US20130119739A1

US20130119739A1 - Foldable Chair

Info

Publication number: US20130119739A1
Application number: US13/373,504
Authority: US
Inventors: Shou Qiang Zhu
Original assignee: IP Power Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: IP Power Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2011-11-14
Filing date: 2011-11-14
Publication date: 2013-05-16

Abstract

A foldable chair includes a chair seat, a foldable frame having at least a stand frame and at least a support frame supporting said stand frame, and a plurality of support stoppers for mounting said stand frame to said support frame, wherein said chair seat is mounted to said stand frame in such a manner that said stand frame unfolds said chair seat to define a sitting surface for a user to sit thereon.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a foldable chair, and more particularly to a foldable chair comprising a fabric made chair seat and a foldable frame adapted for folding and unfolding the chair seat, wherein the foldable chair provides a rigid and strong support while it is easy for hand carrying, storage and usage.
2. Description of Related Arts
Foldable chairs are easy to be carried and used both indoor and outdoor. A typical foldable chair comprises a foldable frame and a seat member foldably supported by the foldable frame in such a manner that the chair is capable of folding between a folded condition and an unfolded condition, wherein in the unfolded condition, the foldable frame stands on a ground surface and supports the seat member in a substantially horizontal position for a user to set, and that in the folded condition, the foldable frame can be pivotally and collapsibly folded to form a compact structure for ease of carry and storage.
More often, the foldable frame of a conventional foldable chair comprises at least a stand frame and at least a support frame, wherein the support frame is usually mounted to the stand frame by joint members such as rivets, screws or the like, and thus when a heavy user sits on the seat member, a downward force will be directly applied on the joint members between the stand frame and the support frame. Therefore, the foldable chair is easy to be damaged when a relatively heavy downward force is applied thereon. In other words, the foldable chair often fails to provide a stable support. Therefore, a portable and flexible foldable chair which has a light weight for hand carrying or storing in a trunk of a vehicle as well as enhanced structural strength and stability for using is highly desired.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a foldable chair comprising a chair seat and a foldable frame adapted for folding and unfolding the chair seat wherein the foldable chair provides a rigid and strong support while it is easy for hand carrying, storage and usage.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable chair, wherein the foldable frame comprises at least a stand frame and at least a support frame, wherein the foldable chair comprises a plurality of support stoppers, wherein said stand frame is connected to said support frame by said support stoppers, so that the foldable chair provides a stable support when the foldable chair is unfolded for a user to sit on the chair seat.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable chair, wherein the foldable frame comprises two stand frames substantially aligned parallelly with each other and two support frames mounted to the two stand frames, wherein each of the stand frames comprises a first stand leg and a second stand leg connected to the first stand leg at a pivot point, wherein the chair seat has a first end mounted to the upper end of the first stand leg and a second end mounted to the upper end of the second leg so that the chair seat is folded or unfolded with respect to the movement between the first stand leg and the second stand leg.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable chair, wherein the foldable frame comprises two support frames each comprising two support arms crossedly extended between the two first stand legs and the two second stand legs respectively, so that a distance is maintained between the two stand frames, wherein the ends of supports arms are connected to said stand legs by a plurality of support stoppers so as to enhance the stability of the connection between the two stand frames and the two support frames.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable chair, wherein each of the support stoppers comprises a stopper body having a mounting hole, a retention member comprising a base and two retention ribs parallelly and spacedly extended from the base, wherein the stand leg passes through the mounting hole and is connected to the stopper body, wherein an end of the support arm is mounted between the two retention ribs, so that the stopper body and the retention member enhance the connection between the support arm and the stand leg.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable chair, wherein the first stand leg is connected to the second stand leg by a stand stopper, wherein the stand stopper enhances the stability of the stand frame and also facilitates the movement of the first stand leg with respect to the second stand leg.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable chair which provides a simple and strong structure that can be manufactured in an affordable lower cost for all consumers.
Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appended claims.
According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained by a foldable chair, comprising:
a chair seat;
a foldable frame comprising at least a stand frame and at least a support frame supporting said stand frame; and
a plurality of support stoppers for mounting said stand frame with said support frame, wherein said chair seat is mounted to said stand frame in such a manner that said stand frame unfolds said chair seat to define a sitting surface for a user to sit thereon.
Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.
These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable chair in an unfolded condition according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the foldable chair according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is perspective view illustrating the support stopper of the foldable chair according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating the support stopper of the foldable chair according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a rear view illustrating the support stopper of the foldable chair according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the support stopper connecting with the stand frame and support frame of the foldable chair according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating the stand stopper between the two stand legs of the stand frame of the foldable chair according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the foldable chair in a folded condition according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating an alternative mode of the foldable chair according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating another alternative mode of the foldable chair according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 8 of the drawings, a foldable chair which is adapted to be folded between a folded condition and an unfolded condition according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the foldable chair comprises a chair seat 10 and a foldable frame 20, wherein in the folded condition, the chair seat 10 and the foldable frame 20 are folded into a compact structure while the chair seat 10 is overlappedly aligned with the folded foldable frame for ease of carrying and storage, wherein in the unfolded condition, the foldable frame 20 is unfolded to extend the chair seat 10 to define a sitting surface for a user to sit thereon comfortably.
Accordingly, the chair seat 10 is made of soft material, and thus the chair seat can be a fabric seat, weave seat, or canvas seat so that the user can comfortably sits thereon. In other words, the chair seat 10 is made of soft and flexible material so as to provide a lighter weight structure and convenient seating effect for the user.
Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawing, the foldable frame 20 comprises at least a stand frame 21 and at least a support frame 22, wherein the chair seat 10 is mounted to the stand frame 21 in such a manner that the stand frame 21 unfolds the chair seat 10 in the unfolded condition for the user to sit on. And the support frame 22 supports the stand frame 21 and enhances the stability of the foldable frame 20 of the foldable chair.
The foldable chair comprises a plurality of support stoppers 40, wherein the stand frame 21 is connected to the support frame 22 by the support stoppers 40, accordingly, unlike the prior art wherein the stand frame 21 is connected to the support frame 22 by rivets, screws and the like, the support stoppers 40 are employed to enhance the connection between the stand frame 21 and the support frame 22, so that when the user sits on the chair seat 10, the force applied on the stand frame 21 is effectively distributed to the support frame 22.
More specifically, in this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the foldable frame 20 comprises two stand frames 21 substantially aligned parallelly and spacedly with each other, wherein the chair seat 10 is mounted to the two stand frames 21 in such a manner that the chair seat 10 is extended between the two stand frames 21 to define a sitting surface when the foldable chair is in the unfolded condition. In other words, the two stand frames 21 are capable of unfolding the chair seat 10 in the unfolded condition.
Each of the stand frames 21 comprises a first crossed leg 211 and a second crossed leg 212 connected to the first crossed leg 211 at a pivot point 213, wherein the first crossed leg 211 and the second crossed leg 212 are capable of rotating with respect to each other about the pivot point 213. Accordingly, the first crossed leg 211 can be overlappedly and parallelly aligned with the second crossed leg 212 in the folded condition, and that when the first crossed leg 211 rotates with respect to the second crossed leg 212 in the unfolded condition, the first crossed leg 211 and the second crossed leg 212 can be unfolded to a cross-X structure adapted for standing on a ground surface for supporting the user sitting on the chair seat 10.
It is worth mentioning that the length of the first crossed leg 211 can be different from the second crossed leg 212. For example, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first crossed leg 211 is longer than the second crossed leg 212, wherein when the foldable chair is in the unfolded condition, the first crossed leg 211 provides a backrest for the user sitting on the chair seat 10 and the second crossed leg 212 provides a seat support for the user.
The foldable frame 20 further comprises two support frames 22 mounted to the two stand frames 21 so as to enhance the stability of the foldable frame 20 in the unfolded condition, wherein each of the two support frames 22 comprises two support arms 221 connected to each other at a pivot point 222. Accordingly, referring to FIG. 3 to FIG. 6 of the drawings, each of the support arms 221 is connected to the each of the two stand legs 21 via a support stopper 40.
More specifically, each of the support stoppers 40 comprises a stopper body 41 having a mounting hole 411, a retention member 42 comprising a base 421 and two retention ribs 422 substantially extended parallelly and spacedly from the base 421, wherein the stand leg 211, 212 passes through the mounting hole 411 and is connected to the stopper body 41, wherein an end of the support arm 221 is mounted between the two retention ribs 422, so that the stopper body 41 and the retention member 42 enhances the connection between the support arm 221 and the stand leg 211, 212.
Accordingly, each of the stopper body 41 further comprises a first joint member 412 and a second joint member 413 for connecting the stopper body 31 to the retention member 42, wherein the first joint member 412 penetrates the stopper body 41 and the base 421 of the retention member 42, wherein the second joint member 413 penetrates the stopper body 41, the stand leg 211, 212, and the base 421 of the retention member 42, as shown in FIG. 6. The retention member 42 further comprise a third joint member 423 connecting the end of the support arm 221 to the two retention ribs 422, in other words, the third joint member 423 penetrates the two retention ribs 422 and the end of the support arm 221.
Accordingly, the first crossed leg 211 and the second crossed leg 212 are both preferably constructed in arc shape so as to define a desired angle when the foldable frame 20 is in the unfolded condition. The pivot point 213 divides the first crossed leg 211 and the second crossed leg 212 into two half portions: an upper portion and a lower portion. In other words, the first crossed leg 211 has an upper portion 2111 above the pivot point 213 and a lower portion 2112 below the pivot point 213, wherein the second crossed leg 212 has an upper portion 2121 above the pivot point 213 and a lower portion 2122 below the pivot point 213. When the foldable chair is in the unfolded condition, the upper portion 2111 of the first crossed leg 211 and the corresponding upper portion 2121 of the second crossed leg 212 so as to define the unfolding angle of the foldable frame 20 in such a manner that the chair seat 10 is resting on the upper portion 2111 of the first crossed leg 211 and the upper portions 2121 of the second crossed leg 212 at a position above the pivot point 213.
The chair seat 10 comprises a seat member 11 having a first end 111 and a second end 112, wherein the first end 111 of the seat member 11 is mounted to the upper portion 2111 of the first crossed leg 211 and the second end 112 of the seat member 11 is mounted to the upper portion 2121 of the second crossed leg 212 in such a manner that the seat member 11 is extended between the two stand frames 21.
Accordingly, the two support frames 22 are connected to the two stand frames 21 by the support stoppers 30 in such a manner that a lower end of each of the support arms 221 is pivotally mounted to the lower portion 2112, 2122 of the stand leg 211, 212, and an upper end of each of the support arms 221 is mounted to the upper portion 2121 of the stand leg 212. In other words, the lower portion or upper portion of the stand leg 211, 212 passes through the mounting hole 411 and is connected to the stopper body 41, wherein a lower end or upper end of the support arm 221 is mounted between the two retention ribs 422, wherein the first joint member 412 penetrates the stopper body 41 and the base 421 of the retention member 42, wherein the second joint member 413 penetrates the stopper body 41, the lower portion or upper portion of the stand leg 211, 212, and the base 421 of the retention member 42.
It is worth mentioning that the two support frames 22 not only provide supporting force to the two stand frames 21 when the foldable chair is in the unfolded condition, but also retain a predetermined distance between the two stand frames 21, wherein the distance is slightly larger than the width of the user.
The foldable frame 20 may further comprises two armrest 23, wherein each second stand leg 212 further comprises a mounting arm 2123 integrally and inclinedly extended from the upper portion 2121 of the second stand leg 212 in such a manner that the mounting arm 2123 of the second stand leg 212 stands in an upright direction when the foldable chair is in the unfolded condition. Each of the armrest 23 comprises an armrest body 231 which is pivotally and vertically extended from the mounting arm 2123 of the second stand leg 212. The armrest 23 further comprises a pivot arm 232 having a first end 2321 pivotally and movably connected to the armrest body 231 and a second end 2322 pivotally and movably connected to the first stand leg 211 in such a manner that the armrest body 231 is capable of rotating about the first stand leg 211. Preferably, the first end 2321 of the pivot arm 232 is pivotally and movably connected to a middle portion of the armrest body 231 and the second end 2322 of the pivot arm 232 is pivotally and movably connected to the middle portion of the first stand leg 211. And thus when the foldable chair is in the unfolded condition, the two armrests 23 are substantially extended horizontally for a user to comfortably rest his forearms and hands thereon, and when the foldable chair is in the folded condition, the two armrests 23 are substantially extended vertically to parallelly align with the two first stand legs 211 and the two second stand legs 212.
It is worth mentioning that each of the two stand frames 21 comprises a stand stopper 30 for connecting the first crossed leg 211 and the second crossed leg 212, as shown in FIG. 7, the stand stopper 30 is mounted to the first stand leg 211, wherein the stand stopper 30 has a mounting hole 31 for the second stand leg 212 to pass therethrough, and then the second stand leg 212 and the stand stopper 30 are connected together by rivets, screws or the like. And thus the second stand leg 212 is movably connected to the first stand leg 211 so that each of the two stand frames is capable of folding between the folded condition and the unfolded condition.
FIG. 8 illustrates the foldable chair which is adapted to move from the unfolded condition to the folded condition, wherein when the foldable chair is in the folded condition, the two first stand leg 211, the two second stand leg 212, and the two armrests 23 are paralledly and overlappedly aligned with each other to stand in a substantial upright direction and the two support frames 21 are overlapped aligned with each other. And thus the foldable chair is easy for hand carrying or storing.
Referring to FIG. 9 of the drawings, an alternative mode of the foldable chair according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the foldable chair has a similar structure with the foldable chair mentioned above, wherein the foldable frame 20A comprises two support frames 22A each comprising two support arms 221A substantially extended parallelly and spacedly between the two first stand legs 211A and the two second stand legs 212A respectively, so that a distance is maintained between the two stand frames 21A, wherein the ends of supports arms 221A are connected to said stand legs 211A, 212A by a plurality of support stoppers 40A so as to enhance the stability of the connection between the two stand frames 21A and the two support frames 22A.
Referring to FIG. 10 of the drawing, another alternative mode of the foldable chair according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the foldable chair has a similar structure with the foldable chair mentioned above, wherein each of the support stoppers 40B comprises a stopper body 41B having a mounting hole 411B and a retention member 42B protrudely extended from the stopper body 41B. The support arm 221B comprises two retention ribs 43B substantially extended parallelly and spacedly from an end of the support arm 221B, wherein the stand leg 211B, 212B passes through the mounting hole 411B and is connected to the stopper body 41B, wherein the retention member 42B is mounted between the two retention ribs 43B, so that the support arm 221B and the stand leg 211B, 212B are firmly connected by the support stoppers 40B.
One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A foldable chair, comprising:

a chair seat;

a foldable frame comprising at least a stand frame and at least a support frame supporting said stand frame; and

a plurality of support stoppers for mounting said stand frame with said support frame, wherein said chair seat is mounted to said stand frame in such a manner that said stand frame unfolds said chair seat to define a sitting surface for a user to sit thereon.

2. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 1, wherein said foldable frame comprises two said stand frames substantially aligned parallelly and spacedly with each other, wherein each of said two stand frames comprises a first stand leg and a second stand leg connected to the first stand leg at a pivot point, wherein said first stand leg rotates with respect to said second crossed leg about said pivot point.

3. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 1, wherein said foldable frame comprises two said support frames, wherein each of said two support frames comprises two support arms connected to each other at a pivot point.

4. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 2, wherein said foldable frame comprises two said support frames, wherein each of said two support frames comprises two support arms connected to each other at a pivot point.

5. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 2, wherein said foldable frame comprises two said support frames, wherein each of said two support frames comprises two support arms parallelly and spacedly extended between the two first stand legs and said two second stand legs respectively.

6. The foldable chairs, as recited in claim 4, wherein each of the support stoppers comprises a stopper body having a mounting hole, a retention member comprising a base and two retention ribs parallelly and spacedly extended from said base, wherein one of said first stand leg and said second stand leg passes through said mounting hole and is connected to said stopper body, wherein an end of said support arm is mounted between said two retention ribs.

7. The foldable chairs, as recited in claim 5, wherein each of the support stoppers comprises a stopper body having a mounting hole, a retention member comprising a base and two retention ribs parallelly and spacedly extended from said base, wherein one of said first stand leg and said second stand leg passes through said mounting hole and is connected to said stopper body, wherein an end of said support arm is mounted between said two retention ribs.

8. The foldable chairs, as recited in claim 6, wherein each of said stopper body further comprises a first joint member and a second joint member, wherein said first joint member penetrates said stopper body and said base of said retention member, wherein said second joint member penetrates said stopper body, said first stand leg or said second stand leg, and said base of said retention member; wherein said retention member further comprise a third joint member connecting said end of said support arm to said two retention ribs.

9. The foldable chairs, as recited in claim 7, wherein each of said stopper body further comprises a first joint member and a second joint member, wherein said first joint member penetrates said stopper body and said base of said retention member, wherein said second joint member penetrates said stopper body, said first stand leg or said second stand leg, and said base of said retention member; wherein said retention member further comprise a third joint member connecting said end of said support arm to said two retention ribs.

10. The foldable chairs, as recited in claim 4, wherein each of the support stoppers comprises a stopper body having a mounting hole, a retention member comprising a base and two retention ribs substantially extended parallelly and spacedly from the base, wherein the support arm passes through the mounting hole and is connected to the stopper body, wherein a lower portion or upper portion of the stand leg is mounted between the two retention ribs.

11. The foldable chairs, as recited in claim 5, wherein each of the support stoppers comprises a stopper body having a mounting hole, a retention member comprising a base and two retention ribs substantially extended parallelly and spacedly from the base, wherein the support arm passes through the mounting hole and is connected to the stopper body, wherein a lower portion or upper portion of the stand leg is mounted between the two retention ribs.

12. The foldable chairs, as recited in claim 4, wherein each of said support stoppers comprises a stopper body having a mounting hole and a retention member protrudely extended from said stopper body, wherein said support arm comprises two retention ribs substantially extended parallelly and spacedly from an end thereof, wherein said first stand leg or said second stand leg passes through said mounting hole and is connected to said stopper body, wherein said retention member is mounted between said two retention ribs, so that said support arm and first stand leg or said second stand leg are firmly connected by said support stoppers.

13. The foldable chairs, as recited in claim 5, wherein each of said support stoppers comprises a stopper body having a mounting hole and a retention member protrudely extended from said stopper body, wherein said support arm comprises two retention ribs substantially extended parallelly and spacedly from an end thereof, wherein said first stand leg or said second stand leg passes through said mounting hole and is connected to said stopper body, wherein said retention member is mounted between said two retention ribs, so that said support arm and first stand leg or said second stand leg are firmly connected by said support stoppers.

14. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 8, wherein said first crossed leg and said second crossed leg are constructed in arc shape, wherein an upper portion of said first crossed leg and a corresponding upper portion of said second crossed leg define an unfolding angle of said foldable frame in said unfolded condition in such a manner that said chair seat is resting on said upper portions of said first crossed leg and a corresponding upper portion of said second crossed leg at a position above said pivot point.

15. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 14, wherein said two support frames are connected to said two stand frames by said support stoppers in such a manner that a lower end of each of said support arms is pivotally mounted to said lower portion of said first stand leg or said second stand leg, and an upper end of each of said support arms is mounted to said upper portion of said first stand leg or said second stand leg.

16. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 15, wherein said chair seat comprises a seat member having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said seat member is mounted to said upper portion of said first stand leg and said second end of said seat member is mounted to said upper portion of said second stand leg.

17. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 16, wherein said chair seat is made of soft material.

18. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 17, wherein said second stand leg further comprises a mounting arm integrally and inclinedly extended from said upper portion of said second stand leg in such a manner that said mounting arm of said second stand leg stands in an upright direction when said foldable chair is in said unfolded condition, wherein said foldable frame further comprises two armrest each extended between said mounting arm of said second stand leg and said first stand leg.

19. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 18, wherein said armrest comprises an armrest body which is pivotally and vertically extended form said mounting arm of said second stand leg, and a pivot arm having a first end pivotally and movably connected to said armrest body and a second end pivotally and movably connected to said first stand leg in such a manner that said armrest body is capable of rotating about said first stand leg.

20. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 19, wherein each of said two stand frames comprises a stand stopper mounted to said first stand leg, wherein said stand stopper has a mounting hole for said second stand leg to pass therethrough, wherein said second stand leg is connected to said stand stopper.