Two-way foldable chair

Abstract

Folding chair adapted for folding from a set-up position to a selected one of two fold positions including a first position wherein the chair is folded to a substantially flat condition and a second folded position wherein the chair forms a bundle. Another form of said drive link mechanism includes a drive link having an active position wherein said drive link moves said articulated frame to its bundled condition in response to any folding movement of the frame and an inactive position wherein said drive link merely idles without exerting influence on the folding movements of the articulated frame.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 160,886, filed Mar. 17, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention generally relates to chairs, and more particularly relates to improvements in chairs that are foldable and unfoldable between a set-up condition for use and a substantially collapsed condition for transportation and / or storage.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Beach and lawn chairs adapted to be folded for transportation and / or storage typically have a frame fabricated from elongated structural members, preferably metal. The frames of such chairs have transversely spaced apart left hand and right hand frame side assemblies that are substantially parallel to each other. In a set-up position, each side frame assembly has a front leg member extending in a generally vertically upward direction and a rear leg member pivotally...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a foldable chair that can be easily collapsed and reduced in size for easy storage and transportation. Unlike previous chairs, the present invention does not have rigid connecting members that limit the movement of the frame. The chair frame is maintained in an open position by a combination of pivotal, slidable, and telescopically movable connections. The chair frame can be folded or collapsed in multiple directions, including the front-to-back and side-to-side directions, by moving the frame members towards each other and a centrally disposed vertical axis. The technical effects of this invention include easy storage and transportation, improved flexibility, and comfortable seating."

Problems solved by technology

However, even though such chairs are foldable for easy transport, they typically still cover a wide area and thus occupy a considerable space when folded, which makes packing or storing the chairs difficult, especially when they must be crammed into small a space, such as the trunk of a car, with a number of other objects such as a cooler, blankets and bags.

When packing the folded chair into a car, the folded chair must be laid flat, thereby occupying a wide footprint.

However, these chair designs are typically not suitable for certain outdoor uses, such as at the beach or at a picnic, where a reclinable back rest may be desired.

Hereafter, reclinable chairs have not been able to be folded to a completely collapsed, bundled condition without much difficulty.

Even where a reclinable chair can be so bundled, the final bundle does not fold to a sufficiently compressed size.

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