US2564762A - Coin-controlled time controlled chair - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 21, 1951 B. o. HOWARD ET AL 2,564,762

COIN CONTROLLED TIME CONTROLLED CHAIR Filed Aug. 24, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l [N vav r005 BEN O. H OWAPD MARSHALL 5. NEHL Haze/5, Mic/4, Fos TE? d-hhee/s WAX/ Aug. 21, 1951 B. O. HOWARD ET AL COIN CONTROLLED TIME CONTROLLED CHAIR Filed Aug. 24, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOPS BEN O. HOW/4P0 MqasHmLfiA sqL g- 21, 1951 5. o. HOWARD ET AL 2,564,762

COIN CONTROLLED TIME CONTROLLED CHAIR Filed Aug. 24, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOES 7 BEN 0. How/7P0 5y MHESHALL 5. NEAL Foe THE FZQM ATmQ/VE v5 A g- 21, 1951 B. o. HOWARD ET AL 2,564,762

COIN CONTROLLED TIME CONTROLLED CHAIR Filed Aug. 24, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 [N VEN TOPS EE/v O. Horvneo MflPSH/QLL 6. NEAL Hazy/s A756 F057": Hype/5 FM 7?! HEM HTTOENEYS' Patented Aug. 21, 195i OFFICE 2,564,762 COIN-CONTROLLED TIME CONTROLLED CHAIR;

I Bar-o: Howard; Ito's l ng S. Neal, South Pasaden and Marshall a; Calif.

Application Auzust'24, 1945-, Serial No. 612,370 39 claims (01; 15 5:1611) This invention relates to seating structure s and more par'ticularly to a novel co'incontrolled and time-controlled chair oriotheriseating device adapted to be n'iadeavailable upon pur chase of u'sefor' a given time; The principal object 5 of'the' invention isto provide seating structures which may be installed in public'waiting rooms, such as those found m railroad and air termi nals'; where the'trave lling public is frequently required to wait for"considerabldpei iods of time.

As "eemmomy employed at" present, seating; accommodations in waiting rooms of the type in; dicated are not particularly comfortable, and this disadvantage isparticiilarlyevident to t traveller when he is redu'ird'to wait for amattero'f hours. a

It is therefore'another object of the invention: to: provide chairs or otli'efseating constructions which will'be comfortable when used for appre'; ciable periods of time, and also to rovi e in; connection with such seating accommodations me'ans requiring the user to purchase use for desired periods of time whereby'th'e extra cost of providing such more desirable accommodations may beme't'. v v r Another object of the invention is to provide inconnection with seating structures of' the indicated type meansfor limitingthe tiinlof oc'Q cupancy' by a'user'to that time for which he "was paid. 7 Y

An'addi'tionaI object of the" inventionfis; to provide" in a chair construction, time-selecting meansof such nature that aprospectiveuser" may purchase initially any desired period of time, within reasonable limits; and "by whichhema'y' also" at any timeduringth'e purchased period introduce additional coins and purchase useio'r" an extended length of time. t

It is'a still furtherobject of the nave-mien to provide means by which the user of a chairaccording'to" this invention may adjust its position at will, and also to providem'eans' bywh'ich'the user, when desiring to leavehis seat for an interval during the purchased time peneamay' move signalling means into position to indicate to othe'rsthat the seat'has been engaged;

Another object of'thej'invention is to providf means for automatically closing or obstructing a seat when the purchased time interval has elapsed or when an'occupant has intentionally" abandoned his seat an appreciable time before thepurchased time'interval hasel'ap'sed, and a: further object is to'provide'means' a seat stru'c'" ture to Warn an occupant and, in meet; to eject the occupant when" the" purchased time interval has-elapsed.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a chair construction in which a chair back is empolyed as a controllingagentforyarious functions of the device, and another specific object of the invention is to employ a seat of a chair as means to control certain functions of sd v pein a i. Various aspects and features of the invention are found in a broad comfortable chair provided i a eat a havinga 9 m a a ts it li 'l ed or l w r v o t e s a o ose the Chair and strustt at, the cha a so her: ing broad oom-fortable mms by which the chair bacli'ispos'itioned when the chair isclosed; the e e t 9 PM 9 3 a epsmii s va qu h n fia an e back cqn eali and a venting operation of various mechanisinswhen in dliosrd po In a Dr ie ed. emb im nt h v chair arms are adapted to serveashousings for many of the mechanisms. Means are als o prov'i'dedtolock the chair backin its closed position and in various adjusted upright or operative ppsiti on'sl' Other means employed are: coin-con: trolled means and' time-selectingmeansto release the locking means so that the chairback maybe raised to operative service position and be permitted to remain in such position during the P r qd num r m a p e b e b e 0 1 ?.i i q u l he a k ma y, o t e Dee ative positions; timing means to v initiate closing of the chair back; when the purchased interval has la jdiam expiration of a purchased periodof time and if desired render occupancy uncomfortable as by meansof a vibrator, a buzzer, or other appropriate mechanism, or by initiation of closing of the chair back. Means which the chair may be opened by a key, as when required for service by an attendant.

objects of the invention andifeatures ofnoiz'e'lty involved inthe construction will be- 'fe io se ski l d ,in the ar u on; accompanying drawings and reference tolthe the following specification wherein one embodirriento'f ourinvention is disclosed for the purposeof illustration. I

figsii s Fig.1} lis a perspective view showing a chair constructed according to the present invention back lowered into closed or inoperative position, ready however to be released either by coinactuati on or by a special key; 7 v

Fig; 2 is a perspective view showingthe chair ba k' elevated so that the chair is ready for oci ah 'v;

Fig. Bis a side elevation corresponding with means to warn an occupant of the P e e b y w ll b p q id id b 3 the perspective view of Fig. 2, parts being broken away to show the relationshi of the mechanism which retains the chair back and foot rest in operative positions;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation showing the chair in operative condition, parts being broken away, and showing a signaling device in operative position to show that the open chair has been engaged for use;

Fig. 5 is an elevational detail of the signaling device shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the side of the chair opposite from that shown in Fig. 3, parts being broken away to show normally enclosed structures, this view disclosing a coin controlled time-selecting mechanism;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged elevational detail showing a portion of a coin controlled actuating lever of the time-selecting mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional detail as erally indicated by the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged elevational detail of the coin controlled lever of Figs. 6 and 7;

Figs. 10 and 11 are enlarged details of a portion of the mechanism of Fig. 9 and respectively showing positions thereof for controlling movement of a coin controlled lever in opposite directions whereby to prevent a repeating or pumping movement;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary elevational detail showing key operated means for releasing the chair back when in closed position;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary detail taken from the line l3-l3 of Fig. 12;.

Fig. 14 is principally an elevational view as indicated by the line l4l4 of Fig. 15 and showing a part of the timing mechanism which is carried in the rear compartment of the chair as indicated in Fig. 6;

' Fig. 15 is a rear elevation as indicated by the line l5-l5 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is an elevational detail taken from the line 5-46 of Fig. 15;-

Fig. 1'7 is an elevational detail taken from the line l'l-l'l of Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 is a wiring diagram of the electrical mechanism;

Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic detail through the switch arrangement in the switch box of Fig. 18;

' Fig. 20 is chiefly an elevational detail showing some of the mechanism of Figs. 6 and 14;

Fig. 21 is an elevational detail of a modified form of the signaling device of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 22 is a modified wiring diagram employed with the signaling device of Fig. 21.

The chair structure shown in the drawings comprises as principal parts a seat adapted to receive an occupant, a folding chair back 22 adapted to be swung from the lowered inoperative or closed position of Fig. 1 into an elevated operative or service position as seen in Figs. 2, 3, and 6, large side arms 24 which provide chambers receiving supporting framework and operating mechanisms, a housing 25 at the rear of the chair and containing timing mechanism generally designated at 2B, coin-controlled timeselecting mechanism 28 carried in the right arm of the chair, chair-back positioning mechanism 30 carried in the left arm 24 of the chair, and an electric system including an electric wiring and various electrically operated parts.

One side of the chair seat 20 is hingedly mounted upon brackets 34 carried on a framework 35 disposed within the adjacent side arm 24 and thereby carried upon an appropriate supg enporting base 36, each side arm 24 being provided with such a framework and base. In the form shown, the under side of the seat 20 is provided with a transversely extending plate 38 hinged on the brackets 34, the plate 38 having an extension 38a adapted to rest upon a compressible spring 39 and to be lifted and supported thereby when the seat 20 is vacated. The plate 38 is adapted to rest upon a bracket 40 when the seat 20 is occupied or the chair back 22 is lowered. upon the seat 20 to close the chair. The bracket 40 and a bracket 39a which supports the spring 39 are carried upon the corresponding framework 35. The under side of the supporting plate 38 has a connecting rod 4| hingedly attached thereto as by a pivot 42, the rod 4| being actuated through the seat 20 for purposes later to be described. I

In order that the chair back 22 may be readily swung between its elevated open position and its lowered closed position, its lower rearward end is fixedly mounted on a transverse shaft 44 which has its ends journaled in the framework 35 in the opposite side arms 24. Cooperating with the shaft 44 is the chair-back positioning mechanism 3|] which includes a notched disk 45 fixed to the shaft 44 and chair back 22 and provided with a series of adjusting notches 46 adapted to retain the chair back 22 selectively in an upright position or in any one of several reclining positions. The disk 45 also is provided with a notch 41 spaced from the notches 46 and adapted to retain the chair back 22 in closed position. The notches 45 and 41 are adapted to receive the adjacent end of a locking stem 48 which is under the control of a compressible positioning spring 49 normally tending toproject the stem 48 into a notch 48 or 4? when aligned therewith. The stem 48 may be an extension of the core of a solenoid 50 adapted, when energized, to withdraw the locking stem 48 from notch engaging position. The forward end of the stem 48 is connected for manual operation by an adjusting handle 5| located within a pocket 52 in the respective side arm 24 in such position as to be concealed when the chair back 22 is in lowered position and to be exposed for actuation by the chair occupant when the chair is occupied. If desired the pocket 52 may have alongside thereof a companion pocket 52a. adapted to receive various articles for storage. The handle 5| is secured on a rock shaft 53, the rock shaft 53 also carrying a lever arm 54 to which the adjacent end of the looking stem 48 is pivotally attached as by means of a conventional pin and slot connection. As later described, a key operated link 54a is connected with the lever arm 54 for key actuation of the stem 48, by a janitor or other attendant, when the chair back 22 is closed. Upon withdrawal of the stem 48 by the solenoid 50 or by a key, the chair back may be lifted to an upright position.

In each of the side arms 24 a draft link 55 is located for the dual purpose of closing the chair back 22 and of positioning foot rests 56 in accordance with various operative positions of the chair back 22. Such functions of the links 55 are accomplished by connecting the rear end of one of the links 55 to a pivot pin 51 carried by the disk 45, the rear end of the other link 55 being similarly connected to a short lever arm 44a fixed on the adjacent end of the shaft 44. Each of the links 55 is sectional and is provided with a telescopic joint 55a comprising a slotted head on a forward section, the slot 552) receiving a pin 550 on the rearward section, the forward end of the forward section of each link 55 being under the control of a strong spring 58 secured in the framework of the respective side arm 24 of the chair and tending to move the disk 45 and lever arm 44a for the purpose of drawing the chair back 22 toward the closed position of Fig. 1. When the stem 48 is withdrawn from the disk 45, the springs 58 tend to produce such a draft motion of the links 55 as to move the chair back 22 to overbalanced position past the vertical, the telescopic joints 55a then permitting the back 22 to move by gravity into closed position where the back 22 rests on the seat 20.

When opening the chair back 22, it is moved against the tension of the springs 58, and for the purpose of causing movement of the chair back 22 to a reclining position to effect corresponding elevation of the foot rests- 56, the forward ends of the links 55 are pivotally connected to the upper ends of bell cranks 60 mounted upon rock shafts 62 journaled in the adjacent framework 35 in the respective side arms 24. When the chair back 22 is in normal upright position, the telescopic joints of the links 55 are at the limit of their extension. As a result, movement of the chair back 22 to any reclining position serves to move the bell cranks 60 and elevate the foot rests 56 correspondingly.

When the chair is in its closed position as shown in Fig. 1 and a person desires to purchase use for a period of time, he proceeds to operate the timeselecting mechanism 28 by first dropping a coin of suitable denomination into the mouth of a coin slot 64 which is provided in each of a plurality of levers 65 having operating knobs 66 and adapted to receive coins of different .denominations. These levers 65 are shown as being located in the right side arm 24 of the chair, the upper portions of the levers and their knobs 66 projecting into position to render them accessible and to place the mouths of the coin slots 64 in coin receiving locations. The low ends of the levers are mounted upon a suitable pivot 65a, and the lower ends of the coin slots 64 which extend down through the levers a substantial distance are positioned to discharge into a coin box 61 carried in the forward portion of the respective arm when the respective levers are in advance position as shown in broken lines in Fig. 9.

Movement of each lever 65 is controlled by a movable latch 68 carried upon the respective lever 65 and having on a projecting end a restraining detent 68a. The latches 68 are mounted on their respective levers 65 a short distance below a slotted guide plate 69 carried in the top wall of the chair arm. Each latch 68 is mounted on its lever 65 by means of an elongated pin pivoted in brackets H carried on the sides of the respective lever 65. The end of each latch 68 opposite from its detent 68a is curved as shown in Fig. 8 and forms a stop finger 72 adapted to enter an opening 13 in the adjacent side wall of the lever 65 and in communication with the coin slot 64. Each latch 68 is engaged by a spring 14 which normally urges the detent 68a into engagement with a positioning retainer having dogs 75a to cooperate with the detent 6811. Each retainer 15 has a cam wall 76 which, when the respective levers 65 are in idle or nonoperative position, encages and holds the detent 68a in the position shown in Fig. 8 so that the curved stop finger 12 is withdrawn from the opening 13'. Connected with the latch 68 and movable therewith, is a curved supporting finger 17 which projects through the bottom of the opening 13 into position to support a coin dropped into the coin slot 64. To accommodate this supporting finger 11, openings 13 are provided at both sides of the various levers 65. When a coin is dropped into a slot 64, the parts being in relative position shown in Fig. 8, the supporting finger 11 receives the coin which assumes the position of the lower dotted circle in Fig. 7. When the prospective user grasps the knob 66 to draw the respective lever 65 forward, the coin holds the latch 68 in substantially the position of Fig. 8 so that the detent 68a will clear the dogs 15a and permit the respective lever 65 to be moved forward, that is toward the right as viewed in Figs. 6 to 9. However, should an attempt be made to move the levers 65 forward without the presence of coin upon the supporting finger 71 the spring 14 will urge the detent 68* into engagement with the nearest dog 15a, this movement being permitted by passage of the stop finger 12 into the coin slot 64. Thus, further movement of the lever 65 is prevented.

However, when a coin is in the lowermost position as indicated in Fig. '7, the respective levers: 65 may be drawn to the right by the operator, the detent 68a clearing the dog 35a, until an extension Ha on the supporting finger l1 strikes a releasing abutment il'b supported on an adjacent portion of the framework 35. The abutment 17b operating upon the extension Tia causes the supporting finger l1 and the latch 68 to be swung until the supporting finger ii is withdrawn from its position below the coin thus allowing the coin to drop into the lower portion of the slot 64 thence fall into the coin box 6?. By fixing both the supporting finger H and the latch 68 to the elongated pin i6, these elements move in unison.

In order that a purchaser of the use of the chair may be enabled to purchase time represented by several coins to be dropped into the same slot 64, an auxiliary finger i8 is provided to retain a second coin in a position indicated by the upper dotted circle in Fig. 7. This finger l8 also is fixed on the elongated pin it! and is therefore under the control of the spring '54 connected with the latch 68, whereby the finger i8 is normally held in its inactive position shown in Fig. 8. However, when the supporting finger 1'7 and the latch 63 are retracted by the coin releasing abutment ??b to release the coin on the supporting finger the auxiliary finger E5 is moved through the respective openin 13 into position under the forward portion of the upper coin, as indicated in Fig. 7, and retains the upper coin until the lever 65 movement and causes the extension "5'50. to be released. by the abutment Upon such release the spring i i restores the parts to starting position and the supporting finger if assumes its operative position in the lower portion oi the openings l3, whereupon the upper coin drops upon the fingers and is held thereby.

When a lever 65, under the control of as above described, is drawn forward, it draws a sectional drag link. 86 pivoted thereto at 86a and jointed at an intermediate point by a pivot joint 86b. The rear ends of the respective drag links 86 are connected with and positioned by the upper end of a positioning arm alt (Fig. 14), the lower end of the arm 36 being mounted by a friction joint Bid to pivot about the axis of a transverse shaft 82 mounted in suitable bearings 62a carried by the rear housing 25. The upper end of the arm 81 has pivoted thereon a pawl 83 a coin to whose upper end the drag links 80 are in turn pivotally connected through a cross pin 84 to which, or to the top of the pawl member 83, there is attached one end of a heavy return spring 84a. Whose other end is fixed to the housing 25. The pawl member 83 has a pawl 83a. adapted to engage teeth 85a on the periphery of a ratchet metering wheel 85 which is fixed on the shaft 82 and causes rotation of the later. The toothed metering wheel 85 carries on one face a switch box 86 provided with projecting actuating pins 8'1 and 88 which are adapted to be engaged by a bumper 90 carried upon a timing disk 92 driven by a shaft 93 from an electrically driven clock 96 or other appropriate timing mechanism and mounted upon a base 94a suitably carried by the rear housing 25. These parts constitute a principal portion of the timing mechanism 26.

The clock-driven shaft 93 is aligned with the shaft 82 so that the timing disk 92 and the metering wheel 95 work upon the same axis. In this manner, the bumper 90 on the disk 92 travels in the circular path described by the switch box 86. When the wheel 85 has been moved by one or more of the levers 55 and links 80, the switch box 85 will have been advanced in the direction of the arrows of Figs. 14 and 18 a distance corresponding with the time of occupancy purchased by the coin or coins deposited. The pins 81 and 88 will initially have been in contact with the bumper 90, but when the wheel 85 is moved to release the pins 81 and 88 from the bumper 90 circuits are closed by action of the pin 81, as later to be described, thereby energizing the solenoid 50 for withdrawing the locking stem lever can be returned, and whereby the lever cannot be partially returned during such stroke to cause repeated short advances of the metering wheel 85 by a series of repeating or pumping actions. This is accomplished through the medium of a nonreversing device which comprises a dog 95 pivoted on each lever '65 and under the control of a spring 96, the tip of the dog 95 being continuously urged into engagement with the teeth of a rack 91 carried on a rack bar 98 secured to adjacent framework. There is a rack bar 98 for each of the levers 65. When a lever 65 is moved forward, that is in the direction of the arrow seen in Fig. 10, the tip of its dog 95 slides over the successive teeth of its rack 91 until the last tooth is cleared. If, during the stroke of a lever 65, any attempt is made to reverse the direction, the angular position of the dog 95, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, is such that the tip of the dog binds against a corresponding tooth of the rack 9'! and blocks the return movement of the lever 65. However, when the stroke of a lever 65 has been completed so that its dog '95 clears the end tooth of its rack 81, at which time the extension lla on the supporting finger ll strikes the releasing abutment ill), the direction of the lever 65 may be reversed to that indicated in Fig. 11. This reversal occurs by reason of the fact that the rack bar 96 beyond the end of the rack 91 recedes sufficiently to provide a path for the dog 95 to swing about its pivot and change in its an- 48 from engagement with the notch 41 in the notched disk 45, thus permitting the purchaser to raise the chair back 22, and at the same time setting the clock 96 in motion whereby the shaft 93 is driven to advance the bumper 90 toward the switch box 86. The bumper 90 will overtake the switch box 86 only when the purchased interval of time has expired. At that moment, various mechanisms will be energized as also hereinafter described.

The time purchased is determined by the coin or coins introduced into one or more of the levers 65 and the movement of the respective.

levers by the purchaser. Each excursion of a lever 65 advances the metering wheel 85 by an increment corresponding with the particular lever, successive excursions of the various levers serving to advance the switch box 86 progressively ;for a total distance corresponding with the sum .of the movements of the levers 65 actuated.

The purpose of jointing the drag links 80 is to permit nonoperated links 80 to collapse partially ;about their pivots 801) when another link 80 is 'being drawn forward by its lever 65. As a result,

inactive levers 6'5 and their jointed links 80 do not interfere with the actuation of another lever 65 and its link 86, and the heavy spring 840. serves :to return all of the links 80 to starting position :when one of the levers 65 has completed its op- .erating cycle. Other flexible means such as cables might be substituted for the jointed links 85. The connecting pivots 80a for the different links 80 are located on the various levers 65 at different distances from the lever pivot 65a, so that the different levers advance the metering wheel 85 different amounts. These amounts correspond with the values of difierent coins which the various coin slots 64 are adapted to receive.

Provision is made so that a lever 65 shall be required to move continuously through a given stroke until that stroke is complete, before the gular direction. Thus, when the dog is caused travel in the opposite direction across the teeth of the rack 91, its position is thus changed as seen in Fig. 11. Here again, reverse movement of the lever 65 is prevented by the action of the dog 95 which is held to its seat against the teeth of the rack 91 by its spring 96.

Control of timing mechanism switch I00 previously under the control of the projecting pin 8i in the switch box 86 (Fig. 19) is closed by a spring IGI which was under com pression while the pin 8? was depressed. Closure of the switch I00 by its spring Sill closes a circuit from a feed line I52 to a line I03 (Fig. 18) leading to a switch I04 mounted on the inner side of one of th chair arms 24 and connected with a branch line I03a leading to the solenoid 50. The switch I04 is held in closed position for closing the circuit to the branch line I03a when the chair back 22 is closed, the side of the chair back 22 having a suitable engagement plate I04a (Fig. 6) to engage and operate the switch I04. However, when the chair back 22 is in upright open position, the switch I04 is open, being under the control of any suitable spring mechanism well understood in the art. Located alongside the switch I04 in the side of the chair arm is a companion switch I65 also under the control of the chair back 22 through the medium of the engagement plate I641. When the chair back is closed the switches I04 and I55 are concealed by it. The

branch line I03a and the solenoid 50 with a second switch I01 in the switch box 86. The switch I01 is under the control of the projecting pin 88 and of a spring I01-a which maintains the switch I01 open when the switch I is closed. The switch I01 is held closed by the pin 88 when the switch I00 is held open by the pin 81, such positions being established by the bumper 90.

Connected to the line I03 is a line I08 which leads to and energizes the clock 94 whenever the switch I00 is closed, so that the clock 94 commences to rotate the timing disk 92 as soon as the metering wheel 85 has withdrawn the switch box 86 from the bumper 90 to permit the switch I80 to be closed by its spring IOI. Connected in parallel with the solenoid 50 is a suitable warning device which is operated when the-solenoid 50 is energized. Such a warning device may be a vibrator H0 or a buzzer IIOa. or both a vibrator and a buzzer, or other desired means may be employed. The vibrator H0, as well as the buzzer II 0a, may be placed within the seat 20, as indicated in Fig. 6. In such a location the vibrator I I 0 will be readily felt by an occupant of the seat.

In addition to the vibrator H0 or buzzer NM, or in place of either or both, a light I I0b may be employed as a warning device, or, in effect, an ejector. This light IIOb will therefore also be in parallel with the solenoid 50. It may be placed in an upper forward portion of one arm of the chair as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, and 6. As hereinafter further explained, one or more of the warning devices IIO, HM, and II 02) might be employed in place of the solenoid 50 and the locking notch 41 in the notched disk 45, such a warning device being then relied upon, when energized, to indicate the presence of a trespasser.

Also, it may be desirable to employ a light I I I, supplied by the line I08 and signifying occupied, which will be illuminated whenever the switch I00 is closed and the clock 94 is in operation. Similarly, an unoccupied light I I Ia may be supplied by the line I06 whenever the switch I01 is closed, thereby signifying expiration of purchased time. The light Illa may replace the warning devices II 0, H011, and I lb or any of them.

Connection of the switches I00 and I01 in the switch box 86 with the lines of the wiring circuit is readily accomplished through the medium of brush contacts I I2 which may be carried upon an insulated bracket IIZa mounted on the adjacent wall of the compartment 25, and these brush contacts II2 complete their circuits to the switches I00 and I01 through the medium of contact rings I I3 carried by the shaft 82 according to constructions well understood in the electrical arts. Completion of circuits through the clock 94, solenoid 50, vibrator I I0, buzzer IIOa, light H01), and another solenoid yet to be described is made through a return line II 4 and various branches I I 4a thereof.

When the solenoid 50 has been energized by closing of the switch I00 in the switch box 85, as previously described, the stem 48 which has previously retained the chair back 22 locked in closed position is withdrawn from the notch 41' of the disk 45, so that the purchaser may lift the chair back into an upright position. As the back 22 is raised, the switch I04 in the chair arm 24 is disengaged by the plate 104a, as a result of which the switch I04 opens thereby de-energizing the solenoid 50 as well as the vibrator III the buzzer I I 0a, and the light I I0b. At the time when the raising of the chair back 2; results in the opening of the switch I 04, the adjacent switch I05 closes in preparation for subsequently placing the branch line I03a, the solenoid 50, and the warning devices I I0, IIOa, II 0b in circuit through the line I 08. However, since at this stage the switch I 01 is released by its pin 88 and is held open by its spring mm, the circuit through the line I 06 and the branch line I03a to the solenoid 50 and associated warning devices remains open.

After travel of the bumper 90 on the timing disk 92 through an are representing the period of time for which the use of the chair has been purchased, the bumper 90 strikes and depresses the pins 81 and 88 in the switch box 86 carried by the metering wheel 85, thereby opening the switch I00 and cutting out the light III, and at the same time closing the switch I01 thereby illuminating the unoccupied light IIIa and energizing the solenoid 50 to withdraw the stem 48 from retaining engagement in one of the notches 46 of the disk 45. Upon release of the disk 45 by the stem 48 the springs 58 connected with the telescopic draft links 55 tend to draw the chair back 22 forward into an overbalanced position beyond dead center so that it may close by gravity. At the same time the vibrator IIO, the buzzer IIOa and light IIOb are energized and act as warning signals. Should the chair be oc cupied, the tendency of the chair back 22 to close under influence of the springs 58 will provide another warning to the occupant. This condition may be relieved by depositing another coin in the coin slot 64 in one of the levers 65 and actuating the respective lever 65 to advance the metering Wheel further so that the bumper is again disengaged and the switches I00 and I01 are restored to the position of Fig. 19. In this manner, the switch I04 being already open because the chair back 22 is still in open position due to the presence of the occupant, the opening of the switch I01 again de-energizes the solenoid 50 and the warning devices I I0 and l I0a, and the stem 48 again returns to its retaining position in engagement with the notched disk 45.

However, should the chair be not occupied when the stem 48 is withdrawn from a notch 46 to release the notched disk 45 by energizing the solenoid 50 upon engagement of the bumper 90 with the pin 88 and consequent closing of the switch I01, the chair back 22 after being drawn by the springs 58 over dead center moves by gravity into closed position, as illustrated in Fig. 1, where the chair back 22 rests upon the seat 20. The closing of the chair back 22 causes the engagement plate I04a to engage and close the switch I04 on the inside of the respective chair arm 24 and at the same time to open the companion switch I05. The opening of the switch I05 prevents completion of the circuit through the closed switch I01 and the line I06 to the solenoid 50, and at the same time the opening of the switch I00 by thepin 81 prevents completion of the circuit through the line I03 and the switch I04 to the solenoid 50. Also the opening of the switch I00 breaks the circuit through the line I 08 to the clock 94. Under these circumstances the timing mechanism comes to rest, and the de-energization of the solenoid 50 permits the stem 48 to enter the notch 41 in the notched disk 45 and thereby lock the chair back 22 in its closed position. The parts are then in readiness for repetition of the above described cycles upon introduction of suitable coins into the coin slot 64 of any of the time selecting levers 65.

Absent switch control For the purpose of rendering the timing mechanism inoperative and restoring the chair back 22 to closed position should the chair be abandoned considerably before a purchased interval of time haselapsed, means is provided for automatically restoring the controls to their initial inoperative conditions. This is accomplished principally through interrupting mechanism disclosed in Figs. 14, 15, 17, and 18. This interrupting mechanism comprises a helical spring II (Fig. mounted about the shaft 82 of the metering wheel 85. One end of the spring H5 is fixed in a plate H6 or other suitable form of retainer secured on the shaft 82, and the other end of the spring I I5 enages in a plate II'I providing slip clutch means. The slip clutch may be of any suitable form. As indicated the plate II'I may be fixed to an adjacent bearing 82a for the shaft 82, and the plate III provided with an annular series of depressions to receive the rounded end of the spring I I5 so that when the spring I I5 reaches a desired maximum tension the rounded end will slip from one depression to another. Or the plate I Il may be in the form of a clutch plate bearing against a clutch face on a hub I I8 provided on the mentioned adjacent bearing 82a so that the plate II'I may slip to relieve excess tension imparted by rotation of the shaft 82 under the influence of rotation of the metering wheel 85. The adjacent end of the shaft 82 has a brake drum I I9 fixed thereon as by means of a key I ISa, and this brake drum is normally engaged by a brake shoe I urged into braking position by a spring I2 I bearing upon the housing of a solenoid I22 fixed on the rear housing 25 of the. chair. When the metering wheel 85 is advanced through operation of the pawl member 83 by a lever 85 and its drag link 80, the shaft 82 and brake drum I I9 are moved against the friction of the brake shoe I20, and the spring I I5 is correspondingly tensioned. The brake shoe I20 is adapted to be withdrawn from the brake drum I I9 by the solenoid I22 when this solenoid is energized through the medium of a switch I25 (Figs. 14, 15, and 18), herein referred to as the absen switch I25, and under the control of the seat 20 through the medium of the previously mentioned connecting rod 4| pivoted at 42 to the under side of the plate 38 on the bottom of the seat 20. The absent switch I25 is carried on one end of a bell crank I26 (Figs. 6, 14, and 15) which is fulcrumed at I2'I on a bracket I28 fixed to the adjacent wall of the housing 25.

The end of the other arm of the bell crank I26 is pivotally connected to a pull link I29 which extends forward and is connected with a bell crank I30 (Fig. 6) actuated by the connecting rod 4|. When the seat 20 is depressed by the weight of an occupant or by the weight of the chair back 22 when in closed position, the connecting rod 4| is depressed to actuate the bell cranks I30 and I26 through the link I29 and hold a spring-returned absent switch drum I32 out of engagement with the periphery of the clock actuated timing disk 92. The drum I32 is pivoted on the end of the respective arm of the bell crank I26 so that the drum I32 may be rotated by the disk 92 when drawn into contact with the latter by a spring I33 connected with the bell crank I26 at one end and with the housing 25 at the other end. The drum I32 is provided with a striking pin I34 which is adapted to actuate an exposed switching element I35 of the absent switch 12 B0 close the latter. The spring I33 functions to draw the absent switch drum I32 into engagement with the timing disk 92 only when the seat 20 is free and is elevated by the spring 39 (Fig. 4). The drum I32 in practice is of such size that upon its rotation by the timing disk 92 the striking pin I34 is brought into position to actuate the switch I25 after a lapse of any predetermined relatively short period of time, for example, five minutes.

Thus, when an occupant intentionally abandons the chair while a relatively large proportion of time purchased remains unlapsed, the spring 39 elevates the seat 20, and the cooperating'spring I33 draws the absent switch drum I32 into engagement with the timing disk 92, thereby initiating rotation of the drum I32 so that, after a five minute or other short interval, the switch I25 is closed and the circuit in which the solenoid I22 is located is energized to withdraw the brake shoe I20 and release the brake drum I I9. This release of the drum II9 permits the spring I I5 to act through the shaft 82 to return the metering wheel 85 until the pins 81 and 88 in the switch box 86 strike the bumper 90 on the timing disk 92. The pins 81 and 88 then operate the switches I00 and IN (Fig. 19) to initiate the closing of the chair back 22, break all circuits and permit the locking stem 48 to engage the notch 41 in the disk 45 and lock the chair back 22, as above de scribed.

The return of the metering wheel 85, under influence of the spring I I5 when the brake drum H9 is released, is permitted because the pawl 83 has been lifted from the path of the teeth 85a of the wheel by action of the spring 84a. This result is obtained as follows:

When, after the forward pull of a lever 55 and its release, the spring 84a returns the associated parts, the draft of the spring 840. on the top of the pawl member 83 (see Fig. 14) causes the pawl member 83 to tip rearward with respect to the positioning arm BI and lift the pawl 83 from the path of the teeth 85a of the metering wheel 35. This tipping movement occurs about a pivot pin I3'I by which the pawl member 83 is mounted on the arm BI, and is limited by a stop lug I38 at the top of the arm 8I, against which lug the back of the pawl member 83 engages. At the end of its return stroke, the back of the arm 8! strikes a bumper block I39 on the rear housing 25, so that disengagement of the pawl 83 from the teeth 85a is positive. However, the previously mentioned frictional mounting of the lower end of the arm 8I upon the respective fixed bearing 82a as indicated at Bla (Figs. 14 and 15) produces a lag in the return of the arm 8! by the spring 84a so that the first returning action of the spring is to disengage the pawl 83a.

The frictional mounting at BIa also causes a lag in the forward movement of the arm 8 I which lag similarly insures immediate engagement of the pawl 8311 with a tooth 85a upon forward movement of a lever 65. In addition, the prompt disengagement of the pawl 83a from a tooth 85a upon release of a lever 65 following forward pull is assured by the mentioned frictional lag in movement of the arm 8I. This is an advantage in a case where forward pull of a lever 35 has been only partial and is stopped with the respective dog in engagement with an intermediateportion of its rack 91. A very slight play in the mounting of the lever 65 or its dog 95 will insure relief of any binding engagement of the pawl 83a on a tooth 85a, thereby permitting the spring 8411. to release the pawli Thus. when. the seat is aban- .doned after lapse of only ,a portion-of purchased time represented by such movement as was imparted to the metering wheel 85, and the brake drum H9 is released by the .solenoid I22 under control of the absent switch I25, the spring H is enabled to return the wheel 85, as previously described.

When an occupant desires to leave his chair only temporarily during a period of purchased time, he may raise a flag I40 (Figs. 4 and 5), or

other signaling and seat-obstructing means, which serves to notify others of his engagement of the chairs use and also serves to maintain the absent switch I25 inoperative. The latter function is accomplished by a plunger I4I working in a guide I42 and adapted to engage and depress the plate 38 on the bottom of the seat 20 and to maintain the latter in depressed position thereby preventing the spring I33 from bringing the absent switch drum I32 into engagement with the timing disk 92. The flag I 40 is fixed to a bell crank I43 mounted on a pivot I44 carried on the adjacent framework 35, the plunger I4I being attached by a pivot I45 to the bell crank I43. A retainer I 46 is provided to hold the flag I40 elevated and the plunger I4I depressed. Such a means may comprise a coil spring I41 disposed about a rod I48 pivoted at one end to the framework 35 and slidably mounted at the other end in a guide I49 pivoted on the bell crank I43. Thus, when the flag I40 is elevated and the bell crank is swung past dead center, the spring I41 maintains the flag in elevated position and the plunger in depressed position. While the absent switch I25 and its drum I32 are thus prevented from assuming operative position, nevertheless the timing disk 92 continues to advance and, should the bumper 90 engage and actuate the pins 81 and 88 in the switch box 86 on the metering wheel 85 while the flag I40 is still elevated, the chair back 22 will then be released and in dropping to closed position will strike and return the flag I40. A finger I50 may be provided on the flag I40 to limit its return movement and also to serve as a handle for its withdrawal and elevation.

To care for such a situation as that in which the customer buys time but suddenly leaves without lifting the chair back 22, means is provided for automatically restoring all parts to their original inoperative condition. This is accomplished through the medium of a second absent switch drum I32a adapted to engage the timing disk 52, this drum I32a having a striking pin I34a for actuation of a switch I 25a similar to the absent switch I25. The drum I32a and the switch I25a are carried on a lever I 5i fulcrumed at I5Ia (Fig. 20) on adjacent framework. The lever .I5I carries an actuating pin I 52 which enters an arcuate cam slot I53 provided in a bracket I54 fixed on the shaft 44 carrying the chair back 22.

When the chair back is lowered, the bracket I54 is swung accordingly, the pin I52 travelling in the slot I53 during the movement of the chair back and the cam action of the side wall of the slot I53 serving to lift the pin I52 and the lever I5I to bring the drum I32a into engagement with the disk 62. Thus, after the lapse of a short interval of time represented by the amount of travel of the pin I34a before it actuates the switch I25a by reason of contact of the drum I32a with the disk 92, the closing of the switch I25a. energizes the solenoid I22 (Fig. 13) to release the brake shoe I20 whereby the parts are .14 restored to starting'position, as previously described.

That an attendant may easily open the chair without employing a coin, means is provided .for key actuation and cutting out the electrical mechanism. For this purpose, one end of the key-operable link 54a (Figs. 3, 12 and 13) is connected to a key-controlled arm I55 and its other end is slidably held in a lost-motion slot I56 in the levera-rm '54 which is fixed on the rock shaft .53 operated by the handle 5I. The arm I 55 is operable from a lock I51 by a key I58 whose end I59 is beveled to lift aswitch pin I60 and open a switch I 62 disposed in the main line I02. Thus, opening switch I62 disables solenoid 50, and turning the key I58 serves to withdraw the looking stem 48 from the notched disk 45 so that the chair back 22 may be opened, and it also serves to tie-energize all the circuits as long as it remains in position to control the switch I62.

A desirable modification of this invention resides in a structure in which the chair back 22 is never lowered into closed position on the seat 120 as indicated .inwFig, 1. In such a case, the chair back 22 will always be in elevated position, but may be moved into any one of the series of reclining positions previously indicated by manual actuation of the stem 48 by the handle 5|. In this instance the switch I05 is so positioned that it will :be closed by movement of the seat 20'when the latter is depressed against the spring 39 by the Weight of an occupant. This relative arrangement of parts is indicated in Fig. 21 and in the wiring diagram of Fig. 22. Both the switch I04 and the solenoid '50 are omitted because unnecessary.

Since it is still desired to use the flag I40 in the modification of Figs. 21 and 22, it is necessary to provide means for restoring the flag I40 to the full line inoperative position when the purchased time has elapsed or the absent switch I 25 has been closed to restore all parts to their original inoperative starting position. This is accomplished through the medium of a switch I65 and a solenoid I66 controlled thereby and in parallel with the unoccupied light IIIa. The switch IE5 is adapted to be closed by the bell crank I43 carrying the flag arm when the flag I 40 is moved manually to and remains in elevated position. Thus, when the switch I01 is closed by the striking of a bumper against the pin -88 to operate the switch I01, the solenoid I 66 is energized. The core I68 of the solenoid I66 is provided with a laterally projecting finger I10 adapted to engage a projecting lug I12 on the plunger I4I, whereby to raise the plunger MI and swing the bell crank I43 to move the flag I40 from its operative broken line position to its inoperative full line position as shown in Figs. 21 and 22.

Thus, the operation of the respective circuits illustrated in Fig. 22 is the same as in Fig. 18, the energization of the flag solenoid I66 being simultaneous with the energization of the unoccupied light II Ia.

Operation The operation of the various parts of the chair structure herein disclosed has been described in detail in connection with the foregoing description of the construction. However to recapitulate, the first action to be taken by a prospective user of a closed chair is the dropping of a coin in the coin slot 64 of one of the levers 65, the

lever 65 chosen being that adapted to receive a coin of the denomination required for purchasing the period of time desired. A coin dropped into a slot 64 first falls upon the respective supporting finger 11, whereby to restrain the stop finger i2 and hold the detent 68a of the latch 68 from engaging a dog 75a on the retainer I5 when the corresponding lever 65 is to be drawn forward. As the respective lever 65 is advanced, the pawl 33a supported on the positioning arm BI to which the rear end of the respective link 80 is connected is immediately tipped forward into engagement with a tooth 85a of the metering wheel 85, as illustrated in Fig. 14, and the metering wheel 35 is correspondingly advanced as the lever 65 is moved against the tension of the heavy return spring 84a. At the limit of the forward stroke of the lever 65, the releasing abutment 11b is engaged by the extension 'I'Ia on the supporting finger 11, whereby the supporting finger TI is withdrawn from its position below the supported coin and the coin drops through the respective slot 64 into the coin box 67. When this movement of the supporting finger 'II commences, the auxiliary finger I 8 is moved into position above the forward portion of the coin and in the path of the forward portion of an upper coin should one have been dropped into the slot 64. Thus, such a second coin is prevented from dropping when the lower coin is released by the supporting finger TI. Upon commencement of the return movement of the lever 65 under the influence of the return spring 84a, release of the extension Ila. from the abutment Ilb permits the supporting finger TI to move back into the bottom of the slot 13 under the influence of the spring I4, the auxiliary finger I8 being also withdrawn and permitting the upper coin to drop into operative position upon the supporting finger TI. The size of opening I3 opposite the stop finger 12 may be such that, if too small a coin is dropped into the slot 54 it will be rejected by the stop finger 12 by reason of pressure imposed by the sprin 14. The presence of the second coin, if of proper denomination, permits immediate operation of the lever 65 again whereby further to advance the metering wheel 85.

When the metering wheel 85 is moved forward by one or more excursions of any of the levers 65, the switch box 85 on the metering wheel 85 is moved away from the bumper 90 carried on the side'of the timing disk 92 in the path of the switch box 86. Closure of the switch Hill by its spring IilI upon release of its pin 81 completes a circuit through the line Hi3, the switch 104 in the right chair arm and the line Il'l3ato the solenoid 5e, whereupon the locking stem 48 is withdrawn by the solenoid 59 from the locking notch 41 in the notched disk 45.

The purchaser may now lift the chair back 22 to free the seat 28. The fact that the chair back has been released by the locking stem 48 will be audibly indicated by the buzzer IIIla and visibly indicated by the light Illib located in the same circuit as the solenoid 50, or by the light III a if used. When the chair back 22 is raised disengagement of the switches I64 and I05 on one of the arms 24 by the contact plate Ifl4a on the side of the chair back 22 results in the opening of the switch I04 and consequent de-energization of the solenoid 50, the light Hill), the buzzer HM and the vibrator III]. De-energization of the solenoid 5G releases the locking stem 48 so that it will enter the first notch 46 presented to it when the chair back 22 reaches an upright position. The chair is now ready for occupancy. If the occupant desires that the chair back be placed in a reclining position, he grasps the handle 5i in the pocket 52 in the left chair arm and through the medium of the lock shaft 53 and lever arm 54 withdraws the locking stem 48 against pressure of the spring 49 from the notched disk 45, whereupon he presses against the chair back 22 until it is moved to bring another notch 45 opposite the stem 48 at such position of the chair back 22 as desired. Upon release of the handle 5I the spring 48 moves the stem 48 into the respective notch 46 to retain the seat position. During this movement the telescopic draft links 55 have moved the bell crank 68 to project the foot rests 56, and the springs 58 have been tensioned for subsequent return of the chair back 22.

When the switch I is closed upon release of its pin 8'! from the bumper 59, a circuit is also closed through the line I08 to the clock 94, whereupon the clock shaft 93 commences rotation of the timing disk 92 to move the bumper 9B in a circular path to overtake the pins 81 and B8 in the switch box 86.

At the expiration of the time selected by the advancement of the metering wheel 85, the bumper 9U depresses the pins 8'! and 88, thereby opening the switch use and permitting the second switch I9! to close. Since the switch I05 on the right chair arm 24 was permitted to close when the chair back 22 was raised, the closing of the switch IUI now completes a circuit through the line ms to the branch line I030, thereby again energizing the solenoid 50, the warning devices IHI, IIiia and Hill), the latter instruments warning the occupant of the expiration of the purchased time. Also the solenoid 5|] withdraws the stem 48 and releases the notched disk 45 so that the springs 58 pull the chair back 22 forward toward closed position. These instrumentalities produce in efiect the ejection of the occupant, or closing of the chair if it is not occupied. An occupant may purchase additional time and restore the parts to service condition by inserting another coin and again advancing the meterin wheel 85, as previously described. However, if such additional time is not purchased, occupancy is rendered unpleasant by the vibrator i it! and the buzzer Illa, and also by the pressure of the seat back 22 under the propulsion of the springs 58.

When the chair is unoccupied under the mentioned conditions, the seat back 22 closes by gravity after having been drawn over dead center by the springs 58, at which time the engagement plate ifi-ia on the right side of the chair back 22 contacts the switches I04 and I05, the switch 594 closing in preparation for subsequent operations, and opening the switch I95 to break the circuit through the switch Ill! and the circuit to the solenoid 5E}. The solenoid 5i] having been de-energized, the locking stem 48 enters the locking notch 41 in the notched wheel 45, all parts thus being re-set with the chair locked ready for subsequent use upon repetition of the cycles above described. Depression of the Seat 20 by the weight of the seat back causes the absent switch drum I32 to be released from the timing disc 92, the drum I32 and its striking pin I34 being then returned to starting position as by any suitable spring return means.

Should the purchaser set the mechanism in operation and then immediately leave without having raised the chair back 22 into operative position; thedrum I 32a and its switch I25a will be actuated by the rotation of the timing disk 92 by reason of the fact that the lowering of the chair back 2'2 will have causedthe cam slot I53-to actuate the-lever I5I (Figs. 6 and 20) and driving contact'with elevate the drum I32a into. the disk 92. Afterthe short interval of time determined by the setting ofthe striking pin- I34a on the drum I-32a, the switch I-25a will be closed to release the brake shoe I20 and re tore the parts to inoperative position.

When the chair back 22-is never to be lowered onto the seat 20, but-the unoccupiedlight I Na and thevibrator H or the buzzer I I'0aare to be relieduponas warning devices, the depression of theseat- 20-by-theoccupa-nt (Figs. 21 and 22) serves to close-the switch I sothat the buzzer and vibrator will be energized through the switch- I 05- by reason of the closingof the switch I01 through the action of the bumper 90 on the pints. When the occupant leaves the seat the switch I05 is opened by operation of the seat spring 39-, thus de-energizing the vibrator H0 and the buzzer II to. However, the unoccupied li ht; I I Iaremains energized as long as the parts are otherwise inoperative, this being effected through the switch IIII. Similarly, when the switch I01 is closed to the through the flag switch I65 and the flag solenoid IE0 is closed so that the solenoid I56 opera-tes the finger I to engage thelug I12 and return the plunger I iI to full line position, thus returning the flag I40 to inoperative position and opening the switch I65.

As also previously described, if the occupant.

abandons the seat while a substantial proportion of his purchased time remains, the spring 39 elevates the seat 20 and in conjunction with the spring I33 in the rear housing 25- (Fig; 6) actuates the connecting rod 4|, the bell crank I30, the link I29 and the bell crank IZGItO. bring the absent switch drum I32 into engagement with the timing disk 92 so that after a short interval,

for example five minutes, the striking pin I3} is. moved into engagement with the switching element I35 of the absent switch I25which is then closed and energizes a circuit through the branch line I 032) to the solenoid I22. The solenoid I22 then releases the brake shoe I20 from the brake drum II9 so that the spring II5 on the shaft 82", working through the shaft 82, returns the metering wheel 85 until the pins 81 and 88 in the switch box 86 are actuated by striking the bumper 90 on the timing disk 92. Thus the various circuits close and the parts come to rest in operative position, as before.

As previously described, the winding of the spring I I 5 through advance of the meter-ing wheel 85 is permitted by forced slippage of the brake drum II9 against its brake shoe I20 by the draft force applied to the respective lever 85 when advancing the wheel 85. To prevent operation of the absent switch I25 and the solenoid I22 when the occupant leaves his seat temporarily'during a purchased period of time, the flag I40 may be raised into the broken line position of Fig. 5, thereby depressing the plunger MI and maintain ing the connecting rod 4| and associated parts in inoperative position.

Many variations of the generic inventions herein disclosed will become apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is intended therefore to protect all such modified structures as fall'within the scope of the appended-claims.

light I I Id, the circuit We claim as our invention:

1-. A combination in a. chair comprising: a sup: port carrying thereon a chair seat; a closable chairback for lowering over said seat; means for releasably retaining said back lowered in closed position over said seat; coin-controlled means. to releasesaid releasable retaining means; and timjing'means controlled by movement of said coincontrolled meansi'or movement of said chairback toward closed position upon expiration of a given period of' time.

2-. A combination as in claim 1', wherein means. are connected with said timing means for control thereby and are cperatively connected with said chair back for movement of the. same toward closed position upon said time expiration.

3I seating structure comprising in combina-. tion: a seat; movable obstructing means for said. seat; releasable means for releasably retaining said obstructing means in seat-obstructing posit ion; coin-controlled means to release said releasable means and obstructing means for use-of said seat; and timing means for returning saidobstructing means to seat-obstructing position upon expiration of a given time interval.

4, A combination as in claim 3, including keyoperateclmeans for releasing said seat obstructi s me s- 5. In combination in a chair structure: a suppert carrying thereon a chair seat; a chair back movable to. obstruct said seat; means for releasably locking said chair back in seat-obstructing positionand releasably retaining the chair back service position; means for releasing said looking means for movement of said back to service PQSition; coin -controlled means for actuation. of said releasing means; and timing means for-re leasing-said back from service position upon expiration of given time period.

6. A combination as in claim 5, wherein said timing means includes an electric switch and said locking and retaining means includes an electric release. device energizable by said switch.

7. A seating structure comprising in combination; a support carrying thereon a seat; a closure movable to closed position to obstruct said seat andprevent its use; means movably mounting said closure; releasable retaining means connected with said mounting means to retain said closure selectively in open and closed positions; coin-controlled means to release said retaining means for movement of said closure to open position;- and time-controlled means to release said; closure for movement of the closure toward closed position.

8,. A seating combination as in claim 7, including means to urge said closure toward closed position.

9.- In a chair combination: a support carrying thereon a seat member and a back member, one of'saidmembers being movable relative to the other from a closed non-service position to an open service position; means for locking said movable member in closed position and for releasably retaining said movable memberin service position; means for unlocking said locking means; timing means adapted to be set in motion by said unlocking means; and means actuable by said timing means to serve as occupant ejecting means.

10. A combination as in claim 9, including coin-controlled time-selecting means for con trollingsaid' timing means cooperating with the first named-timing means.

11. A combination as in claim 9, including time-selecting means to control said timing means, and a second timing means cooperating with the first named timing means to render said ejecting means operable upon elapse of a predetermined, relatively brief period of time less than the period selected by said selecting means.

12. A combination as in claim 9, including time-selecting means to control said timing means, a second timin means cooperating with the first named timing means to render said ejecting means operable upon elapse of a predetermined, relatively brief period of time less than the period selected by said selecting means, and actuable means connected with one of said members and operable by the weight of an occupant of said chair to render said second timing means inoperative.

-13. A combination as in claim 9, including time-selecting means to control said timing means, a second timing means cooperating with the first named timing means to render said ejecting means operable upon the lapse of a predetermined period of time shorter than the time selected by said selecting means, means connecting said second timing means and said movable member whereby said second timing means is rendered inoperable by the weight of an occupant of the chair, and manual means to render said second timing means inoperable.

14. A combination as in claim 9, including indicating means movable into position above said seat when in service condition to obstruct the latter.

15. A combination as in claim 9, including indicating means movable into position above said seat to obstruct the latter when in service position, said indicating means being then in the path of the movable member for restoration of the indicating means to non-indicating position upon closure of the movable member.

16. A combination as in claim 9, including means to return said movable member to closed position upon expiration of a given period of time.

1'7. A chair combination comprising: a, support carrying thereon a seat movably mounted to be depressed; a chair back mounted adjacent said seat to move from a service to a non-service position; means to retain said chair back selectively in service and non-service positions; means to release said chair back from service position; timing means controllin said releasing means; time selecting means for controlling said timing means; and a connection between said movable seat and said time-selecting means for controlling the latter.

18. A chair comprising in combination: a support carrying thereon a seat member and a back member; means to move one of said members relatively to the other between service and nonservice positions; means to retain said movable member in service position; means to release said retaining means; and timing means to control said releasing means, said timing means comprising a metering device; means to advance said metering device predetermined distances; a time-controlled device to overtake and contact said meterin device; and means included in one of said devices operable upon said contact to release said retaining means.

19. A combination as in claim 18, including time-selecting means to actuate said metering device.

20. A combination as in claim 19, including time-selecting means to actuate said metering 2e device, and coin-controlled means controlling said time-selecting means.

21. A combination as in claim 18, comprising a time-selecting device to actuate said metering device, and a second timing means operable to release said retaining means upon elapseof a shorter time interval than that selected by said time-selecting device.

22. A chair construction comprisin in combination: a member associated with the chair for obstructing useof the chair and movable to and from service and obstructing positions; means to retain said member in a given position; manually operable means for actuating said retaining means; and timing means adapted to be set in operation by said actuating means, said timing means being arranged for operative connection to said retaining means for limiting the length of time said member is in one of said positions.

23. A chair construction comprising in combination: a member associated with the chair for obstructing use of the chair and movable to and from service and obstructing positions; means to retain said member in a given position; manually operable means for actuating said retaining means; and timing means for controlling said retaining means, said manually operable means including an advancing device and said timing means including an overtaking device, one of said devices including position-changing means controlling the position of said retaining means, and the other of said devices serving to energize said position-changing means.

24. A combination as in claim 23, wherein said position-changing means includes an electric switch and said other of said devices includes a switch actuating means.

25. A combination as in claim 23, wherein said advancing device is a rotary device movable by said manually operable means, and said overtaking device is a clock driven rotary device.

26. A chair construction comprising in combinination: a member associated with the chair for obstructing use of the chair and movable to and from service and obstructing positions; means to retain said member in a given position; and coincontrolled means for controlling said retaining means including timing means adapted to be set in operation by said controlling means, said timing means being arranged for operative connection to said retaining means for limiting the length of said member in one of said positions and said timing means including a clock advanced contact-making means, and said coincontrolled means also including a second contact-making means engageable by said clock advanced means and movable away from said clock advanced means by said coin-controlled means to determine said length of time.

27. A seating structure comprising in combination: a support carrying thereon a seat; warning means to indicate unauthorized occupancy of said seat; releasable means for rendering said warning means inactive; coin-controlled means connected with said means for rendering said warning means inactive; and timing means associated with said coin-controlled means and adapted to actuate said releasable means whereby to render said warning means active.

28. A combination as in claim 27, wherein said timing means includes advancing means operable by said coin-controlled means for rendering said warning means inactive, overtaking means adapted to engage said advancing means to render said warning means active, and clock means connected to drive said overtaking means.

29. A combination as in claim 27, wherein said timing means includes advancing means operable by said coin-controlled means for rendering said warning means inactive, overtaking means adapted to engage said advancing means to render said warning means active, and clock means connected to drive said overtaking means, said clock means being operatively connected for control by said advancing and overtaking means.

30. A chair construction comprising in combination: a support carrying thereon a seat; warning means to indicate unauthorized occupancy of said seat; means to energize said warnnig means; coin-controlled means for controlling said energizing means; and timing means adapted to be set in operation by said coin-controlled means, said timing means being arranged in operative relation to said energizing means for maintaining of said energizing means in de-energized condition for a period of time determined by said coin-controlled means.

31. A combination as in claim 30, wherein said timing means includes clock advanced contactmaking means and said coin-controlled means includes contact-making means engageable by and disengageable from said clock advanced means to measure said period of time.

32. A chair construction comprising in combination: a support movably carrying thereon a chair member; warning means for indicating unauthorized use of the chair; means to energize said warning means; means connected with and controlled by said chair member and actuable through movement thereof to control said energizing means and render the latter active; coincontrolled means also operatively connected with said energizing means to render the latter inactive; and timing means under the control of said coin-controlled means for determining the time interval during which said energizing means is rendered inactive.

33. A combination as in claim 32, including a second timing means cooperating with the first named timing means and operable upon lapse of a predetermined period of time shorter than that determined by the first mentioned timing means, and actuable means in the chair operable by the weight of an occupant of the chair to control said second timing means.

34. A seating structure comprising in combination: a support carrying thereon a chair member movable to and from service and non-service positions; means to lock said chair member in non-service position; coin-controlled means to release said chair member from locked position; means for moving said chair member to nonservice position; timing means serving to retain said moving means inoperative; means actuable under influence of said timing means for rendering said moving means operative upon lapse of a predetermined time interval; and means controlled by movement of said chair member for controlling said locking means.

35. A combination in a seating structure: a warning device to indicate unauthorized occupancy of said seating structure; coin-controlled means operable to render said warning means inactive; timing means for deactivating said coincontrolled means; and means under the influence of said timing means for activating said warning means upon the lapse of a predetermined interval of time.

36. A combination as in claim 35 wherein said timing means is a portion of and is under the control of said coin-controlled means.

37. A combination as in claim 35, including a support, a movable seat member thereon, and energizing means under the control of said movable seat member for controlling said warning means.

38. A combination as in claim 35, including a second timing means cooperating with the first named timing means operable upon lapse of a period of time shorter than that determined by the first mentioned timing means, and actuable means operable by the Weight of an occupant of said seating structure to control said second timing means.

39. A chair structure comprising in combination: a support; a seat carried by said support; a chair arm disposed at a side of said seat; a chair back movably mounted at the back of said seat and adapted to be moved between service and non-service positions; means to control the positions of said chair back including means located in said arm and accessible from one side thereof; coin-controlled timing means for controlling said control means for said chair back; and means associated with said chair back for concealing said control means and rendering the same inaccessible when said chair back is in said non-service position.

BEN O. HOWARD. MARSHALL S. NEAL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 185,512 Floyd Dec. 19, 1876 312,176 Allen Feb. 10, 1885 865,327 Barrett Sept. 3, 1907 877,212 Meyer Jan. 21, 1908 1,302,212 Phillips Apr. 29, 1919 1,799,056 Miller Mar. 31, 1931 1,903,579 Taylor Apr. 11, 1933 2,015,607 Shinn Sept. 24, 1935 2,066,630 Leader Jan. 5, 1937 2,106,042 Stark Jan. 18, 1938 2,258,308 Williams Oct. 7, 1941

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