A Means of Adapting Ordinary Chairs to the Requirements of Young Children.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Sept., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 4th June, 1895-Accepted, 24th Aug., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Means of Adapting Ordinary Chairs to the Requirements of
Young Children.
THOMAS HENRY RANDOLPH of 27 Ilminster Gardens Battersea in the County
of Surrey Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
The high chairs now specially constructed with arm and front rails for young
children although admirably suited for their purpose are well known to be an
obstruction especially in a small room, and are so unportable that they are seldom
if ever taken when leaving home for a short period, although so well knowing the
people to be visited do not possess one; but in such cases some makeshift is usually
resorted to such as placing cushions upon the seat and at the back of an ordinary
chair. But it will be seen at once that this does not fulfil the requirements of a
young child as no adequate support or guard is provided to keep the child from
falling which therefore requires constant watching and attention.
Now, to do away with this much-felt inconvenience I construct an apparatus
somewhat resembling the chair-seats as used in childrens garden-swings but having
in addition suitable straps or supports for its attachment to an ordinary chair.
This apparatus is hereinafter called the "chairlette." It will be seen by the use
of my invention the necessity of having a special chair for young children is
entirely obviated.
The invention consists of either a hard or flexible seat, a surrounding rail or
flexible guard, four supporting pillars or posts for the same and a means of attach-
ment to an ordinary chairback; and is constructed as follows:-
In the case of those constructed with rigid or hard seats the said pillars or posts
are hinged at the four corners in such manner as to permit of their folding upon
the said seat. When the chairlette is in use the said pillars or posts are raised
vertical and secured in that position from beneath by a suitable bolt or other
fastening; or the said posts may be permanently fixed in a vertical position, as
preferred. The tops of these pillars or posts have eyes or holes in them for the
purpose of admitting either a stiff or flexible rail which entirely surrounds the
chairlette, but opens in front to permit of the child being easily placed in and out;
such opening being closed by a swivel or other suitable catch.
When a flexible seat is used such as canvas or the like I provide suitable side
stays of wood angle iron or other rigid substance to which articulated metal rods
are attached for the purpose of stretching the seat when in use and for allowing it
to collapse or fold up when not required.
Straps padded hooks or springs are attached to the two back posts for the
purpose of securing and hanging the chairlette on the back of any shaped chair,
allowing adjustment as regards height.
The contrivance may be either upholstered or not as preferred and according to
quality.
It will thus be seen that as the chairlette hangs in front from the back of the
chair the feet of the child when seated will rest on the seat of the chair and the
child prevented from falling by the surrounding rail.
The flexible seated chairlette when folded easily goes into an ordinary breast-

page_text: coat pocket, and even in the case of the rigid seated ones when the pillars or posts
are flat down only constitutes a small parcel.
A strap or straps are also attached to the seat of the chairlette for the purpose
of passing and buckling or otherwise fastening underneath the chair.
Dated this 5th day of September 1894.
THOMAS HENRY RANDOLPH.
A Means of Adapting Ordinary Chairs to the Requirements of
Young Children.
I, THOMAS HENRY RANDOLPH, residing at 27 Ilminster Gardens, Battersea
in the County of Surrey, 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 special high chairs used by young children; its
object being to entirely do away with such chairs, and to supply in their stead a
much more convenient and portable contrivance, which can be placed on or removed
from any ordinary chair-back in a few seconds, and which when folded up is only
the size of a small parcel; a great convenience when out visiting or where floor
space is a consideration.
My invention, (which I call a chairlette), consists essentially of a contrivance
resembling the little chair-like seats used in children's garden swings, but having
in addition suitable stays, straps or other equivalent supports, either rigid or
flexible, for its placement on or attachment to the back of any ordinary chair.
The seat, which may be either of wood or some other rigid material, (padded and
upholstered if preferred) or of a flexible material, such for instance as canvas,
carpet, or other fabric, is surrounded by the usual rails and uprights, suitably
hinged or pivotted and which may also be either rigid or flexible. The back stays
when of rigid material, are usually composed of cane or bamboo bent over back-
wards at the top, so as to form hooks by which the chairlette can be hung from the
crownrail of an ordinary chair-back; but when flexible uprights are used, the
chairlette would be hung from and attached to the crownrail by means of cords or
straps. Suitable rails, netting, cord, canvas, carpet or the like guards are pro-
vided at sides and back to prevent any possibility of the child falling out. The
seat may have brackets or angle pieces, or their mechanical equivalent beneath it
for extra support if required. To fold up the contrivance it is only necessary to
rotate the hinged or pivotted uprights until they lie flat against the sides of the
seat, or underneath it as the case may be; and where flexible seats are used, the
contrivance may be further collapsed or folded to about half the width by sliding
back a short piece of tube, or its equivalent, which is used to cover and stiffen the
pivotted lap-joints of the stretchers which keep the flexible seat extended or
stretched.
I will now more fully describe and ascertain my invention with reference to
accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1. shows an elevation of my chairlette.
Figs. 2 & 3, are side F side elevation and plan respectively, of the same.
Fig. 4 shows a modification.
Fig. 5 shows a further modification.
Fig. 6 illustrates the application of my invention when composed of rigid parts.
Fig. 7 illustrates the application of my invention when composed of flexible parts.
Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts throughout the drawings.
A is the seat, B are the back stays, C are the front stays, D are the stretchers,
E is the tubular fastening for same, F are the guards, and G are the brackets.

page_text: 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 :-
A seat or chairlette for the use of young children, attachable to the back of
ordinary chairs, constructed substantially as herein specified and set forth.
Dated the 4th day of June 1895.
THOMAS HENRY RANDOLPH,
Per D. MoNoe,
56 Gowan Avenue, Fulham, S.W.,
Formerly of 51 Cranbury Road, Fulham, S.W., Applicant's Agent.