The present invention relates to chairs, and in particular, to portable, foldable chairs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Portable, foldable chairs are known in the prior art. It is very common for individuals and families to carry portable, foldable chairs with them on outings, such as a day at the beach, a picnic, a Saturday soccer game, or a stadium or arena sports event. Common prior art chairs are easily folded for transport and may be easily unfolded and set up outdoors as desired. However, the prior art chair is unsuited for usage in an arena or stadium where there are bleachers or concrete stadium seating. The consumer is then forced to buy (at no small expense) another portable chair specifically designed so that it can be placed on the bench portion of bleachers or onto a concrete stadium seat. These special chairs are usually very flat and resemble a pad with a backrest attached. There is currently no option available to the consumer for a chair that will allow the consumer to be comfortably seated in all types of seating situations. For example, there is currently no portable, foldable chair that can be used for: bleacher seating, concrete stadium seating, slope seating, flat surface seating and uneven surface seating.
What is needed is a better, more versatile, portable foldable chair.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a portable, folding chair. Two front leg supports are pivotally connected to a seat frame and extend downward from the seat frame. Two rear leg supports are also pivotally connected to the seat frame. A majority of the length of each rear leg support is positioned above the seat frame. Two individually adjustable front legs extend downward from the front leg supports and two individually adjustable rear legs extend downward from the rear leg support. A front foldable leg brace is connected between the two front leg supports and a rear foldable leg brace is connected between the two rear leg supports. In preferred embodiments, the chair may be utilized in a variety of seating arrangements, such as: bleacher seating, concrete stadium seating, slope seating, flat surface seating and uneven surface seating.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred chair.
FIG. 2 shows a folded chair.
FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the chair.
FIG. 4 shows a perspective side view of the chair.
FIGS. 5 and 6 show the folding of the front leg supports and rear leg supports.
FIG. 7 shows the chair utilized for bleacher seating.
FIG. 8 shows the chair utilized for concrete stadium seating.
FIG. 9 shows the chair on an uneven surface.
FIG. 10 shows the chair on a slope.
FIG. 11 shows the chair on a flat surface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Foldable chair 1 is comfortably positioned on bleachers 90 and ready for use. Front adjustable legs 10 and 11 are resting on step 15. Back adjustable legs 12 and 13 are resting on step 16. Cloth seat rest 20 and back rest 21 are sewn around the metal frame of chair 1 as shown. Seat rest 20 is positioned a mere few inches over bench 17. Front foldable leg brace 30 is pivotally attached between front leg supports 31 and 32. Rear foldable leg brace 40 is pivotally attached between rear leg supports 41 and 42. The area under seat rest 20 is clear so that seat rest 20 can be positioned just slightly above bench 17. Therefore, in FIG. 1 a user is able to sit comfortable in chair 1 at a sitting level that is approximately equal to other spectators sitting on bench 17. Chair 1 is very stable and the user will not be obstructing the view of other spectators sitting behind him.
FIG. 2 shows a rear view of foldable chair 1 as it is folded and now easily carried for transport. Rear foldable leg brace 40 is shown folded and pivotally connected between rear leg supports 41 and 42. Pivot brace 62 includes stop 64 and is pivotally connected to leg support 41 at pivot connection 61. Slidable support 67 is connected to pivot brace 62 and is easily slid along brace 62 as needed. Pivot brace 62 is pivotally connected to pivot brace 65. Stop 63 is welded to pivot brace 65 and pivot brace 65 is pivotally connected to leg support 42 as shown at pivot connection 66. Likewise, pivot brace 72 includes stop 74 and is pivotally connected to leg support 42 at pivot connection 71. Slidable support 77 is connected to pivot brace 72 and is easily slid along brace 72 as needed. Pivot brace 72 is pivotally connected to pivot brace 75. Stop 73 is welded to pivot brace 75 and pivot brace 75 is pivotally connected to leg support 41 as shown at pivot connection 76. Pivot brace 65 and pivot brace 75 are pivotally connected to each other at pivot connection 80.
In FIG. 3 the user has unfolded chair 1 and has braced it so that it is ready for use. Rear foldable leg brace 40 is stiff and locked in the position shown for optimum support. Pivot brace 62 is aligned with pivot brace 65. Stops 63 and 64 function to hold pivot braces 62 and 65 in a straight line. Slidable lock 67 has been slid downward and covers pivot brace 62 and pivot brace 65 so that they are held together in the straight line shown. When the user is ready to fold the chair back up, he will slide slidable lock 67 upwards and fold the chair so that it appears as shown in FIG. 2. Likewise, pivot brace 72 is aligned with pivot brace 75. Stops 73 and 74 function to hold pivot braces 72 and 75 in a straight line. Slidable lock 77 has been slid downward and covers pivot brace 72 and pivot brace 75 so that they are held together in the straight line shown. When the user is ready to fold the chair back up, he will slide slidable lock 77 upwards and fold the chair so that it appears as shown in FIG. 2.
In a similar fashion, FIG. 2 shows front foldable leg brace 30 unfolded and in a locked position between front leg supports 31 and 32. In a preferred embodiment, front foldable leg brace 30 includes components similar to rear foldable leg brace 40 and is locked is a similar fashion to provide stiff, strong structural support between front leg supports 31 and 32.
FIG. 4 shows a perspective side view of chair 1 shown in FIG. 1 positioned over bleachers 90. Each leg support 41, 42, 31 and 32 includes a plurality of holes 110 to receive spring-loaded push buttons for the purpose of locking legs 10, 11, 12 and 13 into place. For example FIG. 2 shows push button 101 inserted through a hole 110 locking leg 11 into place. Also, push button 102 is inserted through a hole 110 locking leg 13 into place.
FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the operation of front leg locking bars 150 and rear legs locking bar 160. For example, in FIG. 5, front leg locking bar 150 is shown pivotally connected to side seat frame 170 at pivot connection 171 and pivotally connected to front leg support 31 at pivot connection 172. Also rear leg locking bar 160 is shown pivotally connected to rear leg support 41 at pivot connection 161 and pivotally connected to side seat frame 170 at pivot connection 162.
FIG. 6 shows the process of folding chair 1 to put it in the position shown in FIG. 2 for stowage or transport. The user has pushed front leg supports 31 and 32 counterclockwise causing locking bar 150 to collapse as shown. The user has also pushed rear leg supports 41 and 42 counterclockwise causing locking bar 160 to collapse as shown.
Utilization of the Chair
Bleacher Seating
An exemplary feature of chair 1 is its ability to be versatile. For example, FIG. 7 shows a side view of chair 1 shown earlier in FIGS. 1 and 4. Seat frame 170 is positioned a mere few inches over bench 17 of bleachers 90. It should be noted that foldable leg brace 30 (FIG. 1) is positioned between front leg supports 31 and 32. Also rear foldable leg brace 40 is positioned between rear leg supports 41 and 42. Since there is no bracing on the sides between the front legs and the rear legs, this space is open. Therefore, seat frame 170 and seat 20 can be positioned so that it is only slightly above bench 17, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 7.
Concrete Seating
In FIG. 8 the user has adjusted chair 1 so that it provides comfortable seating for a stadium having concrete seats 203. Rear leg supports 41 and 42 extend only slightly below seat frame 170 so that the majority of the lengths of rear leg supports 41 and 42 are above seat frame 170. In a preferred embodiment rear leg supports 41 and 42 extend four inches below seat frame 170. This allows for the adjustment of rear legs 13 and 12 so that they are very short. It should be noted that preferably rear foldable leg brace 40 is positioned so that a majority of it is above seat frame 170 and seat 20 (FIG. 4). This allows chair 1 to be useable on for concrete seating such as is shown in FIG. 8.
Uneven Surface
Each leg of chair 1 is independently adjustable so that its length can be locked in a position preferred by the user. This enables chair 1 to be positionable on and uneven surface so that seat 20 is flat and comfortable for the user. For example, FIG. 9 shows chair 1 on an uneven surface. Each leg 10, 11, 12 and 13 has been adjusted according the appropriate height.
Steady Slope
In FIG. 10, chair 1 has been placed on a steady slope. Rear legs 12 and 13 and front legs 10 and 11 have been adjusted to the appropriate heights so that seat frame 170 and seat 20 are flat.
Flat Surface
In FIG. 11, chair 1 has been placed on a flat surface. Rear legs 12 and 13 and front legs 10 and 11 have been adjusted to the appropriate heights so that seat frame 170 and seat 20 are flat.
Patent Grant
10531742
