Foldable furniture device

Abstract

A foldable furniture device includes a main frame, first and second leg frames connected pivotally to each other to move between a folded state and an unfolded state, a tubular sleeve connected pivotally to the main frame and sleeved slidably on the second leg frame, and a locking unit. The tubular sleeve includes a hollow protrusion projecting outwardly from an outer periphery of the tubular sleeve. The locking unit includes a hole formed in the second leg frame, and a locking member extending into the tubular sleeve to engage releasably the hole to lock the tubular sleeve against movement in the unfolded state.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a furniture device, more particularly to a foldable furniture device, such as a foldable chair.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional foldable chair assembly 7 includes a leg frame 8 and a seat member 9. The leg frame 8 includes two intersecting U-shaped legs 81, each of which has front and rear leg sections 83, 84. The seat member 9 is connected between top ends of the front and rear leg sections 83, 84. The front leg sections 83 of the U-shaped legs 81 are connected pivotally to each other by a pivot member 85, and are interconnected by a cross bar 86. The rear leg sections 84 of the U-shaped legs 81 are connected pivotally to each other by another pivot member (not visible), and are interconnected by another cross bar 86′. Each of the cross bars 86, 86′ can be folded and unfolded. When unfolded, each cross bar 86, 86′ forms a straight line so as to position the U-shaped legs 81 in an unfolded state.

However, the user may easily injure his/her hand during the folding operation of the cross bars 86, 86′, i.e., the user's fingers may be pinched by the cross bars 86, 86′. Hence, there is a need to provide a foldable chair assembly with a more simple, safe, and reliable structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a foldable furniture device that can be easily folded and unfolded.

According to this invention, a foldable furniture device comprises a main frame, first and second leg. frames, a tubular sleeve, and a locking unit. The first and second leg frames are connected pivotally to each other to move between a folded state and an unfolded state. The first leg frame has a top end pivotally connected to the main frame. The tubular sleeve is, connected pivotally to the main frame, and is sleeved slidably on the second leg frame. The tubular sleeve includes a hollow protrusion projecting outwardly from an outer periphery of the tubular sleeve. The locking unit includes a hole formed in the second leg frame, and a locking member extending into the tubular sleeve to engage releasably the hole to lock the tubular sleeve against movement in the unfolded state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional foldable chair assembly;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a foldable chair embodying the present invention in an unfolded state;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the chair of FIG. 2, illustrating how a tubular sleeve is connected pivotally to a main frame;

FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of the chair of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the chair of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of the chair of FIG. 2 in a folded state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 6, the preferred embodiment of a foldable furniture device according to the present invention is shown at “1” which designates a foldable chair. The chair 1 comprises a main frame 4, first and second leg frames 5, 6, two tubular sleeves 41, two locking units, and two pull members 43.

The main frame 4 is formed as a ring-shaped frame, and includes a pliable bag 2 that envelopes the ring-shaped frame.

The first leg frame 5 is substantially U-shaped, and includes two spaced-apart first leg sections 51 which have top ends connected pivotally to the main frame 4.

The second leg frame 6 is substantially U-shaped, and includes two spaced-apart second leg sections 61 which are connected pivotally and respectively to the first leg sections 51 through pivot members 52 so that the first and second leg frames 5, 6 are movable relative to each other between a folded state and an unfolded state.

Since the space between the first leg sections 51 is larger than the space between the second leg sections 61, the first leg sections 51 are disposed outwardly of the second leg sections 61 when the chair 1 is folded, as shown in FIG. 6. When the chair 1 is unfolded, since the lengths of the first leg sections 51 are shorter than the lengths of the second leg sections 61, the first and second leg frames 5, 6 intersect each other, and support the ring-shaped main frame 4 on the ground in an inclined manner, as shown in FIG. 5. The pliable bag 2 serves to provide a backrest and a seat for the user at this time.

Each of the tubular sleeves 41 is connected pivotally to the main frame 4, and is sleeved slidably on a respective one of the second leg sections 61. Each tubular sleeve 41 includes a hollow protrusion 414 projecting outwardly from an outer periphery of the corresponding tubular sleeve 41, a fastening element 411, in the form of a screw, fixed to the main frame 4, a pivot seat 412 connected to the outer periphery of the corresponding tubular sleeve 41 proximate to the hollow protrusion 414, and a pivot member 413 extending through the pivot seat 412 to engage the fastening element 411.

Each of the locking units includes a hole 62 formed in the respective one of the second leg sections 61 proximate to a top end thereof, and a resilient locking member 42 extending radially into the corresponding tubular sleeve 41 to engage releasably the hole 62 in the respective second leg section 61 to lock the tubular sleeve 41 against movement in the unfolded state. In this embodiment, the resilient locking member 42 is a spring-loaded pin, and includes a forward portion 421 extending into the corresponding tubular sleeve 41 after passing through the hollow protrusion 414 thereof, and a rear portion 422 extending outwardly from the hollow protrusion 414 of the corresponding tubular sleeve 41. The rear portion 422 is operable to disengage the forward portion 421 from the hole 62 to permit movement of the tubular sleeve 41 to effect the folded and unfolded states of the chair 1.

Each of the pull members 43 is connected to the rear portion 422 of the locking member 42 of the respective locking unit in a conventional manner to facilitate operation of the rear portion 422 of the locking member 42.

Referring once again to FIGS. 4 and 5, to unfold the chair 1 of the present invention, the pull members 43 are first pulled outwardly from the tubular sleeves 41 so that the first and second leg frames 5, 6 can pivot relative to each other to either the folded or unfolded state. During the unfolding operation, the tubular sleeves 41 move respectively toward the top ends of the second leg sections 61 until the forward portions 421 of the locking members 42 engage the holes 62 in the respective second leg sections 61, thereby locking the tubular sleeves 41 against movement, and maintaining the chair 1 in the unfolded state.

It should be noted that a plurality of the holes 62 may be provided in each of the second leg sections 61 so that each of the locking members 42 may engage selectively one of the holes 62 in the corresponding second leg section 61, thereby obtaining a different inclination of the main frame 4 relative to the ground. When the locking members 42 engage the holes 62 closest to the top ends of the second leg sections 61, the top ends of the second leg sections 61 preferably are substantially flush with top end faces of the respective tubular sleeves 41.

Referring back to FIG. 6, when folding of the chair 1 is desired, the pull members 43 are once again pulled outwardly so as to disengage the forward portions 421 of the locking members 42 from the holes 62 in the respective second leg sections 61. During this time, the first and second leg frames 5, 6 pivot relative to each other to the folded state, and the tubular sleeves 41 slide downwardly and respectively along the second leg sections 61. The main frame 4 overlies the first and second leg frames 5, 6 at this time.

From the aforementioned description of the foldable chair 1 of the present invention, it is apparent that by simply operating the rear portions 422 of the locking members 42, the chair 1 is not only easily and safely folded and unfolded such that hand injuries are less likely to occur, but has an appealing appearance as well. Furthermore, through engagement of the locking members 42 with the holes 62 in the respective second leg sections 61, the foldable chair 1 may be maintained in the unfolded state.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment; it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A foldable furniture device comprising:

a main frame;

first and second leg frames connected pivotally to each other to move between a folded state and an unfolded state, said first leg frame having a top end pivotally connected to said main frame;

a tubular sleeve connected pivotally to said main frame and sleeved slidably on said second leg frame, said tubular sleeve including a hollow protrusion projecting outwardly from an outer periphery of said tubular sleeve; and

a locking unit including a hole formed in said second leg frame, and a resilient locking member extending into said tubular sleeve to engage releasably said hole to lock said tubular sleeve against movement in said unfolded state.

2. The foldable furniture device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resilient locking member includes a forward portion extending into said tubular sleeve, and a rear portion extending outwardly from said hollow protrusion and being operable to release said forward portion from engaging said hole to permit movement of said tubular sleeve in said folded state.

3. The foldable furniture device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pull member connected to said rear portion of said locking member.