, Sept-21,1954
`
`.
`
`H- POLLACK ETAL
`
`2,689,598
`
`Filed Oct. 26, 1951
`
`2 Sheets-Sheet l
`
`CONVERTIBLE ARTICLE OF FURNITURE ‘
`
`FIG. 2.
`
`INVENTORS
`HYMA/V POLLACK
`DAV/D BRA/VD
`
`' ATTORNEY
`
`J Squared, Inc. – Ex. 1005, p. 1
`
`

`
`Sept. 21, 1954
`
`H. POLLACK ‘ET AL
`CONVERTIBLE ARTICLE OF FURNITURE
`
`I
`
`2,689,598
`
`Filed on. 26. B51
`
`2 Sheets-Sheet 2.‘
`
`' INVEIVmRS
`HYMAN POLLACK
`DA V50 BRA/VD
`
`ATTORNEY
`
`Ex. 1005, p. 2
`
`

`
`Patented Sept. 21, 1954
`
`2,689,598
`
`, UNITED STATES PATENT ‘OFFICE,
`2,689,598
`CONVERTIBLE ARTICLE OF FURNITURE
`Hyman Pollack, Brooklyn, and David Brand,
`Bronx, N. Y.
`Application October 26, 1951, Serial No. 253,386
`'1 Claims. (01. 155-40)
`
`2
`structures in assembled relation, and supporting,
`as a high chair, the rocker-chair component of
`our invention.
`'
`Figure 2 is a sectional plan of Fig. 1 taken
`along line 2-2;
`Figure 3 is a fragmentary section of Fig. 1
`taken along line 3—3, thereleasable stop and
`locking means for the upper and lower sections
`being shown in locked position;
`,
`Figure 4 is a view like Fig. 3, but with the stop
`and locking member in retracted position;
`Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section
`of Fig. 2 taken along line 5-5, the rear rocker
`brake-member being shown in full lines in its
`inoperative position, and in dot-dash lines in its
`operative position;
`Figure 6 is a fragmentary bottom view of Fig. 5.
`Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of the
`rocker-chair member shown in a rocking posi
`tion, a portion being removed for clarity;
`Figure 8 is a view like Fig. 7, the rocker-chair
`member being shown in its rearwardly inclined
`position with the rear flat braking portion in full
`engagement with the ?oor ;
`V
`Figure 9 is a view like Figs. 7 and 8, but show
`ing the rocker-chair member in its forwardly dis
`posed position, with the front ?at braking por
`tion in full engagement with the floor;
`Figure 10 is another fragmentary side elevation
`of the rocker-chair member, showing the rear
`rocker stop in engagement with the floor; and
`Figure 11 is a front view of the structure of
`Fig. 10, showing the intermediate or auxiliary
`v rocker stop in operative positions.
`As in the case of our above-mentioned previous
`invention, the device comprises an understructure
`in interlocking engagement with a superstruc
`ture. The understructure is generally designated
`as l5, and the superstructure is generally desig
`nated as IS. The said understructure is substan
`tially similar in construction to the correspond
`ing part described in our said previous patent
`application; but the superstructure includes cer
`‘ tain important differences which will hereinafter
`be more speci?cally pointed out. Su?ice it to say,
`45
`for the present, that the superstructure includes
`a rocker-chair member I‘! which is mounted upon
`the supporting structure I8, thereby presenting a
`device which, in its assembled form, constitutes a
`high chair. However, the rocker-chair member
`I‘! together with its supporting structure [8 may,
`as will hereinafter be explained, be removed from
`the understructure l5, and employed either as a
`rocking chair, or as a conventional stable or sta
`tionary chair.
`
`1
`This invention relates to convertible articles of
`furniture, more particularly to a combination of
`an understructure and a removable superstruc
`ture capable of serving as a chair, this being a
`continuation-in-part of our application ?led April
`25, 1950, Serial No. 157,894, now Patent No.
`2,64%,506, dated July 7, 1953.
`In our said previous application, as well as in
`certain commercial forms of convertible furniture
`articles of this category, the upper component is
`adapted to serve as a stationary chair, both when
`in assembled relation to the device, and when op
`eratively detached therefrom. It is within the
`contemplation of our present invention to provide
`a structure of this class in which the upper compo
`nent is capable of various uses, such as a high chair
`when operatively attached to the device, or either
`a stationary chair or a rocker when used as a
`separate and independent member. And in this
`aspect of our invention, it is an object to enable
`the said improved upper chair component to be
`operatively employable with the understructure
`of our said prior invention, with all the advan
`tages thereof intact, without in anyway inter
`fering with the table of our said prior invention,
`but with all the advantages of having as an upper
`detachable component a chair unit that can se
`lectively be used either as a rocker or a stationary
`chair.
`It is another object of our invention to present
`a chair member having a base portion comprising
`two rocker bar elements for rockable engagement
`with the floor, and yet which can ?rmly and im
`movably be attached to the understructure.
`Still another object of our invention is the pro
`vision of a rocker chair member, particularly
`adapted for a convertible article of furniture,
`having a rocker base portion shaped to permit a
`limited rocking movement, and to effect a brak
`ing action for both forward and rearward move
`ments, so as to provide a rocking chair that is
`safe for children.
`It is further within our contemplation to pro
`vide positive rocker brake meansfwhereby the
`device can be readily transformed from a rocker
`to a stable chair.
`‘
`And it is our object to enable the above-stated
`objectives to be accomplished by a simple and
`readily fabricated device.
`Other objects, features and advantages will ap
`pear from the drawings and the description here
`inafter given.
`‘
`Referring to the drawings,
`Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form
`of our invention showing the under and super
`
`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`he
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`50
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`55
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`Ex. 1005, p. 3
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`2,689,598
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`10
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`3
`The understructure comprises two inverted
`U-shaped leg members l9 and 2!}, member l9
`consisting of front leg 2!, rear leg 22 and lateral
`connecting bar 23; and leg member 25 consists of
`front leg 24, rear leg 25 and lateral connecting
`bar 26. Attached to the inner surfaces of leg
`members it and 2c are the rail members gen
`erally designated as 27 and 28 containing the
`parallel rails 29 and 3B, respectively, joined by the
`rear bar 3!, the forward portions of said rail
`members containing the hand-gripping loop-s 32
`and 33, respectively. Both of these loops con-
`tain downwardly extending arcuate sections 3151
`and rearwardly extending lower sections 35.
`As in the case of our said prior invention, it is
`preferred that the lateral bars 23 and 25 of the
`leg members be disposed above the rails 23 and
`39, thereby providing lateral supports against
`which the superstructure can slidably move when
`being operatively assembled thereon.
`The said supporting member I3 of the super
`structure contains the two base rocker bars 36
`and 3'! connected together by the rear connecting
`bar 33, the forward portions of the said rocker
`bars being joined to the respective hand gripping
`portions 39 andv as, each of these having the loops
`di and the upper inwardly extending supports 42
`which support they chair [6 by suitable fasteners
`44.
`The device is further provided with combina
`tion stop and lock means similar to that de
`scribed in our prior application, for stopping the
`forward or rearward movement of the super
`structure upon the understructure, and releasably
`looking it in said predetermined assembled posi- '
`tion. Said means, in the preferred form illus
`trated (Figures 3 and Li), comprises an elongated
`element 55 extending thrcughthe rail 29 and pro
`portioneds to enter the aperture 46 in the forward
`flat portion 13? (see also Fig. 7) of the rocker bar
`36. Disposed below and in abutting engagement
`with the head of element 45'is the spring 48 p0
`sitioned within the rail 2'3--the lower portion of
`the element 655 having ?xedly mounted thereon
`the cam knob t6 containing thereon the cam sur
`face 56. In the position shown in Fig. 4, the
`highest point of the cam surface is in- engage
`ment with the underside‘of rail 29, thereby caus
`ing» a downward retraction of element 135- and its
`withdrawal from aperture 46;
`In this position, >
`the superstructure can readily be made to slide
`over the rail. Upon a rotation of the knob 49
`through an angleof 96°, thelowest portion of the
`cam surface 55 comes into engagement with the
`underside of rail 23-, thereby permitting the lock
`ing' element 655 to- enter the aperture 46, and effect
`anv interlocking of the rail 29 and rocker bar 36,
`substantially in the manner described in our
`previousv application; When‘ this occurs, it is ob
`vious that the superstructure cannot move rela
`tive to the understructure- unless the engaged
`parts are released by operatively manipulating
`the knob 129. The arrangement is hence‘ such
`that, as in the case of our prior invention, the
`hands are‘ left free to grasp the loops 3| and 32
`of the superstructure and manipulate it slidably
`upon the understructure, since the cam knob 49‘
`will frictionally maintain itself in its unlocked
`position after it had been moved thereto.
`Rotatably attached to the'rear connecting bar
`38 of the rocker-chair member is the rear rocker
`brake stop 5!, this device being rotatable, by a
`simple manual manipulation, between its upper
`inoperative position shown in full lines in Fig.5
`and also in Figs. 1, 2, '7, 8 and 9, andits lower
`
`4
`operative or rocker-braking position shown in
`dot-dash lines in Fig. 5 and also in Figs. 10 and 11.
`In the preferred structure of said stop 5 l , a tube
`52 is slidably and rotatably mounted on a shaft
`53 extending through the diametrically opposite
`holes 54 and 55 in connecting bar 38, and the hole
`56 in the cam member 51. The cam member 57
`is in ?xed engagement with the said bar 38, and
`has a concave cam surface
`proportioned to
`receive the said tube 52- and maintain it sub
`stantially normal to bar 38. Mounted over the
`shaft 53 is the spring 59 which is in abutment
`with cross-pin 80, thereby urging the tube 52 into
`frictional engagement with said cam surface 58.
`The operative end of the tube contains the rub
`ber base cap 6| for engagement with the ?oor,
`the opposite end containing the removable plug
`62.
`The arrangement is hence such that the said
`stop member 5| may assume one of two positions,
`as aforesaid—either the illustrated upright inop
`erative position or the downwardly-extending
`operative, position, since the said concave cam
`surface 58 permits only such two positionings of
`the stop member—thereby readily enabling the
`rocker-chair member to be quickly converted from
`a rocker to a stable chair, or vice versa, as will
`more clearly hereinafter appear.
`The rocker bars 36' and. 37 are each specially
`shaped so. as to provide three main sections, the
`aforesaid ?at forward braking section til, the rear
`?at braking section '63 and the intermediate ar
`cuate rocking section 54. The functions of these
`sections will hereinbelow be described.
`There is also an intermediate or auxiliary
`rocker stop 65 comprising a substantially
`U-shaped rod with lateral legs 66 and 61 con
`nected by the base bar E8, the said lateral legs
`having at their extremities the outwardly dis
`posed horizontal extensions 69 and lil, respec
`tively, rotatably supported by the brackets "H
`and 72, respectively, which are attached to the
`underside of seat '15. The said arms 69 and 13
`contain the terminal portions 73 and ‘M. The
`said auxiliary stop can accordingly be rotatably
`manipulated from the inoperative position shown
`in Fig. 9, for example, to the operative position
`shown in Figures 10 and 11. In the said in
`operative position the legs 66 and '67 and the
`connecting bar 69 are disposed against the un
`derside of the seat 15, the terminal portions 13
`and 14 extending downwardly, as clearly indi
`catedv in Fig. 9. When it is desired to bring the
`said auxiliary stop 65 into its operative position,
`the said terminal portions 73 and 74 are moved
`rearwardly, whereupon the legs 66 and. 61, to
`gether with the connecting base bar 68 are
`brought downwardly so that said base bar is in
`engagement with the ?oor.
`In opera-tively assembling the superstructure
`16 upon the understructure i5‘, the loops M of
`the hand-gripping portions 39 and 40 are'grasped
`with both hands, and the rocker bars 36 and
`31 placed upon the‘ rails 23 and 3!] of- the under
`structure, the superstructure being slid rear
`wardly until it is brought to a stop by the re
`leasable locking element 45, hereinabove de
`scribed. In the preferred structure illustrated,
`the lateral bars 23 and 26- of the'understructure
`are, as aforesaid, spaced above and laterally out
`wardly with respect to- the said rails 29 and 39,
`the said lateral bars 23 and 26 having mountedv
`thereon the two inwardly extending guiding ele
`ments 16' and 11, respectively, in the manner of
`our previously referred to invention. These ele
`751
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`60
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`70
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`Ex. 1005, p. 4
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`

`
`5
`ments are preferably, although not necessarily,
`cylindrical members, which members are in
`spaced relation to and above the corresponding
`rails 29 and 30. The distance between element
`'16 and rail 29, and between element 11 and rail
`30, is preferably such as to permit the forward
`?at portions 47 of the rocker bars 36 and 31
`to slidably move between the corresponding guid
`ing elements and rails, substantially in the man
`ner of the structure described in our said prior
`application.
`When the device is assembled in the manner
`above described, a high-chair structure is pre~
`sented wherein the chair It‘ ‘is maintained in
`stationary and stable condition, in view of the
`fact that the flat forward brake sections 41 of
`the rocker bars 36 and 37 are in full engagement»
`with the correspondingly positioned rails 29 and
`30, and locked in said position in the manner
`aforesaid. When it is desired to remove the su
`perstructure, the cam knob 50 is operatively ro
`tated to retract the locking element 45, in the
`manner above described, and the superstructure
`then slid forwardly for placement upon the floor.
`As appears from Figs. 7 to 11, there are various
`positions that can be assumed by said rocker
`chair member. In the position shown in Fig.
`'7, the rocker bars 36 and 31 have their arcuate
`intermediate or rocker portions 64 resting upon
`the ?oor, the seat 15, which is parallel to the
`forward flat portions 41, being ‘tilted rearwardly,
`which is most desirable for rocking chairs. Due
`to the comparatively short length of said arcuate
`portions 34, the rocking motion is limited to the
`angle A (Fig. 7), said angle being de?ned by the
`forward and rear limits ‘I8 and 19 of arcuate
`rocker portions 64. Upon a rearward rocking
`motion, the ?at rear portions 63 of the rocker
`bars come into full engagement with the ?oor
`86, as indicated in Fig. 8, such engagement being
`in effect a braking action and therefore causing
`a discontinuance of the rearward rocking move
`ment, particularly‘because there are no arcs or
`curved positions in sections 63. Similarly, upon
`a forward rocking movement, the front flat sec
`tion 4? comes into full engagement with the floor
`86, as clearly shown in Fig. 9, thereby effecting
`a similar braking action upon the forward rock
`ing movement of the device.
`It is thus apparent that the rocker bars 36
`and 3‘! are so shaped as to permit a rocking move
`ment, but of a limited degree, thereby enabling
`the device to be safely used by a child._ Never
`theless, the shapé of each of said rocker bars is
`such as to enable the chair to be ?rmly and im
`mov'ably secured to the understructure, in'the
`manner aforesaid, to provide a safe and secure
`high chair arrangement.
`Should it be desired to convert the rocker into
`a stationary chair, the stop member 5| is oper
`atively swung downwardly to the position shown
`in Figs, 10 and 11, whereupon the terminal 6|
`comes into engagement with the ?oor. Since the
`said terminal is, as clearly appears from the
`drawing, spaced rearwardly from the ?at for
`ward section 4'! and in the same plane with the
`underside thereof, it is apparent that the chair
`is now in a stable position. And in the event
`it is desired to create a more secure braking
`action against rocking, the‘ said auxiliary stop
`65 is operatively swung downwardly to the po
`sitions shown in Figs. 10 and 11, whereby the
`terminal Bl, the base bar 68 of member 65, and
`the bottom of the forward ?at section 41, all
`being in the same plane, are simultaneously in
`
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`60
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`65
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`75
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`2,689,598
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`6
`engagement with floor 8!}. It is of course obvious
`that stops 5! and 65 can be either separately or
`combinatively used as stop means.
`The structure described above, while substan
`tially similar to the invention of our ?rst-?led
`application above mentioned presents certain
`improvements thereover, particularly in the form
`of the said novel rocker-chair member. Yet it
`is apparent that the said rocker-chair component
`can be employed, not merely as an independent
`unit, but also together with the understructure
`without interfering with any of the advantages
`of the invention set forth in the parent applica
`tion.
`In the above description, the invention has
`been disclosed merely by way of example and in
`preferred manner; but obviously many variations
`and modi?cations may be made therein. It is
`to be understood, therefore, that the invention
`is not limited to any speci?c form or manner
`of practicing same, except insofar as such limita
`tions are speci?ed in the appended claims.
`We claim:
`1. In a convertible article of furniture, an un
`derstructure and a superstructure removably sup
`ported thereby; the said understructure having
`leg members, two parallel rail members, and rela
`tively short guiding elements spaced above and
`disposed over a minor fractional portion of said
`rail members; the superstructure comprising a‘
`rocker-chair member having a seat portion and
`a supporting member. for the seat portion, the
`said supporting member containing two spaced
`rocker bars each having an arcuate rocking sec
`tion, said rocker bars being slidably disposed
`upon said rail members and in underlying slid
`able engagement with said guiding elements, por
`tions of said rocker bars being out of engage
`ment with said rail- members and said guiding
`elements.
`2. In a convertible article of furniture, an un
`derstructure and a superstructure removably sup
`ported thereby; the said understructure having
`leg members and two spaced rail members; the
`superstructure comprising a rocker-chair member
`having a seat portion and a supporting member
`for the seat portion, the said supporting member
`containing two spaced rocker bars each having
`an arcuate rocking section and a substantially
`straight section, said rocker bars being slidably
`disposed upon said rail members; and locking
`means releasably securing the said straight sec
`tion of one of said rocker bars to the underlying
`rail, portions of said rocker bars being out of
`engagement with said rail members.
`3. In a convertible article of furniture, the
`combination according to claim 2, characterized
`by the rail members having straight sections, the
`said rocker bars being of tubular con?guration,
`the straight section of at least one of said rocker
`bars having an apertured portion disposed over
`the straight section of the underlying rail, the
`said locking means having a retractable locking
`element supported by said underlying rail and
`adapted to extend into said apertured portion.
`4. In a convertible article of furniture, an un
`derstructure and a superstructure removably sup
`ported thereby; the said understructure having
`leg members and two spaced rail members; the
`superstructure comprising a rocker-chair mem
`ber having a seat portion and a supporting mem
`ber for the seat portion, the said supporting
`member containing two spaced rocker bars each
`having a forward and a rear straight braking
`section and an intermediate arcuate rocking sec
`
`Ex. 1005, p. 5
`
`

`
`2,689,598
`
`10
`
`15
`
`7
`tion, said rocker bars being slidably disposed upon
`said, rail" members, said rail members containing
`straight sections; and locking means on at least
`one of the straight sections of said. rails releas
`ably securing thereto‘ one. of. said straight brak»
`ing sections, whereby the said straight braking
`section will be maintained in contact with the
`straight section of the underlying rail and the
`rocker member held against movement, portions
`of said. rocker bars: being out of engagement with
`said rail members.
`5.111 a convertible article of furniture, an un~
`derstructure and a superstructure removably sup
`ported thereby; the said understructure having
`leg members‘ and two spaced rail members; the
`superstructure comprising a rocker-chair mem
`ber having a‘ seat'porti'on and a: supporting mem'»
`ber for the seat portion, the said- supporting
`member containing two spaced rocker bars and
`a rear connecting bar therebetween, each of said
`rocker bars having‘ an. arcuate rocking section
`and a substantially straight front braking sec
`tion, said rocker bars being slidably disposed
`upon said rail members; and. a rear rocker brake
`stop rotatably mounted upon said connecting bar,
`said stop being movable to an operative braking
`position in which the base of the stop is adapted
`for engagement with the ?oor, the length of the
`said stop being such that when it is in said
`braking position the base of the stop is in the
`same plane as the said front braking section,
`portions of said rocker bars being out of engage
`ment with said rail members when said stop is
`in said braking position.
`6. In a convertible article of furniture, on unu ,
`derstructure and a superstructure removably sup
`ported thereby; the said understructure having
`leg members and two spaced rail members; the
`superstructure comprising a rocker-chair mem
`ber ‘having a seat portion and a'supporting mem
`ber for the seat portion, the said supporting
`members containing two spaced rocker bars and
`a rear connecting bar therebetween, each of said
`rocker bars having an arcuate rocking section
`and a substantially straight front braking sec-
`tion, said rail members containing straight sec
`tions thereon, said rocker bars being slidabiy dis
`posed upon said rail members, said front braking
`sections being engageable along the length
`thereof with the straight sections of said rail
`members; and a rear rocker brake stop rotat
`ably mounted upon said rear connecting bar, said
`stop being movable between an inoperative and
`an operative position, the stop having a base
`
`8?
`which is inthe same plane as the: said front brak~
`ing sectionsv when the stop. is in said operative
`position, portions of said rocker bars to the rear
`of' said’ front braking‘ sections being out of en
`gagement with said rail members when said stop
`is in said. operative position.
`7.. In a convertible article of furniture, an un
`derstructure and. asuperstructure removably sup
`ported thereby; the said understructure having
`leg. members and two. spaced rail members; the
`superstructure comprising a rocker-chair mem
`ber'havingw a seat. portion and a supporting mem
`be]: for the seat portion, the said. supporting
`members containing two spaced‘- rocker bars and
`a rear‘ connecting bar'therebetween, each of said
`rocker bars having an arcuate rocking section
`and. a substantially straight front braking sec
`tion, said rail members containing straight sec
`tions. thereon, said: rocker bars being slidably dis
`posed upon said raiL members; said front braking.
`sections'being'engageab'le along the length there
`of‘ with the straight sections of said rail mem
`here; a rear rocker brake stop rotatably mounted
`upon, said rear‘ connecting bar; and an auxiliary
`rocker stop pivotally mounted on‘ the underside
`of said seat portion, said stops being movable
`to predetermined operative braking positions,
`both of said stops having base portions which
`are in the same plane. as the said front braking
`sections when the stops are in their‘said opera
`tive positions, portions of said. rocker bars to the
`rear of saidfront brakingv sections: being out of
`engagement with said rail members when both of
`said stops are in their said operative positions.
`
`30
`
`'
`
`Number
`195,390
`214,297
`501,149
`590,071
`794,461
`1,138,270
`1,303,994
`1,914,473
`2,509,972
`2,516,774
`2,541,664
`
`References Cited in the ?le of this- patent
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`Name
`Date
`Pease ____________ _. Sept. 18, 1877
`Higgins _________ __ Apr. 15, 1879
`Lieber ___________ __ July 11, 1893
`Oldenbusch _____ __ Sept. 14, 1897
`Mackey __________ __ July 11, 1905
`Ziegler. et al. ______ _. May 4, 1915
`Ulrnann _________ __ May 20, 1919
`Wilson _________ __ June 20, 1933
`Gottfried ________ __ May'30, 1950
`Gottfried _______ __ July 25, 1950
`Pollack et aI. ____ __ Feb. 13, 1951
`QTHER REFERENCES
`Stroll-O-C‘hair Pamphlet, published by
`Baby Carriage Manufacturing Qompany.
`
`Rex
`
`Ex. 1005, p. 6