Tensional seat support arrangement for collapsible chair

• US 6,682,135 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2001
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward Zheng
• Original Assignee: Edward Zheng
• Inventors: Zheng, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Peter R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US09/956,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20030052518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 297/16.1, 297/16.2, 297/35, 297/39, 297/45, 297/46, 297/55, 297/56
• US Class Current: 297/16.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 4/286 foldable side to side and front to back, e.g. umbrella type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 4/30 Attachment of upholstery or fabric to frames in general A47C31/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 5/06 Special adaptation of seat upholstery or fabric for attachment to tubular chairs

Abstract

A tensional support arrangement includes a pair of guiding holders rotatably connected to back supporting frame legs respectively and a pair of side supporting arms, which are positioned at two outer sides of a chair frame, each has a support portion pivotally connected to the respective front joint at a front end thereof and a guiding portion slidably connected to the respective guiding holder, wherein two side edge portions of a seat fabric are substantially supported by the support portions of the side supporting arms respectively. Therefore, the tensional support arrangement is capable of substantially increasing the supporting area of the fabric seat to more evenly distribute and support the downward pulling force and stress applied by the user'"'"'s weight.

Claims

1. A collapsible chair, comprising:

a chair frame, having a seat frame comprising;

two side frames, each comprising a first frame leg and a second frame leg pivotally coupled with each other to form an x-shape structure,

a front frame comprising a first frame leg and a second frame leg pivotally coupled with each other to form an x-shape structure,

a rear frame comprising a first rear frame leg and a second rear frame leg pivotally coupled with each other to form an x-shaped structure,

a pair of front frame joints pivotally connected with two upper ends of said first frame legs and two upper ends of said two front frame legs respectively,

a pair of back supporting frame joints pivotally connected with two upper ends of said second frame legs and two upper ends of said two rear frame legs respectively, and

a back supporting frame comprising a pair of back supporting frame legs extending upwardly through said two back supporting frame joints respectively; and

a tensional support arrangement, which comprises;

a pair of guiding holders provided at said two back supporting frame legs respectively; and

a pair of side supporting arms, which are positioned at two outer sides of said seat frame, wherein each of said side supporting arms has a support portion having a front end pivotally connected to said respective front joint and a guiding portion which is rearwardly extended from said support portion and slidably supported by said respective guiding holder; and

a seat fabric, which has two side edge portions, being attached to said chair frame by mounting on said front and back frame joints, wherein said two support portions of said two side supporting arms are extended along said two side portions of said seat fabric respectively to substantially support said seat fabric between said two side supporting arms.

2. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said guiding holders comprises a slider body rotatably mounted to a predetermined position of said respective back supporting frame legs below said back frame joints, wherein each of said slider bodies has a slider through slot arranged for said guiding portion of said respective side supporting arm slidably passing through.

3. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said guiding holders further comprises a connecting wing, which is integrally extended from one side of said respective slider body, and pivotally riveted to said respective back supporting frame legs.

4. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 3, wherein each of said side supporting arms is a tubular leg having a first elongated portion forming said front portion, wherein a front end is pivotally connected to said respective front joint, and a second bent portion which is inclined with respect to said front portion to form said guiding portion that is slidably supported by said guiding holder by slidably penetrating through said slider through slot, wherein said guiding holder is arranged to guide said side supporting arm between a folded position and an unfolded position,

whereby when said two front frame and said rear frame are moved towards each other while said collapsible chair is folded up, said side supporting arms are in said folded position so that two rear ends of said guiding portions of said side supporting arms are respectively slid away from said two guiding holders until said guiding holders are slid on said guiding portions and towards said support portions respectively, wherein said support portions are inclinedly extended between said front joints and said guiding holders while said guiding portion is vertically downwardly extended from said guiding holders;

when said collapsible chair is unfolded, said side supporting arms are in said unfolded position so that two rear ends of said guiding portions of said side supporting arms are respectively slid towards said two guiding holders until said guiding holders are positioned near said rear ends of said guiding portions respectively, wherein said side supporting arms are well supported between said front frame and said rear frame when said collapsible chair is unfolded for use, wherein said supporting portion is horizontally extended rearwardly from said front joints while said guiding portion is extended from said guiding holders inclinedly and downwardly.

5. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 4, wherein said fabric seat further comprises a pair of holding devices holding said two side portions of said seat fabric with said support portions of said two side supporting arms, respectively.

6. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 4, wherein said two side supporting arms are positioned at two outer sides of said two side frames respectively, wherein said support portion of each of said side supporting arms is biased against said respective second frame leg of said side frame, so as to block up said side supporting arm in an inwardly lateral movement with respect to said chair frame.

7. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 6, wherein said fabric seat further comprises a pair of holding devices holding said two side portions of said seat fabric with said support portions of said two side supporting arms, respectively.

8. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 7, wherein each of said holding devices comprises at least a tubular holding sleeve, having two open ends, provided on each side portion of a bottom surface of said seat fabric for said support portion of said side supporting arm slidably passing through.

9. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 8, wherein each of said tubular holding sleeves comprises an elongated reinforcing strap having two opposed longitudinal edges firmly affixed on said respective side portion of said bottom surface of said seat fabric by stitching, so as to form an elongated holding through hole between said seat fabric and said reinforcing strap for said respective side supporting arm passing therethrough.

10. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said front frame joints comprises a first pivot wall extending downwardly for pivotally connecting one of said front frame legs and a second pivot wall extending downwardly for pivotally connecting said first frame leg of said side frame wherein said side supporting arm is pivotally connecting to an outer side of said first frame leg.

11. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said front frame joints comprises a first pivot wall extending downwardly for pivotally connecting one of said front frame legs and a second pivot wall extending downwardly for pivotally connecting said first frame leg of said side frame and said side supporting arm.

12. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said side supporting arms is a tubular leg having a first elongated portion forming said front portion, wherein a front end is pivotally connected to said respective front joint, and a second bent portion which is inclined with respect to said front portion to form said guiding portion that is slidably supported by said guiding holder by slidably penetrating through said slider through slot.

13. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 2, wherein said two side supporting arms are positioned at two outer sides of said two side frames respectively, wherein said support portions of said side supporting arms are respectively biased against said second frame legs of said two side frames and extended respectively between said two front frame joints and said two back supporting frame joints, so as to block up said side supporting arm in an inwardly lateral movement with respect to said chair frame.

14. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 13, wherein said fabric seat further comprises a pair of holding devices connecting said two side portions of said seat fabric with said support portions of said two side supporting arms, respectively.

15. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 14, wherein each of said holding devices comprises at least a tubular holding sleeve, having two open ends, provided on each side portion of a bottom surface of said seat fabric for said support portion of said side supporting arm slidably passing through.

16. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 15, wherein each of said tubular holding sleeves comprises an elongated reinforcing strap having two opposed longitudinal edges firmly affixed on said respective side portion of said bottom surface of said seat fabric by stitching, so as to form an elongated holding through hole between said seat fabric and said reinforcing strap for said respective side supporting arm passing therethrough.

17. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 2, wherein said fabric seat further comprises a pair of holding devices connecting said two side portions of said seat fabric with said support portions of said two side supporting arms respectively.

18. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 17, wherein each of said holding devices comprises at least a tubular holding sleeve, having two open ends, provided on each side portion of a bottom surface of said seat fabric for said support portion of said side supporting arm slidably passing through.

19. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 18, wherein each of said tubular holding sleeves comprises an elongated reinforcing strap having two opposed longitudinal edges firmly affixed on said respective side portion of said bottom surface of said seat fabric by stitching, so as to form an elongated holding through hole between said seat fabric and said reinforcing strap for said respective side supporting arm passing therethrough.

20. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 1, wherein said two side supporting arms are positioned at two outer sides of said two side frames respectively, wherein said support portions of said side supporting arms are respectively biased against said second frame legs of said two side frames and extended respectively between said two front frame joints and said two back supporting frame joints, so as to block up said side supporting arm in an inwardly lateral movement with respect to said chair frame.

21. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 20, wherein said fabric seat further comprises a pair of holding devices connecting said two side portions of said seat fabric with said support portions of said two side supporting arms, respectively.

22. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 21, wherein each of said holding devices comprises at least a tubular holding sleeve, having two open ends, provided on each side portion of a bottom surface of said seat fabric for said support portion of said side supporting arm slidably passing through.

23. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 22, wherein each of said tubular holding sleeves comprises an elongated reinforcing strap having two opposed longitudinal edges firmly affixed on said respective side portion of said bottom surface of said seat fabric by stitching, so as to form an elongated holding through hole between said seat fabric and said reinforcing strap for said respective side supporting arm passing therethrough.

24. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 1, wherein said tensional support arrangement further comprises a pair of stoppers affixed to said rear ends of said guiding portions of said side supporting arms respectively for blocking up said sliding movement of said guiding holder, so as to prevent said guiding holder from sliding out of said side supporting arm.

25. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 24, wherein said tensional support arrangement further comprises a pair of stoppers affixed to said rear ends of said guiding portions of said side supporting arms respectively for blocking up said sliding movement of said guiding holder, so as to prevent said guiding holder from sliding out of said side supporting arm.

26. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 1, wherein said fabric seat further comprises a pair of holding device connecting said two side portions of said seat fabric with said support portions of said two side supporting arms, respectively.

27. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 26, wherein each of said holding devices comprises at least a tubular holding sleeve, having two open ends, provided on each side portion of a bottom surface of said seat fabric for said support portion of said side supporting arm slidably passing through.

28. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 27, wherein said each of said tubular holding sleeves comprises an elongated reinforcing strap having two opposed longitudinal edges firmly affixed on said respective side portion of said bottom surface of said seat fabric by stitching, so as to form an elongated holding through hole between said seat fabric and said reinforcing strap for said respective side supporting arm passing therethrough.

29. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said front frame joints comprises a first pivot wall extending downwardly for pivotally connecting one of said front frame legs and a second pivot wall extending downwardly for pivotally connecting said first frame leg of said side frame wherein said side supporting arm is pivotally connecting to an outer side of said first frame leg.

30. The collapsible chair, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said front frame joints comprises a first pivot wall extending downwardly for pivotally connecting one of said front frame legs and a second pivot wall extending downwardly for pivotally connecting said first frame leg of said side frame and said side supporting arm.