Patent Publication Number: US-6209951-B1

Title: Portable, foldable chair

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a portable, foldable chair. More specifically, the present invention relates to a portable, foldable chair which has a pair of arm rests with cup holders, a leg rest adjustably assembled to the frame, and a head rest adjustably assembled to the frame. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A portable, foldable chair is very useful in a garden of a house, or outdoors. In this specification, a portable, foldable chair is called “a foldable chair” hereinafter. A foldable chair is usually assembled with a chair frame made of hollow steel pipes and a seat cloth assembled thereon. Of course, the chair frame can be made of various materials such as hollow plastic pipes or hollow aluminium pipes as well as hollow steel pipes. The seat cloth is a woven fabric of a sufficient strength. The Oxford cloth woven with nylon 6 filament yarn is preferably used for the seat cloth. 
     Conventional foldable chairs are not comfortable because they consist of a foldable frame and a seat cloth assembled thereon. In other words, conventional foldable chairs are not equipped with a pair of arm rests which would make the user comfortable when seated. Although arm rests are very popular components in regular chairs. In particular, as a foldable chair is used when taking a rest in a garden or outdoors, it is important to equip the foldable chair with a pair of arm rests. 
     Accordingly, a need exists for a portable, foldable chair which can be used comfortably and conveniently and, which can overcome the drawbacks of conventional foldable chairs. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a foldable chair having a pair of arm rests with a cup holder, which is comfortable and useful. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable chair adjustably assembled with a leg rest which can make the user comfortable by stretching the user&#39;s legs when taking a rest. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a foldable chair adjustably assembled with a leg rest which can be easily disassembled from and assembled to the frame of the foldable chair, and is not easily disassembled from the frame during use, in other words, when the foldable chair is unfolded. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a foldable chair further comprising a head rest which is adjustable. 
     The above and other objects of this invention may be accomplished by the following description of this invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A foldable chair according to the present invention comprises a frame  1  comprising four connectors  11   a ,  11   b ,  12   a  and  12   b  for contacting the ground, eight slant supports  16   a ,  16   b ,  17   a ,  17   b ,  17   c ,  17   d ,  17   e  and  17   f  which are hinged with said connectors, two vertical supports  15   a  and  15   b  fixedly jointed to the connectors  11   a  and  11   b , two front fixing connectors  14   a  and  14   b  fixed to the supports  16   a  and  16   b  and hinged with the supports  17   b  and  17   f , and two rear sliding connectors  13   a  and  13   b  which slide up and down along the vertical supports  15   a  and  15   b  and are hinged with the supports  17   a ,  17   c  and the supports  17   d  and  17   e ; a seat cloth  2  comprising a pair of eyelets  21   a  and  21   b  for inserting the straight ends  161   a  and  161   b  of the supports  16   a  and  16   b , respectively, a pair of eyelets  22   a  and  22   b  for inserting the vertical supports  15   a  and  15   b , a pair of sheaths  23   a ,  23   b  for receiving the inclined ends  151   a  and  151   b , respectively, and a pair of covers  24   a  and  24   b  for covering the sheaths  23   a  and  23   b ; and a pair of arm rests  5  comprising a belt  52  for an arm rest having eyelet  54  for inserting the vertical support  15   b , and a cup holder  51  which receives the straight end  161   a  and is fixed to the straight end  161   a  with a bolt  56 . 
     The foldable chair according to the present invention further comprises a leg rest  3  comprising two leg supports  31   a  and  31   b  which are crosswise hinged and hinged with connecting members  35   a  and  35   b , respectively, a leg cloth  34 , a pair of belts  32   a  and  32   b  fixed with the leg cloth  34 , and a pair of hangers  33   a  and  33   b  connected to the belts  32   a  and  32   b , respectively. 
     The foldable chair of the present invention further comprises a head rest  4  comprising a head support  41 , a pair of sheaths  42   a  and  42   b , and a pair of rods  43   a  and  43   b  which are inserted into the sheaths  42   a  and  42   b , respectively. The head rest  4  is adjustably assembled by inserting the rods  43   a  and  43   b  into the inclined ends  151   a  and  151   b  of the vertical supports  51   a  and  51   b.    
     The following description explains in detail a portable, foldable chair of the present invention in reference with attached drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable chair in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a frame of a foldable chair in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a seat cloth to be assembled to the frame of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an arm rest to be assembled to the frame of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a leg rest to be assembled to the frame of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a head rest to be assembled to the frame of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 7 is a dismantled perspective view of a rear connector  11   a  for a foldable chair of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a dismantled perspective view of a front connector  12   b  for a foldable chair of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the connection of a front connector  12   b  while the chair frame and the leg rest are folded; and 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the connection of a front connector  12   b  while the chair frame and the leg rest are unfolded. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a portable, foldable chair which has a pair of arm rests with cup holders, a leg rest adjustably assembled to the frame, and a head rest adjustably assembled to the frame. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable, foldable chair in accordance with the present invention. The foldable chair comprises a frame  1  made of steel or plastic hollow pipes connected with connectors, a seat cloth  2  assembled with the frame, a pair of arm rests  5  having cup holders  51 , a leg rest  3  adjustably assembled to the frame  1 , and a head rest  4  adjustably assembled to the rear upper part of the frame  1 . FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a frame  1  of a portable, foldable chair in accordance with the present invention. In FIG. 2, leg supports  31   a  and  31   b  for a leg rest  3  are included. The chair frame  1  of FIG. 2 consists of four connectors  11   a ,  11   b ,  12   a  and  12   b  for contacting on the ground, eight slant supports  16   a ,  16   b ,  17   a ,  17   b ,  17   c ,  17   d ,  17   e  and  17   f  which are hinged with said connectors, two vertical supports  15   a  and  15   b  fixedly jointed to the connectors  11   a  and  11   b , two front fixing connectors  14   a  and  14   b  fixed to the supports  16   a  and  16   b  and hinged with the supports  17   b  and  17   f , and two rear sliding connectors  13   a  and  13   b  which slide up and down along the vertical supports  15   a  and  15   b  and are hinged with the supports  17   a ,  17   c  and the supports  17   d  and  17   e;    
     A rear connector  11   a  is hinged with a rear support  17   c  and a side support  17   f , and receives a vertical support  15   a  to join fixedly. The vertical support is joined with a bolt (not depicted), which can be easily understood to an ordinary skilled person in the art. A rear connector  11   b  is hinged with a rear support  17   d  and a side support  17   b , and receives a vertical support  15   b  to join fixedly. 
     A front connector  12   a  is hinged with a side support  17   e  and a front support  16   a , and is assembled with or disassembled from a leg support  31   a . A front connector  12   b  is hinged with a side support  17   a  and a front support  16   b , and is assembled with or disassembled from a leg support  31   b.    
     A front fixing connector  14   a  is fixedly assembled to a front support  16   b , and is hinged with a side support  17   f . A front fixing connector  14   b  is fixedly assembled to a front support  16   a , and is hinged with a side support  17   b.    
     A rear sliding connector  13   a  is hinged with a side support  17   e  and a rear support  17   d , receives a vertical support  15   a , and slides up and down along the vertical support when folding and unfolding a chair. A rear sliding connector  13   b  is hinged with a side support  17   a  and a rear support  17   c , receives a vertical support  15   b , and slides up and down along the vertical support when folding and unfolding a chair. 
     The front supports  16   a  and  16   b , side supports  17   a  and  17   b , rear supports  17   c  and  17   d , and side supports  17   e  and  17   f  are crosswise hinged with each other at the central part of them and make the chair foldable or unfoldable. 
     The front supports  16   a  and  16   b  are extended to form straight ends  161   a  and  161   b , respectively, and the straight ends receive each cup holder  51  and joined together with a bolt  56 . 
     The vertical supports  15   a  and  15   b  are extended to form inclined ends  151   a  and  151   b , respectively, and the inclined ends receive the rods  43   a  and  43   b  of the head rest  4 . 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a seat cloth  2  to be assembled to the frame of FIG.  2 . 
     The seat cloth has a pair of eyelets  21   b ,  21   a  at the front edge for inserting the straight ends  161   a  and  161   b  of the supports  16   a  and  16   b , respectively, and positioning on the front fixing connectors  14   a  and  14   b . Cloth covers (not depicted) for covering the front fixing connectors  14   a  and  14   b  can be formed at the lower part of said eyelets  21   b  and  21   a , respectively. 
     The seat cloth has a pair of eyelets  22   a  and  22   b  at the rear edge for inserting the vertical supports  15   a  and  15   b , respectively, and positioning on the rear sliding connectors  13   a  and  13   b . Cloth covers (not depicted) for covering the rear sliding connectors  13   a  and  13   b  can be formed at the lower part of said eyelets  22   a  and  22   b , respectively. 
     The seat cloth is formed at the upper pedge with a pair of sheaths  23   a  and  23   b  for receiving the inclined ends  151   a  and  151   b , respectively, and with a pair of covers  24   a  and  24   b  for covering the sheaths  23   a  and  23   b . A head rest of FIG. 6 is assembled by inserting the rods  43   a  and  43   b  into the hollow pipes of inclined ends  151   a  and  151   b . When the head rest is not assembled, the covers  24   a  and  24   b  wrap the sheaths  23   a  and  23   b  with a button or velcro. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an arm rest  5  to be assembled to a straight end  161   a  and a vertical support  15   b  at the both ends. The arm rest comprises a cup holder  51  and a belt  52 . A straight end  161   a  is inserted into the hole  53  of cup holder  51 , the hole is assembled with a straight end  161   a  by a bolt  56 . An end of belt  52  has an eyelet  54  for inserting a vertical support  15   b  into the eyelet  54 . An elastic support  55  is attached to a lower part of a belt  52  to provide the arm rest with elasticity. The cup holder is a molded article manufactured with a resin composition. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a leg rest  3  which can be additionally assembled to the foldable chair of the present invention. The leg rest comprises two crossingly hinged leg supports  31   a  and  31   b  which are each hinged with connecting members  35   a  and  35   b , respectively, a leg cloth  34  in which the two leg supports  31   a  and  31   b  are received by each sheath (not depicted); a pair of belts  32   a  and  32   b  connected to said cloth  34 ; and a pair of hangers  33   a  and  33   b  connected to the belts. Connecting members  35   a  and  35   b  are each assembled to the front connectors  12   a  and  12   b , respectively. The hangers  33   a  and  33   b  are each assembled to the front supports  16   b  and  16   a , respectively, which is easily carried out by an ordinary skilled person in the art. The hangers  33   a  and  33   b  are recommended to be made of plastic material with elasticity. A leg cloth  34 , like seat cloth  2 , is recommended to be made of the Oxford cloth. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a head rest  4  to be adjustably assembled to the foldable chair of the present invention. The head rest comprises a head support  41 , a pair of sheaths  42   a  and  42   b  which are connected to said head support  41 , and a pair of rods  43   a  and  43   b  to be inserted into the sheaths at the one end and to be adjustably inserted into inclined ends  151   a  and  151   b . A head support  41  can be made cushiony by filling it with material like a sponge. 
     FIG. 7 is a dismantled perspective view of a rear connector  11   a  for a foldable chair of the present invention. A vertical support  15   a  is inserted into the cavity  111  of the rear connector  11   a  and is fixed with a bolt (not illustrated). The side support  17   f  is inserted into the cavity  112  and is hinged with a rivet  114 . The rear support  17   c  is inserted into the cavity  113  and is hinged with an inserting member  511 , a screw rivet  117  and a bolt  118 . The rear connector  11   b  is what a rear connector  11   a  is rotated clockwise by 90°. 
     FIG. 8 is a dismantled perspective view of a front connector  12   b  for a foldable chair of the present invention. At the cavity  121  of the front connector  12   b  is the side support  17   a  hinged, and at the cavity  122  is the front support  16   b  hinged, and at the cavity  123  is the locking member  126  of the connecting member  35   b  inserted through groove  124 . The connecting member  35   b  is hinged with the support  31   b  of the leg rest  3  by a screw rivet  127  and a bolt  128 . The locking member  126  of the connecting member  35   b  passes through the groove  124  and reaches to the cavity  125 , and then when the leg rest  3  is spread out from the chair, the locking member  126  rotates together with a connecting member  35   b , and does not align with the groove  124 . Accordingly, the leg rest  3  does not separate from the chair while it is spread out from the chair. The operation described above is well shown in FIG.  9  and FIG.  10 . The front connector  12   a  is what a front connector  12   b  is rotated clockwise by 90°. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the connection of a front connector  12   b  while the chair frame and the leg rest  3  are folded. The front support  16   b , side support  17   a , and leg support  31   b  are assembled to the front connector  12   b , and they become almost vertical to the front connector  12   b  while the chair is folded. The locking member  126  of the connecting member  35   b  is aligned with the groove  124  of the front connector  12   b  and passes through the groove  124 . The front support  16   b , side support  17   a , and leg support  31   b  lay obliquely while the chair is unfolded. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the connection of the front connector  12   b  while the chair frame  1  and the leg rest  3  are unfolded. Namely, FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the front connector  12   b  of FIG. 9 when the chair frame and the leg rest are unfolded. The front support  16   b  and side support  17   a  are hinged to lay obliquely. When the support  31   b  is laid obliquely, the connecting member  35   b  hinged with the support  31   b  is rotated clockwise, resulting in the connecting member  35   b  not being separated from the front connector  12   b . When the support  31   a  is laid obliquely, the connecting member  35   a  (not illustrated) hinged with the support  31   a  is rotated counterclockwise, resulting that the connecting member  35   a  is not separated from the front connector  12   a . The leg rest  3  is separated from the chair in reverse order of assembly. More specifically, when the frame  1  of the chair is folded, the front support  16   b , side support  17   a , and leg support  31   b  become almost perpendicular to the ground, resulting in the locking member  126  aligning with the groove  124  and is easily separating from the groove. 
     The present invention has an effect of providing a portable, foldable chair to be used comfortably and conveniently with a pair of arm rests equipped with cup holders. The cup holders can be easily modified with various designs by a person skilled in the art. In addition, the present invention gives an effect of easily assembling or disassembling a leg rest or a head rest. 
     In the above description, the present invention was described based on the preferred embodiment of the present invention, but it should be apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be added without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Such changes and/or modifications should come within the scope of the present invention.