WO1997027786A1

WO1997027786A1 - Collapsible chair

Info

Publication number: WO1997027786A1
Application number: PCT/IL1997/000034
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yair Nevo
Original assignee: Z.A.G. Industries Ltd.
Priority date: 1996-01-30
Filing date: 1997-01-29
Publication date: 1997-08-07
Also published as: AU1317897A; IL116955A0; IL116955A

Abstract

A collapsible chair constructed of a panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and an opening formed by cutting out at least one support portion and at least one seat portion hinged within the opening and swingable about a horizontal axis. The at least one support portion being hinged at a top edge of the opening and swingable about a horizontal axis, where the at least one seat portion is engageable by the at least one support portion. The arrangement being such that at a collapsed position of the chair the at least one seat portion and the at least one support portion are co-planar with one another and are flush with the panel, omitting overlapping between any of the chair's components, wherein at an open position of the chair the bottom edge of the panel serves as a front support.

Description

COLLAPSIBLE CHAIR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of chairs and more specifi¬ cally it is concerned with collapsible chairs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A variety of folding and collapsible chairs have been provided, the main object of which being saving place when in their folded or collapsed position for efficient storage and transporting.

The drawback with folding chairs is that in a folded position several portions of the chair overlap one another, thereby not being suitable for storing in small spaces and for stacking on or adjacent one another.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a novel collapsing chair in which the above-referred to disadvantages are overcome or substantially reduced. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a collapsible chair constructed of a panel having a top edge and a bottom edge and having an opening formed by cutting out at least one seat portion and at least one support portion; the at least one seat portion being hinged within the opening and swingable about a horizontal axis, and the at least one support portion being hinged at a top edge of the opening swingable about a horizontal axis, where the at least one seat portion is engageable by the at least one support portion; the arrangement being such that at a collapsed position of the chair the at least one seat portion and the at least one support portion are co-planer with one another and are flush with the panel, omitting overlapping between any of the chair's components, wherein at an open position of the chair the bottom edge of the panel serves as a front support. The folding chair of the present invention is such that in its collapsed position an essentially smooth surface is obtained, whereby in this position the thickness of the chair is essentially that of the panel, enabling convenient storage is provided with minimal height.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, said at least one seat portion is engageable with said at least one support portion adjacent a rear end of the seat portion and wherein a bottom edge of said at least one support portion serves as a rear support in the open position of the chair.

According to another embodiment of the invention, said at least one seat portion is engageable with said at least one support portion adjacent a rear end of the support portion and wherein a bottom edge of said at least one seat portion serves as a rear support in the open position of the chair. The collapsible chair according to the present invention is useful, in its collapsed position, as sun-lounger having an undulating cross-section conforming with human body anatomy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For better understanding, the present invention will be described by way of example only with reference to the following drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a chair according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in its open position; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional side view taken along lines II-II in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the chair of Fig. 1 , in its collapsed position;

Fig. 4 is a side cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in Fig. 3 of the drawings, showing a chair according to the present invention in its collapsed position;

Fig. 5 is a side view of a chair according to an application of the first embodiment of the present invention, the chair in its open position;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another application of a chair according to the present invention, the chair illustrated in its open position; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of a chair according to the present invention, shown in its open position;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modification of a chair according to the present invention;

Fig. 9a is a perspective view of a lounge chair according to the present invention:

Fig. 9b is an enlargement of a portion of the lounge chair of Fig. 9a: Fig. 10 is a planar view of the embodiment of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a chair according to the present invention, the chair in its open position; Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII in Fig. 11 ;

Fig. 13 is a top planner view of the chair seen in Fig. 11 , in its collapsed position;

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV in Fig 13; Fig. 15 is a side view illustrating a person sitting on a chair in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 16 is a side view of a chair according to the present invention in its collapsed position, useful as a sun-lounger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Attention is first directed to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings illustrating a chair according to a first embodiment of the invention. The chair 1 is manufactured from a panel of material 2 which may be a slab of solid wood, or laminated wood, or plastic. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, the panel 2 has an undulating longitudinal cross-sectional shape (best seen in Fig.4), however it may also be flat, as seen in the embodiment of Fig. 5, or otherwise undulating.

The panel 2 has an opening 3 formed by cutting out two seat portions 4 and a support portion 5 constituting a rear leg, the seat portions being articulated to one another by a pin 6 adjacent a rear end of the seat portions. Each of the seat portions is pivotally hinged at 8 to side walls 10 of the opening 3 formed in the panel.

The rear leg 5 is formed between the seat portions 4 and it is hinged at its top end 16 by a hinge 18 to a top wall 20 of the opening 3. The rear leg 5 has a longitudinal groove 22 extending a major portion of the leg and slidably accommodating the pin 6.

The splat 24 has an opening 26 serving for carrying the chair. As can be seen in Figs. 1 and 2, a bottom edge 28 of the panel 2 serves as a front leg of the chair, when it is at the open position. The arrangement is such that when the chair is in its collapsed position (Figs. 3 and 4) the seat portions 4 and the rear leg 5 fit into the opening 3 and they become flush with the surface of the panel 2 without any overlapping portions. However, when the chair is open (as seen in Figs. 1 and 2) pin 6 slides within the groove 22 of the rear leg 5 until it reaches the top end 30 (seen in Figs. 2 and 4), whereby the level of the end of the groove determines the amount at which the chair opens and its angular position.

Fig. 5 of the drawings is a modification of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4, wherein the panel 34 and the seat portion and rear leg 35 and 36 respectively are essentially flat.

Fig. 6 of the drawings illustrates a different method for arresting the pin 6 of the seat portion 4, with the other elements of the chair being similar to those illustrated with respect to Figs. 1 to 4. As can be seen in Fig. 6, the rear leg 38 comprises a plurality of transverse hook-like recesses 39 adapted for arresting the pin 6 at different levels, whereby the chair may be opened at a number of predetermined angular positions, so as to suit a person sitting on the chair.

Reference is now made to Fig. 7 of the drawings showing another embodiment of the chair according to the present invention, in which three seat portions 40, 41 and 42 are cut out from the panel 2' . The seat portions 40, 41 and 42 are articulated to one another by a pin 44 adjacent a rear end thereof and the two external seat portions 40 and 42 are swingably hinged at 46 to the side walls 10' of the opening 3'. Rods 48 articulate the central seat portion 41 to the external seat portions 40 and 42.

Two rear legs 50 are cut out from the panel 2', between the seat portions 40, 41 and 42, both provided with a longitudinal groove 52, as already explained with regard to Figs. 1 to 4, with the pin 44 passing through the groove 52. The rear leg 50 further comprises transversal grooves 54 on an inner face thereof, suitable for receiving the rods 48 articulating the seat portions 40, 41 and 42 to one another, when the chair is collapsed. The arrangement of the chair according to this embodiment is similar to that of Figs. 1 to 4, whereby at the open position, the chair is supported by the bottom edge 28' of the seat serving as a front leg, and the rear legs 50, whereas in the collapsed position (not shown) the seat portions and the rear legs fit in the opening 3' and become flush with the surface of the panel 2' without any overlapping portions.

It should be obvious that the pin 46 may extend also through the central seat portion 41 with a suitable groove (not shown) provided in the rear legs 50 (similar to grooves 54). The rear legs may be articulated adjacent their bottom ends in a similar manner as explained hereinabove with respect to connecting pin 48 of the seat portions 40, 41 and 42, with suitable grooves provided at the bottom faces of the seat portions (not shown).

Fig. 8 is a modification of the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4 in which the rear leg 60 has an inverted T-like shape with a wide base portion 62 for enlarging the area of contact of the rear leg with the ground surface, suitable in particular where the chair is placed on light soil, e.g. at the seaside.

Attention is now directed to Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings illustrating still another embodiment of the invention in which a lower position of the chair is obtained, suitable for use as a lounge chair. According to this embodiment, the seat portion 72 consists of a single portion cut out from the panel 74 and being swingable within the open¬ ing 76 by hinges 78 at a horizontal axis, the hinges hinged to the side walls 80 of the opening 76. A rear leg member 82 is swingably hinged by a hinge 84 to a top wall 86 of the opening 76, the rear leg comprising two lateral projections 90 shown in the enlarged portion of Fig. 9b. The seat portion 72 comprises at its rear end 92 an opening 94 with two lateral recesses 96 adapted for receiving and arresting the lateral projections 90 of the rear leg 82.

It should be noted that suitable openings 98 are provided in the seat portion 72 for receiving the lateral projections 90 when the chair is in its collapsed position.

Attention is now directed to Figs. 11 to 14 of the drawings illustrating a second embodiment of a chair in accordance with the present invention. The chair is made of a panel of material 100, which as already explained with respect to the first embodiment, may be a slab of solid wood, or laminated wood, or plastic and has an undulating longitudinal cross-section, as can be seen in Fig. 14. An opening 102 is formed in the panel 100 by cutting out a seat portion 104 and a support portion 106, which as seen in Fig. 13 constitutes integral, continuous portions of the panel 100.

Seat portion 104 is swingably hinged at 108 within opening 102 for swinging between a closed position in which its edges are essentially flush with those of opening 102, as seen in Fig. 14, and an open position, as seen in Figures 11 and 12. Support portion 106 has a top end 110 hingedly attached at 112 to a top edge of opening 102 and comprises a longitudinal groove 114 slidably engaging pin 116 laterally extending between two rear leg portions 118 of the seat portion. As can best be seen in Figs. 12 and 14, groove 114 has at a lower end thereof an engaging recess 120 for arresting pin 116 when the chair is in its open position.

For opening the chair, seat portion 104 is rotated to the position seen in Figs. 11 and 12, allowing pin 116 to engage within recess 120. The chair is then positioned with the bottom edge 124 of panel 100 serving as a front leg of the chair and leg portions 118 of seat portion 104 serving as rear legs of the chair. In the open position of the chair, support portion 106 serves as a back rest. It should be understood to a position skilled in the art that instead of one recess 120 there may be several recesses, for example, as explained with respect to Fig. 6, for fixing the chair at different positions.

Fig. 15 of the drawings is an illustration of a person 230 sitting on a chair 235 in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 16 is an illustration of a person 238 lying on a collapsed chair 239 in accordance with the present invention, the chair useful as a sun-lounger.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A collapsible chair constructed of a panel having a top edge and a bottom edge and having an opening formed by cutting out at least one seat portion and at least one support portion; the at least one seat portion being hinged within the opening and swingable about a horizontal axis, and the at least one support portion being hinged at a top edge of the opening swingable about a horizontal axis, where the at least one seat portion is engageable by the at least one support portion; the arrangement being such that at a collapsed position of the chair the at least one seat portion and the at least one support portion are co-planer with one another and are flush with the panel, omitting overlapping between any of the chair's components, wherein at an open position of the chair the bottom edge of the panel serves as a front support.

2. A collapsible chair according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one seat portion is engageable with said at least one support portion adjacent a rear end of the seat portion and wherein a bottom edge of said at least one support portion serves as a rear support in the open position of the chair.

3. A collapsible chair according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one seat portion is engageable with said at least one support portion adjacent a rear end of the support portion and wherein a bottom edge of said at least one seat portion serves as a rear support in the open position of the chair.

4. A collapsible chair according to claim 3, wherein said support portion extends within a recess formed within the seat portion, there being a fixed rod transversely extending within the recess; said rod being engageable by an arresting member provided adjacent a bottom end of said support portion.

5. A collapsible chair according to claim 4, wherein said pin is slidable within a transverse groove at the support portion and where said arresting member is one or more recesses within said groove adapted for arresting said pin.

6. A collapsible chair according to claim 2, comprising at least two seat portions and at least one rear leg portion extending between each pair of said at least two seat portions and a transversal pin articulating said at least two seat portions adjacent a rear end thereof at a co-planer position; said transversal pin being engageable by an arresting member provided on the at least one rear leg.

7. A collapsible chair according to claim 6, wherein the arresting member is at least one hook-like recess transversely extending on the rear leg, whereby the extent of opening the chair depends on the level of the recess arresting the transversal pin.

8. A collapsible chair according to claim 6, wherein the arresting member is a top end of a transversal groove cut through said rear leg and wherein said pin is slidable within the groove.

9. A collapsible chair according to claim 6, wherein said at least two seat portions are longer than said rear leg, whereby the seat portions are attached to or integral with one another adjacent a front end thereof.

10. A collapsible chair according to claim 1 , wherein said panel has an undulating longitudinal cross-section shape, suitable for use as a sun- lounger.