Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6241311
-
Patent Number
6,241,311
-
Date Filed
Thursday, July 29, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, June 5, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Chan; Raymond Y.
- David and Raymond Patent Group
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 297 161
- 297 42
- 297 45
- 297 56
- 297 4631
- 297 4632
- 297 45218
- 297 4522
- 297 4521
- 024 7137
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A support ring for holding a fabric seat on an inclined frame tube of a portable chair frame allows the support ring to rest horizontally on the inclined frame tube so as to enable the fabric seat also resting horizontally on the chair frame. The support ring has a supporting hole contributed by two semi-circular portions and an intermediate portion extended between the two semi-circular portions. Each of the semi-circular portions has a diameter equal to or slightly larger than a diameter of the inclined frame tube. The intermediate portion also has a width equal to the diameter of the semi-circular portion. When the inclined frame tube fittingly passes through the supporting hole and is supported inclinedly with the horizontal, the support ring can be horizontally mounted on the inclined frame tube while a lower half of the frame tube resting on an upper edge of one of the semi-circular portion of the supporting hole and an upper half of the frame tube supporting by a lower edge of the another semi-circular portion of the supporting hole. Therefore, the fabric seat can be mounted horizontally on the chair frame and the downwardly force applied on the fabric seat can be evenly distributed and supported around the support ring.
Description
FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention relates to fabric made portable seat products, and more particularly, to a support ring for holding a fabric seat on an inclined chair frame tube.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Portable chair generally consists of a collapsible chair frame constructed by metal tubes, and a chair seat made of durable fabric.
FIG. 1
illustrates a type of portable chair which includes a chair frame A
1
which is constructed by a set of interlocking tubes A
11
to pvoide a back frame section A
2
and a seat frame section A
3
for supporting a fabric seat B
1
. The interlocking tubes A
11
of the seat frame A
1
are often arranged in inclined manner so that the chair frame A
1
can be easily opened to proivde a rigid cross-support for use and be folded up for storage.
The conventional method of attaching the fabric seat B
1
to the chair frame A
1
is to affix an upper end B
2
of the fabric seat B
1
to a top end of the back frame section A
2
and to have two tube placement holes B
11
provided at two front corners of the fabric seat B
1
for mounting a front end B
3
of the fabric seat B
1
on two the seat frame. Each of the placement holes The conventional fabric seat is attached to the seat frame by slipping the tube placement holes over the inclined frame tubes of the seat frame portion of the chair. The seat can then be hooked over the top of the back frame to secure the back of the fabric seat to the frame. This means that at least two tube placement holes on the front portion of the fabric seat for attaching the fabric seat to the front portion of a seat frame are needed for the conventional fabric seat in order to attach the fabric seat to a seat frame.
All typical frame tubes A
11
, including the two front frame tubes A
11
a,
are cylindrical hollow tube and the tube placement holes B
11
of the conventional fabric seat B
1
are cut in circular shape and to the size of the frame tube A
11
as if the fabric seat B
1
were resting perpendicular to the frame tube A
11
. This allows the tube placement hole B
11
of the fabric seat B
1
to slide onto the inclined frame tube A
11
easily and snugly. This conventional design, however, has inherent problems when the chair is used. Since the two front frame tube A
11
a
are supported inclinedly and pivotally in cross manner but not in vertical manner, an individual sitting down on the fabric seat B
1
causes stress to the lining of the tube placement hole B
11
of the fabric seat B
1
. This causes the tube placement hole B
11
to be stretched and misshapen, or worse, torn open, as a pulling pressure is applied to the lining of the tube placement holes B
11
as an individual sits on the fabric seat B
1
.
Conventionally, in order to reinforce the structural integrity of the tube placement hole B
11
, a circular support ring made of a rigid material, such as metal or hard plastic, can be mounted on the placed within the tube placement hole.
However, since the support ring lining of the tube placement hole B
11
is also cylindrical and just wider then the width of frame tube, it merely shifts the point of stress on the fabric seat B
1
. The circular support ring merely sits perpendicularly to an axis of the frame tube B
11
. In this situation, if an individual sits down, an angle is created on the fabric seat B
1
from the downward pulling force on the fabric seat B
1
at the point where the edge of the support ring ends. A person's weight causes the fabric seat B
1
to be pulled away from the edge of the support ring. Therefore, the fabric seat B
1
at the edge of the support ring is pulled from a stress created at the edge of the support ring. At the same time, the ring itself causes an opposite downward pulling force on the fabric seat B
1
at the same stress point. As a result, two things occur. First, the fabric seat B
1
will be distorted at the edge of the support ring, creating a pointed ridge at the edge of the support ring. Second, a stress point is created at edge of the support ring where the angle is created.
In other words, the stress on the fabric seat B
1
has simply been transferred from the lining of the tube placement hole B
11
to a point just off the tube placement hole B
11
. The stress created will then cause a tear, not at the tube placement hole B
11
, but along the edge of the support ring. Although additional lining layers B
12
may be added to the corners of the fabric seat B
1
around the tube placement hole B
11
to delay the tearing effect, ultimately the stress will cause the fabric seat B
1
to tear. Also, the fabric will be permanently misshapen at the stress point over a period of continued use.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
A main object of the present invention is to provide a support ring for the lining of a tube placement hole of a fabric seat for attaching the fabric seat to tube of a chair frame by sliding the support ring over an respective inclined frame tube of the chair frame in a manner as to allow the support ring to rest horizontally on the inclined frame tube so as to enable the fabric seat also resting horizontally on the chair frame.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a support ring for a fabric seat that can evenly distribute the stress around the support ring so as to minimize the deterioration of the tube placement hole of the fabric seat as the portable chair is used.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a support ring for a fabric seat for attaching the fabric seat to a chair frame that limits damage to the area around the tube placement hole of the fabric seat as the portable chair is used.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a support ring that reduces the horizontal strain on the tube placement hole from being pulled against the inclined frame tube by transferring some of the force to vertical pressure by the support ring against the inclined frame tube.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a support ring for a fabric seat, which slides onto the respective inclined frame tube in such a manner as to allow an individual to sit on the fabric seat without distorting the shape of the fabric seat.
Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a support ring provided on a corner portion of a fabric seat for holding the fabric seat on an inclined frame tube of a chair frame, wherein the inclined frame tube is a round tube arranged to be inclined with respect to the horizontally supported fabric seat. The support ring has a supporting hole contributed by two semi-circular portions and an intermediate portion extended between the two semi-circular portions. Each of the semi-circular portions has a diameter equal to or slightly larger than a diameter of the inclined frame tube. The intermediate portion also has a width equal to the diameter of the semi-circular portion. When the inclined frame tube fittingly passes through the supporting hole and is supported inclinedly with the horizontal, the support ring can be horizontally mounted on the inclined frame tube while a lower half of the frame tube resting on an upper edge of one of the semi-circular portion of the supporting hole and an upper half of the frame tube supporting by a lower edge of the another semi-circular portion of the supporting hole. Therefore, the fabric seat can be mounted horizontally on the chair frame and the downwardly force applied on the fabric seat can be evenly distributed and supported around the support ring.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view illustrating a conventional collapsible chair.
FIG. 2
is a perspective view illustrating part of a collapsible chair comprising a pair of support rings for holding a fabric seat on an inclined chair frame tube according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3
is an exploded perspective view of the support ring adapted to be mounted on a fabric seat according to the above-preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4
is a sectional side view of the support ring for holding a fabric seat on an inclined chair frame tube according to the above-preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5
is a schematic top view of the support ring having the inclined frame tube passing through according to the above-preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to
FIGS. 2 and 3
with reference to
FIG. 1
, a collapsible portable chair comprises a fabric seat
10
having two tube placement holes
111
formed at two corners thereof for two inclined frame tubes
70
to penetrate therethrough respectively for supporting the fabric seat
10
in position.
A pair of reinforcing patches
33
made of strong but flexible textile, such as leather, is integrally stitched to two corners of a top surface of the fabric seat
10
around the tube placement hole
111
for reinforcing the structural integrity of the tube placement hole
111
.
Referring to
FIGS. 2
to
5
, the present invention provides a support ring
30
for reinforcing the tube placement hole
111
and adding stiffness and durability to the tube placement hole
111
. As shown in
FIG. 3
, the support ring
30
comprises an oval upper ring member
31
and an oval lower ring member
32
. The upper ring member
31
and the lower ring member
32
of the support ring
30
each has a set of identical first and second curved end pieces
311
,
311
′,
321
,
321
′ and two identical side pieces
312
,
322
connecting the first and second end pieces.
As shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
, the upper ring member
31
comprises a holding ring plate
3111
, a ring shaped shank
3112
integrally extended from an inner ring edge of the holding ring plate
3111
downwardly, and a bottom engaging rim
3113
integrally extended from the shank
3112
and adapted to bend outwardly to engage with the lower ring member
32
so as to form the support ring
30
and mount the support ring
30
around the tube placement hole
111
of the fabric seat
11
. The size and shape of the shank
3112
is preferable equal to or slightly smaller than the tube placement hole
111
of the fabric seat
10
.
The lower ring member
32
comprises an oval ring-shaped base plate
3211
having a central ring hole
3200
(as shown in
FIG. 3
) and an engagement ridge
3212
downwardly projected around the ring hole
3200
of base plate
3211
. The ring hole
3200
has a size and shape preferably equal to that of the tube placement hole
111
.
To mount the support ring
30
around the tube placement hole
111
of the fabric seat
10
, as shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
, the lower ring member
32
is first to place underneath the tube placement hole
111
so as to align the tube placement hole
111
with the ring hole
3200
coaxially. Second, insert the shank
3112
downwardly through the tube placement hole
111
until the holding ring plate
3111
pressing on the area around the tube placement hole
111
of the reinforcing patch
33
and the engaging rim
3113
downwardly extending out of the lower ring member
32
. Finally, outwardly and radially bend the engaging rim
3113
to fold over the engagement ridge
3212
of the lower ring member
32
, as shown in
FIG. 4
, so as to firmly connect the upper ring member
31
with the lower ring member
32
together to form the support ring
30
and to secure the support ring
30
on the fabric seat
10
by mounting around the respective tube placement hole
111
on the fabric seat
10
, wherein a round edge around the tube placement hole
111
of the fabric seat is securely clamped between the upper ring member
31
and the lower ring member
32
by compressing the upper ring member
31
and the lower ring member
32
towards each other.
As shown in
FIGS. 2
to
5
, the support ring
30
mounted on a corner portion the fabric seat
10
according to the present invention is adapted for holding the fabric seat
10
on the inclined frame tube
70
of a chair frame, wherein the inclined frame tube
70
is a round tube arranged to be inclined with respect to the horizontally supported fabric seat
10
as shown in
FIGS. 2 and 4
. The support ring
30
has a supporting hole
300
contributed by two semi-circular portions
301
,
302
and an intermediate portion
303
extended between the two semi-circular portions
301
,
302
(as shown in FIG.
5
).
Each of the semi-circular portions
301
,
302
has a diameter equal to or slightly larger than a diameter of the inclined frame tube
70
. As shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5
, the intermediate portion
303
also has a width equal to the diameter of the semi-circular portion
301
,
302
. When the inclined frame tube
70
fittingly passes through the supporting hole and is supported inclinedly with respect to the horizontal, the support ring
30
is horizontally held on the inclined frame tube
70
while a lower half of the frame tube
71
resting on an upper edge
304
of one of the semi-circular portion
301
of the supporting hole
300
and an upper half
72
of the frame tube
70
supporting by a lower edge
305
of the another semi-circular portion
302
of the supporting hole
300
. So that the support ring
30
can be horizontally rested on a seat joint
80
which is riveted on the inclined frame tube
70
, as shown in
FIGS. 2
to
4
. Therefore, the fabric seat
10
can be mounted horizontally on the chair frame and the downwardly force applied on the fabric seat
10
can be evenly distributed and supported around the support ring
30
.
Accordingly, raised points near each support ring
30
and stress points along the edges of each support ring
30
are eliminated. The shape and size of the support ring
30
is the same shape and size as a cross-section of the inclined frame tube
70
, as shown in
FIG. 5
, so that the inclined frame tube
70
may only rotate between a vertical position and an inclined position as shown in FIG.
4
.
In view of above, the support ring
30
of the present invention can substantially achieve the following features:
1. The support ring
30
is adapted for the lining of the tube placement hole
111
of the fabric seat
10
for attaching the fabric seat
10
to the chair frame by sliding the support ring
30
over the respective inclined frame tube
70
of the chair frame in a manner as to allow the support ring
30
to rest horizontally on the inclined frame tube
70
so as to enable the fabric seat
10
also resting horizontally on the chair frame.
2. It can evenly distribute the stress around the support ring
30
so as to minimize the deterioration of the tube placement hole
111
of the fabric seat
10
as the portable chair is used.
3. It can limit damage to the area around the tube placement hole
111
of the fabric seat
10
as the portable chair is used.
4. It can reduce the horizontal strain on the tube placement hole
111
from being pulled against the inclined frame tube
70
by transferring some of the force to vertical pressure by the support ring
30
against the inclined frame tube
70
.
Claims
- 1. A support ring mounted on a corner portion of a fabric seat for holding said fabric seat on an inclined frame tube of a chair frame, said support ring having a supporting hole contributed by two semi-circular portions and an intermediate portion extended between said two semi-circular portions, said intermediate portion having a width at least equal to a diameter of each of said semi-circular portions, thereby said supporting ring is adapted for said inclined frame tube passing therethrough for supporting said fabric seat inclinedly with respect to horizontal, and said support ring is arranged for horizontally holding on said inclined frame tube while a lower half of said frame tube resting on an upper edge of one of said semi-circular portion of said supporting hole and an upper half of said frame tube supporting below a lower edge of another said semi-circular portion of said supporting hole, so as to hold said fabric seat horizontally on said chair frame.
- 2. The support ring as recited in claim 1 wherein said support ring is mounted on a tube placement hole formed at one of a front corner of said fabric seat.
- 3. The support ring as recited in claim 2 wherein said support ring comprises an oval upper ring member and an oval lower ring member, wherein said upper ring member comprises a holding ring plate, a ring shaped shank integrally extended from an inner ring edge of said holding ring plate downwardly, and a bottom engaging rim integrally extended from said shank and adapted to bend outwardly to engage with said lower ring member so as to form said support ring and mount said support ring around said tube placement hole of said fabric seat.
- 4. The support ring as recited in claim 3 wherein said lower ring member comprises an oval ring-shaped base plate having a central ring hole and an engagement ridge downwardly projected around said ring hole of said base plate, wherein said engaging rim, which is downwardly extended out of said lower ring member, is outwardly and radially bent to fold over said engagement ridge of said lower ring member so as to firmly connect said upper ring member with said lower ring member together to form said support ring and to secure said support ring on said fabric seat by mounting around said respective tube placement hole on said fabric seat, wherein a round edge around said tube placement hole of said fabric seat is securely clamped between said upper ring member and said lower ring member by compressing said upper ring member and said lower ring member towards each other.
- 5. The support ring as recited in claim 2 wherein a reinforcing patch is stitched on said front corner of said fabric seat around said tube placement hole for reinforcing a structural integrity of said tube placement hole.
- 6. The support ring as recited in claim 5 wherein said support ring comprises an oval upper ring member and an oval lower ring member, wherein said upper ring member comprises a holding ring plate, a ring shaped shank integrally extended from an inner ring edge of said holding ring plate downwardly, and a bottom engaging rim integrally extended from said shank and adapted to bend outwardly to engage with said lower ring member so as to form said support ring and mount said support ring around said tube placement hole of said fabric seat.
- 7. The support ring as recited in claim 6 wherein said lower ring member comprises an oval ring-shaped base plate having a central ring hole and an engagement ridge downwardly projected around said ring hole of said base plate, wherein said engaging rim, which is downwardly extended out of said lower ring member, is outwardly and radially bent to fold over said engagement ridge of said lower ring member so as to firmly connect said upper ring member with said lower ring member together to form said support ring and to secure said support ring on said fabric seat by mounting around said respective tube placement hole on said fabric seat, wherein a round edge around said tube placement hole of said fabric seat is securely clamped between said upper ring member and said lower ring member by compressing said upper ring member and said lower ring member towards each other.
- 8. The support ring as recited in claim 1 wherein said support ring comprises an oval upper ring member and an oval lower ring member, wherein said upper ring member comprises a holding ring plate, a ring shaped shank integrally extended from an inner ring edge of said holding ring plate downwardly, and a bottom engaging rim integrally extended from said shank and bent outwardly to engage with said lower ring member so as to form said support ring and mount said support ring on said corner portion of said fabric seat.
- 9. The support ring as recited in claim 8 wherein said lower ring member comprises an oval ring-shaped base plate having a central ring hole and an engagement ridge downwardly projected around said ring hole of said base plate, wherein said engaging rim, which is downwardly extended out of said lower ring member, is outwardly and radially bent to fold over said engagement ridge of said lower ring member so as to firmly connect said upper ring member with said lower ring member together to form said support ring and to secure said support ring on said fabric seat by mounting around a tube placement hole provided on said corner portion of said fabric seat, wherein a round edge around said tube placement hole of said fabric seat is securely clamped between said upper ring member and said lower ring member by compressing said upper ring member and said lower ring member towards each other.
- 10. A support ring mounted on a corner portion of a fabric seat wherein an inclined frame tube is arranged to be inclined with respect to said fabric seat for holding said fabric seat on said inclined frame tube, said support ring having a supporting hole contributed by two semi-circular portions and an intermediate portion extended between said two semi-circular portions, each of said semi-circular portions having a diameter at least equal to a diameter of said inclined frame tube, said intermediate portion also having a width at least equal to said diameter of said semi-circular portion, wherein when said inclined frame tube fittingly passes through said supporting hole and is supported inclinedly with respect to horizontal, said support ring is horizontally held on said inclined frame tube while a lower half of said frame tube resting on an upper edge of one of said semi-circular portion of said supporting hole and an upper half of said frame tube supporting below a lower edge of another said semi-circular portion of said supporting hole.
- 11. The support ring as recited in claim 10 wherein said support ring is mounted on a tube placement hole formed at one of a front corner of said fabric seat.
- 12. The support ring as recited in claim 11 wherein a reinforcing patch is stitched on said front corner of said fabric seat around said tube placement hole for reinforcing a structural integrity of said tube placement hole.
- 13. The support ring as recited in claim 12 wherein said support ring comprises an oval upper ring member and an oval lower ring member, wherein said upper ring member comprises a holding ring plate, a ring shaped shank integrally extended from an inner ring edge of said holding ring plate downwardly, and a bottom engaging rim integrally extended from said shank and adapted to bend outwardly to engage with said lower ring member so as to form said support ring and mount said support ring around said tube placement hole of said fabric seat.
- 14. The support ring as recited in claim 13 wherein said lower ring member comprises an oval ring-shaped base plate having a central ring hole and an engagement ridge downwardly projected around said ring hole of said base plate, wherein said engaging rim, which is downwardly extended out of said lower ring member, is outwardly and radially bent to fold over said engagement ridge of said lower ring member so as to firmly connect said upper ring member with said lower ring member together to form said support ring and to secure said support ring on said fabric seat by mounting around said respective tube placement hole on said fabric seat, wherein a round edge around said tube placement hole of said fabric seat is securely clamped between said upper ring member and said lower ring member by compressing said upper ring member and said lower ring member towards each other.
- 15. The support ring as recited in claim 10 wherein said support ring comprises an oval upper ring member and an oval lower ring member, wherein said upper ring member comprises a holding ring plate, a ring shaped shank integrally extended from an inner ring edge of said holding ring plate downwardly, and a bottom engaging rim integrally extended from said shank and bent outwardly to engage with said lower ring member so as to form said support ring and mount said support ring on said corner portion of said fabric seat.
- 16. The support ring as recited in claim 15 wherein said lower ring member comprises an oval ring-shaped base plate having a central ring hole and an engagement ridge downwardly projected around said ring hole of said base plate, wherein said engaging rim, which is downwardly extended out of said lower ring member, is outwardly and radially bent to fold over said engagement ridge of said lower ring member so as to firmly connect said upper ring member with said lower ring member together to form said support ring and to secure said support ring on said fabric seat by mounting around a tube placement hole provided on said corner portion of said fabric seat, wherein a round edge around said tube placement hole of said fabric seat is securely clamped between said upper ring member and said lower ring member by compressing said upper ring member and said lower ring member towards each other.
- 17. The support ring as recited in claim 11 wherein said support ring comprises an oval upper ring member and an oval lower ring member, wherein said upper ring member comprises a holding ring plate, a ring shaped shank integrally extended from an inner ring edge of said holding ring plate downwardly, and a bottom engaging rim integrally extended from said shank and adapted to bend outwardly to engage with said lower ring member so as to form said support ring and mount said support ring around said tube placement hole of said fabric seat.
- 18. The support ring as recited in claim 17 wherein said lower ring member comprises an oval ring-shaped base plate having a central ring hole and an engagement ridge downwardly projected around said ring hole of said base plate, wherein said engaging rim, which is downwardly extended out of said lower ring member, is outwardly and radially bent to fold over said engagement ridge of said lower ring member so as to firmly connect said upper ring member with said lower ring member together to form said support ring and to secure said support ring on said fabric seat by mounting around said respective tube placement hole on said fabric seat, wherein a round edge around said tube placement hole of said fabric seat is secured clamped between said upper ring member and said lower ring member by compressing said upper ring member and said lower ring member towards each other.
US Referenced Citations (5)