Patent Application
20180271290
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
This invention pertains to collapsible chairs.
Collapsible chairs are commonly used in both outdoor settings and indoor settings. Collapsible chairs of the type that collapse in both width and depth have become more common than previous folding chairs that merely fold flat in one dimension. This is primarily due to the fact that such chairs are often more portable and easier to store. Collapsible chairs may also include roll tubes to form a rocking chair. One drawback to common collapsible rocking chairs that collapse in both width and depth is that some support members must be decoupled from the roll tubes in order to collapse the chair, and it is difficult to recouple the support members to the roll tubes when expanding the chair.
In an aspect of the invention, a collapsible rocking chair is adapted and configured to adjust between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration. The chair includes a pair of front cross members, a pair of rear cross members, a pair of rear seat support members, a pair of roll tubes, a left side member, a right side member, a left front seat support member, a right front seat support member, a right guiding member, and a left guiding member.
The pair of front cross members includes first and second front cross members. The first and second front cross members are pivotally coupled to each other in a crossed manner, and the first and second front cross members each have a first end and a second end opposite the first end.
The pair of rear cross members include a first and a second rear cross member. The first and second rear cross members are pivotally coupled to each other in a crossed manner, and the first and second rear cross members each have a first end and second end opposite the first end.
The pair of rear seat support members includes a left and a right rear seat support member. Each of the left and right rear seat support members has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The left rear seat support member is pivotally and slideably coupled to the first end of the first rear cross member. The right rear seat support member is pivotally and slideably coupled to the first end of the second rear cross member.
The pair of roll tubes includes a left and a right roll tube. The left and right roll tubes each have a first end and second end opposite the first end. The left and right roll tubes are configured to provide for a rocking motion.
The left side member has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end is pivotally and slideably coupled to the left rear seat support member, and the second end is pivotally coupled to the first end of the left roll tube. The left side member has a bend at an obtuse angle. The right side member has a first end and second end opposite the first end. The first end is pivotally and slideably coupled to the right rear seat support member, and the second end is pivotally coupled to the first end of the right roll tube. The right side member is bent at an obtuse angle.
The left front seat support member has a first end and second end opposite the first end. The first end of the left front seat support member is pivotally coupled to the first end of the first front cross member, and the second end of the left front seat support member is engageable with the second end of the left roll tube. The left front seat support member is also pivotally coupled to the second end of the left rear seat support member between the first and second ends of the left front seat support member. The right front seat support member has a first end and second end opposite the first end. The first end of the right front seat support member is pivotally coupled to the first end of the second front cross member, and the second end of the right front seat support member is engageable with the second end of the right roll tube. The right front seat support member is further pivotally coupled to the second end of the right rear seat support member between the first and second ends of the right front seat support member.
The right and left guiding members each have a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end of the left guiding member is pivotally coupled to the second end of the left front seat support member, and the second end of the left guiding member is pivotally coupled to the left roll tube between the first and second ends of the left roll tube. The first end of the right guiding member is pivotally coupled to the second end of the right front seat support member. The second end of the right guiding member is pivotally coupled to the right roll tube between the first and second ends of the right roll tube.
Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Reference numerals in the written specification and in the drawing figures indicate corresponding items.
A preferred embodiment of a collapsible rocking chair 10 in accordance with the invention is shown in its entirety in
The pair of rear seat support members 16 and the left and right front seat support members 24, 26 support a seat 32. For example, and without limitation, the seat 32 includes a plurality of pockets and/or loops that receive the ends of the pair of rear seat support members 16 and the left and right front seat support members 24, 26. The seat 32 is adapted and configured such that the seat 32 does not limit the collapsing of the collapsible chair 10 due to its foldable characteristics. For example, and without limitation, the seat 32 is constructed of a fabric that allows the seat 32 to be supported when the collapsible chair 10 is in an expanded configuration and also does not impede the motion of the members of the collapsible rocking chair 10 from the expanded configuration to the collapsed configuration.
As shown at least in
The pair of rear cross members 14 includes a first rear cross member 40 and a second rear cross member 42. The first rear cross member 40 and the second rear cross member 42 are pivotally coupled to each other in a crossed manner via a fastener 38b. The first rear cross member 40 has a first end 40a and a second end 40b opposite the first end 40a. The second rear cross member 42 similarly has a first end 42a and a second end 42b opposite the first end 42a.
The pair of rear seat support members 16 include a left rear seat support member 44 and a right rear seat support member 46. The left rear seat support member 44 has a first end 44a and a second end 44b opposite the first end 44a. The right rear seat support member 46 having a first end 46a and a second end 46b opposite the first end 46a. The left rear seat support member 44 is pivotally and slideably coupled to the first end 40a of the first rear cross member 40. The right rear seat support member 46 is pivotally and slideably coupled to the first end 42a of the second rear cross member 42. In some embodiments, the first end 40a of the first rear cross member 40 is slideably and pivotally coupled to the left rear seat support member 44 via a sliding bracket 48a and a fastener 38c. The first rear cross member 40 is thus allowed to rotate relative to the left rear seat support member 44 in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to a plane in which the left rear seat support member 44 is positioned. The sliding bracket 48a further allows the first end 40a of the first rear cross member 40 to slide along the left rear seat support member 44.
The first end 42a of the second rear cross member 42 is slideably and pivotally coupled to the right rear seat support member 46. In some embodiments, the first end 42a of the second rear cross member 42 is slideably and pivotally coupled to the right rear seat support member 46 via a sliding bracket 48b and a fastener 38d. The second rear cross member 42 is thus allowed to rotate relative to the right rear seat support member 46 in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to a plane in which the right rear seat support member 46 is positioned. The sliding bracket 48b further allows the first end 42a of the second rear cross member 42 to slide along the right rear seat support member 46.
In some embodiments, the rear seat support members 16 are coupled to the outer sides of the left front seat support member 24 and the right front seat support member 26, and the rear seat support members 16 each include two bends such that the first ends 44a, 46a are positioned above the front seat support members 24, 26 and are in the same plane as the respective front seat support member 24, 26.
The pair of roll tubes 18 included in the collapsible chair 10 are curved in order to allow a user to rock the collapsible chair 10 along the curve formed by the pair of roll tubes 18. In some embodiments, a stop 50 is positioned on one or more ends of the pair of roll tubes 18. The stops 50 are adapted and configured to limit the degree to which the collapsible chair 10 may be rocked by a user. At a certain degree of rock, the stop 50 engages with the ground and prevents further rocking in that direction.
The pair of roll tubes 18 include a left roll tube 52 and a right roll tube 54. The left roll tube 52 includes a first end 52a and a second end 52b opposite the first end 52a. The right roll tube 54 includes a first end 54a and a second end 54b opposite the first end 52a. The first and second roll tubes 52, 54 are coupled to the other members of the collapsible chair 10 as described herein to allow the collapsible chair 10 to both function as a rocking chair in the expanded configuration and fold into a collapsed configuration having a smaller footprint.
The left side member 20 of the collapsible chair 10 has a first end 20a and a second end 20b opposite the first end 20a. The first end 20a is pivotally and slideably coupled to the left rear seat support member 44. In some embodiments, the first end 20a is coupled to the sliding bracket 48a via a fastener 38e. The second end 20b of the left side member 20 is pivotally coupled to the first end 52a of the left roll tube 52. Preferably, the second end 20b is pivotally coupled to the left role tube 52 via a fastener 38f and/or a corresponding bracket. In some embodiments, the left side member 20 has a bend at an obtuse angle. This bend may facilitate the folding of the collapsible chair 10 into the collapsed configuration.
The right side member 22 of the collapsible chair 10 has a first end 22a and a second end 22b opposite the first end 22a. The first end 22a is pivotally and slideably coupled to the right rear seat support member 46. In some embodiments, the first end 22a is coupled to the sliding bracket 48b via a fastener 38g. The second end 22b is pivotally coupled to the first end 54a of the right roll tube 54. Preferably, the second end 22b is pivotally coupled to the right roll tube 54 via a fastener 38h and/or a corresponding bracket. In some embodiments, the right side member 22 has a bend at an obtuse angle. This bend may facilitate the folding of the collapsible chair 10 into the collapsed configuration.
The left front seat support member 24 of the collapsible chair 10 has a first end 24a and a second end 24b opposite the first end 24a. The first end 24a of the left front seat support member 24 is pivotally coupled to the first end 34a of the first front cross member 34. Preferably, the first cross member 34 is pivotally coupled to the left front seat support 24 via a fastener 38i and a bracket such that the first cross member 34 may pivot in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane in which the left front seat support member 24 is positioned. The second end 24b of the left front seat support member 24 is engageable with the second end 52b of the left roll tube 52. The second end 24b of the left front seat support member 24 can engage with the second end 52b such that the left front seat support member 24 is partially supported and/or disengageably coupled to the left roll tube 52. Any releasable connector may be used to engage the left front seat support member 24 with the left roll tube 52.
Preferably, the collapsible chair 10 includes a first releasable fastener 56a coupled to one or more of the second end 24b of the right front seat support member 24 and the second end 52b of the left roll tube 52. The first releasable fastener 56a is adapted and configured to releasably secure the second end 24b of the left front seat support member 24 to the second end 52b of the left roll tube 52 when engaged. In some embodiments, the first releasable fastener 56a includes a male connector 58 and a female connector 60. The male 58 and female 60 connectors are adapted and configured to cooperate to form a releasable connection. For example, and without limitation, the male connector 58 is generally spherical or a partial sphere. The male connector may be a sphere with a sphere cap removed and the remaining partial sphere coupled to the second end 24b of the left front seat support member 24. The female connector 60 is a socket sized to releasably and secureably receive the sphere portion of the male connector 58. In alternative embodiments, other types of releasable connectors or engaging systems may be used. For example, and without limitation, a pin and receiving hole may be used.
The left front seat support member 24 is further coupled to the left rear seat support member 44. Preferably, the left front seat support member 24 is pivotally coupled to the second end 44b of the left rear seat support member 44 between the first end 24a and the second end 24b of the left front seat support member 24. The left front seat support member 24 is pivotally coupled to the second end 44b of the left rear seat support member 44 via a fastener 38j. In some embodiments, the left front seat support member 24 includes a bend and is angled at an obtuse angle. This bend positions the seat 32 for use when the collapsible chair 10 is in the expanded configuration. The left front seat support member 24 is pivotally coupled to the second end 44b of the left rear seat support member 44 preferably between the bend and the second end 24b of the left front seat support member 24.
The collapsible chair 10 further includes a right front seat support member 26 similar to the left front seat support member 24. The right front seat support member 26 includes a first end 26a and second end 26b opposite the first end 26a. The first end 26a of the right front seat support 26 member is pivotally coupled to the first end 36a of the second front cross member 36 via a fastener 38k. The second end 26b of the right front seat support member 26 is engageable with the second end 54b of the right roll tube 54 in the same or a similar manner as described above with respect to the left front seat support member 24. The right front seat support member 26 is pivotally coupled to the second end 46b of the right rear seat support member 46 between the first end 26a and the second end 26b of the right front seat support member 26. The right front seat support member 26 is pivotally coupled to the second end 46b of the right rear seat support member 46 via a fastener 38l. As described above with respect to the left front seat support member 24, the right front seat support member 26 may include a bend to create an obtuse angle. The right front seat support member 26 is pivotally coupled to the second end 46b between the bend and the second end 26b of the right front seat support member 26.
In the preferred embodiment, the right front seat support member 26 engages with the right roll tube 54 using a second releasable fastener 56b coupled to one or more of the second end 26b of the right front seat support member 26 and the second end 54b of the right roll tube 54. The second releasable fastener 56b is adapted and configured to releasably secure the second end 26b of the right front seat support member 26 to the second end 54b of the right roll tube 54 when engaged. Preferably, the right front seat support member engages with the right roll tube via the releasable fastener described above (e.g., a partial sphere male connector 58 coupled to the second end 56b of the right front seat support member 26 and a female socket connector 60 coupled to the second end 54b of the right role tube 54 that are adapted and configured to be releasably coupled). In alternative embodiments, other releasable fasteners are used.
In some embodiments, the collapsible chair 10 further includes a left linking member 62 and a right linking member 64. The left and right linking members 62a, 62b further couple the front seat support members 24, 26 to the left and right side members 20, 22 respectively. The left linking member 62 has a first end 62a and a second end 62b opposite the first end 62a. Similarly, the right linking member 64 has a first end 64a and a second end 64b opposite the first end 64a. The first end 62a of the left linking member 62 is pivotally coupled to the left front seat support member 24 between the first end 24a and the second end 24b of the left front seat support member 24. Preferably, the first end 62a of the left linking member 62 is pivotally coupled to the left front seat support member 24 between the first end 24a of the left front seat support member 24 and a bend in the left front seat support member 24 via a fastener 38. The second end 62b of the left linking member 62 is pivotally coupled to the left side member 20. Preferably, the left linking member 62 is pivotally coupled to the left side member 20 via a fastener 38 and/or a bracket.
The first end 64a of the right linking member 64 is pivotally coupled to the right front seat support member 26 between the first end 26a and the second end 26b of the right front seat support member 26. Preferably, the first end 64a of the right linking member 64 is pivotally coupled to the right front seat support member 26 between the first end 26a of the right front seat support member 26 and a bend in the right front seat support member 26 via a fastener 38. The second end 64b of the right linking member 64 is pivotally coupled to the right side member 22. Preferably, the right linking member 64 is pivotally coupled to the right side member 22 via a fastener 38 and/or a bracket.
In some embodiments, the collapsible chair 10 further includes a left support bracket 66a and a right support bracket 66b. The left support bracket 66a is coupled to the left side member 20 and is adapted and configured to releasably receive the left front seat support member 24 when the collapsible chair 10 is in the expanded configuration. For example, and without limitation, the support brackets 66a, 66b extend outward and vertically and include a channel which can receive front seat support members 24, 26. The right support bracket 66b is coupled to the right side member 22 and is adapted and configured to releasably receive the right front seat support member 26 when the collapsible chair 10 is in the expanded configuration. In some embodiments, the left linking member 62 is pivotally coupled to the left support bracket 66a and the right linking member 64 is pivotally coupled to the right support bracket 66b.
Advantageously, the linking members 62, 64 provide increased strength and rigidity to the collapsible chair 10 and further provide for alignment between the front seat support members 24, 26 and corresponding support brackets 66a, 66b. Therefore, a user expanding the collapsible chair 10 does not have to manually align the front seat support member 24, 26 with the corresponding support brackets 66a, 66b. The linking members 62, 64 further aid in the alignment of the front seat support members 24, 26 with the roll tubes 52, 54. Therefore, a user expanding the collapsible chair 10 does not have to manually align the releasable fasteners 56a, 56b. In alternative embodiments, the collapsible chair 10 may not include linking members 62, 64.
The collapsible chair 10 includes the left guiding member 28 and the right guiding member 30 for aligning the front seat support members 24, 26 and the roll tubes 52, 54. Advantageously, a user expanding the collapsible chair 10 does not have to manually align the releasable fasteners 56a, 56b as alignment is provided, at least in part, by the guiding members 28, 30. The left guiding member 28 has a first end 28a and a second end 28b opposite the first end 28a. Similarly, the right guiding member 30 has a first end 30a and a second end 30b opposite the first end 30a. The first end 28a of the left guiding member 28 is pivotally coupled to the second end 24b of the left front seat support member 24 via a fastener 38m. The second end 28b of the left guiding member 28 is pivotally coupled to the left roll tube 52 between the first end 52a and second end 52b of the left roll tube 52 via a fastener 38n. The first end 30a of the right guiding member 30 is pivotally coupled to the second end 26b of the of the right front seat support member 26 via a fastener 38p. The second end 30b of the right guiding member 30 is pivotally coupled to the right roll tube 54 between the first end 54a and the second end 54b of the right roll tube 54 via a fastener 38q.
In some embodiments, the guiding members 28, 30 have one or more curved portions and/or one or more bends. These features prevent the guiding members 28, 30 from impeding the rocking motion provide by roll tubes 52, 54. The guiding member 28, 30 follow the countors of the roll tubes 52, 54 or are above the roll tubes 52, 54. Preferably, the guiding members 28, 30 include two parallel portions one either side of the corresponding roll tube 52, 54. In alternative embodiments, the guiding members 28, 30 may be only a single member or portion located on one side of the corresponding role tube 52, 54.
The right guiding member 30 is adapted and configured to align the right roll tube 54 and the front right seat support member 26 in a first plane as the collapsible chair 10 is adjusted into the expanded configuration. As described above, this facilitates alignment and engagement of the right releasable fastener 56b. The left guiding member 28 is adapted and configured to align the left roll tube 52 and the front left seat support member 24 in a second plane as the collapsible chair 10 is adjusted into the expanded configuration. As described above, this facilitates alignment and engagement of the left releasable fastener 56a.
Referring now to
The user continues folding the collapsible chair 10 such that the second ends 24b, 26b of the front seat support members 24, 26 are moved forward toward the first ends 52a, 54a of the role tubes 52, 54. The angle between the guiding members 28, 30 and the second ends 52b, 54b of the role tubes 52, 54 continues to increase. Throughout the motion, the sliding brackets 48a, 48b are allowed to slide along the rear seat support members 44, 46.
To complete the folding of the collapsible chair 10 into the collapsed configuration, the angle between the side members 20, 22 and the role tubes is decreased and the front seat support members 24, 26 rotate. The front seat support members 24, 26 rotate such that the first ends 24a, 26a move from a position forward of the roll tubes 52, 54 to a position nearer the second ends 52b, 54b of the roll tubes 52, 54. The angle between the guiding members 28, 30 and the second ends 52b, 54b of the role tubes 52, 54 further to increases. The angle between the linking members 62, 64 and the corresponding front seat support member 24, 26 also increases. Furthermore, the angle between the plane in which the pair of front cross members 12 are positioned and the roll tubes 52, 54 is reduced. The pair of front cross members 12 are positioned, generally, over the roll tubes 52, 54.
Furthermore, the collapsible chair 10 is folded to reduce its width. The pair of front cross members 12 and the pair of rear cross members 14 are folded such that the roll tubes 52, 54 are brought closer together widthwise, the left front seat support member 24 and the right front seat support member 26 are brought closer together widthwise, and the left rear seat support member 44 and the right rear seat support member 46 are brought closer together widthwise. The first front cross member 34 and the second front cross member 36 pivot about the fastener 38a such that the first end 34a of the first front cross member and the first end 36a of the second front cross member 36 are moved closer to one another widthwise. Similarly, the first rear cross member 40 and the second rear cross member 42 pivot about the fastener 38b such that the first end 40a of the first rear cross member and the first end 42a of the second rear cross member 42 are moved closer to one another widthwise.
In some embodiments, the collapsible chair includes one or more securing brackets 68. The securing brackets 68 include a channel or other feature for receiving and releasably securing one member to another member to which the securing bracket 68 is permanently attached in normal operation of the collapsible chair. Preferably, the collapsible chair 10 includes a left securing bracket 68a and a right securing bracket 68b. The left securing bracket 68a is coupled to the left roll tube 52 and releasably secures the left rear seat support member 44 when the collapsible chair 10 is in the collapsed configuration. The right securing bracket 68b is coupled to the right roll tube 54 and releasably secures the right rear seat support member 46 when the collapsible chair 10 is in the collapsed configuration. Advantageously, the securing brackets 68a, 68b increase the amount of force needed to begin transitioning the collapsible chair 10 from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration. This may reduce inadvertent expansion or partial expansion of the collapsible chair 10 from the collapsed configuration and/or maintain the collapsible chair 10 in the space saving collapsed configuration unless otherwise desired by the user.
As a result of the motion(s), the collapsible chair 10 is reduced in both width and height from the expanded configuration. To transition the collapsible chair 10 from the collapsed configuration into the expanded configuration the above described motions are reversed. In transitioning the collapsible chair 10 into the expanded configuration, the guiding members 28, 30 and/or the linking members 62, 64 facilitate alignment of the members of the collapsible chair 10 as described herein. Thus, the user does not need to manually align the releasable fasteners 56a, 56b which when engaged secure the collapsible chair 10 in the expanded configuration.
In view of the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the invention has several advantages over the prior art.
As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents. It should also be understood that when introducing elements of the present invention in the claims or in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, the terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be open-ended and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, the term “portion” should be construed as meaning some or all of the item or element that it qualifies. Moreover, use of identifiers such as first, second, and third should not be construed in a manner imposing any relative position or time sequence between limitations.
