Folding canopy chair

Abstract

A folding chair includes a canopy which is stabilized in a front to back longitudinal direction using stiff segments which can be folded laterally, and a canopy supported from a pivoting back support with a bracket support which is preferably a multi-detent bracket support which can angularly adjust, upon manual movement by the user to react to changing light conditions. The user can pull the canopy to angle down to block light and wind, or the user can push the canopy to angle up to form a more open appearance while still receiving some benefits from the canopy.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a number of advantageous structures and devices which may be employed in a folding chair to enable foldable stowability in conjunction with other structural advantages and more particularly to a stowable canopy which has rigidity in one direction and which acts to provide stability in the stowed and deployed positions.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Several known folding chairs have been in commercial use and which enable compact stowage while providing a wide and deep comfortable chair upon deployment. Some chairs use an independent cover for carriage, while others have canopies which assist in forming a stable stowed carriage device. Where the cover is attempted to be used for the carrying of the stowed chair, it can take on a shape which is incompatible with the stowably folded chair. The canopy cover lacks stability typically because it has to be flexible enough to operate with structures which deploy the canopy. In m...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]A folding chair includes a canopy which is stabilized in a front to back longitudinal direction using stiff segments which can be folded laterally. Reinforcing members are typically surrounded by finished layers on either broad side which envelope the reinforcing members and help define the extent of folding that segments of the canopy can undergo, either during deployment of the folding chair 121 or during stowed, folded carriage. This design provides a front to back folded segments which are rigidly reinforced so that no folding can occur front to back. Lateral folding can occur along defined folding boundaries of the segments. This rigidity in one direction allows for a stronger canopy while allowing the collapsible support to concentrate on lateral stowage-ability variation.

[0006]The canopy is supported from a pivoting back support with a bracket support which is preferably an angular fixation fitting and which may be either a multi-detent bracket support or a friction fitting. A center-front locking brace can be optionally activated to fully laterally deploy the canopy. The combination of the canopy support and center-front locking brace, along with the front to back stiffened panels provides a well supported canopy. Further, the multi-detent bracket support enables the canopy to angularly adjust, upon manual movement by the user to react to changing light conditions. The user can pull the canopy to angle down to block light and wind, or the user can push the canopy to angle up to form a more open appearance while still receiving some benefits from the canopy.

Problems solved by technology

Where the cover is attempted to be used for the carrying of the stowed chair, it can take on a shape which is incompatible with the stowably folded chair.

The canopy cover lacks stability typically because it has to be flexible enough to operate with structures which deploy the canopy.

In most cases the canopy cover simply does not fit well with the chair and significant force bears against the canopy cover when the chair is in the stowed position.

Another problem is with the canopy stability when the chair is in a deployed configuration.

The provision of supports which adequately enable the canopy to both be stable and fully deployed is difficult and can result in poor support while serving the ability of the chair to be deployed and stowed.

Providing adequate support while retaining the ability to deploy and stow is a continuing problem.

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