Collapsible Chair

Abstract

The invention resides in a collapsible chair which is adapted to fold into an elongated rectangular package, the chair being collapsible in two dimensions, simultaneously. A pair of upright rigid support members are connected to a foldable arm at the center thereof. A plurality of rigid support legs are collapsible in a scissor action which supports the center or weight support material. A seat brace is connectable from the lower portion of the rigid support members to interlock with a connector plate disposed on the lower end of a front brace, when the chair is opened to its stable position. The connecting of said seat brace to said plate provides the locking means for holding the chair in its stable condition and further provides the necessary rigid crossmember construction to support the body of the user. A foldable member is connected between the lower portions of the rigid support member to maintain said support members in spaced relationship when excessive weight is positioned on the chair.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a collapsible chair and more particularly to a chair in which the support legs collapse in a scissor action.

Heretofore, numerous attempts have been made in the prior art to provide collapsible chairs for holding a user in a sitting position. The prior art is replete with attempts to provide as small a package as possible when the chair is in its folded position. Although many foldable chairs are presently marketed, the need for a stable foldable chair is one which is collapsible into an oblong package remains unsatisfied since none of the prior art discloses the ability of the foldable chairs, presently marketed, to collapse into a relatively small package.

It is the general object of the present invention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other difficulties with the prior art folding chairs and to provide a relatively inexpensive and sturdy chair which is adapted to collapse into a small, compact oblong package.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a unique seat brace which provides a rigid member releasably engageable to a collapsible portion of the chair to support material upon which the user will be seated.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an easily releasable locking means on a front brace to lock a unique seat brace thereby supporting the weight of the user.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible chair having downwardly foldable arm supports so that the collapsed chair will fold into an elongated package.

Quite another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible chair which is foldable in two dimensions simultaneously.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable member adapted to hold the sides of the chair in spaced relationship when said chair is in its open stable position.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a collapsible chair which may have no back support.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight chair which is capable of holding in excess of 300 pounds.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an easily storable collapsed chair.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible chair which may be folded into a carrying container approximately 36 inches in length and no wider than 4 inches.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible chair which may be carried relatively simply and easily without the use of a cumbersome package.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objects of the present invention, and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved by providing a plurality of crisscrossed support lets, said support legs consisting of two side sets, a rear set and a front set, a plurality of angular connectors adapted to be connected to said plurality of crisscrossed support legs for permitting the folding of each set into an elongated structure, a pair of rigid support members connected to said sets of side support legs, each of said support members having a protrusion extending perpendicularly therefrom, said protrusion being connected at one end to a pivotable sidearm member, said sidearm member having a track therein on its bottom surface and is adapted to slidably engage a guide disposed on the upper end of a front brace, said front brace having a locking means at its lower end and adapted to engage a hooklike member on the free end of a seat brace which is hingedly connected to the lower end of the rigid support members, a foldable member connected between said pair of rigid supports and adapted to hold said vertical support means in fixed spaced relationship, and a weight supporting material connectable to said seat braces for supporting the weight of the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the respective views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the chair in its open stable condition;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the chair in its partially collapsed condition;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the chair in its fully collapsed condition;

FIG. 4 is a side view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 1 showing means of connecting braces to the front brace;

FIG. 5 is a side view taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a side view taken along lines 6--6 of FIG. 1 showing connection of support legs to a connector plate;

FIG. 7 is a side view taken along lines 7--7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the arm;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the alternative embodiment shown in a partially collapsed condition; and

FIG. 11 is a side view of the alternative embodiment of the collapsible chair shown in its collapsed condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A preferred embodiment of the present invention involves the collapsible chair, generally indicated by the reference numeral 10, illustrated in the perspective view of the FIG. 1.

The collapsible chair 10 of the preferred embodiment is provided with a pair of rigid support members 12, each of said rigid support members having a lateral protrusion or arm 14 extending outwardly and forwardly therefrom. The protrusion 14 may be made integrally with the rigid support member 12 or may be a separate member which is fixedly attached to the rigid support member 12. A removable back support cloth 16 is adapted to slide over the upper ends 18 of each of said rigid support members 12 to support the back of the user when the chair 10 is in its open stable position as shown in FIG. 1.

As indicated, one end of the laterally extending protrusions 14 is rigidly connected to the rigid support member 12 by fastening devices, such as rivets, about midway between the upper end 18 and the lower end 20 thereof. The free end 22 of the laterally extending protrusion 14 is adapted to be connected to the one end of a sidearm element 24 in such a manner that the sidearm 24 may fold or pivot downwardly from the free end 22 of the lateral protrusion 14 when the chair moves from its stable open condition to its collapsed condition. The motion of the sidearm 24 as it pivots about its connecting point 26 is illustrated in FIG. 8 and may be partially seen in the illustration of FIG. 2. It should be noted that the downward rotation of each sidearm 24, when the chair 10 is collapsed, permits the chair 10 to fold into an elongated collapsed form, as will be more fully described.

Each sidearm 24 is formed to provide a longitudinal track 28 in the bottom portion thereof. The track 28 is so constructed as to accommodate a guide element 30 which is connected to the upper end 32 of a front brace 34. The guide element 30 is adapted to ride within the track 28 so as to enable each sidearm 24 to partially enclose the front brace 34 when the chair is in its fully collapsed condition. This may be accomplished because the guide element 30 may pass through the open end 33 of the sidearm 24. The front braces 34 are remotely spaced from the rigid support members 12 when the chair 10 is in its fully open and stable condition and run parallel to the position of the rigid support member 12. When the chair 10 is in its collapsed condition, the front braces 34 will abut and partially be enclosed within the track 28 in the bottom or underneath portion of each of the sidearms 24. It should be noted that the upper surface 36 of each sidearm 24 is flat so that the arm of the user may rest comfortably thereon.

As shown in FIG. 3, the front brace 34 is moved closely to the rigid support members 12 when the chair 10 is in its collapsed condition. The overall width of the collapsed chair 10 is generally dictated by the length of the lateral protrusion 14 since the chair 10, in the collapsed condition, maintains almost all moveable elements in the space below the laterally extending protrusion 14 and between the rigid support member 12 and the downwardly folded sidearm 24. It should be noted that at the lower end 20 of each rigid support member 12 there is provided an L-shaped connector plate 38, and at the lower end 40 of each front brace 34 there is provided an L-shaped connector plate 42, the purposes of which will become more apparent as the description of the preferred and alternative embodiments are set forth.

In order to maintain the front braces 34 in fixed spaced relationship to the rigid support members 12, when the chair 10 is in its open stable condition, a pair of seat braces 44 are pivotably connected respectively to the connector plate 38 at the lower end 20 of each rigid support member 12. Each seat brace 44 is connected to an inner surface of the L-shaped connector plate 38 so that it may pivot downwardly about the point of attachment when the chair 10 is collapsed or is to be raised to a lateral position, when the chair 10 is being opened to its stable condition. At the free end 46 of each of the seat braces 44 there is provided a hooklike member 48, the purpose of which is to aid in locking the chair 10 in its open stable condition.

In order to releasably lock each of the seat braces 44 to the lower ends 40 of the front braces 34 a generally U-shaped receptacle 50 is connected to each of the lower ends 40 of the front braces 34. As shown in FIG. 4, the hook 48 on the free end 46 of each seat brace 44 is adapted to matingly engage the U-shaped receptacle 50 to releasably lock the seat braces 44 to the front braces 34. In this manner, the rigid support members 12 may be held in fixed spaced relationship to the front braces 34 and weight support means 52 may be connected between the seat braces 44 to hold the weight of the user. Various types of material may be used for the weight support means such as cloth, plastic or other material of suitable strength.

In order to collapse the chair 10, each seat brace 44 is disengaged from its fixed lateral position by pulling upward thereon to release the hook 48 from its engaged position with the U-shaped receptacle 50. Thereafter, the seat braces 44 may be released and will pivot downwardly so that the chair 10 may be moved to a collapsed condition as partially shown in FIG. 3.

Structurally, the chair 10 is supported by a plurality of four crisscrossed sets of movable support legs 53. A front set of support legs 54, a left-side set of support legs 56, a rear set of support legs 58, and a right-side set of support legs 60. As shown in FIG. 1, the left-side and right-side set of support legs 56 and 60 are adapted to fold in a scissorlike manner in the same vertical plane as the respective pivotable movement of the sidearms 24. The rear set of support legs 58 fold in a scissorlike manner in the same vertical plane of the rigid support members 12 and the front support legs fold in the same plane, in a scissorlike manner, of the front braces 34. The upper end 62 of each of the support legs 53 of the front support set 54 are rotatably connected to one surface of the connector plates 42 and the lower ends of the support legs 62 terminate in foot connector plates 64. The upper ends 62 of the rear set of support legs 58 are pivotably mounted on one face of the connector plates 38 by means of a rivet 66 and slot 68 as shown in FIG. 7. The lower ends of the support legs terminate on foot connectors 70. A typical connection of the lower ends of the support legs 53 is shown in FIG. 6 wherein there is employed a rivet 72 connected through a slot 74 in the support legs 53. The slot 74 is provided to compensate for lost motion in movement of the support legs 53 from the open stable position to a collapsed condition, such arrangement being well known to those skilled in the art.

Each of the sets of support legs 53 is connected in a crisscrossed manner about the center of the support leg and connected as by a rotatably movable rivet 45. In this manner, the support legs 53 when collapsed exhibit the same motion as a scissor for expanding and collapsing from the open stable condition to the collapsed condition of the chair 10.

Each side set (left and right) of support legs 56, 60 has the upper end 62 of one leg connected to the connector plates 38 by the slot and a rivet arrangement shown in FIG. 5. This arrangement permits the pivotal movement of the support legs about the lower end 20 of the rigid support members 12. The upper end 62 of the other crisscrossed leg is connected to a connector plate 42, in the same manner, to the lower end 40 of the front brace 32. As previously indicated, the lower end of each of the side support legs is connected to foot connectors 64, 70.

It should be noted that the connector plates 38, 42 provide a rotatable means through the rivet connections 66 so that the lower end of each of the support legs (connected to the four foot connectors 64, 70) may rotate from an angularly disposed position when the chair 10 is in its open stable condition, to a vertical or collapsed condition, as shown in FIG. 3. Further, the foot connectors 64, 70 serve to secure the support legs 53 of different adjacent sets. One such support leg 53 is rotatably connected to one angular side of a foot connector 70 by means of rivets 72. The other support leg 53 is connected by means of a similar rivet 72 with a slot 74 allowing for necessary lost motion such that the support legs 53 may move the distances required to obtain the collapsed condition shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the support legs 53 are constructed so as to be scissor-closed when the chair 10 is in the fully collapsed condition. When in such a condition, the chair 10 may be folded into a carton approximately 36 inches high by 4 inches wide and 4 inches deep, and thereafter easily stored.

It has been found that if excess weight is applied to the weight carrying means 52 the upper ends 18 of the rigid support members 12 may be urged inwardly toward each other. In order to overcome this condition, a folding member 76 is pivotably connected between the lower ends 20 of the rigid support members 12 and is adapted to lock into a reinforcing member when the chair 10 is in its open stable condition. As shown in FIG. 3, the reinforcing member 76 is capable of folding at its approximate center when the chair 10 is in its collapsed condition such that when fully folded it will protrude no higher than the upper end 18 of the rigid support members 12. In this manner, an uncompressible reinforcing member 76 provides a means of maintaining the spaced relationship between the rigid support members 12 when excessive weight is applied to the weight supporting means 52. This reinforcing member 76 also acts as a safety device holding the chair open while the seat braces 44 are being lowered to their collapsed position. The reinforcing member 76 may take various forms, the preferred form being shown in FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIGS. 9-11, an alternative embodiment of a collapsible chair 10' is shown. The chair 10' is not provided with a back or arm support but exhibits all the structural stability of the collapsible chair of the preferred embodiment. Four sets of crisscrossed scissorlike collapsible support legs 53' are provided which support a weight supporting means 52', a front set 54' of support legs, a left side set 56' of support legs, a rear set 58' of support legs and a right side set 60' of support legs are pivotably engageable to connector plates 38' and 42' as described in connection with the preferred embodiment. A pair of seat braces 44' are connectable to the interior surface of connector plates 38', in a pivotable manner, such that they may be rotated from a vertical position to a laterally extending position when the chair 10' is in its stable condition. The front end 46' of each of the seat braces 44' are provided with a hooklike member 48' adapted to engage a U-shaped member 50' connected to the interior surface of connector plates 42'. In order to hold the chair 10' in its open stable condition, the hooklike member 48' is adapted to matingly engage the U-shaped member 50' to lock the seat braces 44' firmly in a lateral position providing a structural weight support for the weight supporting means 52'. Foot connectors 64' and 70' are provided at the lower ends of the support legs 53' for maintaining the proper rotative connection for the scissorlike collapsing of the support legs 53' in sets. A reinforcing foldable member 76' may be rotatably connectable between the connector plates 38' for providing a safety feature which would hold the chair 10' open even if the seat braces 44' became accidentally unlocked when the chair 10' is in its fully open and stable condition. The chair 10' is provided with all the structural stability of the chair described in connection with the preferred embodiment except that it omits sidearms and back support of the preferred embodiment. It should be noted that the use of the reinforcing foldable member 76' may be omitted in the alternative embodiment without reducing the structural stability thereof; hence the member 76' is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 9.

Structurally, both the chairs of the preferred and alternative embodiments collapse from their open stable condition to the fully collapsed condition in two dimensions simultaneously. This particular feature is of great aid in the simple collapsing of the chairs. Operationally, the user may merely disengage the reinforcing foldable member 76' of the alternative embodiment and disengage the hooklike member 48' from the U-shaped member 50' and urge the support legs 53' closed in any one direction. Because of the scissorlike construction and the means of connection at the connector plates 38' and 42' and the foot connector plates 64' and 70', the chair 10' will automatically collapse in two dimensions simultaneously. Similarly, the collapsing of the chair 10 of the preferred embodiment, requires the folding of the reinforcing foldable member 76 and the disengagement of the hooklike member 48 from the U-shaped member 50 and thereafter the application of pressure on the rigid support members 12 (toward each other) thereby providing the necessary collapsing movement in one direction for the chair to collapse in the second dimension simultaneously.

It will be recognized by those skilled in the art, based upon the preceding description, that the objects of providing a collapsible chair, with or without back and arm supports, are achieved through the unique construction of the collapsible chair and provides a lightweight, easily carried and small folded package.

While in accordance with the patent statutes, preferred and alternative embodiments have been shown and described in detail, it should be particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby.

Claims

We claim:

1. A collapsible chair comprising a plurality of crisscrossed support legs in sets adapted to expand and collapse in a scissorlike movement, said plurality of crisscrossed support leg sets consisting of a front set, a left-side set, a rear set and a right-side set, a plurality of connector plates and foot connector plates connected to the upper ends and the lower ends respectively of said crisscrossed support legs permitting the scissorlike expanding and collapsing thereof, a foldable member connected between two of said connector plates, said foldable member acting as a rigid member when said chair is in its expanded open stable condition, a pair of rigid seat braces having a pivot end and a free end pivotably connected between said two of said connector plates and being provided with a hooklike member on their free ends, said hooklike member adapted to matingly engage a locking means disposed on two connector plates respectively opposite said two connector plates to which said seat braces are pivotably connected for locking said seat braces in a lateral position when said chair is in its open stable condition, and a weight supporting cloth connected between said seat braces for supporting the weight of the user, said collapsible chair adapted to collapse into an elongated structure, a rigid support member is fixedly connected to said two of said connector plates and is provided with a laterally extending protrusion adapted to be connected to a sidearm, a sidearm is provided with a pivoted end and a free end, said pivot end being pivotably connected to each of said laterally extending protrusions, each of said sidearms adapted to fold downwardly when said chair is collapsed, a front brace is connected to each of the connector plates oppositely disposed to said two connector plates to which said seat braces are pivotably connected each of said front braces being provided with a guide element adapted to engage a track in the lower portion of each of said sidearms, so that said guide means will ride within the track of said sidearm during expansion and collapsing of said chair, wherein said foldable member is connected between said lower ends of said rigid support means and in the chair's collapsed condition said folded support member will not extend beyond the upper end of said rigid support members, wherein said foldable chair is collapsible in two dimensions simultaneously, wherein the upper and lower ends of said support legs are provided with slots through which rivets are urged to obtain a slidable pivot point to compensate for lost motion when said chair is extended or collapsed.

2. A collapsible chair according to claim 1 wherein said hooklike member of said seat brace is adapted to engage a U-shaped member at the lower end of each of said front braces to releasably lock said seat brace in lateral position.

3. A collapsible chair according to claim 2 wherein said track in the lower portion of each of said sidearms is adapted to abut a portion of said front brace when said chair is in the collapsed condition.

4. A collapsible chair according to claim 3 wherein each of said rigid support means is provided with an upper end, a back support cloth is slidable over said upper ends and is extensible between said rigid support means.

5. A collapsible chair according to claim 4 wherein said sets of support legs, said front braces and said sidearms are foldable in the space below the lateral protrusions.

6. A collapsible chair according to claim 1 wherein said foldable member folds downwardly when said collapsible chair is collapsed.

7. A collapsible chair according to claim 6 wherein said hooklike members on said seat braces are disengageable from said locking means and said seat braces pivot downwardly to the chairs collapsed condition.