US2784769A - Chair construction - Google Patents

Description

Mamh 1957 W. M. FlSHER CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Z5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 6, 1955 II\\-ENTOR BY ATTGRNEYS arch L111: 1%5? FESHER 2,784,?

CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Filed June 6, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lfer M Wake! ATT( )RNEYS amh 1957 w. M. FISHER {74979 CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Filed June 6, 1955 3 Sheets-$heet 3 I N VEN TOR Wwlt'erMFisher' ATTORNEYS United States Patent CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Walter M. Fisher, Sturgis, Mich., assignor to Sturgis Posture Chair Company, Sturgis, Mich., a corporation Application June6, 1955, Serial No. 513,302 6 Claims. (Cl. 155--157) This invention relates to swivel chairs having non-tilting back and seat members; and, more particularly, to a swivel chair having a non-tiltingback which is laterally adjustable with respect to the chair seat.

It is customary to provide stenographic chairs and similar swivel chairs having non-tilting back and seat.

members, with back supporting members which are both vertically and laterally adjustable with respect to the seat member. This permits the individual using such a chair to adjust the position of the back supporting member of the chair for maximum comfort. Lateral adjustment of chair backs has been accomplished, heretofore, by providing hinged or pivotally mounted posts upon which the back supporting member is mounted. Means are. usually provided at the pivot point of the post to secure it in the desired position. Backrest adjusting;means of this type which are common among commercially available swivel chairs are diflicult to adjust properly; and, in use, do not remain in adjustment.

The foregoing disadvantages are overcome bythis invention which, briefly, consists of providing a chair back for a swivel chair which is composed of a pair of spaced rods or tubular members each of which has a vertically disposed portion and a laterally extending portion at the lowermost end thereof. A back supporting member is adjustably secured by a clamping member to the vertically disposed portions of each tubular member. The laterally extending portions of the tubular members are slidably supported in sockets provided in the seat member of the chair. The back supporting member may be'laterally adjusted to the desired position by moving the laterally extending portions of the tubular members in the sockets or apertures provided in the. seat member. The tubular members are connected by a locking means extending transversely therebetween which may be expanded or contracted to bias the laterally extending portions of the tubuar members and thus wedge them in the sockets or apertures in the seat portion. When thus secured, the back. supporting member and the tubular members are firmly secured to the seat and lateral movement therebetween is prevented.

It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to. provide a non-tilting back for a swivel chair which is laterally, slidably adjustable. Another object of this invention is to provide a non-tilting back for a swivel chair which is provided with laterally extending tubular members slidably mounted in sockets or apertures pro vided in a seat member and which may be biased to wedge the portions of the tubular members in their respective sockets, thus preventing lateral movement of the'back with respect to the seat. Still another object ofthis invention is to provide a non-tilting back for a swivel chair which comprises a spaced pair of tubular members having vertical portions upon which a back supporting-member is adjustably mounted, laterally extending portions slidably mounted on a chair seat and locking .means extending between the tubular members 2,784,769 Patented Mar. 12, 19 57 ice for wedging the laterally extending portions of the tubular members in their respective seat sockets to prevent lateral movement of the tubular members with. respect to the seat. A further object of this invention is to provide a non-tilting back for a swivel chair which is laterally adjustable with respect to the chair seat in which the adjusting means is readily accessible, simple to operate and inexpensive to manufacture. The foregoing and other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view from below of a non-tilting back swivel chair with the pedestal re moved showing the preferred embodiment of this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the control plate shown secured to the bottom of the seat in Figurel, with the laterally extending portions of the tubular members of the chair back shown in dotted lines;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the preferred embodiment of this invention showing the seat and portions of the non-tilting back and chair pedestal;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in cross section taken along line 4--4 of Figure 3;

Figure Sis an enlarged fragmentary view in cross section taken along line 5--5 of Figure 3 showing the chair back locking means;

Figure 6 is a rear elevational View, partly in cross section taken along line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a top plan view in cross section taken along line 77 of Figure 4, showing the laterally extending portions of the chair back tubular members freely slidably disposed in the sockets in the control plate;

Figure 8is a top plan view in cross section taken along line 77 of Figure 4, showing the laterally extending portions-of the chair back tubular members biased and wedged against lateral movement in the sockets in the control plate; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view in cross sec.- tion similar to Figure 5 but of a modified form of chair back locking means.

The preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the drawings showing a stenographic chair cornprising an upholstered seat member 1. A control plate generally identified by the numeral 2 and shown in detail in Figure 2 is secured to the lowermost face of the seat member 1.- The control plate 2 is provided with spaced bracket portions 3, 3 which have apertures 4 for receiving screws 5 which secure the control plate 2 to the seat member. The control plate 2 has a web portion 6 extending between the bracket portions 3, 3 which is downwardly offset and this is spaced from the lowermost face of the seat member when the control plate is secured thereto as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The web portion 6 has spaced sockets formed therein by the depending arcuate bands 7 adjacent the side edges of the web 6 and the upstanding arcuate bands 8 located adjacent the center of the web portion 6. Each socket, therefore, is composed of a pair of aligned depending arcuate bands 7 and a single upstanding arcuate band 8. The arcuate bands 7 and 8 are preferably integral portions of the web 6 formed therein by stamping the several bands in the web portion 6. A reinforcing web 9 is secured to the upstanding arcuate bands 8 to provide additional strength. A conventional threaded seat supporting rod 10 is secured by welding to the lowermost face of the web portion 6 of the control plate 2. The supporting rod 10 is received in a conventional swivel chair pedestal 10 a portion of which is shown in Figure 3.

The non-tilting chair back employed in the preferred embodiment of this invention consists of a spaced pair of tubularlmembers 11, 11' having vertically disposed portions 12, 12; and, at the lowermost end of each tubular member, a laterally extending portion 13. The tubular members 11, 11 are, therefore, preferably L-shaped. An upholstered back supporting member 14, is detachably secured to the spaced vertically disposed portions 12, 12 of the tubular members 11, 11. The back member 14 is provided with a clamping plate 15 which is rectangular in shape and provided with arcuate portions 16 at the opposite ends thereof adapted to engage portions 12, 12 of the tubular members. The plate 15 is apertured at the center thereof to receive the threaded rod 17 which extends from the rear face of the back member 14. The clamping plate 15 and the arcuate terminal ends 16, 16, thereof, rigidly secure the back member 14 to the vertical portions 12, 12 of the spaced tubular members 11, 11 when a locking nut 18 engaging the threaded rod 17 is tightened. Added rigidity for the non-tilting back is provided by the cross bar 19 which is secured by welding to the tubular members 11, 11 adjacent the uppermost terminal ends of the vertical portions 12, 12 thereof.

The non-tilting back of the stenographic chair is mounted on the seat member 1 by inserting each laterally extending portion 13 of each tubular member 11 in one of the sockets of the control plate 2 formed by the aligned depending arcuate bands 7, 7 and upstanding arcuate band 8. The laterally extending portions 13, 13 of the tubular members 11, 11 are freely slidably supported in the respective sockets therefor in the control plate 2; and, when the laterally extending portions 13, 13 are moved inwardly and outwardly in their sockets, the back supporting member 14 is moved toward and away from, respectively, the seat member 1. This freely slidable disposition of the laterally extending portion 13, 13 in the sockets therefore in the control plate 2 is shown in Figure 7. In order to prevent accidental dislodgment of the tubular members 11, 11 from the control plate 2, one of the laterally extending portions 13 may be tapped to receive a lock screw 20 shown in Figures 1 and 4. As will be readily apparent, the screw 20 will engage the depending arcuate bands 7 which support the laterally extending portion 13 provided with the locking screw and prevent the tubular members 11, 11 from being withdrawn from the control plate sockets.

A locking member generally identified by the numeral 21 and shown in detail in Figure 5 is provided for securing the non-tilting back of the chair with the back supporting member 14 located at the desired point rearwardly of the seat member 1. The locking member 21 comprises a stud bolt 22 having threads 23 formed thereon and having the opposite end thereof secured as by welding at 24 to one of the tubular members 11. Any other suitable means may be employed for securing the unthreaded end of the stud bolt 22 to a tubular member 11. The stud bolt 22 extends transversely between the spaced tubular members 11, 11, preferably approximately normal to these members, and the threaded end thereof extends through an aperture 25 provided in the tubular member 11 adjacent thereto. The threaded end 23 of the stud bolt 22 does not engage the edge of the aperture 25 and is free to move therethrough. A tube 26 extends over the threaded end 23 of the stud bolt 22. One end of the tube 26 abuts the tubular member 11 apertured to receive the threaded portion 23 of the bolt 22. A knurled locking nut 27, the threads of which engage the threads 23 on the bolt 22 is secured to the other end of the tube 26 by welding or like means. The nut 27 and the tube 26 may be moved longitudinally on the stud bolt 22 by rotating nut 27 and the tube secured thereto. When the nut 27 is rotated until the opposite end of the tube 26 engages the outer side of the adjacent tubular member 11, further movement of the nut 27 and the tube 26 forces the spaced tubular members 11, 11 apart as shown in Figure 8, and retains these members in a separated position. In Figure 7 it hand support member 13' and it receives the threaded end of stud 23 while its opposite end is freely guided and received for rotation by aperture 25' in the left hand support member 13. A knurled knob 27 having a boss 24' is received over the stud 23 and welded thereto in spaced relation to the end 22 so as to form a shoulder about stud 23' at its end 22' so as to abut against the tubular left hand support member 13'.

The operation of the non-tilting back swivel chair is obvious from the foregoing description but briefly is as follows. The clamp 15 on the back supporting member 14 is released by retracting the nut 18. The back member 14 is then moved upwardly or downwardly on the vertically disposed portions 12, 12 of the tubular members 11, 11 until it is located at a point thereof comfortable to the individual using the chair. The back member 14 is then secured at this point by rotating the screw 18 until the clamp 15 and the arcuate ends thereof firmly secure the tubular members 11, 11 to theback member. The knurled nut 27 of the locking member 21 is rotated to move the tube 26 away from the abutting tubular member 11. The laterally extending portions 13, 13 of the tubular members 11, 11 are then freely slidable in the sockets provided in the control plate 2 as shown in Figure 7. The tubular members 11, 11 may then be moved toward or away from the seat member 1 until the back supporting member 14 is laterally disposed at a point most comfortable to the indi-' vidual using the chair. The knurled nut 27 may then be rotated to move the sleeve 26 longitudinally of the stud bolt 22 until the end thereof abuts the adjacent tubular member 11. The rotation of the nut 27 is continued thus causing the tubular members 11, 11 to be forced apart. The separation of the tubular members 11, 11

in the manner described causes the laterally extending portions 13, 13 thereof in the sockets provided in the control plate 2 to move apart. As this movement of the portions 13, 13 continues the outermost side walls of the socket become engaged therewith and the portions 13, 13 are thereupon wedged in the sockets of the control plate 2 as shown in Figure 8. When this condition is produced, the laterally extending portions 13, 13 of the tubular members 11, 11 are not free to move in the sockets in the control plate 2 and the back member 14 is thus firmly secured in the desired position.

The invention described hereinabove is susceptible of various modifications readily apparent to a person skilled in this art. Thus, the locking member 21 may be located at any point between the back supporting member 14 and the point at which the tubular members 11, 11 enter the sockets in the control plate 2. It is preferred to locate the locking member 21 adjacent the points at which the vertical and laterally extending portions of the tubular members 11, 11 are connected to one another. By so locating the locking means 21, it is more readily accessible and provides the greatest mechanical advantage in wedging the portions 13, 13 in'the control plate sockets which affords the greatest ease of operation. The invention has been disclosed employing a control plate 2, but, obviously, any rigid member having spaced sockets in which the laterally extending portions 13, 13 may be received may be secured to the lowermost face of the seat member 1 or built into the body of the seat 1. The tubular members 11, 11 represent the most simple inexpensive form of member for use in constructing the nontilting back for the chair but other forms; such as, for

example, rods, bars and strap members may be used in lieu of tubular members. The locking means 21 illustrated in the preferred embodiment of the invention separate the tubular members 11, 11 to lock the portions 13, 13 in the control plate 2. An identical locking action may be obtained by drawing the tubular members 11, 11 together by the obvious expedient of rotatably securing the unthreaded end of the stud bolt 22 to one tubular member 11 and welding the end of the tube 26 to the remaining tubular member 11 adjacent the end of the tube 26. In such an arrangement the stud bolt 22 may be rotated to move the tubular members 11, 11 toward one another and thus lock the back in the desired lateral position. The spreading or contracting of the tubular members 11, 11 to lock the back in the desired position, moreover, may be accomplished by a number of obvious mechanical equivalents including toggle con nections between these members and cam or wedge actuated interconnecting members secured to the tubular members 11, 11. The foregoing description is, therefore, illustrative of the principles of this invention the scope of which is limited by the claims hereinafter.

I claim:

1. A chair comprising a seat member, supporting means therefor, said seat member being provided with a spaced pair of walled recesses at one edge thereof, a pair of L-shaped members including vertically disposed and laterally extending portions, a back supporting member detachably secured to said vertical portions, each of said laterally extending portions being slidably supported in one of said seat recesses, a pair of interconnected mem bers extending transversely between and engaging said laterally extending portions, said interconnecting members being relatively movable longitudinally thereof to produce relative movement between said laterally extending portions wedging said portions in said recesses, and means for preventing longitudinal movement between said interconnecting members.

2. A chair as set forth in claim 1 wherein said interconnecting members comprise a threaded rod engaging one of said laterally extending portions, a tube surrounding said threaded rod and having one end thereof engaging the other of said laterally extending portions, and a nut secured to the other end of said tube and engaging the threads of said threaded rod.

3. A chair as set forth in claim 2 wherein the end of said threaded rod engaging one of said laterally extending portions is immovably secured thereto and one end of the tube surrounding said threaded rod frictionally engages the other of said laterally extending portions.

4. A chair as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of said laterally extending portions has a recess therein and said interconnecting members comprise an internally threaded tube secured at one end to the other of said laterally extending portions, a stud threaded at one: end and thread edly received in said threaded tube and having the other end received in said recess in said first lateral extending portion, said stud having abutment means thereon adjacent said other end for abutment against said first lateral extending portion adjacent said recess therein and hand grasp means on said stud for rotating the same.

5. A chair comprising a seat member, supporting means therefor, a back supporting member adjacent one edge of said seat member, said seat member having spaced walled recesses extending inwardly from the edge thereof adjacent said back supporting member, laterally extending members slidably mounted in said seat recesses, said back supporting member being supported by said laterally extending members, interconnected members extending transversely between and engaging said laterally extending members, at least one of said interconnecting members being secured to one of said laterally extending members, said interconnecting members being relatively movable transversely of said laterally extending members to produce relative movement between said transversely extending members in said seat recesses thereby wedging said laterally extending members in said seat recesses, and means interengaging said interconnecting means for preventing relative movement therebetween.

6. A chair comprising a seat member, a supporting means therefor, a back supporting member adjacent one edge of said seat member, said seat member having a depending member provided with spaced openings adjacent said back supporting member, laterally extending members slidably mounted in said seat openings, said back supporting members being supported by said laterally extending members, a pair of looking members extending transversely between and engaging said laterally extending members, each of said locking members being engaged with only one of said laterally extending members, said locking members being relatively movable transversely of said laterally extending members to prevent relative movement between said laterally extending members and said seat depending member, and means interengaging said pair of locking members for preventing movement thereof while said laterally extending mem bers and said seat depending member are immovably engaged. 1

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 899,504 Bolens Sept. 29, 1908 1,357,826 Shaw Nov. 2, 1920 1,997,486 Hallowell Apr. 9, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS 332,759 Great Britain July 31, 1930 523,720 Germany Apr. 27, 1931

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