US20220053939A1

US20220053939A1 - Foldable stool

Info

Publication number: US20220053939A1
Application number: US17/516,906
Authority: US
Inventors: Luhao Leng
Original assignee: New Tec Integration Xiamen Co Ltd
Current assignee: New Tec Integration Xiamen Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-07-23
Filing date: 2021-11-02
Publication date: 2022-02-24
Also published as: WO2022017381A1; CN214382300U

Abstract

The present disclosure discloses a foldable stool comprising a supporting board and one or more supporting assemblies. Each of the one or more supporting assemblies comprises a supporting foot frame and a connecting assembly, and the supporting foot frame is pivotally connected to the supporting board. The connecting assembly comprises a connecting member and a fastening assembly. A first end of the connecting member is pivotally connected to the supporting foot frame, and a second end of the connecting member is configured to slide in the one or more extended sliding grooves. The fastening assembly is disposed on the supporting board and is spaced apart from a junction at which the supporting foot frame is pivotally connected to the supporting board. When the second end of the connecting member slides to be connected to the fastening assembly, the supporting foot frame is unfolded and fastened.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to PCT patent application number PCT/CN2021/107364, filed Jul. 20, 2021, which claims priority to Chinese patent application number 202021475392.4, filed on Jul. 23, 2020. PCT patent application number PCT/CN2021/107364 and Chinese patent application number 202021475392.4 are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a foldable stool, and in particular to an easy to fold and reliable foldable stool.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Foldable stools in the prior art generally include a supporting board, at least one supporting foot frame pivotally connected to the supporting board, and a fastening rod. A first end of the fastening rod is locked to the supporting foot frame, and a second end of the fastening rod comprises an inserting groove. When the at least one supporting foot frame pivots at a predetermined angle, the inserting groove is connected to an inserting blocker. The mounting process of the foldable stool is cumbersome and slow. The at least one supporting foot frame is disposed on a distal portion of the foldable stool, the first end of the fastening rod is locked to the supporting foot frame, and the second end of the fastening rod supports the distal portion of the foldable stool. As a result, the foldable stool has a large thickness in the folding state.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure provides a foldable stool, which is easy and convenient to fold and unfold, to solve the deficiencies in the background.
In order to solve the technical problem, a first technical solution of the present disclosure is as follows.
A foldable stool comprises a supporting board and one or more supporting assemblies. The supporting board comprises one or more extended sliding grooves. Each of the one or more supporting assemblies comprises a supporting foot frame and a connecting assembly, and the supporting foot frame is pivotally connected to the supporting board. The connecting assembly comprises a connecting member and a fastening assembly. A first end of the connecting member is pivotally connected to the supporting foot frame, and a second end of the connecting member is configured to slide in the one or more extended sliding grooves. The fastening assembly is disposed on the supporting board and is spaced apart from a junction at which the supporting foot frame is pivotally connected to the supporting board. When the second end of the connecting member slides to be connected to the fastening assembly, the supporting foot frame is unfolded and fastened.
In a preferred embodiment, the fastening assembly comprises a pivotal body pivotally connected to the supporting board, and a first end of the pivotal body comprises a fastening groove having an opening facing the supporting board. The fastening groove is located on a side of the pivotal body away from the supporting foot frame. When the second end of the connecting member slides to approach the pivotal body, the pivotal body pivots and drives the fastening groove to move toward the supporting board so as to enable the second end of the connecting member to be fastened to the fastening groove.
In a preferred embodiment, the first end of the pivotal body comprises a guiding slope. A first end of the guiding slope is connected to the opening of the fastening groove, and a second end of the guiding slope obliquely extends away from the supporting board. The second end of the connecting member is configured to slide to abut the guiding slope to make the pivotal body pivot. When the second end of the connecting member corresponds to the fastening groove, the pivotal body pivots and drives the fastening groove to move toward the supporting board so as to enable the second end of the connecting member to be fastened to the fastening groove.
In a preferred embodiment, the fastening assembly comprises a resetting member disposed between the supporting board and a second end of the pivotal body, and the second end of the pivotal body is configured to be pressed to approach the supporting board so as to make the first end of the pivotal body move away from the supporting board.
In a preferred embodiment, the connecting member comprises a sliding rod and at least two connecting rods, and two ends of the sliding rod are configured to slide in the one or more extended sliding grooves to define the second end of the connecting member. The sliding rod is configured to be fastened to the fastening groove. First ends of the at least two connecting rods are fixedly connected to the sliding rod, and second ends of the at least two connecting rods are pivotally connected to the supporting foot frame to define the first end of the connecting member.
In a preferred embodiment, the one or more extended sliding grooves comprise one or more blocking members configured to block the two ends of the sliding rod from continuing to slide. When the fastening groove moves toward the supporting board to be fastened to the sliding rod, the two ends of the sliding rod abut the one or more blocking members.
In a preferred embodiment, the one or more extended sliding grooves extend along a length direction of the supporting board. The one or more supporting assemblies are two supporting assemblies respectively connected to two ends of the supporting board along the length direction of the supporting board, and two of the supporting foot frames rotate to define a storage state in which the two of the supporting foot frames abut the supporting board and a use state in which the two of the supporting foot frames are unfolded relative to each other. When the foldable stool is in the use state, two of the second ends of two of the connecting members of two of the connecting assemblies slide to be connected to two of the fastening assemblies.
In a preferred embodiment, when the foldable stool is in the storage state, the two of the second ends of the two of the connecting members of the two of the connecting assemblies slide in the one or more extended sliding grooves to approach each other.
In a preferred embodiment, the one or more extended sliding grooves are located on two side edges of the supporting board along the length direction of the supporting board.
In a preferred embodiment, the supporting foot frame comprises two supporting rods spaced apart from each other along a width direction of the supporting board, and one end of each of the two supporting rods is pivotally connected to the supporting board. The supporting foot frame comprises a plurality of reinforce rods extending and connected between the two supporting rods.
Compared with the existing techniques, the technical solution has the following advantages.
1. The supporting foot frame pivots relative to the supporting board to drive the second end of the connecting member to slide in the one or more extended sliding grooves, and the second end of the connecting member is configured to slide to be connected to the fastening assembly so as to inhibit the supporting foot frame from rotating. The foldable stool is easy and convenient to change between the storage state and the use state.
2. The pivotal body pivots to be fastened to the second end of the connecting member through the fastening groove, and the pivotal body is pivotally controlled to be conveniently connected to the second end of the connecting member.
3. The pivotal body comprises the guiding slope. The second end of the connecting member is configured to slide to abut the guiding slope to make the pivotal body pivot. When the second end of the connecting member corresponds to the fastening groove, the pivotal body pivots and drives the fastening groove to move toward the supporting board so as to enable the second end of the connecting member to be fastened to the fastening groove. There is no need to push the second end of the pivotal body during the folding process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a first perspective view of a foldable stool when the foldable stool is in a use state in a preferred embodiment in the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a second perspective view of the foldable stool when the foldable stool is in the use state in a preferred embodiment in the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged side view of the foldable stool when the foldable stool is in the use state, illustrating a supporting foot frame, a supporting board, and a connecting assembly being connected together in a preferred embodiment in the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of the foldable stool when the foldable stool is in a folding process in which the foldable stool is changed from the use state to a storage state, illustrating a second end of a pivotal body being pushed and a sliding rod leaving a fastening groove in a preferred embodiment in the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of the foldable stool when the foldable stool is in the folding process, illustrating the second end of the pivotal body not being pushed and the sliding rod leaving the fastening groove at a certain distance in a preferred embodiment in the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the foldable stool when the foldable stool is in the folding process, illustrating a first one of the supporting foot frames abutting the supporting board in a preferred embodiment in the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the foldable stool when the foldable stool is in the storage state in a preferred embodiment in the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates an enlarged side view of the foldable stool when the foldable stool is in an unfolding process in which the foldable stool is changed from the storage state to the use state, illustrating a second end of a connecting member abutting a guiding slope in a preferred embodiment in the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure will be further described below in combination with the accompanying drawings and embodiments.
Referring to FIGS. 1-8, a foldable stool 100 comprises a supporting board 1, and the supporting board 1 comprises one or more extended sliding grooves 11. In this embodiment, the supporting board 1 has a shape of a rectangle, and the one or more extended sliding grooves 11 are located on a lower side of the supporting board 1. More specifically, the one or more extended sliding grooves 11 are located on two side edges of the supporting board 1 along a length direction of the supporting board 1 and extend along the length direction of the supporting board 1.
The foldable stool 100 comprises one or more supporting assemblies 2. Each of the one or more supporting assemblies 2 comprises a supporting foot frame 21 and a connecting assembly 22, and the supporting foot frame 21 is pivotally connected to the supporting board 1. The connecting assembly 22 comprises a connecting member 221 and a fastening assembly 222. A first end 2211 of the connecting member 221 is pivotally connected to the supporting foot frame 21, and a second end 2212 of the connecting member 221 is configured to slide in the one or more extended sliding grooves 11. The fastening assembly 222 is disposed on the supporting board 1 and is spaced apart from a junction at which the supporting foot frame 21 is pivotally connected to the supporting board 1. When the second end 2212 of the connecting member 221 slides to be connected to the fastening assembly 222, the supporting foot frame 21 is unfolded and fastened.
In this embodiment, the one or more supporting assemblies 2 are two supporting assemblies 2 respectively connected to two ends of the supporting board 1 along the length direction of the supporting board 1. Two of the supporting foot frames 21 rotate to define a storage state in which the two of the supporting foot frames 21 abut the supporting board 1 and a use state in which the two of the supporting foot frames 21 are unfolded relative to each other. When the foldable stool 100 is in the use state, two of the second ends 2212 of two of the connecting members 221 of two of the connecting assemblies 22 slide to be connected to two of the fastening assemblies 222. When the foldable stool 100 is in the storage state, the two of the second ends 2212 of the two of the connecting members 221 of the two of the connecting assemblies 22 slide in the one or more extended sliding grooves 11 to approach each other.
The supporting foot frame 21 comprises two supporting rods 211 spaced apart from each other along a width direction of the supporting board 1. One end of each of the two supporting rods 211 is pivotally connected to the supporting board 1, and the supporting foot frame 21 further comprises a plurality of reinforce rods 212 extending and connected between the two supporting rods 211. In some embodiments, the foldable stool 100 may comprise a single of the supporting assemblies 2 as long as the supporting assembly 2 can support the supporting board 1. In this embodiment, the two of the supporting foot frames 21 of the two supporting assemblies 2 are unfolded relative to each other and are each angled with respect to the lower side of the supporting board 1 to define an obtuse angle, and the connecting member 221 is connected to the supporting foot frame 21 and the lower side of the supporting board 1. In this embodiment, when the foldable stool 100 is in the use state, a user can directly sit on an upper side of the supporting board 1, or the foldable stool 100 can be used as a stepladder.
The fastening assembly 222 comprises a pivotal body 2221 pivotally connected to the supporting board 1, and the pivotal body 2221 is pivotally connected to the lower side of the supporting board 1. A first end 2222 of the pivotal body 2221 comprises a fastening groove 2224 having an opening facing the supporting board 1, and the fastening groove 2224 is located on a side of the pivotal body 2221 away from the supporting foot frame 21. When the second end 2212 of the connecting member 221 slides to approach the pivotal body 2221, the pivotal body 2221 pivots and drives the fastening groove 2224 to move toward the supporting board 1 so as to enable the second end 2212 of the connecting member 221 to be fastened to the fastening groove 2224.
The first end 2222 of the pivotal body 2221 comprises a guiding slope 2225. A first end of the guiding slope 2225 is connected to the opening of the fastening groove 2224, and a second end of the guiding slope 2225 obliquely extends away from the supporting board 1. The second end 2212 of the connecting member 221 is configured to slide to abut the guiding slope 2225 to make the pivotal body 2221 pivot. When the second end 2212 of the connecting member 221 corresponds to the fastening groove 2224, the pivotal body 2221 pivots and drives the fastening groove 2224 to move toward the supporting board 1 so as to enable the second end 2212 of the connecting member 221 to be fastened to the fastening groove 2224. When the foldable stool 100 is changed from the storage state to the use state, the supporting foot frame 21 pivots toward the supporting board 1 until the second end 2212 of the connecting member 221 abuts the guiding slope 2225. When the supporting foot frame 21 continues pivoting, the second end 2212 of the connecting member 221 slides on the guiding slope 2225 to make the first end 2222 of the pivotal body 2221 pivot until the second end 2212 of the connecting member 221 moves into the fastening groove 2224. At this time, rotation of the supporting foot frame 21 is inhibited.
The fastening assembly 222 further comprises a resetting member 2226 disposed between the supporting board 1 and a second end 2223 of the pivotal body 2221. When the second end 2223 of the pivotal body 2221 is pressed to approach the supporting board 1 so as to make the first end 2222 of the pivotal body 2221 move away from the supporting board 1, the resetting member 2226 is compressed to store an elastic force. In this embodiment, the resetting member 2226 is a spring. During an unfolding process in which the foldable stool 100 is changed from the storage state to the use state, the resetting member 2226 ensures that the guiding slope 2225 always abuts the second end 2212 of the connecting member 221. During a folding process in which the foldable stool 100 is changed from the use state to the storage state, the second end 2223 of the pivotal body 2221 is pressed by the user to make the first end 2222 of the pivotal body 2221 move away from the supporting board 1. At this time, the second end 2212 of the connecting member 221 can leave the fastening groove 2224, and the supporting foot frame 21 can pivot and abut the lower side of the supporting board 1.
The connecting member 221 comprises a sliding rod 2213 and at least two connecting rods 2214. Two ends of the sliding rod 2213 are configured to slide in the one or more extended sliding grooves 11 to define the second end 2212 of the connecting member 221, and the sliding rod 2213 is fastened to the fastening groove 2224. First ends of the at least two connecting rods 2214 are fixedly connected to the sliding rod 2213, and second ends of the at least two connecting rods 2214 are pivotally connected to the supporting foot frame 21 to define the first end 2211 of the connecting member 221. In this embodiment, because the one or more extended sliding grooves 11 are located on the two side edges of the supporting board 1 along the length direction of the supporting board 1, the two ends of the sliding rod 2213 extend into the one or more extended sliding grooves 11 and slide in the one or more extended sliding grooves 11. In this embodiment, the at least two connecting rods 2214 are two connecting rods 2214, and the two connecting rods 2214 are spaced apart from each other along an axial direction of the sliding rod 2213. First ends of the two connecting rods 2214 are fixedly connected to the sliding rod 2213, and second ends of the two connecting rods 2214 are respectively pivotally connected to the two supporting rods 211.
The one or more extended sliding grooves 11 comprise one or more blocking members 111 configured to block the two ends of the sliding rod 2213 from continuing to slide. When the fastening groove 2224 moves toward the supporting board 1 to be fastened to the sliding rod 2213, the two ends of the sliding rod 2213 abut the one or more blocking members 111. In this embodiment, the one or more blocking members 111 are two blocking members 111 due to the two supporting assemblies 2 being provided, and the two blocking members 111 are located on two ends of the one or more extended sliding grooves 11 along the length direction of the supporting board 1. The one or more blocking members 111 cooperate with the fastening assembly 222 to inhibit the sliding rod 2213 from sliding.
Referring to the figures, during the unfolding process, the upper side of the supporting board 1 abuts the ground, a first one of the supporting foot frames 21 abutting the lower side of the supporting board 1 is pulled by the user, and the first one of the supporting foot frames 21 pivots and drives the sliding rod 2213 to slide in the sliding groove 11 until the sliding rod 2213 abuts the guiding slope 2225. The first one of the supporting foot frames 21 continues to be pulled, the sliding rod 2213 slides on the guiding slope 2225, and the first end 2222 of the pivotal body 2221 swings and drives the opening of the fastening groove 2224 to move away from the supporting board 1 until the sliding rod 2213 is inserted into the fastening groove 2224. At this time, the two ends of the sliding rod 2213 abut a first one of the two blocking members 111. The unfolding process of a second one of the supporting foot frames 21 is the same as the unfolding process of the first one of the supporting foot frames 21, and will not be described below. When in the use state, the supporting board 1 is turned over, and each of the supporting foot frames 21 is angled with respect to the supporting board 1 to define the obtuse angle. At this time, the user can directly sit or stand on the foldable stool 100.
During the folding process, the upper side of the supporting board 1 abuts the ground, the second end 2223 of the pivotal body 2221 is pushed by the user, and the opening of the fastening groove 2224 moves away from the supporting board 1. The first one of the supporting foot frames 21 is pulled by the user to drive the sliding rod 2213 to slide away from the fastening groove 2224 until the first one of the supporting foot frames 21 abuts the supporting board 1. The second one of the supporting foot frames 21 is pulled by the user in the same way, and the two of the supporting foot frames 21 pivot and approach each other.
The aforementioned embodiments are merely some embodiments of the present disclosure, and the scope of the disclosure is not limited thereto. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure cover any modifications and variations of the presently presented embodiments provided they are made without departing from the appended claims and the specification of the present disclosure.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable stool, comprising:

a supporting board, and

one or more supporting assemblies, wherein:

the supporting board comprises one or more extended sliding grooves,

each of the one or more supporting assemblies comprises a supporting foot frame and a connecting assembly,

the supporting foot frame is pivotally connected to the supporting board,

the connecting assembly comprises a connecting member and a fastening assembly,

a first end of the connecting member is pivotally connected to the supporting foot frame,

a second end of the connecting member is configured to slide in the one or more extended sliding grooves,

the fastening assembly is disposed on the supporting board and is spaced apart from a junction at which the supporting foot frame is pivotally connected to the supporting board, and

when the second end of the connecting member slides to be connected to the fastening assembly, the supporting foot frame is unfolded and fastened.

2. The foldable stool according to claim 1, wherein:

the fastening assembly comprises a pivotal body pivotally connected to the supporting board,

a first end of the pivotal body comprises a fastening groove having an opening facing the supporting board,

the fastening groove is located on a side of the pivotal body away from the supporting foot frame, and

when the second end of the connecting member slides to approach the pivotal body, the pivotal body pivots and drives the fastening groove to move toward the supporting board so as to enable the second end of the connecting member to be fastened to the fastening groove.

3. The foldable stool according to claim 2, wherein:

the first end of the pivotal body comprises a guiding slope,

a first end of the guiding slope is connected to the opening of the fastening groove,

a second end of the guiding slope obliquely extends away from the supporting board,

the second end of the connecting member is configured to slide to abut the guiding slope to make the pivotal body pivot, and

when the second end of the connecting member corresponds to the fastening groove, the pivotal body pivots and drives the fastening groove to move toward the supporting board so as to enable the second end of the connecting member to be fastened to the fastening groove.

4. The foldable stool according to claim 3, wherein:

the fastening assembly comprises a resetting member disposed between the supporting board and a second end of the pivotal body, and

the second end of the pivotal body is configured to be pressed to approach the supporting board so as to make the first end of the pivotal body move away from the supporting board.

5. The foldable stool according to claim 4, wherein:

the connecting member comprises a sliding rod and at least two connecting rods,

two ends of the sliding rod are configured to slide in the one or more extended sliding grooves to define the second end of the connecting member,

the sliding rod is configured to be fastened to the fastening groove,

first ends of the at least two connecting rods are fixedly connected to the sliding rod, and

second ends of the at least two connecting rods are pivotally connected to the supporting foot frame to define the first end of the connecting member.

6. The foldable stool according to claim 5, wherein:

the one or more extended sliding grooves comprise one or more blocking members configured to block the two ends of the sliding rod from continuing to slide, and

when the fastening groove moves toward the supporting board to be fastened to the sliding rod, the two ends of the sliding rod abut the one or more blocking members.

7. The foldable stool according to claim 1, wherein:

the one or more extended sliding grooves extend along a length direction of the supporting board,

the one or more supporting assemblies are two supporting assemblies respectively connected to two ends of the supporting board along the length direction of the supporting board,

two of the supporting foot frames rotate to define a storage state in which the two of the supporting foot frames abut the supporting board and a use state in which the two of the supporting foot frames are unfolded relative to each other, and

when the foldable stool is in the use state, two of the second ends of two of the connecting members of two of the connecting assemblies slide to be connected to two of the fastening assemblies.

8. The foldable stool according to claim 7, wherein:

when the foldable stool is in the storage state, the two of the second ends of the two of the connecting members of the two of the connecting assemblies slide in the one or more extended sliding grooves to approach each other.

9. The foldable stool according to claim 7, wherein:

the one or more extended sliding grooves are located on two side edges of the supporting board along the length direction of the supporting board.

10. The foldable stool according to claim 7, wherein:

the supporting foot frame comprises two supporting rods spaced apart from each other along a width direction of the supporting board,

one end of each of the two supporting rods is pivotally connected to the supporting board, and

the supporting foot frame comprises a plurality of reinforce rods extending and connected between the two supporting rods.

11. The foldable stool according to claim 2, wherein:

12. The foldable stool according to claim 3, wherein:

13. The foldable stool according to claim 4, wherein:

14. The foldable stool according to claim 5, wherein:

15. The foldable stool according to claim 6, wherein:

16. The foldable stool according to claim 11, wherein:

17. The foldable stool according to claim 12, wherein:

18. The foldable stool according to claim 13, wherein:

19. The foldable stool according to claim 14, wherein:

20. The foldable stool according to claim 15, wherein: