Patent Publication Number: US-7717511-B2

Title: Structure of chair capable of being stacked vertically and horizontally

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to a chair assembly that allows chairs to be stacked vertically and horizontally. 
   DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
   Conventionally, chairs with unfoldable supports are usually put away for storage by stacking them either horizontally or vertically, and the chairs may only be stacked horizontally or vertically due to the limitation in related technologies. In other words, chairs that may be stacked horizontally cannot be stacked vertically, and vice versa. As a result, the chairs with unfoldable supports are restricted in regard to methods of storage, and also pose difficulty when it is necessary to store the chairs into different storage areas and physical spaces. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the invention, a chair assembly capable of being stacked vertically and horizontally is a structure that allows chairs to be stacked horizontally and vertically, the structure comprises: a frame, a turnable seat assembled with the frame, a backrest assembled with frontal supports of the frame, and armrests assembled with rear supports of the frame. 
   Wherein the frame is comprised of two frontal supports and two rear supports; an assembling shaft is horizontally disposed within the frame for holding and allowing the seat to be turned, a positioning rod is disposed parallel to the assembling shaft for allowing the seat to be turned upward or downward and keeping the seat upturned or downturned. 
   The assembly and combination of the frame, the backrest, the armrests, and the turnable seat allow the resulted chair to be stacked both horizontally and vertically. Moreover, the disposition of hooks and slots at both sides of the frame further allow the chairs to be aligned and connected together in an orderly manner, which not only permit the chairs to be deployed and stored conveniently with a simple structure, but also means anyone may arrange a large number of chairs in a cost-effective way. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objectives can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying diagrams, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view that shows parts of a chair according to the invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a lateral view that shows the chairs of the invention being stacked horizontally; 
       FIG. 4  is a three-dimensional view that shows the chairs of the invention being stacked horizontally; 
       FIG. 5  is a lateral view that shows the chairs of the invention being stacked vertically; 
       FIG. 6  is a three-dimensional view that shows the chairs of the invention being stacked vertically; 
       FIG. 7  is a front view that shows the chair of the invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a top view of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a bottom view of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a left side view of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a right side view of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a rear view of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a schematic view that shows a seat of the chair of the invention is turned upward; 
       FIG. 14  is a front view that shows a frame of the chair according to the invention; 
       FIG. 15  is a top view of  FIG. 14 ; 
       FIG. 16  is a right side view of  FIG. 14 ; 
       FIG. 17  is a three-dimensional view that shows the frame of the chair according to the invention; 
       FIG. 18  is a front view that shows a retaining component of the chair according to the invention; 
       FIG. 19  is a right side view of  FIG. 18 ; 
       FIG. 20  is a top view of  FIG. 18 ; 
       FIG. 21  is a bottom view of  FIG. 18 ; 
       FIG. 22  is a schematic view that shows a backrest of the chair according to the invention; 
       FIG. 23  is a top view of  FIG. 22 ; 
       FIG. 24  is a bottom view of  FIG. 22 ; 
       FIG. 25  is a left side view of  FIG. 22 ; 
       FIG. 26  is a right side view of  FIG. 22 ; 
       FIG. 27  is a rear view of  FIG. 22 ; 
       FIG. 28  is a schematic view that shows a left armrest of the chair according to the invention; 
       FIG. 29  is a left side view of  FIG. 28 ; 
       FIG. 30  is a right side view of  FIG. 28 ; 
       FIG. 31  is a top view of  FIG. 28 ; 
       FIG. 32  is a bottom view of  FIG. 28 ; 
       FIG. 33  is a schematic view that shows an inserting part of the armrest according to the invention; 
       FIG. 34  is a right side view of  FIG. 33 ; 
       FIG. 35  is a top view of  FIG. 33 ; 
       FIG. 36  is a bottom view of  FIG. 33 ; 
       FIG. 37  is a schematic view that shows a left connecting component of the chair according to the invention; 
       FIG. 38  is a right side view of  FIG. 37 ; 
       FIG. 39  is a left side view of  FIG. 37 ; 
       FIG. 40  is a top view of  FIG. 37 ; 
       FIG. 41  is a bottom view of  FIG. 37 ; 
       FIG. 42  is a schematic view that shows a left stacking block of the chair according to the invention; 
       FIG. 43  is a left side view of  FIG. 42 ; 
       FIG. 44  is a right side view of  FIG. 42 ; 
       FIG. 45  is a top view of  FIG. 42 ; 
       FIG. 46  is a bottom view of  FIG. 42 ; 
       FIG. 47  is a schematic view that shows a right armrest of the chair according to the invention; 
       FIG. 48  is a left side view of  FIG. 47 ; 
       FIG. 49  is a right side view of  FIG. 47 ; 
       FIG. 50  is a top view of  FIG. 47 ; 
       FIG. 51  is a bottom view of  FIG. 47 ; 
       FIG. 52  is a schematic view that shows a right connecting component of the chair according to the invention; 
       FIG. 53  is a right side view of  FIG. 52 ; 
       FIG. 54  is a left side view of  FIG. 52 ; 
       FIG. 55  is a top view of  FIG. 52 ; 
       FIG. 56  is a bottom view of  FIG. 52 ; 
       FIG. 57  is a schematic view that shows a right stacking block of the chair according to the invention; 
       FIG. 58  is a left side view of  FIG. 57 ; 
       FIG. 59  is a right side view of  FIG. 57 ; 
       FIG. 60  is a top view of  FIG. 57 ; 
       FIG. 61  is a bottom view of  FIG. 57 ; 
       FIG. 62  is a schematic view that shows a seat of the chair according to the invention; 
       FIG. 63  is a top view of  FIG. 62 ; 
       FIG. 64  is a bottom view of  FIG. 62 ; 
       FIG. 65  is a left side view of  FIG. 62 ; 
       FIG. 66  is a right side view of  FIG. 62 ; 
       FIG. 67  is a rear view of  FIG. 62 ; 
       FIG. 68  is a schematic view that shows a seat turning mechanism of the chair according to the invention; 
       FIG. 69  is a top view of  FIG. 68 ; 
       FIG. 70  is a bottom view of  FIG. 68 ; 
       FIG. 71  is a right side view of  FIG. 68 ; 
       FIG. 72  is a left side view of  FIG. 68 ; 
       FIG. 73  is a rear view of  FIG. 68 ; 
       FIG. 74  is a schematic view that shows a stopper of the chair according to the invention; 
       FIG. 75  is a left side view of  FIG. 74 ; 
       FIG. 76  is a right side view of  FIG. 74 ; 
       FIG. 77  is a top view of  FIG. 74 ; 
       FIG. 78  is a bottom view of  FIG. 74 ; 
       FIG. 79  is a schematic view that shows the assembly of the frontal support, the retaining component, and the backrest. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , which show a chair assembly capable of being stacked vertically and horizontally according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; the disclosed structure comprises a frame ( 1 ), a turnable seat ( 2 ) assembled with the frame ( 1 ), as well as a backrest ( 3 ) and armrests ( 4 ) assembled with the frame ( 1 ). 
   The frame ( 1 ) is resulted from combining two frontal supports ( 11 ) and two rear supports ( 12 ) together (as illustrated in  FIGS. 14 to 17 ); a width between the two frontal supports ( 11 ) is smaller than a width between the two rear supports ( 12 ), and the frontal and the rear supports ( 11 ), ( 12 ) are disposed with stoppers ( 13 ) at bottom ends thereof, respectively; the stoppers ( 13 ) may include assembling openings ( 131 ) disposed at a bottom surface thereof (as indicated in  FIGS. 74 to 78 ), and the assembling openings ( 131 ) may be disposed with screw threads therein for wheels to be assembled therewith selectively. An assembling shaft ( 5 ) is horizontally disposed in the frame ( 1 ) (such as between the two rear supports) so as to allow a seat ( 2 ) to be fixed thereto for turning; a positioning rod ( 6 ) is disposed parallel to the assembling shaft ( 5 ) in the frame ( 1 ) (such as between the two frontal supports), so that the seat ( 2 ) may be turned upward or downward and kept upturned or downturned. The seat ( 2 ) (as shown in  FIGS. 62 to 67 ) and the assembling shaft ( 5 ) are assembled together via a seat turning mechanism ( 21 ), and the seat turning mechanism ( 21 ) includes a trough ( 211 ) (as shown in  FIGS. 68 to 73 ) therein for receiving the assembling shaft ( 5 ) horizontally. The seat turning mechanism ( 21 ) is fixed underneath the seat ( 2 ), and the assembling shaft ( 5 ) is horizontally fitted into the trough ( 211 ) of the seat turning mechanism ( 21 ), so as to allow the seat ( 2 ) to be turned upward or downward with the assembling shaft ( 5 ) as the pivot point (upturned in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ; downturned in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). The seat turning mechanism ( 21 ) also includes protruding stripes ( 212 ), ( 213 ) at an outer surface thereof, wherein a distance between a center of the trough ( 211 ) and an outer surface of the external protruding stripe ( 212 ) is greater than a distance between a center of the assembling shaft ( 5 ) and an outer surface of neighboring positioning rod ( 6 ), so that when the seat ( 2 ) is turned downward, it may be placed and held level. On the other hand, a distance between a center of the trough ( 211 ) and an outer surface of the external protruding stripe ( 213 ) is greater than a distance between a center of the assembling shaft ( 5 ) and an outer surface of neighboring positioning rod ( 6 ), so that when the seat ( 2 ) is turned upward, it may be positioned and secured firmly. 
   As indicated in  FIG. 2 , the frame ( 1 ) and the backrest ( 3 ) are assembled together via a retaining component ( 111 ), shown in  FIGS. 18 to 21  disposed at a lateral side of an upper portion of the two frontal supports ( 11 ), respectively; whereas retaining holes ( 32 ) are disposed on two lateral tubes ( 31 ) of the backrest ( 3 ) for the retaining component ( 111 ) to fit into, as illustrated in  FIGS. 22 to 27 ; so that when the backrest ( 3 ) is assembled with the two frontal supports ( 11 ) via the two lateral tubes ( 31 ), the retaining components ( 111 ) disposed on the two frontal supports ( 11 ) may be securely fitted into the retaining holes ( 32 ) of the backrest ( 3 ), thereby conveniently completing the assembly of the backrest ( 3 ) (as shown in  FIG. 79 ). 
   Still referring to  FIG. 2 , the upper portions of the two rear supports ( 12 ) are respectively disposed with a left connecting component ( 121 ), as shown in  FIGS. 37  to  41 , and a right connecting component ( 122 ), as shown in  FIGS. 52 to 56 . The left and the right connecting components ( 121 ), ( 122 ) allow the left and the right armrests ( 4 A), ( 4 B) to assemble therewith; both the left and the right connecting components ( 121 ), ( 122 ) include a channel ( 1210 ) or ( 1220 ) at a center thereof for receiving the inserting parts ( 4 A 1 ), ( 4 B 1 ) of the left and the right armrests ( 4 A), ( 4 B), and the channels ( 1210 ) and ( 1220 ) include a retaining hole ( 1211 ), ( 1221 ) on a lateral hole thereof, respectively; for retaining a retaining part ( 4 A 2 ) on the inserting part ( 4 A 1 ) of the left armrest ( 4 A) and a retaining part ( 4 B 2 ) on the inserting part ( 4 B 1 ) of the right armrest ( 4 B). Moreover, a side of the left and the right connecting components ( 121 ), ( 122 ) has a respective retaining part ( 1213 ) or ( 1223 ) disposed on a side thereof for fitting into the rear supports ( 12 ) and facilitating the overall assembly of the chair, whereas the inserting parts ( 4 A 1 ), ( 4 B 1 ) of the left and the right armrests ( 4 A) and ( 4 B) are respectively disposed in lower openings ( 4 A 3 ), ( 4 B 3 ) of the left and the right armrests ( 4 A) and ( 4 B). 
   With respect to the left and the right connecting components ( 121 ), ( 122 ) at the left and the right side of the two rear supports ( 12 ), one of the connecting components such as the left connecting component ( 121 ) may comprise a slot ( 1212 ) at an outer side thereof, while another connecting component such as the right connecting component ( 122 ) may comprise a hook ( 1222 ) at an outer side thereof. The formation of the left and the right connecting components ( 121 ), ( 122 ) having the slot ( 1212 ) and the hook ( 1222 ) on the two rear supports ( 12 ) allows the chairs to be aligned and connected together horizontally in an orderly manner. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 42 to 46 , which show a left stacking block ( 7 ) disposed at junctions between the left frontal support and the left rear support, and  FIGS. 57 to 61 , which show a right stacking block ( 8 ) disposed at junctions between the right frontal support and the right rear support. The stacking blocks ( 7 ) and ( 8 ) are rhombus-shaped, and the stacking block ( 7 ) has grooves for frontal supports ( 71 ) formed at an upper frontal plane and at a lower rear plane on an inner side thereof, as well as grooves for rear supports ( 72 ) formed at a lower frontal plane and at an upper rear plane on an outer side thereof. Similarly, the right stacking block ( 8 ) has grooves for frontal supports ( 81 ) formed at an upper frontal plane and at a lower rear plane on an inner side thereof, as well as grooves for rear supports ( 82 ) formed at a lower frontal plane and at an upper rear plane on an outer side thereof. Therefore, regardless of whether the chairs are stacked horizontally as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  or vertically as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the grooves ( 71 ), ( 72 ), ( 81 ), and ( 82 ) of the left and the right stacking blocks ( 7 ), ( 8 ) allow and facilitate the chairs to be stacked safely and stably. 
   The chair assembly capable of being stacked vertically and horizontally according to the invention has advantages as follows:
     1. Allowing the chairs with the structure to be stacked either horizontally or vertically.   2. Allowing the chairs to be aligned and connected together in an orderly manner via the hooks and slots disposed at two sides of the frame of the chairs.   3. The disposition of the stacking blocks allows the chairs to be stacked together safely and stably in both horizontal stacking and vertical stacking.   4. The chair assembly capable of being stacked vertically and horizontally of the invention is simple and facilitates the storage of the chairs.   5. The chair assembly of the invention allows a large number of chairs to be arranged easily by anyone.   6. The chair assembly of the invention achieves high cost-effectiveness in regard to the usage of the chairs.   

   Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described for purposes of illustration, it is understood that various changes and modifications to the described embodiment can be carried out without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.