STOOL

Abstract

A folding stool with a swivel seat or rotating seat that may enhance comfort. The stool may employ a swing arm as part of its folding mechanism, In addition, the seat of the stool may be constructed from metal, wood, fabric, vinyl, leather, or plastic. The stool may have a locking mechanism to prevent its collapse when unfolded.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority and the benefit thereof under 35 U.S.C, §119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/419,650, filed Dec. 3, 2010, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Present Disclosure

The present disclosure is directed to a stool that folds to a compact shape yet is both attractive and comfortable.

2. Related Art

Folding chairs and stools are popular because they can provide seating for a large number of people and are relatively inexpensive. When not needed, they consume relatively little storage space. The trade-off for this convenience and low cost is that folding chairs and stools are generally neither attractive nor comfortable.

By the same token, chairs and stools that are attractive and comfortable are generally large, heavy, expensive, and take up a lot of room. This is particularly problematic for facilities that want to provide a flexible space and comfortable furniture, such as schools and churches. When the space needs to be cleared or rearranged for an activity, the stools and chairs need to be stored, but storage is difficult if the stools and chairs do not collapse or fold. The facility is forced to make a difficult choice between comfort and convenience. Families and individuals that live in apartments and small houses face similar issues, especially if they need to provide seating for large gatherings such as a birthday party or holiday meal.

Currently, there are no stools on the market that combine the comfort of a swivel seat with the convenience of a folding stool. Accordingly, there is a need for a stool or chair that is attractive and comfortable while folding to a small size.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure meets the foregoing need and allows a folding stool to be attractive, comfortable, and compact, which results in a significant reduction in storage requirements and other advantages apparent from the discussion provided herein.

Accordingly, one aspect of the invention describes a stool that includes a seat, a frame, and a swivel connected to the seat and to the frame. The swivel allows the seat to rotate relative to the frame. The stool also includes a first pair of legs pivotally connected to the frame and a second pair of legs pivotally connected to the frame. The second pair of legs is also pivotally connected to the first pair of legs. The first pair of legs, the second pair of legs, and the frame are configured to fold to a folded position and to unfold to an unfolded position.

The stool may include a swing arm interposed between the second pair of legs and the frame. The swing arm, if present, is pivotally connected to the second pair of legs and the frame. The stool may also include a pin that is attachable to the frame and configured to engage the swing arm when the stool is in an unfolded position. By engaging the swing arm, the pin may lock the stool in the unfolded position. The stool may further include a spring and a ring. The spring may be connectable to the pin and configured to bias the pin toward the frame. The ring may be connectable to the pin distal to the frame. A notch may be formed in the swing arm so that the notch engages the pin when the stool is transitioned to the unfolded position. A hole may be formed in the notch to receive the pin when the chair is unfolded. The frame may include a pair of rails. Each rail may have an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion may be oriented at substantially a right angle to the lower portion. The seat may be constructed from one or more materials, including metal, wood, fabric, vinyl, leather, and/or plastic. The swivel may be a flat swivel or a lazy susan swivel.

According to another aspect of the invention, a stool includes a frame, a seat, and a swivel connected to the seat and to the frame. The frame has a first end, a midpoint, and a second end. The swivel allows the seat to rotate relative to the frame. The stool also includes a first leg with a first end and a midpoint, a swing arm with a first end and a second end, and a second leg with a first end and a midpoint. The first end of the first leg is pivotally connected to the first end of the frame. The first end of the swing arm is pivotally connected to the midpoint of the frame. The first end of the second leg is pivotally connected to the second end of the swing arm.

The first end of the second leg and the second end of the swing arm may be adjacent to the second end of the frame when the stool is in an open or unfolded position. In addition, the first end of the second leg and the second end of the swing arm may be adjacent to the first end of the frame and the first end of the first leg when the stool is in a folded position. The midpoint of the first leg may be pivotally connected to the mid point of the second leg.

The stool may include a pin that is attachable to the frame. When the stool is in an unfolded position, the pin may engage the swing arm and lock the stool in an unfolded position. The stool may also include a spring and a ring. The spring may be connected to the pin and configured to push or bias the pin toward the frame. The ring may be connected to the pin distal the frame. A notch may be formed in the swing arm to engage the pin when the stool is being unfolded. A hole may be formed in the notch to receive the pin when the stool is in an infolded position. The frame may include a pair of rails. Each rail may have an upper portion and a lower portion at substantially right angles to each other. The first leg may include a pair of legs, and the second may include a pair of legs. The seat may constructed from one or more materials, including metal, wood, fabric, vinyl, leather, and/or plastic. The swivel may be a flat swivel or a lazy susan swivel.

Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the present disclosure may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the present disclosure and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the present disclosure as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and together with the detailed description serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. No attempt is made to show structural details of the present disclosure in more detail than may be necessary for a fundamental understanding of the present disclosure and the various ways in which it may be practiced. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows the underside of a folding stool constructed according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows the stool of FIG. 1 in a partially folded position;

FIG. 3 shows the stool of FIG. 1 in a partially folded position;

FIG. 4 shows the stool of FIG. 1 in a folded position;

FIG. 5 shows the stool of FIG. 1 in an unfolded position;

FIG. 6 shows the stool of FIG. 1 in a folded position; and

FIGS. 7a and 7b show swivels that appropriate for use with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

The embodiments of the present disclosure and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with other embodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments of the present disclosure. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the present disclosure may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure, which is defined solely by the appended claims and applicable law. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the underside of a stool constructed in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. A stool 10 may include a frame 20. The frame 20 may include a pair of rails 20a, 20b. Each rail 20a, 20b, for example, may have an upper portion 21a, 21b, respectively, and a lower portion 22a, 22b, respectively, The upper portion 21a may be oriented perpendicular to the lower portion 22a, and the upper portion 21b may be oriented perpendicular to the lower portion 22b. When the stool 10 is in an unfolded position, the upper portions 21a, 21b may be oriented in a horizontal direction, and the lower portions 22a, 22b may be oriented in a vertical direction.

The stool may also include a first leg 30 or a first pair of legs 30. The first leg 30 may connect to the frame 20 at a first leg pivot 31 that allows the first leg 30 to freely turn relative to the frame 20. First leg pivot 31 may include, e.g., a pin, hinge, swivel, rotor, or the like. If the stool 10 includes multiple first legs 30, such as, e.g., a first pair of legs 30, they may he joined to each other by a cross member 32 (shown in FIG. 2).

Stool 10 may further include a second leg 40 or a second pair of legs 40. If there are multiple second legs 40, such as, e.g., a pair of second legs 40, they may be joined together by a rigid cross member 42 (shown in FIG. 2) that may provide strength and stability. Rather than connecting directly to frame 20, the second leg 40 may be connected to a swing arm 50 at a pivot 41. The pivot 41 may include, e.g., a pin, hinge, swivel, rotor, or the like. The pivot 41 may permit the second leg 40 and the swing arm 50 to freely rotate relative to each other. The second leg 40 may be joined to the first leg 30 at a leg pivot 33 (shown in FIG. 2), which may include, e.g., a pin, hinge, swivel, rotor, or the like.

The swing arm 50 may be connected to the frame 20 at or near the midpoint of the frame 20. In addition, the swing arm 50 may be approximately half the length of the frame 20. This configuration may permit the stool 10 to have two or more positions, namely a folded position and an open or unfolded position. In the folded position, the swing arm 50 may be parallel and alongside the portion of the frame that is proximate the first leg pivot 31. This may bring the second leg pivot 41 close to the first leg pivot 31. The second leg 40 may be nearly coplanar with the first leg 30, which may give the stool 10 a relatively flat profile that may be ideal for transport, storage, and the like.

In the open or unfolded position, the swing arm 50 may be substantially parallel with the frame 20, as it was in the folded position. In the open position, however, the swing arm 50 may be positioned alongside the portion of the frame 20 that is distal to the first leg pivot 31. As a result, the second leg pivot 41 may be located at the far end of the frame 20 from the first leg pivot 31, The legs 30, 40, when unfolded, may provide a sturdy and reliable support for the frame 20.

Many users may desire a stool that is comfortable, in addition to being sturdy and reliable, To this end, a seat 60 may be mounted atop the frame 20, The seat may be made from any material or combination of materials, including metal, wood, fabric, vinyl, leather, plastic, and the like. The seat 60 may be connected to the frame 20 with a swivel 70, such as a flat swivel, a lazy susan swivel, or the like as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. The swivel 70 may add or enhance the comfort of the stool 10, especially when compared to folding stools that lack a swivel 70.

The stool 10 may include a mechanism for locking the stool in a folded or unfolded position. For example, such a locking mechanism may include a pin 80 that may be attached to the frame 20. The mechanism may further include a spring 81 that is biased so as to push the pin 80 through the frame 20. As the stool 10 is folded, a notch 52 in the swing arm 50 may contact the pin 80 and push the pin 80 away from the frame 20. The swing arm 50 may also include a hole 54 that is associated with the notch 52, The notch 52 and the hole 54 may be structured such that the hole 54 may receive the pin 80 when the stool is in an unfolded position. When the stool 10 is in a fully unfolded position, the pin 80 may slide through the hole 54, thereby locking the stool 10 in the unfolded position. This locking mechanism may prevent the stool 10 from collapsing unexpectedly, injuring the user or others in the area. To fold the stool 10, the user may grasp a ring 82 that is attached to the pin 80 and pull the pin 80 away from the stool 10. Once the pin 80 has cleared the hole 54, the stool 10 may be collapsed or folded.

FIG. 2 shows a partially folded stool 10 according to an aspect of the present disclosure. As described above with respect to FIG. 1, the stool 10 may include a first pair of legs 30 and a second pair of legs 40. The first pair of legs 30 may be joined to the second pair of legs at a pair of pivots 33. The pivot 33 may include, e.g., a pin, hinge, swivel, rotor, or the like. The first pair of legs 30 may be joined to each other by a bar 32, and the second pair of legs 40 may be joined to each other by a bar 42. The first pair of legs 30 may connect directly to the frame 20. Each leg in the first pair of legs 30 may be connected to the frame 20 by a pin 31. FIG. 2 also shows a pair of swing arms 50 that may connect the legs 40 to the stool frame 20. Each swing arm 50 may be connected to its corresponding leg in the second pair of legs 40 by a pin 41. One or both swing arms 50 may include a hole 54 that may be used lock the stool 10 in a folded position, an unfolded position, or both.

FIG. 3 illustrates a pin 80 and the related parts of the locking mechanism that may be used to lock the stool 10 in a folded position, an unfolded position, or both, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. The pin 80 may be affixed to the frame 20. In particular, the pin 80 may be housed in a bracket 84 and pass through a hole in the frame 20. The pin 80 may include a plate or other fixture oriented perpendicular to the pin's main or longitudinal axis and substantially parallel to the frame 20. The plate or other fixture may limit the travel of the pin 80 through the hole in the frame 20. The plate may also provide a suitable surface for a spring 81 to press against. The spring 81 may bias the pin toward the frame 20. A ring 82 may be attached to the end of the pin 80 that is distal to, or oriented away from, the frame 20. The ring 82 may be sized and constructed to permit a user of the stool 10 to retract the pin 80 fully or substantially through the hole in the frame 20. By retracting the pin 80, the user may be able to unlock the stool 10 from its current position (e.g., folded or unfolded) so that it may be reconfigured to a different position (e.g., unfolded or folded, respectively).

The swing arm 50 may include a notch 52 located on the swing arm. The notch 52 may contact the pin 80 when the stool 10 is, e.g., in a folded position or an unfolded position. The notch 52 may include a tapered lead-in portion that may contact the 80 pin as the stool 10 is in transition to, e.g., a folded or an unfolded position. The lead-in portion may push the pin 80 out of position so that the user of the stool 10 does not need to manually move the pin to get the stool into its new position. Once the hole 54 is aligned with the pin 80, the spring 81 may push the pin 80 through the hole 54, and the stool 10 may thus be locked in position.

FIG. 4 shows the stool 10 in a folded position, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. The first pair of legs 30 and the second pair of legs 40 may both be curved, they may both be straight, or one may be curved and the other straight. If the legs 30, 40 are curved, they may be curved so that they fit under the seat 60 of the stool 10, as shown in FIG. 4. This arrangement may result in the overall depth of the stool 10 being no greater than that of the seat 60 and the frame 20, thus minimizing the footprint of a folded stool stored in a vertical orientation. In addition, the structure and arrangement of the legs 30, 40 may be selected so that multiple stools may be easily and conveniently stacked or otherwise stored together.

FIG. 5 shows the stool 100 in an unfolded position, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. In this position, the frame 20 may be supported by both the first pair of legs 30 and the second pair of legs 40. The first pair of legs 30 may be interconnected and strengthened by the bar 32, and the second pair of legs 40 may be interconnected and strengthened by the bar 42. The first pair of legs 30 and the second pair of legs 40 may be pivotally connected at a respective pivot 33, which may include a pin, hinge, swivel, rotor, or the like. The seat 60 may he placed in a relatively horizontal orientation on top of the frame 20, Thus the seat 60 may provide a comfortable place for a user to sit.

FIG. 6 shows the stool 10 in a folded position, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. The arrows at the top of the stool 10 indicate how the seat 60 may rotate relative to the frame 20. For example, a lower portion 72 of the swivel 70 may be fixed to the frame 20, and the seat 60 may be fixed to the upper portion 71 of the swivel 70.

FIGS. 7a and 7b show examples of two types of swivel 70 that may be used with aspects of the present disclosure, In general, the swivel 70 may have a very low profile. In other words, the vertical height of the swivel 70 may be small, especially in comparison to other dimensions of the swivel 70. A swivel 70 that is thick may also be used, but a smaller profile swivel 70 is preferred as it is pleasing or appealing in appearance, especially if the swivel 70 reduces an unsightly profile height of the stool.

While the swivel 70 may have a low or short profile height, the swivel 70 may have to bear the weight of a person sitting on the stool, who may weigh as much as 250 lbs. or more. The swivel 70 may also have to withstand substantial torque when a person sitting on the stool attempts to rotate the seat relative to the frame and/or legs. Light-weight materials may fail under these circumstances, under heavy loads, and/or after repeated uses. Accordingly, the swivel 70 may be constructed of heavy-duty materials, such as, e.g., galvanized steel or heavy-gauge aluminum. Heavy-duty materials may allow the swivel 70 to maintain a low profile height while withstanding the stresses placed upon it in the course of normal use.

FIG. 7a shows a flat swivel 70a. The swivel 70a may have a very low or flat profile and may include an upper portion 71a and a lower portion 72a. The swivel 70a may be fabricated from heavy-duty materials, such as, e.g., galvanized steel or heavy-gauge aluminum. Both the upper portion 71a and the lower portion 72a may have one or more holes for receiving a screw, bolt, or like fastener for attachment to the seat 60 or frame 20, respectively. Alternatively, the upper portion 71a may be affixed to the seat 60 by adhesives, welding, or any combination of fastening means. Likewise, the lower portion 72a may be affixed to the frame 20 by adhesives, welding, or any combination of fastening means.

FIG. 7b shows a bottom view of a lazy susan swivel 70b, which may be used with certain aspects of the present disclosure. The lazy susan swivel 70b may include an upper portion 71b and a lower portion 72b. Both the upper portion 71b and the lower portion 72b may have one or more holes for receiving a screw, bolt, or like fastener for attachment to the seat 60 or frame 20, respectively. Alternatively,, the upper portion 71b may be affixed to the seat 60 by adhesives, welding, or any combination of fastening means. Likewise, the lower portion 72b may be affixed to the frame 20 by adhesives, welding, or any combination of fastening means.

Both the upper portion 71b and the lower portion 72b may have a ring-like shape. The upper portion 71b may rotate relative to the lower portion 72b through the use of, e.g., ball bearings or the like. For example, upper portion 71b may have a larger diameter, while lower portion 72b may have a smaller diameter. The upper portion 71b may overlap the lower portion 72b, and the bearings or other means of rotation may be located in this overlap. This arrangement may allow the swivel 70b to radially separate the fasteners for the upper portion 71b from the fasteners of the lower portion 72b. In contrast, the flat swivel 70a may vertically align its fasteners. By radially separating fasteners, the lazy susan swivel 70b may achieve a slimmer or flatter profile than the flat swivel 70a.

The present disclosure may provide a folding stool with a swivel seat. This stool may be easier to transport or store than non-folding stools, In addition, it may be more comfortable than current folding stools, which lack a swivel seat. The swivel seat may enhance comfort by allowing the seat to turn with the user as she is standing up from the stool or sitting down on it. This is especially true for materials that may be abrasive or sticky, such as wood or vinyl. A swivel mechanism may make it easier for a user to sit down or get up from a stool positioned, e.g., at a bar. A swivel may also make it easier for a user to face in different directions, which may be a concern if the seat of the stool has a directional bias or contours for comfort. The swivel mechanism, and the overall stool, may also enhance comfort in additional ways, which are contemplated by the present disclosure and within its spirit and scope.

While the present disclosure has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present disclosure can be practiced with modifications in the spirit and scope of the appended claims. These examples given above are merely illustrative and are not meant to be an exhaustive list of all possible designs, embodiments, applications or modifications of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A stool comprising:

a seat;

a frame;

a swivel connected to the seat and the frame, the swivel configured to allow the seat to rotate relative to the frame;

a first pair of legs pivotally connected to the frame;

a second pair of legs pivotally connected to the frame, the second pair of legs pivotally connected to the first pair of legs; and

the first pair of legs, the second pair of legs, and the frame configured to fold to a folded position and to unfold to an unfolded position.

2. The stool of claim 1, further comprising a swing arm interposed between the second pair of legs and the frame, the swing arm pivotally connected to the second pair of legs, the swing arm pivotally connected to the frame.

3. The stool of claim 2, further comprising a pin that is attachable to the frame and configured to engage the swing arm when the stool is in an unfolded position, thereby locking the stool in an unfolded position.

4. The stool of claim 3, further comprising:

a spring connectable to the pin and configured to bias the pin toward the frame; and

a ring connectable to the pin distal to the frame.

5. The stool of claim 4, further comprising a notch formed in the swing arm, the notch configured to engage the pin when the stool is in transition to an unfolded position.

6. The stool of claim 5, further comprising a hole formed in the notch, the hole configured to receive the pin when the stool is in an unfolded position.

7. The stool of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a pair of rails, each rail having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion structured at substantially a right angle to the lower portion.

8. The stool of claim 1, wherein the seat is constructed from at least one material selected from the group consisting of metal, wood, fabric, vinyl, leather, and plastic.

9. The stool of claim 1, wherein the swivel is a flat swivel or a lazy susan swivel.

10. A stool comprising:

a frame having a first end, a midpoint, and a second end;

a seat;

a swivel connected to the seat and the frame, the swivel configured to allow the seat to rotate relative to the frame;

a first leg having a first end and a midpoint, the first end of the first leg pivotally connected to the first end of the frame;

a swing arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the swing arm pivotally connected to the midpoint of the frame; and

a second leg having a first end and a midpoint, the first end of the second leg pivotally connected to the second end of the swing arm.

11. The stool of claim 10, wherein the first leg, the swing arm, and the second leg are structured and arranged such that the first end of the second leg and the second end of the swing arm are adjacent to the second end of the frame when the stool is in an open position and are adjacent to the first end of the frame and the first end of the first leg when the stool is in a folded position.

12. The stool of claim 10, wherein the midpoint of the first leg is pivotally connected to the midpoint of the second leg.

13. The stool of claim 10, further comprising a pin that is attachable to the frame and configured to engage the swing arm when the stool is in an unfolded position, thereby locking the stool in an unfolded position.

14. The stool of claim 13, further comprising:

a spring connected to the pin and configured to bias the pin toward the frame; and

a ring connected to the pin distal the frame.

15. The stool of claim 14, further comprising a notch formed in the swing arm, the notch configured to engage the pin when the stool is in transition to an unfolded position.

16. The stool of claim 15, further comprising a hole formed in the notch, the hole configured to receive the pin when the stool is in an unfolded position.

17. The stool of claim 10, wherein the frame comprises a pair of rails, each rail having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion structured at substantially a right angle to the lower portion.

18. The stool of claim 10, wherein the first leg comprises a pair of legs and the second leg comprises a pair of legs.

19. The stool of claim 10, wherein the seat is constructed from at least one material selected from the group consisting of metal, wood, fabric, vinyl, leather, and plastic.

20. The stool of claim 10, wherein the swivel comprises a flat swivel or a lazy susan swivel.