Improvements in and relating to Upholstered Furniture.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 14th Dec., 1895
Improvements in and relating to Upholstered Furniture.
I, RICHARD SMITH of 124, Kingsland Road, London, N.E., Upholsterer and
Frame Maker, 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 improvements in upholstered furniture constituting my invention relates
more particularly to the bottoms or seats of sofas, couches, settees, easy and occasional
chairs, and the fixed multiple lounges of billiard saloons, restaurants, cafés, dining
and smoking rooms, and other similar public places, and consists of a method of
constructing and arranging the frames of such articles of rest, that the seats of these
may be portable, and capable of being removed and replaced at will.
It usually happens in connection with easy chairs, couches, sofas, settees and the
like, that the seats wear out more quickly and need repairing in many ways more
frequently than other parts, for the reason, that such seat portions are subjected to
the greatest amount of wear and tear, and as obtains with such articles of furniture
as at present made and used, the said scats cannot be reupholstered without disturbing
a large or the major portion of the remainder of the upholstering, but according to
my invention the 'said seats would be made and upholstered independently of the
remainder of the article, which provides; that such seats may be easily removed 'and
replaced, when-necessary, for cleaning purposes, or when repairs are needed in such
seats, (which may be by restuffing, recovering, or to substitute a new for a broken
spring) the said seats can be taken away for this purpose, without removing. or
otherwise disturbing the remainder of the article.
The same or even greater conveniences are provided by the adoption of my
invention in the construction of the fixed lounges and other seats! of the public
rooms and other places before mentioned, the seats, backs and arms of which, are
usually so made and upholstered as to be inseparable from each other, and in many
cases, the said lounges or the like, are built 'to fit into, and are permanently secured
to, the corners or angles of the walls and floor of the places where they are located,
and when the seats only of such lounges require repairing, the whole structure
must be removed and taken away by the upholsterer, which is entirely obviated
when constructed according to my invention.
I am perfectly aware that it is commonly known to make the seats of ordinary
chairs portable, and also to construct upholstered forms in such a way, that the seat
portions may be removed, but I am not aware that prior to my said invention, such
lounges, couches, sofas, setteès, easy or occasional chairs, spring stuffed and otherwise
upholstered in the most luxurious and artistic manner, have been made with their
frames so constructed that the seat, portions. were removable, and to such class of
furniture my invention chiefly relates.
In order that my invention may be fully and clearly understood, I have hereunto
appended a sheet of drawings, of which:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the frame of a sofa or double, armed' couch,
constructed according to my invention, of which the seat frame. Fig. 2 is minde
separate and removable.
Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views of a gentleman's easy chair and ladys easy

page_text: chair respectively, the former of which shows the seat frame. Fig. 5. in position
therein, while the latter has its seat frame Fig. 6 detached therefrom..
Fig. 7 represents a portion of a fixed or portable multiple lounge as used in
billiard rooms and similar places, showing the manner in which the frame of
this is constructed, that the seat or seats thereof is or are detachable.
In so far as relates to couches, sofas, settees and the like, as illustrated by
Figs. 1 and 2, I construct the frame of the usual materials or combination of
materials, and of any design, shape or configuration suitable therefor, and in so
far as relates to the frames of sofas, preferably with two high backs A and B,
preferably but not imperatively having approximately square tops as shewn, or
as relates to couches, with one such high back portion, or as relates to settees
for seating two, three or four persons, preferably with the usual back portion
or portions formed in like manner.' The lower portion of the back of the frame
may have two horizontal rails C and D in the usual way, but the lower of these (D)
I form with two or more swellings or projections such as E and F, which form, in
combination with the front G of the frame, a seating or rest for the seat frame H
(Fig. 2) suitable slots or holes J, being formed in the upper surface of G for the
reception of steadying pegs or studs K upon the lower front surface of H.
'
The frame (Fig. 1) may be spring stuffed or otherwise upholstered in the usun!
way, excepting that the upper surface of the rail D must be left perfectly clear, so
that when the seat frame H has been upholstered, this may be dropped into position
resting upon G E and F.
I employ substantially the same arrangement in the construction of gents easy
chairs (Fig. 3) the back of which L (if forming part of the same suite as Fig. 1)
would be of the same shape, as shewn, but otherwise if forming part of a suite
having backs of other shape. The lower portion of the back would have the usual
rails Č. D, the latter of which having swellings E, F, and upon these and the
front G would rest the seat frame H, shewn in position in Fig. 3, and detached at
Fig. 5.
The same instructions as to the holes in G and pegs K, and the
upholstering, applies in this as in Fig. 1.
In Fig. 41 illustrate the manner in which I prefer to construct the frame of a
Indys easy chair (presuming this to form part of the same suite) upon which I
provide arms M as in the gentlemans chair (Fig. 3), the present style of dress
permitting these to be employed, but in order that the graceful display of the ladys
robes may not be impeded thereby I place the fronts M' of the said arms some
distance back from the level of the front rail G, and form the seat frame H with
extensions N to occupy the recesses on G formed by the position of M¹. This
chair has the usual rails C, D, the lower of which has swellings or projections E, F,
upon which, and the rail G, the seat frame H rests, the rail G having holes, or
slots J for the reception of pegs or studs K on H as before referred to, the same
instructions as to upholstering being observed in this as described in relation to
Figs. 1 and 3.
4.)
In Fig. 7 I illustrate the manner in which my invention may be applied to the
lounges or multiple seats of billiard rooms and such like places, where several
persons may be seated together. Irrespective of whether the said lounge or
multiple seat has its upholstered back portion O, fixed thereto or otherwise, I form
the seat frame D so as to be clear of said upholstering O, and provided with
suitable swellings or projections E, or any suitable equivalent upon which the
frame of the upholstered seat P may rest; or in lieu of P fitting within D it may
be arranged to rest thereon, in which case the frame D would, have holes or their
equivalents J for the reception of pegs or studs K on P..
From the foregoing it will be understood that my said improvements (whether
applied to household furniture or multiple lounges or the like) permit the easy
removal and replacement of the seats, and if necessary the repairs of same, without
in any way interfering with the remainder of the article or damaging the
upholstering of same.
..

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. In the manufacture of upholstered couches, sofas, settees, easy chairs, and.
multiple lounges or seats, the herein described methods of constructing the frames.
of same, by which the seat portions may be detachable, and upholstered separately
from the remainder, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
shown.
Second. In the manufacture of sofas, couches, and settees, the manner of forming-
the frames thereof with a high back rest or rests such as A, B, connected to rails
such as C, D, the latter having swellings or projections such as E, F, forming in
combination with the rail G, a seating for the frame H of a detachable and
separately upholstered seat, substantially as herein described and shewn.
Third. In the manufacture of upholstered easy chairs for gentlemens use, the
combination of a frame having a back such as L, connected to rails such as C, D,.
the latter having swellings or projections such as E F, forming, in combination
with the rail G, a seating for the frame H of a detachable and separately
upholstered seat, substantially as herein described and shewn by Figs. 3 and 5 of
the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In the manufacture of upholstered easy chairs for the use of ladies, the-
combination of a frame having arms such as M, the fronts of which M' are set back.
from the front G the said frame having a back, such as L, connected to rails auch
as C. D, the latter having swellings or projections such as E, F, or their
equivalents, forming, in combination with the rail G, a seating for the frame H of
a detachable and separately upholstered seat, substantially as herein described and.
shewn by Figs. 4 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. In the manufacture of upholstered fixed or portable multiple seats, the
manner of arranging the frame D, for the reception of a detachable and separately
upholstered seat P substantially as herein described and shewn by Fig. 7 of the:
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 9th day of November 1805