Improvements in Knockdown Frames for Articles of Furniture.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Knockdown Frames for Articles of Furniture.
We, HANS CHRISTIAN JENSEN, of 83rd Street., Industrial Designer, and HENRY
ZOLLINGER, of 122nd Street., Salesman, in the City and State of New York, United
States of America, 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 :-
This invention relates to a knockdown frame of novel construction for articles of
furniture, as well as to the articles themselves, which may be quickly and securely
put together and easily taken apart when desired, and which, owing to the small
compass occupied when folded may be readily transported.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a table provided
with our improved frame; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the frame with the table top
removed therefrom; Fig. 3, a plan view of the table top or platform; Fig. 3 a detail
of the bolt used for joining the parts, and the double brace for the frame; Fig. 4, a
perspective view of the frame as converted into an arm chair; Fig. 5 a detail showing
the manner of connecting the arm or back of the chair with the central vertical
support; Fig. 6, a bottom plan view of the seat of the arm chair partly in section
showing the mode of fastening the seat on the chair frame; Figs. 6 and 7, are
details of joints of the chair frame; Fig. 8, a perspective view of a stool provided
with our improved frame and also a perspective view showing the stool rolled up in
compact form for the purpose of transportation; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the
frame of the stool with the seat removed; Fig. 10, is a bottom plan view of the stool
seat showing the mode of fastening the saine on the frame; Fig. 11, is a perspective
view of the seat before the same is applied to the frame; Fig. 12, is a detail of a
portion of the frame showing the mode of fastening the joints, and Fig. 13, is a
vertical section on the line 33, Fig. 8, showing the braces out of position and
Fig. 13 is a detail of the braces and clips for attaching the braces to the legs.
The frame proper is composed of metallic tubular bars or rods, preferably steel;
and consists of a sectional upper portion, a sectional lower portion, legs or supports
connecting the upper and lower portion, and braces for strengthening the frame.
In Fig. 1, A represents a table the top of which is constructed of three
leaves a aa, two of these leaves are provided with dowel pieces a' a¹, shown
in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and the third leaf is provided with holes or sockets
in which the dowel pins fit, thus it will be seen that the table top can be easily
and quickly taken apart or the leaves joined together as desired. a² a² a² 'a²
represent four holes in the table top, two in each of the outer leaves, and through
these holes, and through corresponding holes in the top bars of the frame, are passed
headed screw-threaded bolts, upon which are screwed thumb-nuts, for the purpose.of
removably fastening the top of the table to the frame. a³ ³ at at are the tubular
bars comprising the upper section of the frame, of which the bars a³ as are internally
screw-threaded for a short distance from each end; while the bars at at are provided
with a screw-eye or hole at each end. The lower section is also composed of four
bars as as a as these bars, however, may be either tubular or flat and solid, ordinarily
we prefer the latter, and they are each provided with screw-eyes at both ends.

page_text: aa aa are the tubular legs or standards, all constructed alike, and each provided
at one end with internal screw-threads for a short distance, the other end being
provided with a screw-eye or hole. as Fig. 34, represents the form of bolt used for
fastening the joints of the frame, this bolt is screw-threaded for a portion of its
length and is provided at one end with a round flanged head. a represents the
braces of the frame, four of which are provided. The construction consists of two
arins which are loosely pivotted in a clip c attached to each leg, see Figs. 2, 12
and 13 one of the arms extends to about the middle of one of the bars a³, and the
other arm extends to about the middle of the bar at, these two arms are some
what flattened at their ends and in the flattened portion is a screw-eye or hole. The
flattened end of one of the arms extending from one leg to the bar a³ overlaps the
flattened end of the arm that extends from the other leg to the bar a³ so that the eyes in
the two arms will register with each other and with a hole in the bar ³ whereby the
arms and bar may be fastened together by means of a screw-bolt and thumb-nut a¹0,
see Figs. 2, 9 & 12. The other arm of the braces are fastened to the frame in a
similar manner. To put the frame together the eyes in the bars a* and legs aand
the screw-threaded ends of the bars a³ are brought together so as to register with
each other; the bolts as are then inserted through the eyes and screwed into the
ends of the bars a³, thereby removably fastening the bars as to the upper ends of
the legs, the flanged head of the bolt preventing the legs and bars at from slipping
or being forced off the bolts. The ends of the arms of the two adjacent braces are
then brought together, as above described, and a screw-bolt, similar to the bolt a³, is
then inserted through the eyes and hole in the bars and the thumb-nut a screwed
onto the end of the bolt thereby removably fastening the braces to the frame. The
bars as a comprising the lower section, or base, of the frame are then brought
together so that the eyes in their ends will register with each other and with the
screw-threaded ends of the legs; screw-threaded bolts, similar to the bolts a³, are
then inserted through the eyes in the bars a³ a and screwed into the legs thereby
removably fastening the bars as a to the lower ends of the legs. Froin the foregoing
description it can be readily seen that the frame may be easily and securely put
together, ready for use, and easily and quickly disjoined and packed in a small
compass for transportation. The mode of removably fastening the top of the table
to the frame has been herein before described.
In Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive we have shown our improved frame as adapted to an arm
chair, the frame, in this instance, being somewhat modified from that shown in
Figs. 1 and 2, in that in the chair the legs are somewhat shorter and only three are
used, and not so many top and bottom bars are employed as in the table, the same
general principles of the knock-down frame, however, is present in the chair as in the
table.
B represents the chair frame proper, bb are the two side legs, and 6 the rear or
middle leg; these three legs are each provided at their upper ends with screw-eyes
or holes, the lower ends of the legs being internally screw-threaded for a short
distance. 6 is a base bar, which may be either tubular, or solid and flat, preferably
the latter similar to the base bars of the table, this base bar is adapted to extend from
one of the side legs to the other and is provided at each end with a screw-eye. 3 is
a bar that is adapted to extend from about the centre of the bar 2 to the lower end
of the middle leg b¹, this bar has at each end a screw-eye. 64 is the front seat bar
which is provided with a series of holes for a purpose hereinafter mentioned, and is
internally screw-threaded at each end for a short distance; this seat bar extends from
the upper end of one of the side legs to the upper end of the other side leg. 65 is the
rear seat bar, which is of semicircular form and composed of two parts; the forward
end of each of these parts contains a screw-eye or hole while the rear end of each part
is internally screw-threaded to screw onto a screw-threaded plug 6 that projects from
the rear leg b¹, near the top thereof see Fig 6. This semicircular bar is also provided
with a series of holes. bare the two side supports of the arm or back of the chair,
these side supports are provided with screw-eyes at their upper and lower ends. 68 is
the rear support, of the arm or back, the lower end of which is somewhat reduced in

page_text: size for a short distance, and this reduced portion is externally screw-threaded, see
Fig. 6; this screw-threaded portion being adapted to be screwed into the upper end
of the rear leg b', which is internally screw-threaded for this purpose, thereby virtually
forming an extension of the rear-leg 1.6 is the drum or back of the chair and is of
semicircular form also similar to the seat bar 65, and composed of two parts connected
together by a plug 610, projecting from the rear support 68, similar to the plug 6, the
forward ends of the two sections of the semicircular arm are internally screw-threaded
for a short distance. A screw-threaded plug is screwed into the upper end of the rear
support bs. 1 represent braces, provided with two arms which are loosely pivoted
to a clip attached to each leg, similar to those shown in Figs. 1-2. The arms of
these braces extend from near the upper ends of the legs to the seat bars, and are
removably fastened thereto by screw-bolts and thumb nuts. 612 represents the seat
proper which is composed of flexible material cut to the proper shape and provided
with a series of holes or eyes on or near its edges. 613 is a lacing that is used to
tighten the seat on the seat frame.
To put the chair together the braces 611 are first slipped over the legs b b₁; the
bar 62 is then fastened to the lower ends of the front legs bb, by means of screw-
threaded bolts, similar to as, that are passed through the eyes of the bar b² and screwed
into the lower ends of the legs; the bar 63 is then fastened at one end to the bar b³,
near the center thereof, by means of a screw-threaded bolt, see detail Fig. 7; the
other end of the bar b³ is fastened to the lower end of the leg 61 by means of a screw-
threaded bolt passing through the eye in the bar and screwing into the lower end of
the leg b. The screw-threaded ends of the two halves of the semicircular seat bar
are then screwed onto the plug 66, of the rear leg 6¹. The upper end of one of the
legs b, the lower end of one of the arm supports 67, one of the ends provided with
screw-eyes, or holes of the semi-circular seat bar 65 and one end of the front seat bar b
are then brought together so that the eyes in each will register whereby a headed
screw-bolt may be passed through the eyes and screwed into the end of the bar bt.
The mode of assembling the parts at the opposite side of the chair is the same.
rear support b8 is then screwed into the upper end of the rear leg b¹, the tubular ends
of the two halves of the semi-circular arm 60, are then screwed onto the plug projecting
from the rear arm support 68, the forward ends of the semi-circular arm are then
brought into contact with screw-eye ends z¹ of the supports 67 67, and screw-threaded
bolts are passed through the eyes of the supports and screwed into the ends of the
semi-circular arm see detail Fig. 7. The ends of the arms of the braces are then
brought into contact with the seat-bars and screw-bolts passed through the holes in
the bars and the eyes in the arms and thumb nuts screwed onto the bolts for
removably fastening the parts together. Finally the seat 12 is drawn around the
seat bars, and fastened thereto taut by means of the lacing 613 laced through the holes
in the edges of the seat; as shown in Fig. 6. The chair is then complete and ready
for use.
The
From the foregoing description, it may be readily seen that the chair may be
easily and securely put together and easily taken apart and packed in a compact form
for transportation if so desired.
In Figs. 8 to 134 inclusive, we have shown a stool provided with our improved
knockdown frame. The frame in these figures being but slightly modified from that
shown in Figs. 1 and 2. C represents the stool set up ready for use and C¹ the same
taken apart and rolled up ready for transportation. cc c¹ c¹ are the legs of the stool
which are shorter than the legs a² of the table; c² c² c³ c³ are the bars comprising
the lower portion and c c c c the bars comprising the upper portion; these bars
and legs are constructed similar to the bars and legs of the table frame, and are
fastened together by similar means and in a similar manner.
The braces are the
saine, in this construction, as those shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and are fastened to the
legs in a similar manner, by clips c. The seat c³, Fig. 11, for the stool is made of a
long and narrow piece of flexible material, similar to the material of the seat of the
arm chair, and is provided at its corners with lace-holes cº, and carry at each of its
elongated sides a tubular pocket c¹º.

page_text: Before the bars c or c³ of the upper section are interlocked, either two of its
parallel bars c or c are passed through the pockets c and then the end flaps cli, of
the seat are folded around the other parallel bars of the frame and are drawn together
under such frame and connected by a lacing c as shown in Fig. 10. Finally a
strap c¹³, is drawn through staples c¹ c14, see Fig. 9 one on each bar c³, and through
the lacing c, and well tightened up, thereby keeping the seat taut.
A similar strap
may also be used in connection with the semi-circular seat of the arm chair.
The mode of joining and disjoining the parts of the stool frame is substantially the
same as that of the table frame, Figs. 1 and 2, and need not be repeated.
Our invention may also be applied to other articles of furniture, besides those
specified, as for example, benches, lounges, and the like, by simply increasing the
length of the upper and lower portions of the frame, the length of the boards
forming the table or the length of the material forming the chair seat.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to he performed,- we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A knockdown frame for articles of furniture composed of upper horizontal bars
having at their ends screw-eyes, and internal screw-threads, lower horizontal bars
having at their ends screw-eyes, legs having at their ends screw-eyes and internal
screw-threads, and headed screw-threaded bolts for removably securing the upper and
lower horizontal bars to the legs, substantially as described and shown.
2. A knockdown frame for articles of furniture composed of upper horizontal
metallic tubular bars having at their ends screw-eyes and internal screw-threads, lower
horizontal metallic bars having at their ends screw-eyes, metallic tubular legs having
at their ends screw-eyes and internal screw-threads, screw-threaded bolts for securing
the upper and lower bars to the legs, metallic braces extending from the legs to the
upper horizontal bars, and screw-bolts and thumb nuts for securing the braces to the
bars, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
3. A knockdown table composed of a sectional upper frame, a sectional lower frame,
legs removably connecting the lower and upper frames, a removable top consisting of
sectional panels removably joined together means for removably fastening the top to
the upper frame and means for removably fastening the sections of the top together,
substantially as described and shown.
4. A knockdown arm-chair composed of a semi-circular metallic tubular sectional
back or arm, a semi-circular sectional seat frame removably attached to legs or
supports, braces removably attached to the legs and seat frame, a seat consisting of
flexible material, means for removably attaching the seat to the frame, and means
for attaching the various sections of the chair together, substantially as described and
shown.
:
5. A knockdown stool composed of a sectional upper frame, legs removably con-
nected thereto, a flexible seat having pockets, clo, at its sides, that are adapted to
engage a pair of parallel frame-bars, and flaps c¹, at its ends, that are adapted to be
folded around a second pair of parallel frame-bars, and means for connecting the free
ends of the flaps to each other, substantially as described and shown.
G. A knockdown stool composed of a flexible seat having side pockets and end
flaps, a sectional upper frame adapted to engage the side pockets, a lacing string
adapted to engage the end flaps legs removably connected to the upper frame,
a sectional lower frame, and a strap for connecting the lower frame to the seat,
substantially as described and shown.
DL441 day of Anril 1808
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.