Improvements in Rocking Chairs.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 2nd July, 1892-Accepted, 6th Aug., 1992
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rocking Chairs.
We, ALEXANDER PLANT, and HUGH ALEXANDER, both of the firm of
H. and A. G. Alexander and Company, 48 French Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire,
Chair Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of our invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to and comprises certain improvements in basement
frame rocking chairs, which will make them more pleasant and convenient for
sitting on and give them a spring or resilient action which they have not had
heretofore.
As heretofore constructed, these chairs have had a stationary basement frame
with side rails, on which the upper frame formed in one with the seat and back
frame rocked by its side rails, made segmental for that purpose, and secured to the
lower frame generally by helical springs, which had a tendency always to rock the
chair vertically to its normal position, while the person sitting on the frame
rocked it on its said segmental side rails on the lower basement frame, but which
gave the chair no resilient action vertically.
upper
Our improvements consist generally or substantially in making the chair or seat
part and the back part all of one rigid frame, separate from the lower rocking
frame, with its segmental side rails formed as a separate frame by cross tie rails
and which latter would be mounted to the lower basement frame substantially as
heretofore, but would have four or other number of springs mounted between the
seat frame and the said rocking frame, with sufficient space between them to allow
of the springs acting and giving vertical resilience to the seat frame, the whole
three parts of the frame of the chair being thus securely attached by the said
springs.
One arrangement of the said new resilient springs preferred, consists in making
them helical of steel wire, and mounting four of these vertically to each under
corner of the horizontal seat frame above, and the ends of the rails forming
this frame, and below to the upper front and back ends or corners of the
segmental side rails of the rocking frame, the ends of the springs being secured in
plates screwed or otherwise secured to the said wooden parts of the seat and rocking
frame. Although we prefer vertical helical metal springs, it is to be understood
that horizontal helical springs may be used with two or three coils, and having the
free ends of their steel wire secured to the said plates on the ends of the frames.
Or V or U shaped blade springs may be used having their ends screwed or secured
to the said plates on the ends of the frames. In any of these cases, the springs
would be made of such an open and elastic character, and with sufficient play
between the seat frame and the rocking frame as to allow of the former freely'
rising and falling on the springs with the weight of an ordinary person.
In some
cases single or double elliptical or coach springs may be so used mounted between
the seat and the upper part of the rocking frame, although these are not
preferred.
Dated the 1st April 1892
J
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Rocking Chairs.
We, ALEXANDER PLANT, and HUGH ALEXANDER, both of the firm of
H. and A. G. Alexander and Company, 48 French Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire,
Chair Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of our invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement in writing, that is to say -
This invention has reference.to and comprises certain improvements in rocking
chairs and particularly those mounted on basement frames, which will make them
more pleasant and convenient for sitting on, and give them a spring or resilient
action, which they have not had heretofore.
As heretofore constructed, these chairs have generally had a stationary basement
frame, with side rails on which the upper frame formed in one with the seat and
back frame rocked by its side rails, made segmental for that purpose and secured
to the lower frame generally by helical springs which had a tendency always to
rock the chair vertically to its normal position, while the person sitting on the
upper frame rocked it on its said segmental side rails on the lower basement frame
but which gave the chair no resilient action vertically.
And in order that our said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, we have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings in which the same reference letters are
used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1 is a perspective elevation, Figure 2 a longitudinal section, and Figure 3
a front view of a basement frame rocking chair as fitted with resilient springs a, in
accordance with one arrangement of our improvements. And Figures
to 8 show
elevations of the under frame parts of rocking chairs as fitted with modified
arrangements of resilient springs a in accordance with our improvements. While
Figure 9 is a perspective elevation of a rocking chair without a stationary base-
ment frame, as fitted in accordance with our improvements with the arrangements
of resilient springs a shown in Figures 1 to 3.
Referring to Figures 1 to 8 of these drawings:-Our improvements consist
generally or substantially in making the chair or seat part A and the back part A¹
all of one rigid frame, separate from the lower rocking frame with its segmental
side rails B, formed as a separate frame by cross tie rails B', and which latter B,
is mounted to rock on the side rails C, of the lower basement frame C, C¹, by strong
springs connecting both frames B, C, substantially as heretofore, but has four or
other number of springs a mounted between the seat frame A and the said rocking
frame B with sufficient space between them to allow of the springs a acting and
giving vertical resilience to the seat frame A, A', the whole three parts of the
chair being thus securely attached by the said springs.
One arrangement of the said new resilient springs, as shown in Figures 1 to 3
consists in making them helical of strong wire, and mounting four of these
vertically one at each under corner of the horizontal seat frame A above, to
the ends of the front and back rails A2 forming this frame, and below to the
upper front and back ends or corners B2 of the segmental side rails B of the
rocking frame B, B¹, the ends of the springs a being formed into eyes and
secured by screws and washers or it might be by gripping plates screwed or
otherwise secured to the said wooden parts A2, B2, of the seat A and rocking
frame B. As shown in Figure 4 the springs a may in some cases be only fitted
at the back corners A³, B³, of the frames A, B, where the greater weight of
the body locates, and the front corners A³, B2, be connected by swivelling or
oscillating links a¹ or equivalent organs. Although we prefer vertical helical metal
springs, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, horizontal helical or rat trap springs a may be
used with one coil as shown in Figure 5, or it might be with two or more coils, and

page_text: having the free ends of the steel wire secured to the ends A2, B2, of the
frames A, B, by screws and washers at a. Or V or U shaped binde springs a
may be used, as shown in Figures 6, 7, and 8, having their ends secured at a
to the ends of the frames, as in Figure 5. In Figures 7 and 8 the lower
frames B, C, are shown as connected together by diagonal links, ', instead
of as usual by springs b, and this method may also be applied to other arrange-.
ments Figures 1 to 6. In the chair shown in Figure 9 the lower stationary
basement frame C is dispensed with and the chair made to rock with the segmental
part of the frame B, on the ground, and the spring fittings a, between the seat and
rocking frames A, B, are analogous to that shown in Figures 1 to 3.
In any
of these cases, the springs a would be made of such an open and elastic character,
and with sufficient play between the seat frames A and the rocking frames B as to
allow of the former freely rising and falling on the springs with the weight of an,
ordinary person. In some cases single or double elliptical or coach springs may be
so used mounted between the seat A, and the upper part of the rocking frame B,.
although these are not preferred.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-.
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. The construction and use of rocking chairs with their seat frames A,.
separate from their rocking frames B, and linked or connected together by resilient
springs a, substantially as herein described in reference to and by way of application
shown in the accompanying drawings.
Second. In rocking chairs, the combination and use of resilient springs a inter-.
posed between the seat and rocking frames A, B, substantially as and for the
purposes herein described in reference to and by way of application shown in the.
accompanying drawing.
Dated the 1st Tuly 1900
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.