US20060278140A1

US20060278140A1 - Foldable device capable of being used as chair or desk

Info

Publication number: US20060278140A1
Application number: US11/151,578
Authority: US
Inventors: Ming Che Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-06-14
Filing date: 2005-06-14
Publication date: 2006-12-14

Abstract

The foldable device is used as a chair or a desk. The device has an upper plate and a lower plate. A supporting cloth is overlapped between the upper plate and the lower plate; the supporting cloth being flexible. The structure is divided into three parts, while the supporting cloth is not cut so that the whole structure is connected by the cloth. The foldable chair and desk combined device can be folded by folding from the cutting portions of the three parts. Furthermore, connecting sheets are formed on two supporting surfaces of the three parts, by connecting the connecting sheets, the foldable chair and desk combined device can be retained rigidly for bearing a heavy object.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to foldable devices, and in particular to a foldable chair and desk combined device, which can be made by only one plate without any further structure. No pivotal connection is needed in assembly. The present invention can be received in a paper box or within a car rapidly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art chair or desk in picnic is made of plastics. The plastic chair (or desk) is light and small size, but it is unfoldable so as to occupy a great space. Furthermore, the thickness of the chair (or desk) is thin and thus cannot suffer from a great weight.
Besides some chairs (or desks) are made of irons which is foldable so as to occupy a smaller space, but the chair (or desk) is heavy and thus it is difficult to be carried. Moreover canvas is used to fix the frame of the chair (or desk), but for a longer time, the canvas will be destroyed and the people sit thereon will feel uncomfortable. Thereby this kind of prior art is not an ideal one.
Furthermore, the prior art chair (or desk) used in home or office is connected by tenons. It is difficult to be folded and thus is inconvenient to be carried out.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a foldable device capable of being used as a chair or a desk, wherein the present invention can be made by only one plate without any further structure. No pivotal connection is needed in assembly. It is economic. the present invention can be received in a paper box or within a car rapidly.
To achieve above object, the present invention provides a dual use furniture foldable as a chair and a desk. It comprises an upper plate, a center portion of the upper plate having a first upper notch; each of two sides of the first notch being formed with a second upper notch; a lower plate; a center portion of the lower plate having a second lower notch which is orientated opposite to and adjacent to the first upper notch of the upper plate; each of the two sides of the second lower notch having a second lower notch which is adjacent to one of two first upper notches; a supporting cloth overlapped between the upper plate and the lower plate; the supporting cloth being flexible; each of two supporting surfaces having an opening. each opening being installed with a first connecting sheet; an outer edge of each first connecting sheet having two connecting portions which are pivotally installed to the connecting sheet; these connecting portions are combinable by screws so as to connect the two connecting sheets; and a round rod serves to connect two connecting portions at one side with the other two connecting portions.
The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the present invention, which is in an expansion state.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the present invention, which is in a folding state.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are lateral views of the present invention in expanding process.
FIGS. 3C and 3D are lateral views of the present invention, in expanding process.
FIG. 4 is an assembled view of the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view about the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view about the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order that those skilled in the art can further understand the present invention, a description will be described in the following in details. However, these descriptions and the appended drawings are only used to cause those skilled in the art to understand the objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention, but not to be used to confine the scope and spirit of the present invention defined in the appended claims.
Referring to FIG. 1, the supporting plate assembly of the present invention is illustrated. A dual use furniture foldable as a chair and a desk 1 has a
(pronounced as “mer”) shape. In an unfolded state, the supporting plate assembly is formed by an upper plate 2 and a lower plate 3, and flexible supporting cloth 4 (such as denim or canvas). The upper plate 2, and lower plate 3 and the supporting cloth 4 are overlapped as a long strip assembly plate. When the assembly plate is folded, it can present with the
shape, see FIG. 1). When the assembly plate is unfolded, it presents a symmetrical configuration (referring to FIG. 2) so that the desk can be carried out or stored easily and conveniently.
The structure of the foldable chair and desk combined device 1 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a center of the upper plate 2 has a W shape notch 5 and a center of the lower plate 3 has another W shape notch 5 which is orientated opposite to and located adjacent to the W shape notch of the upper plate 2. The assembly plate can be folded along the two apex points so as to present to V shape notch. The supporting cloth 4 is used to support the foldable chair and desk combined device 1, see FIG. 2.
Each of two sides of each W shape notch 5 has a V shape notch 6. Two V notches aside the W shape notch are symmetrical. The two V shape notches at one surface will divide one surface of the plate (upper plate 2 or lower plate 3) into three equal parts. However the sizes of the three parts are not confined to be equal, other sizes are permissible. Two V shape notches at the same sides and different plates are adjacent to each other, but the supporting cloth 4 therebetween are not cut.
Thereby when the assembly plate is folded along the V shape notches, it will present as a
shape desk with two support surfaces 7 at two sides and one bearing surface 8 between the two support surfaces 7.
The details of the support surfaces 7 will be described herein. Each of two supporting surfaces 7 has an opening. A respective connecting sheet 71 is formed in the opening. An outer edge of each connecting sheet 71 has two connecting portions 72 which are pivotally installed to the connecting sheet 71. These connecting portions 72 are combinable by screws 74 so as to connect the two connecting sheets 71. A round rod 73 serves to connect two connecting portions 72 at one side with the other two connecting portions 72. Thereby the two connecting sheets 71 are connected with a V shape.
Each the connecting sheets 71 of the supporting surfaces 7 is formed by cutting a part from the assembly plate, but one side is connected to the original structure. The two opposite sides of the connections are cut to have V shape, while the supporting cloth 4 is remained without cutting so that the connecting sheets 71 are rotatable with respect to the supporting surface 7. The connections of the connecting sheets 71 and the supporting surfaces 7 are formed as pivotal portions 9.
The two connecting sheets 71 are formed to a < (pronounced as “shi”) shape supporting structure. Each of the connecting sheet 71 is protruded with a protruding block 75. In the connection state, the protruding block 75 will resist against the bearing surface 8 and the pivotal portion 9 serves to support the connecting sheet 71 to the supporting surface 7 by the flexibility of the supporting cloth 4. Therefore, it provides a rigid like structure to the desk of the present invention.
The round rod 73 connecting upper and lower portions 72 is to avoid the problem of uncontrollable pivotal state of the two connecting portions 72 when the chair 1 t in FIG. 2 is folded as two sheets as illustrated in FIG. 2. Therefore, other than the round rod 73 connecting the connecting portions 72, one side of the opening is formed with a protruding surface 76. A V-shape buckle 10 is formed in the protruding surface 76. When the two sheets are folded, the two buckles 10 will clamp the round rod 73 so as to prevent the connecting sheet 71 from swinging.
Furthermore, two sides of the W shape notch 5 of the horizontal bearing surface 8 are formed with respective via hole 11. Fingers can pass through the via holes 11 for carrying the foldable chair and desk combined device 1.
However, in FIG. 2, if the foldable chair and desk combined device 1 is to be changed as a chair (referring to FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D). It is only necessary to press the bearing surface 8 slightly by one hand so that the bearing surface 8 is expanded horizontally and the two supporting surfaces 7 are vertically arranged to be as a chair.
Referring to FIG. 3D, when the present invention is expanded as a U shape foldable chair and desk combined device, the two connecting sheets 71 are connected to the supporting surfaces 7 with V shape notches. The weight of the bearing surface 8 is vertically applied to the two supporting surfaces 7 which is sufficient to support the weight of an object thereon.
The present invention can be made by only one plate without any further structure. No pivotal connection is needed in assembly. It is economic. The present invention can be received in a paper box or within a car rapidly.
With reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Those same as the first embodiment will not be described herein. Only the differences of the two are described. In this embodiment, the foldable chair and desk combined device 1A has one bearing surface 8 and two supporting surfaces 7. Each supporting surface 7 has two opening. Each opening has a connecting sheet 71. Each the connecting sheets 71 of the supporting surfaces 7 is formed by cutting a part from the assembly plate, but one side is connected to the original structure. The two opposite sides of the connections are cut to have V shape, while the supporting cloth 4 is remained without cutting so that the connecting sheets 71 are pivotally rotatable with respect to the supporting surface 7. The connections of the connecting sheets 71 and the supporting surfaces 7 are formed as pivotal portions 9. Other than the round rod 73 connecting the connecting portions 72, one side of the opening is formed with a protruding surface 76. A V-shape buckle 10 is formed in the protruding surface 76. When the two sheets are folded, the two buckles 10 will clamp the round rod 73 to prevent the connecting sheet 71 from swinging.
Furthermore, in the present invention, a center of each connecting sheet can be formed with a round hole for reducing the weight.
The present invention is thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A foldable device capable of being used as a chair or a desk; comprising

an upper plate, a center portion of the upper plate having

a first upper notch;

each of two sides of the first notch being formed with a second upper notch;

a lower plate; a center portion of the lower plate having

a second lower notch which is orientated opposite to and overlapped to the first upper notch of the upper plate;

each of the two sides of the second lower notch having a second lower notch which is overlapped to one of two first upper notches;

a supporting cloth overlapped between the upper plate and the lower plate; the supporting cloth being flexible;

wherein by the two second upper notched which are overlapped with the two second lower notches, the foldable device is divided into two supporting surfaces at two sides and one bearing surface between the two supporting surfaces;

wherein each of two supporting surfaces has an opening; each opening is installed with a first connecting sheet; an outer edge of each first connecting sheet has two connecting portions which are pivotally installed to the respective connecting sheet; these connecting portions are combinable by screws so as to connect the two connecting sheets; and a round rod serves to connect two connecting portions at one side with the other two connecting portions.

2. The foldable device capable of being used as a chair or a desk as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first upper notch and the first lower notch have W shapes and the second upper lower notches and the second lower notches have V shapes.

3. The foldable device capable of being used as a chair or a desk as claimed in claim 1, wherein one side of the first connecting sheet is connected to the supporting surface; a connection of the connecting sheet and the supporting surface have V shape, while the supporting cloth is remained without cutting so that the connecting sheets are pivotally rotatable with respect to the supporting surface; and the connections of the connecting sheets and the supporting surfaces are formed as pivotal portions.

4. The foldable device capable of being used as a chair or a desk as claimed in claim 1, wherein one side of the opening is formed with a protruding surface; a V-shape buckle is formed in the protruding surface.

5. The foldable device capable of being used as a chair or a desk as claimed in claim 1, wherein two sides of bearing surface are formed with respective via holes.

6. The foldable device capable of being used as a chair or a desk as claimed in claim 1, wherein a center of each first connecting sheet is formed with a hole for reducing the weight.

7. The foldable device capable of being used as a chair or a desk as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible cloth is one of demin or canvas.

8. The foldable device capable of being used as a chair or a desk as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second opening in each supporting surface; each second opening being installed with a second connecting sheet; the structure of the second connecting sheet is identical to the first connecting sheet.

9. The foldable device capable of being used as a chair or a desk as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first upper notch and the first lower notch have W shapes and the second upper lower notches and the second lower notches have V shape.

10. The foldable device capable of being used as a chair or a desk as claimed in claim 8, wherein one side of the second connecting sheet is connected to the supporting surface; a connection of the second connecting sheet and the supporting surface have V shape, while the supporting cloth is remained without cutting so that the connecting sheets are pivotally rotatable with respect to the supporting surface; and the connections of the second connecting sheets and the supporting surfaces are formed as pivotal portions.

11. The foldable device capable of being used as a chair or a desk as claimed in claim 8, wherein one side of the opening is formed with a protruding surface; a V-shape buckle is formed in the protruding surface.

12. The foldable device capable of being used as a chair or a desk as claimed in claim 8, wherein a center of each of the first and second connecting sheet is formed with a hole for reducing the weight of the connecting sheet.