Folding chairs are a very popular seating option. Such chairs may be used everywhere from spectator sports on the sidelines to camping in woods. Although they are affordable to a large part of the population, the affordability often means that the best materials are not always used in the construction of the chairs. In some instances, folding chairs can be slung over the user's shoulder and carried by the user. Also in some instances, folding chairs may have certain pressure points on the seating surface, which can be uncomfortable to the user. Additionally, certain folding chairs may require the weight of the user to keep the folding chairs in the opened position. For instance, once the user gets out of the chair and tries to move it, the chair may awkwardly fold up. In addition, certain chairs may have a particular fabric that fades in color or appearance over time.
This Summary provides an introduction to some general concepts relating to this disclosure in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the invention.
Aspects of the disclosure pertain to folding chairs and locking mechanisms for folding chairs.
In some examples, the folding chairs may include a seat pan formed by a pair of seat bars.
The seat pan may be tensioned by a pair of vertical legs. In some examples, the folding chair may also include a backrest that is formed by a pair of diagonally extending backrest bars. In other examples the folding chair may include a front frame formed by a pair of cross bars, and a rear frame formed by rear cross bars. In still other examples, the folding chair may include a pair of armrests. In other examples, the seat pan and the backrest are formed of a suspension fabric. In some examples, the suspension fabric may be constructed of a first yarn, a second yarn, and a thermoplastic polyurethane film. In other examples the first yarn may be a polymer and the second yarn may be more elastomeric than the first yarn, and the thermoplastic polyurethane film can be heat pressed to the first yarn and second yarn.
In some arrangements, the folding chairs may include vertical legs that are provided with a lower leg or lower tube and an upper leg or upper tube, and the inner leg or inner tube is configured to telescope out of the outer leg or outer tube. In yet other examples, at least one of the vertical legs is provided with a latch for locking the outer leg to the inner leg. In still other examples, the latch included a rocker and a projection configured to rotate the projection out of a slot formed in the inner leg. In other examples, the backrest may include a tensioner for maintaining the backrest in an unfolded position. In some examples, the tensioner may include a pair of linkages and an insert configured to hold the pair of linkages in a tensioned position. In other examples, the backrest may include a tensioner configured to maintain the backrest in an unfolded position or a tensioned position, and the tensioner may further include a rear tensioner handle and a pair of tensioner arms.
In still other arrangements, the folding chair includes a latch that also includes a first biasing member configured to maintain the projection in the slot of the inner leg. In other examples, folding chair includes a tensioner with a pair of pivots for linkages and a pair of pins for receiving notches located in the linkages when the linkages are in the tensioned position. In another example, the tensioner also includes a release mechanism, and the release mechanism further includes a pair of angled slots for receiving the pair of pins. The angled slots may be angled such that when the user presses the release mechanism, the pins move away from the receiving notches allowing the linkages to rotate and the backrest to become un-tensioned.
In some examples, the folding chair includes a seat that includes a flange that is configured to both receive a second biasing element and to engage the insert, and the basing element, through the flange, places the insert in a release position. In other examples, receiving notches are located at proximal ends of the linkages. In other examples, angled slots are positioned at approximately 45 degrees from a plane defined by a lower portion of the tensioner. In yet other examples, the angled slots are symmetrically placed on the release mechanism. In other examples, the insert includes a pair of insert slots, and the insert slots may be configured to receive the pins, and located inward on the insert, and the pivots may be located outward of the insert slots. In some examples, the insert may include slots for receiving pins on the pair of linkages and a notch may be configured to receive a boss on at least one of the pair of linkages, and the user may slide a release mechanism to release the tensioner.
In other examples, the rear tensioner may include at least one internal stop and a plurality of pivot points. In still other examples, the rear tensioner may also include a safety gap between a bottom of the rear tensioner handle and the rear tensioner arms. In another example, the tensioner further comprises a safety gap between a surface within the tensioner and one of the rear tensioner arms. In other examples, the rear tensioner arms each include a cam guided in slots defined in a tensioner housing. And during release of the tensioner, the slots can limit the movement of the tensioner arms to maintain the safety gap. In still other examples, the tensioner defines a housing having a pair of pivots for receiving the tensioner arms in which the pair of pivots are located internally within the housing such that the pivots are not exposed to the user. In some examples, the tensioner is configured to engage in the tensioned position when a user applies an increasing downward force to the rear tensioner handle until the tensioner exceeds an over-center point and contacts the stop. In other examples, the tensioner is configured to disengage the tensioned position when a user applies an increasing upward force to the rear tensioner handle until the tensioner exceeds an over-center point and the tensioner is disengaged from the tensioned position into a folded position. In yet other examples, when the tensioner is in the tensioned position, the pair of tensioner arms form a bottom angle greater than 180 degrees and a top angle less than 180 degrees. In certain examples, the tensioner is retained in the tensioned position solely by the suspension fabric. In some examples, the backrest includes a tensioner configured to maintain the backrest in the unfolded position or a tensioned position.
In some examples, the folding chair may include a backrest formed of a suspension fabric, and the suspension fabric may include an overlap containing a core in the overlap. In other examples, the overlap includes a hollow section and the core is placed into the hollow section. The core in the overlap hollow section may be secured in a notch asymmetrically located in the top of the pair of diagonally extending backrest bars. In other examples, the suspension fabric may be constructed of a first yarn, a second yarn, and a thermoplastic polyurethane film. In some examples, the first yarn may be a polymer and the second yarn may be more elastomeric than the first yarn. In still other examples, the thermoplastic polyurethane film may be heat pressed to the first yarn and second yarn. In certain examples, the tensioner comprises a pair of arcuate slots and a pair of arms each having a projection or rivet in which the arcuate slots limit the movement of the pair of arms such that the pair of arms and a surface within the housing define a safety gap on the tensioner. In some examples, the tensioner may also include a pair of stops in which the suspension fabric solely biases the pair of arms against the pair of stops.
These and various other features will be described more fully herein.
The foregoing Summary, as well as the following Detailed Description, will be better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements in all of the various views in which that reference number appears.
FIG. 12A1 shows a rear view of another example chair with a backrest locking mechanism;
FIGS. 12A2-12D show various views of the locking mechanism of FIG. 12A1;
and
Further, it is to be understood that the drawings may represent the scale of different components of one single embodiment; however, the disclosed embodiments are not limited to that particular scale.
In the following description of the various examples and components of this disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration various example structures and environments in which aspects of the disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other structures and environments may be utilized and that structural and functional modifications may be made from the specifically described structures and methods without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
The seat pan 102 can be formed by a pair of seat bars 150, which are connected together by an upper fabric 155. In one example, the lower fabric 155a can be provided with slots for receiving a core and the core can be placed into channels formed in the seat bars 150. The backrest can be formed by a pair of diagonally and/or parallel extending backrest bars 152. The upper fabric 155 can be provided with slots for receiving a core, and the core can be placed into asymmetrical channels formed in the backrest bars 152. The backrest bars 152 can extend to lower portions of the vertical legs 106 and front cross-bars 142, 144 the front of the chair 100. In certain examples, the fabric of the chair can be formed of an elastomeric suspension fabric is that is made to be UV resistant, which makes the chair less likely to fade over time.
In certain examples, the seat pan 102 suspension material and/or the backrest 104 suspension material may be elastomeric. In other examples, the seat pan 102 suspension material and/or the backrest 104 suspension material may be constructed of a weaved material with yarn having elastomeric properties. The elastomeric properties include the ability to stretch and deform under stress (i.e., increased elasticity), such as tension or weight. The elastomeric properties allow the suspension material to return to its original form and the ability to resist creep and/or permanent deformation when the stress from the load is removed. In one example, as shown in
In still other examples, as shown in
The chair 100, as shown in
The chair 100 is configured to be folded for easy transport and storage. Cross-sectional views of an example vertical leg 106 is shown in
In one example, the inner leg 106a and the outer leg 106b can be formed of aluminum or any other suitable strong lightweight material. The latch 110 can be formed of stainless steel for strength and corrosion resistance or other suitable material with similar characteristics such as a plastic, glass filler nylon, carbon fiber, or other rigid composites or laminates. Likewise, the rocker 158 can, in certain instances, be made out of glass filler nylon, plastic, carbon fiber, or other rigid composites or laminates for strength.
In one example, the backrest 104 can be tensioned by an over-center latch 118 that is made out of four separate components: a center handle 120, two links 119, and an insert 121. The over-center latch 118 can be seen on the chair in FIG. 12A1. A perspective view of the over-center latch 118 is shown in FIG. 12A1, a cross-sectional view is shown in
To engage the over-center latch the user simply presses downwardly on the handle 120 such that the links 119 force the rear X frame 146 outward so that the fabric 155 is tensioned in the backrest 104. To release the over-center latch 118, the user simply pulls upwardly on the handle 120 such that the tension by the links 119 on the fabric 155 is released.
The user presses down on the handle 134 to engage the latch 132. This causes the links 130a, 130b to rotate until they are aligned in a straight line, and the notch 143 is locked into place in the cam 170 located on the link 130b. To disengage the latch 132, the user slides the handle 134 to the left. The handle 134 is attached directly to the latch 132. As the handle 134 and insert 137 are moved to the left both slide on the link 130a, and the handle 134 and insert 137 disengage from the cam or boss that is attached to the link 130b. This allows the link 130b to rotate relative to the link 130a and allows the chair to fold.
The links 230a, 230b are configured to hold the backrest of the chair in the unfolded position or sitting position. The links 230a, 230b are configured to rotate on the backrest frame. As shown in
Also shown in
Referring again to
The operation of the latch 232 will now be described in relation to
Securing the suspension fabric 380 to the frame 384 via the asymmetrical notch 386 may help to hide the connection between the suspension frame fabric and the frame to provide a cleaner look to the chair. Also, securing the suspension fabric 380 to the outer portion of the frame 384 via the positioning of the asymmetrical notch 386 creates a mechanical advantage due in part to the additional surface area that the suspension fabric 380 contacts of the frame 384. The resulting mechanical advantage provides additional strength to better secure the suspension fabric 380 to frame or extrusion 384. Also, the use of an asymmetrical notch may extend the life of the chair by reducing the amount of stress on the fabric. In particular, the asymmetrical notch helps to move the connection of the fabric to the frame away from direct loading. However, other methods for securing the fabric to the frame are also contemplated, such as overmolding the fabric to the frame as discussed in Ser. No. 15/602,841 filed on May 23, 2017, which is fully incorporated herein by reference.
With both of a tensioning mechanism for the seat and a tensioning mechanism for the backrest, the chair holds it form and does not fold up during the use of the chair, until desired by the user.
In one example, to engage the rear tensioner 400, the user simply presses downwardly on the rear tensioner handle 406 such that the pivot points 408, pins 410, and rear tensioner arms 430a and 430b force the rear X frame 146 outward so that the fabric 155 is tensioned in the backrest 104. The user increases the downward force until the rear tensioner 400 goes over-center and hits at least one internal stop 414. The stops 414 are internal to the rear tensioner 400 so that the user is not at risk of injuring a finger or other body part during engagement or disengagement of the rear tensioner. To disengage the rear tensioner 400, the user does the reverse of engagement process and pulls up on the handle 406. Initially the required force is high until the rear tensioner arms 430a and 430b pop over-center and the rear tensioner 400 is disengaged and the chair is in a folded configuration.
In other examples, as shown in
In some examples, the cup holder support 184 may be sewn to a cup holder 180 or may be secured by adhesive, welding, or other technique well-known to those in the art. In still other examples, the cup holder support 184 may be integrally formed with the cup holder 180. In some examples, the cup holder clip 182 may be on the left or right side of the chair on the vertical leg(s) 106. In still other examples, the folding chair may include a plurality of cup holder clips 182 on each side of the vertical legs 106. In yet other examples, the cup holder 180 may be constructed of a canvas or nylon material. In still other examples, the cup holder 180 may be constructed of a hard molded plastic.
The present disclosure is disclosed above and in the accompanying drawings with reference to a variety of examples. The purpose served by the disclosure, however, is to provide examples of the various features and concepts related to the disclosure, not to limit the scope of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the examples described above without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
This application claims the benefit U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/617,160, filed on Jan. 12, 2018, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/638,879, filed on Mar. 5, 2018; each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
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