Foldable easychair

Abstract

A folded easychair can be both inclined, or folded flat so that it is easy to be carrier or put away by means of jointed movement of its essential three component parts, a back of chair, a pair of armrests, and a footrest. The easychair can be securely and easily handled without the fear of trapping the user's finger when folding or developing it, even the easychair is handy and safe for children to handle. Besides, it can be securely latched at inclined position so as to prevent unexpected sudden collapse.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to foldable easychair, in particularly, a foldable easychair comprising a back of the chair, a pair of armrests, and a footrest, and by means of jointed movement of above three component parts of the easychair, the easychair can be both inclined or folded flat so that it is easy to be carried or put away.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Usually, an inclinable easychair is composed of three component parts, a back of the chair, a pair of armrests, and footrest, then with a piece of fabric stretched over these component parts, and these three parts are mounted on a supporting pedestal. When the chair is inclined in a position for the user to lie down, the user's legs can be comfortably lifted up along with the footrest. But it is regretful that the armrests remain stationary as being fixed firmly to the pedestal. As a result, the armrests, are unable to follow the movement of the user's arms to a faborable position whereat the user feels easy. Besides, structural articulations used by a conventional easychair are so clumsy that the operation of folding and developing an easychair is somewhat tricky and uneasy. In the worst case, the user's fingers will probably be trapped if perfect case is neglected, especially dangerous for children to handle it.

[0005] In view of the foregoing situation, the inventor of the present invention herein conducted intensive research based on many years of experience gained through professional engagement in the manufacturing of related products with continuous experimentation and improvement culminating in the development of improved foldable easychair of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a foldable easychair comprising a back, a pair of armrests, and a footrest, by means of jointed movement of above three component parts of the easychair, the chair can be both inclined or folded flat so that it is easy to be carried or put away.

[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide a foldable easychair to be set up for use or folded for storing, even can be securely handled by children without the fear of trapping their fingers. Besides, the easychair being set up in a inclined position can be latched firmly thereat without any possibility of sudden collapse.

[0008] For achieving these and other objects of the present invention, the foldable easychair according to the present invention is offered two noteworthy features, one of which is the structure feature that the back of the chair is formed of a framework, while a seat of the chair formed of side members is vertically pivoted to both bottom ends of the back so as to form articulation thereof. Above two side members there are two supporting rods pivoted to the back each with an articulation. The opposite end of each supporting rod is conjoined to a footrest formed of a U shape frame with a pivoted and a branch yoke. There is a slidable fitting sleeve on each supporting rod and the armrest is mounted on the supporting frame, furthermore, a pair of &Lgr; shaped feet are provided beneath the seat to sustain the whole chair.

[0009] The operation feature of the present invention is that the easychair is foldable flatly or relevantly developed for the user to lie down by articulatory motion of the articulations between the back and the supporting rods; the pivots between the supporting rods and the other articulations between the seat and the back.

[0010] For fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the easychair of the present invention in set up state.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a side view of the easychair of the present invention in set up state.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a partial three dimensional exploded view of the branched guide yoke of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the easychair of the present invention in developed state for the user to lie down.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the easychair of the present invention in folded state.

[0016] FIG. 6A is a three dimensional perspective view of the latch used in the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 6B is a front view of the stem used in the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 7A is an illustrative cross sectional view of the latch used in the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 7B is a front view of the rotating sleeve used in the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the foldable easychair of the present invention 10 is composed of a back 1 of the chair, a seat 2, a pair of supporting rods 3, a footrest 4, two slidable fittings 5, a pair of armrests 6 a pedestal 7, a piece of fabric 8, and a latch 9.

[0021] The back 1 is formed of a rectangular, slightly crooked framework so as to fit for the curvature of human back bone. The seat 2 constructed of side members of metallic tubes is pivoted vertically to both sides of the bottom portion of the back 1 so as to form articulations 21 thereof. The seat 2 is slightly inclined backwards. The two supporting rods are pivoted to the back 1 at positions above two side members thus forming second articulations 22.

[0022] The opposite end of each articulation 22 jointing the supporting rod 3 and seat 2 is conjoined to the footrest 4 formed of a U shaped frame with a pivot 23 and a branch yoke 24 such that the footrest 4 is turnable up and down about the pivot 23. An arcuate rod 41 is fixed to the footrest 4 so as to reinforce the two sides of the U shaped frame of the footrest 4 not to flex inwards. The slidable fittings 5 are hinged on the middle portion of both supporting rods 3 and the pair of armrests 6 are settled thereover.

[0023] The -pedestal 7 formed of &Lgr; shaped front and rear U legs 71,72 is conjoined each other by branch yokes 73 at both sides, and top ends of the rear leg 72 are jointed to the slidable fittings 5 at both sides, and further the front leg 71 is conjoined to the seat 2 with branched guide yokes 74 at both sides. A connecting rod 75 with one end pivoted to the branched guide yoke 74 is pinned on each sub leg of the front leg 71 at its approximately middle position thereof. By so the entire chair 1o is sustained by the pedestal 7.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 3, a partial three dimensional exploded view of the branched guide yoke 74, the branched guide yoke 74 has a straight supporting plate 741 whose one end is bent to form a U shaped fixing base 742 for fastening the seat 2 which is made of metallic tubes, while the other end of the supporting plate 741 is bent to form a ∩ (inverse U) shaped fixing base 743 for fixing to a hinge block 744 whose one side is attached to a C shaped fixing base 745 for conjoined with the rear leg 72. Besides, the lower portion of the supporting plate 741 is fastened to the connecting rod 75.

[0025] Referring back to FIG. 1, the fabric 8 is stretched over the back 1, the seat 2, and the footrest 4 and fastened thereto with a plurality of resilient threads. In the present invention, the easychair 10 is foldable flatly or relevantly developed for the user to lie down by articulatory motion of the articulations 22 between the back 1 and the supporting rods; the pivots 23 between the supporting rods 3 and the footrest 4; the branch yokes 24 between the footrest 4 and the seat 2; and the articulations 21 between the back 1 and the seat 2. Hence, as shown in FIG. 4, as the back 1 is tilted backward, the seat 2 is forced to displace forward by the motion of the articulations 21, and the footrest 4 is tilted upward nearly horizontally such that the easychair 10 is relevantly developed for lying down.

[0026] In other words, the pedestal 7 is kept stationary notwithstanding the easychair 10 is titled forward or backward which causes the seat 2 also to remain stationary. On the other hand, the back 1 and the footrest 4 follow the back and forth movement of the armrest 6 with respect to the articulations 22 and the branch yokes as center of axes.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 5, the easychair 10 is folded by means of articulations 21 and 22 such that the back 1 is folded forward, the footrest 4 and the front and rear legs 71, 72 are folded inward to rest at their respective positions thereby making the easychair 10 folded in a flat shape easy for carrying or putting away.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, wherein latches 9 are provided for the easychair 10. The latch 9 is installed adjacent to the slidable fitting 5 on the supporting rod 3. A stem 91 at the front end of the latch 9 is inserted into the slidable fitting 5. A transverse slit 911 is formed at the middle portion of the stem 91 such that the stem 91 is split into an upper and a lower resilent semi-circular sections 912 and 913 whose outer diameters are gradually tapered to one side. In the present embodiment, the upper one 912 is tapered to the right, while the lower one 913 is tapered to the left. Moreover, a trap hole 92 is formed at the rear end of the stem 91, and a spiral slot 914 is formed on the outer surface of the stem 91.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, a hollow rotating sleeve 93 is provided for the latch 9. In corresponding to the upper and lower semi-circular sections 912, 913 of the stem 91, two packing portions 932, 933 tapered to one side are provided in the rotating sleeve 93, and a stopper 931 is provided at the position facing to the transverse slit 911. Further to this, a sliding post 934 is formed at a relevant position on the inner surface of the rotating sleeve 93. With this structure, when the rotating sleeve 93 is fitted over the stem 91, the stopper 931 is directed into the transverse slit 911 until it reaches the trap hole 92 and is blocked therein so as to fix the rotating sleeve 93 on the stem 91. At this moment the slide post 934 in the rotating sleeve 93 is just located at the front end of the spiral slot 914, the supporting rod 3 which is inserted into the slidable fitting 5 and the stem 91 can be movable back and forth owing to the fact that rotating sleeve 93 and the stem 91 still remain in a relation of loose coupling before the rotating sleeve 93 rotates to one side so that the supporting rod 3 is free from the blocking force of the packing portions 932, 933 of the rotating sleeve 93.

[0030] For prohibiting the supporting rod 3 to move back and forth, by rotating the rotating sleeve 93 to one side so as to direct the sliding post 934 to advance along the spiral slot 914 thereby causing the rotating sleeve 93 to approach the tapered portion of the stem 91. At this moment both semi-circular sections 912, 913 are oppressed by the packing portions 932,933 such that the two semi-circular portions 912, 913 are squeezed inward to block the supporting rod 3 and halt it standing still thereat, thereby achieving the aim of protecting the easychair from unexpected sudden collapsing successfully by means of function of the latch 9.

[0031] From the above description, it is well understood that the dexterously designed foldable easychair of the present invention is able to be both inclined or folded flat and latched at a relevant position without the fear of trapping the fingers even can be securely handled by children.

Claims

1. Foldable easychair comprising:

a back of the easychair formed of a frame:

a seat constructed of two side members pivoted vertically to both sides of the bottom portion of said back so as to form an articulation between said seat and said back at each side;

a pair of supporting rods pivoted to said back at positions above said two side members thus forming other articulations between said supporting rods and said back;

a footrest formed of a U shaped frame jointed to said two supporting rods and side members of said seat respectively with two pivots and two branch yokes such that said footrest being turnable up and down about said pivots;

two slidable fittings hinged to said both supporting rods respectively with a pair of armrest settled thereover;

a pedestal formed of &Lgr; shaped front and rear U legs being conjoined with each other by a branch yoke at each side, and top ends of said rear leg being jointed to said slidable fittings at both sides, while said front leg being conjoined to said seat with two branched guide yokes at both sides, a connecting rod with one end pivoted to said branched guide yoke being pinned on each sub leg of said front leg at each approximately middle position thereof;

a latch being installed adjacent to each said slidable fitting on said supporting rod; and

a piece of fabric being stretched over said back, said seat, and said footrest, and being fastened thereto with a plurality of resident threads.

2. The folded easychair as claimed in claim 1, wherein said back is formed into a rectangular shape and slightly crooked so as to fit for the curvature of human back bone.

3. The foldable easychair as claimed in claim 1, wherein said seat is formed of metallic tubes.

4. The foldable easychair as claimed in claim 1, wherein said footrest formed of a U shaped frame is reinforced with an arcuate rod transversely.

5. The foldable easychair as claimed in claim 1, wherein said branched guide yoke has a straight supporting plate whose one end is bent to form a U shaped fixing base for fastening said seat which being made of metallic tubes, while the other end of said supporting plate is bent to form a ∩ (inverse U) shaped fixing base for fixing to a hinge block whose one side is attached to a C shaped fixing base for conjoining with said rear leg, besides, the lower portion of said supporting plate is fastened to said connecting rod.

6. The foldable easychair as claimed in claim 1, wherein said latch has a stem at its front end thereof and is inserted into said slidable fitting, a transverse slit is formed at the middle portion of said stem such that said stem is split into an upper and a lower resident semi-circular sections whose outer diameters are gradually tapered to one said opposite to each other, a trap hole is formed at the rear end of said stem, moreover, said latch is provided with a hollow rotating sleeve which has two tapered packing portions at positions corresponding to said upper and said lower semi-circular sections, and a stopper is provided at the position facing to said transverse slit.

7. The folded easychair as claimed in claim 6, wherein a spiral slot is formed on the outer surface of said stem, on the other hand, a sliding post is formed at a relevant position on the inner surface of said rotating sleeve for advancing along said spiral slot when blocking said supporting rod.