Untitled record

(Application filed June 23, 1898.)

Patented Dec. 6, 1898.

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THE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON. 0. C.

United States Patent Office.

JOSEPH L. CHAPMAN, OF HADDONFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM HARRY MATTSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING STOOL.

SPECIFICATION· forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,476, dated December 6, 1898.

Application filed June 23,1898. Serial No, 684,214, (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Joseph L. Chapman, a citizen of the United States, residing at Haddonfield, in the county of Camden, State 5 of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Stools,which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

My invention consists of a stool which has io its legs constructed of telescopic form, so as to be increased in length when service of the stool is required and to be folded or reduced for convenience in carrying, storing, packing, or handling the same, said legs having 15 ears connected with them, the same receiving journals on a central block, whereby the legs are not pierced for said journals, and their strength is accordingly preserved, the ears being also provided with screws for the 20 legs extended inoperative position and with means for preventing improper separation of the same.

Figures 1 and 2 represent perspective views of a folding stool embodying my invention, 25 the same being respectively in unfolded and folded condition. Fig. 3 represents a horizontal section of a portion on an enlarged scale. Figs. 4, 6, and 7 represent longitudinal sections of portions on an enlarged scale. 30 Fig. 5 represents a side elevation of the stool in partially-folded condition.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates 35 legs of the stool, the same having secured to their sides the ears B, through each of which is passed a journal C, the several journals radiating from a central block D, whereby the legs are adapted to open, as in Fig. 1, or 40 be folded, as in Fig. 2, after the.manner of a tripod, the legs thus not being pierced to receive said journals, so that their strength is preserved. The block, journals, and eyes form a strong support for the legs when in 45 operative position, said legs crossing and providing a broad base, as most clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The legs are formed of sections E and F, fitted to each other telescopically, the section F being adapted to be with50 drawn from the sections E and form upward extensions thereof,thus increasingthe lengths of the legs. The lower portions of the sections F are provided with spring-catches G, which when pressed in occupy the recesses H in said sections F, whereby the latter may 55 be folded into the sections E, thus reducing the lengths of each pair of sections practically to that of a single section E. When, however, the sections F are extended or drawn out, the noses of the catches G engage with 60 the upper edge of the sections E and retain said sections in their operative position.

In order to limit the outward extensions of the section F, the same is provided with the longitudinally-extending grooves J, into 65 which are received the points of the screws K, which pass through the .sections F, and in the present case also through portions of the ears B and enter said grooves, so that the lower ends of the grooves form stops which 70 abut against the screws K, and thus limit the outward motion of the sections F, as will be most plainly seen in Fig. 4.

L designates the seat, which-is formed of suitable fabric or other flexible or pliable 75 material, from the sides of which depend the skirts or flanges M, which, with the seat, form pockets at the corner of the latter, said pockets receiving the upper ends of the legs A, or in the present case the upper ends of the sec- 80 tions F of said legs, so that the portions of the skirt will be allowed to overlap the same and receive the strain or weight on the seat when the same is occupied, by which provision the seat is enabled to endure the strain 85 to which it is subjected and relieves the upper ends of the seat of strain directly at its corners. In order to prevent upward displacement of the said skirts from the legs, nails or screws N are passed through the 90 seat into the tops of the legs, and washers P may be employed for contact at the heads of said nails. The upper ends of the legs may be reinforced by collars Q around the places occupied by the shanks of said nails. In or- 95 der to impart the proper fit to the skirts, so as to embrace the legs, the corners of the seat are cut with gores R, which are overlapped and close the corners of the skirts and increase the strength of the same. 100

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It will be seen that when the catches G are pressed in the sections F of the legs may be moved into the sections E thereof and the parts of the seat fold together. The legs as 5 shortened may now be folded together, thus forming a compact bundle, (shown in Fig. 2,) or, as in Fig. 5, the legs may first be folded, thus folding the seat between the upper ends of the sections F, after which the catches G i o are pressed in and the sections F folded into the sections E, thus again producing the effect shown in Fig. 2, placing the entire stool in compact condition, occupying small space, convenient for carrying, packing, storage, &amp;c.