GB2252494A

GB2252494A - Collapsible seats

Info

Publication number: GB2252494A
Application number: GB9102762A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Robert Reade
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-02-09
Filing date: 1991-02-09
Publication date: 1992-08-12
Anticipated expiration: 2011-02-09
Also published as: GB9102762D0; GB2252494B

Abstract

As a seat assembly is moved from the closed condition shown to an open condition, legs 3 and 4 are pulled apart about pivot 5 and this causes the seat frame 2 to drop down. In a final movement the leg 4 is pulled rearwardly to a further extent thus causing a hook formation 12 to locate about a post 11 on the seat frame. This locks the assembly and prevents the seat frame 2 (and seat 1) from being raised or lowered until the leg 4 is moved forwardly again to release the locating post 11 from the hook formation 12. <IMAGE>

Description

"ImDrovements relatina to Collapsible Seats" The invention relates to the type of collapsible seat assembly which comprises a pair of pivotally interconnected legs, together with a seat portion which is in turn pivotally interconnected with the two legs to form a triangular array with at least one of the pivots to the seat beirg in a slot, thus enabling the seat to be raised as the legs are moved together to create a compact array for storage and transportation purposes.

The object of this invention is to provide a seat assembly of the above type which can readily be locked in its open condition to prevent inadvertent tipping up of the seat portion.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a pivotal stay member for a collapsible seat assembly of the type as hereinbefore defined, the stay member having a first pivot connection at one end for interconnection with one of the legs, a second pivot connection displaced longitudinally from the first pivot connection for interconnection with the seat portion of the seat assembly, one or both of the pivot connections being slidable to enable the stay member to slide with respect to the relevant part of the seat assembly, and a hook formation at one edge of the stay member, the open mouth of the hook portion facing longitudinally towards the first pivot connection, and designed to fit around a locating post situated on the seat portion of the seat assembly.

When such a stay member is integrated into the collapsible seat assembly, so as to replace one of the pivots between the seat and one of the legs, it enables the assembly to be manipulated between a closed, compact, state and an open condition where the seat is presented for normal use. In addition, however, the provision of the hook formation ensures that when the legs of the seat are moved apart as far as possible the locating post will enter the hook formation and thus lock the seat portion against unintentional pivoting. In order to enable the seat portion to be pivoted the legs of the seat have to be moved towards one another (such movement being taken up by the slidable engagement of one or both pivot connections with the relevant part of the seat assembly), so that the locking post is released from the hook formation, thus enabling the seat portion itself to be pivoted.

The slidable engagement of one or both of the pivot connections can be achieved by providing a slotted opening as the pivot connection to the seat member.

Whilst the hook formation could be positioned longitudinally towards one end beyond the second of the two pivot connections, it is preferred that the hook formation should be situated between the two pivot connections.

Advantageously, the end of the stay member incorporating the first pivot connection will be cranked out of line with the rest of the stay member so that the seat portion can be positioned well within the space between the pairs of legs at either side of the seat assembly.

The invention further extends to a seat assembly of the type as hereinbefore defined incorporating the pivotal stay member of this invention interconnected between respective pivot points on one of the legs and the seat portion of the seat assembly.

The invention may be performed in various ways and one preferred embodiment thereof will now be described by way of ex=pqe, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are respectively open and closed views of a collapsible seat assembly incorporating a stay member of this invention, and Figures 3 and 4 are side and edge views respectively of the stay member.

The seat assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a seat 1 on a seat frame 2 together with a front leg 3 and a rear leg 4. The two legs are pivotally interconnected by a pivot 5. The front leg 3 is additionally pivotally connected to the seat frame 2 by a pivot 6. The seat frame 2 is pivotally interconnected with the rear leg 4 by a stay member 7. At one end the stay member is linked to the rear leg 4 by a pivot 8 and at its other end a slot 9 is situated about a pivot post 10. A locating post 11 on the seat frame 2 engages into a locating hook 12 (Figures 2 and 3) on the stay member 7.

When actuating the seat assembly to move it from the closed condition shown in Figure 2 to the open condition shown in Figure 1 the legs 3 and 4 are pulled apart about the pivot 5 and this causes the seat frame 2 to drop down into the condition shown in Figure 1. In a final movement the leg 4 is pulled rearwardly to a further extent thus causing the hook formation 12 to locate about the post 11.

This locks the assembly and prevents the seat frame 2 (and seat 1) from being raised or lowered until the leg 4 is moved forwardly again to release the locating post 11 from the hook formation 12.

As shown in Figure 4 the stay member 7 incorporates a crank 13 which enables the seat frame 2 to be positioned within the boundaries defined by the pair of rear legs 4.

It will be appreciated that the design of the stay member 7 could be modified so that a portion extends beyond the region incorporating the slot 9, this additional portion incorporating the hook formation 12 which can thus locate about the post 11 situated at a more forward position on the seat frame 2. This would be a workable design (and indeed the hook portion can conceivably be positioned above rather below the stay member) but would not be so robust in locking the seat assembly in the desired open condition.

Claims

1. A pivotal stay member for a collapsible seat assembly of the type as hereinbefore defined, the stay member having a first pivot connection at one end for interconnection with one of the legs, a second pivot connection displaced longitudinally from the first pivot connection for interconnection with the seat portion of the seat assembly, one or both of the pivot connections being slidable to enable the stay member to slide with respect to the relevant part of the seat assembly, and a hook formation at one edge of the stay member, the open mouth of the hook portion facing longitudinally towards the first pivot connection, and designed to fit around a locating post situated on the seat portion of the seat assembly.

2. A stay member according to Claim 1, wherein slidable engagement of one or both of the pivot connections is achieved by providing a slotted opening as the pivot connection to the seat member.

3. A stay member according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the hook formation is positioned longitudinally towards one end beyond the second of the two pivot connections.

4. A stay member according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the hook formation is situated between the two pivot connections.

5. A stay member according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the end of the stay member incorporating the first pivot connection is cranked out of line with the rest of the stay member so that the seat portion can be positioned well within the space between the pairs of legs at either side of the seat assembly.

6. A pivotal stay member substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A seat assembly of the type as hereinbefore defined incorporating the pivotal stay member of this invention as defined in any one of Claims l to 6 and interconnected between respective pivot points on one of the legs and the seat portion of the seat assembly.