U.S. patent application number 10/454020 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-09 for foldable chair.
Invention is credited to Tseng, Chuen-Jong.
Application Number | 20040245810 10/454020 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33489643 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040245810 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tseng, Chuen-Jong |
December 9, 2004 |
Foldable chair
Abstract
A foldable chair includes first and second leg frames
intersecting each other, and having left and right legs
respectively formed with brackets, a pivot rod having opposite ends
extending oppositely through the brackets, two extension rods
telescopically inserted into the left and right legs of the second
leg frame, and a seat frame pivoted to top ends of the left and
right legs of the first leg frame and top ends of the extension
rods. Each of the legs of the second leg frame has a tongue member
mounted thereon, which is movable between an engaging position, in
which the tongue member engages a through-hole in a respective
extension rod, and a disengaging position, in which the tongue
member disengages from the through-hole.
Inventors: |
Tseng, Chuen-Jong; (Chiayi
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LADAS & PARRY LLP
224 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE
SUITE 1200
CHICAGO
IL
60604
US
|
Family ID: |
33489643 |
Appl. No.: |
10/454020 |
Filed: |
June 4, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/56 ;
297/19 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 4/50 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/056 ;
297/019 |
International
Class: |
A47C 004/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A foldable chair comprising: first and second leg frames, each
of which includes opposite left and right legs, said left legs of
said first and second leg frames intersecting each other to define
a left intersection, said right legs of said first and second leg
frames intersecting each other to define a right intersection, each
of said left and right legs having top and bottom ends and being
formed with a bracket adjacent to a respective one of said left and
right intersections, each of said left and right legs of said
second leg frame being formed with a first through-hole adjacent to
said top end thereof; a pivot rod having opposite left and right
ends that extend oppositely and respectively through said brackets
of said left legs of said first and second leg frames and said
brackets of said right legs of said first and second leg frames
such that said second leg frame is turnable relative to said first
leg frame; tubular left and right extension rods telescopically and
respectively inserted into said left and right legs of said second
leg frame, and having top ends protruding outwardly and
respectively from said top ends of said left and right legs of said
second leg frame, each of said left and right extension rods being
formed with a plurality of second through-holes along the length
thereof; a seat frame pivoted to said top ends of said left and
right legs of said first leg frame and to said top ends of said
left and right extension rods; left and right adjusting units, each
of which includes a spring-biased tongue member mounted on a
respective one of said left and right legs of said second leg frame
and movable in a transverse direction relative to the length of the
respective one of said left and right legs of said second leg frame
between an engaging position, in which said tongue member extends
through said first through-hole in the respective one of said left
and right legs of said second leg frame to engage a selected one of
said second through-holes in a respective one of said left and
right extension rods so as to immobilize said left and right
extension rods relative to said left and right legs of said second
leg frame, and a disengaging position, in which said tongue member
is disengaged from said selected one of said second through-holes
in the respective one of said left and right extension rods,
thereby permitting sliding movement of said left and right
extension rods relative to said left and right legs of said second
leg frame; and a seating sheet mounted securely on said seat
frame.
2. The foldable chair as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said
left and right adjusting units includes a casing mounted on a
respective one of said left and right legs of said second leg
frame, each of said spring-biased tongue members including an
engaging rod extending through said casing and having an engaging
end that extends into said selected one of said second
through-holes when said spring-biased tongue member is disposed at
said engaging position, an annular flange disposed in said casing
and extending radially and outwardly from said engaging rod, and an
urging member disposed in said casing, sleeved around said engaging
rod and urging said annular flange so as to permit movement of said
spring-biased tongue member between said engaging and disengaging
positions.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a chair, more particularly
to a foldable chair.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A conventional foldable chair generally includes first and
second leg frames, tubular left and right extension rods, a seat
frame, and left and right spring-biased tongue members.
[0005] Each of the first and second leg frames has opposite left
and right legs 12 (see FIG. 1). The left and right legs 12 of the
first leg frame are respectively pivoted to the left and right legs
12 of the second leg frame such that the second leg frame is
turnable relative to the first leg frame. Each of the left and
right legs 12 of the second leg frame is formed with a plurality of
engaging holes 121 (see FIG. 1) along the length thereof. The left
and right extension rods 11 are telescopically and respectively
inserted into the left and right legs 12 of the second leg frame,
and have top ends exposed therefrom. The seat frame is disposed
above the first and second leg frames, and has a lower part pivoted
to top ends of the left and right legs 12 of the first leg frame,
and an upper part pivoted to the top ends of the left and right
extension rods 11. The left and right spring-biased members 13 are
respectively disposed within the left and right extension rods 11,
and have engaging tongues 131 respectively extending into and
engaging selected ones of the engaging holes 121 in the left and
right legs 12 of the second leg frame.
[0006] It is relatively inconvenient to compress the engaging
tongues 131 so as to release the left and right legs 12 of the
second leg frame therefrom. Moreover, the mechanical strength of
the left and right legs of the second leg frame is weakened by the
engaging holes formed therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Therefore, the object of this invention is to provide a
foldable chair that is capable of overcoming the aforesaid
disadvantage of the prior art.
[0008] According to the present invention, a foldable lawn chair
includes: first and second leg frames, each of which includes
opposite left and right legs, the left legs of the first and second
leg frames intersecting each other to define a left intersection,
the right legs of the first and second leg frames intersecting each
other to define a right intersection, each of the left and right
legs having top and bottom ends and being formed with a bracket
adjacent to a respective one of the left and right intersections,
each of the left and right legs of the second leg frame being
formed with a first through-hole adjacent to the top end thereof; a
pivot rod having opposite left and right ends that extend
oppositely and respectively through the brackets of the left legs
of the first and second leg frames and the brackets of the right
legs of the first and second leg frames such that the second leg
frame is turnable relative to the first leg frame; tubular left and
right extension rods telescopically and respectively inserted into
the left and right legs of the second leg frame, and having top
ends protruding outwardly and respectively from the top ends of the
left and right legs of the second leg frame, each of the left and
right extension rods being formed with a plurality of second
through-holes along the length thereof; a seat frame pivoted to the
top ends of the left and right legs of the first leg frame and to
the top ends of the left and right extension rods; left and right
adjusting units, each of which includes a spring-biased tongue
member mounted on a respective one of the left and right legs of
the second leg frame and movable in a transverse direction relative
to the length of a respective one of the left and right legs of the
second leg frame between an engaging position, in which the tongue
member extends through the first through-hole in a respective one
of the left and right legs of the second leg frame to engage a
selected one of the second through-holes in the respective one of
the left and right extension rods so as to immobilize the left and
right extension rods relative to the left and right legs of the
second leg frame, and a disengaging position, in which the tongue
member is disengaged from said selected one of the second
through-holes in the respective one of the left and right extension
rods, thereby permitting sliding movement of the left and right
extension rods relative to the left and right legs of the second
leg frame; and a seating sheet mounted securely on the seat
frame.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Other features and advantages of this invention will become
more apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiment of this invention, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view, illustrating how an
extension rod engages a leg of a leg frame of a conventional
foldable chair;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective rear view of the preferred
embodiment of a foldable chair according to the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the preferred
embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the preferred
embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the
preferred embodiment, illustrating how a tubular extension rod
extends outwardly from a leg of a leg frame; and
[0015] FIG. 6 is a side view of the preferred embodiment in a
folded position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the preferred embodiment of a
foldable chair according to the present invention is shown to
include first and second leg frames 2, a pivot rod 3, tubular left
and right extension rods 25, a seat frame 5, left and right
adjusting units 6, and a seating sheet 7.
[0017] As illustrated, each of the first and second leg frames 2
includes opposite left and right legs 21,22. The left legs of the
first and second leg frames 2 intersect each other to define a left
intersection (A). The right legs of the first and second leg frames
2 intersect each other to define a right intersection (A). Each of
the left and right legs 21,22 has top and bottom ends, and is
formed with a bracket 23(24) adjacent to a respective one of the
left and right intersections (A). Each of the left and right legs
22 of the second leg frame 2 is formed with a first through-hole
220 (see FIG. 5) adjacent to the top end thereof.
[0018] The pivot rod 3 has opposite left and right ends that extend
oppositely and respectively through the brackets 23,24 of the left
legs 21,22 of the first and second leg frames 2, and the brackets
23,24 of the right legs 21,22 of the first and second leg frames 2
such that the second leg frame 2 is turnable relative to the first
leg frame 2.
[0019] The left and right extension rods 25 are telescopically and
respectively inserted into the left and right legs 22 of the second
leg frame 2, and have top ends 250 protruding outwardly from the
top ends of the left and right legs 22 of the second leg frame 2.
Each of the left and right extension rods 25 is formed with a
plurality of second through-holes 251 along the length thereof.
[0020] The seat frame 5 has an upper part formed with two upper
brackets 53, and a lower part formed with two lower brackets 55.
The seat frame 5 is pivoted to the top ends of the left and right
legs 21 of the first leg frame 2 through two pivots 56 which
respectively extend through the lower brackets 55, and to the top
ends of the left and right extension rods 25 through two pivots 54
which respectively extend through the upper brackets 53.
[0021] Each of the left and right adjusting units 6 includes a
spring-biased tongue member 62 (FIG. 5) that is mounted on a
respective one of the left and right legs 22 of the second leg
frame 2 and that is movable in a transverse direction relative to
the length of the respective one of the left and right legs 22 of
the second leg frame 2 between an engaging position, in which the
tongue member 62 extends through the first through-hole 220 in the
respective one of the left and right legs 22 of the second leg
frame 2 to engage a selected one of the second through-holes 251 in
a respective one of the left and right extension rods 25 so as to
immobilize the left and right extension rods 25 relative to the
left and right legs 22 of the second leg frame 2, as best shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4, and a disengaging position, in which the tongue
member 62 is disengaged from the selected one of the second
through-holes 251 in the respective one of the left and right
extension rods 25, thereby permitting sliding movement of the left
and right extension rods 25 relative to the left and right legs 22
of the second leg frame 2, and folding of the second leg frame 2
relative to the first leg frame 2, as best shown in FIG. 6.
[0022] The seating sheet 7 is mounted on the seat frame 5.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 5, each of the left and right adjusting
units 6 further includes a casing 61 that is fixed on a respective
one of the left and right legs 22 of the second leg frame 2. Each
of the spring-biased tongue members 62 includes an engaging rod 620
extending through the casing 61 and having an engaging end 622 that
extends into the selected one of the second through-holes 251 when
the spring-biased tongue member 62 is disposed at the engaging
position, an annular flange 623 disposed in the casing 61 and
extending radially and outwardly from the engaging rod 620, and an
urging member 63 disposed in the casing 61, sleeved around the
engaging rod 620 and urging the annular flange 623 so as to permit
movement of the tongue member 62 between the engaging and
disengaging positions.
[0024] The engaging rod 620 further has an opposite end 621 which
is opposite to the engaging end 622 and which is exposed from the
casing 61 to facilitate movement of the tongue member 62 from the
engaging position to the disengaging position. A sheath 64 is
sleeved on the opposite end 621 of the engaging rod 620 to
facilitate gripping of the latter.
[0025] By virtue of the spring-biased tongue member 62 of the left
and right adjusting units 6, and the brackets 23(24), the aforesaid
disadvantage of the prior art can be eliminated.
[0026] With this invention thus explained, it is apparent that
numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing
from the scope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore
intended that the invention be limited only as indicated in the
appended claims.
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