US20130119713A1

US20130119713A1 - Foldable chair

Info

Publication number: US20130119713A1
Application number: US13/373,503
Authority: US
Inventors: Shou Qiang Zhu
Original assignee: IP Power Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: IP Power Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2011-11-14
Filing date: 2011-11-14
Publication date: 2013-05-16

Abstract

A foldable chair includes a chair seat, a foldable frame having two stand frames substantially aligned parallelly and spacedly with each other, wherein each of said two stand frames includes a first crossed leg and a second crossed leg; and two stand stoppers mounted to said two stand frames respectively, wherein each of said two stand stoppers connects said first crossed leg with said second crossed leg at a pivot point, so that said first crossed leg rotates with respect to said second crossed leg between a folded condition and an unfolded condition, wherein said chair seat is extended between said two stand frames to define a sitting surface for a user to sit on when said foldable chair is in said unfolded condition.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a foldable chair, and more particularly to a foldable chair comprising a fabric made chair seat and a foldable frame adapted for folding and unfolding the chair seat, wherein the foldable chair provides a rigid and strong support while it is easy for hand carrying, storage and usage.
2. Description of Related Arts
Foldable chairs are easy to be carried and used both indoor and outdoor. A typical foldable chair comprises a foldable frame and a seat member foldably supported by the foldable frame in such a manner that the chair is capable of folding between a folded condition and an unfolded condition, wherein in the unfolded condition, the foldable frame stands on a ground surface and supports the seat member in a substantially horizontal position for a user to set, and that in the folded condition, the foldable frame can be pivotally and collapsibly folded to form a compact structure for ease of carry and storage.
Accordingly, the legs of the frame of the foldable chair are connected together by joint members such as rivets, screws or the like, when a user sits on the seat member, the downward force will be directly applied on the joint members. The repeat movement between the folded condition and the unfolded condition of the foldable chair may make the joint members become loosen. In other words, a conventional foldable chair often fails to provide a stable support which is prone to flip over when a heavy user sits on the seat and is easy to be damaged when a relatively heavy downward force is applied thereon. Therefore, a portable and flexible foldable chair which has a light weight for hand carrying or storing in a trunk of a vehicle as well as enhanced structural strength and stability for use is highly desired.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a foldable chair comprising a chair seat and a foldable frame adapted for folding and unfolding the chair seat wherein the foldable chair provides a rigid and strong support while it is easy for hand carrying, storage and usage.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable chair adapted to fold between a folded condition and an unfolded condition, wherein in the folded condition, the chair seat and the foldable frame are folded into a compact structure for ease of carrying and storage, and that in the unfolded condition, the foldable frame unfolds the chair seat for a user to sit thereon comfortably.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable chair, wherein the foldable frame comprises two stand frames prarallelly and spacedly aligned with each other, wherein the fabric made chair seat is mounted to the two stand frames in such a manner that the chair seat can be extended therebetween when the foldable chair is in the unfolded condition to define a sitting platform.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable chair, wherein the first crossed leg is connected to the second crossed leg by a stand stopper, wherein the stand stopper enhances the stability of the stand frame and also facilitate the movement of the first crossed leg with respect to the second crossed leg.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable chair, wherein the foldable frame further comprises a first support comprising two first supporting arms crossedly connected at a first pivot point, and a second support comprising two second supporting arms crossedly connected at a second pivot point, wherein the two first supporting arms and the two second supporting arms are connected by support stoppers, and thus a distance between the two stand frames is maintained and the stability of the foldable chair is attained, especially when the user sits on the chair seat.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable chair which has a simple and strong structure while manufacturing in lower cost to enable it being affordable to all consumers.
Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appended claims.
According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained by a foldable chair, comprising:
a chair seat;
a foldable frame comprising two stand frames substantially aligned parallelly and spacedly with each other, wherein each of said two stand frames comprises a first crossed leg and a second crossed leg; and
two stand stoppers mounted to said two stand frames respectively, wherein each of said two stand stoppers connects said first crossed leg with said second crossed leg at a pivot point, so that said first crossed leg rotates with respect to said second crossed leg between a folded condition and an unfolded condition, wherein said chair seat is extended between said two stand frames to define a sitting surface for a user to sit on when said foldable chair is in said unfolded condition.
Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.
These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable chair in an unfolded condition according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the foldable chair according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating the stand stopper of the foldable chair according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a rear view illustrating the stand stopper of the foldable chair according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the stand stopper of the foldable chair according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the stand stopper of the foldable chair according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a first support is being mounted to the foldable frame of the foldable chair according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a second support is being mounted to the foldable frame of the foldable chair according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the foldable chair in the folded condition according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a foldable chair according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 9 of the drawings, a foldable chair which is adapted to be folded between a folded condition and an unfolded condition according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the foldable chair comprises a chair seat 10 and a foldable frame 20, wherein in the folded condition, the chair seat 10 and the foldable frame 20 are folded into a compact structure while the chair seat 10 is overlappedly aligned with the folded foldable frame for ease of carrying and storage, wherein in the unfolded condition, the foldable frame 20 is unfolded to extend the chair seat 10 to define a sitting surface for a user to sit thereon comfortably.
Accordingly, the chair seat 10 is made of soft material, and thus the chair seat can be a fabric seat, weave seat, or canvas seat so that the user can comfortably sits thereon. In other words, the chair seat 10 is made of soft and flexible material so as to provide a lighter weight structure and convenient seating effect for the user.
Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawing, the foldable frame 20 comprises two stand frames 21 parallelly and spacedly aligned with each other, wherein the chair seat 10 is mounted to the two stand frames 21 in such a manner that the chair seat 10 is extended between the two stand frames 21 when the foldable chair is in the unfolded condition. Also, the two stand frames 21 are capable of unfolding the chair seat 10 in the unfolded condition.
Each of the stand frames 21 comprises a first crossed leg 211 and a second crossed leg 212, wherein the foldable chair comprises two stand stoppers 30 mounted with said two stand frames 21. Accordingly, each of the two stand stoppers 30 connects the first crossed leg 211 with the second crossed leg 212 at a pivot point 213, so that the first crossed leg 211 and the second crossed leg 212 are capable of rotating with respect to each other about the pivot point 213. Accordingly, the first crossed leg 211 can be overlappedly and parallelly aligned with the second crossed leg 212 in the folded condition, and that when the first crossed leg 211 rotates with respect to the second crossed leg 212 in the unfolded condition, the first crossed leg 211 and the second crossed leg 212 can be unfolded to a cross-X structure adapted for standing on a ground surface for supporting the user sitting on the chair seat 10.
Referring to FIG. 3 to FIG. 6 of the drawings, each of the two stand stoppers 30 comprises a stopper body 31 having a receiving hole 32, wherein the stopper body 31 is mounted with one of the first crossed leg 211 and the second crossed leg 212. As an example, the stopper body 31 is mounted to the second crossed leg 212 at the pivot point 213, the first crossed leg 211 passes through the receiving hole 32 so that the first crossed leg 211 and the second crossed leg 212 are crossedly aligned with each other.
Accordingly, the stopper body 31 is mounted to the second crossed leg 212 by a first joint member 33, and the stopper body 31 is mounted to the first crossed leg 211 by a second joint member 34, so that the first crossed leg 211 is adapted to rotate with respect to the second crossed leg 212 about the stopper 30. In other words, the first joint member 33 penetrates the second crossed leg 212 and the stopper body 31 for mounting the stand stopper 30 with the second crossed leg 212, the second joint member 34 penetrates a portion of the first crossed leg 211 in the receiving hole 32 and the stopper body 31 for connecting the stand stopper 30 with the first crossed leg 211, as shown in FIG. 5. The first joint member 33 and the second joint member 34 can be rivets, screws or the like.
According to the prior art, the first crossed leg 211 and the second crossed leg 212 are connected by just a rivet or a screw, but in this preferred embodiment, with the help of the stand stopper 30, when the users sits on the chair seat 10, the downward force applied on the two stand frames 21 will be distributed by the first joint member 33 and the second joint member 34. In other words, the strength of the foldable chair is enhanced by the connection between the stand stopper 30 with the first crossed leg 211 and the second crossed leg 212.
It is worth mentioning that the length of the first crossed leg 211 can be different from the second crossed leg 212. For example, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first crossed leg 211 is longer than the second crossed leg 212, wherein when the foldable chair is in the unfolded condition, the first crossed leg 211 provides a backrest for the user sitting on the chair seat 10 and the second crossed leg 212 provides a seat support for the user.
Accordingly, the first crossed leg 211 and the second crossed leg 212 are both preferably constructed in arc shape so as to define a desired angle when the foldable frame 20 is in the unfolded condition. The pivot point 213 divides the first crossed leg 211 and the second crossed leg 212 into two half portions: an upper portion and a lower portion. When the foldable chair is in the unfolded condition, the upper portion of the first crossed leg 211 and the corresponding upper portion of the second crossed leg 212 define the unfolding angle of the foldable frame 20 in such a manner that the chair seat 10 is resting on the upper portion 2111 of the first crossed leg 211 and the upper portions 2121 of the second crossed leg 212 at a position above the stand stopper 30.
The chair seat 10 comprises a seat member 11 having a first end 111 and a second end 112, wherein the first end 111 of the seat member 11 is mounted to the upper portion of the first crossed leg 211 and the second end 112 of the seat member 11 is mounted to the upper portion of the second crossed leg 212 in such a manner that the seat member 11 is extended between the two stand frames 21.
It is worth mentioning that the chair seat 10 comprises a plurality of fasteners 12 provided on the edge of the seat member 11 of the chair seat for grasping the upper portions of the first crossed leg 211 and the second crossed leg 212 so that a downward force applied on the chair seat is distributed by the first crossed leg 211 and the second crossed leg 212.
Referring to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 of the drawings, the foldable frame 20 further comprises a first support 22 and a second support 23 mounted to the two stand frames 21 so as to enhance the stability of the foldable frame 20 in the unfolded condition, wherein the first support 22 comprises two first support arms 221 connected with each other at a first crossed point 223. Referring to FIG. 7 of the drawing, the two first support arms 221 are connected to the two stand frames 21 in such a manner that the lower end of each of the first support arms 221 is pivotally mounted to the lower portion of the first crossed leg 211 and the upper end of each of the first support arms 221 is mounted to the upper portion of the second crossed leg 212.
Referring to FIG. 8 of the drawing, the second support 23 comprises two second support arms 231 connected to each other at a second crossed point 232. More specifically, the two second support arms 231 are mounted to the first crossed leg 211 and the second crossed leg 212 of each of the two stand frames 21 in such a manner that the lower end of each of the two second support arms 231 is pivotally mounted to the lower portion of the second crossed leg 212 and the upper end of each of the two second support arms 231 is mounted to the upper portion of the first crossed leg 211. And thus when the foldable chair is in the unfolded condition, the first support 22 and the second support 23 provide supporting force to the two first crossed leg 211 and the two second crossed leg 212 of the two stand frames 21 so as to attain a stable support to the user's weight and evenly distribute the downward force applied by the user sitting on the chair seat 10.
It is worth mentioning that two first support arms 221 of the first support 22 and the two second support arms 231 of the second support 23 can also be connected by two support stoppers 40 respectively. For instance, a support stopper 40 comprises a stopper body 41 having a receiving hole 42 is mounted to one of the two first support arms 221 by a first joint member 43, wherein the other of the two support arms 221 has a portion received in the receiving hole 42 and is connected to the stopper body 41 by a second joint member 44.
It is worth mentioning that the first support 22 and the second support 23 not only provide supporting force to the two stand frames 21 when the foldable chair is in the unfolded condition, but also retain a predetermined distance between the two stand frames 21, wherein the distance is slightly larger than the width of the user.
The foldable frame 20 may further comprises two armrest 24, wherein each of the two stand frames 21 comprises a mounting arm 214 integrally and inclinedly extended from the upper portion of the second crossed leg 212 in such a manner that the mounting arm 214 of the second crossed leg 212 stands in an upright direction when the foldable chair is in the unfolded condition. Each of the armrest 24 comprises an armrest body 241 which is pivotally and vertically extended from the mounting arm 214 of the second crossed leg 212. The armrest 24 further comprises a pivot arm 242 having a first end 2421 pivotally and movably connected to the armrest body 241 and a second end 2422 pivotally and movably connected to the first crossed leg 211 in such a manner that the armrest body 241 is capable of rotating about the first crossed leg 211. Preferably, the first end 2421 of the pivot arm 242 is pivotally and movably connected to a middle portion of the armrest body 241 and the second end 2422 of the pivot arm 242 is pivotally and movably connected to the middle portion of the first crossed leg 211. And thus when the foldable chair is in the unfolded condition, the two armrests 24 are substantially extended horizontally for a user to comfortably rest his forearms and hands thereon, and when the foldable chair is in the folded condition, the two armrests 24 are substantially extended vertically to parallelly align with the two first crossed legs 211 and the two second crossed legs 212.
FIG. 9 illustrates the foldable chair which is adapted to move from the unfolded condition to the folded condition. Referring to FIG. 8 of the drawings, wherein when the foldable chair is in the folded condition, wherein the second crossed leg 212 rotates about the stand stopper 30 to be overlappedly aligned with the first crossed leg 211 to stand in a substantial upright direction and the first support 22 is substantially aligned overlappedly with the second support 23. And thus the foldable chair is easy for hand carrying or storage.
Referring to FIG. 10 of the drawings, a foldable chair according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the foldable chair comprises a chair seat 10A and a foldable frame 20A, wherein the chair seat 10A comprises a rigid seat member 11A. In other words, the seat member can be made of wood, metal or other rigid material.
Accordingly, the foldable frame 20A comprises two stand frames 21A substantially aligned paralledlly and spacedly with each other, wherein each of the stand frames 21A comprises a first crossed leg 211A and a second crossed leg 212A connected to the first crossed leg 211A at a pivot point 213A, so that the first crossed leg 211A and the second crossed leg 212A are capable of rotating with respect to each other about the pivot point 213A. Accordingly, the foldable chair comprises two stand stoppers 30A provided at the pivot points 213A for mounting the first crossed leg 211A with the second crossed leg 212A of each of the two stand frames 21A respectively.
Each of the two stand stoppers 30A comprises a stopper body 31A having a receiving hole 32A, wherein the stopper body 31A is mounted to one of the first crossed leg 211A and the second crossed leg 212A. As an example, the stopper body 31A is mounted to the second crossed leg 212A at the pivot point 213A, wherein the first crossed leg 211A passes through the receiving hole 32A so that the first crossed leg 211A and the second crossed leg 212A are crossedly aligned with each other.
One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable chair, comprising:

a chair seat;

a foldable frame comprising two stand frames parallelly and spacedly aligned with each other, wherein each of said two stand frames comprises a first crossed leg and a second crossed leg; and

two stand stoppers mounted to said two stand frames respectively, wherein each of said two stand stoppers connects said first crossed leg with said second crossed leg at a pivot point, so that said first crossed leg rotates with respect to said second crossed leg between a folded condition and an unfolded condition, wherein said chair seat is extended between said two stand frames to define a sitting surface for a user to sit on when said foldable chair is in said unfolded condition.

2. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said two stand stoppers comprises a stopper body having a receiving hole, wherein said stopper body is mounted to said second crossed leg, wherein said first crossed leg passes through said receiving hole.

3. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said two stand stoppers comprises a first joint member and a second joint member, wherein said stand stopper body is mounted to said second crossed leg by said first joint member, and said stopper body is mounted to said first crossed leg by said second joint member, wherein said first crossed leg rotates with respect to said second crossed leg about said stand stopper.

4. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said two stand stoppers comprises a first joint member and a second joint member, wherein said stand stopper body is mounted to said second crossed leg by said first joint member, and said stopper body is mounted to said first crossed leg by said second joint member, wherein said first crossed leg rotates with respect to said second crossed leg about said stand stopper.

5. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 4, wherein said first crossed leg and said crossed leg are constructed in arc shape, wherein an upper portion of said first crossed leg and a corresponding upper portion of said second crossed leg define an unfolding angle of said foldable frame in said unfolded condition in such a manner that said chair seat is resting on said upper portions of said first crossed leg and a corresponding upper portion of said second crossed leg at a position above said pivot point.

6. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 1, wherein said foldable frame further comprises a first support and a second support mounted to said two stand frames so as to enhance said stability of said foldable frame in said unfolded condition, wherein said first support comprises two first support arms connected to each other at a first crossed point, wherein said second support comprises two second support arms connected to each other at a second crossed point.

7. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 5, wherein said foldable frame further comprises a first support and a second support mounted to said two stand frames so as to enhance said stability of said foldable frame in said unfolded condition, wherein said first support comprises two first support arms connected to each other at a first crossed point, wherein said second support comprises two second support arms connected to each other at a second crossed point.

8. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 6, further comprising two support stoppers mounting said two first support arms and said two second support arms respectively.

9. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 7, further comprising two support stoppers mounting said two first support arms and said two second support arms respectively.

10. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 8, wherein said two first support arms are connected to said two stand frames in such a manner that a lower end of each of said two first support arms is pivotally mounted to said lower portion of said first crossed leg and an upper end of each of said two first support arms is mounted to said upper portion of said second crossed leg, wherein said two second support arms are mounted to said two stand frames in such a manner that a lower end of each of said two second support arms is pivotally mounted to said lower portion of said second crossed leg and an upper end of each of said two second support arms is mounted to said upper portions of said first crossed leg.

11. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 9, wherein said two first support arms are connected to said two stand frames in such a manner that a lower end of each of said two first support arms is pivotally mounted to said lower portion of said first crossed leg and an upper end of each of said two first support arms is mounted to said upper portion of said second crossed leg, wherein said two second support arms are mounted to said two stand frames in such a manner that a lower end of each of said two second support arms is pivotally mounted to said lower portion of said second crossed leg and an upper end of each of said two second support arms is mounted to said upper portions of said first crossed leg.

12. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 10, wherein each of said two stand frames further comprises a mounting arm integrally and inclinedly extended from said upper portion of said second crossed leg g in such a manner that said mounting arm of said second crossed leg stands in an upright direction when said foldable chair is in said unfolded condition, wherein said foldable frame further comprises two armrest each extended between said mounting arm of said second crossed leg and said first crossed leg.

13. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 11, wherein each of said two stand frames further comprises a mounting arm integrally and inclinedly extended from said upper portion of said second crossed leg in such a manner that said mounting arm of said second crossed leg stands in an upright direction when said foldable chair is in said unfolded condition, wherein said foldable frame further comprises two armrest each extended between said mounting arm of said second crossed leg and said first crossed leg.

14. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 12, wherein each said armrest comprises an armrest body which is pivotally and vertically extended form said mounting arm of said second crossed leg, and a pivot arm having a first end pivotally and movably connected to said armrest body and a second end pivotally and movably connected to said first crossed leg in such a manner that said armrest body is capable of rotating about said first crossed leg.

15. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 13, wherein each said armrest comprises an armrest body which is pivotally and vertically extended form said mounting arm of said second crossed leg, and a pivot arm having a first end pivotally and movably connected to said armrest body and a second end pivotally and movably connected to said first crossed leg in such a manner that said armrest body is capable of rotating about said first crossed leg

16. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 14, wherein said chair seat comprises a seat member having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said seat member is mounted to said upper portion of said first crossed leg and said second end of said seat member is mounted to said upper portion of said second crossed leg.

17. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 16, wherein said chair seat is made of soft material.

18. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 17, wherein said chair seat comprises a plurality of fasteners provided on the edge of said seat member of said chair seat for grasping said upper portions of said first crossed leg and said second crossed leg so that said downward force applied on said chair seat is distributed by said first crossed leg and said second crossed leg.

19. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 3, wherein said chair seat comprises a rigid seat member, wherein said seat member is supported by said two stand frames.

20. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 19, further comprising two retention arms extended between said two stand frames respectively to maintain a distance between said two stand frames.