Year: 1886

page_text: I HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and C, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 consists in improvements in piano and other stools, whereby the
back, seat and foot rest are rendered adjustable, and means are provided for
preventing shaking of the seat on the base portion of the stool.
"
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a stool embodying my invention.
Figure 2 represents a front view thereof partly sectional.
Figure 3 represents a partial vertical section and partial side elevation thereof.
Figure 4 represents a top or plan view thereof, a portion being broken away.
Figures 5 and 6 represent vertical sections of detached portions drawn to an
enlarged scale.
Figure 7 represents a horizontal section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Figure 8 represents a vertical section of a detached portion of a modification
thereof.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
A represents the seat of a stool, B the stem depending therefrom, C the base in
which said stem is fitted, D the foot rest, and E the back.
On the sides of the back are plates F which connect said back with the seat, the
inner faces of said plates having tongues G, which enter grooves H in the sides of
the seat frame. The plates F are L-shaped, their lower limbs extending under
the seat frame and having screws J, which enter grooves K on the under side of
the seat frame, and tighten against the top walls thereof.
It will be seen that when the screws J are loosened, the back may be moved
forwards or backwards, and thus adjusted relatively to the requirements of the
occupant of the seat, the screws J then being tightened for retaining the back in
adjusted position.
It will be seen that during the adjustment of the back, the tongues and
grooves G, H, and screws J cause the plates F to move true, and thereby prevent.

page_text: the same from binding. The screws J being on the under side of the seat frame,
do not present an objectionable appearance nor occupy places whereby they may
catch the dress or clothes of the occupant of the seat.
The stem B.has a ratchet L, formed with or secured to it, and with the same
engages a dog or pawl M, the latter being fitted to the base C, and pressed
inwardly by a spring N, which bears against said pawl and the adjacent portion of
the base C as more plainly shown in figure 5, said pawl having secured to or
formed with it a handle P, the inner end of which has a flat portion P¹, which
when the ratchet and pawl are engaged, enters between two lips Q projecting from
the side of the base C.
It will be seen that the seat may be adjusted in height as desired.
When the handle P is drawn out the pawl M follows the same and clears the
ratchet L. The handle is then given a quarter turn, whereby it rests on the lips Q
at a right angle thereto; and controls the pawl. When the adjustment of the seat
is accomplished, the handle P is again rotated a quarter turn, and the portion Pl
enters between the lips Q, the pawl then being forced by the spring N against the
respective tooth of the ratchet L, and serving to lock, the seat to the base, holding
it in its adjusted position.
In order to prevent wabbling or lateral movement of the stem B, and con-
sequently of the seat on the base, I employ a screw R, which is fitted to the base
and has its point adapted to tighten against the side of the stem, so that any
lateral lost motion of the stem in the base is prevented and the stem rendered
immovable, it being of course held in adjusted position by the action of the pawl
and ratchet M, L, as has been stated.
The foot rest D is vertically adjustable on the upright portion or limb of an.
angular bar S, thy upper limb S¹, of which is forked or bifurcated, and horizontally
fitted in eyes or bosses T, on the sides of the base C, whereby the said bar S may
be set in or out, thus accordingly adjusting the position of the foot rest D.
In order to retain the bar S in adjusted position on the base C, screws T¹ are
fitted to the bosses T, and tightened against the forks S¹ of said bar.
If desired, a single boss T may be placed in front of the base to receive the
upper limb of the bar, in which case, said limb is not forked, and a single screw T¹
is sufficient to hold the limb from movement.
The foot rest D is vertically adjustable on the bar S, as has been stated. For
this purpose, the vertical limb of said bar is toothed or serrated, or provided with
a ratchet U, with which engages a pawl or dog V, the latter being hinged to the
rear portion of the foot rest and pressed against the ratchet by a spring W suitably
applied. The pawl V has a knob or handle X, for operating purposes, it being
evident that by withdrawing the pawl, the foot rest may be adjusted in height,
after which the pawl is let go and the rest then retains its adjusted position.
At the bottom of the bar S is a foot Y which rests in the floor and serves to
sustain the foot rest and bar and prevent any tilting or overturning of the stool
when a person steps on the foot rest.
It will be noticed that the bar S is attached to the base of the stool and thus
disconnected from the seat, whereby the adjustments of the latter do not affect the
foot rest, and vice versa.
In figure.8, I show the ratchet U sunken or set into the face of the bar S, it
being evident that the ratchet L of the stem B may be similarly constructed, but
I do not limit myself thereto.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign Correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
--
First. A stool having a seat with an adjustable back, the frame of said seat
having grooved sides and bottom, and said back having side pièces which are
formed with tongues and provided with set screws, substantially as described.
7

page_text: Second. A stool having a seat which is adjustably connected with the base of the
stool by means of a ratchet on the stem of the seat, and a pawl on the base, said
pawl having a handle or button, operating substantially as described.
Third. A stool having a seat provided with a depending stem, and a base
receiving said stem, said stem having a ratchet, and said base being provided with
a pawl and lips on which the handle or head of the pawl may be seated, sub-
stantially as described.
Fourth. A stool having a vertically adjustable seat, a base receiving the
depending stem of said seat, a holding ratchet and pawl, and a laterally tightening
screw, substantially as described.
Fifth. A stool having a foot rest whose supporting arm is connected with the
base of the stool, substantially as described.
Sixth. A stool having a base provided with a boss T, and screw T₁, and a foot
rest supported on an arm which is fitted to said boss, substantially as described.
Seventh. The foot rest D provided with a pawl V in combination with an arm S
having a ratchet U, substantially as described.
Eighth. The support for the foot rest of a stool having a foot Y at the bottom,
substantially as described.