Patent ID: 6092866
Filing Date: 2000-07-25
Classification: A47C

Abstract:
A folding chair having a folded and an unfolded configuration comprising:a first chair support member defining a first left section and a second right section;a second chair support member defining a second left section and a second right section wherein both the first and second chair support members are pivotally attached to each other so that when the chair is in a folded configuration, the first and second right sections and the first and second left sections of the first and second chair support members are substantially co-planar and wherein the first and second left sections and the first and second right sections form acute angles with each other when the chair is in the unfolded configuration;a seat that is attached to the first and second chair support members so as to be positioned substantially co-planar with the first and second chair support members when the chair is in the folded configuration and wherein the seat is attached to the first and second chair support members so that the seat is positioned so as to be substantially parallel to a surface upon which the first and second chair support members are positioned when the chair is in the unfolded configuration; andat least one safety brace member which includes a first and a second section that are pivotally attached to each other at a central pivot, wherein the first section of the at least one brace member is pivotally attached in a fixed manner to the first chair support member at a first pivot and the second section of the brace member is pivotally attached in a fixed manner to the second chair support member at a second pivot so that when the chair is in the unfolded position, the first and second sections of the at least one brace member are positioned so as to retain the first and second chair support members in a first relation with each other so as to reduce a tendency of a user falling to the surface upon which the first and second chair support members are positioned if the seat becomes dis-attached to the first or the second chair support member and wherein the first and second section of the at least one brace member are pivotally attached to each other so that when the chair is in the folded configuration, the first and second sections of the at least one brace member are essentially coplanar with the first and second chair support members, wherein the at least one brace member is adapted to be biased to maintain a linear configuration when the chair is in the unfolded configuration so as to prevent a user who is sitting in the chair from inadvertently causing the chair to change to a folded configuration, wherein the at least one safety brace member contains an orthogonally extending lip from the first section of the at least one brace member adjacent a first upper edge of the at least one brace member, wherein the lip is adapted to engage with a rectangular indentation located along a second upper edge on the second section of the at least one safety brace member when the chair is placed in the unfolded configuration.