A NEW OR IMPROVED FOLDING SEAT FOR USE IN BARS, SHOPS, AND OTHER SITUATIONS WHERE THE SEAT IS REQUIRED TO BE OUT OF THE WAY WHEN NOT ACTUALLY IN PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Rettic, of Kirby Street, Hatton Garden, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, for an Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED
FOLDING SEAT FOR USE IN BARS, SHOPS, AND OTHER SITUATIONS WHERE
THE SEAT IS REQUIRED TO BE OUT OF THE WAY WHEN NOT ACTUALLY IN
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Rettie at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th June 1881.
JAMES RETTIE, of Kirby Street, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer. "A NEW OR IMPROVED FOLDING SEAT FOR USE IN BARS, SHOPS, AND
OTHER SITUATIONS WHERE THE SEAT IS REQUIRED TO BE OUT OF THE WAY
WHEN NOT ACTUALLY IN USE"
This Invention relates to a new or improved folding seat for use in bars, shops,
and other situations where the seat is required to be out of the way when not
actually in use.
The seat, constructed according to my Invention, is fixed to the floor close up to the
counter or wall near which the seat is to be used. When folded up the scat closes
flat up against the counter or wall, and when down or open for use it comes away
from the counter, leaving room for the knees as with an ordinary seat.
On a suitable base to be fixed to the floor and constructed of iron I centre two
sets of supports, so that they may be varied from the vertical to an inclined
position. They are centred to the base at different heights, so that their upper
ends to which the seat is hinged in moving from the vertical to an angular position,
or vice versa, vary in height in relation to one another, and so alter the direction
of the seat from the horizontal when the seat is open to the vertical when it is
closed up. The two sets of supports may in their notion cross one another, and
when this is the case one may be made to rest on and obtain support from the
other at the point of intersection.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Rettic in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th December 1881.
JAMES RETTIE, of Kirby Street, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer. "A NEW OR IMPROVED FOLDING SEAT FOR USE IN BARS, SHOPS, AND
OTHER SITUATIONS WHERE THE SEAT IS REQUIRED TO BE OUT OF THE WAY
WHEN NOT ACTUALLY IN USE."
This Invention relates to a new or improved folding seat for use in bars, shops,
and other situations where the seat is required to be out of the way when not
actually in use.
In the accompanying Drawings (which are to be taken as part of this Specifi-
cation) Figure 1 is a side elevation of a scat constructed according to my Invention,
and shewing the seat closed or shut up and out of the way; Figure 2 is a back
elevation of same, and Figure 3 is also a side clevation, but showing the seat open;
Figures 4 to 9 are views of detail, as hereinafter described.
The seat constructed according to my Invention is fixed to the floor close up to
the counter or wall, near which it is to be used. When folded up (as seen at
Figure 1) the seat closes flat against the counter or wall, and when down or open
for use, it comes away from the counter or wall (as seen in Figure 3), leaving room
for the knees of the sitter between the seat and counter as with an ordinary seat.
On a suitable baso A (scen in plan at Figure 4) to be fixed to the floor B, I centro
by pins or otherwise two levers or supports C, D, so that they are capable of
motion on their centres c, d, and may be moved from a nearly vertical position, as
soen in Figure 1, to an inclined position, as seen in Figure 3. These levers cross one
another, and are centred at their upper ends to the seat E, and the two levers have
also this further peculiarity in reference to their relative positions, motions, and
actions. Lever Ċ is centred to base A at a point higher than lever D, and also
more forward or nearer the counter or wall F, against which the scat is desired to
close. Also lover C (as before stated) crosses lever D, and is attached to the rear
or outer end of scat E (as seen at Figure 3) where the sont is in a horizontal position.
If now this seat (as shewn in this position) be pushed towards the counter it will
assume the position shewn at Figure 1 for the following reason:-Both levers C, D,
will be moved on their centres c and d, carrying with them seat E, but lever C
will approach the counter or wall F more rapidly than lever D, and consequently
will gradually raise the back of the seat until approaching the counter or position
desired; when shut up it will have assumed, together with the two lovers C and D,
as nearly as possible the vertical position, and so occupy the least possible space
directly against the counter or wall F, the object of my Invention. When the seat
is opened a shoulder c 1 on lever O is constructed to meet and rest on a ledge d 1
on lever D to take as much as possible of the weight of the sitters or the centres of
the levers and diverge it into a direct compressive strain in the direction of
lever D.
When the seat has arrived at the closed position a small projection c 2 on lever C
comes in contact with a stop d 3 on lever D, and prevents the levers passing one
another and the seat from falling over to the front of the upright position. The
lover C is extended below the centre c for a short distance at C3, and attached to
this extension and to the pin J behind a spiral spring K is attached to a draw on
the lever C, when the seat is closed up. Thus this spring has a tendency to help
to raise up the seat, and to hold it in position when up. In the case of high seats
where the feet of the sitter cannot reach the ground (such, for example, as are
usually required in luncheon bars) rests for the feet are provided, as at d 2, № 2.

page_text: For lower seats, where the feet of the sitters reach the ground, these rosts are not
necessary, and in the latter case I prefer round seats instead of oblong or oval, as
shewn in the Drawings. The sent E which is usually of wood is shewn in the
Drawings as attached to a metal ring underneath, to which levers C and D are
attached. In Figures 1 to 3 the several parts are attached by rivets or scrow pins
and nuts. In Figures 5 to 9 the joints are shewn cast in such a manner that the
several parts, i.c., the two lovers, base plate, and upper ring may be fitted together
without pins, with the exception of one at c and lock pins H at the joints d. The
details are obvious from the Drawings. Figure 4 is a plan of frame A; Figure 5 is a
front view of the 3 upper joints; Figure 6, a side view; and Figure 7 a back view of
the middle joint or that of lever C; Figure 8 is an edge or back view of one of
joints d, and Figure 9 a side view thereof.
The seat E may be so attached to the under ring that it will turn on a centre
with the sitter, or it may be attached by a screw to raise or lower, as with tho
top of a music stool. Also when desired a back to the soat may be attached, as
shown by dotted lines at Figures 1 and 3, the back being constructed as a con-
tinuation of lever C so as to fold up, as shewn at Figure 1.
It will be obvious that seats constructed on the above principlo are applicable
to numerous positions where moveable or folding seats are desirable by reason of
confined space or from any other cause, such as schools, where with two or more
supports constructed on the principle described the seat may be elongated as a
form, or for railway or other carriages, or on board ship, and other numerous
applications. Also the seats may be arranged in a cluster round a tablo or without.
The same principle may be applied to folding tables to be fixed against the wall or
in other position.
The Drawings show the levers made of cast iron or other suitable metal. They
may however be of wrought iron or other suitable material, and may be made very
ornamental of wood for halls or other similar positions.
I claim as my Invention to be secured by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent,
The combination of parts forming the seat, substantially as hereinbefore set forth
and described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Rettic, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventeenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
TAXES DEVITA