Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
The present disclosure relates to a folding chair, and in particular, a folding chair that anchors to an angled surface while providing a horizontal seat position for the user.
Many parks, common areas and outdoor entertainment venues have ground seating areas that cover hills or inclines. Typically these seating areas do not employ any fixed seats or chairs. Instead, the user sits directly on the seating areas. To eliminate direct contact between the ground of the seating area and the user's bottom, the user typically positions a blanket or folding chair on the ground for sitting purposes. The blanket and folding chair, however, lie on the seating area at the same angle of the ground of the seating area. Therefore, due to the angled ground surface, the user sits at the angle resulting in uncomfortable viewing by the user.
Although current folding chairs have adjustable back rests and adjustable arm rests, the legs of these chairs extend to contact the ground, wherein this configuration positions the seat of the chair at the angle of the ground sitting area. As such, the adjustable back rest and adjustable arm rest do not horizontally position the user with respect to the angled ground.
Other folding chairs employ collapsible fabric as the seat area. This collapsible fabric conforms to the user's bottom when the user sits within the fabric. Due to the leg configurations of these chairs, the user still sits at the angle of the ground sitting area. Furthermore, due to the angled ground, current folding chairs slip on the angled surface since the legs do not anchor to the ground surface.
Briefly stated, the present disclosure relates to a chair that folds by a plurality of hinges between an expanded position and a collapsed position to seat a person substantially horizontal while the chair is positioned on an angled surface. The foldable chair comprises a back assembly having a back frame and a back covering which partially covers the back frame. The back frame includes opposing back side members, wherein each back side member has a first back end and a second back end.
The chair also comprises a seat assembly secured to a seat hinge of the plurality of hinges. The seat hinge pivotally couples the seat assembly to the back assembly. The seat assembly has a seat frame and a seat adjustment assembly, the seat frame includes opposing seat side members, wherein each seat side member has a first seat end and a second seat end. The seat adjustment assembly includes a seat pin and includes a seat track that is integrally disposed within the back side members, wherein the seat track has a plurality of seat adjustment positions.
The chair also comprises a leg assembly secured to a leg hinge of the plurality of hinges. The leg hinge pivotally couples the leg assembly to the seat assembly. The leg assembly has a leg frame, which includes opposing leg side members, wherein each leg side member has a first leg end and a second leg end.
The chair also comprises an arm assembly removably attached to the seat side members and removably attached to the back side members. The arm assembly is adjustable to a substantially horizontal position while the chair is positioned on the angled surface. The arm assembly has a first arm track and a second arm track, wherein each arm track has a plurality of arm adjustment positions.
The chair further comprises a collapsible seat that is removably coupled to the seat assembly. The collapsible seat has a proximal end, a distal end and a body positioned between the proximal end and the distal end. The proximal end connects with adjustment pin disposed and the distal end connects with a seat attachment wherein the adjustment pin removably engages with at least one of the plurality of seat adjustment positions of the seat track and the seat attachment connects with the seat pin such that the engaged adjustment pin with the seat track and the attached distal end with the seat pin positions the body of the seat in a substantially horizontal position with respect to the angled surface.
The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the disclosure as well as presently preferred embodiments thereof will become more apparent from the reading of the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings.
In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification:
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.
The following detailed description illustrates the disclosure by way of example and not by way of limitation. The description clearly enables one skilled in the art to make and use the disclosure, describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the disclosure, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the disclosure.
Referring to the drawings, a chair A (
Referring to
The back covering 34 comprises a back fabric panel 44 (
Seat hinges 54 of the plurality of hinges 10 secures the seat assembly 20 to the back frame 32. In particular, the seat hinges 54 pivotally couple the seat assembly 20 to the second back ends 40 of the back side members 36. In one embodiment, each seat hinge 54 includes joints (not shown) that may be secured at a plurality of angular positions with respect to the ground surface. The seat assembly 20 includes opposing seat side members 60. Each seat side member 60 has a first seat end 64 and a second seat end 66, wherein each of the second seats ends 66 contacts the angled surface 16. Furthermore, the seat assembly 20 includes a crossbar B which connects the seat side members 60 at the opposing seat hinges 54. In one embodiment, the seat side members 60 are approximately 20″ in length and approximately 2″ in height.
The seat adjustment assembly 58 includes a seat track 70 that is integrally disposed within the back side members 36. The seat track 70 of one of the back side members 36 contains a mirror configuration of the seat track 70 for the other respective back side member 36. Since the seat track 70 is integrally disposed within the back side members 36, the seat track 70 does not extend beyond the back frame 32. The seat track 70 has a plurality of seat adjustment positions 72.
Each seat adjustment position 72 includes a slot 74 having a channel member 76 and a support member 78 which perpendicularly extends above each channel member 76. Each channel member 76 is configured in a rectangular shape. As shown, the plurality of seat adjustment positions 72 is positioned on top of each other while being equally spaced from each other. Furthermore, angled portions 80 of the seat track 70 connect one respective channel member 76 with the next channel member 76.
The seat assembly 20 further includes a knee portion 82. The knee portion 82 comprises angled side members 83 which are covered by a knee fabric panel 84 (
Leg hinges 86 of the plurality of hinges 10 secures the leg assembly 22 to the seat assembly 20. In particular, each leg hinge 86 pivotally couples the leg assembly 22 to the first seat ends 64 of the seat assembly 20. In one embodiment, each leg hinge 86 includes joints (not shown) that may be secured at a plurality of angular positions with respect to the ground surface. The leg assembly 22 has a leg frame 88 which includes opposing leg side members 90. Each leg side member has a first leg end 92 and a second leg end 94. In one embodiment, leg side members 90 are approximately 18″ in length and approximately 1½″ in height. Further, the leg frame 88 includes a stabilizing bar SB which connects the opposing leg side members 90. The leg assembly 22 also comprises a leg covering 96 (
The collapsible seat 24 removably connects to the seat assembly 20. The collapsible seat has a proximal end 98, a distal end 100 and a body 102 positioned between the proximal end 98 and the distal end 100. The proximal end 98 is positioned near the back assembly 18 while the distal end 100 is positioned near the leg assembly 22. The body 102 of the seat 24 comprises a body fabric panel which may include any suitable material such as a nylon or canvas material. The proximal end 98 connects with or integrates with an adjustment pin 104 while the distal end 100 connects with or integrates with a seat attachment 106. The adjustment pin 104 removably engages with at least one of the plurality of seat adjustment positions 72 of the seat track 70. The seat attachment 106 connects with the knee pin 85 of the knee portion 82 such that the engaged adjustment pin 104 with the seat track 70 and the attached distal end 100 with the knee pin 85 positions the body 102 of the seat 24 in a substantially horizontal position with respect to the angled surface 16. As such, the body 102 of the seat 24 suspends between the seat track 70 at the proximal end 98 and the knee pin at the distal end 100.
As shown in
The adjustment pin 104 comprises a square or rectangular bar member (
Since the channel members 76 of the seat track 70 are positioned within the back side members 36, the adjustment pin 104 is also positioned behind the front face 46 of the back covering 34 when the adjustment pin 104 is placed in any of the channel members 76 of the seat track. As such, the user does not directly contact the adjustment pin 104 when seated within the body 102 of the seat 24. Since the proximal end 98 of the seat 24 is crimped within the adjustment pin 104 and the adjustment pin 104 may engage with any of the plurality of seat adjustment positions 72, the user can conveniently suspend the body 102 of the seat 24 between the proximal end 98 and distal end 100.
Turning to
Each arm adjustment position 118 includes a slot 120 having a channel member 122 and a support member 124 that perpendicularly extends above each channel member 122. Each channel member 122 is configured in a circular shape. As shown, the plurality of arm adjustment positions 118 is positioned on top of each other while being equally spaced from each other. Furthermore, angled portions of the arm track 114 connect one respective channel member 122 with the next channel member 122.
The arm track 116 is integrally formed within the arms 108, 110 at a position near the first seat ends 64. The arm track 116 of one of the arms 108, 110 contains a mirror configuration of the arm track 116 for the other respective arm 108, 110. The arm track 116 has a plurality of arm adjustment positions 117.
Each arm adjustment position 117 includes a slot 119 having a channel member 121. Each channel member 121 is configured in a circular shape. As shown, the plurality of arm adjustment positions 117 is positioned adjacent to each other while being equally spaced from each other.
The engagement pins 115 of the first arm 108 and the second arm 110 removably engage with at least one of the plurality of arm adjustment positions of the arm track 114. The first arm 108 and the second arm 110 also removably engage with the arm connection pins 112 via the channel members 121 of the second arm track 116. The connection of the engagement pins 115 of first arm 108 and the second arm 110 with one of the arm adjustment positions 118 along with the engagement of the channel members 121 and connections pins 112 of the second arm track 116 positions the first arm 108 and the second arm 110 in a substantially horizontal position with respect to the angled surface 16. As such, the respective arms 108, 110 positions the cup/beverage holder horizontally also. The channel members 121 releasably lock to the arm connection pins 112 when the channel members 121 engage the arm connection pins 112. Since the connection pins 112 extend outward from the seat side members 60, the engagement pins 115 connect the arms 108, 110 to the outside surfaces of the back side members 36.
Returning to
As shown in
Furthermore, as shown in
Turning to
Additionally, the seat assembly 20 rotates within the back assembly 18. Since the seat assembly 20 rotates around the seat hinge 54 at the plurality of angles, the first seat ends 64 rotate toward the first back ends 38 of the back frame 32. Since the seat side members 60 are shorter in length than the back side members 36, the seat assembly 20 easily fits within the back assembly 18. As such, the foot assembly 28, leg assembly 22, seat assembly 20 and back assembly 18 are aligned and folded to provide a convenient and collapsible carrying position for the user. Furthermore, the back side members 36 are longer than the seat side members 60 to extend the handle aperture 52 of the back covering 34 beyond the folded foot assembly 28, leg assembly 22, and seat assembly 20 to provide a convenient access for the user to carry the chair A in the collapsed position 14.
Turning to
While unfolding the seat assembly 20, the user engages the adjustment pin 104 of the collapsible seat 24 with at least one of the plurality of seat adjustment positions 72 of the seat track 70. The user, meanwhile, engages the engagement pins 115 of the first arm 108 and the second arm 110 with a one of the plurality of arm positions 118 of the first arm track 114 and engages the connection pins 112 with one of the plurality of arm positions 117 of the second seat track 116. The arms 108, 110 are strong enough to connect and to support the back assembly 18 and the seat assembly 20. In other words, the arms 108, 110 lock the frames of the back assembly 18 and seat assembly 20 into place. Additionally, the user can rotate the adjustment pin 104 to obtain the desired tension of the seat 24. In positioning the adjustment pin 104 in the desired seat adjustment position, the user can position the body 102 of the seat substantially horizontal in the extended position while the chair A is positioned on the angled surface 16.
The user then rotates the leg assembly 22 from inside the seat assembly 20 by rotating the leg assembly 22 around the leg hinge. The user then unfolds the foot assembly 28 via the foot hinge 126 from inside the leg assembly 22 to a desired angled position and locks the foot assembly 28 in that desired position via the foot hinge 126. In rotating the leg hinge 86 in the plurality of angles, the user moves the second leg ends in contact with the angled surface 16. In moving the seat assembly 20 through the plurality of angles via the seat hinge 54, the second seat ends 66 contact the angled surface 16. Depending upon the angle of the surface, the user can easily adjust the angle of the foot assembly 28, leg assembly 22, seat assembly 20 and back assembly 18 through the respective hinges to accommodate the desired position of the foot assembly 28, leg assembly 22, seat assembly 20 and back assembly 18.
Turning to
As such, the user can engage the first arm 108 and the second arm 110 into with at least one of the plurality of arm adjustment positions 118, 117 of the arm track 114, 116 to maintain the first arm 108 and second arm 110 in the substantially horizontal position with respect to any of the angled surfaces 16. To engage the appropriate arm adjustment position 117, the user pulls or “pops” the arms 108, 110 away from the connection pins 112, moves the connection pins 112 within the slots 119 and pushes the arms 108, 110 back toward the connection pins 112 to connect the connection, pins 112 into the appropriate channels 121. Furthermore, the user may stabilize the chair A to the angled surface 16 by penetrating the anchors into the surface. In this expanded position 12, the seat adjustment pin 104 is positioned in its desired channel member 76 of the seat track 70 wherein in this position the seat adjustment pin 104 is positioned behind the front face 46 of the back covering 34. As such, when the person sits in the body 102 of the seat, the person does not directly contact the adjustment pin 104, but instead, contacts the back covering 34. Furthermore, the user adjusts the tension of the collapsible seat by rotating the adjustment pin 104, which, in turn, wraps the crimped end of the seat around the adjustment pin 104.
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the disclosure are achieved and other advantageous results are obtained. As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
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