Improvements in and relating to Self-closing Seats, Chairs, and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Sept., 1894-Accepted, 27th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Self-closing Seats, Chairs, and
the like.
THOMAS HARRISON 1 Wharf Villas Stamford in the County of Lincoln
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a new and improved method for automatically closing of
seats or chairs for protection from rain or weather. The invention can be applied
to all kinds of seats used for outdoor purposes.
The automatically closing or shutting such part or parts of the seat which are
required to be kept dry.
accomplish this by means of suitable weights or springs either closing the
parts upon themselves or turning them to such an angle which will insure the parts
coming in contact with the user being kept dry.
In some cases I make the seat proper or what is generally known as the bottom
in two parts one part being fixed to frame and the second part hinged to it and
provided with suitable weights or springs its normal position being closed and thus
secured from rain. When used it is opened and the weight of the occupant
keeping it in an open position in some cases I make the whole of the seat bottom
to turn upon suitable hinge or pivot. When required I can also make the back of
seat to turn either by connecting rods attached to the hinged part of the bottom
and to the different working parts or by suitable projections upon which the bottom
strikes in turning.
Dated this 21st day of November 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Self-closing Seats, Chairs, and .
the like.
I, THOMAS HARRISON, of 1 Wharf Villas, Stamford, in the County of Lincoln,
England, Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to the automatic closing or raising of garden and similar
outside seats, for the purpose of protecting the seats from the inclemency of the
weather and also from dust or dirt, when unoccupied, so that dry and clean seats
would be always available.
But in order that my invention may be better understood I will now refer to the
accompanying sheet of drawings which are to be taken as part of this Specification
and read therewith.
Figure 1, is a sectional elevation of a garden or outside seat, Figure 2, is a front
view of same, whilst Figure 3, shews the under portion of the seat with the counter
balance weights and bar or axle in position, and
Figure 4, illustrates an arrangement for protecting the face of the slats on the
back of the seat, from rain or dust.
Like letters refer to like parts where they occur in the several views.
In the drawings (A) is the ordinary frame of a garden or outside seat, provided
with a back (B) having the slats (C) and (C) secured thereto. (D) is a wooden

page_text: seat made of a breadth to accomodate a single sitter. A portion of each side of
this seat is cut away, so that it may clear the side frames when turning to a raised
position, this movement is effected by means of suitable counter-balance weights (E)
and (E) formed upon the flanges or plates (F) and (F) attached to the under
portion of the seat. From each flange or plate also projects two lugs (G) and (G)
between which the bar (H) is placed, so as to serve as a fulcrum or hinge for the
seat, and (I) is a bracket for retaining the seat in position.
It may be here explained that by removing this bracket, the seat may be readily
disconnected from the frame.
I wish also to point out that, the particular position of the bar, upon which the
seat turns, and also of the counter balance weights, cause the normal position of
the seat to assume an angle, so that its outer end, rests upon the frame of the back,
just below the slat.
I have described the application of my invention to a single seated frame only,
but the same principle may be applied with the same effect to any number of seats
arranged upon a frame.
For turning the slats (C) and (C) of the seat-backs to protect them from either
rain or dust, (Figure 4) I form a pivot upon each end of these slats to work in the
side frames, and to the lower portion of each slat I attach an eye to connect with a
small rod (J), so that, when the seat comes back to its raised position it strikes the
lower slat below the pivots and causes said slat to turn, this action, through the
medium of the small rod (J), also turns the upper slat.
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 ;-
Firstly. In outside or garden seats, the combination and arrangement of a self
raising seat (D), turning upon a bar (H) and actuated by the counter balance
weights (E) and (E) substantially as and for the purposes herein described and as
illustrated in my drawings.
Secondly. In outside or garden seats the combination and arrangement with the
bar (H), of the lugs similar to (G) and (G), and bracket (I), eubstantially as and
for the purposes herein described and as illustrated in my drawings.
Thirdly. In outside or garden seats the combination and arrangement with the
slats (C) and (C) of the rod (J) substantially as and for the purposes herein
described and as illustrated in my drawings.
Dated the 21st day of September 1894.
W. D. ROWLINGSON,
67-69, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.