US2164163A - Rocking chair - Google Patents

Description

W. S. PIPER June 27, 1939.

ROCKING CHAI'R Filed Jan. '7, 1939 Mafia!" 5 Hp?!" cl Patented June 27, 1939 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROCKING CHAIR Walter- S. Piper, Sheboygan, Wis.

Application January 7,1939, Serial No. 249,746

, 2 Claims.

the construction has been such that the mechanism for joining the chair structure to the leg 15 structure was so located that unlessa valance was draped from the base of the chair structure, this mechanism was in plain view which, of course, is objectionable from the standpoint of appearance.

It is, therefore, an important object of this invention to provide a rocking chair of the character described which is so designed and constructed that the entire mechanism which movably mounts the chair structure on its legs and which,

, 25 to assure the desired free swinging action and comfort, is completely concealed from view entirely without the need for a valance. Another object of this invention is to provide a chair of the character described, which is '30 so designed and constructed that the spring device which constitutes the mechanism for mov-- ably supporting the chair structure from its legs is disposed in the space defined by the base of the chair structure to thus permit a lower over- 35 all height and improve the appearanceof the chair.

With the above and other objects in view which 1 will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combi- 40 nation and arrangements of parts substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be 45 made as come within the scope ofthe claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one complete example of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed in accordance with the best mode so far devised for the practical appli- 50 cation of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is aside view of a rocking chair constructed in accordance. with this invention with parts thereof broken away and in section; and Figure 2 is a bottom-view of the chair.

65 Referring now particularly to the accompanying drawing, in which like numerals indicate like parts, the numeral 4 designates the chair structure generally which; as is customary, comprises a seat 5, a back 6, and arms I. The lower portion or base 8 of the chair structure includes side members 9 joined by'front and back transverse members it! and II, respectively, and by a strong cross piece l2 positioned substantially midway between the front and back transverse members. a

The entire structure is movably mounted on a leg structure indicated generally by the numeral l3. This leg structure consists of two parallel side rails joined by front and back cross rails l5 and I6, respectively.

The side rails of the leg structure are preferably spaced apart a distance less than the spacign between the side members of the chair structure'base so that the base may sink beneath the top of the leg structure; For the sake of appearance, the lower edges of the side members I and 'the top edges of the side rails 14 are correspondingly curved, but any configuration may be used as there is'no actual rocking support.

Instead, the pair structure is suspended from the leg structure by means of two spring devices indicated generally by the numeral [1. Each spring device is formed from a single length of a spring wire and includes a pair of coils l8 joined by a straight length of wire l9 and having spring arms extending forwardly and backwardly,

the extremities of the spring arms being bent angularly. These angularly disposed'ends of the spring arms are received in tubes 2|.

The front ends of the spring arms 20 are hinged to the adjacent front cross rail {5 of the leg structure by clips 22 and the rear ends or the spring arms 20 have a double hinge connection with the adjacent back transverse rail l6 provided by brackets 23 fixed to the rail l6 and links 24 attached at one end to the ends of the spring arms and at their other ends to a rod 25 mounted in the brackets 23.

The straight lengths IQ of spring devices are anchored to the undersurface of the cross member H by clips 26.

With this construction, the chair structure is normally held in its position shown in Figure 1 but is free to descend a distance depending upon the weight of the occupant and to rock forwardly and backwardly, A slight side motion-is also permitted, which gives the effect of a floating support for the chair structure.

Particular attention is directed to the fact that the construction of the chair structure permits the spring devices to be located above the lower edge of the side members 9. This disposition of the spring devices obviously allows the overall height. of the chair to be less and obviates the necessity for providing a valance or any other ing their ends anchored to the front and back cross members It! and II.

Each wire spring has a zigzag formation to provide resiliency but the combined stren'gth'of these springs is sufiicient to at all times maintain an adequate arch-to the seat support toprovide the necessary space for the spring devices.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be readiy apparent to those-skilled in the art that this invention greatly improves the construction of a rocking chair of the type having a stationary leg structure and that it adds materially to the appearance of the chair by obviating the. necessity for special. means for concealing the spring device which supports the chair proper from the stationary leg structure.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a rocking chair of the type having a stationary leg structure includingfront, rear and side rails and a chair structure mounted thereon by means of-a spring device which permits descent of the chair structure as well as rocking motion, the combination of: means in the bottom of the chair structure to which the spring device is secured; and rigid front and side walls on the frame of the chair structure extending substantially below the level of said means sufliciently to conceal those portions of the spring device located above the leg structure, said means to which the spring device is secured extending between the chair frame side walls, the lower edges of said rigid side walls being convexly arched so as toenable rocking of the chair structureto extreme positions without having the-rigid side walls contact the floor even when the chair structure is caused to descend to an extreme position.

2. In a rocking chair of the type having a stationary leg structurdincluding front, rear and side rails and a chair structure mounted -thereon by means of a spring device which permits descent of the chair structure as well as rocking motion, the combination of: a resilient seat support on the frame of the chair structure arched from frontto back to provide substantial space beneath the bottom of its medial portion and the lower edges of the side walls of the frame of the chair structure; and a strong cross member joining the side walls of the chair structure frame a substantial distance above the lower edges thereof and in said space, said cross member having the spring device secured to its undersurface, and

' said side walls of the frame of the chair structure extending below the level of said transverse member sufficiently to conceal those portions of the spring device located above the leg structure.

WALTER S. PIPER.

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