TWO-WAY FOLDABLE CHAIR

Abstract

Folding chair adapted for folding from a set-up position to a selected one of two fold positions including a first position wherein the chair is folded to a substantially flat condition and a second folded position wherein the chair forms a bundle. Another form of said drive link mechanism includes a drive link having an active position wherein said drive link moves said articulated frame to its bundled condition in response to any folding movement of the frame and an inactive position wherein said drive link merely idles without exerting influence on the folding movements of the articulated frame.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to chairs, and more particularly relates to improvements in chairs that are foldable and unfoldable between a set-up condition for use and a substantially collapsed condition for transportation and/or storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Beach and lawn chairs adapted to be folded for transportation and/or storage typically have a frame fabricated from elongated structural members, preferably metal. The frames of such chairs have transversely spaced apart left hand and right hand frame side assemblies that are substantially parallel to each other. In a set-up position, each side frame assembly has a front leg member extending in a generally vertically upward direction and a rear leg member pivotally connected at its upper end directly or indirectly to an upper end of the front leg member and which is rearwardly and downwardly inclined from the upper end of the front leg member. Such frames also include an upwardly extending chair back support member which is or may be pivotally connected at its lower end to the rear leg member intermediate the ends of the rear leg member by an over-the-center linkage that positions the back support member so that it is supported at its lower end on the rear leg member and inclined upwardly and rearwardly therefrom when the chair is unfolded from its closed or flatly folded storage position to its open or set-up position for use.

Such conventional beach and lawn chairs of the prior art having the left hand and right hand frame side assemblies such as hereinbefore generally described also commonly have transversely extending rigid connecting members providing fixed connection between the front leg members, the rear leg members, and often the back support members as well. Additional rigidly fixed transverse connecting members may also extend between the structural members that support the seat of such a chair. The aforesaid rigid or noncollapsible transversely extending connecting members are generally horizontally disposed when such a conventional prior art chair is in its set-up position. Thus, it should be immediately apparent that conventional folding chairs of a prior art type as hereinbefore described are foldable to only one storage and/or transport position, namely a flatly folded position.

Such prior art chairs provide the convenience of easy fold-up, and are lightweight so as to permit easy transportability. Common uses for such chairs are at the beach or at a picnic where easy set-up and break-down, as well as the ability to carry the chair along with other things, is desirable. However, even though such chairs are foldable for easy transport, they typically still cover a wide area and thus occupy a considerable space when folded, which makes packing or storing the chairs difficult, especially when they must be crammed into small a space, such as the trunk of a car, with a number of other objects such as a cooler, blankets and bags. That is, most prior art beach and lawn chairs are foldable only in one direction—typically front to back. For example, the back support and the seat support of the chair are folded towards each other so the frame, when folded, lies flat and has an essentially rectangular shape. When packing the folded chair into a car, the folded chair must be laid flat, thereby occupying a wide footprint.

Other chair designs have been developed that can be folded to a collapsed state occupying less storage space. For example, some chair designs can be folded in multiple directions, reducing the front/back and side-to-side dimensions between an unfolded set-up position and a folded storage position. However, these chair designs are typically not suitable for certain outdoor uses, such as at the beach or at a picnic, where a reclinable back rest may be desired.

In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a chair when in a set-up condition that can be collapsed in multiple directions in order to reduce the space occupied by the chair in a folded and completely collapsed condition. Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a chair design that overcomes problems and drawbacks associated with folding chairs, and therefore significantly improves the versatility of such a chair while permitting easy transportation and/or storage in a completely collapsed condition.

Moreover, there is a need for a reclinable and collapsible chair that can be easily folded by a user with minimal effort. Hereafter, reclinable chairs have not been able to be folded to a completely collapsed, bundled condition without much difficulty. Even where a reclinable chair can be so bundled, the final bundle does not fold to a sufficiently compressed size. In this regard, a desirable folding chair design reduces the number of folding steps. Preferably, therefore, there is a need for a chair that can be easily folded and collapsed in multiple directions, essentially front to back and left to right, in a single folding action if desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a chair especially suitable for use as a beach chair, a lawn chair, and the like, where the chair, in a set-up condition, has a reclining back support adjustable to a number of positions, and where the chair can be folded from the set-up condition to a completely collapsed condition. More particularly, in the completely collapsed condition, the chair is folded and collapsed in multiple directions, so that the front/back and left/right dimensions of the chair are reduced between the set-up condition and the completely collapsed condition.

Unlike the prior art hereinbefore described, chairs of the present invention do not include or rely on rigid or non-collapsible connecting members which are fixedly connected to and extend between opposite side frame members to prevent movement of the side members either toward or away from each other.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a foldable chair includes left and right frame side members, forward and rear leg members, and a seat support and a back support, directly or indirectly interconnected by a combination of pivotal, slidable and telescopically movable connections that enable maintenance of the chair frame in an open or set-up condition wherein the left and right frame side members, the forward and rear leg members, and the seat support and back support are maintained in an open position corresponding to the set-up condition of the chair. The combination of pivotal, slidable and telescopically movable structural members enable the chair frame to be folded or collapsed in multiple directions, including at least the transverse, side-to-side direction and the front-to-back direction, by moving the chair frame members toward each other and a centrally disposed vertical axis from the open condition.

These and other features of the present invention are described with reference to the drawings of preferred embodiments of a chair. The illustrated embodiments of features of the present invention are intended to illustrate, but not limit the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a two-way foldable chair embodying the invention and shown in set-up condition ready for use.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the chair of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the chair.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the chair.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the chair frame shown in set-up position and with the flexible seat and back material removed therefrom to reveal the entire frame structure.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a somewhat enlarged perspective view of a seat support link.

FIG. 8 is a somewhat enlarged perspective view of an over-the-center seat support link.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are somewhat further enlarged views of the right support link assembly as it appears in FIG. 5.

FIG. 11 is another perspective view of the link assembly of FIG. 10 shown a partially folded position of the chair.

FIG. 12 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the left hand front foot assembly as it appears in FIG. 5.

FIG. 13 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the left hand front leg pivot assembly as it appears in FIG. 5.

FIG. 14 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the left hand back support coupling assembly.

FIG. 15 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the left hand universal pivot and rear leg slide assembly.

FIG. 16 is a somewhat enlarged perspective view of a clevis which forms a part of each rear universal pivotal coupling assembly.

FIG. 17 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary view of a rear latch bar assembly shown in closed position.

FIG. 18 is a somewhat further enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 18-18 of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary view of a rear latch bar assembly shown in partially open position.

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of the chair frame and showing the frame vertically compressed from its set-up position shown in FIG. 4 and with the back support members generally overlying the seat support members.

FIG. 21 is a right side elevational view of the vertically compressed chair frame as it appears in claim 20.

FIG. 22 is a front elevational view of the flatly folded chair frame of claim 20.

FIG. 23 is a bottom plan view of the flatly folded chair frame of claim 20.

FIG. 24 is a front perspective view of the chair frame shown partially folded to a transversely compressed condition.

FIG. 25 is a side elevational view of the chair as shown in FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a front elevational view of the chair of FIG. 24.

FIG. 27 is a front elevational view of the chair in its fully folded second position.

FIG. 28 is a rear elevational view of the fully folded chair of FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is a right side elevational view of the fully folded chair.

FIG. 30 is a top plan view of the fully folded chair in its second position.

FIG. 31 is a front elevational view of another chair embodying the present invention.

FIGS. 32 and 33 illustrate a chair with a drive link mechanism having a fixed length between the pivot connections.

FIGS. 34 through 38 show a drive link of variable length.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the drawings and in the description which follows the present invention is illustrated and described with reference to a two-way foldable reclining chair embodying the invention and indicated generally at 10. The illustrated chair 10 essentially comprises a lawn or garden-type outdoor chair having an articulated foldable frame, indicated generally by the reference numeral 12, and flexible seat and back material mounted on the frame and defining a chair seat 14 and a chair back 16. In FIGS. 1 through 4, the chair 10 is shown in set-up position wherein it is adapted to rest on a generally horizontally oriented supporting surface for accommodating a seated or reclined chair occupant (not shown). In accordance with the invention, when the chair 10 is not in use it to may be moved into a selected one of two folded positions for transportation and/or storage, as will be hereinafter further discussed.

Considering now the chair frame 12 in further detail, as shown in FIG. 5 in set-up position, the frame generally comprises a plurality of axial elongated structural members preferably fabricated from durable light weight tubular metal. The members can be aluminum tubing of circular or non-circular cross-section, such as extruded oval or elliptical tubing.

The frame 12 has a pair of side assemblies of substantially identical construction, but of opposite hand, indicated generally at 18L and 18R, and disposed in laterally spaced apart and generally parallel relation to each other when and the chair 10 is in set-up position. Referring to a typical side assembly such as the side assembly 18R, for example, best shown in FIG. 4, each side assembly has a plurality of rigid generally rectilinear axially elongated side members which include a front leg member 20, a rear leg member 22, a seat support member 24, a back support member 26, and an arm rest 28.

The aforesaid side members are disposed within longitudinally extending generally parallel vertical planes and connected each to another for pivotal movement relative to each other about transversely extending parallel pivotal axes normal to the longitudinal axes of the members. More specifically, the front leg member 20 has a slight upward and rearward incline to the vertical when the chair 10 is in set-up position. The front leg member 20 is pivotally connected at its upper end to the upper end of the rear leg member 22 by a hinge fitting 30, which maintains the front and rear leg members within a common horizontally extending vertically disposed axial plane P1 (FIG. 4) for pivotal movement relative to each other. The frontal portion of the rear leg member 22 has a slight downward and rearward incline to the horizontal and forms a junction 31 with the remainder or rear portion of the rear leg member which has a somewhat greater downward and rearward incline than the frontal portion of the rear leg member.

The lower end of the back support member 26 is pivotally connected in upwardly offset relation to the rear end portion of the seat support member 24 by a U-shaped upwardly open offset pivot fitting 32 mounted in fixed position on and at the rear end of the seat support member and a pivot pin 34 carried by the pivot fitting 32. The pivot pin 34 also pivotally connects the seat support member 24 and the back support member 26 to an upper end of an over-the-center link 36 mounted in side-by-side relation to the pivot fitting 32. The lower end of the link 36 straddles the rear portion of the rear leg member 22 near the junction 31 and is pivotally connected to the rear leg member 22 by another axially transverse pivot pin 38. Thus, the pivotally connected seat support and back support members 24 and 26 are connected and supported as an assembled unit on the rear leg member to pivot as a unit and on and relative to that leg member. It should also be noted that the seat support and back support members 24 and 26 are supported to pivot relative to each other within a common plane P2 parallel to and inboard of the of the plane P1 (FIG. 3). Further considering the frame 12, the side assemblies 18L and 18R are transversely connected to each other for simultaneous articulated movement the enable relatively rapid movement of the chair 10 between set-up and folded positions, as hereinafter further discussed.

Connection between the two side assemblies is provided by a plurality of axially elongated tubular connecting elements, which include a pair of front connecting elements 40 and 42 and a pair of rear connecting elements 44 and 46. The connecting elements are centrally pivotally connected to each other for pivotal movement relative to each other and attached to each one of the side assemblies by pivot and slide connections as hereinafter further described.

Referring further to FIG. 4, the axially elongated front connecting elements 40 and 42 are each attached to both the right and left front legs 20, 20, which comprise part of the side assemblies 18L and 18R. The upper end of each of the connecting elements 40 and 42 is pivotally connected to an associated front leg member 20 by a pivot fitting 48 mounted in fixed position on the front leg member. Each fitting 48 extends inwardly immediately below the front end portion of an associated seat support member 26. The upper terminal end is secured by an associated pivot pin to pivot on an associated fitting 48. The lower terminal end of each of the front connecting elements 40 and 42 is secured in a slot defined by front foot 50 mounted in a fixed position on the lower end of an axially elongated slide connecting member 52. Each slide connecting member 52 is telescopically coaxially received in the lower end of an associated tubular front leg member 20 to slide within and relative to that leg member, as best shown in FIGS. 24-26 and for a purpose to be hereinafter evident. It should be noted that the connecting element 40 is located in front of the connecting elements 42 and for this reason the terminal end portions of the connecting element 42 are forwardly offset so that the axes of all of the terminal ends and the axes of the front leg members 20, 20 lie within a common plane. The pivotal axes of all of the terminal ends are normal to the latter common plane and parallel to each other.

The construction and arrangement of the rear connecting elements 44 and 46 and the manner in which these rear elements are connected to the side assemblies 18L and 18R will now be considered. Referring now particularly to FIG. 2 the rearmost connecting element 44 is substantially rectilinear, whereas the element 46 mounted forward of it has rearward offset terminal ends so that the terminal ends of both elements 44 and 46 lie within a common plane. Like the front connecting elements 40 and 42, the two rear connecting elements 44 and 46 are centrally connected for limited pivotal movement relative to each other and present an X-shaped configuration when the chair 10 is in set-up position and are disposed in side-by-side and near parallel relation to each other when the chair is folded. The upper terminal ends of the connecting elements 44 and 46 are respectively connected to the left-hand and right-hand back support members 26, 26 for universal pivotal movement relative to those members. The aforesaid connections are provided by universal pivotal couplings indicated generally at 55, 55 and secured in fixed position on the rear surfaces of the back support members 26, 26. Each coupling 55 has a boss 56 and includes an integral saddle which rests on the rear surface of an associated member 26 where it is secured in fixed position by blind rivets. The saddle carries the rearward extending boss 56. A generally U-shaped transversely inwardly open clevis 60 is pivotally mounted on a generally transversely inwardly facing surface of the boss by a first pivot pin to pivot about a transverse first axis. The upper terminal end of the connecting element 46 is received in the U-shaped clevis 60 and secured therein by a second pivot pin having a second axis normal to the transverse first axis of the first pivot pin. Thus, the two axes of the coupling 55 provide “universal” pivotal support for the upper terminal end of the connecting member 44. The upper terminal end of the other connecting element 46 is supported in like manner on the right-handed back support member 26. Thus, each universal coupling enables one part that is being moved to transmit motion to another part connected to it, even though the two parts may not be in alignment with each other.

The lower terminal end of each of the connecting elements 44 and 46 is constructed and arranged to both pivot relative to and slide along a respectively associated rear leg member 22. Each rear leg member 22 has an associated slide fitting 62 mounted thereon and which includes a slide collar 64 received on the leg rearward of the rear leg member junction 31. The collar 64 coaxially surrounds and generally complements the non-circular or oval cross sectional configuration of the associate rear leg member 22 and carries an integral transversely inwardly extending boss 66. A generally U-shaped inwardly open clevis 60 is supported on the inner and of the boss for pivotal movement in fixed position on the boss 66. Thus, the lower terminal end of each of the connecting elements 44 and 46 is connected to a slide fitting 62 on the rear end portion of an associated rear leg member for sliding movement in one and an opposite direction on and along that leg member and for substantially universal pivotal movement relative to that rear leg member.

The lower terminal end of each of the front connecting elements 40 and 42 is secured in a slot defined by a front foot 50 mounted in a fixed position on the lower end of an axially elongated slide connector 52. Each slide connecting member 52 is telescopically coaxially received in the lower end of an associated front leg member 20 to slide within and relative to that leg member, as best shown in FIGS. 24-26 and for a purpose to be hereinafter evident. It should be noted that the connecting element 40 is located immediately forward of the connecting elements 42. For this reason the terminal end portions of the connecting element 42 are forwardly offset so that the axes of all of the terminal ends and the axes of the front leg members 20, 20 lie within a common plane. The pivotal axes of all of the terminal ends are normal to the latter common plane and parallel to each other.

The construction and arrangement of the rear connecting elements 44 and 46 and the manner in which these rear elements are connected to the side assemblies 18L and 18R will now be considered. The rearmost connecting element 44 is substantially rectilinear, whereas the element 46 mounted forward of it has rearward offset terminal ends so that the terminal ends of both elements 44 and 46 lie within a common plane. The latter two elements are centrally connected for limited pivotal movement relative to each other and present an X-shaped configuration when the chair is in a set-up position and move into a side-by-side near parallel relation to each other when the chair is folded. The upper terminal ends of the rear connecting elements 44 and 46 are respectively coupled to the left-hand and right-hand back support members 26, 26 for universal pivotal movement relative to those members. The aforesaid connections are provided by fixed universal couplings indicated generally at 55, 55 mounted on the rear surfaces of the back support members 26, 26. Each coupling 55 has a boss 56 and includes an integral saddle which rests on the rear surface of an associated member 26 where it is secured in fixed position by fasteners or blind rivets. The saddle carries the rearward extending boss 58. A generally U-shaped transversally inwardly opening clevis 60 is pivotally mounted on a generally transversally inwardly facing surface of the boss 58 by a first pivot pin to about a transverse first axis. The upper terminal end of the connecting the element 46 is received in the U-shaped clevis 60 and secured therein by a second pivot pin having a second axis normal to the transverse first axis of the first pivot pin. Thus, the two axis of the coupling 55 provide “universal” pivotal support for the upper terminal end of the connecting member 44. The upper terminal end of the other connecting element 46 is supported in like manner on the right-hand back support member 28.

The lower terminal end of each of the connecting elements 44 and 46 is constructed and arranged to both pivot relative to and slide along a respectively associated rear leg member 22. Each rear leg member 22 has an associated slide fitting 62 mounted thereon and which includes a slide collar 64 received on the leg rearward of the junction 31. The collar 64 coaxially surrounds and generally complements the associated leg member 22 and carries a transversally inwardly extending boss 66. For example, in FIG. 2 the collar 64 complements the non-circular shape or generally oval cross sectional configuration of the leg member. A generally U-shaped inwardly opening clevis 68 is supported on the inner and of the boss for transverse pivotal movement about an axially transverse pivot pin mounted in fixed position on the boss 66. Thus, the lower terminal end of each of the connecting elements 44 and 46 is connected to a slide fitting 62 on the rear end portion of an associated rear leg member for sliding movement in one and an opposite direction along that leg member and for substantially universal pivotal movement relative to that leg member. Though illustrated herein with the sliding collar 64 on the rear leg member 22, the present invention can include connecting elements 44 and 46 where the upper part of the elements are adapted to slide on or relative to the back rest support members 28.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, a drive link 100 is provided on at least one of the side assemblies, more particularly being connected between the seat support member 24 of said side assembly 18R and the front foot 50 and the slide connecting element telescopically received in the front leg member 20 of said side assembly.

It should be noted that the over-the-center linkage concept employed to support the chair back is well known in the folding chair art and has been utilized for many years in folding chairs to allow folding of a chair back into overlying relation to a chair seat while providing reliable support and stability to a back rest when a chair is in set-up and usable condition. The present chair uses a modified form of this well known concept.

The flatly folded position hereinafter further discussed refers to the conventional position well known in the art wherein a foldable chair is substantially vertically compressed from its normal set-up condition to a flattened condition wherein the chair legs are located immediately below and in generally parallel relation to the chair seat while the back rest overlies the upper surface of the seat. This flatly folded position is hereinafter referred to as the first folded position.

The present chair is also adapted for movement from its set-up position to and from a second folded position wherein the chair frame forms a bundle with all of the elongated side members and all of the elongated connecting elements which comprise the frame having generally common directions of extent and the seat material and back material forming part of the bundle and having a flacid condition.

In one design of the present invention, the drive link 100 has a fixed length and is fixedly connected on one end to the front foot on the front leg member of the side assembly and on the other end to the seat support member of the side assembly 18R, as shown. While so fixed in place, the connection points on each end of the drive link 100 still permit pivotal movement of the drive link relative to its respective connection points to facilitate folding of the chair, as described in more detail below.

With a fixed drive link 100 as so connected to at least one side assembly of the chair structure, the chair can fold from a conventional set-up position, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, to a completely bundled condition in a single folding action. That is, where the user of the chair desires to fold the chair into a compact, bundled condition for easy transportation and/or storage, the user can simply press inwardly on the arm rests of the chair—assuming the latching device on the back of the chair has been disengaged. This inwardly directed force causes the side assemblies 18R and 18L to move toward each other. As a lateral pressure is exerted on the chair frame, the X-shaped connecting members elongate, with each member of the respective X moving relative to the other toward parallel relationship. With the elongation of the front X-shaped connecting members about a central pivot point, the front legs 20, 20 are caused to telescope—i.e., the movement of the connecting members influences the inner slide connecting member 52 within the front leg to telescope outwardly from the front leg 20—to thereby effectively lengthen the front legs of each side assembly.

The lengthening of the front leg causes the front and rear leg members to pivot and move toward each other and toward a parallel relationship. This movement is influenced by the presence of the fixed drive link. Specifically, since the drive link 100 is fixed to the front foot on one of the side assemblies, telescoping movement of the foot exerts a downward directing force on the drive link. The drive link, however, is fixed at its other end to the seat support member. Thus, the downwardly directed force exerted on the drive link causes it to pull the front leg member and the seat support member towards each other—i.e., in a folding manner. The movement of the seat support member 24 thereby influences movement of the rear leg member 22 about the pivot therebetween and into a folded condition. The overlying result of this linkage design is that the front and rear leg members move and are folded together as the side assemblies 18 R and 18L move laterally together, ending in a completely bundled chair assembly, as shown in FIGS. 37-30. As shown, the members, connectors, and the fixed drive link all lie in generally parallel condition.

In an alternate design of the present invention, the drive link can be adjustable. For example, a shown, a drive link 100a can be provided on at least one of the side assemblies of the chair and as so provided can be fixed at each of its ends to the seat support member and the front foot on the front leg member, respectively. As so fixed, the chair will fold in the manner described above. However, if the user desires to fold the chair to an intermediate folded condition, for example the spread apart flat condition as shown in FIGS. 1-4, the user can “release” the drive link so that it does not restrict the manner by which the chair is folded.

In this design, the drive link 102 is provided with a slot 103 extending partially along the longitudinal length of the link. As shown, the drive link can be fixed at the front foot by a pin extending through the slot. To fix the link 102 in place, the slot ends in an opening 104 having a diameter greater than the width of the slot. Accordingly, the pin has a shoulder with a diameter corresponding to the diameter to the opening 104. The pin also includes a portion with a diameter corresponding to the smaller dimension of the slot width. To “unlock” the strut, the pin can be readjusted so that the pin can freely slide or idle within the slot. As so adjusted, the drive link 100a no longer exerts any influence on the folding of the chair design. That is, if the user desires to fold the chair to a spread apart, flat condition, the chair can be so folded, with the front leg members 20, 20 and the rear leg members 22, 22 moving and pivoting relative to one another and ending in a parallel relationship with each other and the seat support members 24, 24 and the back support members. However, the side assemblies 18R and 18L, even as so folded, are lateral spread apart.

If desired, the user can either unfold the chair to the set-up condition, or fold the chair further from this intermediate folded condition to a fully bundled condition, as shown. As so folded, the side assemblies are forced inwardly towards each other. With this movement, assuming the latching device on the rear connecting members has been disengaged, the X-shaped connectors are elongated and the side assemblies move towards each other. Eventually, all the support members and connectors end up in generally parallel relationship. While the side assemblies are moving toward each other, the elongation of the front X-shaped connectors force the front leg members to telescope outwardly. As the front foot members telescope, the pin connected to the front foot freely slides in the slot toward the end of the drive link. Once the chair is at its fully bundled condition, the pin typically aligns with the larger end opening of the slot 102. The pin can re-engage the drive link 100d to fix the connection between the drive link and the front foot. If this connection is re-fixed, then when the user unfolds the chair, it will go directly from the fully bundled condition and directly to the set-up condition in a single unfolding action.

While illustrated and described with a slot 103 for adjustability, a side drive link for switching between a one step folding operation and a multi-step folding operation can have various designs for adjusting the operable length of the drive link. For example, the drive link can be telescoping, where the length between the ends of the strut can adjust in response to folding of the chair. Alternatively, the drive link can be foldable, again to accommodate the folding of the chair. In any such adjustable design, the strut merely needs to adjust it lengths so as to not have any influence on how the chair members and connectors move during folding.

When the chair 10 is not in use it may be prepared for storage by folding into one of its two folded positions. As previously noted, the first position is a conventional flatly folded position well known in the folding chair art, wherein the two side frame assemblies 18R and 18L are maintained in transversely spaced apart relation to each other by the front and rear X frames formed by the connecting elements. The terminal ends of the front connecting elements 40 and 42 are connected only to the front leg members 20, 20 therefore, the front connecting elements remain dormant during the flatly folding operation. However, the terminal ends of the rear connecting elements 44 and 46 are connected to side members that pivot relative to each other during the flat folding operation, therefore, universal pivotal couplings and slide connectors are provided to connect the rear connecting elements to the back support members and the rear leg members. Accordingly, the chair 10 may be described as being vertically compressed from its set-up position to its first or flatly folded position.

A latching device indicated generally at 70 and shown in FIGS. 17-19 is connected between the rear connecting elements 44 and 46 and serves to maintain the connecting elements in open position. This latching device also serves as a means for preventing movement of the chair to its second folded position. It should be noted that at all times the chair may be folded and unfolded between its set-up position and its first or flatly folded position. Since the chair 10 is folded from its set-up position it is convenient to describe the further folding operation as a transverse or lateral compression of the frame. Before performing this operation the latching device which may be provided to maintain the frame in its laterally open position must be placed in a released position. Thereafter, the side frame assemblies are moved laterally and in a horizontal direction toward each other. At this point the various connecting elements move from their respective X-shaped configuration to a position of near parallel relation to each other which results in extension of the front slide connections 52, 52 which are telescopically received within the front legs 20, 20. As the front connecting elements move toward closed position, the front slide connectors move from retracted position within the front legs to extended position wherein these connectors extend for some distance from the front legs 20, 20.

It should now be apparent that folding the chair to its second folded position entails two separate and distinct folding operations, which may be performed in any order. Thus, the chair 10 may be folded from its set-up position to its flatly folded first folded position and thereafter be laterally compressed to its second folded position or, if desired, the frame may be first laterally compressed from its set-up position to its laterally compressed condition and thereafter vertically compressed to a flat condition. In either instance, the end result will be the same—namely a compact bundle wherein the various axially elongated structural members and connecting elements will be disposed in relatively closely spaced apart side-by-side relation to each other and have a common general direction of axial extent.

When the chair is in its set-up position, the flexible seat and back material will be in taut position on the frame. However, when the chair is folded to its second folded position, the seat and back material will be in a flacid condition and form a part of the bundle.

Referring now to FIGS. 32 and 33, another chair embodied in the present invention is indicated generally at 10a.

Claims

1. Foldable chair comprising: an articulated foldable frame;a flexible seat material mounted on said frame;a flexible back material mounted on said frame;said frame being adapted to rest on a generally horizontally oriented supporting surface in a set-up position with said flexible seat material defining a generally taut chair seat and said flexible back material defining a generally taut chair back for collectively accommodating a seated chair occupant;said frame having a pair of side assemblies of opposite hand disposed in generally parallel longitudinally extending and transversely spaced apart relation to each other in said set-up position, each of said side assemblies having a plurality of generally rectilinear axially elongated side members, said side members of each of said assemblies being disposed within generally parallel longitudinally extending vertical planes and connected each to another for pivotal movement relative to each other about generally transversally extending pivotal axes;said frame further having a plurality of generally axially elongated connecting elements extending between and connected to said side assemblies by pivot and slide connections and supporting said side assemblies for transverse movement toward each other and into transversally compressed condition and away from each other and to said transversally spaced apart condition;said chair being movable from said set-up position to a first folded position wherein said frame has a generally flat configuration and said chair back generally overlies said chair seat;said chair also being adapted for movement to and from said set-up position to and from a second folded position wherein said chair forms a bundle with all of said side members and all of said connecting elements having generally common directions of extent and said seat material and said back material forming part of said bundle, each having a flacid condition; andsaid frame including at least one drive link assembly mounted on an associated one of said side assemblies, said front leg of said one assembly having an axially elongated slide connecting member telescopically received within and coaxially moveable relative to said front leg between retracted and extended positions, said assembly including a foot connected to an outer end of said side connecting member, said link assembly including a drive link, said drive link having pivotally connecting points at its opposite end, said link being pivotally connected at one of said pivot points to a fixed point of connection on said foot and having its other connecting point pivotally connected at a fixed point of pivotal connection on said seat support member, said drive link assembly being operable to directly drive said articulated frame from said chair set-up position to said second folded position in response to folding movement of chair.