Abstract:
This invention provides a portable folding chair, comprising a back section and a seat section, both formed of impact-resistant material. The back section includes a storage compartment or space for other devices. When open, the back section can be adjusted to a desired angle. In one embodiment, two leg sections attach to the bottom of the seat section. The leg sections can fold against the bottom of the seat section, and the back section can fold into the seat section, to carry or store the chair.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to portable folding chairs, in particular to a chair in which the seat and back fold to form the top and bottom of the carrying case, and the legs fold against the bottom.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    A variety of designs for portable folding chairs are available to the public for uses such as beach outings and sports events. Some of these designs incorporate a carrying case, storage, or both into the chair. These designs typically use weak fabric or webbing material, stretched between wooden or aluminum frames. The material can wear or corrode easily, and can be adversely affected by the environment, such as sun, sand, wind, rain. Often the seat is not elevated very high off the ground, and the storage space offered is inadequate. Also, setting up and dismantling the chair often proves cumbersome.  
           [0003]    The following issued patents relate to the field of this invention:  
           [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,178 discloses a portable chair in which a flexible seat is stretched between two rigid semi-cylinders. The semi-cylinders come together to form a cylindrical carrying case.  
           [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,426 discloses a carrying case combination that opens to form a seat resting on the ground, and a backrest.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,445 discloses a portable chair with seat and backrest formed with fabric material, on a frame.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,792 discloses a backpack that can be converted to a beach chair. When opened out as a chair, the seat and back consist of a webbing stretched out over a metallic frame.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,882 discloses a portable chair with seat and backrest formed from webbing material.  
           [0009]    The object of this invention is to provide a rigid lightweight portable folding chair, capable of support without tearing, corrosion, or peeling. The seat may be elevated off the ground, and the back may be inclined at a desired angle. The armrests and the back may provide secure storage space, or have additional devices built into the chair.  
           [0010]    A further object is to provide a chair with a minimum number of separate parts, allowing for ease of manufacture, and ease of setting up and closing down for the user.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    This invention provides a portable folding chair, comprising a back section and a seat section, both formed of impact-resistant material. The back section includes a storage compartment or space for other devices. When open, the back section can be adjusted to a desired angle. In one embodiment, two leg sections attach to the bottom of the seat section. The leg sections can fold against the bottom of the seat section, and the back section can fold into the seat section, to form the chair&#39;s carrying case for transportation or storage. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 shows the Chair in its open position. The angle between the seat section  1  and the back section  2  may be adjusted with the support bar  4 . The leg sections  3  are open to their maximum extent. A beverage holder  6  and a storage panel  7  are in its right armrest  5 .  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 shows the Chair in its folded position from the perspective of the bottom side. The back section  2  is folded into the seat section  1 . The two leg sections  3  are folded into the bottom of the seat section  1 , and the support bar  4  is slid to its maximum extent up into its sleeves  11  in the back section  2 .  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 shows the Chair in its folded position from the perspective of the back side, the side opposite to FIG. 2. The extending flaps  9  press against the arm rests  5  and cover the beverage holder  6  and the arm rest storage panel  7 . The storage panel  10  in the back section  1  is also shown.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is an end view of the Chair in its folded position, showing the hinging mechanism  8 , the sleeves  11  for the support bar  4  in the back section  2 , and the rivets  13 , leg blocks  16 , and leg sections  3  against the bottom of the seat section  1 .  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 shows the support bar  4 , having substantially the shape of a square letter U.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a side view of the Chair in its open position, with the adjustable support bar  4  and its sleeve  11  extending up into the back section  2 .  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 shows a leg section  3  and a rivet  13 . The rivet  13  passes through holes indicated by dashed lines at the three ends  17  of the leg section  3 .  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 shows the bottom of the seat section  1 , with leg blocks  16  and recessions  14  matching the leg sections  3  and rivets  13 . Between the recessions at the three leg ends of each leg session, are two protrusions  15  that secure the rivets to the bottom of the seat section. Holes in the protrusions  15  line up with holes in the ends  17  of the leg sections  3 , for the rivets  13  to pass through and connect the leg sections  3  to the seat section  1 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0020]    This invention may be understood from the following description of the preferred embodiment, in conjunction with the figures.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 is a generic view of the chair of the preferred embodiment in its open position. The chair features a seat section  1 , a back section  2 , two leg sections  3 , and a back support rod  4 . These elements are preferably made of high density polyethylene, poly vinyl chloride, or other high-impact-resistant plastic. The plastic is preferably hollow and filled with foam.  
         [0022]    The chair is designed to be folded together, to form its carrying case. FIG. 2 shows the chair in its folded position, with the leg sections  3  folded against the bottom of the seat section  1 . FIG. 3 shows the chair in its folded position, with the back section  2  folded into the seat section  1 . The support rod  4  is slid up as far as possible in the back section  2 .  
         [0023]    The seat section  1  includes two armrests  5 , both of the same height. As shown in FIG. 1, the right armrest  5  is wider than the left armrest  5 , and has a beverage holder  6  and a panel  7  opening to a storage area for small valuables.  
         [0024]    A hinging mechanism  8 , shown in FIG. 4, connects the back section  2  to the seat section  1 . The back section  2  is designed to fold into the seat section  1 , with plastic sections  9  extending beyond the main part of the back section  2  lying flush against the armrests  5 . These extensions  9  secure the storage space in the armrest  5  when the chair is in its folded position. The chair is secured closed with mechanism such as a plastic grooved nipple at the top of the back section  2 , fastened into a reciprocating grooved indentation in the front of the seat section  1 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 also shows the ends of the sleeves  11  in the back section  2 , to hold the support rod  4 , shown in FIG. 5. The support rod  4  is substantially a square U-shaped rod, of preferably substantially circular cross section. The support rod  4  slides freely into or out of the sleeves  11 , and is fixed at a desired position with locking nuts  12 . The angle of inclination of the back section  2  depends on the degree the support rod  4  is slid out of the sleeves  11 ; the farther out the support rod  4 , the farther forward will the back section  1  incline. When the chair is in its closed position, the supporting bar is slid as far in as possible, to avoid interference with handling the chair, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.  
         [0026]    A panel  10  on the rear of the back section  2  (shown in FIG. 3) opens to access a larger storage compartment, for items such as towels and deflated air mattress. The panel  10  may be secured shut with a snap or other locking mechanism. The two sleeves  11  for the support bar are on either side of the storage space.  
         [0027]    Each leg section  3 , illustrated in FIG. 7, is an integral body. A looping rod forms two outer legs and the bottom part, and a third leg extends up from the middle of the bottom part. The leg section  3  pivots about a removable rivet  13 , that slides through openings at the end  17  of each leg. The bottom of the seat section  1 , shown in FIG. 8, has recessions  14  to fit each leg section  3  and rivet  13 . The rivets  13  pass through protrusions  15  in the seat bottom  1 , interleaved between the leg ends  17 , to secure the leg sections  3  to the seat bottom  1 . Leg blocks  16  limit the angle to which the leg sections  3  may open, and the weight of the seat and occupant maintains that angle.  
         [0028]    The recessions  14  are shaped to hold the leg sections  3  secure in the seat section  2 . The openings to the recessions are a little smaller than the width of the rods forming the leg sections. The edges of the openings bend to accept the leg sections when the leg sections are pressed into the recessions, and then snap back over the leg sections.  
         [0029]    The leg sections  3 , support bar  4 , and rivets  13  are of substantially circular cross section. Edges and corners should be rounded to reduce the possibility of injury. An opening in the top of the back section  2  has an opening to allow a person to grip and carry the chair. Alternatively or additionally, a shoulder strap may be attached to the chair.  
         [0030]    The chair is designed to be easily set up and closed. To open the chair, grasp the two leg sections  3  and pull them outward from their retracted positions against the seat section  1 . Rotate the legs to the leg blocks  16 , then set the chair down with the legs on the ground. Open the storage compartment in the back section  2  to remove desired items, and securely close the compartment with the remaining items inside. Loosen the locking nuts  12  on the support bar until they turn freely. Unsnap the back section  2  and rotate it away from the seat section  1 . When the back section  2  is vertical, the support bar slides out. Adjust the support bar to support the back section  2  at its desired inclination, and tighten the locking nuts  12 .  
         [0031]    Reverse the above procedure to fold the chair back into its closed position.  
         [0032]    The chair may be hosed clean, wiped, and set outdoors to dry.  
         [0033]    It should be understood that those skilled in the art may vary the invention from this description of the preferred embodiment, without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the left armrest (or both armrests, or neither), may have a beverage holder or storage space. The space for the storage compartment in the back section  2  could be used to design other items into the chair, such as a solar panel or other power source. The chair could be wired for electricity.  
         [0034]    An alternative form of support could replace the two leg sections  3  with, for example, short and thick legs formed in the seat section  1 . Hooks or other connecting mechanism could attach to, or even replace, the leg sections  3  to connect the chair to bleachers of a sports stadium.  
         [0035]    Thus, the description of the preferred embodiment illustrates the invention, and does not limit the scope of the claims based on the invention.