Patent Application
20100026056
This application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 200820103314.4, filed Aug. 4, 2008, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The subject matter described herein relates to a foldable or collapsible support structure, such as a foldable or collapsible chair and, more particularly, to a portable foldable or collapsible chair.
Some conventional chairs include a foldable frame and a fabric seat and a fabric backrest connected to the frame. The frame has four pairs of foldable scissor-shaped cross links and two longitudinal poles. Adjacent pairs of cross links are connected to each other through a pivot at an upper end. A lower end of each longitudinal pole is connected to a lower pivot and is slidably fitted through a corresponding upper pivot. A portion of the longitudinal pole that extends above the upper pivot defines a backrest support. When the chair is expanded, an open configuration is maintained through an upper pivot. Although these conventional chairs may require minimal storage space in a folded configuration, it is not easy for a user to fold the chairs. The user is required to hold the backrest portion with two hands and use a sufficient force to urge the frame toward the folded configuration.
At least one conventional chair includes a first side linkage, a second side linkage, and a rear linkage. Each linkage includes two link members that are pivotally connected by pivot pins to form an X-shaped linkage. A strap is slidably connected to a forward upper portion of a link member of the first side linkage and a forward upper portion of a link member of the second side linkage. More specifically, a first end of the strap is looped around the upper portion of the link member of the first side linkage forward of a link member central pivot and a second end of the strap is looped around the upper portion of the link member of the second side linkage forward of the link member central pivot. The strap is positioned under a chair seat and a middle portion of the strap is threaded through a pair of loops on a back surface of a backrest of the chair. In this conventional chair, as the strap is raised, a lifting force urges the link members of the linkages together to fold the chair. However, because the ends of the strap are looped around the respective forward upper portion of the first side linkage link member and the forward upper portion of the second side linkage link member, the lifting force is weak and the moment of force is minimal such that the chair does not completely fold. Further, the strap ends move along the respective link members as the strap is lifted, which makes it more difficult to fold the chair.
In one aspect, a foldable chair is provided. The foldable chair includes a foldable frame assembly movable between a folded configuration and an extended configuration. The frame assembly includes at least three scissor units. Each scissor unit of the at least three scissor units is pivotally coupled to adjacent scissor units of the plurality of scissor units. A seat is coupled to the frame assembly. The seat has a first surface on which a user sits and an opposing second surface. A strap includes a first portion and a second portion each coupled to the second surface with respect to a first peripheral edge of the seat. The strap includes a midsection between the first portion and the second portion. The midsection is operatively coupled to the seat to facilitate moving the frame assembly from the extended configuration to the folded configuration.
In another aspect, a foldable support structure is provided. The foldable support structure includes a foldable frame assembly movable between a folded configuration and an extended configuration. The frame assembly includes a plurality of scissor units. A plurality of first connectors couple each scissor unit of the plurality of scissor units to adjacent scissor units of the plurality of scissor units. A seat is coupled to the plurality of first connectors. The seat has a first surface on which a user sits and an opposing second surface. At least one slot is defined on the second surface at a first peripheral edge of the seat. A strap is operatively coupled to the seat. The strap includes a first terminal end, a second terminal end, and a midsection defined between the first terminal end and the second terminal end. Each of the first terminal end and the second terminal end is coupled to the second surface at a second peripheral edge of the seat opposing the first peripheral edge. The midsection is movably positioned within the at least one slot.
In yet another aspect, a method for making a foldable support structure is provided. The method includes coupling a plurality of scissor units to form a foldable frame assembly movable between a folded configuration and an extended configuration. A seat is coupled to the frame assembly. The seat has a first surface on which a user sits and an opposing second surface. At least one slot is defined on the second surface at a first peripheral edge of the seat. A strap is operatively coupling to the seat. The strap includes a first terminal end, a second terminal end, and a midsection defined between the first terminal end and the second terminal end. Each of the first terminal end and the second terminal end is coupled to the second surface at a second peripheral edge of the seat opposing the first peripheral edge, and the midsection is movably positioned within the at least one slot.
The embodiments described herein provide a foldable or collapsible support structure, such as a chair, that includes a foldable or collapsible support frame. The chair is movable between a folded or collapsed configuration, to facilitate transporting and/or storing the chair, and an extended configuration, to support a user. The chair includes a seat and a backrest coupled to and supported by the frame with the chair in the extended configuration. A strap is operatively coupled to the chair to facilitate urging or moving the chair from the extended configuration to the folded configuration. Portions of the strap, such as each terminal end of the strap, are coupled at a location on a bottom surface of the seat and a middle portion of the strap is conveniently located with respect to the seat for a user to lift or pull. In one embodiment, the middle portion is movably positioned within one or more slots defined in or formed on the bottom surface of the seat. With the middle portion positioned within the one or more slots, the middle portion is configured to move with respect to the seat and as the middle portion is moved or lifted, an applied force facilitates closing the chair. With the chair in the folded configuration, the strap can be utilized as a shoulder strap to facilitate carrying the chair and maintaining the chair in the folded configuration.
In one embodiment, the middle portion of the strap extends outwardly from a periphery of the seat. For example, the middle portion may extend from a front portion of the seat with the terminal ends of the strap coupled at an opposing rear portion of the seat. Alternatively, the middle portion of the strap may extend from the rear portion of the seat with the terminal ends of the strap coupled at the opposing front portion of the seat. As a further alternative, the middle portion of the strap may extend from a side portion of the seat with the terminal ends of the strap coupled at an opposing side portion of the seat. In various embodiments, the middle portion may be positioned or operatively coupled to the seat at a location generally opposing the fixed portions of the strap, depending upon the shape and/or configuration of the seat and/or the shape and/or configuration of the frame, such that the strap is configured to facilitate moving the frame from the extended configuration towards the folded configuration.
In one embodiment, two slots are formed in or coupled to the bottom surface of the seat to enable the two ends of the strap to be positioned through the slots and coupled at different locations on the bottom surface of the seat, for example, at or near a respective corner of the seat. Alternatively, one or more straps are coupled to the bottom surface of the seat to define one or more slots and the ends of the strap are positioned through respective slots and coupled to the bottom surface of the seat, for example, at or near a respective corner of the seat. The ends of the strap can be coupled to the bottom surface of the seat such that the strap forms a V-shaped strap or a U-shaped strap along the bottom surface of the seat.
In contrast to conventional foldable chairs, the embodiments described herein provide a quick and easy way to fold a chair that allows a user to close the chair using only one hand as the lifting force will turn into a folding force when a strap is raised. A middle portion of the strap extends outwardly from a periphery of a seat such that the user is able to easily grasp the middle portion to fold the chair. Further, the chair as described herein can be easily carried as the strap works as a shoulder strap after the chair is folded and the strap maintains the chair in the folded configuration during transport. Moreover, the strap can easily be fixedly coupled to the bottom surface of the seat by sewing or with a suitable fastener such that the strap is aesthetically pleasing without negatively influencing the appearance of the chair. In a particular embodiment, the strap has a suitably short length such that the strap is more convenient for a user to retain or hold the chair on his or her shoulder.
Referring to
Frame assembly 12 includes a plurality of scissor units 20. As shown, for example, in
In the embodiment shown in
As shown in
In one embodiment, seat 14 defines a suitably sized aperture 50 to receive upright pole 40. A reinforcing member 52, such as a grommet or other suitable member, is fitted about aperture 50 and coupled to seat 14 to provide support for seat 14 and prevent or limit tearing or ripping of seat 14 at or near aperture 50. In one embodiment, rear reinforcing members 52 are couple to or about upright pole 40 above upper connectors 30. Alternatively, seat 14 may be coupled to upper connector 30 at or near upright pole 40 to provide sufficient support. Seat 14 is coupled to upper connectors 30 positioned with respect to a respective upright pole 40 at a front peripheral edge of seat 14 using a suitable reinforcing member 52. Seat 14 can be selectively detachably or removably coupled to frame assembly 12. For example, seat 14 may be fixed directly to upper connectors 30 or may be indirectly coupled to upper connectors 30 using a suitable buckle (not shown). With frame assembly 12 in the extended configuration, upper connectors 30 couple and support seat 14 in a suitable configuration to support the user. Further, seat 14 may be integrated with backrest 16 to form one continuous support surface, or seat 14 and backrest 16 may be made of separate material pieces, as shown in
Chair 10 includes a strap 60 operatively coupled to seat 14 and/or frame assembly 12. In one embodiment, strap 60 has a first terminal end 62 and an opposing second terminal end 64 and defines a midsection 66 between first terminal end 62 and second terminal end 64. In a particular embodiment, midsection 66 includes a handle (not shown in
Referring to
In the embodiment shown in
As shown in
In one embodiment, seat 14 defines aperture 50 to receive upright pole 40. Reinforcing member 52, such as a grommet and/or another suitable member, is fitted about aperture 50 and coupled to seat 14 to provide support for seat 14 and prevent or limit tearing or ripping of seat 14 at or near aperture 50. In one embodiment, rear reinforcing members 52 are couple to or about upright pole 40 above upper connectors 30. Alternatively, seat 14 may be coupled to upper connector 30 at or near upright pole 40 to provide sufficient support. Seat 14 is coupled to upper connectors 30 positioned with respect to respective upright pole 40 at the front peripheral edge of seat 14 using a suitable reinforcing member 52. Seat 14 can be selectively detachably or removably coupled to frame assembly 12. For example, seat 14 may be fixed directly to upper connectors 30 or may be indirectly coupled to upper connectors 30 using a suitable buckle (not shown). With frame assembly 12 in the extended configuration, upper connectors 30 couple and support seat 14 in a suitable configuration to support the user.
As shown in
In a further alternative embodiment not shown, two upright poles 40 are positioned at a front or forward portion of chair 10 to support suitable armrests that extend between rear upright poles 40 and the front upright poles. Each front upright pole is coupled to a respective lower connector 32 at a first end portion and extends through a bore defined through a respective upper connector 30 such that a second end portion opposing the first end portion is configured to at least partially support the respective armrest. The armrests may be formed of a suitable flexible material, such as a suitable fabric material similar to or different from the material of seat 14 and/or backrest 16.
A method for making a foldable support structure, such as a foldable chair is provided with reference to the embodiments described herein. A plurality of scissor units are coupled together to form a foldable frame assembly that is movable between a folded configuration and an extended configuration. A seat is coupled to the frame assembly. The seat has a first surface on which a user sits and an opposing second surface. At least one slot is defined on the second surface at a first peripheral edge of the seat. A strap is operatively coupled to the seat. The strap includes a first terminal end, a second terminal end, and a midsection defined between the first terminal end and the second terminal end. The first terminal end and the second terminal end are coupled to the second surface at a second peripheral edge of the seat opposing the first peripheral edge. The midsection is movably positioned within the at least one slot.
The embodiments described herein provide a foldable support structure, such as a chair, configured to support a user in the extended configuration. The chair includes a foldable frame assembly and a seat coupled to the frame assembly. A strap is operatively coupled to the seat to facilitate moving the frame assembly from the extended configuration to a collapsed or folded configuration for easy transport and/or storage of the chair.
A first portion, such as a first terminal end, and a second portion, such as a second terminal end, of the strap are coupled to the second surface at different locations. In one embodiment, the terminal ends are coupled to the second surface with respect to a peripheral edge of the seat, such as at or near the peripheral edge, in a spaced relationship. For example, the first terminal end is coupled to the second surface at a first corner of the seat at a first peripheral edge, and the second terminal end is coupled to the second surface at an opposing second corner of the seat at the first peripheral edge. The midsection extends outwardly from a second peripheral edge of the seat opposing the first peripheral edge. In one embodiment, the midsection includes a handle that extends outwardly from a peripheral edge of the seat to allow the user to easily grasp the midsection to fold the chair.
The chair includes at least one slot defined in the seat, and the midsection is movably positioned through the slot(s). In one embodiment, a material strip is coupled to the seat to define one slot between the material strip and the second surface of the seat and the strap is positioned through the one slot and operatively coupled to the second surface to define a V-shaped strap. In an alternative embodiment, one or more material strips are coupled to the seat to define two slots between the one or more material strips and the second surface of the seat. In this embodiment, a first portion of the midsection is movably positioned through a first slot and a second portion of the midsection is movably positioned through a second slot. The strap is operatively coupled to the second surface to define a U-shaped strap.
To fold the chair, a user lifts the midsection of the strap to move the midsection along the seat and through the at least one slot. As the midsection is lifted, an applied lifting force urges the frame assembly towards the folded configuration to fold the chair. With the chair in the folded configuration, the strap can be used as a shoulder strap to facilitate carrying the chair, as desired. The strap facilitates maintaining the chair in a folded configuration due at least in part to the weight of the chair on the strap. Because the strap is coupled under the seat, the strap does not influence the appearance of the chair. Moreover, the strap is easily coupled to the seat, for example, by sewing the terminal ends of the strap to the seat. The strap has a suitable length such that the strap does not hang from the bottom surface of the seat, such as at a peripheral edge of the seat, with the chair in the extended configuration. The length of the strap also facilitates folding and/or carrying the chair in the folded configuration.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200820103314.4 | Aug 2008 | CN | national |
