A folding chair structure

Abstract

The application discloses a folding chair structure and relates to the technical field of folding chairs, which comprises an upper folding support arm assembly, a lower stable support foot stand, a swing mechanism, a spring compression adjusting mechanism and a locking device. The swing mechanism is hinged with the upper hinge seat through the center hinge seat, so that the upper folding support arm assembly swings forward and backward around the horizontal axis. The spring compression adjusting mechanism is arranged between the two hinge seats, the pre-compression amount of the elastic element is changed through the rotation of the adjusting member, the rocking resistance is adjusted, and different users with different weights are adapted. The locking device is locked through the thread tension and the plug-in cooperation between the locking knob, the threaded hole and the through hole, the two hinge seats are locked, and the rocking function is reliably locked. The application has the advantages of rocking comfort, elastic force adjustment, locking stability, safety and anti-tilting.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of folding chair technology, and more particularly to a folding chair structure. Background Technology

[0002] With the increasing popularity of outdoor leisure activities, folding chairs have become widely used due to their portability and ease of storage. Traditional folding chairs typically only provide a fixed sitting posture, but to enhance the relaxation experience, a rocking folding chair has emerged on the market, allowing users to gently rock their bodies back and forth while seated, simulating the comfort of a rocking chair.

[0003] Existing rocking folding chairs typically feature a simple hinge connection between the upper seat support arm and the lower leg, allowing them to swing relative to each other around a single horizontal axis. Some products add springs at the hinge to provide a certain elastic restoring force during rocking. However, in the above structures, the spring force is fixed at the factory and cannot be adjusted by the user.

[0004] The drawback of this fixed-elasticity design is that users of different weights need to overcome varying levels of resistance when rocking. Lighter users may find it difficult to rock or press down, while heavier users may feel insufficient support and excessive swaying, significantly reducing comfort and failing to provide a personalized experience. Furthermore, the locking mechanism of the rocking function is often unreliable. Therefore, providing a folding chair that allows for easy adjustment of rocking resistance to suit different user weights and selective locking of the rocking mechanism has become a pressing issue. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to solve the technical problems of existing rocking folding chairs, which use a swing mechanism to achieve forward and backward rocking, a spring compression adjustment mechanism to achieve adjustable elasticity, and a locking device to achieve selective locking, thus solving the problem that the spring elasticity of existing rocking folding chairs is fixed and cannot be adjusted, making it impossible to adapt to users of different weights to achieve a personalized and comfortable experience.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A folding chair structure includes an upper folding support arm assembly and a lower stabilizing support leg, and further includes: The swing mechanism includes a central hinge seat fixedly connected to the lower stabilizing support leg and an upper hinge seat fixedly connected to the upper folding support arm assembly. The upper hinge seat is hinged to the central hinge seat so that the upper folding support arm assembly can swing back and forth about a transverse axis. A spring compression adjustment mechanism includes an elastic element disposed between the central hinge seat and the upper hinge seat, and an adjustment member disposed on the upper hinge seat, the lower end of which acts on the upper end of the elastic element, so as to change the pre-compression amount of the elastic element by operating the adjustment member. A locking device is provided for releasably locking the upper hinge seat and the center hinge seat to selectively prevent the back-and-forth swinging.

[0007] Preferably, the top of the central hinge seat is integrally formed with a transverse central swing pin, and the upper hinge seat has a shaft hole that is sleeved on the central swing pin. A knob plunger passes through the two side walls of the upper hinge seat axially and is then inserted and fixed to the central swing pin.

[0008] Preferably, a pressing plate is provided between the lower end of the adjusting member and the upper end of the elastic element, and the adjusting member is rotated to apply an adjustable pre-pressure to the elastic element through the pressing plate.

[0009] Preferably, the locking device includes a connecting plate integrally formed above one side of the central swing pin. The outer side of the connecting plate has a through hole, and the side wall of the upper hinge seat has a corresponding threaded hole. A locking knob is screwed into the threaded hole and cooperates with the through hole to achieve insertion and fixation. When inserted, the upper hinge seat is locked with the central hinge seat.

[0010] Preferably, the forward and backward swing angle of the upper hinge seat relative to the central hinge seat is limited to 4° to 12°, and a positioning structure for achieving this angle limitation is provided between the central hinge seat and the upper hinge seat.

[0011] Preferably, the forward and backward swing angle is limited to 8°.

[0012] Preferably, the positioning structure includes a limiting protrusion protruding from the lower rear end of the central hinge seat, and a positioning block protruding from the lower rear end of the inner cavity of the upper hinge seat and correspondingly cooperating with the limiting protrusion. When the swing reaches 8°, the positioning block abuts against the limiting protrusion.

[0013] Preferably, the central hinge seat is fixedly connected to the support base of the lower stabilizing support leg by a fastener that passes through the axis of the central swing pin.

[0014] Preferably, the upper end of the elastic element is sleeved on a first positioning shaft fixed to the bottom surface of the extrusion plate, and the lower end is sleeved on a second positioning shaft fixed to the upper surface of the central hinge seat.

[0015] Preferably, the upper end face of the extrusion plate is provided with a guide groove, and the lower end of the adjusting member is accommodated in the guide groove.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: This invention, by setting up a spring compression adjustment mechanism, uses the adjustment component and the compression plate to change the pre-compression of the elastic element, so that the rocking resistance can be flexibly adjusted according to the user's weight. For lighter users, the resistance is reduced to make rocking easier, while for heavier users, the resistance is increased to ensure stable support, thus achieving a personalized and comfortable experience. By setting a locking device, the upper hinge seat and the center hinge seat are fastened together by the threaded tension and plug-in engagement between the threaded hole and the through hole of the locking knob, eliminating the play gap and realizing the reliable locking of the rocking function. This allows the folding chair to switch freely between a rocking chair and a fixed seat, and it is easy to operate and locks securely. By setting up a positioning structure, the swaying angle is precisely controlled within a safe and comfortable range by using the limiting protrusion and the positioning block to abut against each other at an 8° position. This ensures a noticeable swaying sensation while effectively preventing the risk of tipping over due to excessive rearward shift of the center of gravity, making it safer to use. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the disassembled structure of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 3 This is a partial schematic diagram of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the spring compression adjustment mechanism and the central hinge seat of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the left side cross-section of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the lower end of the adjusting member of the present invention being housed in the guide groove; Figure 7 This is a frontal cross-sectional view of the present invention. Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the upper folding support arm assembly of the present invention when it is rocking. Figure 9 For the present invention Figure 8 Enlarged structural diagram at point A in the middle.

[0023] Drawing number descriptions: 1. Upper folding support arm assembly; 2. Lower stabilizing support leg; 3. Swing mechanism; 31. Central hinge seat; 32. Upper hinge seat; 33. Central swing pin; 34. Knob plunger; 4. Spring compression adjustment mechanism; 41. Elastic element; 42. Extrusion plate; 421. First positioning shaft; 422. Second positioning shaft; 423. Guide groove; 43. Adjusting component; 5. Locking device; 51. Connecting plate; 511. Through hole; 52. Locking knob; 6. Fastener; 7. Positioning structure; 71. Limiting protrusion; 72. Positioning block. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] The following description is intended to disclose the invention so that those skilled in the art can implement it. The preferred embodiments described below are merely examples, and other obvious modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The basic principles of the invention defined in the following description can be used in other embodiments, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and other technical solutions that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0026] Those skilled in the art should understand that, in the disclosure of this invention, the terms "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "rear," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or position based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are merely simplified descriptions for the convenience of describing this invention and do not indicate or imply that the device or component referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the above terms should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0027] It is understood that the term "a" should be understood as "at least one" or "one or more", that is, in one embodiment, the number of an element can be one, while in another embodiment, the number of the element can be multiple, and the term "a" should not be understood as a limitation on the number.

[0028] Please see Figures 1-9A folding chair structure mainly includes an upper folding support arm assembly 1, a lower stabilizing support leg 2, a swing mechanism 3, a spring compression adjustment mechanism 4, and a locking device 5. The upper folding support arm assembly 1 is a foldable and stowable seat support frame used to support the seat fabric and the user's weight. The lower stabilizing support leg 2 is a floor-mounted support structure, with anti-slip pads on its bottom to enhance ground stability. The upper folding support arm assembly 1 and the lower stabilizing support leg 2 are connected by the swing mechanism 3, allowing for back-and-forth swinging. The swing mechanism 3 includes a central hinge seat 31 and an upper hinge seat 32. The central hinge seat 31 is fixedly installed on the support base of the lower stabilizing support leg 2, and its top is integrally formed with a horizontally arranged central swing pin 33. The upper hinge seat 32 is fixedly connected to the upper folding support arm assembly 1, and its side wall has a shaft hole adapted to the central swing pin 33. During assembly, the shaft hole of the upper hinge seat 32 is fitted onto the central swing pin 33, and then the knob plunger 34 passes through the two side walls of the upper hinge seat 32 along the axial direction of the central swing pin 33, and is inserted and fixed with the corresponding pin hole at the end of the central swing pin 33. Thus, the upper hinge seat 32 and the central hinge seat 31 form a hinged relationship that can swing back and forth around the transverse axis, so that the upper folding support arm assembly 1 can rock back and forth relative to the lower stable support leg 2, realizing the rocking chair function.

[0029] To ensure the swing amplitude remains within a safe and comfortable range, the present invention also includes a positioning structure 7. In this embodiment, the positioning structure 7 is used to limit the forward and backward swing angle of the upper hinge seat 32 relative to the central hinge seat 31 to 8°. Specifically, the positioning structure 7 includes a limiting protrusion 71 protruding from the lower rear end of the central hinge seat 31, and a positioning block 72 protruding from the lower rear end of the inner cavity of the upper hinge seat 32 and correspondingly engaging with the limiting protrusion 71. When the user swings backward to 8°, the positioning block 72 abuts against the limiting protrusion 71, preventing further backward swinging, thereby precisely limiting the swing angle to 8°.

[0030] To determine the optimal angle, the inventors conducted multiple actual seating comfort tests. The tests revealed that when the swing angle was below 4°, subjects generally reported barely any rocking motion, rendering the rocking chair function ineffective. When the angle gradually increased to around 8°, subjects reported comfortable rocking amplitude, stable body center of gravity, and optimal matching between the rebound force of the elastic element 41 and the natural swaying frequency of the human body, resulting in the best experience. Further increasing the angle to above 12° caused subjects to noticeably feel a shift in their center of gravity backward, experiencing a sense of insecurity and potential to tip over. Based on these test results, the present invention determined 8° as the optimal implementation angle and implemented it through the aforementioned positioning structure 7. Of course, depending on actual needs, the swing angle can also be limited to other values ​​within the range of 4° to 12° by adjusting the relative positions of the limiting protrusion 71 and the positioning block 72.

[0031] The central hinge seat 31 and the support base of the lower stable support leg 2 are coaxially threaded together by a fastener 6 passing through the axis of the central swing pin 33, ensuring the overall structure is stable and reliable. To achieve a personalized comfort experience, this invention includes a spring compression adjustment mechanism 4 to adjust the elastic resistance during rocking to accommodate users of different weights. The spring compression adjustment mechanism 4 includes an elastic element 41, a compression plate 42, and an adjustment component 43. The elastic element 41 is preferably a compression spring, with its lower end sleeved on a second positioning shaft 422, which is fixed to the upper end face of the central hinge seat 31; the upper end of the elastic element 41 is sleeved on a first positioning shaft 421, which is fixed to the bottom surface of the compression plate 42. The upper and lower positioning shafts ensure that the elastic element 41 will not shift or dislodge during compression. The compression plate 42 is located above the elastic element 41, and its top surface has a guide groove 423. A screw hole is provided at the top of the upper hinge seat 32. The adjusting member 43 is threaded into the screw hole, and its lower end passes through the screw hole and is accommodated in the guide groove 423 of the extrusion plate 42.

[0032] In this embodiment, the adjusting member 43 is preferably a threaded knob, and the mounting hole is correspondingly set as a threaded hole. The two are connected and moved axially through threaded engagement. Of course, the adjusting member 43 and the upper hinge seat 32 can also be connected by other movable connection methods such as rotary buckle, ratchet push, rotary wedge block, etc., to achieve axial displacement adjustment, as long as the adjusting member 43 can be moved axially by operation to change the pre-compression of the elastic element 41.

[0033] When the spring force needs to be adjusted, the user rotates the adjusting component 43. Tightening the adjusting component 43 clockwise applies downward pressure to the compression plate 42 via the guide groove 423 at its lower end. The compression plate 42 further compresses the elastic element 41, increasing the pre-compression of the elastic element 41 and thus increasing the rocking resistance, making it suitable for heavier users. Conversely, loosening the adjusting component 43 counterclockwise reduces the pre-compression of the elastic element 41, thereby decreasing the rocking resistance, making it suitable for lighter users. Through this convenient knob adjustment, different users can obtain a personalized and comfortable rocking experience.

[0034] A locking device 5 is also provided, which is used to selectively lock the rocking function. When the user does not need to rock or wants to use the folding chair as a fixed seat, the upper hinge seat 32 and the central hinge seat 31 can be locked by the locking device 5. The locking device 5 includes a connecting plate 51 and a locking knob 52. The connecting plate 51 is integrally formed on the upper part of the central swing pin 33, and its outer side has a through hole 511. The side wall of the upper hinge seat 32 has a threaded hole at the corresponding position. The locking knob 52 is screwed into the threaded hole and then into the through hole 511, and the two cooperate to achieve plug-in fixation. When the locking knob 52 is tightened, the end face of the locking knob 52 presses tightly against the outer surface of the side wall of the upper hinge seat 32. At the same time, the tension generated by the thread engagement tightly binds the connecting plate 51 and the side wall of the upper hinge seat 32, so that the upper hinge seat 32 and the central hinge seat 31 cannot move relative to each other, thus locking the rocking function. After loosening the locking knob 52, the end of the locking knob 52 is pulled out from the through hole 511, the lock is released, and the upper hinge seat 32 resumes free swinging relative to the central hinge seat 31, allowing the user to continue to enjoy the rocking pleasure.

[0035] This invention achieves shaking, personalized adjustment, and locking functions through the following methods: Rocking Principle: In the swing mechanism 3, the central hinge seat 31 is fixed to the lower stable support frame 2, and the upper hinge seat 32 is fixed to the upper folding support arm assembly 1. The two are connected by a hinge structure formed by the central swing pin 33 and the knob plunger 34. After the user sits down, applying force back and forth with their body causes the upper folding support arm assembly 1 and the upper hinge seat 32 to swing back and forth relative to the central hinge seat 31 and the lower stable support frame 2 around the transverse axis of the central swing pin 33, producing a rocking chair effect. During the swinging process, the positioning block 72 of the positioning structure 7 abuts against the limiting protrusion 71 at an 8° position to prevent excessive backward tilting.

[0036] Personalized Spring Adjustment Principle: In the spring compression adjustment mechanism 4, the elastic element 41 is supported between the central hinge seat 31 and the upper hinge seat 32. When the upper hinge seat 32 swings, it compresses or releases the elastic element 41, which provides an elastic restoring force opposite to the swing direction. Rotating the adjustment component 43 changes the pre-compression degree of the compression plate 42 on the elastic element 41. The greater the pre-compression, the stronger the initial reaction force of the elastic element 41, and the greater the force required for the user to shake, and vice versa. This achieves personalized adaptation for users of different weights; heavier users can increase the pre-compression force for sufficient support, while lighter users can decrease the pre-compression force for easier shaking.

[0037] Locking Principle: The locking device 5 achieves locking and releasing through the threaded engagement of the locking knob 52 with the through hole 511 on the connecting plate 51. During connection, the locking knob 52 secures the side wall of the upper hinge seat 32 to the connecting plate 51 as a single unit, eliminating the play between them and preventing hinge swaying. After loosening, the play is restored, and the swaying force overcomes the resistance of the elastic element 41, allowing the upper hinge seat 32 to swing freely. This locking mechanism is simple, reliable, and easy to operate. When the locking knob 52 is turned out, its end is pulled out of the through hole 511, releasing the lock.

[0038] Those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments of the present invention described above and shown in the accompanying drawings are merely examples and do not limit the present invention. The objectives of the present invention have been fully and effectively achieved. The functions and structural principles of the present invention have been shown and explained in the embodiments, and any modifications or variations of the embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the stated principles.

Claims

1. A folding chair structure, comprising an upper folding support arm assembly (1) and a lower stabilizing support leg (2), characterized in that, Also includes: The swing mechanism (3) includes a central hinge seat (31) fixedly connected to the lower stable support leg (2) and an upper hinge seat (32) fixedly connected to the upper folding support arm assembly (1). The upper hinge seat (32) is hinged to the central hinge seat (31) so that the upper folding support arm assembly (1) can swing back and forth about a transverse axis. The spring compression adjustment mechanism (4) includes an elastic element (41) disposed between the central hinge seat (31) and the upper hinge seat (32), and an adjustment member (43) disposed on the upper hinge seat (32), the lower end of which acts on the upper end of the elastic element (41) to change the pre-compression amount of the elastic element (41) by operating the adjustment member (43); A locking device (5) is used to releasably lock the upper hinge seat (32) and the central hinge seat (31) to selectively prevent the back-and-forth swinging.

2. The folding chair structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top of the central hinge seat (31) is integrally formed with a transverse central swing pin (33). The upper hinge seat (32) has a shaft hole that is sleeved on the central swing pin (33). A knob plunger (34) passes through the two side walls of the upper hinge seat (32) along the axial direction and is inserted and fixed to the central swing pin (33).

3. The folding chair structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, A pressing plate (42) is provided between the lower end of the adjusting member (43) and the upper end of the elastic element (41). The adjusting member (43) is rotated to apply an adjustable pre-pressure to the elastic element (41) through the pressing plate (42).

4. A folding chair structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The locking device (5) includes a connecting plate (51) integrally formed on one side above the central swing pin (33). The outer side of the connecting plate (51) has a through hole (511), and the side wall of the upper hinge seat (32) has a corresponding threaded hole. A locking knob (52) is screwed into the threaded hole and then cooperates with the through hole (511) to achieve plug-in fixation. When inserted, the upper hinge seat (32) is locked with the central hinge seat (31).

5. A folding chair structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The upper hinge seat (32) is limited to a swing angle of 4° to 12° relative to the central hinge seat (31), and a positioning structure (7) is provided between the central hinge seat (31) and the upper hinge seat (32) to achieve this angle limitation.

6. A folding chair structure according to claim 5, characterized in that, The forward and backward swing angle is limited to 8°.

7. A folding chair structure according to claim 6, characterized in that, The positioning structure (7) includes a limiting protrusion (71) protruding from the lower rear end of the central hinge seat (31) and a positioning block (72) protruding from the lower rear end of the inner cavity of the upper hinge seat (32) and correspondingly cooperating with the limiting protrusion (71). When the swing reaches 8°, the positioning block (72) abuts against the limiting protrusion (71).

8. A folding chair structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The central hinge seat (31) is fixedly connected to the support base of the lower stable support leg (2) by a fastener (6) that passes through the axis of the central swing pin (33).

9. A folding chair structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The upper end of the elastic element (41) is sleeved on the first positioning shaft (421) fixed to the bottom surface of the extrusion plate (42), and the lower end is sleeved on the second positioning shaft (422) fixed to the upper surface of the central hinge seat (31).

10. A folding chair structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The upper end face of the extrusion plate (42) is provided with a guide groove (423), and the lower end of the adjustment member (43) is accommodated in the guide groove (423).

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