U.S. patent application number 13/831566 was filed with the patent office on 2014-02-06 for walking stick chair.
The applicant listed for this patent is Boris Pao. Invention is credited to Boris Pao.
Application Number | 20140034097 13/831566 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48914078 |
Filed Date | 2014-02-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140034097 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pao; Boris |
February 6, 2014 |
WALKING STICK CHAIR
Abstract
A walking stick chair includes a main stick, a seat unit, a
support unit, and a linking unit. The seat unit includes an upper
slider member connected slidably to the main stick and movable
between first and second positions, and a seat member connected
pivotally to the upper slider member. The support unit is connected
pivotally to the main stick. The linking unit is connected
pivotally to the support unit and the seat unit. When the upper
slider member is at the second position, the walking stick chair is
at an unfolded state. When the upper slider member moves from the
second position to the first position, the walking stick chair is
converted from the unfolded state to a folded state.
Inventors: |
Pao; Boris; (Taichung city,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Pao; Boris |
Taichung city |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
48914078 |
Appl. No.: |
13/831566 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/66 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 5/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/66 |
International
Class: |
A45B 5/00 20060101
A45B005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 1, 2012 |
TW |
101127837 |
Aug 1, 2012 |
TW |
101127841 |
Dec 17, 2012 |
TW |
101147797 |
Claims
1. A walking stick chair, comprising: a main stick having an
elongated rod body that has opposite upper and lower ends, a handle
portion that is connected to said upper end of said rod body, and a
foot portion that is connected to said lower end of said rod body;
a seat unit including an upper slider member that is connected
slidably to said rod body and that is movable along said rod body
between a first position and a second position, said second
position being distal from said handle portion, said first position
being located between said handle portion and said second position,
and a seat member that is connected pivotally to said upper slider
member; a support unit having a pivoted end portion that is
connected pivotally to said rod body under said upper slider member
of said seat unit, and a free end portion opposite to said pivoted
end portion; and a linking unit disposed between and connected
pivotally to said support unit and said seat unit; wherein, when
said upper slider member is at the second position, said seat
member is at an unfolded state where said seat member and said rod
body form an angle, and said support unit is at an unfolded state
where said free end portion of said support unit is away from said
rod body and cooperates with said foot portion for contacting
ground; and wherein, when said upper slider member moves upwardly
from the second position to the first position, said seat member
pivots downwardly and toward said rod body to move to a folded
state, and said linking unit is driven to move upwardly to actuate
said support unit to pivot upwardly to a folded state where said
free end portion is close to said rod body.
2. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a positioning unit including an abutment member that is
connected immovably to said rod body under said upper slider
member, said linking unit including a linking member that has a
driven portion connected pivotally to said seat unit, and a driving
portion connected pivotally to said support unit, said pivoted end
portion being positioned relative to said rod body by said abutment
member.
3. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
pivoted end portion of said support unit is connected pivotally to
said abutment member, said driven portion of said linking unit
being connected pivotally to one of said upper slider member and
said seat member.
4. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
positioning unit further includes a middle slider member that is
connected slidably to said rod body and that is disposed between
said abutment member and said upper slider member, said pivoted end
portion of said support unit being connected pivotally to said
middle slider member, said middle slider member abutting against
said abutment member when said upper slider member is at the second
position, said driven portion of said linking unit being connected
pivotally to one of said upper slider member and said seat
member.
5. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein said seat
unit further includes a linkage set that is disposed between and
connected pivotally to said seat member and said positioning unit,
said linkage set pivoting toward said rod body when said upper
slider member is moved to the first position, said linkage set
pivoting away from said rod body when said upper slider member is
moved to the second position, said driven portion of said linking
unit being connected pivotally to one of said upper slider member
and said seat member.
6. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 5, wherein said
linkage set is connected pivotally to said abutment member, said
pivoted end portion of said support unit being connected pivotally
to said abutment member.
7. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 5, wherein said
positioning unit further includes a middle slider member that is
connected slidably to said rod body and that is disposed between
said abutment member and said upper slider member, at least one of
said linkage set and said pivoted end portion of said support unit
being connected pivotally to said middle slider member, said middle
slider member abutting against said abutment member when said upper
slider member is at the second position.
8. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 7, wherein said
linkage set is connected pivotally to said abutment member, said
pivoted end portion of said support unit being connected pivotally
to said middle slider member.
9. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 7, wherein said
linkage set is connected pivotally to said middle slider member,
said pivoted end portion of said support unit being connected
pivotally to said abutment member.
10. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 7, wherein said
linkage set is connected pivotally to said middle slider member,
said pivoted end portion of said support unit being connected
pivotally to said middle slider member.
11. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 4, wherein said
positioning unit further includes a resilient member connected
between said middle slider member and said rod body for biasing
said middle slider member toward said abutment member.
12. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
seat unit further includes a resilient member connected between
said upper slider member and said rod body for biasing said upper
slider member toward said foot portion.
13. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rod
body is formed with a groove extending in an outer surface of said
rod body in a longitudinal direction of said rod body.
14. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 13, wherein said
upper slider member has a guide block engaging slidably said
groove.
15. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
support unit includes at least one support leg that has an upper
leg component and a lower leg component, said upper leg component
having said pivoted end portion, said lower leg component having
said free end portion and being connected pivotally to said upper
leg component oppositely of said pivoted end portion, said driven
portion of said linking unit being connected pivotally to one of
said upper slider member and said seat member, said driving portion
of said linking member being connected pivotally to said upper leg
component at a pivot point between said pivoted end portion and
said lower leg component.
16. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 15, wherein said
support unit further including a sub-leg component that is
substantially parallel to said upper leg component that has one end
connected pivotally to said driving portion of said linking member
and an opposite end connected pivotally to said lower leg
component.
17. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said
support unit includes at least one support leg that has an upper
leg component and a lower leg component, said upper leg component
having said pivoted end portion, said lower leg component having
said free end portion and being connected pivotally to said upper
leg component oppositely of said pivoted end portion, said driven
portion of said linking member being connected pivotally to said
seat unit, said driving portion of said linking member being
connected pivotally to said upper leg component at a pivot point
between said pivoted end portion and said lower leg component; said
positioning unit further includes a lower slider member connected
slidably to said rod body and disposed between said middle slider
member and said foot portion, and a connecting rod interconnecting
co-movably said lower slider member and said middle slider member;
and said support unit further includes an auxiliary linkage having
opposite ends connected pivotally and respectively to said lower
slider member and said lower leg component.
18. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 17, wherein said
abutment member of said positioning unit is configured as a block
protruding from an outer surface of said rod body, said lower
slider member having a passage groove adjacent to said outer
surface of said rod body, said passage groove moving past said
abutment member to permit said lower slider member to slide over
said abutment member when said upper slider member moves toward
said handle portion of said main stick.
19. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
linking member has an upper end serving as said driven portion and
pivoted to said seat unit, and a lower end serving as said driving
portion and pivoted to said support unit at a pivot point between
said pivoted end portion and said free end portion of said support
unit, a length of said linking member being larger than a distance
between said lower end of said linking member and said pivoted end
portion of said support unit.
20. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 5, wherein said
positioning unit further includes a pair of middle slider members
that are connected slidably to said rod body and that are disposed
one above the other and between said abutment member and said upper
slider member, said linkage set and said pivoted end portion of
said support unit being connected pivotally and respectively to
said middle slider members, and wherein, when said upper slider
member is at the second position, a lower one of said middle slider
members abuts against said abutment member, and an upper one of
said middle slider members abuts against said lower one of said
middle slider members.
21. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 20, wherein said
positioning unit further includes a resilient member connected
between said upper one of said middle slider members and said rod
body for biasing said upper one of said middle slider members
toward said abutment member.
22. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said
driven portion of said linking unit being connected pivotally to
one of said upper slider member and said seat member; said support
unit includes at least one support leg that has said pivoted end
portion and said free end portion provided respectively at opposite
ends thereof; said positioning unit further includes a lower slider
member connected slidably to said rod body and disposed between
said upper slider member and said foot portion; and said support
unit further includes an auxiliary linkage having opposite ends
connected pivotally and respectively to said lower slider member
and said support leg.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application
No. 101127841, filed on Aug. 1, 2012, Taiwanese Application No.
101127837, filed on Aug. 1, 2012, and Taiwanese Application No.
101147797, filed on Dec. 17, 2012.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a walking stick, more particularly
to a foldable walking stick chair that is convertible between a
walking stick and a chair.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Elder people have inferior physical condition. Usually, they
need to walk with a walking stick, and take a rest after walking
for a period of time. Taiwanese Utility Model Patent No. 277239
discloses a conventional foldable walking stick chair including a
main stick, a leg unit and a seat unit. The main stick has a handle
portion and a foot portion opposite to the handle portion.
[0006] The leg unit is connected pivotally to the main stick at a
pivot point to form a scissors-like structure, and has a support
end and a connecting end opposite to the support end. The seat unit
includes a slider member connected slidably to the main stick
between the handle portion and the pivot point, and a seat plate
connected pivotally to the slider member and the connecting end of
the leg unit to form a slider-crank mechanism.
[0007] When the conventional walking stick chair is unfolded to be
utilized as a chair, the main stick and the leg unit form an angle,
the support end of the leg unit cooperates with the foot portion of
the main stick for supporting the entire walking stick chair, and
the seat plate is horizontal and forms an angle with the main
stick. When the conventional walking stick chair is folded to be
utilized as a walking stick, the slider member is moved upwardly
toward the handle portion, the seat plate pivots downwardly
relative to the slider member to be close to the main stick, and
the leg unit pivots toward the main stick to reduce the angle
between the leg unit and the main stick. At the folded state, the
support end of the leg unit is lifted from the ground.
[0008] Despite being operable between a folded state and an
unfolded state, the abovementioned walking stick chair has several
disadvantages:
[0009] 1. When the walking stick chair serves as a walking stick at
the folded state, the support end of the leg unit is still
proximate to the ground. If the ground is uneven, the support end
may hit a projecting portion of the ground. Moreover, since the leg
unit is X-shaped, a user may easily stumble on the leg unit when
using the conventional walking stick chair as a walking stick.
[0010] 2. In the folded state, the center of gravity of the walking
stick chair is distal from the handle portion, so that the walking
stick chair is laborious for the user when being used as a walking
stick.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 3,999,565, U.S. Pat. No. 2,380,437, and U.S.
Pat. No. 7,614,414 have disadvantages similar to the
above-mentioned walking stick chair.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
a walking stick chair that is labor-saving and safe when serving as
a walking stick.
[0013] Accordingly, a walking stick chair of the present invention
comprises:
[0014] a main stick having [0015] an elongated rod body that has
opposite upper and lower ends, [0016] a handle portion that is
connected to the upper end of the rod body, and [0017] a foot
portion that is connected to the lower end of the rod body;
[0018] a seat unit including [0019] an upper slider member that is
connected slidably to the rod body and that is movable along the
rod body between a first position and a second position, the second
position being distal from the handle portion, the first position
being located between the handle portion and the second position,
and [0020] a seat member that is connected pivotally to the upper
slider member;
[0021] a support unit having a pivoted end portion that is
connected pivotally to the rod body under the upper slider member
of the seat unit, and a free end portion opposite to the pivoted
end portion; and
[0022] a linking unit disposed between and connected pivotally to
the support unit and the seat unit;
[0023] wherein, when the upper slider member is at the second
position, the seat member is at an unfolded state where the seat
member and the rod body form an angle, and the support unit is at
an unfolded state where the free end portion of the support unit is
away from the rod body and cooperates with the foot portion for
contacting ground; and
[0024] wherein, when the upper slider member moves upwardly from
the second position to the first position, the seat member pivots
downwardly and toward the rod body to move to a folded state, and
the linking unit is driven to move upwardly to actuate the support
unit to pivot upwardly to a folded state where the free end portion
is close to the rod body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment
of a walking stick chair according to the invention at an unfolded
state;
[0027] FIG. 2 is a side view of the first preferred embodiment at
the unfolded state;
[0028] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary partly sectional view of the first
preferred embodiment taken along line III-III in
[0029] FIG. 2;
[0030] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the first
preferred embodiment taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2;
[0031] FIG. 5 is another side view of the first preferred
embodiment beginning to be folded;
[0032] FIG. 6 is another side view of the first preferred
embodiment in the process of being folded;
[0033] FIG. 7 is another side view of the first preferred
embodiment at a folded state;
[0034] FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the
first preferred embodiment at the folded state;
[0035] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the first preferred
embodiment at the folded state;
[0036] FIG. 10 is still another side view of the first preferred
embodiment at the folded state;
[0037] FIG. 11 is a side view of a variation of the first preferred
embodiment;
[0038] FIG. 12 is a side view of another variation of the first
preferred embodiment;
[0039] FIG. 13 is a side view of a second preferred embodiment
according to the invention;
[0040] FIG. 14 is a side view of a third preferred embodiment
according to the invention;
[0041] FIG. 15 is a side view of a fourth preferred embodiment
according to the invention;
[0042] FIG. 16 is a side view of a variation of the fourth
preferred embodiment;
[0043] FIG. 17 is a side view of a fifth preferred embodiment
according to the invention;
[0044] FIG. 18 is a side view of a sixth preferred embodiment
according to the invention;
[0045] FIG. 19 is a side view of a seventh preferred embodiment
according to the invention;
[0046] FIG. 20 is a side view of an eighth preferred embodiment
according to the invention;
[0047] FIG. 21 is a side view of a ninth preferred embodiment
according to the invention;
[0048] FIG. 22 is a side view of a variation of the ninth preferred
embodiment;
[0049] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of still another variation of
the first preferred embodiment at an unfolded state;
[0050] FIG. 24 is another perspective view of the preferred
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 23 at a folded state; and
[0051] FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a tenth preferred
embodiment according to the invention at an unfolded state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0052] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a first preferred embodiment of a
walking stick chair according to the present invention comprises a
main stick 1, a seat unit 2, a positioning unit 3, a support unit
4, and a linking unit 5.
[0053] The main stick 1 has an elongated rod body 10 that has
opposite upper and lower ends, a hook-shaped handle portion 11 that
is connected to the upper end of the rod body 10, a foot portion 12
that is connected to the lower end of the rod body 10, and a
plurality of angularly spaced-apart grooves 181, 182, 183, 184 (see
FIG. 4) that are formed in an outer surface of the rod body 10 and
that extend in a longitudinal direction of the rod body 10.
[0054] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rod body 10 is tubular and
formed by a rod body wall with a thickness shorter than depths of
the grooves 181, 182, 183, 184. The rod body 10 has a central space
13, a pair of upper through holes 14 communicating spatially and
respectively with the central space 13 and two of the grooves 182,
184 and formed near the handle portion 11, and a pair of lower
through holes 16 communicating spatially and respectively with the
central space 13 and the two of the grooves 182, 184 and formed
below the upper through holes 14. The main stick 1 further has an
upper resilient bow member 15 that is disposed in the rod body 10
and that has a pair of upper projections 151 projecting retractably
and respectively through the upper through holes 14, and a lower
resilient bow member 17 that is disposed in the rod body 10 and
that has a pair of lower projections 171 projecting retractably and
respectively through the lower through holes 16. The configuration
of the grooves 181, 182, 183, 184 enhances the structural strength
of the rod body 10.
[0055] The seat unit 2 includes an upper slider member 21 that is
connected slidably to the rod body 10, a seat member 22 that is
connected pivotally to the upper slider member 21, and a resilient
member 24 connected between the upper slider member 21 and the rod
body 10 for biasing the upper slider member 21 toward the foot
portion 12. The upper slider member 21 is movable along the rod
body 10 between a first position (see FIG. 6) and a second position
(see FIG. 2). The second position is distal from the handle portion
11, and the first position is located between the handle portion 11
and the second position. The upper slider member 21 is sleeved on
the rod body 10, and has a pair of through holes 211 corresponding
in angular position to the two of the grooves 182, 184 of the rod
body 10 for extension of the upper projections 151 so as to
position the upper slider member 21 relative to the rod body 10.
The upper slider member 21 further has a pair of button members 212
installed slidably and respectively in the through holes 211, and
operable to press inwardly the upper projections 151 and disengage
the upper projections 151 from the through holes 211 so as to
permit the movement of the upper slider member 21 between the first
and second positions. The upper slider member 21 further has a
guide block 213 engaging slidably the groove 182 for preventing
rotation of the upper slider member 21 relative to the rod body 10.
The resilient member 24 is disposed in another groove 183.
[0056] The seat member 22 includes a main plate 221 and a pair of
lateral plates 222 connected respectively to opposite lateral edges
of the main plate 221 and pivotable relative to the main plate 211
to a folded state (see FIG. 9).
[0057] In this embodiment, the positioning unit 3 includes an
abutment member 31 connected immovably to the rod body 10 under the
upper slider member 21, a middle slider member 32 connected
slidably to the rod body 10 and disposed between the abutment
member 31 and the upper slider member 21, and a resilient member 33
connected between the middle slider member 32 and the rod body 10
for biasing the middle slider member 32 toward the abutment member
31. The middle slider member 32 has a guide block 321 engaging
slidably the groove 184 for limiting rotation of the middle slider
member 32 relative to the rod body 10. The resilient member 33 is
disposed in the groove 181. The positioning unit 3 further includes
a lower slider member 19 connected slidably to the rod body 10 and
disposed between the middle slider member 32 and the foot portion
12, and a connecting rod 191 disposed slidably in the groove 184
and interconnecting co-movably the lower and middle slider members
19, 32.
[0058] The seat unit 2 further includes a pair of linkage sets 23,
each of which is disposed between and connected pivotally to the
seat member 22 and the positioning unit 3. In this embodiment, each
of the linkage sets 23 includes first, second and third bars 231,
232, 233. For each linkage sets 23, the first bar 231 has one end
connected pivotally to the seat member 22, and another end
connected pivotally to one end of the second bar 232, the second
bar 232 has another end connected pivotally to the middle slider
member 32, and the third bar 233 has opposite ends connected
pivotally and respectively to the second bar 232 and the upper
slider member 21.
[0059] The support unit 4 includes a pair of support legs 41, each
of which has an upper leg component 43 and a lower leg component
44. The upper leg component 43 has a pivoted end portion 433
connected pivotally to the middle slider member 32, and the lower
leg component 44 has a free end portion 441 and an opposite end
portion connected pivotally to an opposite end portion 434 of the
upper leg component 43 oppositely of the pivoted end portion 433.
The support unit 4 further includes a pair of auxiliary linkages
42, each of which has an end connected pivotally to the lower
slider member 19 and an opposite end connected pivotally to a
respective one of the lower leg components 44.
[0060] The linking unit 5 is disposed between and connected
pivotally to the support unit 4 and the seat unit 2. In this
embodiment, the linking unit 5 includes a pair of linking members
51, each of which has an end serving as a driven portion connected
pivotally to the upper slider member 21 and an opposite end 511
serving as a driving portion connected pivotally to the upper leg
component 43 of a respective one of the support legs 4. Each of the
linking members 51 is connected to the respective upper leg
component 43 at a pivot point between the corresponding pivoted end
portion 433 and the corresponding lower leg component 44. Each of
the linking members 51 has a length larger than a distance between
the pivot point and the pivoted end portion 433 of the respective
upper leg component 43.
[0061] When the upper slider member 21 is at the second position
with the lower projections 171 of the lower resilient bow member 17
extending respectively into the through holes 211 of the upper
slider member 21, the seat member 22 is at an unfolded state where
the seat member 22 and the rod body 10 form an angle and the main
plate 221 and the lateral plates 222 form a flat plate, the middle
slider member 32 abuts against the abutment member 31, and the
support legs 41 are at an unfolded state where the free end
portions 441 are away from the rod body 10 of the main stick 1 and
cooperate with the foot portion 12 of the main stick 1 for
contacting ground (i.e., the walking stick chair is at an unfolded
state, see FIGS. 1 and 2).
[0062] When the walking stick chair of this embodiment serves as a
chair, the upper slider member 21 is at the second position and the
through holes 211 of the upper slider member 21 engage respectively
the lower projections 171 of the lower resilient bow member 17. To
collapse the walking stick chair, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the
button members 212 of the upper slider member 21 are pressed to
disengage the lower projections 171 from the through holes 211 of
the upper slider member 21, so that the upper slider member 21 is
allowed to move upwardly against the resilient member 24. Since the
resilient member 33 biases the middle slider member 32 toward the
abutment member 31 and the connecting rod 191 interconnects
co-movably the middle and bottom slider members 32, 19, when the
upper slider member 21 is moved upwardly from the second position
to the first position, the middle and bottom slider members 32, 19,
and the connecting rod 191 are temporarily held immovably by the
resilient member 33. During the above-mentioned upward movement of
the upper slider member 21, each third bar 233 is driven to move
upwardly and drives a corresponding second bar 232 to pivot
upwardly, the corresponding second bar 232 thus drives a
corresponding first bar 231 to pivot downwardly relative thereto to
therefore drive the seat member 22 to pivot downwardly and toward
the rod body 10 to move to the folded state. Meanwhile, the linkage
sets 23 convert to a folded state, the linking members 51 are
driven by the upper slider member 21 to move upwardly to actuate
the upper leg components 43 to pivot upwardly, and the auxiliary
linkages 42 actuate the lower leg components 44 to pivot downwardly
so that the support legs 41 convert to a folded state where the
free end portions 441 are close to the rod body 10 (see FIG.
6).
[0063] After the seat member 22, the linkage sets 23 and the
support legs 41 are driven to their folded states, the upper slider
member 21 can be further moved from the first position to an
uppermost position (see FIGS. 7 to 10) and drives the seat member
22, the linkage sets 23, the middle slider member 32, the support
unit 4, and the linking unit 5 to move upwardly therewith to
thereby complete the conversion of this embodiment into a walking
stick (i.e., the walking stick chair is at an folded state, see
FIGS. 7 to 10). As a result, the center of gravity of the walking
stick chair is relatively close to the handle portion 11.
[0064] To sum up, when the first preferred embodiment is at the
folded state to serve as a walking stick, since the center of
gravity thereof is close to the handle portion 11, walking with
such a walking stick is labor-saving for a user. On the other hand,
since the support legs 41 pivot upwardly when being folded, the
free end portions 441 are close to the rod body 10 and away from
the foot portion 12 when the support legs 41 are at the folded
state. Therefore, the free end portions 441 would not hit a
projecting portion of the ground, and the user would not stumble on
the support legs 41.
[0065] FIG. 11 illustrates a variation of the first preferred
embodiment, in which the connecting rod 191, the lower slider
member 19 and the auxiliary linkages 42 are omitted.
[0066] Referring to FIG. 12, another variation of the first
preferred embodiment also omits the connecting rod 191, the lower
slider member 19 and the auxiliary linkages 42 in the first
preferred embodiment. Each linking member 51' of the linking unit
5' has one end serving as the driven portion and connected to the
upper slider member 21, an opposite end 512' opposite to the one
end, and an intermediate portion 511' between the one end and the
opposite end 512' connected pivotally to a respective one of the
upper leg components 43. The intermediate portion 511' and the
opposite end 512' serve as the driving portion. The support unit 4'
further includes a pair of sub-leg components 432'. Each of the
sub-leg components 432' is substantially parallel to a respective
one of the upper leg components 43, and has one end connected
pivotally to the opposite end 512' of a corresponding one of the
linking members 51' and an opposite end connected pivotally to a
corresponding one of the lower leg components 44'. It should be
noted that only one linking member 51', one upper leg component 43,
one lower leg component 44' and one sub-leg component 432' are
visible in FIG. 12. When the upper slider member 21 is moved
upwardly from the second position to the first position, each
linking member 51' is driven to move upwardly and drives a
corresponding upper leg component 43 to pivot upwardly,
simultaneously, the opposite end 512' thereof drives a
corresponding lower leg component 44' to pivot downwardly to the
folded state via a corresponding sub-leg component 432'.
[0067] Referring to FIG. 13, a second preferred embodiment of this
invention differs from the first preferred embodiment in that the
connecting rod 191, the lower slider member 19 and the auxiliary
linkages 42 are omitted, and that each of the linkage sets 23'' is
configured as a single bar that has opposite ends connected
pivotally and respectively to the seat member 22'' and the abutment
member 31''. Each of the linking members 51'' of the linking unit
5'' has one end serving as the driven portion and connected to the
upper slider member 21, an opposite end 511'' opposite to the one
end and connected pivotally to a respective one of the upper leg
components 43, and an intermediate portion 512'' between the one
end and the opposite end 511''. The intermediate portion 512'' and
the opposite end 511'' serve as the driving portion. The support
unit 4'' further includes a pair of sub-leg components 432''. Each
sub-leg components 432'' is substantially parallel to a respective
one of the upper leg components 43 and has one end connected
pivotally to the intermediate portion 512'' of a corresponding
linking member 51'' and another end connected pivotally to the
lower leg component 44'' of a corresponding support leg 41''. The
end portions of the linking members 51'' connected to the upper
slider member 21 may be connected to the seat member 22 of the seat
unit 2.
[0068] Referring to FIG. 14, a third preferred embodiment of this
invention differs from the first preferred embodiment in that each
of the linkage sets 230 is configured as a single bar that has
opposite ends connected pivotally and respectively to the seat
member 220 and the abutment member 310, and that each linking
member 510 is connected pivotally between the respective upper leg
component 430 and the seat member 220.
[0069] Referring to FIG. 15, a fourth preferred embodiment
according to the invention omits the connecting rod 191, the lower
slider member 19 and the auxiliary linkages 42 in the first
preferred embodiment. The pivoted end portion 433' of each support
leg 410' of the support unit 400' is connected pivotally to the
abutment member 310'. The support unit 400' further includes a pair
of sub-leg components 436'. Each sub-leg component 436' has one end
connected pivotally to the respective linking member 510' of the
linking unit 500' and another end connected pivotally to the
respective lower leg component 440'. In this embodiment, an end of
each of the linking member 510' connected to the upper slider
member 210' may be connected to the seat member 220' of the seat
unit 200'.
[0070] Referring to FIG. 16, a variation of the fourth preferred
embodiment illustrates that the pivoted end portion 433' of each
support leg 410' of the support unit 400' is connected pivotally to
the middle slider member 320'. In this embodiment, an end of each
of the linking member 510' connected to the upper slider member 21
may be connected to the seat member 220' of the seat unit 200'.
[0071] Referring to FIG. 17, a fifth preferred embodiment according
to the invention includes a positioning unit 300'' that merely
includes the abutment member 310''. Each linkage set 230'' is
connected pivotally between the abutment member 310'' and the seat
member 220'' of the seat unit 200''. The pivoted end portion 433''
of each support leg 410'' of the support unit 400'' is connected
pivotally to the abutment member 310''. In this embodiment, an end
of each of the linking member 510'' connected to the seat member
220'' of the seat unit 200'' may be connected to the upper slider
member 21.
[0072] FIG. 18 shows a sixth preferred embodiment according to the
invention. Each of the support legs 71 of the support unit 7 is
configured as a single bar, and has one end serving as the pivoted
end portion 712 that is connected pivotally to the abutment member
61 of the positioning unit 6, and an opposite end serving as the
free end portion 711 for contacting the ground. Each linkage set 8
is configured as a single bar and is connected pivotally between
the seat member 22 and a respective one of the support legs 71. In
this embodiment, the linkage sets 8 function in supporting the seat
member 22 and driving movement of the support unit 7.
[0073] FIG. 19 shows a seventh preferred embodiment according to
the invention. The positioning unit 6' includes the abutment member
61' and the middle slider member 62'. The upper leg component 73'
of each support leg 71' is connected to the middle slider member
62'. Each linkage set 8' is configured as a single bar and is
connected pivotally between the seat member 22 and the upper leg
component 73'.
[0074] Referring to FIG. 20, an eighth preferred embodiment
according to the invention differs from the first preferred
embodiment in that each linkage set 230 is configured as a single
bar that has opposite ends connected pivotally and respectively to
the seat member 220 and the middle slider member 320.
[0075] Referring to FIGS. 21 and 22, a ninth preferred embodiment
according to the invention and a variation thereof are similar to
the first preferred embodiment. The difference is that the
positioning unit 6'' in this embodiment includes an abutment member
61'', a pair of middle slider members 621'', 622'' that are
connected slidably to the rod body 10 and that are disposed one
above the other and between the abutment member 61'' and the upper
slider member 21, and a resilient member 623'' that is connected
between the upper one of the middle slider members 622'' and the
rod body 10 for biasing the upper one of the middle slider members
622'' toward the abutment member 61''. The linkage sets 23 and the
pivoted end portions 733'' of the support unit 7'' are connected
pivotally and respectively to the middle slider members 621'',
622''. When the upper slider member 21 is at the second position, a
lower one of the middle slider members 621'' abuts against the
abutment member 61'', and an upper one of the middle slider members
622'' abuts against the lower one of the middle slider members
621''.
[0076] FIG. 23 shows still another variation of the first preferred
embodiment, and the difference therebetween is that the abutment
member 610 of the positioning unit 60 is configured as a block
protruding from an outer surface of the rod body 10. The lower
slider member 190 has a passage groove 192 adjacent to the outer
surface of the rod body 10. The passage groove 192 moves past the
abutment member 610 to permit the lower slider member 190 to slide
over the abutment member 610 when the upper slider member 21 moves
from the second position to the uppermost position such that, as
shown in FIG. 24, the abutment member 610 is under the lower slider
member 190 when the upper slider member 21 is at the uppermost
position.
[0077] Each of the embodiments in this invention so far has a pair
of support legs. However, as shown in FIG. 25, a tenth preferred
embodiment of this invention includes only one linkage set 80 that
is configured as a single bar connected pivotally to the seat
member 81 and the abutment member 90, and the support unit 70 that
has only one upper leg component 710 and a furcated lower leg
component 720 connected pivotally to the upper leg component
710.
[0078] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what are considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *