by nuts. Round these spindles 50 the other ends of
the cords or chains 45 are wound, so that by simply turning the handles
51 any degree of inclination of the back 39 can be attained, and may be
kept firmly fixed in the same position by preventing the rotation of the
handles 51 by similar means to those above described with reference to
the adjustment of the footboard and of the racked bar. 13.
Dental chairs thus made can have an ordinary adjustable head rest 52
attached to the back 39. In some cases for supporting the back I also
use a prop 53, Figure 10, consisting of a scantling or plank of timber,
at the end of which and in its longitudinal direction I form a tubular
passage, in which I fit a tapped socket, through which I pass a strong
screw 54, on actuating which the said prop 53 can be lengthened or
shortened as desired; and to the inner sides of the bottoms of the two
hind legs I pivot a board 55 racked down its middle, one of the pivots
being simply inserted in one of the legs, and the other being inserted
into a curved slot 56, Figure 10, cut in the other leg, thus allowing of
the speedy removal of the said board 55 at any t time.
When not in use the board is or may be thrown up against the back,
Figure 12, but when required for use its outer end is rested on the floor
with its racked side upwards, Figure 10. The said prop 53 has a hook
or crooked bracket at its upper end, by which it. is hooked to another
bracket fastened centrally to the back 39, and in such way as to admit
of its ready removal, or it could be hinged to the said back. The end of
the screw 54 is' formed to correspond with 'and fit into the interstices of
the racked board. Thus the said prop serves as a firm support to the
back 39, and hence to the chair itself, preventing the possibility of its
unsetting

page_text: By similar combinations invalid chairs may be constructed having all
the advantages of an adjustable step, seat, and back so as to insure
special ease. For example, the footboard, instead of a horizontal position,
may be curved upwards, Figures 10, 11, and 12, like the step of a coach
box if it be required; and the backs could be furnished also with head
rests as required for the dental chairs. Similar combinations either with
or without the backs could also be used for seats for offices, families,
schools, and for writing purposes.
.
As above mentioned children's chairs may be provided with a back
protecting rail 39, Figure 7, and can if desired be furnished with a
stop screw 12, Figures 10, 11, and 12, to prevent the rotary motion of
the seat.
The music stool, Figures 5 and 6, and writing seat may be made
similar in construction, except that the former may be more ornamental
and may have a case 57 for music, Figures 17 and 18, attached to the
back of the block 1, hanging down between the two back legs, and
provided with an ordinary or simple lock 58, such as the German lock
so commonly used for locking writing cases. I make the said case 57
by preference of the shape shown, and of a size to suit the music
published for the pianoforte, and I partition it internally lengthwise, the
upper edges of the divisions 58 being lower than those of the sides of
the case, so that any piece of music required can be readily withdrawn
without injuring other pieces. The case is attached to the block by
screws, nails, or other similar fastening means, or suspended therefrom
by hooks and eyes or from a horizontal bar attached to the block, and I
support the said case upon a horizontal bar 59, Figure 5, passing from
one hind leg to the other.
The school forms, Figure 2, consist of a series or continuation of
seats 8 arranged as above described, and if required they may also be
furnished with the thumb-screws 12 for preventing unnecessary rotation,
and other modifications of these arrangements can be used as plain seats
or stools, see Figure 4, or for use in factories, see Figure 3, or other
places where such adjustable seats are needed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and
object of my said Invention, together with the manner in which the
same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect, I
would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention, the above-

page_text: described improved combinations of parts applicable to seats usable for
the above-mentioned purposes, substantially as described and as illustrated
on the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Stratford Malone, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of May, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
THOMAS STRATFORD MALONE. (L.S.)