US20190045931A1

US20190045931A1 - Foldable chair frame

Info

Publication number: US20190045931A1
Application number: US15/671,257
Authority: US
Inventors: Andrew David Frankel; Shi-Ping Zheng; Tian-Xia Zheng
Original assignee: Zenithen USA LLC
Current assignee: Zenithen USA LLC
Priority date: 2017-08-08
Filing date: 2017-08-08
Publication date: 2019-02-14

Abstract

The present invention is to a type of folding chair, wherein two front and rear support bars, the upper ends of which are hinged onto two diagonal bars; the front and rear support bars connect at the point of a slide housing, which results in the formation of an operational hinged structure. The two front support bars are constructed independently and are reinforced with a horizontal bar assembly on both sides that attaches near the slide housing hinged areas of the front support bars on the upper ends. This structure serves to reinforce the slide housing hinged area and when the two front support bars are fixed firmly to the floor, the chair will not tip over and the user will be able to sit more safely.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention is to the field of furniture and consists of a foldable chair frame. It is particularly designed to accommodate the use of a seating material made with Oxford cloth or flexible woven cloth.

Technical Background

Existing folding round chairs, perhaps more commonly known as crescent seats or radar seats, are manufactured with soft fabric and bars. The chair cushion area is round when viewed from the front, and the chair tilts forward to form a radar-like shape (“satellite dish”). From the side, the chair also seems to have the shape of a half-moon, which is why it is sometimes called a crescent seat. Its simple structure and unique look gave rise to its huge popularity. As shown FIG. 1, its structure includes a round seat hoop (1), a fabric seat (2) that is fitted over the seat hoop (20), and the front/rear support bars (3 & 4) that support the seat hoop (1) on both sides. The front/rear support bars (3 & 4) cross each other, and the top part of each bar hinges onto the seat hoop (1). The hinge on the front support bar (3) has a slide housing (5); the rear support bar (4) passes through the slide housing (5), thus forming a movable hinged structure between the front/rear support bars (3 & 4). For that purpose, the rear support bar (4) has a slide stop (6), so that the slide housing (5) is supported when the round chair is unfolded to the open position, and assists in holding the weight load in a stable manner. As currently designed, both sides of the front and rear support bars (3 & 4) are composed of one rod curved into or formed in a U-shaped rod, which forms a reinforcing symmetric structure that is both tidy and aesthetically pleasing. However, the point at which the front support bars in prior art chairs connect to the slide housing hinged section is fairly weak, consequently, the specifications of the front and rear support bars need to be much larger. Furthermore, the two corners of the U-shaped bar are rounded, and these rounded corners make the folding chair unstable and easy to tip over on both sides, so it is not very safe. Determining how to improve upon the inefficiencies of the current chair is a focus of this research and invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of this invention is to design a type of foldable chair frame utilizing two front support bars connected by an independent horizontal bar assembly.
The technical plan of this invention is accomplished in part by the following:
A type of foldable chair frame, including the following:

- Two symmetrical or corresponding front and rear support bars, the upper ends of which are hinged onto two diagonal bars;
- The aforementioned front support bar hinge has a slide housing;
- The aforementioned rear support bar passes through this slide housing, thereby creating an operational hinge comprising both the front and rear support bars;
- A slide stop is fastened onto the upper portion of the rear support bar, whereby when the chair is unfolded into the open position, the slide housing compresses against the slide stop;

The invention may have one or more of the following special features:

- The front support bars on both sides of the frame are independent bars;
- Each front support bar is hinged with a slide housing on the upper ends, and the horizontal bar assembly is positioned to strengthen the support bars on both sides.

The aforementioned diagonal bars connecting the front support bars on both sides are constructed in the following manner:

- 1. The horizontal bar assembly includes a short U-shaped bar and a curved section that connects to the two ends of the short U-shaped bar. This is affixed firmly to the front support bars and is secured firmly to the structure with rivets;
- 2. The horizontal bar assembly also consists of the main horizontal bar and a protective sheath with the vertical convex portion of the sheath being fitted with a bar casing.

The protective sheath is positioned on the front support bars, and each end of the horizontal bars is inserted into the bar casings of the sheaths on each side, thus forming a connected structure.
The two curved sections of the aforementioned short U-shaped bars affix closely to the front or inner sides of the front support bars on both sides and are riveted together.
The aforementioned rear support bars are constructed in the following manner:

- 1. By one single bar curved into a U-shaped bar;
- 2. By independent bars that are formed by soldering two ends of a single bar to the rear support bars, thereby connecting into an integrated structure;
- 3. By independent bars that are formed by riveting the two curved sections of the short U-shaped bars to the support bars, thereby connecting into an integrated structure.

The aforementioned diagonal bars are positioned together at an angle of approximately 30-45 degrees; each of these diagonal bars are riveted onto the seat hoop, onto which the seat fabric is attached.
The aforementioned chair hoop can either be a closed structure or an open structure that breaks near the hinged areas of the diagonal bars. The chair hoop can be constructed in a shape selected from the following shapes: circle, oval, rectangle, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, trapezoid, gourd, and oblong shapes.
The diagonal bars are constructed in a wave form shape that starts low in the front and rises to the rear. The diagonal bars are then riveted onto the chair hoop, with the wave-shaped portion serving as an armrest.
The front portion of the aforementioned chair hoop breaks/opens near the hinged areas of the diagonal bars, forming an open structure. The chair hoop can be constructed in a shape selected from the following shapes: circle, oval, rectangle, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, trapezoid, gourd, and oblong shapes.
For this invention, the front support bars on both sides are independent bars, which are connected into one structure by means of a horizontal bar assembly. The horizontal bar assembly is positioned at the hinged intersection point of the front and rear support bars. Firstly, this reinforces the slide housing hinged area on the front support bars, and also prevents deformation from an inward pull when weight is applied. Secondly, the lower ends of the front support bars are fixed/rested directly to the ground making the structure less likely to tip, thereby making it safer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an existing folding round chair.

FIG. 2 provides a diagram of the folding chair frame according to at least one aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 3 provides a side-view of the folding chair frame.

FIG. 4 shows the folding chair frame fitted with a chair hoop.

FIG. 5 shows the folding chair frame with an open chair hoop.

FIG. 6 shows the folding chair with armrest functionality.

FIG. 7 shows a broken down folding chair frame with armrest functionality.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. Namely, in the drawings the following reference numbers refer to the following part:

1-chair hoop
2-fabric seat
3-front support bar
4-rear support bar
41-bar
5-slide housing
6-slide stop
7-diagonal bar
8-horizontal bar assembly
81-short U-shaped bar
811-curved section
82-horizontal bar
83-protective sheath
831-bar casing

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the folding chair frame includes a pair of symmetrical or corresponding front support bars (3), rear support bars (4) and diagonal bars (7). The diagonal bars (7) are hinged onto the upper ends of the front and rear support bars (3 & 4). The hinged portion of the front support bar (3) has a slide housing (5), and the rear support bar (4) passes through this housing (5) forming an operational hinge structure composed of the front and rear support bars (3 & 4). A slide stop (6) is positioned atop the rear support bars (4). When the chair is unfolded in the open position, the slide housing (5) presses against the slide stop (6), forming a triangular support. Each of the two front support bars (3) are independent bars, with the bottom ends affixed to the ground, providing stability. On the slide housing hinged area of the bars, there is a diagonal bar assembly (8) positioned to provide extra reinforcement.
The horizontal bar assembly (8) is constructed in the following manner:

- 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the horizontal bar assembly includes a short U-shaped bar (81). Leveraging the curved section (811) of the two ends of the short U-shaped bar (81) allows it to stay close to the front support bars (3), and it is formed into a fixed structure by means of rivets. This allows the structure to have the best position and provides protection and strength to the slide housing hinged area. The horizontal bar assembly could also be riveted onto the inner sides of the front support bars (3) with similar results and it would also not take up as much space.
- 2. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, the horizontal bar assembly (8) includes the horizontal bar (82) and the protective sheath (83). The vertical convex portion of the protective sheath (83) has a bar casing (831). The protective sheath (83) is positioned on the front support bars (3), and the two ends of the horizontal bar (82) are inserted into the bar casings (831) of the sheath on the both sides. The horizontal bar assembly thereby provides both a protective and reinforcing function in the hinged area where the protective sheath (83) and front support bars (3) are co-located.

The two rear support bars (4) are preferably constructed in the following manner:

- 1. As shown in FIG. 2, by one single bar curved into a U-shaped bar;
- 2. Independent bars that are formed by soldering two ends of a single bar (41) to the rear support bars (4), thereby connecting into an integrated structure; or
- 3. Independent bars that are formed by riveting the two curved sections of the short U-shaped bars to the support bars, thereby connecting into an integrated structure, similar to how the front support bar (3) is connected to the short U-shaped bar (81).

Additionally, the diagonal bars (7) may be constructed in a different manner, and the uses are different. One use is to support the chair hoop (1); the other use is to be riveted together with the chair hoop (1), which provides armrest functionality. Specifics are as follows:
Firstly, as per FIG. 3, the diagonal bars (7) are positioned at an angle of approximately 30-45 degrees; each of these diagonal bars (7) are riveted onto the seat hoop (1), onto which the seat fabric is attached, thereby creating the frame shown in FIG. 4.
Furthermore, the aforementioned chair hoop (1) can be a closed structure, as shown in FIG. 4, but can also be an open structure with the front portion having a break/opening near the hinged points of the diagonal bars, as shown in FIG. 5. With regard to the open option of the chair hoop (1), while there is the negative factor of requiring more fabric on the front portion, there is also the benefit having less pressure placed on the legs of the seated user.
The aforementioned chair hoop (1) can be constructed from a shape selected from the following shapes: circle, oval, rectangle, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, trapezoid, gourd, and oblong shapes.
Secondly, as shown in FIG. 6, the diagonal bars (7) are constructed in a wave form shape that starts low in the front and rises to the rear. The diagonal bars are then riveted onto the chair hoop (1) with the wave-shaped portion serving as an armrest, as shown in FIG. 7, thereby creating a chair frame with armrest functionality.
The chair hoop (1) breaks/opens near the hinged areas of the diagonal bars. The chair hoop can be constructed from a shape selected from the following shapes: circle, oval, rectangle, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, trapezoid, and gourd, and oblong shapes.
A summary of the aspects of this invention is as follows: A type of folding chair composed of two front support bars formed independently, which are connected to a horizontal bar assembly to support the hinged areas of the front and rear support bars and provide protection to the front support bars, and also provide support to the chair as both front support bars are fixed to the ground. This chair can also accommodate a variety of rear support bar structures, as well as seat shapes, to provide different options for the overall folding chair structure.

Claims

I claim:

1. A foldable chair frame, including the following:

Two symmetrical or corresponding front and rear support bars, the upper ends of which are hinged onto two diagonal bars;

The aforementioned front support bar hinge has a slide housing;

The aforementioned rear support bar passes through this slide housing, thereby creating an operational hinge utilizing both the front and rear support bars;

A slide stop is fastened onto the upper portion of the rear support bar. When the chair is unfolded into the open position, the slide housing compresses against the slide stop;

wherein the front support bars on both sides of the frame are independent bars; and

Each front support bar is hinged with a slide housing on the upper ends, and the horizontal bar assembly is positioned to strengthen the support bars on both sides.

2. The foldable chair frame of claim 1, wherein:

The horizontal bar assembly includes a short U-shaped bar and a curved section that connects to the two ends of the short U-shaped bar and is affixed firmly to the front support bars and is secured firmly to the structure with rivets; and

The horizontal bar assembly also consists of the main horizontal bar and a protective sheath, with the vertical convex portion of the sheath being fitted with a bar casing;

the protective sheath is positioned on the front support bars, and each end of the horizontal bars are inserted into the bar casings of the sheaths on each side, thus forming a connected structure.

3. The foldable chair frame of claim 2, wherein the two curved sections of the short U-shaped bars affix closely to the front or inner sides of the front support bars on both sides, and are riveted together.

4. The foldable chair frame of claim 1, wherein the rear support bars are constructed in the following manner by one single bar curved into a U-shaped bar.

5. The foldable chair frame of claim 1, wherein Independent bars are formed by soldering two ends of a single bar to the rear support bars, thereby connecting into an integrated structure.

6. The foldable chair frame of claim 1, wherein Independent bars are formed by riveting the two curved sections of the short U-shaped bars to the support bars, thereby connecting into an integrated structure.

7. The foldable chair frame of claim 1, wherein The diagonal bars are positioned at an angle of approximately 30-45 degrees; each of these diagonal bars are riveted onto the seat hoop, on which the seat fabric is attached.

8. The foldable chair frame of claim 7, wherein The chair hoop can either be a closed structure or an open structure that opens near the hinged areas of the diagonal bars

9. The foldable chair frame of claim 8, wherein the chair hoop is selected from one of the following shapes: circle, oval, rectangle, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, trapezoid, gourd, and oblong shapes.

10. The foldable chair frame of claim 1, wherein The diagonal bars are constructed in a wave form shape that starts low in the front and rises to the rear and The diagonal bars are riveted onto the chair hoop, with the wave-shaped portion serving an armrest.

11. The foldable chair frame of claim 10, wherein the front portion of the aforementioned chair hoop has an opening near the hinged areas of the diagonal bars, forming an open structure.

12. The foldable chair frame of claim 11, wherein The chair hoop can be constructed in a shape selected from one of the following shapes: circle, oval, rectangle, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, trapezoid, gourd, and oblong shapes.