US20160309903A1

US20160309903A1 - Folding stool

Info

Publication number: US20160309903A1
Application number: US14/716,065
Authority: US
Inventors: Bo Huang; Jun-Xiao Liu; Hong-Zhao Qi; Cai-Hua Wang; Yue-Jian Li; Chen-Shen Lin; Wen-Hsiung Chang; Chun-Jung Chang
Original assignee: Hongfujin Precision Industry Shenzhen Co Ltd; Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd
Current assignee: Hongfujin Precision Industry Shenzhen Co Ltd; Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd
Priority date: 2015-04-21
Filing date: 2015-05-19
Publication date: 2016-10-27
Also published as: CN106136654A

Abstract

A folding stool includes a pair of table surface sections, a pair of leg sections, and a pivot member. The pair of table surface sections is connected to each other by the pivot member, and the pair of leg sections supports the pair of table surface sections. Each leg section includes a bottom and a top, and the top resists against the table surface section. The folding stool is made of aluminum and magnesium alloy, further includes a plurality of first connecting members and a plurality of second connecting members. Each table surface section includes a first connecting hole and a second connecting hole, and each leg section includes a third connecting hole and a fourth connecting hole. The first connecting member is connected between first connecting hole and the third connecting hole, and the second connecting member is connected between second connecting hole and the fourth connecting hole.

Description

FIELD

The subject matter herein generally relates to an apparatus upon which to sit or stand or support an object, and particularly to a folding stool.

BACKGROUND

It is often desirable to have a foldable and portable stool that may be easily transported from one place to another and used in a variety of outdoor conditions. It is also convenient to provide a portable stool that may be reduced to a small size for ease of carrying and storage. Folding stools have been developed in the past.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of a folding stool.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, isometric view of the folding stool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the folding stool, showing the initial folding state of the folding stool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the folding stool, showing the middle folding state of the folding stool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the folding stool, showing the final folding state of the folding stool of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure.
Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented.
The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape or other word that substantially modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, substantially cylindrical means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series and the like.
The present disclosure is described in relation to a folding stool.
FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of an embodiment of a folding stool 100. The folding stool 100 can include a pair of table surface sections 10, a pair of leg sections 20, a plurality of connecting members 30, and a pivot member 40. The pair of table surface sections 10 can have a same shape, first and second table surface sections 10 can be pivotally mounted to each other by the pivot member 40. The pair of leg sections 20 can have the same shape, and can be configured to support the corresponding table surface sections 10. First and second leg section 20 can be pivotally connected to the first and second table surface sections, respectively. The table surface section 10 can be connected to the leg section 20 by the plurality of connecting members 30. In the illustrated embodiment, there is an acute angle between the pair of leg sections 20, when the folding stool 100 is unfolded. The folding stool 100 can be stable, and the folding stool 100 can have a larger bearing capacity than traditional stools.
The FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded, isometric view of the folding stool 100. Each table surface section 10 can include a top plate 11, and two sidewalls 12 perpendicular to top plate 11. The top plate 11 can be substantially rectangular, and the two sidewalls 12 can be respectively corresponding to two parallel edges of the top plate 11. Two ends of each sidewall 12, respectively define a first connecting hole 121 and a second connecting hole 122. The first connecting hole 121 can be adjacent to the pivot member 40 (shown in FIG. 1), and the second connecting hole 122 can be positioned apart from pivot member 40 (shown in FIG. 1) and opposite to the first connecting hole 121.
Each leg section 20 can be substantially rectangular, and include a bottom 21, a top 22 opposite to the bottom 21, a third connecting hole 23, and a fourth connecting hole 24. The bottom 21 can include a standing surface 211 configured for contacting the ground and a plurality of parallel strengthening portions 212. The plurality of parallel strengthening portions 212 can be perpendicularly connected to standing surface 211. Each strengthening portion 212 can be substantially triangular, and a side of each strengthening portion 212 can be attached to the standing surface 211. The top 22 can include two protuberances 221 configured to abut the top plate 11. The third connecting hole 23 can be positioned on the top 22 adjacent to the protuberances 221, and can be engaged with the first connecting hole 121. The fourth connecting hole 24 can be sandwiched between the bottom 21 and the top 22, and can be engaged with the second connecting hole 122. The width of the leg section 20 can be less than the distance between the two sidewalls 12, therefore the leg section 20 can diametrically resist against the top plate 11. Further, the leg section 20 can be latched between the two sidewalls 12, which can improve the stability of the folding stool 100.
Each leg section 20 can further include a handle 25 adjacent to the top 22, making it convenient to carry the folding stool 100 when in its collapsed position (FIG. 5). A holding portion 251 can be defined on an inner surface of the handle 25, and the holding portion 251 can be ergonomically designed , to make the folding stool 100 be comfortably carried.
The plurality of connecting members 30 can be divided into two parts, a plurality of first connecting members 31 and a plurality of second connecting members 32. Each first connecting member 31 and each second connecting member 32 can be substantially bar-shaped. Two ends of the each first connecting member 31 can be rotationally connected to the first connecting hole 121 and the third connecting hole 23, and two ends of the second connecting member 32 can be rotationally connected to second connecting hole 122 and the fourth connecting hole 24. The plurality of connecting members 30 can be connected to an inner surface of the sidewalls 12, the plurality of connecting members 30 can be covered by the sidewalls 12 upon the folding stool 100 being folded, so the folding stool 100 can have a good appearance.
A length of the second connecting member 32 can be larger than that of the first connecting member 31. The angle between the two leg sections 20 can be in correlation with relationship between the first connecting member 31 and the second connecting member 32. So any angle between the two leg sections 20 can be achieved, just by adjusting the relationship between the first connecting member 31 and the second connecting member 32.
The folding stool 100 can further include a plurality of rivets (not shown), and an diameter of each rivet can be respectively equal to the first connecting hole 121, the second connecting hole 122, the third connecting hole 23, and the fourth connecting hole 24. The plurality of connecting members 30 can be connected to the table surface sections 10 and the leg sections 20 by the plurality of rivets. The folding stool 100 can be made of the aluminum and magnesium alloy, so the folding stool 100 can be lighter than traditional folding stools.
FIGS. 3-5 illustrate that two handles 25 can be pulled away from each other by a user, if the folding stool 100 needs to be folded. The leg sections 20 can be attached to the corresponding top plates 11. The first connecting member 31 can be rotated 180 degrees around the first connecting hole 121, and the second connecting member 32 can be rotated a predetermined angel around the second connecting hole 122. The second connecting member 32 can be adjacent to the inner surface of the corresponding sidewall 12. Then, two table surface sections 10 can be rotated opposite to each other, and the two table surface sections 10 can be contacted. Two handles 25 can be aligned with each other, and it is convenient to carry the folding stool 100.
If the folding stool 100 needs to be unfolded the user can pull two handles 25 in opposite directions. The two table surface sections 10 can rotated away from each other, and the angle of the two table surface sections 10 can be 180 degrees. Then, the leg sections 20 can be oriented away from the corresponding top plates 11, and the protuberance 221 of the top 22 can press against the top plates 11. The first connecting member 31 can be adjacent to the inner surface of the corresponding sidewall 12.
The first and second table surface sections 10 and the first and second leg sections 20 can be moveable relative to each other to establish at least first, second, third and fourth positions. The first position is a deployed position in which said first and second table surfaces 10 are substantially parallel, the first and second leg sections 20 abut the first and second tables surface sections 10, and the tops 22 of the first and second table leg sections 20 are closer together than the bottoms 21. The second position is a first partially collapsed position in which the tops 22 of the first and second leg sections 20 are spaced from the first and second table surface sections 10, and the bottoms 21 of the first and second table leg sections 20 are closer together than the tops 22. The third position is a second partially collapsed position in which the first and second leg sections 20 are parallel to the first and second table surface sections 10, respectively, and the bottoms 21 of the first and second table leg sections 20 are closer together than the tops 22. The fourth position is a fully collapsed position, in which the first and second leg sections 20 and the first and second table surfaces 10 are all parallel, and the first and second table surface sections 10 abut each other. In the third and fourth position, the tops 22 of the first and second leg sections 20 extend beyond the table surfaces 10 and define a grip by which the folding stool 100 can be carried.
A volume of the folding stool 100 can be same as that of two table surface sections 10, the folding stool 100 is folded, so it can be easily carried by a user. The folding stool 100 only includes three kinds of structural elements, so it is easy to assemble the folding stool 100. As the folding stool 100 is made of the aluminum and magnesium alloy, the folding stool 100 can be lighter than traditional folding stools, and it can also increase the weight bearing capacity of the folding stool 100.
The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Many details are often found in the art such as the other features of a folding stool. Therefore, many such details are neither shown nor described. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure up to, and including, the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the embodiments described above may be modified within the scope of the claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A folding stool comprising:

a pair of table surface sections;

a pivot member; and

a pair of leg sections configured to support the pair of table surface sections;

wherein the pair of table surface sections is connected with each other by the pivot member, each leg section comprises a bottom and a top opposite to the bottom, and the top resists against the corresponding table surface section;

wherein each table surface section comprises a first connecting hole away from the pivot member and a second connecting hole adjacent to the pivot member, the top of each leg section defines a third connecting hole, and a fourth connecting hole is positioned between the top and the bottom; and

wherein the folding stool further comprises a plurality of first connecting members and a plurality of second connecting members, two ends of each first connecting member are rotationally connected to the first connecting hole and the third connecting hole respectively, and two ends of each second connecting member are rotationally connected to second connecting hole and the fourth connecting hole respectively.

2. The folding stool as claimed in claim 1, wherein each table surface section further comprises a top plate and two sidewalls perpendicular to top plate, and two ends of each sidewall, respectively define a first connecting hole and a second connecting hole.

3. The folding stool as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bottom comprises a standing surface configured for contacting the ground and a plurality of parallel strengthening portions, and the plurality of parallel strengthening portions are perpendicularly connected to standing surface.

4. The folding stool as claimed in claim 3, wherein each strengthening portion is substantially triangular, and a side of the strengthening portion is attached to the standing surface.

5. The folding stool as claimed in claim 4, wherein the top comprises two protuberances configured to abut the top plate.

6. The folding stool as claimed in claim 5, wherein the third connecting hole is positioned on the top adjacent to the protuberances, and engaged with the first connecting hole.

7. The folding stool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fourth connecting hole is sandwiched between the bottom and the top, and engaged with the second connecting hole.

8. The folding stool as claimed in claim 1, wherein each leg section further comprises a handle adjacent to the top.

9. The folding stool as claimed in claim 8, wherein a holding portion is defined on an inner surface of the handle, and the holding portion is ergonomically designed.

10. The folding stool as claimed in claim 1, wherein an angle between the two leg sections is in correlation with relationship between the first connecting member and the second connecting member.

11. The folding stool as claimed in claim 1, wherein a length of the second connecting member is larger than that of the first connecting member.

12. A folding stool comprising:

first and second table surface sections pivotally mounted to each other;

first and second leg sections each having a top and bottom, and pivotally connected to the first and second table surface sections, respectively; and

the first and second table surface sections and the first and second leg sections being moveable relative to each other to establish at least first, second, third and fourth positions, wherein:

the first position is a deployed position in which said first and second table surfaces are substantially parallel, the first and second leg sections abut the first and second tables surface sections, and the tops of the first and second table leg sections are closer together than the bottoms.

the second position is a first partially collapsed position in which the tops of the first and second leg sections are spaced from the first and second table surface sections, and the bottoms of the first and second table leg sections are closer together than the tops;

the third position is a second partially collapsed position in which the first and second leg sections are parallel to the first and second table surface sections, respectively, and the bottoms of the first and second table leg sections are closer together than the tops; and

the fourth position is a fully collapsed position, in which the first and second leg sections and the first and second table surfaces are all parallel, and the first and second table surface sections abut each other.

13. The folding stool of claim 12, wherein in the third and fourth position the tops of the first and second leg sections extend beyond the table surfaces and define a grip by which the folding stool can be carried.