Folding Back Or Bottom Sections Patents (Class 297/44)
  • Patent number: 11825957
    Abstract: A body support structure including a backrest, a seat connected to the backrest, and a suspension material connected to the backrest or the seat. The suspension material includes elastomeric filaments with monofilaments and multifilaments. The suspension material further includes a first zone with a first stiffness, a second zone with a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness, and a transition zone positioned between the first zone and the second zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: MILLERKNOLL, INC.
    Inventors: John F. Aldrich, Brock Walker, Jeff Bruner, Adwait Bhagwat, Ethan McGraw, Don Chadwick
  • Patent number: 10881211
    Abstract: The collapsible chair is foldable and collapsible in a variety of different configurations. The collapsible chair includes a seat frame having a rear bar and a pair of side bars. A seat is mounted on the seat frame, the seat having a rear edge pivotally attached to the rear bar of the seat frame and a front edge slidably and pivotally attached to the pair of side bars of the seat frame. Front and rear portions of the seat are selectively foldable with respect to one another and with respect to the seat frame. The chair has a plurality of legs, an upper end of each leg being pivotally attached to the seat frame and selectively foldable against the seat frame. The chair has a back rest having opposed upper and lower ends, the lower end being pivotally attached to the rear bar of the seat frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Inventor: Hamad M. A. H. Al-Salloom
  • Patent number: 10869554
    Abstract: A collapsible furniture assembly includes a seat that has a top side, a bottom side, a front edge, a rear edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. A backrest has a front side, a rear side, a bottom edge, a top edge, a first side edge and a second side edge. A pair of hinges hingedly couples the backrest to the seat such that the front side is movable between stored and upright positions. The bottom edge of the backrest has a pair of notches extending therein. A pair of supports is each pivotally coupled to the bottom side. The supports are positionable in a stored position lying against the bottom side or a deployed position extending downwardly from the bottom side. Each of the supports is extendable into one of the notches to releasably retain the supports in the deployed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Inventor: Gregory Rothweiler
  • Patent number: 10849803
    Abstract: The inventive concept relates to an attaching and detaching type driving device, which is formed to be attachable and detachable to a manual wheelchair whose wheels are manually driven by a user, and to switch the manual wheelchair to an electric wheelchair that automatically drives wheels using power, and particularly, which is capable of being attached to and detached from the manual wheelchair regardless of shape or size of the wheelchair, being switched to the electric wheelchair, and supplying the electric wheelchair with low cost. The attaching and detaching type driving device includes a driving module mounted on each of both installation frames supporting both wheels in the wheelchair and putting rollers in close contact with the wheels to transfer a rotational force of the rollers to the wheels and a steering module controlling a drive of the driving module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: TODO WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jae Shin Shim
  • Patent number: 10842279
    Abstract: A folding chair includes two folding mechanisms which are symmetrical about the first plane, a first X-shaped folding frame and a second X-shaped folding frame. The folding mechanism includes a first supporting rod, a second supporting rod, a first active rod, a second active rod, a first connecting rod; and a first X-shaped folding frame. The first X-shaped folding frame includes two first transmission rods, and middle portions of the two first transmission rods are hinged at an eighth hinge point. The two first transmission rods can rotate around a seventh axis passing through a seventh hinge point. The second X-shaped folding frame includes two second transmission rods. Middle portions of the two second transmission rod are hinged at the eighth hinge point, and the two second transmission rods can rotate around an eighth axis passing through the eighth hinge joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Inventor: Libin Chen
  • Patent number: 10556611
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a double stroller, with a frame thereof including three side supports and two transverse supports. Each two adjacent side supports are connected to each other via one transverse support. Each transverse support includes at least one connecting rod assembly, and each connecting rod assembly includes an outer connecting rod fixedly connected with the side support on a left or right side and an inner connecting rod fixedly connected with the side support in the middle. The outer connecting rod is connected to the inner connecting rod in a horizontally rotatable manner. The outer connecting rods and inner connecting rods connected in a horizontally rotatable manner to enable the side supports on two sides to close together as the outer connecting, rods are turned transversely and folded, and thus, after being folded, the space occupied by the double stroller in the left-right direction is lessened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: GOODBABY CHILD PRODUCTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xinjun He, Fusheng Ma
  • Patent number: 10413460
    Abstract: A wheelchair is provided which includes link rods that intersect each other in an X shape, and are pivotably coupled to each other by a pivot shaft. The link rods include a rod central part, and rod upper and lower parts. The rod central parts hold the pivot shaft. The rod upper and lower parts and slant from first and second inclined parts on the both ends of the rod central part in opposite directions with respect to the rod central part. When the X-link portion is folded, the rod central parts overlap each other and are aligned in one straight line in the vertical orientation, and frame accommodation space portions which can accommodate the middle frame portions are provided on the both sides of the rod central parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: SWANY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsukasa Itano
  • Patent number: 10182663
    Abstract: A foldable cot including a base attached to a first end and a second end and side-bars connected between the first and second ends above opposite sides of the base, with the first side-bar 0 positioned further from the base than the second side-bar, and the side-bars hinged such that they may fold toward one another, and the base hinged so that it may fold towards the first and second side-bars, such that folding of the base causes folding of the side-bars, with the cot moveable between a first configuration in which the base, first, and second side-bars are substantially un-folded, into a second configuration in which the base is folded in the direction of the first and second side-bars, the first and second side-bars are folded such that the first side-bar folds above the second side-bar, and the first and second ends are brought together with the folded base and the folded first and second side-bars between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: OXFORD SPACE STRUCTURES LTD
    Inventors: Fujia Chen, Zhong You, Wouter Horstink, Marco Van Leeuwen
  • Patent number: 10051954
    Abstract: A folding furnishing apparatus includes first members that support at least one flexible panel in a set-up configuration; second members that support the plurality of first members; first joints that connect the plurality of first members and that in the set-up configuration define mutually skewed axes about which the furnishing cannot be folded, thus locking the first members in extended positions; and second joints that connect the second members to the first members. The second joints in the set-up configuration define mutually parallel axes about which the second members can be folded to a mutually nested configuration. The first joints in the mutually nested configuration then define mutually parallel axes about which the first members can be folded to a collapsed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: GCI OUTDOOR, INC.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Grace
  • Patent number: 9924799
    Abstract: A folding chair comprising a framework, a deployment mechanism for fully retracting or expanding the frame, a seat and a back attached to the framework. The framework includes a back, a pair of opposing sides, each of which include a rear section and a front section that are hingedly connected to one another, a front section that extends between the front ends of the sides' front sections, and a seat that includes a front seat frame hingedly attached at its front edge to the interior surface of the front section, and a rear seat frame that is hingedly attached at its rear edge to the back. The seat's front and rear frames are also hingedly connected to each other along their adjacent edges. Retraction of the chair is achieved by a gas piston that is actuated by a string that the user can pull to create a fore that fully retracts the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: ROCKPAPERROBOT INC.
    Inventor: Jessica Banks
  • Patent number: 9545858
    Abstract: A rear seat assembly for a vehicle is disclosed in which the seat cushions and the seat backs may be positioned on top of one another from a flat usage position into a non-usage position. Folding the seat cushions on top of one another and, folding the seat backs on top of one another takes place in order to form the loading space in the region of the back seat arrangement. The seat cushions and the seat backs, respectively, are stowed in a compact manner in the region of the passenger car and provides sufficient space for forming the loading space in the region of the back seat arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Gian Luca Baccelli
  • Patent number: 9247817
    Abstract: A collapsible seat includes a seat bottom, a back support, and armrests, all interconnected for movement between an operative, or set-up, condition and a collapsed, or bundled, condition. The seat bottom comprises first and second portions interconnected together and foldable into generally parallel relationship with one another associated with the collapsed condition of the seat. The back support is pivotally disposed relative to the seat bottom such that, in the seat's set-up condition, the back support extends generally upwardly from a rear portion of the seat bottom and is capable of pivotal movement relative to the seat bottom for collapsing the seat to its collapsed condition. The armrests are located on the outer edges of the seat bottom when the seat is in its set-up condition, and are pivotally connected with the first and second seat bottom portions, respectively, for movement relative thereto during set-up and collapsing of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Rio Brands, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel R. Grace
  • Patent number: 9198814
    Abstract: A wheeled chair for transporting patients includes a plurality of footrests for supporting a patient's feet thereon. Each footrest is pivotable between an up position and a down position, and includes a biasing mechanism for biasing the footrest toward the up position, or the down position, or whichever of the two positions the footrest is currently closer to. A swing mechanism swings the footrests from a use position in front of the seat to a stowed position alongside the seat. A trigger, such as a button, automatically activates the swinging. The swinging may take place about a vertical axis that is common to the axis about which the front caster wheels swivel. Pivot extensions may be included on the footrests that provide a tool for enabling a caregiver to manually pivot the footrest between the up and down positions with his or her foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Anish Paul, William D. Childs, John Michael Arend
  • Patent number: 9193240
    Abstract: A damping assembly for a front-wheel independent suspension of a four-wheel mobility scooter includes a chassis with two front wheels, and two connecting sleeves. In each of the connecting sleeves is disposed a first shock absorber which includes a rectangular outer pipe and a rectangular inner pipe disposed in and rotated 45 degrees with respect to the outer pipe, between each of the edges of the inner pipe and the inner space of the outer pipe is disposed an elastic rubber The inner pipe has two suspension arms connected to a shaft, respectively, each shaft includes a first connecting arm extending in a width direction of the chassis, the front wheels are connected to the first connecting arms, on each of the shafts is provided a second connecting arm extending upward and hinged with a third connecting arm extending in the width direction of and hinged to the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Inventor: Chung-Chuan Lin
  • Patent number: 8931832
    Abstract: A swivel stool includes a foldable leg arrangement having a plurality of leg frames pivotally connected to each other to form a receiving cavity defined within the leg frames, a seat unit including a seat frame and a back frame pivotally connected to the seat frame. The swivel stool is arranged to operate between a folded position and an unfolded position, wherein in the folded position, the back frame is overlappedly folded toward the seat frame, while the seat unit is pivotally and downwardly folded with respect to the leg frames to receive into the receiving cavity of the foldable leg arrangement, wherein in the unfolded position, the seat unit is pivotally and upwardly unfolded with respect to the leg frames while the back frame is pivotally unfolded with respect to the seat frame for allowing a user to sit on the seat unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Inventor: Fermi Chi Hung Lau
  • Patent number: 8894138
    Abstract: A collapsible mobile furniture frame is provided that includes a center frame, a left frame and a right frame. The left and right frames each include a seat base and a seat back. The left and right seat backs are pivotally connected to the left and right seat bases, respectively, such that the left and right seat backs are capable of pivoting downwardly to a collapsed position against the left seat base. Likewise, the right seat back is pivotally connected to the right seat base by right back hinges such that the right back is capable of pivoting downwardly about the right back hinges to a collapsed position against the right seat base. The left and right frames are pivotally connected to the center seat base such that they are capable of pivoting upwardly to a collapsed position against the center seat base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Better Off Clever LLC
    Inventor: Dustin Monahan
  • Patent number: 8870294
    Abstract: A collapsible chair includes a frame having two sidepieces, each having a base portion and a back portion. The base has an upward facing concave edge complementary to a portion of a spherical profile of a seating ball, the base portion further includes a frontal aspect. Each sidepiece has one or more hinges to connect the two sidepieces. The sidepieces, when hinged together, are moveable between a collapsed arrangement and an open arrangement. The chair further includes a cross member having an upward facing concave edge complementary to a portion of the spherical profile of the seating ball. The cross member is configured to mate with the frontal aspects of the two sidepieces so as to stabilize the two sidepieces in the open position. The upward facing concave edges of the sidepieces and the cross member form a triangular cradle that supports the seating ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Balanced Body, Inc.
    Inventor: Maria G. Mankin
  • Patent number: 8864222
    Abstract: A unifoldable reclining chair design has a collapsible articulated frame and includes a pair of opposing side assemblies having longitudinally elongated pivotally connected side frame members that are maintained in opposing transversally spaced relation by front and rear collapsible X-shaped connector assemblies. Slidable pivot connections, or alternatively, pivotal connecting linkages, which join the rear connector assembly to associated side frame members, enable all of the frame members to move substantially in unison and in multiple directions relative to each other while simultaneously undergoing multiple changes in an angular position relative to each other to move the chair frame from a set-up condition for use to a collapsed condition for transportation and/or storage in response to a single folding action. The slidable pivot connections and pivotal connecting linkages also enable a chair occupant to change the angular position of the chair back support when seated or reclined in the set-up chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventor: Daniel R. Grace
  • Patent number: 8864223
    Abstract: A collapsible quad chair has a frame selectively moveable between a collapsed configuration of the chair and a use configuration of the chair, and a fabric frame cover attachable to the frame to define a back portion and a seat portion of the chair. A support is coupled to the frame and a plate is mounted on the support. The plate is sized and shaped to provide a user sitting in the chair with a surface suitable for allowing the user to rest a dish of food while eating a meal while sitting in the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: American Recreation Products, LLC.
    Inventors: Nels Larson, Erin Doubleday, Matt Wagner
  • Patent number: 8752889
    Abstract: A bench system having a first and second panel mounted atop a first and second leg and a third and fourth leg, the panels are separated by a gap, the first leg and third leg and the second leg and fourth leg are pivotally connected via a pivot component, the legs are adjustable in length via an adjusting means, a sheet atop the panels, straps attached to the sheet at a first and second side, an extension sheet having a first and second side edge, and a top edge, wherein the top edge or a portion thereof is removably attached to the fourth side of the sheet via an attachment means, the first and second side edges of the extension sheet extend past the legs and sheet, and a pole on each side edge of the extension sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Inventors: Joe A. Nievinski, Jason Wojnowiak
  • Patent number: 8721005
    Abstract: A collapsible chair includes a frame having two sidepieces, each having a base portion and a back portion. The base has an upward facing concave edge complementary to a portion of a spherical profile of a seating ball, the base portion further includes a frontal aspect. Each sidepiece has one or more hinges to connect the two sidepieces. The sidepieces, when hinged together, are moveable between a collapsed arrangement and an open arrangement. The chair further includes a cross member having an upward facing concave edge complementary to a portion of the spherical profile of the seating ball. The cross member is configured to mate with the frontal aspects of the two sidepieces so as to stabilize the two sidepieces in the open position. The upward facing concave edges of the sidepieces and the cross member form a triangular cradle that supports the seating ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Balanced Body, Inc.
    Inventor: Maria G. Mankin
  • Patent number: 8661991
    Abstract: A foldable stool or table having hinges comprises a plurality of support members. In one embodiment, a foldable device comprises three legs. In another embodiment, the foldable stool or table comprises two foldable support members and two non-foldable support members. Relative to the top and bottom of the device, embodiments of the present invention may comprise one or more intermediately located steps or shelves, wherein the steps or shelves are located along at least one of the non-foldable support members. The one or more intermediately located steps or shelves may be forwardly-offset relative to a front surface of the non-foldable support members. A method of using the stool is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Inventor: Bradley R. Eveleth
  • Publication number: 20130229032
    Abstract: A collapsible mobile furniture frame is provided that includes a center frame, a left frame and a right frame. The left and right frames each include a seat base and a seat back. The left and right seat backs are pivotally connected to the left and right seat bases, respectively, such that the left and right seat backs are capable of pivoting downwardly to a collapsed position against the left seat base. Likewise, the right seat back is pivotally connected to the right seat base by right back hinges such that the right back is capable of pivoting downwardly about the right back hinges to a collapsed position against the right seat base. The left and right frames are pivotally connected to the center seat base such that they are capable of pivoting upwardly to a collapsed position against the center seat base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Inventor: Dustin Monahan
  • Patent number: 8496289
    Abstract: A pitman-style foldable frame structure has an innovative and unique assembled design. The frame structure includes foldable panels, a central spindle, lateral frames, oblique connecting rods, a control device, and a central connecting frame. The frame structure offers improvement over the prior art in lowering the material cost and increasing structural support strength and rigidity of the pitman-style foldable frame and achieves practical advancement and better industrial utilization effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Shin Fang Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuan-Ming Chen, Tuan-Yu Chen, Yen-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 8292361
    Abstract: A collapsible chair has a frame and a cover attaching thereto. The frame has a left side stand and an identical right side stands, which linked by four pairs of scissoring linking bars. A hook frame and a pillar frame are provided pivotally linked to the frame. The pillar frame has side pillars securely formed thereon and the hook frame has hooks defined in an end thereof. The hooks and the pillars are able to engage when the collapsible chair is fully expanded, which makes the collapsible chair self-stable and much safer: a loose or broken soft cover or attachment thereof to the frame will not cause breakdown of the whole frame which may serious injure the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Inventor: Libin Chen
  • Patent number: 8267469
    Abstract: A folding chair device having a seat that is mounted atop a seat support, wherein the bars of the seat support interconnect to form a border around the edges of the seat, with pivot mechanisms disposed in the support bars that engage the seat support, wherein the pivot mechanisms pivotally connect the support bars, having hinges disposed in the support bars allow the bottom portion to be folded upwardly, having sleeves on the support bars adapted to slide along the support bars and temporarily cover the hinges to prevent the hinges from folding, and a second frame with braces joining the sides, with pivot mechanisms in the braces which engage the side bars to pivotally connect the side braces respectively to the seat support, having hinges which allows the bottom portion to be folded upwardly or inwardly and sleeves adapted to slide and temporarily cover the hinges to prevent folding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Inventor: Abdulhamid F. Adan
  • Patent number: 8146518
    Abstract: A foldable stool or table having hinges comprises a plurality of support members. In one embodiment, a foldable device comprises three legs. In another embodiment, the foldable stool or table comprises two foldable support members and two non-foldable support members. Relative to the top and bottom of the device one or more intermediately located steps or shelves, wherein the steps or shelves are located along at least one of the non-foldable support members, may be included. The one or more intermediately located steps or shelves may be forwardly-offset relative to a front surface of the non-foldable support members. A method of using the stool is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Inventor: Bradley R. Eveleth
  • Patent number: 8083252
    Abstract: A foldable, cross-frame wheelchair with a foldable seat and foldable seatback. The foldable seat has a first outside edge retained relative to a longitudinal frame member at a second, upper end of a first cross-frame member of the wheelchair frame and a second outside edge retained relative to a longitudinal frame member at a second, upper end of a second cross-frame member of the wheelchair frame. A longitudinal hinge portion is interposed between the first and second outside edges to divide the seat into first and second pivotally coupled members. The hinge portion can be disposed to the obverse side of the first and second members of the seat. The foldable seatback can be divided into upper and lower foldable seatbacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Inventors: Mary Jo Wagner, Steven Tidcomb
  • Patent number: 7942476
    Abstract: A collapsible chair frame includes two rear legs and two front legs. A cap is secured to a lower end of each leg. A sheath extends from each cap and continues to receive the related leg when the related cap is lowered beyond the related leg in a collapsed position of the collapsible chair frame. A lower ring is movably provided on each leg. A rear, upper ring is secured to each rear leg. A front, upper ring is movably provided on each front leg. A lateral rod includes a lower end pivotally connected to each lower ring and an upper end pivotally connected to each upper ring. A rear rod, longer than the lateral rods, connects a related cap to a related rear, upper ring. A front rod, as long as the rear rods, connects a related cap to a related front, upper ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Inventor: Kao-San Chen
  • Patent number: 7918495
    Abstract: A director's chair comprises outer frames, connecting units, seat supporting units and back supporting units. The outer frame in square shape comprises with a pair of horizontal units and a pair of vertical units. A seat-supporting-unit connected piece setting under the top right angle of the horizontal unit. A stopper is set inside of each front and rear vertical unit. The connecting units which are pivotally crisscrossed with each other form an arc-shaped and an up-side-down arc-shaped connecting structure. The front protruding end of the seat supporting unit is curved. The back supporting unit comprises a supporting unit and a fitting seat wherein a concave is inside and a movable piece is at the bottom of the fitting seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Inventor: Gao-Shan Chen
  • Patent number: 7905184
    Abstract: A foldable stool or table having hinges comprises a plurality of support members. In one embodiment, a foldable device comprises three legs. In another embodiment, the foldable stool or table comprises two foldable support members and two non-foldable support members. Relative to the top and bottom of the device, embodiments of the present invention may comprise one or more intermediately located steps or shelves, wherein the steps or shelves are located along at least one of the non-foldable support members. The one or more intermediately located steps or shelves may be forwardly-offset relative to a front surface of the non-foldable support members. A method of using the stool is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Inventor: Bradley R. Eveleth
  • Publication number: 20100032926
    Abstract: A folding chair includes handle frames, and front legs and rear legs configured to support the chair in an upright position. The front legs are pivotally attached to respective rear legs. A chair portion, includes a back rest, a seat and a leg rest pivotally attached to the seat. Pivot frames are pivotally attached to respective handle frames, the back rest and the rear legs. Sliders are pivotally attached to respective pivot frames, the back rest, respective arm rests and the seat and are configured to slide along the front legs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: Dick Cone Industrial Design, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard E. CONE, II
  • Patent number: 7578551
    Abstract: An aircraft seat assembly comprises a continuous row of a plurality of seats including a convertible aisle seat at one end of the row and one or more other seats. The seats are moveable between (i) a first configuration in which all of the seats are positioned in a useable position and a second configuration in which (a) the convertible seat is positioned in an unusable position in the row, (b) said one or more other seats are positioned in a useable position, and (c) the row of seats has a length, along the row, that is less than the length of the row in the first configuration for example by a distance of more than half the width of the convertible seat in the first configuration. The width of said one or more other seats may remain unchanged as between the first and second configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Airbus UK Limited
    Inventor: Luis Gonzalez Liñero
  • Publication number: 20090108640
    Abstract: A vehicle seat for temporarily enlarging trunkspace includes a seat back and a seat bottom. The seat back is positionable in an upright position and a folded position. The seat back at least partially defines a portion of a vehicle storage compartment. In the folded position, the storage compartment is larger and able to hold more items than when the seat back is in the upright position. The vehicle seat is operable by a user with a single hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Stanislaw Andrzej Wieclawski
  • Patent number: 7497514
    Abstract: A portable bench includes a first seat member, a first back rest member attached to the first seat member, a second seat member attached to the first seat member, and a second back rest member attached to the second seat member. The first back rest member attaches to the first seat member such that at least one of the first seat member and the first back rest member pivots about a first axis. The second seat member attaches to the first seat member such that at least one of the first seat member and the second seat member pivots about a second axis that is at least substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The second back rest member attaches to the second seat member such that at least one of the second seat member and the second back rest member pivots about a third axis that is at least substantially parallel to the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Ramkoh, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott D. Ramsey, Emanuel Kohelis, Aaron Marshall
  • Patent number: 7461891
    Abstract: A collapsible support frame includes a collapsible frame that extends upwardly from a ground surface and has a fixed vertical height. Such a frame includes a plurality of rectilinear rails equidistantly spaced apart and disposed at opposed corners of the frame. The frame further includes a seat support section, a plurality of rods, and a seat belt directly connected to the seat support section and projecting forwardly towards an anterior side of the frame. A mechanism for maintaining the selected rods is evenly registered along a horizontal plane when the frame is erected such that the selected rods become downwardly displaced from the horizontal plane when the maintaining mechanism is repositioned along a longitudinal length of the selected rods as the frame is collapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Inventor: Eileen Andersen
  • Patent number: 7396073
    Abstract: A moon chair is configured to collapse in a single movement in which a seat frame is folded while the legs approximate each other. Contemplated moon chairs particularly include those that can be collapsed without separating the seat portion form the leg portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Tofasco of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward Zheng
  • Patent number: 7377583
    Abstract: A folding chair has a hinges on the seat and on a back panel and on a brace. The chair further includes side frame elements to which the seat, back panels and brace are all hingeably connected. The chair can be folded into a very compact form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Inventors: John O. Anthony, Dianne Anthony
  • Patent number: 7364228
    Abstract: A collapsible wheelchair frame having left and right side plates, each having an upper end, a lower end, and a forward end, each forward end forming a forwardly and downwardly and extending leg; left and right seat plates, each seat plate having proximal and distal ends, the proximal ends of the left and right seat plates being respectively hingedly attached to the upper ends of the left and right seat plates, the distal end of the left seat plate being hingedly attached to the distal end of the right seat plate; and left and right brace plates, each brace plate having proximal and distal ends, the proximal ends of the left and right brace plates being respectively hingedly attached to the lower ends of the left and right side plates, the distal end of the left brace plate being hingedly attached to the distal end of the right brace plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Aero Innovative Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith E. Entz
  • Patent number: 7350856
    Abstract: A foldable chair includes a leg unit, a seat unit supported on the leg unit, a pivot unit including two pivot joints secured to the leg unit, and a backrest unit including two opposite backrest rods that are pivoted to the leg unit through the pivot joints, respectively. The backrest unit is rotatable relative to the leg unit between a folded position, in which the backrest unit overlaps with the seat unit, and an extended position, in which the backrest unit stands upright from the seat unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Inventor: Chun-Hsien Tseng
  • Patent number: 7328940
    Abstract: Particularly preferred collapsible chairs have a minimum configuration in which the back and front rods in a quad arrangement are extended to support the arm rests, the backrest, and the seat, and wherein the back and front rods are angled such that the backrest width to seat height has a ratio of between 1.4 to 1.8. Such chairs are not only esthetically pleasing, but also relatively comfortable for users of average and above-average height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Tofasco of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward Zheng
  • Patent number: 7128332
    Abstract: Wheelchair designs and enhancements are provided for use with conventional wheelchair designs. The designs and enhancements include first and second contoured folding seat panels that are hingedly mounted with respect to the wheelchair frame and that are offer interlocking functionality. The folding seats generally provide contouring in both front-to-back and side-to-side directions. Features are provided to prevent capture of objects between seat panels as they are brought into interlocking engagement. Pivotal footrests that offer enhanced stability in the form of lateral, front-to-back and up-down stability are provided In addition, axle and axle plate combinations are described that provide enhanced flexibility in relative positioning with respect to the wheelchair frame. The disclosed features and functionalities may be incorporated into wheelchair designs, either in whole or in part, to provide enhanced user interaction with the wheelchair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Turbo Wheelchair Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew E. Hermes, Jane Hermes, Michael P. Chesterfield
  • Patent number: 7070230
    Abstract: A combination of one table and two chairs for two persons includes two folding chairs and one folding table. Each of the folding chairs include arm tubes, front crossed tubes, back-rest tubes, seating frame tubes, rear crossed tubes, and a chair surface fabric. The folding table includes front vertical tubes, front crossed tubes, rear vertical tubes, rear crossed tubes, and a table surface fabric. The arm tubes are connected cross-wise to the front crossed tubes, and the crossed connection point is provided with a reinforced block. The seating frame tubes are connected cross-wise to the back-rest tubes, and the arm tubes are connected to the front ends of the seating frame tubes via U-shaped hinging elements. The upper portions of the rear crossed tubes are connected to the back-rest tubes, and the lower portions thereof are connected to the seating frame tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Inventor: Libin Chen
  • Patent number: 7017984
    Abstract: A folding reclining chair with arms that is convenient to carry and is comfortable and safe for use in households, outdoors, in courtyards, in parks, and at beaches. The folding reclining chair has a left-right symmetrical structure that includes a reclining chair body support, arms, and a reclining chair plane. The reclining chair body support includes a front support and a rear support. The front support includes a foot-rest rod, a front leg tube, a front support rod, a rear support rod, a connection rod, and front crossed rods. The rear support includes a seating frame rod, a back-rest tube, middle crossed rods, and a rear crossed rod. The reclining chair body support structure has high strength because the reclining chair body foot-rest rod, the front support rod, rear support rod, and connection rod form a quadrangular structure, and the rear support uses a crossed support and has folding arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Inventor: Libin Chen
  • Patent number: 6899383
    Abstract: Disclosed is a folding chair comprising a frame and a seat sheet, which has means for protecting a user's vertebral column and means for expanding the seat to improve its seating comfort and stability. The expanding means are connected to both sides of the seat, and the protecting means is coupled at its opposite ends to armrests, upper portions of frame elements or the expanding means. The expanding means are hanged on projections formed by bending upper portions of the front frame elements. The protecting means is held at a certain height on a back rest of the chair but being allowed to be laterally moved by holding means, thereby enabling length of the protecting means to be adjusted. The folding chair may have one or more means for protecting a user's vertebral column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Inventor: Joo-Hwan Hwang
  • Patent number: 6406091
    Abstract: A folding chair includes collapsible rungs permitting folding in two directions. Stability is further enhanced by the upholstery which further forces the top rung of the chair downward making the chair rigid in the open position. Side rails and back supports slide freely along the chair's rear legs creating a folding mechanism that folds the seat upwards while also pulling the rear leg upwards in the same direction resulting in greater stability without increasing the height of the folded package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: The Coleman Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathon R. Saul, David R. Collins, David E. Harnadek, Duane M. Perpich
  • Patent number: 6375263
    Abstract: A self-tightening mechanism mounted on a seat having a back portion. The self-tightening mechanism including a drum coupled to the back portion, a band wrapped about the drum inhibiting rotation thereof and having a first end and a second end. A tightening mechanism coupled to the first end and the second end such that a force applied to the back portion in either of two opposing directions produces a tension in the band adjacent either one of the first end and the second end and a corresponding loosening of the band adjacent the other end. The tightening mechanism including a lever pivotable about a fixed pivot point to convert a portion of the tension to reduce the loosening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Elio Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Elio, Robert E. Glaspie, Hariharan K. Sankaranarayanan
  • Patent number: 6364409
    Abstract: A folding chair includes collapsible rungs in a backrest and seat permitting folding in two directions. Stability is further enhanced by the upholstery which further forces the top rung of the chair downward and the center rung rearward, making the chair rigid in the open position. Siderails and back supports slide freely along the chair's rear legs creating a folding mechanism that folds the seat upwards while also pulling the rear leg upwards in the same direction resulting in greater stability without increasing the height of the folded package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: The Coleman Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Robert Saul, Duane Michael Perpich, David Emil Harnadek, David Richard Collins
  • Patent number: 6322098
    Abstract: A foldable carriage includes a handle unit having a pair of struts, a pair of curved handgrips pivoted to the struts and connected pivotally together, and a first locking unit connected to the handgrips for locking the handgrips against pivotal movement. The carriage further includes a pair of foldable wheeled frames movable along the struts, a pair of second locking units for interlocking with the wheeled frames so as to lock the wheeled frames against movement, and a pair of transmission links connected to the handgrips and the second locking units for unlocking the second locking units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Inventor: Red Lan
  • Patent number: 6135475
    Abstract: A collapsible wheelchair is disclosed. The wheelchair includes a first wheel and a second wheel secured on opposites sides of a central support frame designed to support a seat member. The first wheel and the second wheel define a space within the circumference of each wheel. The central support frame includes a first frame member connected to the first wheel such that the first frame member may selectively move relative to the first wheel and a second frame member connected to the second wheel such that the second frame member selectively moves relative to the second wheel. A connecting member connects the first frame member to the second frame member in a manner permitting the first frame member and the second frame member to be selectively moved toward and away from each other, thereby, permitting the collapse of the wheelchair. The wheelchair further includes at least one guide wheel coupled to the central support frame for supporting the wheelchair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Inventors: Richard Brown, Edward L. Meador, David E. Hume