Collapsible seat

Disclosed herein is a collapsible seat and a method of providing a seating area in a folded arrangement and an unfolded arrangement. The collapsible seat comprises a seating section, a base section, and a pair of collapsible legs. The seating section comprises a seat base, a lumbar support, and arm rests defined by first planar sections. The base section comprises lateral supports and a resting base defined by second planar sections to support the seating section. The lateral supports are pivotally connected to the seating section. The pair of collapsible legs is defined by a pair of third planar sections to support the seating section. The collapsible legs are pivotally connected to lateral edges of the lumbar support of the seating section. Each of the first planar sections, the second planar sections, and the third planar sections is a polygon of a substantially similar shape and size to each other.

BACKGROUND

This invention, in general, relates to a seat. More particularly, this invention relates to a collapsible seat that provides a seating area in a folded arrangement and an unfolded arrangement.

Typically, foldable seats are used to provide readily available seating areas. When not in use, the foldable seats may be folded and stored. However, the foldable seats may not provide a seating area in the folded arrangement.

Typically, a foldable seat comprises different parts, for example, the seat, the lumbar support, etc. If any one of the parts is damaged, the entire foldable seat may need to be replaced. Even if the damaged part can be replaced, each damaged part must be replaced by a similar part. The different parts of the seat are not interchangeable. Also, different parts of the foldable seat, when dismantled may occupy a large amount of storage space.

Foldable seats may be formed using parts, for example, annular rings. However, the foldable seats formed using the annular rings do not have arm rests and therefore may not be comfortable to sit on. The foldable seats may not have legs and weight supports, and therefore may be unstable and may lack structural strength. Furthermore, the foldable seat formed using the annular rings provides a seating area only in the unfolded arrangement.

Hence, there is an unmet need for a constructing a collapsible seat using parts of a substantially similar shape and size in a specific configuration that provides a seating area in a folded arrangement and an unfolded arrangement. Furthermore, there is a need for a collapsible seat with easily replaceable interchangeable parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

The collapsible seat and method disclosed herein addresses the above stated for providing a seating area in the folded arrangement and unfolded arrangement of the collapsible seat. The collapsible seat disclosed herein has easily replaceable interchangeable parts, thereby enabling easy replacement of damaged parts of the collapsible seat.

The collapsible seat comprises a seating section, a base section, and a pair of collapsible legs. The seating section comprises a seat base, a lumbar support, and a pair of arm rests. Each of the seat base, the lumbar support, and the pair of arm rests is defined by one of multiple first planar sections. Each of the first planar sections is a polygon of a substantially similar shape and size to each other of the first planar sections. Each of the first planar sections defines at least three edges on a periphery of each of the first planar sections. At least two of the edges of each of the first planar sections define a first vertex. One of the edges of each of the first planar sections is attached to one of the edges of an adjacent one of the first planar sections. The first vertex of each of the first planar sections lies at a first convergence point common to all of the first planar sections.

The base section is pivotally connected to one of at least three edges of the seat base of the seating section. The base section comprises a pair of lateral supports and a resting base. Each of the pair of lateral supports and the resting base is defined by one of multiple second planar sections for supporting the seating section. Each of the second planar sections is a polygon of a substantially similar shape and size to each other of the second planar sections. Each of the second planar sections defines at least three edges on a periphery of each of the second planar sections. At least two of the edges of each of the second planar sections define a second vertex. One of the edges of each of the second planar sections is attached to one of the edges of an adjacent one of the second planar sections. The second vertex of each of the second planar sections lies at a second convergence point common to all of the second planar sections. The base section comprises a metallic structure attached between endmost vertices defined by upper edges of the pair of lateral supports and further attached to one of at least three edges of the seat base of the seating section for enabling pivoting movement of the seating section.

The pair of collapsible legs is defined by one of a pair of third planar sections. Each of the pair of third planar sections is a polygon of a substantially similar shape and size to each other of the third planar sections. Each of the third planar sections defines at least three edges on a periphery of each of the third planar sections. One of the edges of each of the pair of third sections is pivotally connected to one of the edges of the lumbar support of the seating section for further supporting the seating section. The pair of collapsible legs may comprise multiple weight supports attached to bottom vertices of the pair of third planar sections. The weight supports rest on a flat surface for supporting position of the seating section and bearing weight of the seating section.

The polygon may, for example, be a triangle and each of the first planar sections, the second planar sections, and the third planar sections is of a substantially similar shape and size to each other of the first planar sections, the second planar sections and the third planar sections. The seating section and the base section each define a four-sided pyramid. The collapsible seat may further comprise a hinge at each lateral edge of the lumbar support of the seating section and at the upper edge of each of the pair of collapsible legs. The hinge enables pivoting movement of the pair of collapsible legs. The collapsible seat may further comprise a support structure detachably attached to the base section at the second convergence point for supporting the base section on a flat surface. The collapsible seat may be used for stacking other collapsible seats on top of each other in the folded arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1illustrates a front isometric view of a collapsible seat100in an unfolded arrangement. The collapsible seat100comprises a seating section101, a base section105, and a pair of collapsible legs107. A rear isometric view of the collapsible seat100in the unfolded arrangement is illustrated inFIG. 2. The seating section101comprises a seat base102, a lumbar support103, and a pair of arm rests104. Each of the seat base102, the lumbar support103, and the pair of arm rests104is defined by one of multiple first planar sections102,103, and104. Each of the first planar sections102,103, and104is a polygon of a substantially similar shape and size to each other of the first planar sections102,103, and104. Each of the first planar sections102,103, and104defines at least three edges102a,102b,102c, and103a,103b,103c, and104a,104b,104c, and104d,104e,104frespectively on a periphery of each of the first planar sections102,103, and104respectively. At least two of the edges of each of the first planar sections102,103, and104define a first vertex. For example, inFIG. 1, edges104eand104fof the first planar section104define a first vertex104g. One of the edges of each of the first planar sections102,103, and104is attached to one of the edges of an adjacent one of the first planar sections102,103, and104. For example, inFIG. 1, edge103bof the first planar section103is attached to edge104bof the first planar section104. The first vertex of each of the first planar sections102,103, and104lies at a first convergence point501common to all the first planar sections102,103, and104as illustrated inFIG. 5.

A person may sit on the seat base102of the seating section101. A top view of the collapsible seat100showing the seating section101of the collapsible seat100in an unfolded arrangement is exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 5. The lumbar support103of the seating section101supports the back of the person. The pair of arm rests104supports the arms of the person. A front elevation view of the collapsible seat100in the unfolded arrangement is exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 7.

The base section105is pivotally connected to one of at least three edges, for example, edge102aof the seat base102of the seating section101as exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 1. The base section105comprises a pair of lateral supports106and a resting base201. Each of the pair of lateral supports106and the resting base201is defined by one of multiple second planar sections106and201for supporting the seating section101. Each of the second planar sections106and201is a polygon of a substantially similar shape and size to each other of the second planar sections106and201. Each of the second planar sections106and201defines at least three edges106a,106b,106c, and106d,106e,106f, and201a,201b,201crespectively on a periphery of each of the second planar sections106and201respectively. At least two of the edges of each of second planar sections106and201define a second vertex as illustrated inFIG. 1. For example, inFIG. 1, edges106band106cof the first planar section106define a second vertex106g. One of the edges of each of the second planar sections106and201is attached to one of the edges of an adjacent one of the second planar sections106and201. For example, inFIG. 2, edge106aof the second planar section106is attached to edge201cof the second planar section201. The second vertex of each of the second planar sections106and201lies at a second convergence point801common to all of the second planar sections106and201as illustrated inFIG. 8. The base section105may further comprise a metallic structure111attached between endmost vertices defined by the upper edges106b,106cand106e,106fof the lateral supports106and further attached to one of at least three edges, for example, edge102aof the seat base102as illustrated inFIG. 1. The metallic structure111enables pivoting movement of the seating section101.

Each of the pair of collapsible legs107is defined by one of a pair of third planar sections107. Each of the pair of third planar sections107is a polygon of a substantially similar shape and size to each other of the third planar sections107. Each of the third planar sections107defines at least three edges107a,107b,107c, and107d,107e,107fon a periphery of the third planar sections107as illustrated inFIG. 1andFIG. 2. One of the edges, for example, edge107band edge107eof each of the third planar sections107respectively is pivotally connected to one of the edges, for example, edge103cand edge103brespectively of the lumbar support103of the seating section101for further supporting the seating section101in an unfolded arrangement. A perspective view of the collapsible chair in the unfolded arrangement is exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 4.

A hinge109may be provided at each lateral edge103band103cof the lumbar support103of the seating section101and at upper edge107band107eof each of the pair of collapsible legs107. The hinge109enables pivoting movement of the pair of collapsible legs107for folding the pair of collapsible legs107in a folded arrangement. A perspective view of the collapsible seat100in a folded arrangement is exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 3. A top view of the collapsible seat100in the folded arrangement is exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 6. The pair of collapsible legs107may comprise multiple weight supports110attached to the bottom vertices of the pair of third planar sections107. The weight supports110rest on a flat surface. The weight supports110support the position of the seating section101and bear the weight of the seating section101. A rear elevation view of the collapsible seat100in the unfolded arrangement is exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 8.

The polygon may, for example, be a triangle and each of the first planar sections102,103and104, the second planar sections106and201, and the third planar sections107is of a substantially similar shape and size to each other of the first planar sections102,103, and104, the second planar sections106and201, and the third planar sections107. The seating section101and the base section105each define a four-sided pyramid. The collapsible seat100may further comprise a support structure108detachably attached to the base section105at the second convergence point801for supporting the base section105on a flat surface.

For purposes of illustration, the detailed description refers to first planar sections102,103, and104, second planar sections106and201, and third planar sections107of the collapsible seat100. However, the scope of the collapsible seat100disclosed herein is not limited to the first planar sections102,103, and104, the second planar sections106and201and the third planar sections107but may be extended to include any number of planar sections.

The first planar sections102,103, and104, the second planar sections106and201, and the third planar sections107are polygons of a predefined shape, for example, a triangle. Each of the polygons defines edges on the periphery of the polygon. At least one edge of each polygon is attached to an edge of another polygon. All of the polygons defining the first planar sections102,103, and104, the second planar sections106and201and the third planar sections107are of substantially the same shape and substantially the same size. Where the polygons are triangular, the seating section101and the base section105each define an inverted four-sided pyramid. The first planar sections102,103, and104, the second planar sections106and201, and the third planar sections107may, for example, be made of wood, plastic, metal, etc.

FIG. 9illustrates a method of providing a seating area in an unfolded arrangement. A collapsible seat100in a folded arrangement is provided901. The collapsible seat100in the folded arrangement is exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 10A. The collapsible seat100comprises a seating section101, a base section105and a pair of collapsible legs107as explained in the detailed description ofFIG. 1. The collapsible seat100in the folded arrangement comprises a seating section101and a pair collapsible legs107folded and accommodated within a base section105of the collapsible seat100as exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 10B. The seating section101is raised902by upwardly pivoting the seating section101from within the base section105as exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 10CandFIG. 10D. The seating section101is pivoted around endmost vertices defined by upper edges106b,106c, and106e,106fof the lateral supports106. The upward pivoting of the seating section101may be performed using a metallic structure111attached between the endmost vertices defined by the upper edges106b,106c, and106e,106fof the lateral supports106and further attached to one of at least three edges, for example, edge102aof the seat base102of the seating section101.

The folded pair of collapsible legs107accommodated within the base section105is unfolded903by outwardly pivoting the folded pair of collapsible legs107around lateral edges103band103cof the lumbar support103of the seating section101as exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 10E. The outward pivoting of the pair of collapsible legs107may be performed using a hinge109connected at each lateral edge103band103cof the lumbar support103of the seating section101and at the upper edge107band107eof each of the pair of collapsible legs107for enabling pivoting movement of the pair of collapsible legs107. The unfolded pair of collapsible legs107is rested on a flat surface for supporting the seating section101thereby providing the seating area in the unfolded arrangement. The unfolded pair of collapsible legs107is supported on the flat surface by attaching multiple weight supports110to the bottom vertices of the unfolded pair of collapsible legs107. The seating area in the unfolded arrangement is exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 10F. A person may sit on the collapsible seat100in the unfolded arrangement as exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 11.

FIG. 12illustrates a method of providing a seating area in a folded arrangement. A collapsible seat100in an unfolded arrangement is provided1201. The collapsible seat100in an unfolded arrangement is exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 13A. The collapsible seat100comprises a seating section101, a base section105and a pair of collapsible legs107as explained in the detailed description ofFIG. 1. The seating section101of the collapsible seat100is in a raised position above a flat surface and supported by an unfolded pair of collapsible legs107of the collapsible seat100. The unfolded pair of collapsible legs107is folded1202and the seating section101is drawn for accommodation into the base section105by inwardly pivoting the unfolded pair of collapsible legs107around lateral edges103band103cof the lumbar support103of the seating section101as exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 13B. The inward pivoting for folding the pair of collapsible legs107may be performed using a hinge109connected at each lateral edge103band103cof the lumbar support103of the seating section101and at the upper edge107band107eof each of the pair of collapsible legs107. The folded pair of collapsible legs107is further accommodated into the base section105as exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 13CandFIG. 13D.

The seating section101is collapsed1203by downwardly pivoting the seating section101from the raised position. The downward pivoting for collapsing the seating section101may be performed using a metallic structure111attached between the endmost vertices of the upper edges106b,106c, and106e,106fof the lateral supports106and further attached to one of at least three edges, for example, edge102aof the seat base102. The seating section101is pivoted around endmost vertices of the upper edges106b,106c, and106e,106fof the pair of lateral supports106and accommodated into the base section105thereby providing the seating area in the folded arrangement as exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 13E. The lumbar support103in the unfolded arrangement illustrated inFIGS. 13A-13Cnow becomes the seat base102in the folded arrangement illustrated inFIGS. 13D-13Eand vice versa.

Consider, for example, a person John at a park. The park has no benches or chairs to rest. John carries the collapsible seat100comprising a triangular seating section101, a triangular base section105, and a pair of triangular collapsible legs107defined by triangular shaped planar sections102,103, and107,106and201, and107to the park in a folded arrangement and chooses a suitable area in the park to place the collapsible seat100. John first positions the triangular resting base201of the triangular base section105of the collapsible seat100on the ground. John then lifts the triangular seating section101of the collapsible seat100from the triangular base section105and unfolds the folded pair of triangular collapsible legs107. John then places the folded pair of triangular collapsible legs107on the ground for supporting the triangular lumbar support103of the triangular seating section101. John sits on the triangular seat base102of the triangular seating section101and uses the triangular lumbar support103for resting his back and uses the triangular arm rests104for resting his arms.

If John wants to change his posture and the position of the collapsible seat100after a certain amount of time, he folds the pair of triangular collapsible legs107and moves the triangular seating section101back into the triangular base section105of the collapsible seat100. John now sits on the triangular seat base102of the triangular seating section101accommodated within the triangular base section105in the folded arrangement of the collapsible seat100.