Folding swivel chair
A swiveling folding chair is provided. The chair swivels independently of the legs of the chair. The chair includes a drawstring to fold the arms or legs of the chair.
This application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/966,579 filed Feb. 26, 2014. This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 13/134,917 filed Jun. 20, 2011, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 12/655,401, filed Dec. 30, 2009.
This invention pertains to chairs.
More particularly, the invention pertains to a folded chair which, when unfolded and deployed, has a seat that swivels independently of the legs of the chair.
Folding chairs have long been marketed. A folding chair having a seat which can, after the chair is unfolded, swivel does not appear to be readily available and to have successfully penetrated the market.
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide an improved folding chair.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a swiveling folding chair.
These and other, further and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
Briefly, in accordance with our invention, we provide an improved folding chair comprising a control tree including a control member including an elongate shaft. The shaft includes an elongate centerline; an upper end; a lower end; and, a central section intermediate the upper end and the lower end. The control member also includes a first control collar. The collar includes an upwardly extending body, and a first aperture formed therethrough. The collar is mounted on the control member with the shaft slidably extending through the first aperture. The control member also includes a second control collar. The collar includes a second aperture formed therethrough. The second collar is mounted on the first control member with the body slidably extending through said second aperture to slide along the shaft simultaneously with the first control member, and rotate about the body and centerline independently of the first control member. The control member also includes a third control collar mounted on the upper end of the shaft to rotate about the upper end and the centerline. The control member also includes a fourth control collar fixedly mounted on the lower end of the shaft. The chair also includes at least three legs each including a proximate end pivotally attached to the first control member; at least upwardly extending support arms each including a proximate end pivotally attached to the second control member; a pliable foldable seat structure attached to the support arms; at least three elongate support members each operatively associated with a different one of the legs and including a first distal end pivotally attached to the leg and a second proximate end pivotally attached to the fourth control collar; at least three elongate brace members each operatively associated with a different one of the arms and including a primary distal end pivotally attached to the arm and a secondary proximate end pivotally attached to said the control collar. The shaft of the control member is slides through the first aperture between at least two operative positions, a first operative position with the chair stowed and folded, with the fourth control collar upwardly displaced toward the first control collar such that the second proximate ends are positioned above the first distal ends, and with the third control collar upwardly displaced away from the first control collard such that the secondary proximate ends are positioned above the primary distal ends; and, a second operative position with the chair deployed and unfolded, with the fourth control collar downwardly displaced away from the first control collar such that the second proximate ends are generally positioned level with or below the first distal ends, and with the third control collar downwardly displaced toward the first control collar such that the secondary proximate ends are generally positioned level with or below the primary distal ends.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, we provide an improved method of producing a swivel chair. The method comprises the initial step of providing a folding chair (10). The chair includes a first control tree including a first control member including an elongate shaft (40). The shaft includes an elongate centerline, an upper end, a lower end, and a central section intermediate the upper end and the lower end. The control tree also includes a first control collar (70) including an upwardly extending body (76), and a first aperture formed therethrough. The collar is slidably mounted on the first control member with the shaft slidably extending through the first aperture. The control tree also includes a second control collar (80) with a second aperture formed therethrough and mounted on the first control member with the body slidably extending through the second aperture to slide along the shaft simultaneously with the first control collar, and rotate about the body and centerline independently of the first control collar. The control tree also includes a third control collar (50) mounted on the upper end of the shaft (40) to rotate about the upper end and the centerline. The control tree also includes a fourth control collar (60) mounted on the lower end of the shaft (40). The chair also includes at least three legs (21, 22, 23) each including a proximate end pivotally attached to the first control collar; at least two upwardly extending support arms (12, 13) each including a proximate end pivotally attached to the second control collar; a pliable foldable seat structure (100) attached to the support arms; at least three elongate support members (25, 26, 27) each operatively associated with a different one of the legs and including a first distal end pivotally attached to one of the legs and a second proximate end pivotally attached to the fourth control collar (60); at least three elongate brace members (30, 31, 32) each operatively associated with a different one of the arms and including a primary distal end pivotally attached to one of the arms and a secondary proximate end pivotally attached to the third control collar (50). The shaft slidable through the first aperture between at least two operative positions, a first operative position with the chair stowed and folded; with the fourth control collar upwardly displaced toward the first control collar such that the second proximate ends are positioned above the first distal ends; and with the third control collar upwardly displaced away from the first control collar such that the secondary proximate ends are positioned above the primary distal ends; and, a second operative position with the chair deployed and unfolded, with the fourth control collar downwardly displaced away from the first control collar such that the second proximate ends are generally positioned level with or below the first distal ends, and with the third control collar downwardly displaced toward the first control collard such that the secondary proximate ends are generally positioned level with or below the primary distal ends. The method also includes the step of providing a test apparatus. The test apparatus includes a secondary control tree comparable to the first control tree. The secondary control tree includes a secondary control member comparable to the first control member and including an elongate shaft (40). The shaft (40) includes an elongate centerline, an upper end, a lower end, and a central section intermediate the upper end and the lower end. The secondary control tree also includes a primary control collar (70A) including a primary aperture formed therethrough and slidably mounted on the secondary control member; a secondary control collar (80A) with a secondary aperture formed therethrough and mounted on the secondary control member to slide along the shaft of the secondary control member simultaneously with the primary control collar; a tertiary control collar (50A) mounted on the upper end of the shaft of the secondary control member; and, a quaternary control collar (60A) mounted on the lower end of the shaft of the secondary control member. The test apparatus also includes first and second downwardly extending legs (21A, 23A) each including a proximate end pivotally attached to the primary control collar; a first sleeve (100) slidably mounted on the first leg; a second sleeve (200) slidably mounted on the second leg; first and second upwardly extending support arms (12A, 14A) each including a proximate end pivotally attached to the secondary control collar; a third sleeve (102) slidably mounted on the first arm; a fourth sleeve (103) slidably mounted on the second arm; first and second elongate support elements (106, 107) each having a length and operatively associated with a different one of the first and second legs and including a first distal end pivotally attached to a different one of the first and second sleeves and a second proximate end pivotally attached to the quaternary control collar; and, first and second elongate brace elements (108, 109) each having a length and operatively associated with a different one of the first and second arms and including a primary distal end pivotally attached to a different one of the third and fourth sleeves and a secondary proximate end pivotally attached to the tertiary control collar. The lengths of the first and second brace elements and the first and second support elements are adjustable. The shaft of the secondary control member is slidable through the primary and secondary apertures between at least two operative positions, a first operative position with the test apparatus stowed and folded, with the quaternary control collar (60A) upwardly displaced toward the primary control collar such that the second proximate ends of the first and second support elements (106, 107) are positioned above the first distal ends of the first and second support elements, and with the tertiary control collar (50A) upwardly displaced away from the first control collar such that the secondary proximate ends of the first and second brace elements (108, 109) are positioned above the primary distal ends of the first and second brace elements; and, a second operative position with the test apparatus deployed and unfolded, with the quaternary control collar downwardly displaced away from the primary control collar such that the second proximate ends of the first and second support elements are generally positioned level with or below the first distal ends of the first and second support elements, and with the tertiary control collar downwardly displaced toward the first control collar such that the secondary proximate ends of the first and second brace elements are generally positioned level with or below the primary distal ends of the first and second brace elements. The method also includes the step of manipulating at least one in a group consisting of the first and second support elements, of the first and second brace elements, and of the first, second, third, and fourth sleeves to determine a desired length for each of the support elements, a desired length for each of the brace elements, a desired position for each of the first and second sleeves along a different one of the first and second legs, and a desired position for each of the third and fourth sleeves along a different one of the first and second arms. The method also includes the steps of providing in the folding chair support members (25, 26, 27) each generally equivalent in length to the desired length for each of the support elements; providing in the folding chair brace members (30, 31) each generally equivalent in length to the desired length for each of the brace elements; pivotally attaching the distal ends of the support members to the legs of the folding chair at positions equivalent to the desired position of the first and second sleeves on the legs of the test apparatus; and pivotally attaching the distal ends of the brace members to the arms of the folding chair at positions equivalent to the desired position of the third and fourth sleeves on the arms of the test apparatus.
In a further embodiment of the invention, provided is an improved folding chair. The chair comprises a primary control tree including a first control member including an elongate shaft. The shaft includes an elongate centerline; an upper end; a lower end; and, a central section intermediate the upper end and the lower end.
The control tree also includes a first control collar. The collar includes an upwardly extending body; and, a first aperture formed therethrough. The collar is mounted on the control member with the shaft slidably extending through the first aperture.
The control tree also includes a second control collar with a second aperture formed therethrough and mounted on the first control member and the first control collar with the body slidably extending through the second aperture to move along the shaft simultaneously with the first control collar, and to rotate about the body and centerline independently of the first control collar.
The control tree also includes a a third control collar mounted on the upper end of the shaft to rotate about the centerline; and, a fourth control collar mounted on the lower end of the shaft.
The chair also includes at least three legs each including a proximate end pivotally attached to the first control collar; at least two upwardly extending support arms each including a proximate end pivotally attached to the second control collar; and, a pliable foldable fabric seat structure attached to the support arms and including a horizontally oriented seat and a vertically oriented backing extending upwardly from the seat, the backing including a back support area and at least one outlying portion extending outwardly from said back support area.
The chair also includes an audio speaker mounted in the outlying portion; and, an amplifier operatively associated with the audio speaker. The amplifier is adapted to be connected to and to receive and amplify audio signals from a portable media device; and, transmit amplified audio signals to the audio speaker.
The chair also includes at least three elongate support members each operatively associated with a different one of the legs and including a first distal end pivotally attached to the one of legs and a second proximate end pivotally attached to the control collar.
The chair also includes at least three elongate brace members each operatively associated with a different one of the arms and including a primary distal end pivotally attached to the different one of said arms and a secondary proximate end pivotally attached to the third control collar.
The shaft is slidable through the first aperture between at least two operative positions, a first operative position and a second operative position. In the first operative position, the chair stowed and folded; the fourth control collar is upwardly displaced toward the first control collar such that the second proximate ends are positioned above the first distal ends; and, the third control collar is upwardly displaced away from the first control collar such that the secondary proximate ends are positioned above the primary distal ends. In the a second operative position, the chair is deployed and unfolded; the fourth control collar is downwardly displaced away from the first control collar such that the second proximate ends are generally positioned level with or below the first distal ends; and, the third control collar is downwardly displaced toward the first control collar such that the secondary proximate ends are generally positioned level with or below the primary distal ends.
In still another embodiment of the invention, provided is an improved folding chair. The chair includes a primary control tree including a first control member. The first control member includes an elongate shaft. The elongate shaft includes an elongate centerline; an upper end; a lower end; and, a central section intermediate the upper end and the lower end.
The primary control tree also includes a first control collar including an upwardly extending body; and, a first aperture formed therethrough. The collar is mounted on the control member with the shaft slidably extending through the first aperture.
The primary control tree also includes a second control collar with a second aperture formed therethrough and mounted on the first control member and the first control collar with the body slidably extending through the second aperture to move along the shaft simultaneously with the first control collar, and to rotate about the body and centerline independently of the first control collar.
The primary control tree also includes a third control collar mounted on the upper end of the shaft to rotate about the centerline.
The primary control tree also includes a fourth control collar mounted on the lower end of the shaft.
The improved chair also includes at least three feet; at least three legs each including a proximate end pivotally attached to the first control collar and a distal end pivotally connected to a different one of the feet; at least two upwardly extending support arms each including a proximate end pivotally attached to the second control collar; a pliable foldable seat structure attached to the support arms; and, at least three elongate support members. Each elongate support member is operatively associated with a different one of the legs and includes a first distal end pivotally attached to a different one of the feet and a second proximate end pivotally attached to the fourth control collar such that each of the support members attached to one of the feet is spaced apart from the leg attached to the foot.
The improved chair also includes at least three elongate brace members each operatively associated with a different one of the arms and including a primary distal end pivotally attached to the different one of the arms and a secondary proximate end pivotally attached to the third control collar.
The shaft is slidable through the first aperture between at least two operative positions, a first operative position and a second operative position. In the first operative position, the chair is stowed and folded; the fourth control collar is upwardly displaced toward the first control collar such that the second proximate ends are positioned above the first distal ends; the third control collar is upwardly displaced away from the first control collar such that the secondary proximate ends are positioned above the primary distal ends; and, each one of the support members attached to each one of the feet is spaced apart from the leg attached to the foot.
In the second operative position the chair is deployed and unfolded; the fourth control collar is downwardly displaced away from the first control collar such that the second proximate ends are generally positioned level with or below the first distal ends; and, the third control collar is downwardly displaced toward the first control collar such that the secondary proximate ends are generally positioned level with or below the primary distal ends.
In yet still another embodiment of the invention, provided is an improved folding chair. The chair comprises a plurality of structural members selected from a group consisting of arms and legs. The structural members are movable between at least two operative positions, a folded stowed position, and an unfolded deployed position. The chair also comprises a drawstring extending between at least two of the structural members to move, when the drawstring is manually grasped and pulled when the chair is in the unfolded deployed position, the structural members from the unfolded deployed position to the folded stowed position, and to move the structural members toward one another.
The folding chair can include a plurality of ground engaging legs; and, a seat rotatably mounted on said legs.
The chair can also include a control tree.
Turning now to the drawings, which depict the presently preferred embodiments of the invention for the purpose of illustrating the practice thereof and not by way of limitation of the scope of the invention, and in which like reference characters refer to corresponding elements throughout the several views,
Chair 10 includes a control member illustrated in
Collar 50 is mounted on a washer (not shown) that seats in a groove (not shown) in the upper end of shaft 40 or is otherwise mounted on shaft 40 such that collar 50 is free to rotate about shaft 40 and the centerline, indicated by dashed line C, of shaft 40 but can not slide along shaft 40, i.e., collar 50 is permanently located at the upper end of shaft 40 and cannot slide downwardly along shaft 40 toward the lower end of shaft 40. The distance between an opposing pair of apertures, or pivot points, 54 and 54A (
Collar 60 is permanently mounted on the lower end of shaft 40, does not rotate about shaft 40, and can not slide upwardly along shaft 40 toward the upper end of shaft 40. The shape and dimension of collar 60 is presently equivalent to that of collar 50, although that need not be the case.
As is described below in further detail, shaft 40 slides upwardly and downwardly through apertures formed in the first 70 and second 80 collars.
Collar 70 is depicted in more detail in
In
Collar 80 is depicted in more detail in
Each flange 82, 82A, 83, 83A, 84, 84A, 85, 85A includes an aperture formed therethrough.
In
In
Support member 25 in
Brace member 33 in
Bushings 16 to 18 are, as illustrated in
The arms 11 to 14 and the legs 20 to 23 are illustrated in the deployed unfolded configuration in
In use, chair 10 is, as noted, in the unfolded deployed position in
The length of shaft 40 is indicated by arrows L1 in
In an alternate embodiment of the invention collar 50 is fixedly attached to and rotates with shaft 40, and collar 60 is mounted on the lower end of shaft 40 such that the lower end of shaft 40 rotates within collar 60. In this embodiment of the invention, when the arms 11 to 14 of the chair swivel, shaft 40 and collars 50 and 80 simultaneously rotate with arms 11 to 14 while collars 60 and 70 do not rotate.
When chair 10 is in the deployed configuration of
Determining the proper sizes of chair components such that the folding chair would operate properly was a difficult problem. Changing the size of only one component could affect other components and make the chair not operate properly. Consequently, the test apparatus of
Arms 12A and 14A have distal ends 12B and 14B, respectively. When the chair of the invention is in the deployed configuration of
Legs 21A and 23A have distal ends 21B and 23B, respectively. When the chair of the invention is in the deployed configuration of
Collars 100, 101, 102, 103 slide along legs 21A, 23A and arms 14A, 12A, respectively. Each collar 100-103 is detachably secured in a desired position with a set screw.
Tube 40 is slidably adjusted through collars 70A and 80A in the directions indicated by arrows F. The configuration illustrated in
The lengths of each link 108 and 109 is adjustable, either by inserting links 108, 109 of different lengths or by making links 108 and 109 that telescope to different lengths. The length of each link 106, 107 is adjustable, either by inserting links 106, 107 of different lengths or by making links 108 and 109 adjustable.
The position of collar 50A on tube 40 can be varied by sliding collar 50A along tube 40 to a desired position and then detachably fixing collar 50A in position with a set screw.
The position of collar 60A on tube 40 can be varied by sliding collar 50A along tube 40 to a desired position and then detachably fixing collar 60A in position with a set screw.
If desired tubes 40 of different lengths can be utilized in the apparatus of
The purpose of the apparatus of
Tube 40 can not, in accordance with the invention, be overly long because collar 50A must be spaced apart from and positioned beneath the seat 100 when the chair 10 is in the deployed configuration of
- 1. First positioning collar 60A at a selected point on the lower end of tube 40.
- 2. Positioning collars 100 and 101 at selected points on legs 21A and 23A.
- 3. Varying lengths of links 106 and 107 are tested until legs 21A and 23A open a desired distance when the test apparatus is in the deployed configuration of
FIG. 9 and until legs 21A and 23A close to a storage configuration that is generally comparable to that illustrated inFIG. 2 or that is otherwise desired. If the length of links 106 and 107 can not be varied to achieve the desired result, the collars 100 and 101 are repositioned to different points along legs 21A and 23A and different lengths of links 106 and 107 are tested. Links 106 and 107 correspond to members 26 and 27 inFIG. 1 . - 4. After an acceptable length is achieved for links 106 and 107, collar 50A is positioned at a selected point on the upper end of tube 40.
- 5. Collars 102 and 103 are positioned at selected points on legs 14B and 12B.
- 6. Varying lengths of links 108 and 109 are tested until arms 14A and 12A open a desired distance when the test apparatus is in the deployed configuration of
FIG. 9 and until arms 14A and 12A close to a storage configuration that is generally comparable to that illustrated inFIG. 2 or that is otherwise desired. If the length of links 108 and 109 can not be varied to achieve the desired result, the collars 102 and 103 are repositioned along arms 14A, 12A and different lengths of links 108 and 109 are tested. Links 108 and 109 are generally equivalent to members 30 and 32 inFIG. 1 . If collars 108 and 109 can not be positioned so that links of a particular length can be identified to position arms 14A, 12A a desired distance apart in the deployed configuration ofFIG. 1 and at a desired located in the storage configuration, then the process is continued by repeating steps 1 to 6. Since links 108 and 109 must necessarily be shorter than links 106, 107 so that the top of tube 40 will be lower than the bottom of the seat of chair 10 when chair 10 is in the deployed configuration ofFIG. 1 , determining the length of links 108 and 109 allows less room for error since a small sliding movement of tube 40 produces a greater displacement of arms 14A, 12A than of legs 21A, 23A. Positioning collars 102 and 103 closer to collar 80A permit links 108 and 109 to be shortened. During the adjustment process, the location of collars 50A and 60A on tube 40 can also be adjusted. - 7. After desired lengths for links 106, 107, 108, 109 are determined; after the desired positions for sleeves 100, 101, 102, 103 are determined; and, after the desired positions of collars 50A and 60A are determined chair 10 can be assembled. The desired length determined for each of links 106 and 107 corresponds to the length that is used for members 25 to 28. The desired length that is determined for each of links 108 and 109 corresponds to the length that is used for members 30 to 33. The position of each sleeve 100, 101 on its respective leg 21A, 23A corresponds to the position at which the distal end of each member 25 to 28 is pivotally attached to a leg 20 to 23, which position is, after the proximate end of each leg 20 to 23 is pivotally secured to collar 80, a defined distance along each leg 20 to 23 from collar 80. The position of each sleeve 102, 103 on its respective arm 14A, 12A corresponds to the position at which the distal end of each member 30 to 33 is pivotally attached to an arm 11-14, which position is, after the proximate end of each arm 11-14 is pivotally secured to collar 70, a defined distance along each arm 11-14 from collar 70.
In another embodiment of the invention, the test apparatus of
In
As is illustrated in
An important advantage of the foot-leg-support structure illustrated in
The audio apparatus of
When legs 11 to 14 are displaced outwardly from the orientation of
Spherically shaped bushings 169 and 171 are fixedly secured to legs 166 and 163, respectively, although in one embodiment of the invention bushings 169, 171 can slide along legs 166 and 163, respectively. Intermediate portions of drawstring 170 slidably extend through arcuate apertures 176 and 177 formed through bushings 169 and 171, respectively (
One end 168 of drawstring 170 is fixedly secured to a bottom portion of leg 162. The other end 167 of drawstring 170 is fixedly secured to a bottom portion of leg 161.
Drawstring 170, 150A, 181 can comprise a rope, a cable, a length of chain links, etc. or any other elongate pliable structure which can slide around or through or past a leg 162, 166.
Grasping drawstring 170 at a point between legs 163 and 166 and pulling drawstring 170 outwardly and upwardly in the direction of arrow Y1 causes (1) intermediate portions of drawstring 170 to slide through bushings 169 and 171, (2) legs 163 and 164 to pivot with respect to one another so that the lower ends of legs 163, 164 (i.e., the ends near the ground) move toward one another and the upper ends of legs 163, 164 (i.e., the ends near the seat of the chair) move toward one another, and (3) legs 165 and 166 to pivot with respect to one another so that the lower ends of legs 165 and 166 move toward one another, and the upper ends of legs 165 and 166 move toward one another. Consequently, when drawstring 170 is used in this fashion, it facilitates collapsing chair 160 to a folded configuration to transport chair 160. And, drawstring can be utilized as a strap to carry chair 160.
Spherically shaped bushings 184 and 185 are fixedly secured to legs 187 and 188, respectively. Intermediate portions of drawstring 181 slidably extend through arcuate apertures formed through bushings 184 and 185, respectively. Each aperture formed through a bushing 184, 185 permits intermediate portions of drawstring 181 to slide back and forth through the aperture in the manner indicated by arrows N1 and N2 in
One end 182 of drawstring 181 is fixedly secured to a bottom portion of leg 186. The other end 183 of drawstring 181 is fixedly secured to a bottom portion of leg 189.
Drawstring 181 (or 150A) can comprise a rope, a cable, a length of chain links, etc. or any other elongate pliable structure which can slide around or past a leg 162, 166.
Grasping drawstring 181 at a point between legs 187 and 188 and pulling drawstring 181 outwardly and upwardly in the direction of arrow Y2 causes (1) intermediate portions of drawstring 181 to slide through apertures in bushings 184 and 185, (2) legs 186 and 187 to pivot with respect to one another so that the lower ends of legs 186, 187 (i.e., the ends near the ground) move toward one another and the upper ends of legs 186, 187 (i.e., the ends near the seat of the chair) move toward one another, (3) legs 188 and 189 to pivot with respect to one another so that the lower ends of legs 188 and 189 move toward one another, and the upper ends of legs 188 and 189 move toward one another, (4) the back of the chair to move toward the seat of the chair in the general direction indicated by arrow T in
In
A drawstring 150A, 170, 181 may also, if desired, be fixedly attached to only two arms, say arms 14 and 12 in
Further, the ends of a drawstring 150A, 170, 181 may also, if desired, each be fixedly attached to a pair of different arms, say arms 12 and 13, and not extend around a third arm. In this case, pulling the drawstring in the direction of arrow 154 would function to draw arms 12 and 13 together and could function to fold chair 10 from the deployed orientation to the stowed orientation of
Having described our invention in such terms as to enable those of skill in the art to make and practice it, and having described the presently preferred embodiments thereof,
Claims
1. A folding chair comprising
- (a) a plurality of structural members selected from a group consisting of arms and legs, said structural members movable between at least two operative positions, (i) a folded stowed position, and (ii) an unfolded deployed position; and
- (b) a drawstring extending between at least two of said structural members to move (i) said structural members from said unfolded deployed position to said folded stowed position, and (Ii) said structural members toward one another, when said drawstring is manually grasped and pulled when said chair is in said unfolded deployed position.
2. The folding chair of claim 1 wherein said chair
- (a) a plurality of ground engaging legs;
- (b) a seat rotatably mounted on said legs.
3. The folding chair of claim 2 including a control tree.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 10, 2014
Publication Date: Oct 16, 2014
Inventors: Michael Obolewicz (Gilbert, AZ), Craig A. Hills (Gilbert, AZ)
Application Number: 13/999,973
International Classification: A47C 4/28 (20060101); A47C 3/18 (20060101);