Patent Publication Number: US-7717503-B1

Title: Collapsible chair apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to portable chair devices and more particularly pertains to a new portable chair device for providing an easily transportable and collapsible chair upon which a person may sit. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a frame that includes a plurality of legs. A plurality of braces is attached to and extends between pairs of the legs. The braces are hingedly coupled to the legs to allow the legs to be placed in a stored position positioned adjacent to each other or in a deployed position spaced from each other. Each of the legs has an upper end. A first panel is attached to the upper ends and defines a seat member for sitting upon when the legs are in the deployed position. Two of the legs define back legs. A pair of back supports is attached to and extends upwardly from the back legs. The back supports are positioned adjacent to each other when the legs are in the stored position and are spaced from each other when the legs are in the deployed position. A second panel is attached to and extends between the back supports to define a backrest. A lower securing strap has a first end and a second end. The first end of the lower securing strap is attached to one of the back legs. The lower securing strap is extended around the plurality of legs and coupled to itself by a securing member when the legs are in the stored position to releasably retain the legs in the stored position. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a collapsible chair apparatus according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a rear bottom perspective view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a rear view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a rear view of the present invention in a stored position. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 6  thereof, a new portable chair device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 6 , the collapsible chair apparatus  10  generally comprises a frame  12  including a plurality of legs  14 . A plurality of braces  16  is attached to and extends between pairs of the legs  14 . The braces  16  are hingedly coupled to the legs  14  to allow the legs  14  to be placed in a stored position positioned adjacent to each other or in a deployed position spaced from each other. The braces  16  each include a hinged end  18  and non-hinged end  20  that may be slidably coupled to one of the legs  14  or may be removable from the legs  14  when the legs  14  are placed in the stored position.  FIG. 6  depicts a version wherein the braces  16  are attached to sleeves  22  that are removable, though any conventional structure allowing the legs  14  to be collapsed against each other will generally be sufficient. Each of the legs  14  has an upper end  24 . Two of the legs  14  define back legs  26 . A first panel  28  is attached to the upper ends  24  and defines a seat member for sitting upon when the legs  14  are in the deployed position. The first panel  28  is comprised of a flexible material, such as a natural or synthetic cloth material. 
   A pair of back supports  30  is attached to and extends upwardly from the back legs  26 . The back supports  30  are positioned adjacent to each other when the legs  14  are in the stored position and are spaced from each other when the legs  14  are in the deployed position. The back supports  30  may be extensions of the back legs  26 . A second panel  32  is attached to and extends between the back supports  30  to define a backrest. The second panel  32  is comprised of a flexible material, such as a natural or synthetic cloth material. The second panel  32  is integrally coupled to the first panel  28 . 
   A lower securing strap  34  has a first end  36  and a second end  38 . The first end  36  of the lower securing strap  34  is attached to one of the back legs  26  and the lower securing strap  34  is extended around the plurality of legs  14  and coupled to itself by a securing member  40  when the legs  14  are in the stored position to releasably retain the legs  14  in the stored position. The securing member  40  may comprise a snap or a hook and loop securing member that includes a first mating member  42  attached to the lower securing strap  34  nearer to the first end  36  than the second end  38  and a second mating member  44  attached to the lower securing strap  34  nearer to the second end  38  than the first end  32 . 
   An upper securing strap  46  has a first end  48  and a second end  50 . The first end  48  of the upper securing strap  46  is attached to one of the back supports  30  and the upper securing strap  46  is extended around each of the back supports  30  and coupled to itself by a securing member  52  when the legs  14  are in the stored position. The securing member  52  of the upper securing strap  46  may comprise a snap or a hook and loop securing member including a first mating member  54  attached to the upper securing strap  46  nearer to the first end  48  than the second end  50  and a second mating member  56  attached to the upper securing strap  46  nearer to the second end  50  than the first end  48 . 
   A carrying strap  58  is attached to and extends between one of the back legs  26  and an adjacent one of the back supports  30 . The carrying strap  58  is accessible to carry the apparatus  10  when the legs  14  are in the stored position. The carrying strap  58  has a length of at least 24 inches and allows the apparatus  10  to be slung over a person&#39;s shoulder. The carrying strap  58  may be comprised of a resiliently compressible material. 
   A lower auxiliary mating member  60  is attached to the frame  12  and engages the second mating member  44  on the lower securing strap  34  when the legs  14  are in the deployed position. An upper auxiliary mating  62  member is attached to the second panel  32  and engages the second mating member  56  on the upper securing strap  46  when the legs  14  are in the deployed position. The lower  60  and upper  62  auxiliary mating members prevent the lower  34  and upper  46  securing straps from touching the ground when the legs  14  are in the deployed position. 
   In use, when the legs  14  are deployed, the apparatus  10  is used as a conventional chair. However, when the legs  14  are in the stored position, the carrying strap  58  as well as the lower  34  and upper  46  securing straps allow for a very easy to transport and each to store collapsible chair. 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.