US20050140182A1

US20050140182A1 - Compact folding chair

Info

Publication number: US20050140182A1
Application number: US10/506,253
Authority: US
Inventors: Shing Tsang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-03-12
Filing date: 2003-03-10
Publication date: 2005-06-30
Also published as: AU2003214785B2; EP1487303A1; NZ535669A; WO2003075717A1; EP1487303A4; AU2003214785A1; CA2479101A1

Abstract

The preferred embodiment of compact folding chair comprises of a sitting base pivotally connected to a backrest, which is supported by two sets of legs and locking mechanism. A set of level blocks, a pair of sliding bars and a pair of tie bars is used so arranged to be move so that the chair could be folded into a compact position for transport and storage purpose. This present invention solves the problems of being taken up space during transportation and storage. The alternative embodiment of the present invention comprises of a sitting base pivotally connected to a backrest, which is supported by two sets of legs and locking mechanism. A pair of armrests, two sets of level blocks, two sets of sliding bars, and two sets of tie bars is used so arranged to be move so that the chair could be folded into compact position and provide comfortability to the user with multi position armrests.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a folding chair that has an improved folding manner for easy transport and with less space of storage in the folded position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Chairs are widely used in daily activities. A conventional type of chair will not able to provide comfort for user and often not stored after used. It is therefore the foldable chairs have the advantage of being folded and for easy transport and storage.
The use of folding chairs is known in the prior art. Folding chairs are devised and utilized for the purpose of providing a seat that folds up for easy storage and transport. It is basically consisting of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by most prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
There are varieties of folded chairs have been made in the market. These folding chairs normally require big volume of space during transportation and storage. This will lead to the increase in the storage space as well as the transportation fee and space.
It is the general object of the present invention to provide compact folding chair to facilitate transport and storage of the folding chair.
Still another object of the present invention to provide locking element where the chair will lock automatically once the chair is in an unfolded or opened out position. The opened out position is extremely stable and eliminates the possibility of collapsing when the chair is being placed into such position of use.
A further object of the present invention is to provide improved multi position chair having an adjustable inclined backrest to enable user to adjust the desirable position of inclination according to their comfortability.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of present invention essentially comprises of a sitting base being pivotally connected to the backrest by a plurality of connecting means and supported by a plurality of legs. The said legs consist of a pair of rear legs and a set of front legs, whereby the upper end of the front legs are connected to the said sitting base by connecting means.
A pivoting bar is provided to connect the said backrest and said rear legs by a plurality of connecting means in order to the said backrest to be rested on the said rear legs. The opening and closing of the chair is governed by a tie bar which link the lower part of the said backrest and said front legs, wherein to prevent the said backrest from expanding to further unstable position. A set of blocks is placed between the said pivoting bar and the said tie bar in order to parallel the connecting of the said backrest to the said front legs.
The said two pair of legs, sitting base, backrest, tie bars, pivoting bars and blocks can be brought together thereby producing an extremely compact folded position to the chair for less space during transport and storage.
The said chair is locked automatically when in opened position by a locking mechanism comprises of a locking bar which is mounted on the underside of the said sitting base. The locking must be manually moved into release position in order to unlock and fold the chair.
The alternative embodiment of the present invention comprises of a backrest, whereby the said backrest is cut into two to form an upper portion and a lower portion, and connected by a bracket having at least two holes in order to provide inclined position for the said upper portion of backrest; and a sitting seat base being pivotally connected to the said lower portion of backrest by a plurality of connecting means and supported by a plurality of legs. The said legs consist of a pair of rear legs and a pair of front legs.
A pair of armrests is pivotally connected to the said upper portion, wherein each of said armrest has a track with plurality of stop notches at the lower side of the said armrest.
The said rear legs is pivotally connected to the front end side of the said sitting base by connecting means and to the said lower portion of backrest by a set of pivoting bars with connecting means.
The said pair of front legs is pivotally connected to the front end side of the said sitting base with connection means. The upper end side of the said front leg is attached with a connector, whereby the said connector is served as a guide element to slide within the said track to enable the user to adjust positions in relation of comfortability to the horizontal plane or the seat of the chair.
A first set of pivoting bars is pivotally connected at the lower end side of said backrest and to the said rear legs in order to enable the backrest to be rested on the said rear legs when in open out position. A second set of pivoting bars is pivotally connected at the front end side of the said sitting base and to the second set of tie bars.
A first set of level blocks is mounted at the first set of the said pivoting bars with connecting means. A second set of level blocks is mounted at the said rear legs with connecting means. Both sets of the said level blocks are used to provide parallel level for the connection of two components.
A first set of tie bars is pivotally connected to the said front legs and to the first set of the said block; so as to keep the said backrest resting on the said rear legs when in open out position. A second set of tie bars is pivotally connected to the second set of the said pivoting bars and to the first set of said block in order to provide stability of the said sitting base in open out position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side view of the folding chair according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention in its open condition.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the sitting base.
FIG. 3 illustrates the locking mechanism with the locking bar in its locking position.
FIG. 4 illustrates the locking mechanism with the locking bar in its release position.
FIG. 5 is a side view of the folding chair according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention in its folded condition.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the folding chair according to the alternative embodiment of the present invention in its open condition.
FIG. 7 is a side view of the folding chair according to the alternative embodiment of the present invention in its folded condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the compact folding chair of the preferred embodiment. A sitting base (2) being pivotally connected to a backrest (1) having an inclined surface at the lower end with connection means (10) which could be nuts and bolt assemblies, fasteners, screws, snaps, clamps, clips or other such equivalents that could be used to secure one surface to another.
A pair of inclined rear legs (3) is pivotally connected to the front end of the said sitting base (2) with pivotal means (11), whereby the said inclined surface of the said backrest (1) is rested on the said rear legs (3) when in open out position. A pair of inclined front legs (4) is pivotally connected to the front end of the said sitting base (2) at the same pivotal means (11) of the rear legs (3).
A set of pivoting bars (7) is pivotally connected to the lower end side of the said backrest (1) with a first connecting means (6) and the other end is pivotally connected to the said rear legs (3) with a second connecting means (8) to enable the said backrest (1) to be rested on the said rear legs (3) when in open out position. A set of level blocks (5) is mounted at the said pivoting bars (7) with the first connecting means (6) at the same position with the said pivoting bars (7) and the said backrest (1). A set of tie bars (9), wherein one end of the said tie bars (9) is pivotally connected (12) at the said front legs (4) and the other end is pivotally connected to the said level blocks (5) in order to prevent the said backrest (1) from collapse and retract to folded position.
FIG. 2 shows the front view of the sitting base (2). FIGS. 3 and 4 show the cross sectional inner side view of the said sitting base (2) and a locking bar (14). The sitting base includes the downwardly extending flange (2 a). The inward faces of the side of the flanges (2 a) adjacent the front edge are provided with a pair of recesses (15). The locking mechanism comprises the locking bar (14) extending laterally across the width of the said sitting base (2) with its ends located loosely in the recesses (15) preferably a triangular shape recesses on the underside of the said sitting base (2). A notch (25) is formed on the top end of the inclined front leg (4). In the locked condition, the said locking bar (14) is is caught into the notch (25) and biased into the locking position as shown in FIG. 3 under the action of gravity, as represented by the arrow (13). Under this condition, the locking bar (14) is rests on the inclined edge of the triangular recesses (15). In order to close the chair, the user must temporarily dislodge the said locking bar (14) by lifting the said locking bar (14) into release position, as shown by the arrow (16) in FIG. 4.
In the operation of opening the chair, the front leg (4) is pivot to the front direction. As the end of the said front leg (4) approaches the final position wherein the said tie bar (9) is parallel to the said sitting base (2) horizontally, the said locking bar (14) drops down to the locking position in which the lower edge of the said locking bar (14) is located within the notch (25) of the front leg (4). The chair is now on the locked condition shown in FIG. 3. The said backrest (1) is prevented from collapse to the folded position and the chair is locked automatically in the course of opening the chair.
In order to close the chair, the user must temporarily dislodge the locking bar (14) from the notch (25) by lifting the said locking bar (14) into the release position. The said front legs (4) are then free to move backward to close the chair. Once the said front legs (4) have disengaged from the locking bar (14), the latter will drop back under the action of gravity. The chair is now in folded position with the size of the said backrest (1) and the said rear legs (3) from the side view as shown in FIG. 5.
FIGS. 6 and 7 showed an alternative embodiment of the folding chair of the present invention. A backrest (17) comprises of upper portion (17 a) and lower portion (17 b) having inclined surface at the lower end whereby the upper portion (17 a) and the lower portion are connected by a bracket (24) having at least two holes. The said upper portion (17 a) is connected to the upper end of said bracket (24) by a first connecting means (28) and the said lower portion (17 b) is connected to the lower end of said bracket (24) by a second connecting means (29). A pair of multi position armrest (18) having a multiple position track (22) at the bottom surface of the said armrest (18) is connected to the lower end side of the said upper portion (17 a) by connecting means (27).
A pair of inclined rear legs (20) is pivotally connected to the front end of the said sitting base (19) with pivotal means (33), whereby the said inclined surface of the said lower portion (17 b) is rested on the said rear legs (20) when in open out position. A pair of inclined front legs (21) is pivotally connected to the front end of the said sitting base (19) at the same pivotal means (33). The upper end side of the said front leg (21) is attached with a guide pin (23), which serves as a guide element to slide within the said track (22) so as to enables each armrest (18) to pull forward and push backward when the chair is in its open out position. The said track (22) having plurality of stop notches which cooperates with the said guide pin (23) to enable a user to have various desired inclined positions of the backrest by simply adjusting both armrest (18).
Two sets of pivoting bars, two sets of tie bars and two sets of level blocks are used in this alternative embodiment. The first set of pivoting bars (26) is pivotally connected at the lower end side of the said lower portion (17 b) with an upper first connecting means (31) and the other end is pivotally connected to the said rear legs (20) with a lower first connecting means (32) to enable the said lower portion (17 b) to be rested on the said rear legs (20) when in open out position. The second set of pivoting bars (35), wherein one end of the said second set of pivoting bar (26) is pivotally connected at the front end side of the said sitting base (19) with an upper second connecting means (33) and the other end is pivotally connected the first set of tie bars (36) with lower second connecting means (38).
The first set of level blocks (39) is mounted at the said first set of pivoting bars (26) at the upper first connecting means (31) at the same position with the said pivoting bars (26) and the said lower portion (17 b) to parallel the level between the said first set of pivoting bars (26) and the second set of tie bars (36 a).
The said first set of tie bars (36), wherein one end of the said first set of tie bar (36) is pivotally connected at the lower end side of the said lower portion (17 b) with the upper first connecting means (31) and the other end is pivotally connected to the said lower end of the second set of pivoting bars (35). The second set of the said tie bars (25) having one end pivotally connected at the said front legs (21) with connecting means (34) and the other end is pivotally connected at the said lower portion (17 b) with the upper first connecting means (31) in order to provide stable condition and avoid collapse of the chair.
The locking mechanism of the alternative embodiment is the same as the preferred embodiment.
In the operation of opening the chair, the front leg (21) is pivot to the front direction. As the end of the said front leg (21) approaches the final position wherein the said first set of tie bar (36) and second set of tie bar (36 a) is parallel to the said sitting base horizontally, the said locking bar (14) drops down to the locking position in which the lower edge of the said locking bar (14) is located within the notch (25) of the front leg (21). The chair is now on the locked condition. The said backrest (17) is now prevented from collapse to the folded position and the chair is locked automatically in the course of opening the chair.
In order to close the chair, the user must temporarily dislodge the locking bar (14) from the notch (25) by lifting the said locking bar (14) into the release position. The said front legs (21) are then free to move backward to close the chair. Once the said second set of tie bars (35) have disengaged from the locking bar (14), the latter will drop back under the action of gravity. The chair is now in folded position with the size of the said backrest (1) and the said front legs from the side view as shown in FIG. 7.
It is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms and is not limited to the sole embodiment described above. However modification and equivalents of the disclosed concepts such as those which readily occur to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the claims which are appended thereto.

Claims

1. A compact folding chair comprising:

a backrest with inclined surface at the lower end of the said backrest;

a sitting base wherein said sitting base is pivotally connected to the back end side of the said sitting base to the said backrest;

a pair of rear legs having inclined surface at its lower end is pivotally connected to the front end of the said sitting base; whereby the said inclined surface of the said backrest is rested on the said rear legs when in open out position;

a pair of front legs having inclined surface at its lower end is pivotally connected to the front end of the said sitting base; and

a locking mechanism comprises of a locking bar extending laterally across the width of the said sitting base as to provide stable condition and prevent the chair from accidentally collapsing or retracting to its folded position.

2. The chair according to claim 1, comprising a set of pivoting bars, wherein one end of the said pivoting bar is pivotally connected at the lower end side of said backrest and the other end is pivotally connected to the said rear legs in order for said backrest to be rested on the said rear legs when in open out position.

3. The chair according to claim 2, wherein a set of level blocks is mounted at the said pivoting bars with the first connecting means in order to level the connection between a first set of tie bars with the said front legs.

4. The chair according to claim 3, comprising of a set of said tie bars, wherein one end of the said tie bars is pivotally connected to the said front legs and the other end is pivotally connected to the said blocks; so as to stabilize the said front legs, backrest and rear legs when in open out position.

5. The chair according to claim 1, wherein the opposite ends of said locking bar are loosely trapped in respective recesses of a triangular shape which permits movement of the bar between locking position under the action of gravity and release position.

6. A compact folding chair comprising:

a backrest wherein the said backrest is cut into two portions to form upper portion and lower portion having inclined surface at the lower end; wherein each of said upper portion (17 a) and lower portion (17 b) are interconnected by a bracket means at respective connection means (28, 29);

a sitting base wherein said sitting base is pivotally connected to the back end side of the said sitting base to the said lower portion;

a pair of armrests is pivotally connected to the said upper portion wherein each of said armrest has a track (22) with plurality of stop notches at the lower side of the said armrest to enable a guide pin (23) to stop at various positions so as to permit inclination of the said backrest as desired by adjusting the armrest;

a pair of rear legs having inclined surface at its lower end is pivotally connected to the front end of the said sitting base; whereby the said inclined surface of the said lower portion is rested on the said rear legs when in open out position;

a pair of front legs having inclined surface at its lower end is pivotally connected to the front end of the said sitting base and attached to the said track of the said armrest by the said guide pin (23) so that the user can adjust the backrest inclination in relation to the said sitting base according to their preferences; and

7. The chair according to claim 6, including:

a first set of pivoting bars (26), wherein one end of the first set of the said pivoting bar is pivotally connected at the lower end side of said backrest and the other end is pivotally connected to the said rear legs in order for said backrest to be rested on the said rear legs when in open out position;

a second set of pivoting bars (35), wherein one end of the second set of the said pivoting bar (26) is pivotally connected at the front end side of the said sitting base (18) and the other end is pivotally connected to a first set of tie bars (36); and

a first set of level blocks (39) is mounted at the said first set of pivoting bars (26) with connecting means (31) at the same position with the said pivoting bars (26) and the said lower portion (17 b) to parallel the level between the said first set of pivoting bars (26) and a second set of tie bars (36 a).

8. The chair according to claim 7, wherein:

a second set of level blocks is mounted at the said rear legs with connecting means at the same position with the connection between the said sitting base and the said rear legs.

9. The chair according to claim 8, including:

a first set of tie bars, wherein one end of the first set of the said tie bars is pivotally connected to the said front legs and the other end is pivotally connected to the first set of the said block; so as to keep the said backrest resting on the said rear legs when in open out position; and

a second set of tie bars, where in one end of the second set of the said tie bars is pivotally connected to the second set of the said pivoting bars and the other end is pivotally connected to the first set of said block.

10. The chair according to claim 7, wherein the opposite ends of said locking bar are loosely trapped in respective recesses of a triangular shape which permits movement of the bar between said locking position under the action of gravity and said release position.

11. The chair according to claim 6, wherein the said bracket means comprises of at least two holes in order to connect the upper portion and lower portion of the said backrest by connecting means in order to allow movement of the upper portion during adjustment of the said armrest.