Improvements in or relating to Folding Chairs.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 27th Mar.,
1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Folding Chairs.
I, EDWIN ATKINS of 55 Church Row, Bethnal Green, in the County of
Middlesex, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention aud
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 folding chairs, more particularly to that form
constructed with curved frames crossing each other and raised sides or arms and
no back such as is commonly known in the trade and will be hereinafter mentioned
in the specification and claims as a "Hamlet chair."
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the chair arranged for use.
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the same folded up.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
The curved frames A. A¹ are pivotted together at B, the opposite side pieces
being connected by rods C C₁ of metal wood or other suitable material, in addition
to the ordinary bars or the like. The seat D is formed separate and one of the
rods C passes through lugs, eye-bolts or the like D¹ upon its underside in such a
manner that the seat may swing about the rod C. At the other side of the seat,
also upon its underside, are arranged one or more pairs of hooks D² so as to engage
with the rod C' and lock the frames in the required position when the scat is
prepared for use.
With this arrangement it will be seen that the "Hamlet chair" may be readily
folded up by first bringing the frames A A' (which move with a lazy tongs action)
slightly together so as to allow the hooks D² to be disengaged from the bar C¹ and
then moving the frames apart until the seat D can drop into the position shown in
Fig. 2, when the side frames may be folded together as clearly illustrated in this
figure.
It will be noted that the side frames are so bent or shaped as to allow of their
being folded up as described, although their ends, which form the arms, are
situated directly opposite each other.
By having more than one pair of hooks D2 and by arranging each pair of hooks
at a suitable distance from the others the height of the seat may be adjusted, the
side frames A. A' being opened out or brought together as required and the
corresponding hooks upon the seat D caused to engage with the bar C¹.
In place of pivotting the seat D to the side frames by means of a rod in the
manner illustrated, pivot pins passed through the side frames into the substance of
the seat frame may be employed, or gudgeons may be formed on the seat frame,
which may be caused to engage with slots in the side frames or some other suitable
device may be utilised.
In place of the hooks D², stops, pins or other suitable devices which will allow
the side frames to be locked in various positions may equally well be employed,
such an arrangement for example may comprise one or more pairs of pins fixed to
the underside of the seat D, which can be caused to engage with lugs, eye-bolts or
the like attached to the side frames, a device which will enable the rod C¹ to be
dispensed with.
It will thus be seen that if desired the "Hamlet chair" in addition to being
constructed in such a manner as to fold into a small space, may have the seat

page_text: arranged so as to be readily removable for the purpose of renewing the cushion or
the like as required.
It will be understood that the materials employed in the construction of the side
frames and seat may be such as are commonly employed in the manufacture of
chairs of this nature.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is -
1. A folding seat of the kind described.
2. A "Hamlet chair" adjustable for height substantially as described.
3. In a "Hamlet chair" the combination with the folding frames A A' of a
seat D having hooks or stops D2 arranged successively upon the seat for the
purpose of locking the frames in various positions and consequently varying the
height of the seat substantially as described.
"
4. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete
"Hamlet chair constructed and operating substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 27th day of Fah 1907
E. ATKINS.
Boult & Wade.