Patent Publication Number: US-2006001242-A1

Title: Collapsible chair

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
      This invention relates to a collapsible chair that can be pulled by a handle in either a collapsed position or in an uncollapsed, open position. In particular, it relates to a chair that has wheels on the back legs, that collapses by having the sides move towards the center, and that has a handle for pulling the chair when it is open or collapsed.  
      There are many outdoor events that require people to bring their own chairs. These include concerts, picnics, and sporting events, such as soccer matches. Many people find it cumbersome to lug their own chairs to and from such events, even if they are physically capable of doing so. If parents attend with children, they may have to bring along chairs for themselves and their children, in addition to food, drinks, sports equipment, and other items. A single adult may find it impossible to carry everything in a single trip and may have to make more than one trip. This can be very inconvenient, especially when the parking area is a considerable distance away from the event.  
      Collapsible chairs have lessened this burden somewhat. Made of tubing with fabric seats and backs, they are lightweight and do not take up much space when collapsed. However, a person with children may still have to carry many of these chairs, in addition to all sorts of other items. Furthermore, companies are producing deluxe collapsible chairs that have more features are them; these chairs are heavier and even more difficult to carry.  
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
      I have invented a collapsible chair that has wheels on it and can be pulled either when it is collapsed or when it is open. The chair is provided with a handle with which it can be pulled and the handle adjusts to either the collapsed or open position of the chair. If the chair is pulled when it is open, various items can be placed on the seat and they are prevented from falling off the seat by netting between the arms of the chair and the seat.  
      Children, who otherwise may not be able to carry a collapsible chair, are usually capable of pulling the chair of this invention. And, because drinks, food, and sporting equipment can be placed on the seat of the chair and the chair can be pulled in an open position, it may not be necessary to carry any items at all. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view showing of a certain presently preferred embodiment of a collapsible chair according to this invention in an open position.  
       FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the chair shown in  FIG. 1  in a collapsed position.  
       FIG. 3  is a rear view of the collapsible chair of  FIG. 1  in an open position, but with a double lock on the rear legs.  
       FIG. 4  is a rear view of the collapsible chair shown in  FIG. 3  in a collapsed position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      In FIGS.  1  to  4 , collapsible chair  1  is made of rigid elongated members  2  to which is attached flexible seat  3 , arm rests  4 , and back  5 . Chair  1  is also provided with wheels  6 , a handle  7 , and netting  8 .  
      Rigid elongated members  2  are preferably tubular to reduce weight. They are preferably made of steel or aluminum but may also be made of other materials, such as plastic or fiberglass. In more detail, each front leg  9  of chair  1  is a pair of members  2  that are attached to a front foot connector  10 . One member in each pair is attached to the front seat connector  11  on the opposite side of chair  1  and the other member in each pair is attached to a back seat connector  12  on the same side of chair  1 . One of the members  2  that is attached to a front seat connector  11  may extend beyond that front seat connector to support arm rest  4 .  
      Each back leg  13  of chair  1  has a pair of members  2  that are attached to a back foot connector  14 . One member in each back leg pair is attached to a front seat connector  11  on the same side of chair  1  and the other member in each pair is attached to a back seat connector  12  on the opposite side of chair  1 . All pairs of leg members are rotatably attached to front and back foot and seat connectors so that they can rotate in orthogonal planes (i.e., in planes that are 90 degrees apart). Pins  15  rotatably connect front and back leg members  2  where they cross. Each back leg  13  also includes a third member  16  that is fixed to back foot connector  14 , is slidably connected to back seat connector  12 , extends upward to support back  5 , and connects to handle  7 . When chair  1  is collapsed, all of the diagonal leg members  2  move so that they are parallel, or almost parallel, as shown in  FIG. 2 . This invention also applies to other types of collapsible chairs, where all of the members that form the legs move to a more aligned position when the chair is collapsed. For an example of a collapsible chair, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,138, herein incorporated by reference.  
      Seat  3 , arm rests  4 , and back  5  are made of a flexible material, such as woven fabric or plastic sheeting. The material may be canvas, cotton, or various synthetic polymers, such as polyamide, polyester, or polycarbonate. Seat  3  may be attached to front seat connectors  11  and back seat connectors  12 . Back  5  may be an extension of seat  3 ; i.e., seat  3  and back  5  may be a single piece. Back  5  may be attached to third members  16  by sleeves through which the third members pass, by rivets, or by other means.  
      Wheels  6  may be a pair of wheels or a single wheel on each back leg. They are preferably attached behind third member  16  so that they do not touch the ground and do not bear weight except when the chair is tipped for pulling, as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
      Handle  7  is attached between third members  16 . Handle  7  is preferably perpendicular to third members  16 , both when the chair is open and when it is collapsed so that the chair can be pulled by handle  7  in either condition. Handle  7  may be made of a flexible material, but it is preferably rigid and tubular. If handle  7  is rigid, then when chair  1  is collapsed, handle  7  collapses as well. This may be accomplished, for example, if handle  7  telescopes, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3  where handle  7  is made of three tubes  17 ,  18 , and  19 . Tube  17  has an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of  18  and tube  18  has an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of tube  19 , so that tube  18  slides inside tube  19  and tube  17  slides inside tube  18 . Handle  7  may also be made of two rigid pieces hinged together at one end and rotatably attached to third members  16  at the other end. While handle  7  is preferably permanently attached to both third members  16 , handle  7  may also be a single piece that is rotatably attached to one third member  16  and is releaseably attached to the other third member  16 . A soft cover may enclose handle  7 , if desired.  
      Preferably, handle  7  is also extendable towards and away from chair  1 , so that it can be positioned closer to chair  1  to enable children can pull it more easily and then extended to a position farther from chair  1  for adults. This may also be accomplished by sliding one tube inside of another, using a lock to hold the handle in different positions, such as a button attached to the inside tube that a spring pushes into an aperture in the outside tube.  
      Netting  8  prevents items placed on seat  3  from falling off when chair  1  is being pulled by handle  7 . Netting  8  is attached to seat  3  and to arms rests  4  and is preferably also attached to back  5  so that items cannot fall between netting  7  and back  5 . Netting  7  may have spacings of about ⅛ to about 1½ inches, but the spacings are preferably about ¼ to about ¾ inches.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , chair  1  is also preferably provided with a two-way lock  20 , which can prevent chair  1  from opening if it is collapsed and can also prevent chair  1  from collapsing when it is being used to transport items. Lock  20  is formed from two arms  21  and  22 , rotatably joined together and rotatably attached to two back leg members  2  that extend between back foot connectors  14  and back seat connectors  12 . A hook  23  is rotatably attached to member  2  where arm  21  is attached. Hook  23  may be inserted into aperture  24  in arm  1  to lock the chair in a collapsed position, as shown in  FIG. 4 . A second hook  25  is rotatably attached at the juncture of arms  21  and  22 . Hook  25  has a nub  26  at one end, which snaps under arm  22  to lock the chair in an open position, as shown in  FIG. 3 . Other means of locking the chair may also be used.