US2785414A - Hospital folding chair - Google Patents

Description

March 19, 1957 R. W. FoSTER ET AL 2,785,414

HOSPITAL FOLDING CHAIR Filed March 9, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 19, 1957 R. w. FOSTER x-:T A1. 2,785,414

HOSPITAL FOLDING CHAIR Filed March 9, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nite States HOSPITAL FOLDING CHAIR Application March 9, 1953, Serial No. 341,076

1 Ciaim. (Cl. 4-134) Our invention relates to a collapsible or folding hospital sanitary chair and is an improvement on prior de vices designed for the aid, comfort and convenience of invalids.

More specifically, a primary object of our invention is a collapsible or folding chair with a removable container or vessel for use primarily by hospital patients.

Another object of our invention is `a folding chair of the above type wihch will properly accommodate persons of various ages.

Another object of our invention is a new and improved chair structure with a composite seat mechanism with a cover member and having a removable container or vessel and a back member which co-acts with the cover member in abutting relationship so as to form substantially an extension thereof.

Another object of our invention is a new improved chair of the above type which has a composite seat mechanism composed of three main platforms or members recessed, apertured, constructed and adapted to removably support a flanged container or vessel in overlapping relationship.

Other -objects will appear from time to time in the ensuing specification and drawings in which Figure l is a side view of our new and improved chair structure;

Figure 2 is `a front View of our new and improved chair structure shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a view, partly in section, taken along the line 3 3 of Figure l; v

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, illustrating, in section, the seat mechanism of our new and improved chair with a portion of the seat mechanism raised and indicating in dotted lines the Withdrawal movement of the vessel;

Figure 6 is a top view of the vessel alone which is used in our new and improved chair structure;

Figure 7 is the top view of the lid mechanism for the vessel or container; and

Figure 8 is a sectional view along the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Like parts will be indicated by like numerals through the various figures.

As shown in Figure l, our chair structure is composed primarily of a pair of downwardly and rearwardly directed legs lt) and a pair of upwardly and rearwardly directed legs 12, the legs 12 being substantially longer in their upward and rearward direction than the overall length of the legs 10. The legs are pivoted together on each side by any conventional pivot structure 14 and the upwardly and rearwardly directed legs 12 are joined by a connecting portion or extension 16. Extending transversely between the legs is any suitable bracing structure, such as the rods 18 for the rearward legs and the bracket or strap 20 for the forward legs. The connecting portion 16 of the legs 12 has a suitable back member or plate 22 2,785,414 Patented Mar. i9, i957 ic j 2 appropriately secured in the arcuate or curved formation and a suitable cushion or back rest 24 is secured thereto in any appropriate manner. In Figure l, note that the back plate 22 has a depending portion 26 which extends well below the lower edge of the cushion or back rest 24.

The legs 10, as shown in Figure 1, have an upper extension 2S, which is also pivoted at 14 and which is secured to the main portion of the legs 10 by any suitable means 30, such as screws, rivets or the like. While we have shown the extensions 23 connected to the legs 10, it should be understood that this entire leg structure could be made of one integral piece pivoted at 14 to the legs 12, and the extension 23 with its appropriate connecting means 30 is illustrated only by way of choice.

As shown in Figure 3, the legs 12 are each formed initially from a flat extended strip of metal and the edges are turned over or beaded as at 32 so that channel members of greatly increased strength are provided. Although we have not shown the legs 10 as being specifically of this structure and design, it should be understood that they could easily be produced as such without departing from the invention.

Each pivot 14 is provided with a suitable washer 34 which serves to separate the pivoting legs and gives a free and easy pivotal movement.

A seat mechanism indicated generally at 36 is provided between the crossed leg structures and is pivoted at 38 to the forward edges of the extension 28. Adjacent the rear edge of the seat mechanism is provided outwardly extending pins or posts 40, which are fitted in longitudinal slots 42 in the panel or at portion ofthe legs 12. The slots 42. are appropriately covered by a plate or cover member 44, and the pins 40 can slide easily from the upper to the lower extremities of the slots without their ends protruding.

The seat mechanism is held in its lowermost and substantially horizontal position by brackets or abutments 46, which engage the seat adjacent its rearward edge. When the chair structure is folded up so that the legs 10 and 12 lies substantially adjacent and parallel to one another, the rearward edge of the seat mechanism will have been moved toward the back rest or cushion 24, and the seat mechanism will be substantially parallel vto the leg structure and will lay therebetween so as to provide a compact and easily transported device.

As shown in Figures 4V and 5, seat mechanism is composed primarily of a main platform 4.8 which is substantially square as shown in Figure 3 wit-li its forward corners somewhat rounded as shown at Si). This main platform has a suitably sized aperture or opening 52, which is counter-sunk so as to provide an inwardly directed circular ilange 54. A second platform 56 is pivotally connected by appropriate hinges :'53 adjacent, but not directly on, the `rearward edge of the main platform. No'te that each of the hinges 58 is suitably positioned in a recessed portion 60 in the main platform so that the hinge structure will not prevent the platforms 48 and 56 from properly engaging tone another Iand lying a't throughout their engaging surfaces, as shown in `Figure 4. The second platform is provided with a suitably disposed -aperture 62 which is positioned concentric with the aperture 52 in the main platform. A cover member 64 is pivotally connected to the rearwardedge of the main platform by suitable hinges 66 and lies liuslx against the upper surface of the second platform Si?. it should be noted that all three of the platforms, including the cover member, are approximately of equal dimensions and are rounded adjacent their forward corners as at 59 in Figure 3, the only varying dimension. being the length of the second platform 56, which is shortened as shown at 68 in Figure 4 to allow free pivotal movement thereof.

A vessel structure 70 in Figure l is removably suparsenic ported by the seat mechanism and is composed of a con- |tainer or vessel 72 of any appropriate size and dimensions. The upper edge of the vessel is provided with an inwardly directed portion 74 which is reversed upon itself so as to culminate in a bead type structure or flange 76. rl`hus, the upper edge of the vessel is provided with an outwardly extending ange and with an inwardly extend ing flange. At an appropriate number of locations along the inwardly extending flange, the roll or bead portion is removed or flattened or rolled out as at 78.

The vessel has a lid member 80 which has secured to its under surface a pair of angles or hooks 82 which are suitably secured thereto by welding or the like and which extend initially downwardy and then outwardly. The distance between the 'outward extremities of the brackets or hooks 82 is less than the distance between the two unbeaded or unflanged portions 78 on the vessel so 1that when the lid is lowered down on the top the vessel the hooks or brackets 32 will pass downwardly a short distance into the interior of the vessel. Then as the lid is turned, the outwardly directed portions of the brackets will pass under the inwardly directed ange on the vessel. It should be understood that any number of brackets with an equal number of unanged portions on the vessel may be provided to acquire the necessary interlock between fthe lid and the vessel. Additionally, the lid is provided with a handle 84 which is pivoted to the top of the lid by a pair of brackets 86, the handle being adapted to lie substantially dat as shown in Figure 4 so as not to interfere with the composite compact structure of the seat mechanism when the vessel is in place on the chair.

The use and operation of our invention are as follows:

I have provided a simple and compact sanitary hospital folding chair which can be used conveniently to materially simplify the trials and tribulations of a hospital existence or the like. Basically, the structure of the folding chair is conventional and has been modified primarily by the addition of the composite seat structure to removably support the container with a modification in the back structure. The seat structure has the main apertured platform which supports the vessel when in the position of Figure 4 by the overlapping flanges, and due to the counter-sunk or rim portion of the aperture in the main platform, the entire upper end of |the vessel, including the lid, will be below the upper edge of the platform so that the second platform and the cover member can be closed, and the chair will present a substantially conventional appearance from above. The aperture 62 in the second platform is smaller in diameter than the beaded portion around the vessel so that when the second platform is in its lower position, the vessel cannot be withdrawn. It should also be understood that any type of hooks or clamping mechanism can be provided between the main and second platform so that the vessel could not be removed from the seat structure without unhooking the second platform. The same is true of the cover member 64 which could easily be clamped or hooked in its lower `or at position, as in Figure 4.

When the cover member has been raised, as in Figure l, the upper edge thereof is adapted to engage the depending portion 26 of the plate 22 so 'that the cover will form in a sense an extension of the cushion rest 26. The under surface of the cover member 64 could easily be provided with -any sort of cushioning means so as to effect a comfortable extension of the cushion 24 while in the position of Figure l.

Our invention can be used by persons of various ages by the simple expedient of raising or lowering the second platform 56; however, as shown, it is primarily intended to be used with the second platform in a horizontal position engaging the main platform. In addition, the second platform could be disconnectably hinged to the main plat form so that a series of platforms with varying sized apertures could be used, the one selected depending upon the age of the user.

The vessel can easily be deposited on the main platform as shown in Figure 5 and withdrawn by the use of the handle with the brackets or hooks d2 underlying the flanged rim. The lid is easily connected or removed from the vessel by the simple positioning of the brackets 82 in alignment with the unbead'ed portions 78, followed by a subsequent turning motion until one of the brackets engages an abutment 88, if such a feature is desirable.

Whereas we have shown and described one form of our invention, it should be understood that various modifications and alterations can be applied hereto without departing from the essential theme. For example, the hooks 82 secured to the underside of the lid 30 and the inturned bead with the unbeaded portion 7S on the vessel in eect. constitute Ian interlocking means between the lid and the vessel so that these two parts can be readily connected and disconnected. By embodying this structure in a folding chair, the vessel can be quickly and simply removed and the chair collapsed or folded into a substantially ilat condition and stored in any suitable out-oftheway place.

t should also be realized that even though we have described the device as being particularly applicable to and for hospital use, it could find ready acceptance in and around the home, as well as camping trips and the like. The precise dimensions and sizes are unimportant, except within appropriate limits, and the inventive theme should be unrestricted except by the appended claim.

We claim:

in ya sanitary folding chair structure .for use in a hospital or the like, a first pair of upwardly and forwardly extending legs, a second pair of upwardly and rearwardly extending legs substantially longer than the first pair, the second pair having a portion interconnecting only their upper ends, the pairs of legs being pivotaily connected together intermediate their ends so that the second pair extends a substantial distance above the irst pair, a seat mechanism connected between the rst pair cf legs and the second pair of legs, both connections being above the intermediate pivotal connection of the legs to each other, the seat mechanism being connected and the connections being formed so that the chairstructure will fold generally into a common plane, the seat mechanism including a main apertured platform, and a cover member pivotally connected adjacent the rear edge of the platform, the portion interconnecting only the upper ends of the second pair of legs including a padded back member between the upper ends of the legs, the interconnecting portion having an abutment portion offset behind and depending from the back member engageable only by the forward edge of the cover member when it is pivoted upwardly so that the cover member, when pivoted upwardly into engagement with the abutment portion, forms a downward continuation of the back member with the forward surface of the cover member generally coplanar with the forward surface of the padded back member with the outer edge of the cover member lying under the padded back mernber, and a vessel removably supported by the `seat mechanism.

References Cited in the tile of vthis patent

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