EP2865290A1

EP2865290A1 - Chair-convertible walking stick

Info

Publication number: EP2865290A1
Application number: EP20140189631
Authority: EP
Inventors: Chih-Ting PAO
Original assignee: Step2Gold Co Ltd
Current assignee: Step2Gold Co Ltd
Priority date: 2013-10-23
Filing date: 2014-10-21
Publication date: 2015-04-29
Anticipated expiration: 2034-10-21
Also published as: CN104545072A; CN104545072B; EP2865290B1; JP5869647B2; TWI483694B; JP2015080724A; TW201515605A

Abstract

A chair-convertible walking stick includes a stick shank (11), a collar sleeve (22) movable between distal and proximate positions on the stick shank (11), a carrier slidable (21) between upper and lower positions on the stick shank (11), and a seat unit (3). The seat unit (3) includes a middle portion (31) pivotally connected to the collar sleeve (22), and left and right wing portions (33) hinged to the middle portion (31). When the collar sleeve (22) is displaced from the distal position to the proximate position, the seat unit (33) is convertible from a use state, where middle portion (31) is coplanar with the left and right wing portions (32), to a collapsed state, where the middle portion (31) is at an included angle with each of the left and right wing portions (32).

Description

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a chair-convertible walking stick.

2. Description of the Related Art

U.S. patent no. 2380437 discloses a crutch assembly which includes a crutch and a foldable seat. One problem with the crutch assembly is that when the seat is in its folded position, a mechanism for supporting the seat, such as supporting legs, etc., is not compactly folded and is exposed to the user, so that the user may easily get hurt by the folded supporting mechanism. U.S. patent no. 3999565 discloses a walking stick device in which a support member for supporting the wounded knee or leg is fastened to a standard/body in a retractable fashion. The walking stick device may encounter the similar problem.
An object of the present invention is to provide a chair-convertible walking stick in which a seat unit can be transformed from a use state to a collapsed state by virtue of a novel conversion mechanism. With the novel conversion mechanism, when a person uses the chair-convertible walking stick of this invention with the seat unit in the collapsed state, he/she is less likely to get hurt by the walking stick.
According to this invention, a chair-convertible walking stick includes:

a stick shank extending in a lengthwise direction to terminate at a grip end and a foot end;
a collar sleeve sleeved on the stick shank and movable between distal and proximate positions relative to the grip end;
a carrier configured to be slidable on the stick shank and movable between upper and lower positions;
a seat unit including, a middle portion extending in a longitudinal direction to terminate at a forward edge and a rearward edge which is pivotally connected to the collar sleeve, and left and right wing portions each being juxtaposed with the middle portion along a hinge line, and each being hinged to the middle portion at the respective hinge line such that when the collar sleeve is displaced from the distal position to the proximate position, the seat unit is convertible from a use state, where the middle portion is coplanar with the left and right wing portions, to a collapsed state, where the middle portion is at an included angle with each of the left and right wing portions;
two keyways each being disposed on an under surface of a corresponding one of the left and right wing portions, and each extending along the longitudinal direction to terminate at front and rear keyway ends;
two bracing bars each having a pivot end pivotally connected to the carrier, and a key end configured to be slidably engaged with a corresponding one of the keyways such that when the key end slides from the front keyway end of a respective one of the keyways to the rear keyway end of the respective one of the keyways, the seat unit is converted from the use state to the collapsed state;
two prop legs each extending to terminate at a bottom end for standing on the ground, and a pivoted end pivotally connected to the carrier, the two prop legs being convertible between a straddling position, where the bottom ends of the prop legs are remote from the stick shank, and an upheld position, where the bottom ends are close to the stick shank such that when the collar sleeve is displaced from the distal position to the proximate position, the prop legs are permitted to move from the straddling position to the upheld position; and
first and second retaining members respectively disposed to prevent the collar sleeve and the carrier from moving toward the foot end and to permit the collar sleeve and the carrier to be retained at the distal and lower positions, respectively.

IN THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a chair-convertible walking stick in accordance with the present invention, where a seat unit of the chair-convertible walking stick is in a use state;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the chair-convertible walking stick in Fig. 1, showing that the seat unit of the chair-convertible walking stick is in a collapsed state;
Fig. 3 is an operational perspective view of the chair-convertible walking stick in Fig. 1, showing that the seat unit of the chair-convertible walking stick is in a state between the use state and the collapsed state, some elements in the right side of the walking stick being omitted for clarity;
Fig. 4 is another perspective view of the chair-convertible walking stick in Fig. 2 but with some elements in the right side of the walking stick omitted;
Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the seat unit of the chair-convertible walking stick in Fig. 1 when the seat unit is in the use state;
Fig. 6 is a side view of the chair-convertible walking stick in Fig. 1 when the seat unit is in the use state;
Fig. 7 is an operational side view of the chair-convertible walking stick Fig. 1, showing that the seat unit is in a state between the use state and the collapsed state;
Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the seat unit of the chair-convertible walking stick in Fig. 1 when the seat unit is in the use state;
Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a carrier of the chair-convertible walking stick in Fig. 1;
Fig. 10 is an enlarged side view in partial section of the chair-convertible walking stick in Fig. 1, showing a key assembly and a keyway in an engaged state;
Fig. 11 is an enlarged bottom view of the seat unit of the chair-convertible walking stick in Fig. 1;
Fig. 12 is an operational side view of a second embodiment of a chair-convertible walking stick in accordance with the present invention, where a seat unit is in a state between a use state and a collapsed state;
Fig. 13 is a cross sectional side view of a third embodiment of a chair-convertible walking stick in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 14 is an exploded view of a forth the embodiment of a chair-convertible walking stick in accordance the present invention;
Fig. 15 is a side view of a fifth embodiment of a chair-convertible walking stick in accordance the present invention;
Fig. 16 shows enlarged operation perspective views of the locking device of a chair-convertible walking stick in accordance the present invention;
Fig. 17 is an enlarged top view in partial section of the locking device in Fig. 16; and
Fig. 18 is a side view of a sixth embodiment of a chair-convertible walking stick in accordance the present invention.

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted herein that same reference numerals are used to denote like elements throughout the specification.
With reference to Figs. 1 to 7, a first preferred embodiment of a chair-convertible walking stick in accordance with the present invention includes a supporting unit 1, a conversion mechanism 2, a seat unit 3, and first and second retaining members 13, 14. The supporting unit 1 includes a stick shank 11, a grip 112, and two prop legs 12. The conversion mechanism 2 includes a collar sleeve 22, a carrier 21, two keyways 33, and two bracing bars 23.
The stick shank 11 extends in a lengthwise direction (X) to terminate at opposite grip and foot ends 113, 114. The grip 112 is connected to the grip end 113.
The collar sleeve 22 is sleeved on the stick shank 11 and is movable between distal and proximate positions, relative to the grip end 113.
The carrier 21 is slidable on the stick shank 11, and is movable between an upper position, where the collar sleeve 22 is moved to the proximate position, and a lower position, where the collar sleeve 22 is moved to the distal position. Alternatively, the carrier 21 is securely mounted on and is not slidable relative to the stick shank 11 as shown in Fig. 15.
The seat unit 3 includes a middle portion 31 and left and right wing portions 32. The middle portion 31 extends in a longitudinal direction (L) to terminate at a forward edge 312 and a rearward edge 311 which is pivotally connected to the collar sleeve 22. Each of the left and right wing portions 32 is hinged to the middle portion 31 along a hinge line 313, and is juxtaposed with the middle portion 31 along the respective hinge line 313. When the collar sleeve 22 is displaced from the distal position to the proximate position, the seat unit 3 is convertible from a use state, where the middle portion 31 is coplanar with the left and right wing portions 32 (as best shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6), to a collapsed state, where the middle portion 31 is at an included angle with each of the left and right wing portions 32 (as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4).
Each of the keyways 33 is disposed on an under surface of a corresponding one of the left and right wing portions 32, and extends along the longitudinal direction (L) to terminate at front and rear keyway ends 331, 332. The front keyway end 331 is disposed remote from the respective hinged line 313, and the rear keyway end 332 is disposed close to the respective hinged line 313 so as to facilitate conversion of the seat unit 3 from the use state to the collapsed state.
Each of the bracing bars 23 has a pivot end 231 pivotally connected to the carrier 21, and a key end 232 configured to be slidably engaged with a corresponding one of the keyways 33 such that when the key end 232 slides from the respective front keyway end 331 to the respective rear keyway end 332, the seat unit 3 is transformed from the use state to the collapsed state.
Each of the prop legs 12 has a bottom end 124 for standing on the ground, and a pivoted end 125 pivotally connected to the carrier 21. The prop legs 12 are convertible between a straddling position (Figs. 1 and 6), where the bottom ends 124 of the prop legs 12 are remote from the stick shank 11, and an upheld position (Figs. 2 and 4), where the bottom ends 124 are close to the stick shank 11. When the collar sleeve 22 is displaced from the distal position to the proximate position, the prop legs 12 are permitted to move from the straddling position to the upheld position.
With reference to Figs. 1 and 6, when the walking stick is used as a chair, i.e., when the seat unit 3 is in the use state, the bracing bars 23 and the prop legs 12 are opposite to each other relative to the stick shank 11.
In this embodiment, each of the prop legs 12 includes upper and lower segments 121, 122 which are linked to each other. The upper segment 121 has the respective pivoted end 125, and the lower segment 122 has the respective bottom end 124. When the prop legs 12 are in the straddling position, the upper and lower segments 121, 122 are in an unfolded state, and when the prop legs 12 are in the upheld position, the upper and lower segments 121, 122 are in a folded state.
The first and second retaining members 13, 14 are respectively disposed to prevent the collar sleeve 22 and the carrier 21 from moving toward the foot end 114 and to retain the collar sleeve 22 and the carrier 21 at the distal and lower positions, respectively. Preferably, the carrier 21 can abut with the second retaining member 14 directly to hold the carrier at a lower position. Alternatively, with reference to Fig. 18, an abutting rod 216 is mounted on and protruding from the carrier 21 to abut with the second retaining member 14 to reduce the pressure applied to the carrier 21 and to having a capability of spreading the pressure applied onto the carrier 21.
Preferably, the walking stick further includes a third retaining member 28 which is disposed to prevent the collar sleeve 22 from moving toward the foot end 114 and to permit the collar sleeve 22 to be retained at the proximate position.
With reference to Figs. 1 and 6, the walking stick further includes first and second biasing members 27, 26. The first biasing member 27 is disposed to bias the collar sleeve 22 toward the first retaining member 13 by virtue of a first biasing force. The second biasing member 26 is disposed to bias the carrier 21 toward the second retaining member 14 by virtue of a second biasing force. When the collar sleeve 22 is subjected to a manual pulling force and is thereby displaced to a first transit position, where the manual pulling force counteracts the first and second biasing forces and gravity of the carrier 21 and the collar sleeve 22, the seat unit 3 is convertible from the use state to the collapsed state, and such that when the collar sleeve 22 is subsequently displaced to the proximate position and is retained thereat by the third retaining member 28, the carrier 21 is displaced to the upper position.
The stick shank 11 is formed with a lengthwise-extending groove 111. The first biasing member 27 is disposed in the lengthwise-extending groove 111 and has two ends respectively connected to the collar sleeve 22 and a groove-defining wall at a first position that is located between the first and second retaining members 13, 14. The second biasing member 26 is also disposed in the lengthwise-extending groove 111, and has two ends respectively connected to the carrier 21 and the groove-defining wall at a second position that is located between the second retaining member 14 and the foot end 114. In this embodiment, the stick shank 11 is formed with four lengthwise-extending grooves 111 which are angularly displaced apart from each other, and each of which has the first and second biasing members 27,26.
When the seat unit 3 is in the use state for sitting as shown in Fig. 1, the collar sleeve 22 is displaced to the distal position, the carrier 21 is displaced to the lower position, the key end 232 of each bracing bar 23 is slid to the respective front keyway end 331, and the prop legs 12 are displaced to the straddling position.
With further reference to Figs. 2 and 4, when the seat unit 3 is in the collapsed state for assisting walking, the collar sleeve 22 is displaced to the proximate position, the carrier 21 is displaced to the upper position, the key end 232 of each bracing bar 23 is slid to the respective rear keyway end 332, and the prop legs 12 are displaced to the upheld position.
In a preferred embodiment, with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 16 and 17, the collar sleeve 22 is provided with a locking device 40 selectively locked with the third retaining member 28 to hold the position of the collar sleeve 22 when the collar sleeve 22 is displaced to the proximate position to thereby retain the collar sleeve 22 thereat. Preferably, the third retaining member 28 is an engaging notch defined in the stick shank 11 at a position near the grip end 113. The locking device 40 is rotatably mounted around the stick shank 11 and is connected with the collar sleeve 22. The locking device 40 has an engaging block 42 formed on the locking device 40 and selectively engaging the third retaining member 28. When the collar sleeve is moved to the proximate position, the locking device is rotated to engage the engaging block 42 with the third retaining member 28 so as to hold the position of the collar sleeve 22. To release the collar sleeve 22, it is simply necessary to rotate and unlock the locking device 40.
With reference to Fig. 1, the walking stick further includes two strut members 24 and two linking members 123.
Each of the strut members 24 has a sleeve-side end 241 pivotally connected to the collar sleeve 22, and a bar-side end 242 pivotally connected to a corresponding one of the bracing bars 23 between the respective pivot end 231 and the respective key end 232 so as to facilitate sliding of the respective key end 232 between the respective front and rear keyway ends 331, 332. Furthermore, a distance between the bar-side end 242 and the respective pivot end 231 is slightly shorter than a distance between the bar-side end 242 and the respective key end 232.
Each linking member 123 has an upper linking end 126 pivotally connected to the collar sleeve 22, and a lower linking end 127 pivotally connected to the respective pivoted end 125 so as to facilitate displacement of each of the prop legs 12 between the straddling position and the upheld position.
With reference to Figs. 2 and 4, the seat unit 3 is configured such that, when in the collapsed state, the left and right wing portions 32 are disposed angularly about the stick shank 11 and define a gap 30 therebetween. The gap 30 is opposite to the middle portion 31 relative to the stick shank 11, and is configured to accommodate the prop legs 12 therein when the prop legs 12 are displaced to the upheld position. In addition, when the seat unit 3 is converted to the collapsed state, the bracing bars 23 and the strut members 24 are accommodated in a space between the middle portion 31 and the stick shank 11. Hence, when a person uses the walking stick with the seat unit 3 in the collapsed state for assisting walking, he/she is less likely to get hurt by the walking stick.
In this embodiment, with reference to Fig. 8, the middle portion 31 extends to terminate at left and right margins 314 (only one is shown) that are adjacent to the left and right wing portions 32 and that are rounded. Each of the left and right wing portions 32 extends to terminate at a connection margin 321 (only one is shown) that is rounded. When a user is going to seat on the seat unit 3 to make the seat unit 3 to be fully transformed into the use state, his/her clothes is less likely to be clamped by a slit among the middle portion 31 and the left and right wing portions 32.
In addition, with reference to Figs. 8, 10 and 11, the chair-convertible walking stick further includes two key assemblies 25, each of which includes an engageable key unit 251 and a pivotable key unit 252. The engageable key unit 251 is configured to be slidably and rotatably engaged with the corresponding one of the keyways 33. The pivotable key unit 252 is configured to be pivotally connected to the engageable key unit 251 about a pivot axis, and is pivotally connect to the key end 232 of the corresponding one of the bracing bars 23. The pivot axis is surrounded by a curved arrow 259 shown in Fig. 10.
The engageable key unit 251 includes a key stem 253, a key seat 254, and a key head 256. The key seat 254 is formed with an insertion hole 255. The key stem 253 extends in a lengthwise axis (A) to terminate at a connection end 257 and a free end 258, and is configured to be inserted in the insertion hole 255 so as to permit the key seat 254 to rotate about the lengthwise axis (A) which is perpendicular to the pivot axis. The key head 256 is connected to the connected end 257 of the key stem 253 and is slidably engaged with the corresponding one of the keyways 33.
With further reference to Figs. 1 and 9, in this preferred embodiment, the carrier 21 includes a hub body 210 having an inner tubular surface 212 slidably engaged with the stick shank 11, and an outer anchoring surface 213 which is opposite to the inner tubular surface 212 in radial directions, and which is configured to permit the bracing bars 23 and the prop legs 12 to be pivotally connected thereto. In this embodiment, the second retaining member 14 has a dimension larger than that of the first retaining member 13. The inner tubular surface 212 is configured to have a groove region 214 for passage of the first retaining member 13 therethrough and a raised region 211 that abuts against the second retaining member 14 when the carrier 21 is displaced to the lower position.
Fig. 12 illustrates a chair-convertible walking stick according to a second preferred embodiment of this invention. The second preferred embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that, in the second preferred embodiment, the first and second biasing members 27, 26 are omitted. In the second preferred embodiment, the chair-convertible walking stick further includes a fourth retaining member 15 and a third biasing member 29. The fourth retaining member 15 is disposed to retain the carrier 21 at the upper position. The third biasing member 29 is disposed to bias the collar sleeve 22 toward the carrier 21 by a third biasing force. When the collar sleeve 22 is subjected to a manual pulling force to be thereby displaced to a second transit position, where the manual pulling force counteracts the third biasing force and gravity of the carrier 21 and the collar sleeve 22, the carrier 21 is displaced to the upper position and retained thereat by the fourth retaining member 15. When the collar sleeve 22 is subsequently displaced to the proximate position and to be retained by the third retaining member 28, the seat unit 3 is converted from the use state to the collapsed state.
In the second embodiment, the third biasing member 29 is disposed to be connected between the collar sleeve 22 and the carrier 21 so as to bias the collar sleeve 22 toward the carrier 21.
Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a third preferred embodiment of a chair-convertible walking stick according to of this invention. In the third embodiment, the engageable key unit 251 further includes a fourth biasing member 250, and the key head 256 is displaceable between a first key position and a second key position. The fourth biasing member 250 is sleeved on the key stem 253 and is disposed between the key seat 254 and said key head 256 to bias the key head 256 to the first key position. Thus, by virtue of the biasing action of the fourth biasing member 250 which urges the key head 256 to abut against the corresponding one of the keyways 33, when the seat unit 3 is converted to the collapsed state, undesired wobbling movement of the key head 256 of each of the key assemblies 25 relative to the corresponding one of the keyways 33 can be prevented.
Fig. 14 illustrates a portion of a fourth embodiment of a chair-convertible walking stick of this invention. In this preferred embodiment, the walking stick further includes a fifth biasing member 35.
The fifth biasing member 35 is disposed adjacent to the rearward edge 311 of the middle portion 31 of the seat unit 3 to bias the seat unit 3 from the collapsed state to the use state.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

A chair-convertible walking stick characterized in that the walking stick comprises:
a stick shank (11) extending in a lengthwise direction (X) to terminate at a grip end (113) and a foot end (114);

a collar sleeve (22) sleeved on said stick shank (11) and movable between distal and proximate positions relative to said grip end (113);

a carrier (21) mounted on said stick shank (11);

a seat unit (3) including,

a middle portion (31) extending in a longitudinal direction (L) to terminate at a forward edge (312) and a rearward edge (311) which is pivotally connected to said collar sleeve (22), and

left and right wing portions (32) each being juxtaposed with said middle portion (31) along a hinge line (313), and each being hinged to said middle portion (31) at the respective hinge line (313) such that when said collar sleeve (22) is displaced from the distal position to the proximate position, said seat unit (3) is convertible from a use state, where said middle portion (31) is coplanar with said left and right wing portions (32), to a collapsed state, where said middle portion (31) is at an included angle with each of said left and right wing portions (32);

two keyways (33) each being disposed on an under surface of a corresponding one of said left and right wing portions (32), and each extending along the longitudinal direction (L) to terminate at front and rear keyway ends(331,332);

two bracing bars (23) each having a pivot end (231) pivotally connected to said carrier (21), and a key end (232) configured to be slidably engaged with a corresponding one of said keyways (33)such that when said key end (232) slides from said front keyway end (331) of a respective one of said keyways (33) to said rear keyway end (332) of the respective one of said keyways (33), said seat unit (3) is converted from the use state to the collapsed state; and

two prop legs (12) each extending to terminate at a bottom end (124) for standing on the ground, and a pivoted end (125) pivotally connected to said carrier (21), said two prop legs (12) being convertible between a straddling position, where said bottom ends (124) of said prop legs (12) are remote from said stick shank (11), and an upheld position, where said bottom ends (124) are close to said stick shank (11) such that when said collar sleeve (22) is displaced from the distal position to the proximate position, said prop legs (12) are permitted to move from the straddling position to the upheld position.
The chair-convertible walking stick as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier (21) is configured to be slidable on said stick shank (11) and is movable between upper and lower positions.
The chair-convertible walking stick as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier (21) is securely mounted on said stick shank (11).
The chair-convertible walking stick as claimed in claim 1 or 2 further comprising two strut members (24) each having a sleeve-side end (241) pivotally connected to said collar sleeve (22), and a bar-side end (242) pivotally connected to a corresponding one of said bracing bars (23) between said pivot end (231) and said key end (232) of the corresponding one of said bracing bars (23) so as to facilitate sliding of said key end (232) between said front and rear keyway ends (331,332) of the respective one of said keyways (33).
The chair-convertible walking stick as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a second retaining member (14) disposed to prevent said carrier (21) from moving toward said foot end (114) and to permit carrier (21) to be retained at the lower position.
The chair-convertible walking stick as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising two key assemblies (25) each of which includes
an engageable key unit (251) configured to be slidably and rotatably engaged with the corresponding one of said keyways (33), and
a pivotable key unit (252) which is configured to be pivotally connected to said engageable key unit (251) about a pivot axis, and which is configured to be pivotally connected to said key end (232) of the corresponding one of said bracing bars (23).
The chair-convertible walking stick as claimed in claim 6, wherein said engageable key unit (251) includes:
a key seat (254) formed with an insertion hole (255);

a key stem (253) extending in a lengthwise axis (A) to terminate at a connected end (257) and a free end (258), and configured to be inserted in said insertion hole (255) so as to permit said key seat (254) to rotate about the lengthwise axis (A) which is perpendicular to the pivot axis;

a key head (256) connected to said connected end (257) of said key stem (253) and displaceable between a first key position and a second key position; and

a fourth biasing member (250) sleeved on said key stem (253) and disposed between said key seat (254) and said key head (256) to bias said key head (256) to the first key position.
The chair-convertible walking stick as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein each of said prop legs (12) includes upper and lower segments (121,122) which are linked to each other, and which respectively have said pivoted end (125) and said bottom end (124), such that when said prop legs (12) are in the straddling position, said upper and lower segments (121,122) are in an unfolded state, and when said prop legs (12) are in the upheld position, said upper and lower segments (121,122) are in a folded state.
The chair-convertible walking stick as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 and 4 to 8, further comprising
a third biasing member (29) disposed to bias said collar sleeve (22) toward said carrier (21) with a third biasing force, such that when said collar sleeve (22) is subjected to a manual pulling force to be thereby displaced to a second transit position, where the manual pulling force counteracts the third biasing force, said carrier (21) is displaced to the upper position, and such that when said collar sleeve (22) is subsequently displaced to the proximate position and is retained thereat by said third retaining member (29), said seat unit (3) is converted from the use state to the collapsed state.
The chair-convertible walking stick as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 and 4 to 8, wherein said front keyway end (331) is disposed remote from the respective hinged line (313), and said rear keyway end (332) is disposed close to the respective hinged line (313) so as to facilitate conversion of said seat unit (3) from the use state to the collapsed state.
The chair-convertible walking stick as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said seat unit comprises a biasing member (35) disposed adjacent to said rearward edge (311) of said middle portion (31) of said seat unit (3) to bias said seat unit (3) from the collapsed state to the use state.
A seat unit for a chair-convertible walking stick characterized in that the seat unit comprises:
a middle portion (31) extending in a longitudinal direction (L) to terminate at a forward edge (312) and a rearward edge (311) which is pivotally connected to said collar sleeve (22), and

left and right wing portions (32) each being juxtaposed with said middle portion (31) along a hinge line (313), and each being hinged to said middle portion (31) at the respective hinge line (313) such that where said middle portion (31) is coplanar with said left and right wing portions (32), to a collapsed state, where said middle portion is at an included angle with each of said left and right wing portions (32);

two keyways (33) each being disposed on an under surface of a corresponding one of said left and right wing portions (32), and each extending along the longitudinal direction (L) to terminate at front and rear keyway ends (331,332); and

two bracing bars (23) each having a pivot end (231) connected to said carrier (21), and a key end (232) configured to be slidably engaged with a corresponding one of said keyways (33) such that when said key end (232) slides from said front keyway end (331) of a respective one of said keyways (33) to said rear keyway end (332) of the respective one of said keyways (33), said seat unit (3) is converted from the use state to the collapsed state.
The seat unit as claimed in claim 12, further comprising two strut members (24) each having a bar-side end (242) pivotally connected to a corresponding one of said bracing bars (23) between said pivot end (231) and said key end (232) of the corresponding one of said bracing bars (23) so as to facilitate sliding of said key end (232) between said front and rear keyway ends (331,332) of the respective one of said keyways (33).
The seat unit as claimed in claim 13, further comprising two key assemblies (25) each of which includes
an engageable key unit (251) configured to be slidably and rotatably engaged with the corresponding one of said keyways (33), and
a pivotable key unit (252) which is configured to be pivotally connected to said engageable key unit (251) about a pivot axis, and which is configured to be pivotally connected to said key end (232) of the corresponding one of said bracing bars (23).
The seat unit as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein said seat unit comprises a biasing member (35) disposed adjacent to said rearward edge (311) of said middle portion (31) of said seat unit (3) to bias said seat unit (3) from the collapsed state to the use state.