U.S. patent application number 15/927892 was filed with the patent office on 2019-03-28 for flat folding chair.
This patent application is currently assigned to Zenithen USA LLC d/b/a Z Company, Zenithen USA LLC d/b/a Z Company. The applicant listed for this patent is Zenithen USA LLC d/b/a Z Company, Zenithen USA LLC d/b/a Z Company. Invention is credited to Andrew David Frankel, Shi-Ping Zheng, Tian-Xia Zheng.
Application Number | 20190090641 15/927892 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 65806325 |
Filed Date | 2019-03-28 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190090641 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Frankel; Andrew David ; et
al. |
March 28, 2019 |
FLAT FOLDING CHAIR
Abstract
The invention is to a flat folding chair, including a seating
frame and cushion fixed on a seating frame, and on front and rear
supporting bars which support the two sides of the seating frame. A
slide sleeve is installed on the rear supporting bar with the front
supporting bar sliding through the slide sleeve to form the movable
joint between the supporting bars. A stopper is installed on the
front supporting bar. The slide sleeve rests upon the stopper when
the folding chair is unfolded to the correct position. There is
also a fixation lock installed between the stopper and the slide
sleeve to automatically lock the chair when unfolded to the correct
position. A clicking sound of the handle snapping into the lock
hole serves as a signal to the user that the chair has been opened
to the correct position.
Inventors: |
Frankel; Andrew David;
(Yorba Linda, CA) ; Zheng; Shi-Ping; (Fuzhou,
CN) ; Zheng; Tian-Xia; (Fuzhou, Fujian, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Zenithen USA LLC d/b/a Z Company |
Diamond Bar |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Zenithen USA LLC d/b/a Z
Company
|
Family ID: |
65806325 |
Appl. No.: |
15/927892 |
Filed: |
March 21, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14930730 |
Nov 3, 2015 |
|
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15927892 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 4/30 20130101; A47C
4/48 20130101; A47C 7/00 20130101; A47C 4/06 20130101; A47C 4/14
20130101; A47C 4/28 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47C 4/28 20060101
A47C004/28; A47C 4/30 20060101 A47C004/30; A47C 7/00 20060101
A47C007/00; A47C 4/48 20060101 A47C004/48 |
Claims
1. A kind of flat folding chair, including a seating frame,
cushioning that is fixed on the seating frame, and front and rear
supporting bars which support the two sides of the seating frame;
the aforementioned rear supporting bars have a slide sleeve
installed with the front supporting bar slid through the slide
sleeve, forming the movable joint between the front and rear
supporting bars. A stopper is installed on the front supporting
bar. When the folding chair is unfolded to the correct position,
the slide sleeve rests upon the stopper. The feature of this
invention is the fixation lock installed between the stopper and
the slide sleeve.
2. Referring to patent claim 1, the feature of this flat folding
chair, is the fixation lock which includes a lock hole on one side
of the stopper or slide sleeve, the handle fixed on one side of the
slide sleeve or stopper by a pin, and the helical torsion spring
installed on the pin. The helical torsion spring keeps the handle
locked into the lock hole.
3. Referring to patent claim 1, the feature of this flat folding
chair is the diagonal bars installed at the upper end of the front
and rear supporting bars. The aforementioned seating frame is
screwed to the diagonal bars on two sides, and is supported by the
two diagonal bars.
4. Referring to patent claim 1, the feature of the aforementioned
flat folding chair is that the shape of the seating frame can be
chosen from the following: circle, ellipse, quadrilateral,
triangle, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, trapezium, calabash, or
bread-shape which is round at the top and rectangular at the
bottom. The seating frame is a closed structure.
5. Referring to patent claim 1, the feature of the aforementioned
flat folding chair is that the shape of the seating frame can be
chosen from the followings: circle, ellipse, quadrilateral,
triangle, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, trapezium, calabash, or
bread-shape which is round at the top and rectangular at the
bottom. The aforementioned seating frame can be cut open in the
front in between the two front supporting bars to make an opening.
A horizontal connecting bar can be installed between the two front
supporting bars or the two rear supporting bars in the front-facing
planes of the chair.
6. Referring to patent claim 1, the feature of the aforementioned
flat folding chair is that the cushioning material can be one of
the following choices: a uni-body seat and back by Oxford cloth, a
flat seat and back structure woven by elastic strings, a flat seat
and back structure woven from elastic bands, or a flat seat and
back structure composed of elastic strings or elastic bands
combined with Oxford cloth.
7. Referring to patent claim 1, the feature of the aforementioned
flat folding chair is that there is a spacer in between the contact
surface of the slide sleeve and the rear supporting bar. The spacer
has a curvature that matches the rear supporting bar, which enables
the spacer to remain in close contact with the surface of the rear
supporting bar.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/930,730 filed Nov. 3, 2015, which
application is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
Technical Field
[0002] The present practical and modern invention falls in the
technical field of furniture, more particularly the present
invention is in the technical field of folding chairs.
Background Art
[0003] The current folding round chair, commonly called the "moon
chair" or "satellite chair", is constructed of soft cushioning
material and bars. It is circular when viewed from the front side,
but slightly tilted towards the front like a satellite dish. It
also looks like a half-moon when viewed from the side, hence the
name "moon chair". It is simple in structure with a stylish outfit,
and is very popular. As shown in FIG. 1, its structure includes a
circular frame (1) for the seat, the soft cushioning material (2)
installed to the frame (1), and the front and rear supporting bars
(3 & 4) which support the two sides of the seating frame (1).
After the front and rear bars (3 & 4) are crossed, the upper
end is connected to the seating frame (1). The rear supporting bar
(4) is connected with a tubular slide sleeve (5). The front
supporting bar (3) is slid through the slide sleeve (5) and forms
the movable joint between the supporting bars (3 & 4). For this
reason, current folding chairs are equipped with a stopper (6), so
that when the folding chair is unfolded fully, the slide sleeve (5)
can be supported and this stabilizes the chair after it is
unfolded. The principle feature of this chair is a simple structure
and a modern look. However, there is no signal or reminder when the
chair is unfolded completely. This poses a hidden danger to the
usage of such chairs, as the supporting bars may be easily damaged.
Developing this new practical and modern model is therefore aimed
at improving the insufficiencies of current folding round chairs
and designing a more comfortable flat folding chair.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0004] The purpose of this implementable invention is to design a
folding chair that signals the user that the chair is unfolded
completely by the contact of the slide sleeve and a stopper, and
the ability to prevent accidental ("premature" or "unintended")
folding. The secondary purpose is to add diagonal bars to the upper
end of the front and rear supporting bars, which help the
supporting bar to support seating frames of different shapes.
[0005] This invention is proposed to be implemented in the
following manner: The flat folding chair includes a seating frame,
a cushion to be fit into the seating frame, and front and rear
supporting bars which support the two sides of the seating frame.
The aforementioned rear supporting bars have a slide sleeve
installed to permit the front supporting bar to be slid into it,
and forms the movable joint between the front and rear supporting
bars. A stopper is installed on the front supporting bar, so that
when the folding chair is unfolded to the correct position, the
slide sleeve rests on the stopper. The feature is to install a lock
between the stopper and the slide sleeve.
[0006] The aforementioned lock includes a lock hole on the one side
of the stopper or the slide sleeve, and the pin of the locking
handle installed on the side of the slide sleeve or the stopper
facing the corresponding component, with a helical torsion spring
installed on the pin to fixate the locking handle into the lock
hole.
[0007] The aforementioned front and rear supporting bars have
diagonal bars attached to the upper end, and the aforementioned
seating frame can be hinged on the diagonal bar on the two sides,
which is supported by the two diagonal bars.
[0008] The aforementioned seating frame can be one of the following
shapes: circle, ellipse, quadrilateral, triangle, pentagon,
hexagon, octagon, trapezium, calabash, or bread-shape which is
round at the top and rectangular at the bottom. The front part of
the aforementioned seating frame can be cut open between the two
front supporting bars to make an opening. In front of the
front-facing planes of the chair, a horizontal connecting bar can
be installed between two front supporting bars or two rear
supporting bars.
[0009] The aforementioned cushioning material can be one of the
following structures: a uni-body seat and backed by Oxford cloth, a
flat seat and back structure woven by elastic strings, a flat seat
and back structure woven by elastic bands, or a flat seat and back
structure woven by elastic strings or bands combined with Oxford
cloth.
[0010] The point of contact between the aforementioned slide sleeve
and rear supporting bars has a spacer, which matches the curvature
of the rear supporting bar and makes close contact with the surface
of the rear supporting bars.
[0011] This practical new model has a lock between the stopper and
slide sleeve. The folding chair is automatically locked in position
when it is unfolded completely. The clicking ("audible") sound of
the handle snapping into the lock hole serves as a signal to the
user that the chair has been unfolded to the correct position.
Moreover, the lock is strategically positioned so as to avoid
misshaping the folding chair while folding, and ensure the safety
of reusing/redeploying the chair. Secondly, diagonal bars are
installed on the upper end of the front and rear supporting bars,
which are used to support the seating frame, thus making a more
flexible design for the seating frame and making it easier to find
the hinge of the front and rear bars. Moreover, the cushion can be
made of any of the following materials: Oxford cloth, elastic
strings, elastic bands, or a mixture of these. A uni-body seat and
back with a depression can be made for the chair, or a uni-body
flat surface forming the seat and the back of the chair. This gives
the chair a rich variety of styles.
[0012] These and other objects of the present invention will be
readily apparent upon review of the following detailed description
of the invention and the accompanying drawings. These objects of
the present invention are not exhaustive and are not to be
construed as limiting the scope of the claimed invention. Further,
it must be understood that no one embodiment of the present
invention need include all of the aforementioned objects of the
present invention. Rather, a given embodiment may include one or
none of the aforementioned objects. Accordingly, these objects are
not to be used to limit the scope of the claims of the present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of current folding round
chair.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the supporting framework of
the invention.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a side view of the supporting framework of FIG.
3.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a top view illustrating the relationship between
the front and rear supporting bars and the diagonal bars of the
invention.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the breakdown of the lock in
FIG. 4.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a triangular seating frame
for the invention.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an ellipse seating frame
with an opening at the bottom for the invention.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a calabash-shaped seating
frame for the invention.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a bread-shaped seating frame
for the invention.
[0022] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a quadrilateral seating
frame for the invention.
[0023] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a trapezium seating frame
for the invention.
[0024] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a pentagonal seating frame
for the invention.
[0025] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a hexagonal seating frame
for the invention.
[0026] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an octagonal seating frame
for the invention.
[0027] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of woven cushioning material
for the invention.
[0028] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of woven cushioning material 2
for the invention.
[0029] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of woven cushioning material 3
for the invention.
[0030] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of woven cushioning material 4
for the invention.
[0031] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0032] Referring to FIG. 2 to FIG. 5, the flat folding chair
includes the seating frame (1), cushioning material (2), front and
rear supporting bars (3 & 4), slide sleeve (5), stopper (6) and
lock handle (7). The cushioning material is fixated on the seating
frame (1), which forms the uni-body seat and back. The two sides of
the seating frame (1) are supported by the front and rear
supporting bars (3 & 4), with the slide sleeve (5) screwed to
the supporting bar (4) and the front supporting bar (3) sliding
through the slide sleeve (5) to form the movable joint between the
front and rear supporting bars (3 & 4). The stopper (6) is
fixed in front of the front supporting bar. When the folding chair
is unfolded to the correct position, the slide sleeve (5) rests on
the stopper (6), which limits the space and supports the weight
loaded on the chair. A fixation lock is installed in between the
stopper (6) and the slide sleeve (5), which includes the lock
handle (7), lock hole (51), pin (71) and helical torsion spring
(72). In this implementation, the handle (7) is fixed on one side
of the stopper (6) through the pin (71), and a lock hole (51) on
the slide sleeve (5), with the helical torsion spring (72)
installed on the pin (71) to keep the handle (7) locked into the
lock hole (51). Once the folding chair is unfolded to the correct
position, the handle (7) automatically snaps into the lock hole
(51) and fixes the chair in place. The clicking sound of the handle
snapping into the lock hole also serves as a signal that the chair
is successfully unfolded to the correct position. Moreover, the
folding chair cannot be folded back nor fall into a half-folded
("undeployed") orientation if the handle (7) is not unhinged even
if the user attempts to fold it. This ensures the safety during
repeated usage.
[0033] If the handle (7) is installed on the stopper (6), the
operation of folding and unfolding becomes smoother and more
handy.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 4, each pair of the front and rear
supporting bars (3 & 4) are hinged to a diagonal bar (8). The
seating frame (1) is screwed at the two sides to the diagonal bars
(8). The seating frame (1) is supported by the two diagonal bars
(8). The benefit of such design is that the same set of front and
rear supporting bars (3 & 4) and the diagonal bars (8) can be
attached to the seating frame (1) in different designs, which gives
a much greater convenience in attaching the seating frame.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 5, a spacer (9) is installed between the
slide sleeve (5) and the rear supporting bar (4). The spacer has a
curvature (91) which matches the rear supporting bar (4) and stays
in close contact with it. This protects the surface of the bar, and
lubricates the slide sleeve (5) to ensure a smoother rotation of
the slide sleeve (5).
Further Implementation
[0036] Referring to FIG. 6, in the illustration, the handle (7) is
fixed on the slide sleeve (5) by the pin (71), and a lock hole (51)
on the stopper (6), with the helical torsion spring (72) installed
on the pin (71) to keep the handle (7) locked into the lock hole
(51) on the stopper (6). In this structure, opening the handle (7)
requires the hand to slide with the slide sleeve (5) for a small
distance to make the operation of folding the chair smooth.
[0037] Summing up the two implementations above, the handle (7) can
be installed on the side of either the stopper (6) or the slide
sleeve (5). In both cases this can provide fixation and a clicking
sound as a signal. Fixing the handle on the stopper (6) is more
preferred, because the operable part of handle (7) faces the front
and is comfortably within hand's reach for the operation of the
handle (7). In the unfolding process, the position of the handle
(7) also synchronizes with that of the front supporting bar (3).
Moreover, attaching the diagonal bars (8) to the upper end of the
front and rear supporting bars (3 & 4) and supporting the
seating frame (1) by the diagonal bars (8) makes it possible for
the seating frame (1) to take different shapes. Besides making
hinging easier, it also provides a more stable support for the
seating frame (1).
[0038] For this reason, the accompanying seating frame (1) can be
any of the following structures, or any variety of them, such as:
circle, triangle, ellipse, calabash, bread-shape which is round at
the top and rectangular at the bottom, quadrilateral, trapezium,
pentagon, hexagon or octagon. The seating frame (1) can be either a
closed structure or an open structure. As in FIG. 7, the seating
frame (1) is cut and is open between the two front supporting bars.
A horizontal connecting bar (81) is installed on the two front
supporting bars (3) or the two rear supporting bars (4) in front of
to the front-facing planes of the folding chair to enhance the
strength of the front part of the chair. Cutting open the front of
the seating frame (1) can prevent the front part of the seating
frame (1) from pressing into the legs, while keeping the whole
layout coherent and stylish.
[0039] Below is the detailed description of the different shapes of
the seating frame (1):
[0040] Referring to FIG. 2, the seating frame (1) is a circle,
which is the basic shape allowing the simplest processing. Besides
this basic model, it can be transformed into the following
shapes.
[0041] Referring to FIG. 6, the seating frame (1) is a triangle. It
saves material and is also aesthetically pleasing.
[0042] Referring to FIG. 7, the seating frame (1) is an open
ellipse. An ellipse is a similar to a circle, therefore it shares a
similar outfit with the circle. The front is cut open, and in this
figure the horizontal connecting bar (81) is fixed to the
front-facing plane and in-between the two rear supporting bars
(4).
[0043] Referring to FIG. 8, the seating frame (1) is in a calabash
shape, and similarly it can be shaped into pear shape as well.
[0044] Referring to FIG. 9, the seating frame (1) is in a bread
shape, which is round at the top and rectangular at the bottom.
[0045] Referring to FIG. 10, the seating frame (1) is
quadrilateral. It can be rectangular as in the figure, or
square.
[0046] Referring to FIG. 11, the seating frame (1) is in a
trapezium shape. This is based on a quadrilateral but with a
narrowed top, which is gives it variety.
[0047] Referring to FIG. 12, the seating frame (1) is a pentagon,
which looks like a diamond, a unique design.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 13, the seating frame (1) is in hexagonal
shape. The hexagon in the figure is not symmetrical vertically.
Compressing the bottom part makes it more aesthetically pleasing,
but it can be, without a doubt, made into a regular hexagon.
[0049] Referring to FIG. 14, the seating frame (1) is in an
octagonal shape. This means the seating frame (1) can vary from
triangle to various polygons, allowing flexible designs which
fulfils various needs and any practical and aesthetic
requirements.
[0050] Basing on the aforementioned different designs of the
seating frame, different cushioning materials (2) can be chosen to
fit in the seating frame accordingly and create a rich variety of
layouts. Below are some implementations of the cushioning material
(2):
[0051] Referring to FIG. 1, the cushioning material (2) is made
into a uni-body seat and back by Oxford cloth, which is also the
most common structure.
[0052] Referring to FIG. 15, it is a cushioning woven purely by
elastic strings (21). The woven pattern can be a sunflower as in
the figure, or an array of rhombuses or quadrilaterals.
[0053] Referring to FIG. 16, the cushioning of the seat and back is
formed by a mixture of elastic string (21) and Oxford cloth. The
seat (20) is formed by the Oxford cloth which prevents the elastic
strings from cutting into the user. The elastic strings (21) form
the back, and can be woven into a rhombus pattern as in the figure,
or in radial pattern.
[0054] Referring to FIG. 17, it is another implementation of the
seat and back parts formed by the mixture of the elastic strings
(21) and Oxford cloth. The elastic strings (21) are in radial
pattern.
[0055] Referring to FIG. 18, it is the seat and back formed by the
mixture of elastic bands (22) and Oxford cloth. The seat is formed
by Oxford cloth (20), and the elastic bands (22) are woven into a
radial pattern, in between the seat and the upper edge of the
back.
[0056] The seat and back formed by the elastic strings, elastic
bands, or their combination with Oxford cloth, are all flat when
unused. When a person is seated on it, the weight causes the
elastic strings (21) and elastic bands (22) to conform to the
bottom and the back of the user. The aforementioned cushioning
material (2) is suitable with any shape as shown in the FIG. 2 and
FIG. 6 to FIG. 14. The listed examples are common seating frame
shapes, and do not necessarily restrict the description of this
patent.
[0057] While this invention has been described as having a
preferred design, it is understood that it is capable of further
modifications, uses and/or adaptations of the invention following
in general the principle of the invention and including such
departures from the present disclosure as come within the known or
customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and
as maybe applied to the central features hereinbefore set forth,
and fall within the scope of the invention and the limits of the
appended claims. It is therefore to be understood that the present
invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above,
but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the
following claims.
* * * * *