BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of folding chair and storage bag according to the invention where the chair is in an erect position with the bag mounted under a seating surface of the chair;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the folded chair and the bag being carried by the hand;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the chair and the bag separated each other so that they can be used independently;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an unfolded folding chair and a separated storage bag according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an unfolded folding chair and a separated storage bag according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a first preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The embodiment comprises a folding chair (hereinafter called chair) 10 and a storage bag (hereinafter called bag) 20. Each component is discussed in detailed below.
The chair 10 comprises identical first and second frame members 11 and 12 each being rectangular and made of lightweight, strong material (e.g., preferably, aluminum tube). The first and second frame members 11 and 12 are joined together at about centers of front and rear rails thereof by means of two pivot pins 13. That is, the first and second frame members 11 and 12 can pivot about the pivot pins 13 to either fully extend the chair 10 or fully fold same. To provide a surface upon which a person can sit, the chair 10 is provided with a seating surface 14. In the embodiment, the seating surface 14 is a single piece of fabric and has its two sides formed as tubes securely looped around top rails of both the first and second frame members 11 and 12. Also, a detachable hook-and-loop fastener (not shown) is provided on an underside of either side tube of the seating surface 14.
The bag 20 is implemented as a tote bag in the embodiment and comprises two handles 21 and two detachable hook-and-loop fasteners 22 each provided on an inner surface of either side of its top opening. An internal space of the bag 20 is divided into a first compartment 231 having an inner surface formed of excellent thermal insulation material so as to store bottled containers (e.g., spring water bottles, coffee cans, or the like) 91, and a second compartment 232 for storing goods (e.g., books or the like) 92.
In a chair-erected position as indicated by arrows P1 (see FIGS. 1 and 2), the chair 10 is unfolded and the seating surface 14 is fully extended with a space 101 formed under the seating surface 14. Further, the bag 20 with goods 91 and 92 placed therein is adapted to mount under the seating surface 14 by attaching the hook-and-loop fasteners 22 to the corresponding hook-and-loop fasteners of the seating surface 14.
For folding the chair 10, a simple pushing of the top rails of the first and second frame members 11 and 12 toward each other by pivoting same about the pivot pins 13 is sufficient as indicated by arrows P2 in FIG. 3. Thereafter, the hand may hold the handles 21 for carrying both the chair 10 and the bag 20 from place to place with goods 91 and 92 carried therewith.
Moreover, the bag 20 can be detached from the chair 10 by disengaging the hook-and-loop fasteners 22 with the hook-and-loop fasteners of the chair 10. Thereafter, they can be used independently (see FIG. 4).
Referring to FIG. 5, a second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristic of the second preferred embodiment is the bag as detailed below. The bag 20 further comprises a plurality of small pockets 24 sewn to either side, and two sets of hanging straps 25 formed on four top corners in which both ends of the elongated hook-and-loop fastener 22 are disposed proximate the hanging straps 25 of the same set. A buckle and a hole are formed at both ends of the hanging strap 25. Tool items (not shown) can be placed in the pockets 24. In assembly, the buckle of the hanging strap 25 can secure to the hole thereof after flipping the hanging strap 25 over the top rail of either one of the first and second frame members 11 and 12. Next, attach the hook-and-loop fasteners 22 to the corresponding hook-and-loop fasteners of the seating surface 14 for mounting the bag 20 under the seating surface 14. This finishes the assembly of the bag 20 and the chair 10. Weight of the bag 20 can be increased significantly after placing the tool items in the pockets 24. Thus, the provision of the hanging straps 25 aims at providing another fastening of the bag 20 and the chair 10 in addition to the hook-and-loop fasteners so as to reliably secure the bag 20 to the chair 10. Otherwise, the heavy bag 20 may fall onto the supporting ground.
Referring to FIG. 6, a third preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The third embodiment is identical to the second embodiment, except that the hanging straps 25 are replaced by four sets of two short ropes 26 having the same supporting effect in which each set is secured to one of four top corners of the bag by sewing. In a first step of assembly, one rope 26 of each set ties to the other rope 26 thereof for securing to the top rail of either one of the first and second frame members 11 and 12.
While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.
Patent Application
20080012399
