US3081055A - Collapsible stool - Google Patents

Description

March 12, 1963 R. M. FULLER COLLAPSIBLE STOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 21, 1961 INVENTOR ROY M FULLER March 12, 1963 R. M. FULLER COLLAPSIBLE STOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 21, 1961 INVENTOR ROY 1w. FULLER.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 102 3,081,055 COLLAPSIBLE STOOL Roy M. Fuller, 525 W. 23rd St., San Pedro, Calif. Filed July 21, 1961, Ser. No. 125,710 4 Claims. (Cl. 248164) This invention relates to collapsible supporting or seating structures such as camp stools or beach chairs and is particularly exemplified by a collapsible stool which can adequately support an adult (either sitting or standing thereon) wherever quickly assembled within or without doors, and which can be momentarily collapsed to a compact bundle only half the length and height of the stool, which bundle can be readily grasped and carried in one hand. Such structures are particularly adapted for use at sporting events and other assemblies where seats may not be provided and where full-size chairs obviously cannot be moved thru crowds by each individual even if available nearby. However the present collapsed bundle (requiring no unconnected elements in assembly) can be carried about (either by hand or in a coat pocket) with less interference to members of a crowd than pro-- duced by an umbrella or walking stick. In addition it is light weight, easy to assemble and collapse without use of any tools, and can be readily and cheaply fabricated of a variety of available materials, even of scrap elements if desired or required.

Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide an improved article of the character described. An impo-rtant feature is a construction which permits each of the four legs to be segmentally collapsed adjacent the four corners of the seating surface, which latter can be folded upon itself and then rolled into a bundle together with the collapsed legs. A particular advantage arises from the employment of hingedly connected leg segments, readily braced in seat-supporting positionlongitudinally aligned in end abutment with each other and with the cross support of the seating material, and in collapsed position articulating outward to be disposable in compact layers in juxtaposition with the upper face of the cross support. Such arrangement utilizes particular spacing arrangements as herein defined.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds, having particular reference to the accompanying drawings depicting a presently preferred embodiment of the invention wherein FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of my collapsible stool assembled in position for use;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the inner face of a parallel pair of legs of one side of the stool as seen along the line 22 of FIGURE 1, with a portion of the seating material removed from the upper suspension arm;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of the inner face of a crossed pair of legs at one end of the assembled stool as viewed along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view particularly showing the several hinge members and channel bracket adjacent one corner of the frame as seen along the line 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5- is a perspective view of the cross bracing of an end pair of legs as seen from the inner face, the nearer leg being sectioned along the line 5-5 of FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the entire structure 3,081,055 7 Patented Mar. 12, 1963 spread out flat, with the two side frames connected only by the fabric seating;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view showing the legs of each side frame individually collapsed along the respective adjacent fabric edge, with the latter in the same position as in FIGURE 6 but with the fabric-holding suspension arms rotated on their longitudinal axis for better illustration;

FIGURE 8 is an end elevational view of the structure of FIGURE 7 with the fabric seating folded upon itself along the vertical axis of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is an elevational view of the structure of FIGURE 8 as viewed at right angles thereto in the direction of the arrow 9; and

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the structure of FIGURES 8-9 rolled into a compact bundle by wrapping the fabric around each end structure as the latter are axially rotated toward each other.

The here exemplified collapsible stool is formed of a pair of similar, inverted U-shaped, side frames 12, 14 (FIGURE 6) of slightly different lengths, having the two cross arms of the U permanently transversely connected by a flexible, generally rectangular surface of seating material 16 such as canvas, nylon, Saran, glass fiber or other synthetic plastic or natural fiber. Conveniently the seat 16 is formed of a single sheet of material but this does not preclude similar employment of strands or wider strips of like material woven or cross laced with each other.

In the present form, the frames are constructed typically of wooden members, conveniently rectangular in section. However, they may also be made of other rigid materials including metal and plastic, and other shapes are not excluded for the elongated members including tubes and/or externally curved rods. Each frame 12, 14 has a pair of end-abutting, longitudinally aligned support or suspension arms 18, 20 to which the seating material 16 is attached along its longitudinal edge, extending lengthwise in each direction from a medial cutout or inset portion 22, 23 of the sheet. The adjacent, abutting ends of the suspension arms are mutually attached along their underface by a hinge 24 (FIGURES 4 and 8) so as to permit their outer ends 26, 28 to be collapsed or folded down toward or against each other (from the assembled or supporting position of FIGURE 1), which hinge at the same time maintains each endadjaccnt pair of suspension arms (18, 20) in a continu ous, level, generally horizontally disposed plane, even when supporting the weight of a person on the seat 16.

The outer end 26, 28 of each of the four suspension arms 18, 19, 20, 21 also has aflixed to its upper face (or formed integral therewith) a short, upstanding, spacing block 30 of width and thickness generally corresponding. to the dependent support arm. Also the underface of each suspension arm has a short hook or latch member 32 free swinging from an attachment eye 34 adjacent the outer end.

Each of the four legs 36, 37, 38, 39 is formed of three, hingedly connected segments a, b, c disposed end to end by successive hinges 40, 42, 44 extensible in a straight line perpendicularly downward from the underface of the respective, horizontally disposed, suspension arm to which the uppermost segment a is articulated adjacent its transverse edge. Accordingly, the shortest, proximate segment a is swingable on the hinge 40 thru an angle of 180 between a support position with its end disposed in frictional registration with the underface of the suspension arm (20, FIGURE 4), and a collapsed position with its longitudinal face jointly against the vertical ends of the horizontal members 20, 30. When folded or collapsed in the latter position, the next hinge 42 will then permit the leg segment b to be disposed parallel to and spaced above the suspension arm (18, 19, 20, 21, FIG- URE 7) in juxtaposition with the spacing member 30. At the same time, the outermost hinge 44 permits the distal segment c to be swung 180 so as to be sandwiched between the intermediate segment b and the upper face of the suspension arm, with the free end 45 of the segment disposed adjacent the inner end 46 of the spacing member (FIGURE 8).

It will be observed that the length of the intermediate segment b exceeds the length of the distal segment 0 at least by the length of the spacing member 30; and the length of the proximate segment a is just sufiicient to swing the segment 12 to a position frictionally overlying the horizontal block 30. In the present form, additionally, the thickness of each of the structural members being half the length of the spacing block 30, the length of the latter is also equal to the length of the proximate segment a. Thus the three piece leg folds or collapses against the suspension arm in two layers to form a compact three-layer structure about which the collapsed seating material 30 can be wound without removal of any structural members as subsequently detailed.

The inner face of each intermediate arm 11 is provided with a ring or eyelet 46 to receive the free end of the adjacent hook 32 so that upon assembly, the latter in angular disposition can brace the functionally positioned leg against outfolding or buckling in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the seat 16. On the other hand, the segments are restrained from articulation in the opposite direction by reason of their mutual end-abutment and the hinges mounted along their outer faces. In addition, the inner face of the outermost (parallel) pair of legs 36, 37 is each provided with a rectangular-channel bracket member 48 pivotally secured at one end to the intermediate segment b at 50 (FIGURE so as to transversely overlie the segment intersection and have its other end detachably secured to the adjacent segment 0 (or vice versa) as by a terminal hook 52 and eye 54.

The adjacent, angularly disposed leg (38) is inserted in the channel portion or socket of the bracket 48 before latching the latter, so that the joints of both (crossed) legs are thus clamped together in position to hold them straight as well as in lateral registration.

Accordingly it will be apparent that I have provided a collapsible frame, particularly adapted to support an (attached) flexible seat or supporting surface 16, which frame can be quickly and easily collapsed and assembled. When set upwithout the use of tools or any added attachmentsit is sturdily self-supporting. When collapsed and rolled into a bundle (FIGURE it can be grasped with one hand or carried in a coat pocket. In addition to its obvious use as a seat, it can be employed (for example) on the beach as a back rest or mounted over a reclined person to utilize its seating surface a a sun shade, orwith the seating vertically disposedas a wind break. Other uses and advantages will become apparent in other localities.

I claim:

1. A collapsible structure of the character described, comprising in combination: a similar pair of generally rectangular, inverted U-shaped frames formed of flatsided members of uniform thickness, of which the parallel side members of the U form dependent supporting legs disposable crosswise in frictional registration with the corresponding legs of the adjacent frame; a generally rectangular surface of flexible seating material transversely connecting the top cross arms of both inverted U frames and formed with a medial inset portion along each connected side edge; each frame being formed with a longitudinally aligned pair of suspension arms jointly forming the cross arm of the U, which arms are terminally hinged together adjacent said inset portion by a dependent hinge so as to be movable between a supporting position of end abutment and a collapsed position wherein both outer ends are downswung toward each other with said seating material folded along a transverse line connecting said insets; a latch member located adjacent each outer end of each suspension arm for angular bracing of the adjacent leg by selective engagement therewith when in dependent position; each outer end of each suspension arm being formed with a short, upstanding rectangular projection upon its upper face having a thickness equal to the thickness of said legs; each of the four legs being formed by three successive, hingedly connected segments of unequal length and equal thickness to the thickness of the suspension arms and consisting of (a) a proximate segment of length equal to the combined thickness of a suspension arm plus said upstanding projection thereon, whereby said segment can be swung between a supporting position wherein one end of the dependent, upright disposed segment abuts against the underface of the adjacent connected suspension arm, and a collapsed position outswung wherein its longitudinal face is disposed against the adjacent ends of the suspension arm and upstanding projection jointly, (b) an intermediate segment adapted in collapsed position to overlie the adjacent connected suspension arm in spaced relation and in juxtaposition with said projection, and (c) a distal segment shorter than said intermediate segment by at least the length of said projection, whereby in collapsed position it may be hingedly disposed lengthwise in juxtaposition between the suspension arm and the intermediate segment spaced thereabove, with the free end of the distal segment disposed adjacent the inner end of said projection; one leg of each adjacent crossed pair being provided with a selectively engageable bracket member disposable lengthwise along said leg with its respective ends securable to the intermediate and distal segments thereof along the side opposite the hinge line therebetween, said bracket having a rectangular channel portion adapted to frictionally overlie the adjacent crossed leg, whereby in supporting position the hinged segment joints of both legs are securely held against buckling.

2. In combination with a collapsible structure of the character described, the improvement comprising: a seating material suspension arm having an outer end formed with a short, upstanding, projection along its upper face having a thickness equal to the thickness of a leg coupled adjacent thereto, and a supporting leg hingedly secured adjacent the lower edge of said outer end, said leg being formed by three successive, hingedly connected segments of unequal length and generally equal thickness and consisting of (a) a proximate segment having a length equal to the combined thickness of the suspension arm plus said upstanding projection, whereby said segment can be swung between a supporting position wherein one end of the dependent, upright disposed segment abuts against the underface of the suspension arm, and a collapsed position outswung 180 wherein its longitudinal face is disposed against the adjacent ends of the suspension arm and upstanding projection jointly, (b) an intermediate segment adapted in collapsed position to overlie the upperface of the suspension arm in spaced relation and in juxtaposition with said projection, and (c) a distal segment shorter than said intermediate segment by at least the length of said projection, whereby in collapsed position it may be hingedly disposed lengthwise in juxtaposition between the suspension arm and the intermediate segment spaced thereabove, with the free end of the distal segment disposed adjacent the inner end of said projection.

3. The structure of the preceding claim 2 wherein said suspension arm is medially hinged for folding against itself and each outer end thereof hingedly carries one of said segmented legs.

4. The structure of the preceding claim 3 which comprises two of said suspension arms each carrying a pair of said segmented legs, the legs of one arm being disposable across the legs of the other arm in frictional registration therewith, and retaining means for detachably coupling together each such crossed pair of legs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 405,117 Purdy et al. June 11, 1889 1,047,449 Russ Dec. 17, 1912 1,263,509 Zendt April 23, 1918

Claims (1)

1. A COLLAPSIBLE STRUCTURE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A SIMILAR PAIR OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR, INVERTED U-SHAPED FRAMES FORMED OF FLATSIDED MEMBERS OF UNIFORM THICKNESS, OF WHICH THE PARALLEL SIDE MEMBERS OF THE U FORM DEPENDENT SUPPORTING LEGS DISPOSABLE CROSSWISE IN FRICTIONAL REGISTRATION WITH THE CORRESPONDING LEGS OF THE ADJACENT FRAME; A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR SURFACE OF FLEXIBLE SEATING MATERIAL TRANSVERSELY CONNECTING THE TOP CROSS ARMS OF BOTH INVERTED U FRAMES AND FORMED WITH A MEDIAL INSET PORTION ALONG EACH CONNECTED SIDE EDGE; EACH FRAME BEING FORMED WITH A LONGITUDINALLY ALIGNED PAIR OF SUSPENSION ARMS JOINTLY FORMING THE CROSS ARM OF THE U, WHICH ARMS ARE TERMINALLY HINGED TOGETHER ADJACENT SAID INSET PORTION BY A DEPENDENT HINGE SO AS TO BE MOVABLE BETWEEN A SUPPORTING POSITION OF END ABUTMENT AND A COLLAPSED POSITION WHEREIN BOTH OUTER ENDS ARE DOWNSWUNG TOWARD EACH OTHER WITH SAID SEATING MATERIAL FOLDED ALONG A TRANSVERSE LINE CONNECTING SAID INSETS; A LATCH MEMBER LOCATED ADJACENT EACH OUTER END OF EACH SUSPENSION ARM FOR ANGULAR BRACING OF THE ADJACENT LEG BY SELECTIVE ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH WHEN IN DEPENDENT POSITION; EACH OUTER END OF EACH SUSPENSION ARM BEING FORMED WITH A SHORT, UPSTANDING RECTANGULAR PROJECTION UPON ITS UPPER FACE HAVING A THICKNESS EQUAL TO THE THICKNESS OF SAID LEGS; EACH OF THE FOUR LEGS BEING FORMED BY THREE SUCCESSIVE, HINGEDLY CONNECTED SEGMENTS OF UNEQUAL LENGTH AND EQUAL THICKNESS TO THE THICKNESS OF THE SUSPENSION ARMS AND CONSISTING OF (A) A PROXIMATE SEGMENT OF LENGTH EQUAL TO THE COMBINED THICKNESS OF A SUSPENSION ARM PLUS SAID UPSTANDING PROJECTION THEREON, WHEREBY SAID SEGMENT CAN

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