The present disclosure relates to a chair having an adjustable backrest. In particular, the disclosure relates to a folding chair having an adjustable backrest.
The chair 20 has a frame 22 comprising first and second front legs 24,26, and first and second rear legs 28,30. The frame 22 may also have first and second front crossbeams 32,34, and first and second rear crossbeams 36,38. One end of the first front crossbeam 32 may be pivotally connected to the first front leg 24 and an opposite end of the first front crossbeam may be pivotally connected to the second front leg 26. One end of the second front crossbeam 34 may be pivotally connected to the first front leg 24 and an opposite end of the second front crossbeam may be pivotally connected to the second front leg 26. The first and second rear crossbeams 36,38 may have a similar arrangement with one end of the first rear crossbeam being pivotally connected to the first rear leg 28 and the opposite end of the first rear crossbeam being pivotally connected to the second rear leg 30, and one end of the second rear crossbeam being pivotally connected to the first rear leg and an opposite end of the second rear crossbeam being pivotally connected to the second rear leg. The pivot connections of the crossbeams to each leg may be spaced apart on each leg to allow the cross beams and the legs to pivot relative to each other. The first and second front crossbeams 32,34 may have a pivot connection 40 with each another. The first and second rear crossbeams may have a pivot connection 42 with each another.
The frame 22 of the chair 20 may include first and second bottom supports 44,46. The first bottom support 44 may extend from the first front leg 24 to the first rear leg 28.
The second bottom support 46 may extend between the second front leg 26 and the second rear leg 30. The first and second bottom supports 44,46 may assist in maintaining the structural integrity of the frame 22. The bottom supports 44,46 may maintain the first and second front legs 24,26 in a spaced apart configuration relative to the first and second rear legs 28,30.
The pivoting connections of the front and rear crossbeams with the front and rear legs allow the chair to be moved between a folded arrangement and an unfolded arrangement. In the unfolded arrangement, the first and second front legs 24,26 may be spaced apart from one another with the first and second front crossbeams 32,34 extending therebetween and generally transverse to the legs. The first and second rear legs 28,30 may be spaced apart from one another with the first and second rear crossbeams 36,38 extending therebetween and generally traverse to the legs. In the folded position arrangement, the first front leg 24 may be adjacent to the second front leg 26 with the first and second front crossbeams 32,34 folded therebetween and extending generally parallel to the first and second front legs. The first rear leg 28 may be adjacent to the second rear leg 30 with the first and second rear crossbeams 36,38 folded therebetween and extending generally parallel to the first and second rear legs. In both the unfolded and folded arrangements, the front legs 24,26 are spaced from the rear legs 28,30, for instance, by the first and second bottom supports 44,46.
To facilitate moving the chair between the folded arrangement and the unfolding arrangement, each of the legs may comprise telescoping members. As best shown in
The chair 20 further comprises a seat 50. The seat 50 may have first and second seat support beams 52,54. The first seat and second seat support beams 52,54 may be generally orthogonal to the legs. The first seat support beam 52 may have a sliding connection 56 with the first front leg 24. The second support beam 54 may have a sliding connection 58 with the second front leg 26. One or both of the sliding connections 56,58 in the first and second front legs 24,26 may be a channel adapted and configured to receive the first and second support seat support beams 52,54, respectively. One or both of the sliding connections 56,58 may comprise a bushing mounted to an end of the first and second front legs. One or both of the sliding connections 56,58 may also comprise a slot or a notch formed in the first and second front legs. One or both of the sliding connections 56,58 may also comprise an attachment extending or projecting from the first and second front legs. In addition, the sliding connection 56,58 may comprise a rack and roller provided on the seat support beams and the first and second front legs. The first and second seat support beams 52,54 may directly bear against an interior of the channel of the sliding connection 56,58 to allow sliding motion between the first and second front legs and the first and second seat support beams. Rollers may also be provided in the sliding connection. The rollers may be provided on the seat support beam or in the bushing or channel of the first and second front legs. While a relatively short axial length channel on the first and second front legs is shown in the drawings, the axial length of the sliding connection of the first and second front legs with the seat support beams may be extended to accommodate the full length of travel of the seat support beams. Additionally, the distal end of the seat support beams may be provided with a stop to prevent the seat support beam from being disconnected from the channel. As shown in the drawings, the sliding connection 56,58 allows movement of the seat support beams in either direction toward or away from the front legs 24,26. The sliding connection 56,58 may also be configured to limit or restrict motion selectively. For instance, the sliding connection 56,58 may have a clamp or locking mechanism to fix the position of the seat support beams 52,54 in the sliding connection.
The chair 20 further has a backrest 60 that is pivotally connected to the seat and the frame 22 of the chair. As shown in the drawings, the backrest 60 comprises first and second backrest beams 62,64. The first backrest beam 62 may have a pivot connection 66 with the first seat support beam 52 and the second backrest beam 64 may have a pivot connection 68 with the second seat support beam 54. The first backrest beam 62 may be operatively pivotally connected to the first rear leg 28 and the second backrest 64 beam may be operatively pivotally connected to the second rear leg 30. The pivot connections of the backrest to the seat and the frame, together with the sliding connection of the seat to the frame allow the backrest to be adjustable and, for example, move between the positions shown in
The chair 20 may also comprise a first armrest 70 operatively connected to the first rear leg 28, and a second armrest 72 operatively connected to the second rear leg 30. Couplings 74,76 may be provided to connect the first and second armrests 70,72 to the first and second rear legs 28,30, respectively. The backrest 60 may be pivotally connected to the respective couplings 74,76. For instance, the first and second backrest beams 62,64 may be pivotally connected to their respective couplings 74,76. The first and second armrests 70,72 may also, or in the alternative, be connected to the first and second front legs 24,26 respectively.
Referring to
Further embodiments can be envisioned to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this disclosure. In other embodiments, combinations or sub-combinations of the above-disclosed invention can be advantageously made. The example arrangements of components are shown for purposes of illustration and it should be understood that combinations, additions, re-arrangements, and the like are contemplated in alternative embodiments of the present invention. Thus, various modifications and changes may be made thereunto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims and that the invention is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the following claims.
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