Collapsible folding chair

Abstract

A collapsible chair device is provided including a seat portion, a backrest portion hingeably attached to the seat portion, two or more front leg members hingeably attached to the seat portion, two or more rear leg members hingeably attached to the backrest portion, a base portion pivotally attached to the two or more front leg members and the two or more rear leg members, and a brace member attached on one end to the front support member by a hinge and attached on the other end to the seat portion by a hinge. The device can be converted from a compact and readily portable state to a stable and sturdy chair by an unfolding action wherein all of the components unfold in unison. The device can further include a backrest brace portion and a carrying handle portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principals of the embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the collapsible folding chair.

FIG. 2 shows an angled side perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the collapsible folding chair.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the preferred embodiment of the collapsible folding chair.

FIG. 4A shows a rear perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the collapsible folding chair in a beginning collapsed position.

FIG. 4B shows a rear perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the collapsible folding chair in an intermediate collapsed position.

FIG. 4C shows a rear perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the collapsible folding chair in a final collapsed position.

FIG. 5 shows a side perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the collapsible folding chair including a backrest brace which serves to strengthen the support for the backrest and place less wear and tear on the hinges.

FIG. 6 shows a rear perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the collapsible folding chair including a backrest brace where the chair rests upon its legs rather than on the base member.

FIG. 7 shows a detailed view of a double hinged mechanism for use with the embodiments of the device.

FIG. 8A shows a side perspective view of the brace locking hinge for use with the embodiments of the device.

FIG. 8B shows a top view of the brace locking hinge for use with the embodiments of the device.

FIG. 9A shows a rear perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the collapsible folding chair.

FIG. 9B shows a side perspective view of the chair of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 9C shows a perspective view of the chair of FIG. 9A in its collapsed position.

Claims

1. A collapsible chair device comprising: a) a seat portion;b) a backrest portion attached to the seat portion, the backrest portion including a cross-member wherein the seat portion is attached to the cross-member by at least one hinge;c) two or more front leg members each attached on one end to the seat portion, the two or more front leg members structurally connected by a front support member;d) two or more rear leg members, where each of the two or more rear leg members is attached on one end to the backrest portion by a rear leg member hinge, the two or more rear leg members structurally connected by a rear support member;e) a base portion pivotally attached to the two or more front leg members and the two or more rear leg members; andf) a brace member attached on one end to the front support member by a first hinge and attached on the other end to the seat portion by a second hinge, the brace member comprising two brace sections connected by a brace member locking hingewhereby, when in a locked position, the seat portion, the backrest portion, the front leg members, the rear leg members, the base portion, and the brace member form a stable chair device, wherein the releasing and folding of the brace member causes the backrest portion to fold toward the two or more front leg members until the rear leg member hinges are released, thereby allowing the backrest portion and the two or more rear leg members to further collapse until the two or more front leg members, the seat portion, and the backrest portion lie flatly together, such that they may be folded back over the two or more rear leg members, forming a compact configuration.

2. The collapsible chair of claim 1, where two or more rear leg members and the two or more front leg members has a terminal end, which is the end which is not attached to the seat portion, and where the two or more rear leg members and the two or more front leg members are attached to the base member at a terminal end of each of the two or more rear leg members and the two or more front leg members.

3. The collapsible chair of claim 1, where two or more rear leg members and the two or more front leg members has a terminal end, which is the end which is not attached to the seat portion, and where the two or more rear leg members and the two or more front leg members are attached to the base member at a location above the terminal end of each of the two or more rear leg members and the two or more front leg members.

4. The collapsible chair of claim 1 further comprising a handle portion attached to the seat portion.

5. The collapsible chair of claim 1, wherein the backrest portion comprises at least two backrest upright members and a first backrest cross-member and a second backrest cross-member attached between the at least two backrest upright members.

6. The collapsible chair of claim 5, wherein the first backrest cross-member is attached between the at least two backrest upright members on one end of the at least two backrest upright members and the second backrest cross-member is attached between the at least two backrest upright members on the other end of the at least two backrest upright members.

7. The collapsible chair of claim 5, wherein the rear leg member hinge is a locking hinge.

8. The collapsible chair of claim 1, wherein the two or more front leg members are attached on one end to the seat portion by a double hinge mechanism to allow the two or more front leg members to both pivot and lift off of the base portion.

9. The collapsible chair of claim 8, wherein the double hinge mechanism comprises: a) a mounting bracket having a base portion and a hinge portion coupled to the base portion, the hinge portion perpendicular to the base portion, the hinge portion having a pin accepting portion on the distal end thereof;b) a hinge plate pivotally secured to the mounting bracket by a pin, the hinge plate having a first end with a mounting bracket pin receiving portion therein and a second end with a front leg pin receiving portion therein, wherein the pin is disposed through the mounting bracket pin receiving portion and the pin accepting portion to secure the hinge plate to the mounting bracket.

10. The collapsible chair of claim 9, wherein each of the other ends of the two or more front leg members contain a pin receiving portion and a hinge plate slot disposed therein, wherein a front leg pin can be inserted through each of the pin receiving portions to secure the hinge plate to the two or more front leg members and the hinge plate slots can receive the hinge plate to enable the chair to be securely positioned into a fully extended position.

11. The collapsible chair of claim 5 further comprising: a) a backrest portion brace attached to the seat portion, the backrest portion brace comprising a first brace member attached on one end to one side of the seat portion, a second brace member attached on one end to another side of the seat portion, and a cross-brace attached on one end to the other end of the first brace member and on the other end to the other end of the second brace member, the backrest portion brace configured such that when the chair is positioned in the fully extended position the cross-brace is positioned on the side of the backrest portion opposite the seat portion; andb) a brace support attached to each of the at least two backrest upright members for supporting the cross-brace when the chair is positioned in a fully extended position.

12. The collapsible chair of claim 5 further comprising a backrest brace pivotally attached to two sides of the seat portion, the backrest brace comprising a first brace member attached on one end to one side of the seat portion, a second brace member pivotally attached on one end to the first brace member and attached on the other end to one of the two or more upright members, the backrest portion brace configured such that when the chair is positioned in the fully extended position the backrest brace is straightened to secure the backrest portion to the seat portion.

13. The collapsible chair of claim 1, wherein the base portion is substantially x-shaped.

14. The collapsible chair of claim 1, wherein the seat portion, backrest portion, two or more front leg members, two or more rear leg member, and base portion are made of wood.

15. A collapsible chair device comprising: a) a seat portion;b) a backrest portion attached to the seat portion, the backrest portion comprising at least two backrest upright members and a first backrest cross-member and a second backrest cross-member attached between the at least two backrest upright members;c) two or more front leg members each attached on one end to the seat portion by a double hinge mechanism, the two or more front leg members structurally connected by a front support member;d) two or more rear leg members each attached on one end to the backrest portion by a rear leg member locking hinge, the two or more rear leg members structurally connected by a rear support member;e) a base portion pivotally attached to the other end of the two or more front leg members and the other end of the two or more rear leg members; andf) a brace member attached on one end to the front support member by a first hinge and attached on the other end to the seat portion by a second hinge, the brace member comprising two brace sections connected by a brace member locking hingewhereby, when in a locked position, the seat portion, the backrest portion, the front leg members, the rear leg members, the base portion, and the brace member form a stable chair device, wherein the releasing and folding of the brace member causes the backrest portion to fold toward the two or more front leg members until the rear leg member hinges are released, thereby allowing the backrest portion and the two or more rear leg members to further collapse until the two or more front leg members, the seat portion, and the backrest portion lie flatly together, such that they may be folded back over the two or more rear leg members, forming a compact configuration.

16. The collapsible chair of claim 15, wherein the first backrest cross-member is attached between the at least two backrest upright members on one end of the at least two backrest upright members and the second backrest cross-member is attached between the at least two backrest upright members on the other end of the at least two backrest upright members.

17. The collapsible chair of claim 15, wherein the double hinge mechanism comprises: a) a mounting bracket having a base portion and a hinge portion coupled to the base portion, the hinge portion perpendicular to the base portion, the hinge portion having a pin accepting portion on the distal end thereof;b) a hinge plate pivotally secured to the mounting bracket by a pin, the hinge plate having a first end with a mounting bracket pin receiving portion therein and a second end with a front leg pin receiving portion therein, wherein the pin is disposed through the mounting bracket pin receiving portion and the pin accepting portion to secure the hinge plate to the mounting bracket.

18. The collapsible chair of claim 15, wherein each of the other ends of the two or more front leg members contain a pin receiving portion and a hinge plate slot disposed therein, wherein a front leg pin can be inserted through each of the pin receiving portions to secure the hinge plate to the two or more front leg members and the hinge plate slots can receive the hinge plate to enable the chair to be securely positioned into a fully extended position.

19. The collapsible chair of claim 15 further comprising: a) a backrest portion brace attached to the seat portion, the backrest portion brace comprising a first brace member attached on one end to one side of the seat portion, a second brace member attached on one end to another side of the seat portion, and a cross-brace attached on one end to the other end of the first brace member and on the other end to the other end of the second brace member, the backrest portion brace configured such that when the chair is positioned in the fully extended position the cross-brace is positioned on the side of the backrest portion opposite the seat portion; andb) a brace support attached to each of the at least two backrest upright members for supporting the cross-brace when the chair is positioned in a fully extended position.

20. The collapsible chair of claim 15 further comprising a backrest brace pivotally attached to two sides of the seat portion, the backrest brace comprising a first brace member attached on one end to one side of the seat portion, a second brace member pivotally attached on one end to the first brace member and attached on the other end to one of the two or more upright members, the backrest portion brace configured such that when the chair is positioned in the fully extended position the backrest brace is straightened to secure the backrest portion to the seat portion.

21. A collapsible chair device comprising: a) a seat portion;b) a backrest portion attached to the seat portion, the backrest portion comprising at least two backrest upright members and a first backrest cross-member and a second backrest cross-member attached between the at least two backrest upright members;c) two or more front leg members each attached on one end to the seat portion by a double hinge mechanism, the two or more front leg members structurally connected by a front support member;d) two or more rear leg members each attached on one end to. the backrest portion by a rear leg member locking hinge, the two or more rear leg members structurally connected by a rear support member;e) a base portion pivotally attached to the other end of the two or more front leg members and the other end of the two or more rear leg members;f) a brace member attached on one end to the front support member by a first hinge and attached on the other end to the seat portion by a second hinge, the brace member comprising two brace sections connected by a brace member locking hinge; andg) a backrest brace pivotally attached to two sides of the seat portion, the backrest brace comprising a first brace member attached on one end to one side of the seat portion, a second brace member pivotally attached on one end to the first brace member and attached on the other end to one of the two or more upright members, the backrest portion brace configured such that when the chair is positioned in the fully extended position the backrest brace is straightened to secure the backrest portion to the seat portionwhereby, when in a locked position, the seat portion, the backrest portion, the front leg members, the rear leg members, the base portion, and the brace member form a stable chair device, wherein the releasing and folding of the brace member causes the backrest portion to fold toward the two or more front leg members until the rear leg member hinges are released, thereby allowing the backrest portion and the two or more rear leg members to further collapse until the two or more front leg members, the seat portion, and the backrest portion lie flatly together, such that they may be folded back over the two or more rear leg members, forming a compact configuration.

22. The collapsible chair of claim 21, wherein the seat portion contains a handle portion located therein.

23. A double hinge mechanism for use in a collapsible chair, comprising, a) a mounting bracket having a base portion and a hinge portion coupled to the base portion, the hinge portion perpendicular to the base portion, the hinge portion having a pin accepting portion on the distal end thereof; b) a hinge plate pivotally secured to the mounting bracket by a pin, the hinge plate having a first end with a mounting bracket pin receiving portion therein and a second end with a front leg pin receiving portion therein, wherein the pin is disposed through the mounting bracket pin receiving portion and the pin accepting portion to secure the hinge plate to the mounting bracket, wherein the two or more front leg members are attached on one end to the seat portion by a double hinge mechanism to allow the two or more front leg members to both pivot and lift off of the base portion.

24. The double hinge mechanism for use in a collapsible chair of claim 23, wherein each of the other ends of the two or more front leg members contain a pin-receiving portion and a hinge plate slot disposed therein, wherein a front leg pin can be inserted through each of the pin receiving portions to secure the hinge plate to the two or more front leg members and the hinge plate slots can receive the hinge plate to enable the chair to be securely positioned into a fully extended position.