Patent Publication Number: US-10758054-B2

Title: Double folding chair

Description:
The present invention claims priority from U.S. design patent application 29/670,749 filed Nov. 19, 2018 by same inventor Michael Wang entitled Double Camping Chair. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention in the field of camping chairs. 
     DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
     A variety of different double folding chairs are found in the prior art. 
     For example, in United States patent publication number U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,928A, entitled Joined Concertina Chairs by inventor Bryan F. Staunton, published Nov. 5, 1996, the abstract discloses, “A multiple folding chair arrangement particularly concerned with 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 chair multiples and comprising three or more rigid vertical support frames defining the sides of two or more chairs and having front and rear edges, two pairs of diagonally crossed members located, respectively, between the front and rear edge regions of each frame, each one of the pair of members being pivotally connected adjacent a lower end to a separate one of an adjacent frame and being pivotally joined to the other member at or near its midpoint, the upper ends of said two pairs of members defining a plane for a seat when the chair arrangement is in an erected seating configuration, and a brace pivotally connected adjacent to the upper ends of each member and pivotally connected to the adjacent support frame, the arrangement including hand grips associated with the upper end of one or more of each pair of members located at the rear of the chairs to enable the chairs to be folded whereby the frames are brought together into close proximity when the hand grips are gripped and raised.”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     For example, in United States patent publication number U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,103A, entitled Foldable Combination Chairs and Table by inventor Claude Barnhill, published Sep. 14, 1999 the abstract discloses, “A portable collapsible chair structure includes two chaise lounges with a table structure held therebetween. Each chaise lounge has a collapsible canopy, and can be folded up into a compact package. Each of the chaise lounges includes two clamping structures. One clamping structure connects each chaise lounge to opposite sides of the table structure and the outside clamping structure on each chaise lounge is arranged to be connected to that on the other chaise lounge. For a folding operation, each chaise lounge is folded into a compact package, then each is folded over the table and held by the outer clamping structures. This folding function is facilitated by the nature of the clamping structures which include variable extensions.”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     For example, in United States patent publication number US20080100107A1, entitled Folding Chair by inventor Howard Lee, published Nov. 16, 1999, the abstract discloses, “A folding chair having: a frame consisting of a pair of front crossed legs; a pair of back crossed legs; and two pairs of side crossed legs, each pair of crossed legs pivotally connected together where they cross. The lower ends of the front legs and the lower, front ends of the side legs are pivotally connected to first and second lower, front pads. The lower ends of the back legs and the lower, back ends of the side legs are pivotally connected to first and second lower, back pads. The upper ends of the back legs and the upper, back ends of the side legs are pivotally connected to first and second upper, back pads. The upper ends of the front legs and the upper, front ends of the side legs are pivotally connected to first and second upper, front pads. The upper ends of the front legs slidably pass through the first and second upper front pads, the upper ends bent to form hand rests above the upper front pads. The upper, front, ends of the side legs are pivotally connected to the upper front pads. Flexible seat means are connected to the frame with the corners at the four upper pads.”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     For example, in United States patent publication number U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,119B1, entitled Foldable Dual-Chair by inventor Edward Zheng, published May 15, 2001, the abstract discloses, “A foldable dual-chair includes a pair of seat frames and a pair of back frame constructed to support a pair of fabric seats thereon respectively wherein a connecting frame is foldably supported between the two seat frames. The connecting frame includes a pair connecting leg posts each having an outer tube frame and an inner tube frame upwardly extended therefrom in a vertical movable manner. So, the connecting leg posts are capably of slidably adjusting their height in such a manner the foldable dual-chair is capable of folding up into a compact unit for easy storage and carriage.”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     For example, in United States patent publication number US20040207240A1, entitled Collapsible Wheeled Dual-Chair by inventor David Tondino, published Oct. 21, 2004, the abstract discloses, “A collapsible dual-chair with trolley has a frame configuration which includes a plurality of tubular legs pivotally connected by pins and joined together by pivotal joint members. The frame configuration is collapsible and forms a dual-seat support when fully opened. A rigid base having wheels is mounted to a joint member and is attached to the frame configuration at a low end thereof such that the frame configuration can be converted into a trolley mode to transport especially when collapsed.”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     For example, in United States patent publication number U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,406A, entitled Folding Chair Having Integrated Audio Port by inventor Ray N. Paslawski, published May 1, 2008, the abstract discloses, “A foldable outdoor chair for supporting at least one person. The chair comprises a framework for supporting the person. The framework, in turn, comprises at least two vertical posts having a plurality of crossbraces attached thereto such that the crossbraces and posts are moveable to convert the chair from a first unfolded position wherein the chair is adapted for seating and a second folded position wherein the chair is adapted for transportation. A flexible fabric is supported from the frame work. The fabric is adapted to provide both a seating surface and a seat back and defines at least one cutout in the seat back the cutout comprising a turned and bound periphery. When the chair is in the transportation mode, the seating surface and seat back are folded. A speaker is attached through the cutout and over the turned and bound periphery. An audio port comprising a plate is attached to one of a flexible, fabric arm rest, the seating surface of the chair and the seat back of the chair. The audio port is placed in a position whereby the person seated in the chair can access the audio port without turning in the chair and without rising from a seated position. A flexible baglike receptacle is attached to one of the flexible fabric arm rest and the flexible fabric seating surface. The receptacle is physically adapted to hold its contents inwardly from an outer periphery of the chair when the chair is in the folded position to protect the contents of the receptacle from damage.”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     For example, in United States patent publication number US2004/0207237A1, entitled Combination of One Table and Two Chairs for Two Persons by inventor Libin Chen, published Oct. 21, 2014, the abstract discloses, “A combination of one table and two chairs for two persons includes two folding chairs and one folding table. Each of the folding chairs include arm tubes, front crossed tubes, back-rest tubes, Seating frame tubes, rear crossed tubes, and a chair surface fabric. The folding table includes front vertical tubes, front crossed tubes, rear Vertical tubes, rear crossed tubes, and a table surface fabric. The arm tubes are connected cross-wise to the front crossed tubes, and the crossed connection point is provided with a reinforced block. The Seating frame tubes are connected cross-wise to the back-rest tubes, and the arm tubes are connected to the front ends of the Seating frame tubes via U-shaped hinging elements. The upper portions of the rear crossed tubes are connected to the back-rest tubes, and the lower portions thereof are connected to the Seating frame tubes.”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A double folding chair has a left chair with a left chair front inside foot and a left chair front inside joint. A left chair front cross brace supports the a left chair front inside joint above the left chair front inside foot. The left chair front cross brace unfolds to an expanded configuration. A right chair has a right chair front inside foot and a right chair front inside joint. A right chair front cross brace supports the right chair front inside joint above the right chair front inside foot. The right chair front cross brace unfolds to an expanded configuration. An upper hinge connects the right chair front inside joint to the left chair front inside joint. A lower hinge connects the right chair front inside foot to the left chair front inside foot. A middle mesh panel connects the left chair to the right chair. The middle mesh panel connects between a right chair backrest panel and a left chair backrest panel. 
     The double folding chair also has a right drink pocket formed on a right drink flap of a right arm rest. The right arm rest connects at a right arm rest connects to the right chair. The right drink pocket is made of mesh. A left drink pocket formed on a left drink flap of a left arm rest. The left arm rest is connected at a left arm rest that connects to the left chair. The left drink pocket is made of mesh. The double folding chair also has a right seat panel strap that connects to a left seat panel strap. The right seat panel strap is anchored between a right strap inside anchor and a right strap outside anchor. The right seat panel strap and the left seat panel strap are attached underneath a front edge of the right seat and the left seat. The left seat panel strap is mounted between a left strap inside anchor. The double folding chair also has a right mesh panel that connects the right arm rest to the seat panel and the backrest panel and a left mesh panel that connects the left arm rest to the seat panel and the backrest panel. 
     The double folding chair also has a footing upper hinge arm formed on the right chair front inside foot and a footing lower hinge arm is formed on the left chair front inside foot. The footing upper hinge arm is bolted to the footing lower hinge arm. A left chair front inside foot inside cross brace flange is formed on the left chair front inside foot. The left chair front inside foot inside cross brace flange is hinged to a left chair inside a cross brace and a right chair front inside foot inside cross brace flange is formed on the right chair front inside foot. The right chair front inside foot inside cross brace flange is hinged to a right chair inside cross brace. The double folding chair also has an upper hinge first hinge arm formed on the right chair front inside joint and an upper hinge second hinge arm formed on the left chair front inside joint. The upper hinge first hinge arm is hinged to the upper hinge second hinge arm. A right chair front inside joint inside cross brace flange is formed on the right chair front inside joint. The right chair front inside joint is hinged to a right chair inside cross brace. A left chair front inside joint inside cross brace flange is formed on the left chair front inside joint. The left chair front inside joint is hinged to a left chair inside cross brace. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a right side view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a left side view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a rear left view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a close-up detail view of the lower hinge. 
         FIG. 9  a close-up detail view of the upper hinge. 
     
    
    
     The following call out list of elements can be a useful guide in referencing the element numbers of the drawings.
       21  right chair     22  left chair     20  double chair     23  right drink pocket     24  left drink pocket     25  right armrest     26  left armrest     27  right armrest connection     28  left armrest connection     29  middle mesh panel     31  bundle strap     32  shoulder strap     33  left chair outside post     34  left chair inside post     35  right chair inside post     36  right chair outside post     37  mesh middle panel right overlap     38  mesh middle panel left overlap     39  backrest panel sectional stitching     41  right chair front outside foot     42  right chair front inside foot     43  left chair front inside foot     44  left chair from outside foot     51  right chair front outside joint     52  right chair front inside joint     53  left chair front inside joint     54  left chair front outside joint     55  right chair rear outside joint     56  right chair rear inside joint     57  left chair rear inside joint     58  left chair rear outside joint     59  bottle opener     64  right mesh panel     65  left mesh panel     66  right drink flap     67  left drink flap     68  lower hinge     69  upper hinge     71  right seat panel strap     72  left seat panel strap     73  left strap outside anchor     74  right strap outside anchor     75  left strap inside anchor     76  right strap inside anchor     81  Right chair front cross brace     82  left chair front cross brace     83  right chair rear cross brace     84  left chair rear cross brace     85  right chair outside cross brace     86  right chair inside cross brace     87  left chair inside cross brace     88  left chair outside cross brace     91  footing upper hinge arm     92  footing lower hinge arm     93  footing bolt     94  lower hinge nut     95  lower hinge nut recess     96  upper hinge first hinge arm     97  upper hinge second hinge arm     98  upper hinge bolt     99  upper hinge nut     90  upper binge nut recess     101  right chair front inside foot front cross brace flange     102  left chair front inside foot front cross brace flange     103  right chair front inside foot inside cross brace flange     104  left chair front inside foot inside cross brace flange     105  right chair front inside foot front cross brace flange rivet     106  left chair front inside foot front cross brace flange rivet     107  right chair front inside foot inside cross brace flange rivet     108  left chair front inside foot inside cross brace flange rivet     111  right chair front inside joint front cross brace flange     112  left chair front inside joint front cross brace flange     113  right chair front inside joint inside cross brace flange     114  left chair front inside joint inside cross brace flange     115  right chair front inside joint front cross brace flange     116  left chair front inside joint front cross brace flange     117  right chair front inside joint inside cross brace flange     118  left chair front inside joint inside cross brace flange   

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As seen in  FIG. 1 , the double folding chair  20  has a right chair  21  connected to a left chair  22 . Both chairs fold from an expanded position to a collapsed position. The right chair  21  has a right drink pocket  23  attached to a right armrest  25 . The left chair  22  has a left armrest  26  with a left drink pocket  24 . The left armrest  26  is connected to the left armrest connection  28  on a left side of the left chair  22 . Similarly, the right armrest connection  27  connects the right armrest  25  to a right side of the right chair  21 . A middle mesh panel  29  connects the left side of the right chair  21  to the right side of the left chair  22 . The middle mesh panel  29  is preferably a double layered open mesh allowing airflow through it while capable of retaining articles. 
     The left chair  22  and the right chair  21  both have a backrest panel  62  and a seat  63  such that there is a left chair backrest panel, a left chair seat, a right chair backrest panel and a right chair seat. The middle mesh panel  29  preferably is attached at a middle mesh panel right overlap  37  and a middle mesh panel left overlap  38 . The mesh middle panel left overlap  38  connects to the right side of the left chair and preferably has an overlapping mesh hem. Similarly, the mesh middle panel right overlap  37  also preferably has an overlapping mesh hem. 
     The left chair and the right chair both have a plurality of swivel joints that can be made of plastic and receiving rivets to tubular steel frame members that are folding and in swivel connection on the rivets. The right chair  21  has a right chair front outside joint  51 , and a right chair front inside joint  52 . The right chair  21  also has a right chair front outside foot  41  and the right chair front inside foot  42 . The right chair front outside foot  41  is mounted below the right chair front outside joint  51 . The right chair front inside foot  42  is mounted below the right chair front inside joint  52 . The left chair  22  has a left chair front inside joint  53  and a left chair front outside joint  54 . It also has a left chair front inside foot  43  and a left chair front outside foot  44 . The left chair front inside foot  43  is mounted below the left chair front inside joint  53 . The left chair front outside foot  44  is mounted below the left chair front outside joint  54 . 
     An upper hinge  69  is formed between the right chair front inside joint  52  and the left chair front inside joint  53 . A lower hinge  68  is formed between the right chair front inside foot  42  and the left chair front inside foot  43 . The upper hinge  69  and the lower hinge  68  preferably have the same range of motion to allow the left chair and the right chair to swivel relative to each other, so that the chairs can face each other at an angle in a arc-shaped configuration, and then face the same direction in a parallel configuration. 
     As seen in  FIG. 2 , the pair of chairs can be retained in the folded position by a bundle strap  31 . The bundle strap  31  connects to the seat  63 , or the backrest panel  62  in a manner such as stitching. The bundle strap  31  wraps around the pair of chairs in folded position and locks with a bundle strap buckle  37 . Additionally, the pair of chairs can be carried by a shoulder strap. The shoulder strap can be stitched to the backrest panel  62 . The backrest panel  62  may additionally include backrest panel sectional stitching  39  with padding held between a pair of layers, namely a rear layer and a front layer. The left chair has a left chair outside post  33  and a left chair inside post  34 . The left chair outside post  33  extends downwardly to engage to a left chair rear outside foot  48 . The left chair inside post  34  extends downwardly to engage to a left chair rear inside foot  47 . The left chair outside post  33  passes through a left chair rear outside joint  58 , and the left chair inside post  34  passes through a left chair rear inside joint  57 . Therefore, the left chair rear outside joint  58  and the left chair rear inside joint  57  both slide along their respective posts while being supported by their respective foot. 
     The right chair has a right chair inside post  35  and a right chair outside post  36 . The right chair inside post  35  extends through the right chair rear inside joint  56  downwardly to abut the right chair rear inside foot  46 . Similarly, the right chair outside post  36  extends through the right chair rear outside joint  55  downwardly to the right chair rear outside foot  45 . Additionally, a bottle opener  59  can be added to each of the armrests. The left chair rear outside foot  48  is mounted below the left chair rear outside joint  58 . The left chair rear inside foot is mounted below the left chair rear inside joint  57 . The right chair rear inside foot  46  is mounted below the right chair rear inside joint  56 . The right chair rear outside foot  45  is mounted below the right chair rear outside joint  55 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 3, 4, 7 , the right chair has a right mesh panel  64  below the right arm rest. The right arm rest extends to a right drink flap  66 . The left chair has a left mesh panel  65  below the left arm rest. The left arm rest extends to a left drink flap  67 . The drink pockets are mounted to the drink flaps. The drink flaps are solid fabric sheets, but the drink pockets have open mesh. 
     As seen in  FIG. 5 , a right chair front cross brace  81  extends across and between the right chair front outside foot  41  and the right chair front inside foot  42 . The left chair front cross brace  82  extends across and between the left chair front outside foot  44  and the left chair front inside foot  43 . The left chair rear cross brace  84  connects between the left chair rear inside foot  47  and the left chair rear outside foot  48 . Similarly, the right chair rear cross brace  83  connects between the right chair rear inside foot  46  and the right chair rear outside foot  45 . 
     The left chair inside cross brace  87  connects between the left chair front inside foot  43  and the left chair rear inside foot  47 . The right chair inside cross brace  86  connects between the right chair front inside foot  42  and the right chair rear inside foot  46 . The right chair outside cross brace  85  connects between the right chair rear outside foot  45  and the right chair front outside foot  41 . The left chair outside cross brace  55  connects between the left chair front outside foot  44  and the left chair rear outside foot  48 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 6 , the top view of the invention shows a reinforcement strap structure. A right seat panel strap  71  connects to a left seat panel strap  72 . The right seat panel strap  71  is anchored between a right strap inside anchor  76  and a right strap outside anchor  74 . The right strap outside anchor  74  is formed underneath a front edge of the seat  63 . The right seat panel strap  71  is also formed on a front edge of the seat  63 . The right strap outside anchor  74  anchors a loop that ties around or loops around the right chair front outside joint  51 . The left seat panel strap  72  is mounted between a left strap inside anchor  75  and a left strap outside anchor  73 . The left strap outside anchor  73  anchors a left loop of the left seat panel strap  72  underneath the front edge of the seat  63 . The left loop loops around the left chair front outside joint  54 . The reinforcement strap structure thus reinforces the strength between the supports of the seat  63 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 8 , the lower hinge  68  has a number of details including five pivoting joint connections that could be implemented by bolts or rivets or the like. Footing lower hinge arm  92  and the footing upper hinge arm  91  are connected at a footing bolt  93  which forms an axis of rotation. The footing bolt  93  has a lower hinge nut  94  held within a lower hinge nut recess  95  which retains the lower hinge nut  94 . The footing upper hinge arm  91  extends to a right chair front inside foot cross brace flange  103  which receives a right chair front inside foot inside cross brace flange rivet  107  that provides a pivoting connection to the right chair inside cross brace  86 . Similarly, the right chair front inside foot front cross brace flange  101  receives a pivoting connection to the right chair front cross brace  81  at a right chair front inside foot front cross brace flange rivet  105 . The left chair front inside foot inside cross brace flange  104  extends from the footing lower hinge arm  92  and is pivotally connected at the left chair front inside foot inside cross brace flange rivet  108  to the left chair inside cross brace  87 . The left chair front inside foot front cross brace flange  102  is pivotally connected by the left chair front inside foot front cross brace flange rivet  106  to the left chair front cross brace  82 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 9 , the upper hinge  69  has an upper hinge first hinge arm  96  mounted above an upper hinge second binge arm  97 . The upper hinge  69  has an upper hinge nut recess  90  that receives an upper hinge nut  99 . The upper hinge nut  99  engages an upper hinge bolt  98  to form the pivoting axis for the upper hinge  69 . The upper hinge second hinge arm  97  is preferably mounted below the upper hinge first hinge arm  96  such that the upper hinge first hinge arm  96  has a bottom surface that is flat that abuts a flat surface of the upper surface of the upper hinge second hinge arm  97 . 
     The right chair front inside joint front cross brace flange  111  is pivotally connected by a right chair front inside joint front cross brace flange rivet  115  to a right chair front cross brace  81 . The left chair front inside joint front cross brace flange  112  is pivotally connected by a left chair front inside joint front cross brace flange rivet  116  to a left chair front cross brace  82 . The right chair front inside joint inside cross brace flange  113  is pivotally connected by a right chair front inside joint inside cross brace flange rivet  117 . The left chair front inside joint inside cross brace flange  114  is pivotally connected by a left chair front inside joint inside cross brace flange rivet  118  to the left chair inside cross brace  87 .