Abstract:
A foldable article of furniture includes a surrounding top supported frame with a plurality of engaging members secured thereon and extending downwardly therefrom. A plurality of supporting legs have couplers secured on upper sections thereof. A joint interconnects a lower portion of each engaging member and a proximate portion of each coupler such that the proximate portion is turnable and is uprightly movable relative to the lower portion. A locking member is disposed to lock the proximate portion from turning relative to the lower portion when the proximate portion is in an upper position, and to set the proximate portion free from being locked when the proximate portion is in a lower position. A biasing member biases the proximate portion upwardly.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates to a foldable article of furniture, more particularly to a foldable article of furniture with a plurality of foldable supporting legs.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Referring to FIGS.  1  to  3 , a conventional foldable article of furniture  1  is shown to include a surrounding top supported frame  11 , four supporting leg units  12 , eight biasing springs  13 , and eight sliding sleeves  14 . The top supported frame  11  is provided with a seat cushion (not shown), and has eight downwardly extending stems  111  that are angularly displaced from one another. Each of the supporting leg units  12  is in form of a V-shaped rod, and includes two upper connecting portions  121 , two pivot portions  122  extending from the upper connecting portions  121  and pivotally joined to a respective one of the stems  111  at a joint  123  so that the supporting leg unit  12  is turnable relative to the top supported frame  11  between an upright position (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) and a collapsed position (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). Each of the sliding sleeves  14  is sleeved on a respective one of the joints  123  and a respective one of the stems  111 , and has two ends respectively abutting against a lower surface of the top supported frame  11  and the respective biasing spring  13  that is sleeved on the respective upper connecting portion  121 .  
         [0005]     In the upright position of the supporting leg unit  12  as shown in  FIG. 2 , a lower bracing portion of the supporting leg unit  12  can stand on the ground surface by means of the sliding sleeve  14  that abuts against the lower surface of the top supported frame  11  to prevent turning of the supporting leg unit  12 . When it is desired to fold the foldable article of furniture  1 , two corresponding sliding sleeves  14  are moved away from the top supported frame  11  so that the supported leg unit  12  can be turned to the collapsed position shown in  FIG. 3 . However, the user has to move the two sliding sleeves  14  with both hands during folding of the supporting leg unit  12 , which is inconvenient.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The object of the present invention is to provide a foldable article of furniture which can be folded conveniently.  
         [0007]     According to this invention, the foldable article of furniture includes a surrounding top supported frame surrounding a central axis. A plurality of engaging members are secured on the top supported frame, and are angularly displaced from one another. Each of the engaging members includes upper and lower portions which are opposite to each other in an upright direction parallel to the central axis, and which are proximate to and distal from the top supported frame, respectively. Each of supporting legs includes a lower section which is adapted to stand on the ground surface, and an upper section opposite to the lower section in the upright direction. A plurality of couplers are secured on the upper sections of the supporting legs, respectively. Each coupler includes distal and proximate portions which are opposite to each other in the upright direction, and which are distal from and proximate to the upper section, respectively. A joint is disposed to connect the lower portion of a respective one of the engaging members to the proximate portion of a respective one of the couplers such that the proximate portion is turnable relative to the lower portion about a pivot axis that is transverse to the central axis between an upright position, where both the coupler and the engaging member are oriented in the upright direction so as to position the lower section of the respective support leg on the ground surface, and a collapsed position, where the coupler is inclined relative to the engaging member so as to bring the lower section close to the central axis, and such that the proximate portion is movable relative to the lower portion in the upright direction between upper and lower positions. A locking member is disposed to lock the proximate portion of a respective one of the couplers so as to prevent turning of the proximate portion relative to the lower portion of a respective one of the engaging members about the pivot axis when the proximate portion is in the upper position, and to release the proximate portion so as to permit turning of the proximate portion about the pivot axis to the collapsed position when the proximate portion is in the lower position. A biasing member is disposed to bias the proximate portion of a respective one of the couplers towards the upper position. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a partly exploded perspective view of a conventional foldable article of furniture;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a fragmentary partly sectional view of a portion of the conventional foldable article of furniture in an upright state;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary partly sectional view of the portion of the conventional article of furniture in a folded state;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a foldable article of furniture according to this invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a portion of the preferred embodiment;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a fragmentary partly sectional view of the portion of the preferred embodiment in an upright state; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a fragmentary partly sectional view of the portion of the preferred embodiment in a folded state. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]     Referring to FIGS.  4  to  6 , the preferred embodiment of a foldable article of furniture according to the present invention is shown to comprise a surrounding top supported frame  2 , eight engaging members  3 , four supporting leg units  4 , eight couplers  5 , eight joints, eight locking members, and eight biasing members  7 .  
         [0017]     The surrounding top supported frame  2  is a circular frame which surrounds a central axis, and is provided with a seat cushion (not shown) such that the foldable article of furniture serves as a chair. Alternatively, a table panel (not shown) may be supported on the top supported frame  2  to serve as a table.  
         [0018]     The engaging members  3  are secured on a lower surface of the top supported frame  2 , and are angularly displaced from one another. Each of the engaging members  3  includes upper and lower portions  34 ,  35  which are opposite to each other in an upright direction parallel to the central axis, and which are proximate to and distal from the top supported frame  2 , respectively.  
         [0019]     Each of the supporting leg units  4  includes a pair of supporting legs  40 . Each of the supporting legs  40  includes a lower section  41  which is connected integrally to the lower section  41  of an adjacent one of the supporting legs  40  so as to be able to stand on the ground surface, and an upper section  42  opposite to the lower section  41  in the upright direction.  
         [0020]     Each of the couplers  5  is secured on the upper section  42  of a respective one of the supporting legs  40 , and includes a pair of side plates  52  which are spaced apart from each other in a transverse direction relative to the upright direction and which have upper edge walls flush with each other and facing upwardly to serve as an upper edge of the coupler  5 , and a connecting plate  51  which interconnects the side plates  52  in a one-piece construction so as to confine a receiving space thereamong for receiving the lower portion  35  of the corresponding engaging member  3 . The side plates  52  have upper and lower parts  54 ,  55  which are opposite to each other in the upright direction, which are distal from and proximate to the upper section  42  of the corresponding supporting leg  40 , respectively, and which define distal and proximate portions of the coupler  5 , respectively.  
         [0021]     Each of the joints includes a keyway including a pair of elongated slots  522 , and a key  6 . The elongated slots  522  are respectively formed in the side plates  52  of a respective one of the couplers  5  at the proximate portion  55 , and are elongated in the upright direction to have upper and lower ends  524 ,  525 . The key  6  is secured to and extends from the lower portion  35  of the corresponding engaging member  3  in the transverse direction to define a pivot axis, and has two key ends  61  which are opposite to each other in the transverse direction and which respectively pass through the elongated slots  522  so as to be slidable therealong between the upper and lower ends  524 ,  525 .  
         [0022]     As such, the proximate portion  55  of the respective coupler  5 , together with the upper section  42  of the respective supporting leg  40 , is turnable relative to the lower portion  35  of the respective engaging member  3  about the pivot axis between an upright position, as shown in  FIG. 6 , where both the coupler  5  and the engaging member  3  are oriented in the upright direction so as to position the lower section  41  of the respective supporting leg  40  on the ground surface (see  FIG. 4 ), and a collapsed position, as shown in  FIG. 7 , where the coupler  5  is inclined relative to the engaging member  3  so as to bring the supporting leg  40  close to the central axis. Furthermore, the proximate portion  55  is movable relative to the lower portion  35  in the upright direction between an upper position, as shown in  FIG. 6 , where the key ends  61  reach the lower ends  525 , and a lower position, where the key ends  61  reach the upper ends  524 , as indicated by dotted lines in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0023]     Each of the locking members includes a cavity unit including a pair of cavities  521 , and a latch  31 . The cavities  521  are formed respectively in the upper edge walls of the side plates  52 , and are registered with each other in the transverse direction. Each cavity  521  is concaved in the upright direction towards the proximate portion  55 . The latch  31  is secured to and extends from the upper portion  34  of the engaging member  3  in the transverse direction, and has two latch ends  311  which are opposite to each other in the transverse direction and which are configured to be removably retained in the cavities  521 , respectively. In this embodiment, each latch end  311  has a circular cross-section. Each cavity  521  has a depth in the upright direction, which is greater than the radius of the cross-section of the latch end  311  and which is smaller than the diameter of the latch end  311 .  
         [0024]     Each engaging member  3  has a protrusion  32  which extends from the upper portion  34  and which is formed with a hole  33 . An anchored shaft  53  is secured between the side plates  52  of the respective coupler  5  adjacent to the upper section  42  of the respective supporting leg  40 . Each of the biasing members  7  is a coil spring with two ends  71 ,  72  which are opposite to each other in the upright direction and which engage the hole  33  and the anchored shaft  53 , respectively, so as to bias the cavities  521  to retain the latch ends  311 .  
         [0025]     With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 7 , when it is desired to fold the supporting leg units  4 , i.e. to move the proximate portions  55  of the coupler  5 , together with the supporting legs  40 , to the collapsed position, the user only needs to pull each supporting leg unit  4  downwards against the biasing action of the biasing member  7  to move the proximate portions  55  of the couplers  5  to the lower position, thereby disengaging the cavities  521  from the latch ends  311 , as indicated by the dotted lines in  FIG. 7 . The user can then turn each supporting leg unit  4  towards the central axis such that the proximate portions  55  of the couplers  5  are turned to the collapsed position, as indicated by the solid lines in  FIG. 7 . Therefore, the supporting leg units  4  can be folded for convenient storage and carrying. When stretching the supporting leg units  4 , the user only needs to turn each supporting leg unit  4  away from the central axis such that the proximate portions  55  of the coupler  5  are moved to the upright direction. The proximate portions  55  are then moved to the upper position by means of the biasing members  7  to bring the latch ends  311  into engagement with the cavities  521 , thereby preventing the proximate portions  55  of the coupler  5  from turning relative to the lower portions  35  of the engaging member  3  about the pivot axis.  
         [0026]     As illustrated, since each supporting leg unit  4  can be operated with one hand for simultaneous movement of the proximate portions  55  of the corresponding couplers  5  relative to the corresponding engaging members  3  to the lower position, the collapsing and stretching operations are convenient to conduct.  
         [0027]     It is noted that the number of the supporting leg units  4  may be two or three. The lower sections  41  of the supporting legs  40  may be formed as a plate for steady standing on the ground surface. Furthermore, the key  6  and the elongated slots  522  can be interchanged, i.e. the key  6  and the elongated slots  522  can be disposed on the coupler  5  and the engaging member  3 , respectively.  
         [0028]     While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements.