US1213920A - Theater-chair. - Google Patents

Description

A. SZYMKOWIAK.

THEATER CHAIR.

APPLICATION men JAN. 12. 1915.

1917. 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

O 3 R a J d e t n m a P INVENTOR: jz m/mwm/f A TTORNE YS.

W I TNESSES I QM w w w A. SZYMKOWIAK.

THEATER CHAIR. APPLICATION FILED JAN. I2. I915. mm 39%., w Patented Jan. 30,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- IN VEN TO WITNESSES 2 R Tilt i TUN SZYMKOWIAK, 015 SAN JEAN'CISCO, CALIFORNIA.

THEATER-(113A Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 36, 191?.

Application filed. January 12, 1915. Serial No. 1,799.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ANTON SZYMKOWIAK, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, re' siding at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Theater-Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in theater chairs, the principal object being to provide a chair of improved construction, which has to do with the safety and convenience of the occupants.

My chair is more convenient to the user due to the fact that when a person wishes to pass in front of the occupant, the latter may slide the seat backward and so give a greater space between his knees and the-row of chairs in front. The chair is also conducive to safety on account of the fact that the seat automatically rises when the occupant rises, thus leaving clear the space between the rows of chairs which in case of panic is of great assistance in quickly emptying the theater.

My aim in the several features of the construction of this chair is to provide a simple device of few parts and having only two springs. Also to so proportion the various members of the chalr that there is no danger of clothing or the person being caught between the several parts thereof.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as herein described and more specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

lteferring to the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of my improved chair. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation thereof, showing the seat in its rearmost position. Fig. 3

is a view in section through one side of the chair showing the seat in its normal position when not occupied, also showing the seat in dotted outlines in its normal position, when occupied. Fig. i is an enlarged view in section through the operating mechanism of one side of the chair. Fi 5 is a sectional view on 5--5, Fig. 4. lFi .6 IS a plan view of one side of the chairs owing the -bracket used to connect certain arms with the back of the chair. Fig. 8 is a sectional View through the top of the supporting member and the back of the seat. Fig. 9 is a view in side elevation of the said supporting member.

Denoting corresponding parts in the several views by the same numerals of referonce, 1 denotes the supporting side frames of my chair, which may be of any preferred fanciful or ornamental shape, these frames being provided with arms 2 and the back supporting standards 3. The seat 4 is of the usual veneered wood construction having the longitudinal side members 5, in the lower portion of which is formed a groove wherein is fastened a channel shaped member 6, this member providing a track for certain rollers 7 and having the forward end extending outwardly as at 8 for the purpose hereinafter described.

Formed integrally on the side frames or attached thereto by suitable screws or bolts, are the rectangular hollow casings 8, the bottom of which is formed on a regular curve, as shown at 9. A portion of the top and rear end of this casing is open as at 10 and movable therein is a hollow rectangular arm 11. Intermediate its ends the top and bottom surfaces of this arm are cut away, as shown at 12, and pivotally mounted in the slot thus produced is an irregular cam shaped member 13, which latter is provided with the upwardly extending arm 14, which is again bent in a lateral direction, as shown at 15, and attached to the member 5.

In the forward end of the arm 11 is mounted a roller 16, the bottom surface of which extends through an opening in the underside of the arm and rests on the curved surface 9. The front end of the arm is provided with a resilient bumper 17, which is adapted to make contact with the forward end of casing 8 and so limit the relative movement of these parts. A lug 17 is formed in the casing 8 to project over the forward end of arm 11 and hold the roller 16 on the curve 9 when the'seat is in its lower and forward position. The rear. end

of arm 11 has formedthereon an eye 19, which is pivotally mounted to the bracket 20, which is shown in front elevation in Fig. 7. This bracket is provided with wings 21 between which the back 22 is held by means of the double screws 23. In this fastening one screw as at 24, is of the usual construction, while its mating screw 25 is provided with interior threads into which the screw 24 engages. In this manner there is provided a fastening which is flush with both sides of the brackets, and which provides for any variation in the thickness thereof. The bracket is provided with depending ears 26 and on the inside thereof are formed certain cam surfaces 27. A pin or pivot 27 passes through the lower end of the cars 26 and holds thereon the eye 19, thus pivotally securing this end of arm 11 to the bracket.

.VVithin the arm is provided a spring arrangement; adapted to hold the seat in its raised position, as shown at Fig. 3, and to bring forward the seat-after the latter has been moved backward in the position shown in Fig. 2. This mechanism consists of the 'U-shaped member 28 having pivotally mounted therein a roller 29, the latter being adapted to bear against the surface of cam 13. At the other end of the spring is a square nut 30 in threaded engagement with the screw 31, this screw being reduced on its outer end, and seated on the shoulder thus formed is a wedge like member 32, the sides of which bear against the cam surfaces 27.

The rear end of the screw is formed with a square portion 33, which enables the spring to be adjusted by inserting-a key through the opening 34 and turning the screw so as to run the nut 30 along the thread thereof.

The upper portion of the back is pivotally mounted to the supports 3 in a manner shown in detail in Figs. 8 and 9. The top of the standard and the cap 39 are provided on each side with semicircular recesses 36 wherein are seated the heads of screws 37. The shank of the screw projects through an opening in the side of the support and is in threaded engagement with the bracket 38, which is attached to the upper corner of the back 22 by means of screws 23, similar to those already described. The cap 39' is provided with a shoulder adapted to fit in a corresponding recess in the upper surface of the support 3 and is held therein by means of screw 40. I have thus provided effective means for securing the backs to their supports, which enables any back to be removed for repairs independent of the back of any other seat.

Having thus described the parts of my invention the operation is as follows :The normal position of the seat being as illustrated in Fig. 3,when a person depresses the seat it rotates about the roller 7 the center of this roller being in alinement with the pivotal point of cam 13, thus as the seat is depressed this cam surface is rotated to shorten spring 31 and increase the tension thereof, and as soon as the person rises the tendency of this spring is to rotate the cam surface 13 and thus raise the seat, until the rear portion contacts with bumpers 42. If while the person is seated another should pass in front of him, then by a backward motion the occupant is able to slide the seat backward on the rollers 7 and 7, which causes the arm 11 to rotate on the eye 19 and the member 32 to move around the cam surface 27, and the latter being off at the center 19 forces the member 32 into the arm 11 thereby increasing the tension of the spring. Thus, again, when a person leaves the seat free, the seat will move forward until the opening 6 in'the lower end of the track 6 is reached when the cam surface 13 is acted on by the spring to lift the seat upwardly, or if the person remains seated the tendency is to hold the seat forward.

It will thus be seen that I have provided effective and simple mechanism for accomplishing the results set forth in the beginning of this specification, and while I have shown the preferred construction of my invention it will be understood that minor changes may be made in form, proportion and details of construction without departing from the principles thereof.

What I claim as new and Wish to cover by Letters Patent is 1. A chair of the character described comprising side frames, a back having its upper edge pivotally mounted in said side frames, a seat, trackways carried by said seat, rollers carried by said side frames on which said trackways may move, arms pivotally attached at one end to the lower edge of said back, cam members pivotally mounted in saidarms adjacent their other ends, extensions on said cam members attached to said seat, and spring means mounted in said arms which tend to rotate said seat about the pivot of said cam members, and hold it in its forward position on said trackway.

2. A chair of the character described comprising side frames, a back having its upper edge pivotally mounted in said side frames, a seat, trackways carried by said seat, rollers carried by said side frames on which said trackway may move, brackets attached to the lower corners of said back, arms pivotally mounted at one end in said brackets, cam shaped members pivotally mounted in said arms intermediate their ends, extensions from said cam members attached to said seats, springs mounted insaid i aiaeao arms between said cam members and the pivoted ends, cam surfaces formed in said hrackets eccentric with the pivoted point of said arms, bearing plates on one end of said springs adapted to rest on said cam surfaces, and rollers on the other ends of said springs adapted to bear against the said cam shaped members whereby said seat tends to raise and to move to its forward position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ANTON SZYMKOWJIAKQ Witnesses:

R. M. OYARZO, W. A. Simon.

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