[0001] This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.

62/507,548, filed May 17, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention generally relates to folding chairs, and more particularly relates to improvements in chairs that are foldable and unfoldable between an opened position for use and a folded position for transportation and/or storage.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Popularity of outdoor activities has resulted in increased demand for improved collapsible furniture and particularly collapsible portable furniture of the outdoor type which may be readily stowed and conveniently manually transported to a picnic area or the site of a spectator event, such as, for example, an outdoor concert, a sporting event, a golf tournament, an air show, etc.

[0004] In general, there is a need for a collapsible chair that can be easily folded and opened by a user with minimal effort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention provides a chair that is foldable and unfoldable between an opened position for use, and a folded position for transportation and/or storage. The opened position allows the chair to be used for accommodating and supporting a seated user. In the folded position, the chair is collapsed for easy storage and transportation.

[0006] The chair, in its open position ready for use, includes a frame that carries a generally rectangular seat support panel and a generally rectangular backrest panel. The seat panel and the backrest panel can generally flexible panels that are generally taut when the chair is in its opened position for accommodating and supporting a seated user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The foregoing background and summary, as well as the following detailed description of the drawings, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the chair in its opened position;

[0009] FIG. 2 is a left side view of the chair in its opened position;

[0010] FIG. 3 is a front view of the chair in its opened position;

[0011] FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing the connector;

[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the chair in its folded position; and

[0013] FIG. 6 is a left side view of the chair in its folded position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments and methods of the invention. It should be noted, however, that the invention in its broader aspects is not necessarily limited to the specific details, representative materials and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described in connection with the exemplary embodiments and methods. Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the drawings.

[0015] In the description, certain terminology is used for convenience only and is not limiting. The characterizations of various orientations described herein as being "vertical", "horizontal", "right", "left", "front", "rear", "top", "bottom", or the like designate directions as shown in the drawings to which reference is made and are relative characterizations only based upon the particular position or orientation of a given component as illustrated. These terms shall not be regarded as limiting the invention. The words "downward" and "upward" refer to position in a vertical direction relative to a geometric center of the apparatus of the present invention and designated parts thereof. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

[0016] The present invention provides a chair 100 that is foldable and unfoldable between an opened position, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, for use, and a folded position, as shown in FIGS. 5-6 for transportation and/or storage. The opened position allows the chair to be used for accommodating and supporting a seated user. In the folded position, the chair is collapsed for easy storage and transportation.

[0017] The chair 100, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, in its open position ready for use, includes a frame 102 that carries a generally rectangular seat support panel 104 and a generally rectangular backrest panel 106. The seat panel 104 and the backrest panel 106 can generally flexible panels that are generally taut when the chair 100 is in its opened position for accommodating and supporting a seated user. [0018] In general, the frame 102 is comprised of several frame members rigidly and/or pivotally connected together to define the chair frame 102 and permit folding of the chair 100 to its folded position for easy transportation and storage. Preferably, the frame members are fabricated from a durable lightweight material such as a tubular metal, such as aluminum, or high-strength plastic, such as fiber reinforced plastic. Various elongated structural parts or members that comprise the chair frame 102 may be constructed from tubular material of non- circular cross-section, such as, for example, extruded aluminum tubing having square, oval, or elliptical cross-section, or, alternately, of circular cross-section.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1, the frame 102 has a pair of side assemblies 200L, 200R comprised of frame members and having substantially identical, but mirrored, construction. The left and right frame side assemblies, respectively designated as 200L and 200R in the drawings, are disposed in laterally or transversely spaced apart and generally parallel relation to each other when the chair 100 is in its opened position. The side frame assemblies 200L and 200R are interconnected (to be describe below) to be horizontally collapsed, or folded side-to-side, to the folded position of the chair 10. Also the frame members of each of the side frame assemblies 200L and 200R are interconnected to allow the side frame assembly 200L, 200R to be vertically collapsed, or folded top-to-bottom. Thus, the frame 102, in its folded position, is collapsed in the horizontal direction, as well as the vertical direction. Because the left and right side assemblies 200L and 200R are mirror images of each other, the frame members are numbered with L to indicate frame members of the left frame assembly and with R to indicate frame members of the right frame assembly. The same number indicates the same frame member on the left and right frame assemblies. [0020] Referring to FIG. 2 which shows the left side frame assembly 200L in its opened position, the left side frame assembly 200L has a base member 206L, a seat member 208L, a front member 202L, and a rear member 204L. Unless otherwise indicated, the relative positions of the frame members are described herein when the chair 100 is in its opened position. The seat member 208L and the front member 202L are pivotably attached to each other at a first point 218L locating approximately at central regions of the seat member 208L and the front member 202L. The pivotably attachment allows the front member 202L and the seat member 208L to rotate relative to each other on axis A passing through the first point 218L and perpendicular to both the front member 202L and the seat member 208L. The first point 218L divides the front member 202L into a bottom section 220L and a top section 222L. The top section 220L of the front member 202L is located above the seat member 208L; and the bottom section 220L is located below the seat member 208L. The first point 218L also divides the seat member 208L into a front section 224L and a mid-section 226L. The front section 224L of the seat member 208L is located in front of the front member 202L; and the mid-section 226L is located immediately toward the rear of the front member 202L. The seat member 208L is preferably a rigid, straight segment. The front member 202L may be curved and/or bent to accommodate a comfortable backrest position for the user.

[0021] The rear member 204L is pivotably attached to the seat member 208L at a second point 228L locating approximately at a region of the seat member 208L toward the rear of the first point 118L. The pivotably attachment allows the rear member 204L and the seat member 208L to rotate relative to each other on axis B passing through the second point 218L and perpendicular to both the rear member 204L and the seat member 208L. The second point 228L divides the rear member 204L into a bottom section 230L and a top section 232L. The top section 232L of the rear member 204L is located above the seat member 208L and abuts the top section 220L of front member 202L; and the bottom section 230L is located below the seat member 208L. It is important to note that in the opened position of the chair 100, the top section 232L of the rear member 204L abuts the top section 220L of the front member 202L, but is not connected thereto. In certain embodiments, when the chair 100 is in its opened position, the top end of the rear member 204L may be maintained in abutment with the front member 202L by a retainer 240L. The retainer 240L prevents the rear member 204L from sliding or slipping away from the front member 202L, when the chair is in its opened position. When the top end of the rear member 204L abuts against the front member 202L, the abutment prevents the rotation of the front member 202L around attachment point 236L toward the base member 206L to maintain the chair 100 in its opened position. The second attachment point 228L also divides the seat member 208L into a rear section 234L and the mid-section 226L. The mid-section 226L of the seat member 208L is located between the rear member 204L and the front member 202L (in front of the rear member 204L and toward the rear of the front member 202L); and the rear section 234L is located toward the rear of the rear member 204L. Overall, the front member 202L and the rear member 204L divide the seat member 208L into three sections: the front section 224L, the mid-section 226L, and the rear section 234L.

[0022] The bottom end of the front member 202L is pivotably attached to approximately the front end of the base member 206L at a third attachment point 236L. The pivotably attachment allows the base member 206L and the front member 202L to rotate relative to each other on axis C passing through the third attachment point 236L and perpendicular to both the front member 202L and the base member 206L. The bottom end of the rear member 204L is pivotably attached to a rear portion of the base member 206L at a fourth point 238L. The pivotably attachment allows the base member 206L and the rear member 204L to rotate relative to each other on axis D passing through the third attachment point 236L and perpendicular to both the front member 202L and the base member 206L. Overall, in the opened position, the base member 206L, the front member 202L, and the rear member 204L form approximately a triangle. The base member 206L may be a straight or curve segment. To be used as a rocking chair, the base member 206L is curved, as illustrated in the drawings, to allow the chair 100 to be rocked on that curvature. It is preferred that the base member 206L is longer than the seat member 208L.

[0023] The left side assembly 200L has been illustrated in FIG. 2 and described above.

The right side assembly 200R, as best shown in FIG. 1, is a mirror image of the left side assembly 200L and contains identical frame members which is referred to herein with the same reference numeral with a R suffix instead of a L. For example, the base member, a seat member, a front member, and a rear member of the right side assembly 200R is referred to as 206R, 208R, 202R, and 204R, respectively.

[0024] The left frame assembly 200L and the right frame assembly 200R are connected to each other by cross members at their respective front and rear. At the front, front cross members 300 and 302 form an X and are pivotably attached to each other at a central point 304. The top end of the cross member 300 is rotatably attached to a front end of the seat member 208L of the left side frame assembly 200L; and the bottom end of the cross member 300 is rotatably attached to a bottom end of the front member 202R of the right side frame assembly 200R. The top end of the cross member 302 is rotatably attached to a front end of the seat member 208R of the right side frame assembly 200R; and the bottom end of the cross member 300 is rotatably attached to a bottom end of the front member 202L of the left side frame assembly 200L. Preferably, the rotatable attachments of the cross members 300, 302 to the seat members 208R, 208L and to the front members 202R, 202L are through universal joints which allow the cross members 300, 302 to rotate in all directions relative to the attachment points.

[0025] The attachment of the cross members 300, 302 to the front members 202R, 202L are preferably accomplished via connectors 400R, 400L. As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the connector 400L contains a first end 402L being pivotably attached to a protrusion 216L at attachment point 404L. The protrusion 216L protrudes rearward from a bottom portion of the front member 202L. The connector 400L can rotate freely around the attachment point 404L. The free end 406L of the connector 400L is attached to the cross member 302 with a universal joint 408L. The free end 406L of the connector 400L also contains a stop surface 410L which serves to limit the rotation of the connector 400L to an arc forward of the front member 202L. The cross member 300 is also attached to the front member 202R of the right side frame assembly 200R in a similar manner with connector 400R.

[0026] At the rear, rear cross members 306 and 308 form an X and are pivotably attached to each other at approximately a central point 310. The top end of the cross member 306 is rotatably attached to a rear end of the seat member 208L of the left side assembly 200L; and the bottom end of the cross member 306 is rotatably attached to a rear end of the base member 206R of the right side assembly 200R. Preferably, the attachment of the cross member 306 to the base member 206R is to the rear of attachment point 238R. The top end of the cross member 308 is rotatably attached to a rear end of the seat member 208R of the right side assembly 200R; and the bottom end of the cross member 308 is rotatably attached to a rear end of the base member 206L of the left side assembly 200L. Preferably, the attachment of the cross member 308 to the base member 206L is to the rear of attachment point 238L. Preferably, the rotatable attachments of the cross members 306, 308 to the seat members 208R, 208L and to the base members 206R, 206L are through universal joints which allow the cross members 306, 308 to rotate in all directions relative to the attachment points.

[0027] In certain embodiments, arm rests 21 OR, 210L may be provides with the chair

100. In exemplary embodiments, the arm rests 21 OR, 210L may be provided as shown in the drawings. Referring to FIG. 2, a left side arm rest 210L is described herein with the understanding that a right side arm rest 21 OR may also be provided as a mirror image with identical parts. The arm rest 210L has a rear end pivotably connected to the top portion 222L of the front member 202L. A connector bar 212L may be used to stabilize the forward portions of the arm rests 210L. The connector bar 212L has one end pivotably connected to the arm rest and the other end pivotably connected to the seat member 208L. The arm rests 210L, 21 OR may be provided by other means that do not interfere with the folding and unfolding of the chair.

[0028] To fold the chair 100, the front of the seat panel 106 and the top of the backrest panel 106 are pulled together to release the rear members 204L, 204R from abutment with the front members 202L, 202R. This allows the rear member 204L, 204R to fall toward the base members 206L, 206R by pivoting around attachment points 238L, 238R. The front members 202L, 202R are then be folded toward the base members 206L, 206R by pivoting around attachment points 236L, 236R. The folding of the front members 202L, 202R toward the base members 206L, 206R also folds the seat members 208L, 208R toward the base members 206L, 206R, and folds the left side assembly 200L toward the right side assembly 200R by the rotation of the front cross members cross members 300, 302 and rear cross members 306, 308 into alignment. The folded position of the chair is shown in FIGS. 5-6. Importantly, the frame 102 allows the chair to collapse in the horizontal direction (folding of the left side assembly 200L and the right side assembly 200R toward each other) as well as the vertical direction (folding of the front members 202L, 202R, rear members 204L, 204R, and base members 206L, 206R toward each other).

[0029] Although certain presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains that variations and modifications of the various embodiments shown and described herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.