Untitled record

Jan. 24, 1956

W. D. CORNING

2,732,005

Filed Jan. 23, 1952

CHAIRS

Sheets-Sheet 1

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ATTORNEYS

Jan. 24, 1956 w. d. corning 2,732,005

CHAIRS Filed Jan, 23, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2

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ATTORNEYS

United States Patent Office

2,732,005

Patented Jan. 24, 1956

2,732,005 CHAIRS

Walter D. Corning, Knoxville, Tenn.

Application January 23, 1952, Serial No. 267,777

Claims. (CI. 155—77)

This invention relates to improvements in chairs, and more particularly to such straight-back chairs as are used in dining rooms, dinettes and as card game chairs.

It has long been recognized that straight back chairs are uncomfortable in which to sit for any appreciable length of time. Because these have been manufactured generally for ornamental effect, or of simplified construction, it has not been practical to modify the construction thereof to such extent as will make them more comfortable.

In my prior application for Resiliently Mounted Chair Back, Serial No. 678,403, filed June 21, 1946, now Patent No. 2,587,822, granted March 4, 1952, I have set forth certain improvements in such chairs adapted to provide greater comfort in use, by incorporating in the back or leg portion of the chair a non-metallic resilient insert incorporated between aligned sections thereof, with means for holding the insert in place.

An object of this invention is to improve the construction of the chair in the manner of applying an insert thereto to provide a more practical manufacture thereof and to conform more readily to standard chair designs.

Another object of the invention is to improve the structure of the resilient insert so as to adapt this for use in conventional chairs without material modification thereof nor weakening of the chair structure and yet will provide greater comfort in use due to the resilient nature of the insert applied thereto.

These objects may be accomplished according to certain embodiments of the invention by the provision of resilient inserts in one or more of the back rails and legs of the chair, or any of these, according to the points of the structure where yielding action may be desired. Each insert comprises a sheet or strip of yieldable material interposed between opposed aligned sections of the chair and securely fastened in place as an integral part thereof. Additional fastening means extends lengthwise of each part in overlapping relation with the adjacent sections thereof for securing the parts together in yieldable fashion. Such securing means may comprise strips of elastic material, metal springs, or a combination thereof, securely anchored to the adjacent chair parts and extending transversely of the strip or sheet interposed between the parts of the chair at the joint.

Certain embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

.Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional form of chair, showing the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of one of the back rails showing the resilient joint therein;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof at right angles to Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section therethrough, on the line 4—4.in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a. rear elevation, of the back rail showing a modified form of resilient joint therein;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section therethrough on the line 7—Ί in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an elevation of one of the chair legs showing 5 a resilient joint therein;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section therethrough; and

Fig. 10 is a cross-section therethrough on the line 18—10 in Fig. 8.

The invention is shown as applied to a straight-back 10 chair, such as a dining chair, office chair, and the like, provided with a seat 1, front and back legs 2 and 3, respectively, and with upright back rails 4 which support the back structure designated generally at 5. In this embodiment, the back rails 4 are shown as aligned 15 with the back legs 3, forming continuations thereof, although these may be separate if desired.

At desired points in the chair, I prefer to incorporate yieldable or resilient inserts to provide for yielding thereof in response to the shifting of the body in the chair 20 for greater ease and comfort. These inserts may be applied to the back, shown in Figs. 1 to 7, or to the legs, shown in Figs. 8 to 10, or to both the back and the legs in a single chair, according to the desire of the manufacturer.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, each resilient insert is formed by a block or sheet of relatively soft rubber, shown at 6, which has sufficient yieldability to flow in response to relative movement of the respective chair parts connected therewith. This will 30 allow the desired yielding action, but the amount of free flow will depend upon the character of the chair and the use to which the insert is applied, as in the back or in the leg of the chair, or other portions thereof.

The block or sheet 6 of soft cushioning material, such 35 as soft rubber, is interposed between aligned sections of the chair, such as the adjacent ends of portions of the. back rails 4. The block 6 may be secured adhesively to the end faces of the rail sections, although such securing is not essential in the embodiment illustrated because the parts will be retained securely by the additional portions of the yieldable insert as shown.

The adjacent sections of the back rail 4 have recesses 7 formed therein and extending lengthwise from the end faces 8 thereof that abut against the block 6. Strips 9 45 of resilient material are fitted into the recesses 7 overlapping the block 6 and the joint between the adjacent sections of the back rail 4. These strips 9 preferably are formed also of soft cushioning material, such as soft rubber.

₅₀ Overlapping the strips 9 on the front and back faces of each rail 4, are metal leaf springs 10 which are anchored in place by pins 11 extending therethrough and through the back rail, as will be apparent from Fig. 4.

This form of joint may be applied quickly and easily to the back jails or other portions of the chair, with little modification of the chair structure and without detracting from the appearance thereof, since it is possible to give an ornamental configuration to the leaf springs 10 and to 60 the position and character of the pins 11 that will add attractiveness to. the chair back. Thus the resilient insert may be applied to conventional chairs with little increase in the cost of manufacture, and without detracting from the appearance thereof or weakening it since 65 the structure provides a sturdy connection between the chair parts and will, in fact, provide greater strength and durability thereto. At the same time, this insert makes it possible to provide greater ease for the user of the chair due to the yielding of the back portion thereof, 70 especially in a forward and backward direction according to the disposition of the parts of the cushion, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4.

3,732,008 tageous in providing a vertical cushioning action for these portions of the chair. Moreover, where the forms shown in Figs. 5 to 7, or 8 to 10, are used in the chair back, above the seat level, and transverse yielding action 5 is desired therein, the pin 17 or 24 should be of resilient material such as spring steel, rubber or the like, which will yield transversely as a result of the application of pressure thereto.

The use of relatively soft rubber as the cushioning 10 element will provide a material cushioning action for a long period of time, because it does not wear appreciably in service. On the other hand, metal springs alone, if used to provide the yielding action in the chair, do give way in service and result in the possibility of a squeak 15 developing, which would be annoying and unsatisfactory, but where metal is used, it supplements the cushioning action of the rubber and the latter is depended upon for cushioning the chair parts.

While the invention has been illustrated in certain ²⁰ embodiments, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.