This invention relates to foldable frameworks and more particularly, but not exclusively, to frameworks for use with portable seating such as a portable chair, a baby stroller, a bed etc.

Portable seating such as for providing a chair is well known .

Conventionally portable chairs comprise a framework that is provided with hinged sections i.e., a back rest frame and a seat and legs forming frame comprising two side frames 10 providing the seat legs and support bars for the actual seat forming material or the like, the side frames being interconnected by cross members which allow the side frames to be moved one towards the other for the purposes of folding.

15 Commonly the back rest frame folds downwardly towards the seat frame for the purposes of folding.

In use, the fact that a person sits upon the opened/erected chair with the back rest frame raised tends to maintain the seat firmly in its open position.

?fl In practice, when the known frames are in their folded condition they still represent relatively bulky articles, and for this reason are not, for many uses, particularly portable or readily stowable in confined spaces such as, for example, a rucksack, a handbag, or the boot or coffer

?5 of a motor vehicle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a foldable framework for, for example, a chair/seat construction of such construction as to facilitate its

portability and stowability.

Broadly, according to the presemt invention there is provided a foldable framework including pivotally interconnected members so interconnected as to be erectable to provide an article of predetermined formation and as to be foldable to provide a compact package, characterised in that the frame structure includes at least two interconnected members which are arranged to provide a Vee-structure when in their erected position.

Preferably the framework when folded/stowed is enterable into a tubular case, housing or the like.

Conveniently additional members are pivotally connected to the members with the the pivotal connections between the elongate members and the Vee structure members enables the requisite folding/stowing of the members ( and additionally determining the relative pivotal setting displacement of the members relative to their associated Vee structure members to a predetermined angular relationship when the frame work is in its erected condition.

for a better understanding of the invention and to show how to carry the same into effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure IA schematically illustrates a first embodiment of a framework suitable for providing a seat and back rest forming means for a ground resting seat configuration;

Figure IB illustrates the framework of Figure IA when in a folded or stowed position;

Figure IC illustrates to an enlarged scale a first detail of the framework of Figure IA;

Figure ID illustrates to an enlarged scale a second detail of the framework of Figures IA and IB;

Figure 2A schematically illustrates a second embodiment of a framework suitable for providing a bed arrangement;

Figure 2B illustrates the arrangement of Figure 2A in a partially folded position;

Figure 2C illustrates the framework of Figure 2A when in a folded or stowed position;

Figure 3A schematically illustrates a further embodiment of a framework suitable for providing a wheelbarrow arrangement;

Figure 3B illustrates the arrangement of Figure 3A in a partially folded position;

Figure 4A schematically illustrates a further embodiment of a framework suitable for providing a seat and back rest arrangement having legs;

Figure 4B illustrates the arrangement of Figure 4 when in a partially folded position;

Figure 5 schematically illustrates a further embodiment of a framework suitable for providing a push chair or the like;

Figure 6A schematically illustrates a further embodiment of a framework suitable for providing a support frame for a cradle or baby support article;

Figure 6B illustrates the arrangement of Figure 6A in a

partially folded position;

Figure 6C illustrates the framework of Figure 6A when in a folded or stowed position; and

Figure 7 schematically illustrates a further embodiment of a framework suitable for providing a ladder.

Referring now to Figure IA, the arrangement shown therein includes a frame 1 comprising a pair of parallelly arrangeable members 2 and 3 and a pair of further members 4 and 5 respectively pivotally connecting by means of a pivot - _Q joint 6 with an associated end of one of the first mentioned members 2 and 3. The further members 4 and 5 are pivotally interconnected by a pivot joint 7.

The pivotal joints 6 between the pairs of members 2 and 4 and 3 and 5 are illustrated in greater detail in Figure ID,

15 and as may be seen the joint is of such construction as to allow the members 4 and 5 to be pivoted downwards to lie against the associated member to which it is connected and to be set to a raised position shown on Figure IA and indicated in Figure ID at a predetermined upright position

20 relative to the associated members 2 and 3.

As will be noted from Figure ID the pivot joint 6 includes two side parts 8 and 9 which are engaged by a pin 10 which pivotally couples the two arms 2' and 4' or 3' and 5' with their associated members. As will be apparent the

75 formation of the side parts 8 and 9 produces on each member 4' and 5' a surface 12 which when the members 4' and 5' are in the positions shown in the Figures IA and ID abuts with the members 2' and 3' thereby to limit the extent of pivotal movement of the pivot joint 6 and thus the angular

30 setting of the members 4 and 5 relative to the members 2 and 3.

The pivotal joint 7 is of a similar construction, and in this case the member 5 ¹ ' is provided with side parts 13 and 14. The pivot pin of the joint is indicated at 15. A resiliently loaded pin 16 is mounted to the member 5'' , the pin 16 being able to engage in a bore 17 provided in the side part 13. Hence, when the pin 16 aligns with the bore 17 in the side part 13 the relative angular position of the members 4 and 5 is set.

When the frame is utilised as a seat structure a seat cover forming material is mounted from the two members 2 and 3 as shown in the Figure IA. A back rest 19 is formed by ^providing a triangularly shaped cover bridging the members 4 and 5.

It will be understood that both the seat cover material and the back rest cover could be inflatable to enhance comfort.

To stow the seat as shown in Figure IA the pin 16 is gdepressed so that it will free itself from engagement with the bore 17 and the two pairs of members 4 and 5, are then moved one towards the other, this movement at the same time bringing the other members 2 and 3 into close side-by-side position. When the members have thus been closed together 2 the members 4 and 5 can be folded down towards the members 2 and 3. It will be appreciated that the members 4 and 5 can, if desired, be folded down before closing the members together .

Once the members have thus been folded they form a compact 2ςpackage as shown in Figure IB.

It will be understood that following the collapsing of the framework the seat and back rest material would be wrapped around the folded framework.

It will be noted that the pivotally interconnected members effectively forms a Vee structure 20 i.e., between the pivotally connected members 4 and 5.

It will be seen that the above discussed Figures illustrate a framework includng a Vee structure 20, and two elongate members 2,3 pivotally connected to the free ends of the members 4,5 forming the Vee structure 20, and in that the pivotal connections between the elongate members 2,3 and the Vee structure members 4,5 enables the requisite folding/stowing of the members 2,3 and relative pivotal setting displacement of the members 2,3 relative to their associated Vee structure members 4,5 to a predetermined angular relationship and that the combination of the Vee structure 20 and the elongate members 2,3 is arranged to form a seat by providing the members 4,5 with a back rest formation, and by providing the members 2,3 with a seat rest formation.

As will be seen from other Figures of the drawings the Vee structure 20 may be utilised in the formation of frameworks f° ^r the production of a wide range of articles.

Thus, for example, the Figures 2A, 2B and 2C illustrate the use of two of Vee structures 20 shown in Figure 1 for the construction of a foldable portable bed assembly.

As may be seen from Figure 2A two Vee frame structures 20 are joined together by a pivotal joint 21 in such manner that the members 4 and 5 of the Vee structure 20 provide the end frames for a bed, and the members 2 and 3 when in the position shown in the Figure 2A provide the side frames elements of the bed,

To support the pivot regions 22 of the members 4 and 5 of

the two Vee structure 20 stub legs 23 are provided. The pivotal connection 22 is such that when the Vee structures 20 are arranged as shown the stub legs 23 are set into a vertical position.

The body support for the bed can comprise a cloth area 24 whose longer edge regions are connected with the members 4 and 5 of the two Vee structures. The dimensions of the cloth area are selected so that with the Vee structures 20 in the position shown in Figure 2A the cloth area 24 is stretched. The cloth area can support any convenient form of mattress construction.

Figure 2B illustrates the arrangement of Figure 2A when partially folded, and Figure 2C illustrates the fully folded position in which it will be noted that a compact structure is formed which is readily insertable into a tubular casing or the like.

Thus the arrangement of Figures 2A 2b and 2C provides a foldable framework characterised in that the foldable structure includes two of said Vee structures 20, each with two elongate members 2,3 pivotally connected to the members 4,5 intermediate the free and pivotally connected ends of the Vee structure members 4,5 forming the associated Vee structure 20, and in that the respective elongate members 2,3 of the two Vee structures are pivotally connected end to end the arrangement being such that the framework thus formed can be erected such that the two pairs of elongate members 2,3 when arranged in line provide the side rails to a bed formation with the Vee structures providing the ends to the bed formation with the side rails serving to support means defining the bed rest material with the free end regions of the members 4,5 providing the legs for the bed formation, and in that additional support members are pivotally connected to each one of one of the pairs of

elongate members to provide additional legs.

It will be appreciated that if desired a pair of further members pivotally connected end to end could bridge the members 4 and 5 of the Vee in such manner that when the Vee structure 20 is in the position shown in Figure 2A these additional members could extend in line one with the other to provide a cross brace to the Vee structure. During the the folding of the arrangement of Figure 2A these additional members would displace to lie along side the associated members 2 and 3.

Figure 3A illustrates a Vee structure 20 when adapted for use as, for example, a wheelbarrow. For this application a wheel assembly 24 is connected to the unit in the vicinity of the pivoted joint 7. A suitable cloth/plastics shaped container is mounted from the members 2 and 3 so that when the Vee struture 20 is positioned as shown in Figure 3A a trough-like container is formed. If it is thought convenient, extension pieces can be attached to the members 2 and 3 by, for example, pivoted joints which allow the extension pieces to fold against the members 2 and 3 for stowage purposes and which are enabled by the associated pivoted joint to be pivotable to an in-line position as is shown in Figure 3A.

Figure 3B illustrates the arrangement of Figure 3A when partially folded for stowage purposes.

Figure 4A illustrates the use of a Vee structure 20 as a chair with legs. In this arrangement the members 2 and 3 are pivotally connected to the members 4 and 5 at locations intermediate the ends of the respective members thereby producing the arrangement shown in the Figure 4A. As in the case of Figure IA seat rest and back rest forming material would be provided. Such material can be mounted

in any convenient manner.

Figure 4B illustrates the arrangement of Figure 4A when partially folded.

Thus these two Figures illustrate a foldable framework in which the elongate members 2,3 are pivotally connected intermediate the ends thereof with the Vee tructure members 4,5 intermediate the free ends of the latter and the pivotal connection therebetween, the arrangement being such that the foldable frame work when erected provides a seat frame having legs.

Referring now to Figure 5 this illustrates an application of a Vee frame structure 20 in which the mid-points of the members 2 and 3 are pivotally connected with the members 4 and 5 a short distance from the ends thereof. A wheel assembly 26 is provided at the adjacent ends of the four members 2, 3, 4 and 5. In addition, the members 4 and 5 are pivoted together intermediate the overall length thereof as shown. The free ends of the members 4 and 5 are suitably deformed relative to the remainder thereof to form handles 27.

The mode of folding the construction shown in Figure 5 is indicated by the arrows 28 in Figure 5.

Referring now to Figures 6A, 6B and 6C these illustrate the concepts of the invention in arrangements in which the members 4 and 5 are pivotally connected intermediate the ends thereof to provide a cross formation. As will be seen two cross formations are interconnected to provide a bed-like arrangement which mounts a cloth 29 bridging the connected together pairs of members 2 and 3.

Figure 6B and 6C respectively illustrate the partially folded and fully folded positions of the arrangement shown in Figure 6A.

Thus in detail the framework 1 includes two of said Vee structures 20, the members 4,5 of each said Vee structure extending to provide extension parts extending from the Vee structure pivotal connection away from the members 4,), in that for each said Vee structure 20 the two associated elongate members 2,3 are pivotally connected to the members 4,5 at the free ends thereof effectively to provide a cross arrangement, and in that the respective elongate members 2,3 of the two Vee structures are pivotally connected end to end, the arrangement being such that the framework thus formed can be so erected that the two pairs of elongate members 2,3 when arranged in line provide side rails to a bed formation with the Vee structures providing the ends to the bed formation with the side rails serving to support means for defining the bed rest and with the free end regions of the extensions to the members 4,5 providing the legs for the bed formation.

Figure 7 illustrates the application of the concepts of the invention to form a ladder-like construction. In this arrangement the members 4 and 5 mount a plurality of rung forming lengths 31 pivotally connected in such manner that with the arrangement as shown in the Figure 7 the hinged interconnections 32 of the rung forming members will lock in their extended positions, and in such manner that any weight placed therupon tends to enhance the locking effect.