Improvements in or relating to Folding Chairs, Seats, and like Articles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 24th Apr., 1900-Accepted, 26th May, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Folding Chairs, Seats, and like
Articles.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT MAUD, of Central Pharmacy, Pontefract, in the County
of York, Chemist & Dentist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:
The object of this invention is to provide a cheap construction of light folding
chair, stool or other article, the various parts being so arranged as to give the
greatest possible strength whilst avoiding the use of heavy material.
In constructing one form of folding chair for instance according to this in-
vention that part about which the other members hold may consist of a frame
comprising two longitudinal uprights of any light and durable material such
as bamboo. The uprights may be extended above the seat so that they may
serve as a rest or support for the back of the user.
braced at their lower and upper ends and may be provided with a transverse
These uprights may be
stay or platform situated approximately in the central position of their length
to carry the seat. The seat may be of any convenient form and may be either
made in one piece or built up of longitudinal members carrying transverse
lengths or strips; means are provided to limit its angular movement in adjust-
ment on the frame. The seat is connected at its underside by any convenient
form of hinge or pivot to the platform, and is so arranged that it projects both
before and behind the platform. That part which extends to the rear of the
platform is also pivotted or hinged to a rear strut or support, such strut or sup-
port being provided with any convenient form of tie or stop to limit its amount
of movement relatively to the front frame. The strut may be built of any con-
venient number of longitudinal members with transverse braces or stays in a
similar manner to that described with reference to the front frame.
The braces or stays used for connecting any of the longitudinal members
may, if desired, be formed of two strips of any suitable material such as wood,
having semi-circular notches at their edges (if used in conjunction with circular
longitudinal members) so that when placed one on either side of the longi-
tudinal members, the members are enclosed by the two halves of the brace
when a bolt or other clamping device may be passed through the two halves
of the stay and each longitudinal member, thus causing the stay and members
to be firmly connected together. The notches in the two halves of the stays
may be formed to receive members of square or other cross section, as well as
hose of circular cross section, as described, and may be so cut that the stays,
f desired, may be horizontal when the chair is in the position to be used. This
s especially important with reference to the bottom stays of the longitudinal
members or uprights, and the platform referred to above, which may be con-
tructed on the same principle as the stays. It is obvious that the platform is
ecessarily required to be approximately horizontal when the chair is in use,
nd the bottom braces of the longitudinal members are preferred to be hori-
ontal when the chair is in the position referred to, in order that the full breadth
CD
013

page_text: .
of their surfaces may rest upon the grass of a lawn, for instance, where it is
desirable that the members should be prevented from sinking into the ground.
It will be understood of course that when it is so arranged the braces are placed
at the extremities of the members so that the latter do not project beyond
the former. The front brace will also serve as a foot rest and two or more may,
if desired, be provided at different heights. This will also serve to additionally
strengthen the longitudinal members.
Also the bottom front brace may be provided with an additional flap or
extension arranged to be folded back against the longitudinal members when
not in use, and lowered to rest upon the ground as a foot board when desired,
such as, for instance, when the lawn or other surface upon which the chair may
be used is damp.
Any convenient number of braces may be provided at the upper part of the
front uprights, that is the part, which acts as a rest or back of the chair, and
these braces may either be cross members of bamboo, for instance, held in
sockets, or blocks secured to the uprights by bolts or other fastening devices,
or may comprise a number of strips of wood, split bamboo or other suitable
material bolted direct to the same members. If sockets are used to carry these
upper transverse members they may be made each in two pieces secured to the
uprights, as described with reference to the formation of the other braces, or
may be bolted direct to the front or back of the uprights.
When the chair is not required for use the seat is folded back upon the hinges
or pivots by which it is secured to the platform into a position approximately
parallel to the front frame, the rear frame or struts being similarly folded upon
the pivots or hinges by which it is secured to the stay, so that it also falls into
a position approximately parallel to the front frame or uprights. When in this
position it is only necessary to press the seat down with the hand relatively
to the front uprights when the various parts fall into their respective position's
ready for use.
It is obvious that by slightly modifying the arrangement described above,
and by removing that part of the front uprights or frame which extends beyond
the seat, the device can be converted into a stool, and by still further slightly
modifying its construction and enlarging the seat a light construction of table
can be manufactured.
Deted this 99nd dov of Lu1 1900
WILLIAM ROBERT MAUD.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Folding Chairs, Seats, and like
Articles.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT MAUD, of Central Pharmacy, Pontefract, in the County
of York, Chemist and Dentist, 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:-
The object of this invention is to provide a cheap construction of light folding
chair, stool or other article, the various parts being so arranged as to give the
greatest possible strength whilst avoiding the use of heavy material.
In constructing one form of folding chair for instance according to this in-
vention that part about which the other members hold may consist of a frame

page_text: comprising two longitudinal uprights of any light and durable material such
as bamboo. The uprights may be extended above the seat so that they may
serve as a rest or support for the back of the user. These uprights may be
braced at their lower and upper ends and may be provided with a transverse
stay or platform situated approximately in the central position of their length
to carry the seat. The seat may be of any convenient form and may be either
made in one piece or built up of longitudinal members carrying transverse
lengths or strips; means are provided to limit its angular movement in adjust-
ment on the frame. The seat is connected at its underside by any convenient
form of hinge or pivot to the platform, and is so arranged that it projects both
before and behind the platform. That part which extends to the rear of the
platform is also pivotted or hinged to a rear strut or support, such strut or sup-
port being provided with any convenient form of tie or stop to limit its amount
of movement relatively to the front frame. The strut may be built of any con-
venient number of longitudinal members with transverse braces or stays in a
similar manner to that described with reference to the front frame.
The braces or stays used for connecting any of the longitudinal members
may, if desired, be formed of two strips of any suitable material such as wood,
having semi circular notches at their edges (if used in conjunction with circular
longitudinal members) so that when placed one
tudinal members, the members are enclosed by the two halves of the brace
on either side of the longi-
when a bolt or other clamping device may be passed through the two halves
of the stay and each longitudinal member, thus causing the stay and members
to be firmly connected together. The notches in the two halves of the stays
may be formed to receive members of square or other cross section, as well as
those of circular cross section, as described, and may be so cut that the stays,
if desired, may be horizontal when the chair is in the position to be used. This
is especially important with reference to the bottom stays of the longitudinal
members or uprights, and the platform referred to above, which may he con-
structed on the same principle as the stays. It is obvious that the platform is
necessarily required to be approximately horizontal when the chair is in use,
and the bottom braces of the longitudinal members are preferred to be hori-
zontal when the chair is in the position referred to, in order that the full breadth
of their surfaces may rest upon the grass of a lawn for instance, where it is
desirable that the members should be prevented from sinking into the ground.
It will be understood of course that when it is so arranged the braces are placed
at the extremities of the members so that the latter do not project beyond
the former. The front brace will also serve as a foot rest and two or more may,
if desired, be provided at different heights. This will also serve to additionally
strengthen the longitudinal members.
Also the bottom front brace may be provided with an additional flap or
extension arranged to be folded back against the longitudinal members when
not in use, and lowered to rest upon the ground as a foot board when desired,
uch as, for instance, when the lawn or other surface upon which the chair may
be used is damp.
Any convenient number of braces may be provided at the upper part of the
ront uprights, that is the part which acts as a rest or back of the chair, and
hese braces may either be cross members of bamboo, for instance, held in
ockets, or blocks secured to the uprights by bolts or other fastening devices,
r may comprise a number of strips of wood, split bamboo or other suitable
aterial bolted direct to the same members. If sockets are used to carry these
pper transverse members they may be made each in two pieces secured to the
prights, as described with reference to the formation of the other braces, or
ay be bolted direct to the front or back of the uprights.
When the chair is not required for use the seat is folded back upon the hinges
pivots by which it is secured to the platform into a position approximately ·

page_text: parallel to the front frame, the rear frame or struts being similarly folded upon
the pivots or hinges by which it is secured, to the stay, so that it also falls into
a position approximately parallel to the front frame or uprights. When in this
position it is only necessary to press the seat down with the hand relatively
to the front uprights when the various parts fall into their respective positions
ready for use.
It is obvious that by slightly modifying the arrangement described above,
and by removing that part of the front uprights or frame which extends beyond
the seat, the device can be converted into a stool, and by still further slightly
modifying its construction and enlarging the seat a light construction of table
can be manufactured.
By way of example a convenient construction for a garden chair is illustrated
in the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 showing the chair open and ready for use and
Figure 2 the same chair folded.
AA are two main standards, in this case made of bamboo, forming the front
support for the chair. They are connected at top and bottom by cross pieces
A A respectively. The cross pieces. A may be placed in any desired position
in the upper portion of the standards so as to form a convenient support for the
back of the sitter, and additional cross pieces of suitable material may be pro-
vided for this purpose. The bottom cross piece A is desirably made broad as
shown for garden chairs, so as to give a good bearing surface when used on
grass or other yielding ground and a small platform may be provided hinged
on to the same to form a protection from damp for the feet.
The cross-pieces and side standards may be connected in any convenient
manner, a suitable arrangement for the bottom piece being to form it of two
pieces as shown in the figure, with recesses to receive the standards, the whole
being then bolted together by bolts A+. The cross piece is so placed with
reference to the standards as to be level with the ground when the chair is
open for use.
The standards are provided with another cross piece A³ placed centrally or
thereabouts so as to be at a convenient height from the ground. This cross
piece may be constructed and connected to the standards in the same manner
as the bottom cross piece just described.
Secured to the front of the cross piece A, by hinges A6 is the front or main
portion of the seat, in this case formed of side pieces 13 with cross slats B.
The side pieces 3B31 are provided with lugs or stops 12 to engage the under side
of the cross piece A³ and prevent over flexure of the hinges A".
Secured by hinges A to the back of the cross piece A³ is a cross piece C
which forms the back portion of the seat and carries two short standards D D'.
These standards form the rear struts or support for the chair and are provided
at their blower ends with a cross piece D2 similar to that on the standards A A
The member C is conveniently constructed and connected to the standards
DD in a similar manner to that in which the cross piece A³ is arranged. The
standards may be carried up through the member C so that their ends D3, when
the chair is open, abut against the standards A A¹ and form stops to relieve
the strain on the hinges A. Or a plate C¹ may be provided for this purpose.
Firmly secured by one end to each of the side pieces B¹ is a cord or chain E,
which is carried over the top of the cross piece A and its other end secured to
the member or preferably to its corresponding standard 1 or 1.
When the chain is folded and the front member of the seat in the position
shown in Figure 2 the cords E are slackened allowing the back member C with
the struts D D¹ to swing in towards the standards A. A¹ into the position shown
in Figure 2. On pressing down the front member of the seat into the position
shown in Figure 1 the cords flex the member C pulling out the rear struts D D¹
into the position shown in the same figure and the chair is ready for use.
It is evident that wood or metal may be employed instead of banboo.

page_text: Instead of being held parallel to the standards A A¹ when folded, as shown
in Figure 2, the front member of the seat may be made to fold over the cross
piece A between the standards A A' so as to protect the upper surface of the seat
from wet when not in use.
The front member may also be made of one piece instead of as shown in the
figure and of any desired shape and material.
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:-
1. In a folding chair or the like the combination with a frame forming
the front support for the seat of a seat hinged or pivotally connected to the
frame and a rear strut or support hinged or pivotally connected to the seat
substantially as described.
2. In a folding chair or the like the combination with a frame such as A A¹ A³
constituting the front support for the seat of a member forming the front
portion of the seat hinged to the front support and a second member forming
the rear portion of the seat hinged to the back of the front support, and carrying
the rear struts or support of the seat substantially as described.
3. In a folding chair or the like the combination with a frame such as A A¹ A³
constituting the front support for the seat of a member forming the front
portion of the seat hinged to the front support, a second member forming the
rear portion of the seat hinged to the back of the front support, and carrying
the rear struts or support of the seat, and a cord or cords such as E connecting
the front and rear portions of the seat substantially as and for the purpose
described.
4. A folding chair constructed and operating substantially as described or
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BOULT, WADE, & KILBURN,
Agents for the Applicant.