Swivel chair facts for kids
- Further information: Office chair
A swivel chair is a special kind of chair that can spin all the way around (360 degrees). It has one main leg in the middle, which lets the seat turn left or right. People also call them spinny chairs or revolving chairs.
The idea for a spinning chair with small wheels (called casters) was first drawn by a German nobleman named Martin Löffelholz in 1505. This drawing was part of a special book he made. It is believed that Thomas Jefferson, a very important person in American history, used a swivel chair he designed himself when he wrote the United States Declaration of Independence in 1776.
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Different Kinds of Swivel Chairs
Swivel chairs come in many forms. Some have wheels on their base, which lets you roll the chair around your work area without standing up. These are very common in modern offices and are often called office chairs.
Office and Computer Chairs
Many office swivel chairs, like those used with computers, have a special part called a gas lift. This allows you to easily change the height of the seat to make it comfortable for you. However, very large chairs, like recliners, usually don't spin.
Draughtsman's Chairs
A draughtsman's chair is a type of swivel chair that does not have wheels. These chairs are usually taller than regular office chairs. They are used by people who work at a drawing board, which is often higher than a normal desk. Draughtsman's chairs also have a foot-ring. This ring helps support your legs when your feet can't reach the floor.
Swivel Seats in Vehicles
Sometimes, a spinning chair is built into something else, like an aircraft, a car, or a stair lift. When it's fixed in place and can't move on its own, it's called a swivel seat instead of a swivel chair. Some swivel seats are also bucket seats, which are shaped to hold you snugly.
The Story of the Swivel Chair
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One of the earliest known swivel chairs was made by Thomas Jefferson. He took a regular English-style Windsor chair and changed it a lot. He connected the top part (the seat) to the bottom part with a metal rod. This allowed the seat to spin around. Interestingly, his chair did not have wheels.
When the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in 1776, Thomas Jefferson is said to have used this very chair. He was sitting on it when he wrote the important United States Declaration of Independence. Later, in 1791, Jefferson sent his swivel chair to his home in Virginia, called Monticello. There, he added a small "writing paddle" to its side.
Since 1836, this historic swivel chair has been kept safe by the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia.
See also
In Spanish: Silla de oficina para niños
- Armrest
- Bárány chair
- Barber chair, another type of rotating chair
- Folding seat
- Gaming chair
