TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure relates generally to furniture in the form of a folding chair. More specifically the disclosure relates to a folding chair that converts between multiple modes for storage and for providing different seating options to a user.
BACKGROUND
Furniture in the form of a folding chair (e.g., a portable chair that folds to a smaller size and can be stored in a stack or in a row) may generally include a seat; a backrest (e.g., a high backrest in case of a dining/office chair); possible armrests; a base; and, occasionally, a system for tilting the backrest into a more/less inclined position. The folding chair may often have to meet minimum functional and/or ergonomic requirements based on the intended mode of operation (e.g., type of seating provided) as well as being able to fold into a smaller form.
For example, a “dining” chair commonly utilizes certain proportions for its legs relative to the seat and backrest in order to allow a user to comfortably sit upright at a typically proportioned dining table or desk. The dining chair may share similar proportions with other chairs that may commonly be referred to as “desk” chairs, “office” chairs, “accent” chairs', etc. On the other hand, a “lounge” chair commonly utilizes certain proportions for the legs that allow the seat and backrest to be closer to the ground and also tilted backward relative to other seating types such as the above-mentioned dining chairs, in order to provide a more leisurely, reclining position for the sitter. The lounge chair may share similar proportions to other chairs that may commonly be referred to as “deck” chairs, “adirondack” chairs, “beach” chairs, etc. and are typically used alongside other “lounge” furniture such as sofas, coffee tables, firepits, etc.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar components in different views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes may represent different instances of similar components. Some embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a side view of a folding chair, consistent with some embodiments described herein, illustrating a range of rotation of component parts.
FIG. 2 shows a section view of the folding chair, consistent with some embodiments described herein, illustrating the range of rotation of component parts.
FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of the folding chair, consistent with some embodiments described herein, illustrating the range of rotation of component parts.
FIG. 4 shows another isometric view (with seat/backrests exploded) of the folding chair, consistent with some embodiments described herein, illustrating the range of rotation of component parts.
FIG. 5 shows a side view of the folding chair, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in a first “dining” mode.
FIG. 6 shows an isometric view of the folding chair, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in the first “dining” mode.
FIG. 7 shows a section view of the folding chair, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in the first “dining” mode.
FIG. 8 shows a front view of the folding chair, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in the first “dining” mode.
FIG. 9 shows a back view of the folding chair, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in the first “dining” mode.
FIG. 10 shows a top view of the folding chair, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in the first “dining” mode.
FIG. 11 shows a side view of the folding chair, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in a second “lounging” mode.
FIG. 12 shows an isometric view of the folding chair, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in the second “lounging” mode.
FIG. 13 shows a section view of the folding chair, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in the second “lounging” mode.
FIG. 14 shows a front view of the folding chair, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in the second “lounging” mode.
FIG. 15 shows a back view of the folding chair, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in the second “lounging” mode.
FIG. 16 shows a top view of the folding chair, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in the second “lounging” mode.
FIG. 17 shows a side view of the folding chair, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in a third “storage” mode.
FIG. 18 shows an isometric view of the folding chair, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in the third “storage” mode.
FIGS. 19A-19C show isometric views of the folding chair, consistent with some embodiments described herein, respectively configured in the first “dining” mode without armrests, the second “lounging” mode without the armrests and the third “storage” mode without the armrests.
FIGS. 20A-20C show side views of the rotatable connections between elements of the folding chair, consistent with some embodiments described herein.
FIG. 21 shows a flow diagram of a method for configuring the folding chair, consistent with some embodiments described herein.
FIG. 22 shows a flow diagram of a method for configuring the folding chair in the first “dining” mode, consistent with some embodiments described herein.
FIG. 23 shows a flow diagram of a method for configuring the folding chair in the second “lounging” mode, consistent with some embodiments described herein.
FIG. 24 shows a flow diagram of a method for configuring the folding chair in the third “storage” mode, consistent with some embodiments described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Some existing dining chairs (e.g., with or without armrests) may also be folding chairs and some existing lounge chairs (e.g., with or without armrests) may be folding chairs as well. Furthermore, some existing folding chairs (e.g., of all types) may be modular in design, however the multi-mode folding chair described herein combines all of these functions and/or characteristics into one convertible chair. As noted above, the type of furniture discussed herein (e.g., a folding chair) may operate according to multiple different modes. For example, the chair may convert from a dining chair in a first mode of operation into a lounge chair when configured in a second mode of operation. The folding chair may also function as an “arm” chair (e.g., including armrests) as well as folding into a smaller size for storage/transport purposes. Such a multi-mode folding chair may provide two (or more) different commonly used seating modes in one easy-to-convert chair that may also be folded for more efficient storage and/or easier transport and still further may also be used outdoors as easily as indoors based on different materials (e.g., waterproof) being used for any of the easily interchangeable modular components (e.g., as described below). Accordingly, the configurable structure of the folding chair described herein may address many of the unsolved challenges (e.g., functional and ergonomic) facing such convertible chair structures.
FIG. 1 shows a side view of a folding chair 100, consistent with some embodiments described herein, illustrating a range of rotation of component parts.
The folding chair 100 may include a pair of identical (and interchangeable as explained more fully below) supports (e.g., a first support 1a and a second support 1b) that may each be arranged within one of a pair of frames (e.g., a first frame 2a and a second frame 2b). The first frame 2a and the second frame 2b may be rotatably connected to each other via a joint assembly (e.g., joint assemblies 4c described below with respect to FIG. 2). For example, the first support 1a may be removably or fixedly arranged within the first frame 2a and the second support 1b may be removably or fixedly arranged within the second frame 2b. The supports 1a, 1b may serve as the seat or backrest interchangeably either in the dining chair mode or in the lounge chair mode.
In some embodiments, a pair of armrests 3 may each be attached to a joint assembly 4c on opposite sides via a pair of hinged connections 6. The folding chair 100 may also include six legs (e.g., leg pairs 2c, 2d and 2e) that may rotate and lock into various different positions so that a configuration of the folding chair 100 may convert from a first mode wherein folding chair 100 is configured with typical dining chair proportions (e.g., shown as “Dining Mode”) to a second mode wherein the folding chair 100 is configured with typical lounge chair proportions (e.g., shown as “Lounging Mode”) as well as a third mode (e.g., a “Storage Mode” shown more fully in FIGS. 17 and 18) for folding into a configuration with smaller storage/transport proportions.
As noted above, the folding chair 100 may include six legs: a first pair of back legs 2c that may be deployed according to the first mode for dining or according to the second mode for lounging, a second pair of longer front legs 2d that may be deployed according to the first mode for dining and retracted (e.g., folded into recess areas in the first frame 2a or folded adjacent to second frame 2a) according to the second mode for lounging, and a third pair of shorter front legs 2e that may be deployed according to the second mode for lounging and retracted (e.g., folded into recess areas in the second frame 2b or folded adjacent to second frame 2b) according to the first mode for dining. All six legs (e.g., pairs 2c, 2d and 2e) may be retracted (e.g., folded into recess areas in the first frame 2a and/or the second frame 2b) for the third mode (e.g., storage mode). Furthermore, in some embodiments, the first pair of legs 2c may each have an identical first length, the second pair of legs 2d may each have an identical second length, and the third pair of legs 2e may each have an identical third length, wherein the second length may be greater than the third length.
In some embodiments, the first and second frames 2a and 2b, the first and second supports 1a and 1b, and the pairs of legs 2c-2e may be made of same or different materials including wood, metal, plastic or other such materials (e.g., solid materials). In some embodiments, the first and second supports 1a and 1b may be made of more flexible materials (e.g., made of fabric or leather slings) than the frames 2a-2b and the legs 2c-2e.
As noted above, the folding chair 100 may include a pair of frames 2a and 2b wherein the first frame 2a may contain the first support 1a (e.g., arranged within the frame as a seat) in the first mode (e.g., the Dining Mode) at an angle that is appropriately sloped for comfortable sitting while dining/working and may also contain the first support 1a (e.g., arranged within the frame as a backrest) in the second mode (e.g., the Lounging Mode) at an angle that is appropriately sloped for sitting while in a more reclined lounging position. Furthermore, the second frame 2b may contain the support 1b (e.g., arranged within the frame as a backrest) in the first mode for dining/working at an angle that is appropriately sloped for comfortable sitting and may also contain the support 1b (e.g., arranged within the frame as a seat) in the second mode for lounging at an angle that is appropriately sloped for the more reclined lounging position.
FIG. 2 shows a section view of the folding chair 100, consistent with some embodiments described herein, illustrating the range of rotation of component parts.
As noted above, the frames 2a and 2b may be connected to each other via a joint assembly 4c (e.g., made of metal, plastic or other such materials) which may be rotated and locked. Joint assembly 4c can facilitate configuring (e.g., and then locking) the frames 2a and 2b into different positions that allow for the folding chair 100 to be respectively configured for the various modes of operation such as for dining, lounging or storage (e.g., the first and second frames 2a and 2b may fold in towards each other in the third mode for storage). Furthermore, the first, second and third pairs of legs 2c, 2d, and 2e may also be rotatably attached (e.g., via a number of joint assemblies 4a-4c or other such connections) to the second frame 2b via 4c, the first frame 2a via 4a, and the second frame 2b via 4b, respectively, where the joint assemblies 4a-4c can be different types or same type of joint assemblies.
The various deployments of the pairs of legs allow for the pair of supports 1a and 1b and their associated frames 2a and 2b to be positioned in different orientations according to the configurations associated with the different modes of operation as explained more fully below with respect to the following figures. For example, the first support 1a that serves as a chair seat in the first mode for dining may also serve as a chair backrest in the second mode for lounging, and likewise, the second support 1b that serves as a chair backrest in the first mode for dining may serve as chair seat in the second mode for lounging. Accordingly, the deployment of the pairs of legs (e.g., 2c, 2d, and 2e) into different positions may allow for the folding chair 100 to be respectively configured for the various modes of operation such as the first mode for dining, the second mode for lounging or the third mode for storage.
In some embodiments, the first and second frames 2a and 2b as well as each of the pairs of legs 2c, 2d and 2e of the folding chair 100 may include various cross members 5 (e.g., made of metal, wood, plastic or other such materials) that may provide lateral bracing to the frames and/or to the pairs of legs 2c, 2d and 2e and may also function as compression members to counteract the forces that supports 1a and 1b (e.g., when being made of fabric or leather slings) may enact on the frames 2a and 2b and/or on the pairs of legs 2c, 2d and 2e. In some embodiments, the cross members 5 may be integrated with the joint assemblies 4a, 4b (and/or the other rotatable connections mentioned above with respect to the pairs of legs) or alternatively they may be implemented as separate entities from the joint assembly 4a, 4b and/or other rotatable connections. In some embodiments, legs 2c, 2d, and 2e may include crossmembers 5.
In some embodiments, the pair of armrests 3 may be made of wood, metal, plastic, rubber or other such materials. As noted above with respect to FIG. 1, the armrests 3 may be attached to the joint assembly 4c at opposite sides with respective hinged connections 6. The armrests 3 may then be locked into position with respect to the first frame 2a or the second frame 2b via respective pairs of locking mechanisms 7a and 7b. The design of the armrests 3 may provide for a leaf-like shape (as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) that works for both the first “dining” mode and the second “lounging” mode as appropriately proportioned forearm supports when rotated via hinges 6 and then locked into the appropriate positions with respect to the first and second frames 2a and 2b, respectively, with each of the locking mechanisms 7a on opposite sides of frame 2a or with each of the locking mechanisms 7b on opposite sides of frame 2b. For example, in the first mode for dining, the armrests 3 may provide horizontal resting surfaces for the dining sitter's forearms that are level with the floor and are also positioned at a comfortable height. Likewise, the same armrests 3, when rotated and locked according to the configuration for the second mode, may also provide horizontal resting surfaces for the lounging sitter's forearms that are also level with the floor and positioned at a comfortable height. As noted above, the armrests 3 may also be rotated into a third (e.g., neutral) position according to the configuration for the third mode for storage.
In some embodiments, the folding chair 100 may be constructed according to a modular design with interchangeable elements/component parts. For example, the modular supports 1a and 1b may be removable, identical to each other and made of fabric, leather, plastic, rubber, wood, metal or some other such materials. The supports 1a and 1b may either act as ‘slings’ that span between the sides of the first and second frames 2a and 2b in the case of the fabric and leather material options or may be implemented as more rigid elements that may also attach to the sides of the first and second frames 2a and 2b.
FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of the folding chair 100, consistent with some embodiments described herein, illustrating the range of rotation of component parts.
As shown in FIG. 3, the folding chair 100 may include the following component parts. The first and second supports 1a and 1b may be arranged in the first and second frames 2a and 2b, respectively. The armrests 3 may be rotatably connected (e.g., via respective hinges 6) to opposite sides of the joint assembly 4c that rotatably connects the first frame 2a to the second frame 2b. Each of the frames 2a and 2b and each of the pairs of legs 2c, 2d and 2e may include cross members 5 as described above with respect to FIG. 2. Furthermore, each of the 6 legs may be rotatably attached to the first and second frames 2a and 2b as follows. The first pair of legs 2c may be rotatably attached to the second frame 2b, the second pair of legs 2d may be rotatably attached to the first frame 2a, and the third pair of legs 2e may be rotatably attached to the second frame 2b. As noted above, these rotatable connections may be implemented via additional joint assemblies similar to 4a-4c.
FIG. 4 shows another isometric view (with seat/backrests exploded) of the folding chair 100, consistent with some embodiments described herein, illustrating the range of rotation of component parts.
As shown in FIG. 4, the folding chair 100 may include the following component parts. The first and second supports 1a and 1b may be arranged in the first and second frames 2a and 2b, respectively. The armrests 3 may be rotatably connected (e.g., via respective hinges 6) to opposite sides of the joint assembly 4c that rotatably connects the first frame 2a to the second frame 2b. Each of the armrests 3 may be locked into position with respect to the first frame 2a via a pair of locking mechanisms 7a (e.g., each on an opposite side of frame 2a) or locked into position with respect to the second frame 2b via a pair of locking mechanisms 7b (e.g., each on an opposite side of frame 2b). Each of the frames 2a and 2b and each of the pairs of legs 2c, 2d and 2e may include cross members 5 as described above with respect to FIG. 2. Furthermore, each of the 6 legs may be rotatably attached to the first and second frames 2a and 2b (e.g., via joint assemblies 4c and/or other such rotatable connections) as follows. The first pair of legs 2c may be rotatably attached to the joint assembly 4c that connects the first frame 2a to the second frame 2b, the second pair of legs 2d may be rotatably attached to the first frame 2a, and the third pair of legs 2e may be rotatably attached to the second frame 2b.
FIG. 5 shows a side view of the folding chair 100, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in a first “dining” mode.
The folding chair 100 may be configured in a first mode for dining as follows. The first support 1a may be configured to provide a seat of a dining chair and the second support 1b may be configured to provide a backrest of the dining chair. A surface of the second support 1b may be configured to vertically incline with respect to a surface of the first support 1a and the second pair of legs 2d, being on an opposite side of the second support 1b, may be configured to be vertically inclined with respect to the surface of the first support 1a. The first pair of legs 2c may be configured to be at a first angle with respect to the surface of the first support 1a and to be at a second angle with respect to the surface of the second support 1b, wherein the second angle is larger than the first angle. Furthermore, the third pair of legs 2e may be configured to be folded into recess areas in the second frame 2b and the pair of armrests 3 may be configured (e.g., using hinges 6) to be in a dining position, wherein the pair of armrests 3 each includes a first member to provide an arm support for a sitting user of folding chair 100, and each armrest 3 also includes a second member being locked to a corresponding side of the first frame 2a (e.g., via locking mechanisms 7a not shown in FIG. 5).
FIG. 6 shows an isometric view of the folding chair 100, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in the first “dining” mode.
As shown in FIG. 6, the folding chair 100 may deploy the following component parts according to the dining configuration described above with respect to FIG. 5. The first and second supports 1a and 1b may be arranged in the first and second frames 2a and 2b, respectively. The armrests 3 may be rotatably connected (e.g., via respective hinges 6) to opposite sides of the joint assembly 4c (not shown in FIG. 6) that rotatably connects the first frame 2a to the second frame 2b. As noted above, each of the pairs of legs 2c, 2d and 2e may include cross members 5 to provide lateral support or to act as compression elements. For example, the cross members 5 are shown connecting the pair of legs 2d in FIG. 6. Furthermore, each of the 6 legs (e.g., pairs 2c, 2d and 2e) may be deployed with respect to the first and second frames 2a and 2b as follows. The first pair of legs 2c may be deployed in an extended position, the second pair of legs 2d may also be deployed in an extended position, and the third pair of legs 2e may be deployed in a folded position within a recess of the second frame 2b or deployed in a folded position adjacent to the second frame 2b.
FIG. 7 shows a section view of the folding chair 100, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in the first “dining” mode.
As shown in FIG. 7, the folding chair 100 may deploy the following component parts according to the dining configuration described above with respect to FIG. 5. The first and second supports 1a and 1b may be arranged in the first and second frames 2a and 2b, respectively. The armrests 3 may be rotatably connected (e.g., via respective hinges 6) to opposite sides of the joint assembly 4c that rotatably connects the first frame 2a to the second frame 2b. Each of the frames 2a and 2b and the pairs of legs 2c, 2d and 2e may include cross members 5 to provide lateral support or to act as compression elements. In some embodiments the cross members 5 may be integrated into the joint assemblies 4c or other rotatable connections of folding chair 100. Furthermore, each of the 6 legs (e.g., pairs 2c, 2d and 2e) may be deployed (e.g., via joint assemblies 4c or other rotatable connections) in the first dining mode with respect to the first and second frames 2a and 2b as described above with respect to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 shows a front view of the folding chair 100, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in the first “dining” mode.
As shown in FIG. 8, the folding chair 100 may deploy the following component parts according to the dining configuration described above with respect to FIG. 5. The first and second supports 1a and 1b may be arranged in the first and second frames 2a and 2b (both not shown in FIG. 8), respectively. The armrests 3 may be rotatably connected (e.g., via respective hinges 6 not shown in FIG. 8) to opposite sides of the joint assembly 4c (also not shown in FIG. 8) that rotatably connects the first frame 2a to the second frame 2b. As noted above, each of the pairs of legs 2c, 2d and 2e may include cross members 5 to provide lateral support or to act as compression elements. For example, the cross member 5 is shown connecting the pair of legs 2d in FIG. 8. As noted above, each of the 6 legs (e.g., pairs 2c, 2d and 2e) may be deployed in the first dining mode with respect to the first and second frames 2a and 2b. However, the first pair of legs 2c and the third pair of legs 2e are also not shown in FIG. 8. The second pair of legs 2d are shown deployed in the extended position as described above with respect to FIGS. 5 and 6.
FIG. 9 shows a back view of the folding chair 100, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in the first “dining” mode.
As shown in FIG. 9, the folding chair 100 may deploy the following component parts according to the dining configuration described above with respect to FIG. 5. The first and second supports 1a and 1b may be arranged in the first and second frames 2a and 2b, respectively. The armrests 3 may be rotatably connected (e.g., via respective hinges 6 not shown in FIG. 9) to opposite sides of the joint assembly 4c (also not shown in FIG. 9) that rotatably connects the first frame 2a to the second frame 2b. Each of the frames 2a and 2b and the pairs of legs 2c, 2d and 2e may include cross members 5 to provide lateral support or to act as compression elements. For example, 3 cross members 5 are shown at the frames 2a and 2b and 2 cross member 5 are shown connecting the pair of legs 2c and 2e respectively in FIG. 9. As noted above, the 6 legs may be deployed in the first dining mode with respect to the first and second frames 2a and 2b. However, the second pair of legs 2d are also not shown in FIG. 9. The first pair of legs 2c are shown deployed in an extended position and the third pair of legs 2e are shown deployed in a folded position within a recess of the second frame 2b, as described above with respect to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.
FIG. 10 shows a top view of the folding chair 100, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in the first “dining” mode.
As shown in FIG. 10, the folding chair 100 may deploy the following component parts according to the dining configuration described above with respect to FIG. 5. The first and second supports 1a and 1b may be arranged in the first and second frames 2a and 2b (both not shown in FIG. 10), respectively. The armrests 3 may be rotatably connected (e.g., via respective hinges 6 not shown in FIG. 10) to opposite sides of the joint assembly 4c (also not shown in FIG. 10) that rotatably connects the first frame 2a to the second frame 2b. As noted above, the 6 legs may be deployed in the first dining mode with respect to the first and second frames 2a and 2b. However, the first pair of legs 2c and the third pair of legs 2e are also not shown in FIG. 10. The second pair of legs 2d are shown deployed in the extended position as described above with respect to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.
FIG. 11 shows a side view of the folding chair 100, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in a second “lounging” mode.
The folding chair 100 may be configured in a second mode for lounging as follows. The first support 1a may provide a backrest of the lounging chair and the second support 1b may provide a seat of the lounging chair. The surface of the first support 1a may being configured to vertically incline with respect to the surface of the second support 1b. The third pair of legs 2e may be configured to be vertically inclined with respect to the surface of the second support 2b with the third pair of legs 2e being on an opposite side of the first support 1a. The first pair of legs 2c may be configured to be at a first angle with respect to the surface of the first support 1a and to be at a second angle with respect to the surface of the second support 1b, wherein the second angle is larger than the first angle. The second pair of legs 2d may be configured to be folded in recess areas in the first frame 2a. The pair of armrests 3 may be configured to be in a lounging position, wherein the second members of the pair of armrests 3 provide an arm support (e.g., for a sitting user of folding chair 100) and the first members of the pair of armrest 3 are locked to a corresponding side of the second frame 2b (e.g., via locking mechanisms 7b not shown in FIG. 11).
FIG. 12 shows an isometric view of the folding chair 100, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in the second “lounging” mode.
As shown in FIG. 12, the folding chair 100 may deploy the following component parts according to the lounging configuration described above with respect to FIG. 11. The first and second supports 1a and 1b may be arranged in the first and second frames 2a and 2b, respectively. The armrests 3 may be rotatably connected (e.g., via respective hinges 6) to opposite sides of the joint assembly 4c (not shown in FIG. 12) that rotatably connects the first frame 2a to the second frame 2b. As noted above, each of the pairs of legs 2c, 2d and 2e may include cross members 5 to provide lateral support or to act as compression elements. For example, the cross members 5 are shown connecting the pair of legs 2e in FIG. 12. Furthermore, each of the 6 legs (e.g., pairs 2c, 2d and 2e) may be deployed with respect to the first and second frames 2a and 2b as follows. The first pair of legs 2c may be deployed in an extended position, the third pair of legs 2e may also be deployed in an extended position, and the second pair of legs 2d may be deployed in a folded position within a recess of the second frame 2b.
FIG. 13 shows a section view of the folding chair 100, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in the second “lounging” mode.
As shown in FIG. 13, the folding chair 100 may deploy the following component parts according to the lounging configuration described above with respect to FIG. 11. The first and second supports 1a and 1b may be arranged in the first and second frames 2a and 2b, respectively. The armrests 3 may be rotatably connected (e.g., via respective hinges 6) to opposite sides of the joint assembly 4c that rotatably connects the first frame 2a to the second frame 2b. Each of the frames 2a and 2b and the pairs of legs 2c, 2d and 2e may include cross members 5 to provide lateral support or to act as compression elements. In some embodiments the cross members 5 may be integrated into the joint assemblies 4a, 4b or other rotatable connections of folding chair 100. Furthermore, each of the 6 legs may be deployed (e.g., via joint assemblies 4a-4c or other rotatable connections) in the second lounging mode with respect to the first and second frames 2a and 2b as described above with respect to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12.
FIG. 14 shows a front view of the folding chair 100, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in the second “lounging” mode.
As shown in FIG. 14, the folding chair 100 may deploy the following component parts according to the lounging configuration described above with respect to FIG. 11. The first and second supports 1a and 1b may be arranged in the first and second frames 2a and 2b (both not shown in FIG. 14), respectively. The armrests 3 may be rotatably connected (e.g., via respective hinges 6 not shown in FIG. 14) to opposite sides of the joint assembly 4c (also not shown in FIG. 14) that rotatably connects the first frame 2a to the second frame 2b. As noted above, each of the pairs of legs 2c, 2d and 2e may include cross members 5 to provide lateral support or to act as compression elements. For example, a cross member 5 is shown connecting the pair of legs 2e in FIG. 14. As noted above, each of the 6 legs (e.g., pairs 2c, 2d and 2e) may be deployed in the second lounging mode with respect to the first and second frames 2a and 2b. However, the first pair of legs 2c and the second pair of legs 2d are also not shown in FIG. 14. The third pair of legs 2e are shown deployed in the extended position as described above with respect to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12.
FIG. 15 shows a back view of the folding chair 100, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in the second “lounging” mode.
As shown in FIG. 15, the folding chair 100 may deploy the following component parts according to the lounging configuration described above with respect to FIG. 11. The first and second supports 1a and 1b may be arranged in the first and second frames 2a and 2b (not shown in FIG. 15), respectively. The armrests 3 may be rotatably connected (e.g., via respective hinges 6 not shown in FIG. 15) to opposite sides of the joint assembly 4c (also not shown in FIG. 15) that rotatably connects the first frame 2a to the second frame 2b. Each of the frames 2a and 2b and the pairs of legs 2c, 2d and 2e may include cross members 5 to provide lateral support or to act as compression elements. For example, 3 cross members 5 are shown at the frames 2a and 2b and 2 cross member 5 are shown connecting the pair of legs 2c and 2d respectively in FIG. 15. As noted above, the 6 legs may be deployed in the second lounging mode with respect to the first and second frames 2a and 2b. However, the third pair of legs 2e are also not shown in FIG. 15. The first pair of legs 2c are shown deployed in an extended position and the second pair of legs 2d are shown deployed in a folded position within a recess of the first frame 2a, as described above with respect to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12.
FIG. 16 shows a top view of the folding chair 100, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in the second “lounging” mode.
As shown in FIG. 16, the folding chair 100 may deploy the following component parts according to the lounging configuration described above with respect to FIG. 11. The first and second supports 1a and 1b may be arranged in the first and second frames 2a and 2b (both not shown in FIG. 16), respectively. The armrests 3 may be rotatably connected (e.g., via respective hinges 6 not shown in FIG. 16) to opposite sides of the joint assembly 4c (also not shown in FIG. 16) that rotatably connects the first frame 2a to the second frame 2b. As noted above, the 6 legs may be deployed in the second lounging mode with respect to the first and second frames 2a and 2b. However, the second pair of legs 2d are also not shown in FIG. 16. The first pair of legs 2c and the third pair of legs 2e are both shown deployed in the extended position as described above with respect to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12.
FIG. 17 shows a side view of the folding chair 100, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in a third “storage” mode.
The folding chair 100 may be configured in a third mode for storage as follows. The second pair of legs 2d may be configured to be folded into the recess areas in the first frame 2a, the third pair of legs 2e may be configured to be folded into the recess areas in the second frame 2b, and the first pair of legs 2c may be configured to be folded together with the first pair of legs 2c or together with the third pair of legs 2e. The first frame 2a and the second frame 2b may be configured to be folded face-to-face against each other. The armrests 3 may be configured to be rotated to a neutral position (e.g., not rotated to either direction with respect to the first and second frames 2a and 2b). The armrests 3 may be secured to any of the frames 2a and 2b or any of the legs (e.g., of pairs 2c, 2d or 2e) using a locking mechanism, for example a locking pin.
FIG. 18 shows an isometric view of the folding chair 100, consistent with some embodiments described herein, configured in the third “storage” mode.
As shown in FIG. 18, the folding chair 100 may deploy the following component parts according to the storage configuration described above with respect to FIG. 17. The first and second supports 1a and 1b may be arranged in the first and second frames 2a and 2b, respectively. The armrests 3 may be rotatably connected (e.g., via respective hinges 6) to opposite sides of the joint assembly 4c that rotatably connects the first frame 2a to the second frame 2b. Each of the frames 2a and 2b and the pairs of legs 2c, 2d and 2e may include cross members 5 to provide lateral support or to act as compression elements. In some embodiments the cross members 5 may be integrated into the joint assemblies 4a, 4b or other rotatable connections of folding chair 100. Furthermore, each of the 6 legs may be deployed (e.g., via joint assemblies 4a-4c or other rotatable connections) in the third storage mode with respect to the first and second frames 2a and 2b as described above with respect to FIG. 18.
FIGS. 19A-19C show isometric views of the folding chair 100, consistent with some embodiments described herein, respectively configured in the first “dining” mode without armrests, the second “lounging” mode without the armrests and the third “storage” mode without the armrests.
As shown in FIGS. 19A-19C, the modular design of the folding chair 100 allows for deployment of the folding chair 100 according to all three modes of operation (e.g., first mode for dining in FIG. 19A, second mode for lounging in FIG. 19B, and third mode for storage in FIG. 19C) without the armrests 3 being attached.
FIGS. 20A-20C show side views of the rotatable connections between elements of the folding chair 100, consistent with some embodiments described herein.
As shown in FIGS. 20A-20C, the elements 2a-2e of the folding chair 100 may be rotatably attached to each other for deployment of the folding chair 100 according to all three modes of operation as discussed above. FIG. 20A shows the first support 1a arranged in the first frame 2a and the second pair of legs 2d rotatably attached to the first frame 2a via a joint assembly 4a. As noted above both the first frame 2a and the second pair of legs 2d may include cross members 5. FIG. 20B shows the second support 1b arranged in the second frame 2b and the third pair of legs 2e rotatably attached to the second frame 2b via a joint assembly 4b. As noted above both the second frame 2b and the third pair of legs 2e may include cross members 5. FIG. 20C shows the first support 1a arranged in the first frame 2a and the second support 1b arranged in the second frame 2b. The first frame 2a and the second frame 2b are rotatably connected via a joint assembly 4c and the first pair of legs 2c are rotatably attached to the second frame 2b via a joint assembly 4c. As noted above the first frame 2a, the second frame 2b and the first pair of legs 2c may include cross members 5.
FIG. 21 shows a flow diagram of a method 2100 for configuring the folding chair 100, consistent with some embodiments described herein.
The method 2100 may start and at 2102 a first frame (e.g., first frame 2a) may be rotatably connected to a second frame (e.g., second frame 2b) with a joint assembly (e.g., joint assembly 4), wherein each frame includes a plurality of cross members (e.g., cross member 5).
At 2104, a first support (e.g., support 1a) may be arranged in the first frame 2a and a second support 1b may be arranged in the second frame 2b.
At 2106, a first pair of legs (e.g., legs 2c) may be rotatably attached to the second frame 2b (e.g., via a joint assembly 4c or other such rotatable connection).
At 2108, a second pair of legs (e.g., legs 2d) may be rotatably attached to the first frame 2a (e.g., via a joint assembly 4c or other such rotatable connection).
At 2110, a third pair of legs (e.g., legs 2e) may be rotatably attached to the second frame 2b.
At 2112, a pair of armrests (e.g., armrests 3) may be rotatably attached to the joint assembly 4. The method 2100 may then end with folding chair 100 ready to be deployed in any of the modes of operation (e.g., dining, lounging or storage) as described above.
FIG. 22 shows a flow diagram of a method 2200 for configuring the folding chair 100 in the first “dining” mode, consistent with some embodiments described herein.
The method 2200 may start configuring folding chair 100 as a dining chair and at 2202 the first support 1a may be configured to provide a seat of the dining chair and the second support 1b may be configured to provide a backrest of the dining chair.
At 2204, a surface of the second support 1b may be configured to vertically incline with respect to a surface of the first support 1a.
At 2206, the second pair of legs 2d, being on an opposite side of the second support 1b, may be configured to be vertically inclined with respect to the surface of the first support 1a;
At 2208, the first pair of legs 2c may be configured to be at a first angle with respect to the surface of the first support 1a and to be at a second angle with respect to the surface of the second support 1b, wherein the second angle is larger than the first angle.
At 2210, the third pair of legs 2e may be configured to be folded in recess areas in the second frame 2b.
At 2212, the pair of armrests 3 may be configured to be in a dining position, wherein the pair of armrests 3 each includes a first member to provide an arm support (e.g., for a sitting user of folding chair 100), and each includes a second member being locked to a corresponding side of the first frame 1a (e.g., via locking mechanisms 7a). The method 2200 may then end with folding chair 100 deployed in the first mode for dining as described above.
FIG. 23 shows a flow diagram of a method for configuring the folding chair 100 in the second “lounging” mode, consistent with some embodiments described herein.
The method 2300 may start configuring folding chair 100 as a lounging chair and at 2302 the first support 1a may be configured to provide a backrest of the lounging chair and the second support 1b may be configured to provide a seat of the lounging chair.
At 2304, the surface of the first support 1a may be configured to vertically incline with respect to the surface of the second support 1b.
At 2306, the third pair of legs 2e may be configured to be vertically inclined with respect to the surface of the second support 1b, the third pair of legs 2e being on an opposite side of the first support 1a.
At 2308, the first pair of legs 2c may be configured to be at a first angle with respect to the surface of the first support 1a and to be at a second angle with respect to the surface of the second support 1b, wherein the second angle is larger than the first angle.
At 2310, the second pair of legs 2d may be configured to be folded in recess areas in the first frame 2a.
At 2312, the pair of armrests 3 may be configured to be in a lounging position, wherein the second members of the pair of armrests 3 provide an arm support (e.g., for a sitting user of folding chair 100), and the first members of the pair of armrests are locked to a corresponding side of the second frame 1b (e.g., via locking mechanisms 7b). The method 2300 may then end with folding chair 100 deployed in the second mode for lounging as described above.
FIG. 24 shows a flow diagram of a method 2400 for configuring the folding chair 100 in the third “storage” mode, consistent with some embodiments described herein
The method 2400 may start configuring folding chair 100 for storage and then at 2402 the second pair of legs 2d may be configured to be folded into the recess areas in the first frame 2a, the third pair of legs 2e may be configured to be folded into the recess areas in the second frame 2b, and the first pair of legs 2c may be configured to be folded together with the third pair of legs 2e.
At 2404, the first frame 2a and the second frame 2b may be configured to be folded face-to-face against each other.
At 2406 the armrests 3 may be configured to be rotated to a neutral position. The method 2400 may then end with folding chair 100 deployed in the third mode for storage as described above.
Language:
In the foregoing descriptions, numerous details are set forth. It will be apparent, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art, that the present disclosure may be practiced without all of these specific details.
The words “example” or “exemplary” are used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as “example’ or “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. As used in this disclosure, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or”. That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, “X includes A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X includes A; X includes B; or X includes both A and B, then “X includes A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form. Moreover, use of the term “an embodiment” or “one embodiment” or “an implementation” or “one implementation” throughout is not intended to mean the same embodiment or implementation unless described as such.
It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments/implementations will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading and understanding the above description. The scope of the disclosure should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to said claims.
Patent Grant
12274371
