Improvements in Folding Seats, Sofas, and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left. 10th June, 1891-Accepted, 11th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding Seats, Sofas, and the like.
We, CHARLES GROOMBRIDGE, Inventor, and WILLIAM ALFRED SOUTH,
Veterinary Surgeon, both of 40 New Bond Street, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in folding seats, whereby the same may
be readily folded, when desired, or when to be packed, so as to economise space;
three, for instance, of such seats when so folded, occupying, in the case of a chair,
no more than the space of one unfolded chair.
We proceed to describe the invention as applied, by way of example, to a
chair.
For the purposes of our invention the two lateral bars forming the sides of the
scat-frame are constructed. for the greater portion of their length, as two half bars
arranged parallel to each other, and adapted to pass through slots, contrived for
the purpose, in the back legs, or in the back, of the chair. These parallel or half
bars are jointed or pivotted at one end to the remaining or stationary portions of
the said lateral bars. The outer ones of these parallel bars are each forined, at the
pivot end, with a bevil or rounded part, for the purpose of allowing them to fold
against the back of the chair, when said chair is folded up, and with a shoulder or
rectangular portion which impinges against the remaining stationary portions,
above mentioned, in order to prevent the front legs of the chair folding inwards and
the structure collapsing, when opened out for use. The inner ones of these parallel
bars are likewise formed with similar bevils or rounded parts, and with shoulders or
rectangular portions, but situated in contrary positions to those on the outer of the
parallel bars, to prevent the front legs folding outwards.
Either or both of the free ends of the parallel or half bars forming the sides of
the seat frame, are furnished with stops which by striking against the back legs, or
the back, of the chair, limit the extent to which the sent-frame may be drawn out
and the chair unfolded, or opened out.
To fold or close the chair, the back part (back and legs) is slidden along the
parallel bars until the back legs abut or lie close up against the front legs. The
two outer of the parallel or half bars are then folded upwards, as above stated,
against the back of the chair, while the two inner of such bars are folded downwards
against the back legs thereof.
The scat proper, which is so hinged as to be capable of folding or turning upwards
against the back of the chair, when said chair is to be folded or closed, is provided
on its under side with ribs or distance pieces, which, when the chair is unfolded for
use, bear or press against the inner side of the front bar of the seat frame and so
render the structure rigid.
A folding chair thus constructed will, unlike all other folding chairs, stand erect
when closed.
In applying the improvements to couches, sofas, rout-seats and the like, the seat
proper may be so constructed as to fold completely over and lay against the back
legs of the structure.
Dated this 10th day of September 1890.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding Seats, Sofas, and the like.
We, CHARLES GROOMBRIDGE, Inventor, and WILLIAM ALFRED SOUTH
Veterinary Surgeon, both of 40 New Bond Street 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to
the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to sny :—
This invention relates to improvements in folding sents, sofas, and the like,
whereby the same may be readily fulded when desired, so as to economise space for
convenience of package or carriage.
For the purposes of our invention, and in describing the same as applied to a
chair, the two lateral bars or rails forming the sides of the seat frame are con-
structed for the greater portion of their length as two half bars arranged
parallel to each other, and adapted to pass through slots contrived for the
purpose in the back legs or in the back of the chair. These parallel or half
bars are jointed or pivotted at one end to the remaining or stationary portions
of the said lateral bars. The outer ones of these parallel or half bars are each
formed, at the pivot end, with a bevil or rounded part for the purpose of
allowing them to fold against the back of the chair, when said chair is folded
up; and with a shoulder, or rectangular portion, which impinges against the
remaining stationary portions, above mentioned, in order to prevent the front
legs of the chair folding inwards, when opened out for use. The inner ones of
these parallel bars are likewise formed with similar bevils or rounded parts and
with shoulders or rectangular portions, but situated in contrary positions to those
on the outer of the parallel bars to prevent the front legs folding outwards.
Either or both of the free ends of the parallel or half bars forming the
sides of the seat frame, are furnished with stops which, by striking against the
back legs, or the back, of the chair, limit the extent to which the seat frame
may be drawn out and the chair unfolded or opened out.
To fold or close the chair the back part (back and legs) is slidden along the
parallel bars until the back legs abut or lie close up against the front legs.
The two outer of the parallel or half bars are then folded upwards, as above
stated, against the back of the chair, while the two inner of such bars are folded
downwards against the hack legs thereof.
The seat proper, which is so hinged as to be capable of folding or turning upwards
against the back of the chair, when said chair is to be folded or closed, is provided
on its underside with ribs or distance pieces which, when the chair is unfolded for
use, bear or press against the inner side of the front bar or rail of the seat frame
and so render the structure rigid.
A folding chair thus constructed will, unlike all other folding chairs, stand erect
when closed.
And in order that our invention may be readily understood we will proceed
to describe the same fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a chair constructed in accordance with our
invention, showing the same in its open position and ready for use.
Fig. 2 is also a vertical section, but showing the chair in its folded or closed
position, and when out of use.
Fig. 3 is a back elevation of Fig. 2.
a is the back of the chair, b, the seat proper, and c, d, are respectively the front
and back legs. Each of the front legs is provided with a projection to which
are pivotted, at ², the half or divided bars e, e, which, together constitute the
lateral sides of the seat frame, and these half or divided bars are capable of passing
through slots d' formed in the back legs d (or in the back a) when it is desired to

page_text: close the chair. The inner half or divided bars or rails are furnished with stops
or blocks c, which, when the chair is opened out, rest within recesses and lie
flush with the back legs of the chair and thereby limit the forward movement of
the said half or divided bars or rails. care the rectangular portions or shoulders
which, when the chair is opened out for use, come against the projection c and
prevent the front legs of the chair folding inwards. The seat proper bis hinged
at to the bar or back rail 6 and is formed with ribs or distance pieces on its
underside, which, when the seat is turned down, come against the inner side of the
front bar or rail e of the seat frame, as seen at Fig. 1, and firmly retain the chair
in its open position.
When it is desired to fold up the chair, the seat proper is first turned up, as at
Fig. 2, thereby withdrawing the ribs or distance picces from the front bar e
of the seat frame, so that the front legs may then be pushed backwards, thus
driving the lateral bars or rails through the slots and bringing the front legs
close up against the back legs; or the back legs may be slidden forward along
the lateral bars or rails thus bringing the back legs close up against the front
logs. When in this position the half or divided bars assume the position shown
in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The half or divided bars are then turned about their
pivots into the position seen by the full lines in Fig. 2, so that the outer
half or divided bars a lie against the back of the chair, while the inner half
or divided ones lie against the back legs thereof, the said bars being rounded
or bevilled at c² to permit of their so turning. Or if preferred these bars may
be so constructed that the outer ones may turn downwards and the inner ones
upwards.
It will thus be seen that a chair so constructed will, when folded, stand erect
by itself without the necessity of having to rest it against a wall, or other
support, and that two, and in some cases even more, of these chairs will, when
folded, occupy no more space than that usually occupied by one ordinary
chair.
Although we have shown our invention by way of example as applied to a
chair, it may also be applied to couches, sofas, rout seats, and the like.
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 :-
1. The construction and arrangement of folding seats, sofas, and the like,
whereby in order to fold the same the front and back are brought together
either by sliding the back portion along the lateral bars or rails of the seat-
frame, carried by the front portion, or by pushing these lateral bars or rails
through the back portion of the article, then turning said side frames on their
pivots, so that they lie against the article substantially as described.
2. The improved folding chair or seat substantially as hereinbefore described
and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 9th day of June 1891.
Dated this 9th day of June 1891.
ERNEST DE PASS,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 6, Victoria Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicants.