Folding chair

Abstract

We offer a folding chair that is virtually invisible when stored. [Solution] The folding chair 1 includes a leg portion 2 that can be changed between an unfolded position and a stored position, a seat portion 3 supported by the leg portion 2 in the unfolded position, and a wall mounting means 4 for attaching the seat portion 3 and the leg portion 2 to the wall in a wall-mounted position where the underside of the seat portion 3 faces the wall surface W. In the stored position, the leg portion 2 is contained within the contour of the seat portion 31 on the underside of the seat portion 3.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a folding chair.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in conference rooms and meeting spaces, often the number of chairs matching the size of the installed table is arranged. Also, assuming the case where the number of participants exceeds the number of chairs, spare chairs such as folding chairs may be arranged in empty spaces such as along the wall.

[0003] In a conference room or the like, the physical floor area occupied by spare chairs reduces the available floor area. On the other hand, folding chairs that can be stored on the wall have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). If wall-mounted spare chairs are adopted, the problem of floor occupation area is solved.

[0004] However, when the folding chair described in Patent Document 1 is hung on the wall for storage, an unnatural space with the folding chair hung on the wall is formed, and there is room for improvement in terms of spoiling the aesthetic sense of the space in a conference room or the like.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] According to the folding chair of the present invention, the legs, when extended, support the seat, allowing the chair to be placed on the floor and used as a chair. On the other hand, when the legs are folded and attached to a wall, the floor space occupied by the folding chair is eliminated. Furthermore, since the legs in the folded position are contained within the contour of the seat on the underside of the seat, the chair's appearance is made less conspicuous, allowing the chair to be virtually invisible while the seat surface serves as an interior design element that enhances the space.

[0009] In the folding chair of the present invention, the wall mounting means may be provided on the underside of the seat portion, inside the contour of the seat portion.

[0010] According to this embodiment, when a folding chair is mounted on a wall, the exposure of the wall mounting means can be suppressed, resulting in a clean appearance. This embodiment does not preclude a configuration in which the wall mounting means is provided outside the contour of the seat. Furthermore, the wall mounting means may be provided on the seat or on the legs.

[0011] Furthermore, the wall mounting means may be, for example, a magnetic attachment means having a magnet provided on the back side of the seat portion.

[0012] This configuration allows for easy attachment and detachment of folding chairs to walls made of magnetic materials such as steel, or to magnetic materials or magnets installed on the walls, making it user-friendly. Furthermore, the mounting position and arrangement of folding chairs on the wall can be appropriately selected, improving the freedom of spatial design.

[0013] In the folding chair of the present invention, the seat portion may include a seat side portion that extends toward the underside along the peripheral edge of the seat surface portion, and the legs in the storage position may be housed within a storage space enclosed by the seat surface portion and the seat side portion.

[0014] According to this configuration, when a folding chair with its legs folded is mounted on a wall, a clean appearance is obtained by preventing the legs from being exposed, and the surface (outer surface) of the seat can also be used as a design surface, thereby improving the design appeal as a wall-mounted interior piece.

[0015] In the folding chair of the present invention, the legs may be provided with legs that are divided in the longitudinal direction of the leg body and are foldable or disassembled to dimensions that fit inside the contour of the seat.

[0016] In this configuration, the folded or disassembled legs are stored inside the contour of the seat, resulting in a compact design, while the legs can be extended or connected to increase their length during use. This allows the seat height to be greater than the dimensions of the seat, ensuring that even with a compact seat, a seat height comparable to that of a typical chair (e.g., around 400mm) can be achieved. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] This invention provides a folding chair that is virtually invisible when stored. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] [Figure 1] The folding chair of the first embodiment is shown, where (A) is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the wall-mounted storage state along the IA-IA position in Figure 4(A), (B) is a perspective view showing the storage state, and (C) is a perspective view showing the unfolded state. [Figure 2] The same embodiment in its deployed state is shown, with (A) being a side view and (B) being a longitudinal cross-sectional view along the IIB-IIB position in (A). [Figure 3]It is a perspective view of the same embodiment in the unfolded state as seen from diagonally below. [Figure 4] (A) is a plan view of the same embodiment in the stored state as seen from the back side, and (B) is a cross-sectional view showing the cross-section at the IVB-IVB position of (A) together with the wall. [Figure 5] (A) is a perspective view of the same embodiment in the stored state as seen from diagonally below, and (B) is a perspective view showing the state where the second leg is rotated from the stored state. [Figure 6] (A) is a perspective view showing the state where the first leg is rotated from the state of Fig. 5(B), and (B) is the longitudinal cross-sectional view thereof. [Figure 7] It is a perspective view showing the state where the first leg is deployed from the state of Fig. 6(A). [Figure 8] It is a perspective view showing the state where the second leg is deployed from the state of Fig. 7. [Figure 9] The second embodiment is shown, where (A) to (C) show the stored state, and (D) and (E) show the deployed state. [Figure 10] The second embodiment is shown, where (A) to (C) show the stored state, and (D) and (E) show the deployed state. [Figure 11] The second embodiment is shown, where (A) to (C) show the stored state, and (D) and (E) show the deployed state.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. In the following description, terms such as "front and back" and "left and right" are used to specify directions. However, the longitudinal direction of the seat portion of the folding chair installed on the floor surface is defined as the left-right direction, and the direction perpendicular to the left-right direction and the vertical direction is defined as the front-back direction. These terms are used for convenience of explanation and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0020] <Outline of the folding chair> As shown in Figures 1 to 5(A), the folding chair 1 of the first embodiment comprises a foldable leg portion 2, a seat portion 3 supported by the leg portion 2, and a wall mounting means 4 for attaching the seat portion 3 and the leg portion 2 to a wall surface W. The leg portion 2 is provided so as to be able to change between an unfolded position (see Figure 3, etc.) and a stored position (see Figure 5(A), etc.). The wall mounting means 4 is composed of a magnetic attachment means, for example, having a magnet 41.

[0021] When the folding chair 1 is in use, as shown in Figure 2, the legs 2 are extended and placed on the floor surface F, supporting the seat 3. On the other hand, when the folding chair 1 is stored (not in use), as shown in Figure 4, the legs 2 are folded into a storage position so that they fit inside the contour of the seat surface 31 on the underside of the seat 3.

[0022] In this embodiment, the folding chair 1 can be used as a chair when placed on the floor F by positioning the legs 2 in the unfolded position to support the seat 3. On the other hand, when the legs 2 are folded in the stored position and attached to the wall W, the floor space occupied by the folding chair 1 can be eliminated. Furthermore, since the legs 2 in the stored position are contained within the contour of the seat 31 on the underside of the seat 3, as shown in Figure 1, the folding chair 1 can form an appearance that suppresses the exposure of the legs 2, making the presence of the chair almost imperceptible, while the surface of the seat 31 (seat surface) can be used as an interior design element to enhance the space.

[0023] Next, we will explain the configuration of each part. In the following explanation, unless otherwise specified, terms such as "front and back" and "left and right" are used based on the position in which the folding chair 1 is placed on the floor surface F.

[0024] <Seat structure> As shown in Figure 1, the seat portion 3 has a roughly box-like shape with an open bottom, and comprises a seat surface portion 31 that is roughly rectangular in plan view, and four seat side portions 32 that hang down from the periphery of the seat surface portion 31. In this embodiment, the seat surface portion 31 is elongated in the left-right direction. The four seat side portions 32 are all the same height and are arranged in a roughly rectangular frame shape.

[0025] The material of the seat portion 3 is not particularly limited, but for example, wood, plastic, metal, or a combination thereof can be used. The outer surfaces of the seat portion 31 and the seat side portions 32 are covered with upholstery (see Figure 1, etc.). Note that the upholstery is not shown in the cross-sectional views such as Figure 2(B) and Figure 3. The seat portion 3 may have cushioning material, or it may be configured without upholstery or cushioning material.

[0026] The seat portion 3 includes metal or resin leg support members 34, two each at the front and rear, located near the left and right edges on the underside of the seat surface portion 31. On the underside of the seat surface portion 31, metal beam members 35 are provided at the front and rear edges, extending in the left-right direction and with both ends connected to the left and right leg support members 34. The leg support members 34 and beam members 35 constitute the seat frame portion 33.

[0027] <Leg structure> As shown in Figure 2, the leg section 2 comprises a first leg section 5 and a second leg section 6, both of which are foldable in the length direction of the leg section. The first leg section 5 has a roughly U-shape, with the upper ends of a pair of front and rear first leg support sections 51, which are provided parallel to each other, connected by a first leg rotation axis 52 that extends in the front-rear direction. Similarly, the second leg section 6 has a roughly U-shape, with the upper ends of a pair of front and rear second leg support sections 61, which are provided parallel to each other, connected by a second leg rotation axis 62 that extends in the front-rear direction.

[0028] Each leg support section 51, 61 is provided with a resin grounding member 21 that contacts the floor surface F at its lower end. As will be described in more detail later, each leg support section 51, 61 is divided in the direction of the leg body's length (the direction in which the leg support sections 51, 61 extend) and is designed to be foldable.

[0029] The leg rotation axes 52 and 62 are distributed to the left and right edges inside the seat 3 and are rotatably supported by front and rear leg support members 34 fixed to the underside of the seat surface 31. In the extended position of the leg 2, the front and rear first leg support members 51 and 61 are positioned between the front and rear second leg support members 61, and are held in an inclined position so that the leg support members 51 and 61 intersect when viewed from the front. In Figure 1 and other figures, the leg support members 34 are shown as a nearly rectangular parallelepiped, but any configuration that can rotatably support the leg rotation axes 52 and 62 is acceptable, and they may be formed from multiple members, for example.

[0030] As shown in Figure 4, the first leg body 5 and the second leg body 6, with their respective leg support sections 51 and 61 folded, can be stored inside the seat section 3. That is, in the stored position, the leg section 2 is housed inside the contour of the seat surface 31 on the underside of the seat section 3, and is also housed within the storage space enclosed by the seat surface 31 and the seat side sections 32.

[0031] <Structure of the first leg unit> As can be seen from Figures 6 to 8, the first leg support section 51 of the first leg body 5 comprises an upper first leg support 53 with one end connected to the first leg rotation axis 52, and a lower first leg support 55 connected to the other end of the upper first leg support 53 via a first leg hinge section 54, and is provided to be foldable. In this embodiment, the first leg rotation axis 52 and the first leg supports 53 and 55 are formed from metal round pipes.

[0032] The first leg body 5 is equipped with a first leg hinge portion 54 at each of the front and rear first leg support portions 51. The front and rear first leg hinge portions 54 are connected via a first leg connecting shaft 56, which is made of a metal rod or metal pipe extending in the front-rear direction. Each first leg hinge portion 54 includes an upper first leg hinge member 57 connected to the lower end of the upper first leg support 53 and a lower first leg hinge member 58 connected to the upper end of the lower first leg support 55. The first leg hinge members 57 and 58 are rotatably supported around the first leg connecting shaft 56.

[0033] As can be seen from Figure 2, the first leg connecting shaft 56 extends in the front-rear direction at a position offset to the left and right outward with respect to the central axis of the first leg supports 53 and 55. As can be seen from Figures 6 and 7, the first leg hinge section 54 rotatably connects the upper first leg support 53 and the lower first leg support 55 around the first leg connecting shaft 56, allowing them to change their posture between a folded position where they are stacked parallel to each other and a straight position where their central axes are aligned in a straight line.

[0034] In the straight position, the first leg supports 53 and 55 are prevented from bending (rotating) in the opposite direction to the bent position by abutting portion 57a ​​provided on the end face of the upper first leg hinge member 57 of the first leg hinge portion 54 with abutting portion 58a provided on the end face of the lower first leg hinge member 58. The lower first leg hinge member 58 has a connecting shaft stopper 59 that protrudes in the opposite direction from the first leg connecting shaft 56 for receiving the second leg connecting shaft 66, which will be described later.

[0035] The first leg assembly 5 is equipped with a restricting member 5a for limiting the range of rotation of the first leg support 51 around the first leg rotation axis 52. In this embodiment, the restricting member 5a is formed of a metal plate protruding from the left and right outer sides of the first leg rotation axis 52. The restricting member 5a abuts from below against a metal or resin restricting member receiving portion 36 provided on the back surface of the seat portion 31 of the seat portion 3, thereby preventing the first leg support 51 from rotating around the first leg rotation axis 52 outward to the left or right beyond the angle when it is in the deployed position (when in use).

[0036] As shown in Figure 4, etc., the first leg body 5, with the first leg support 51 folded, is housed in the storage space enclosed by the seat surface 31 and seat side surfaces 32 of the seat 3, with the upper first leg support 53 positioned along the back surface of the seat surface 31 and the first leg connecting shaft 56 in close proximity to the beam member 35. The first leg body 5 in its stored position is provided in dimensions that do not protrude from the storage space of the seat 3.

[0037] <Structure of the second leg section> As can be seen from Figure 4, the second leg body 6 has the same configuration as the first leg body 5, except that it does not have a connecting shaft stopper 59 and a restricting member 5a. Specifically, the second leg support section 61 of the second leg body 6 comprises an upper second leg support section 63, a second leg hinge section 64, and a lower second leg support section 65, and is provided to be foldable by being divided in the length direction of the leg body. The second leg rotation axis 62 of the second leg body 6 is provided to be longer in the front-rear direction than the first leg rotation axis 52 of the first leg body 5.

[0038] As can be seen from Figures 2, 6, and 7, the front and rear second leg hinge sections 64 are connected via a second leg connecting shaft 66 that extends in the front-rear direction. The second leg hinge section 64 rotatably connects the upper second leg support 63 and the lower second leg support 65 around the second leg connecting shaft 66, allowing them to change between a folded position where they are stacked parallel to each other and a straight position where their central axes are aligned in a straight line. In the straight position, the second leg supports 63 and 65 are prevented from folding (rotating) in the opposite direction from the folded position by bringing together the abutting portion 67a provided on the end face of the upper second leg hinge member 67 of the second leg hinge section 64 and the abutting portion 68a provided on the end face of the lower second leg hinge member 68.

[0039] As shown in Figure 4, the second leg body 6, with its second leg support section 61 folded, is housed in the storage space of the seat 3 with its lower second leg support 65 positioned on the underside of the seat surface 31 and its second leg connecting shaft 66 positioned close to the lower first leg support 55 of the first leg body 5. The second leg supports 63 and 65 of the second leg body 6 are housed in the seat 3 in an inclined position relative to the underside of the seat surface 31 and the first leg supports 53 and 55. The second leg body 6 in its stored position is provided to be such that it does not protrude from the storage space of the seat 3.

[0040] <Configuration of wall mounting means> As shown in Figures 1 to 4, in this embodiment, the wall mounting means 4 for attaching the seat 3 and leg 2 to the wall W is provided at four locations on the back side of the seat 3. The wall mounting means 4 has a magnet 41 embedded in the tip surface of the leg support member 34.

[0041] The exposed surface of the magnet 41 is either flush with the tip surface of the leg support member 34, or positioned slightly closer to the seat surface 31 than the tip surface of the leg support member 34. The tip surface of the leg support member 34 is located at the same height as the tip (bottom surface) of the seat side surface 32 of the seat 3.

[0042] As shown in Figures 1(A) and 4(B), the wall mounting means 4 allows the folding chair 1, with its legs 2 in a stored position housed inside the seat 3, to be detachably attached to a wall W made of, for example, steel (a magnetic material) by the magnetic force of a magnet 41.

[0043] <Procedure for changing leg posture> Next, the procedure for changing the posture of leg 2 will be explained with reference to Figures 5 to 8, etc. Here, the procedure for changing the posture of leg 2 from the retracted position to the extended position will be explained. To change leg 2 from the extended position to the retracted position, simply follow the reverse procedure below.

[0044] First, as shown in Figure 5(B), rotate the second leg support 61 around the second leg rotation axis 62 to raise it from its folded position. At this time, raise the second leg support 61 to a position where the second leg connecting axis 66 does not obstruct the subsequent raising operation of the first leg support 51. Alternatively, the lower second leg support 65 may be rotated around the second leg connecting axis 66 to separate it from the upper second leg support 63 before raising the second leg support 61.

[0045] Next, as shown in Figure 6, the first leg support column 51 is rotated around the first leg rotation axis 52 to raise it from its folded position. As shown in Figure 6(B), the first leg support column 51 is raised to an angle where the regulating member 5a contacts the regulating member receiving portion 36. At this time, the range of rotation of the first leg support column 51 is limited so that a portion of the first leg support column 51 is located on the movement trajectory M of the second leg connecting shaft 66 which moves around the second leg rotation axis 62. Alternatively, the lower first leg support column 55 may be rotated around the first leg connecting shaft 56 to separate it from the upper first leg support column 53 before raising the first leg support column 51.

[0046] In this embodiment, with the first leg support 51 rotated to the angle where the restricting member 5a contacts the restricting member receiving portion 36, the abutting portion 57a ​​of the upper first leg hinge member 57 of the first leg support 51 is positioned on the movement trajectory M of the second leg connecting shaft 66 (see Figure 6(B)). This prevents the second leg connecting shaft 66 from moving towards the seat portion 31 beyond the upper first leg support 53 of the first leg support 51 when both leg support 51 and 61 are raised.

[0047] Next, as shown in Figure 7, the lower leg support 55 and leg hinge member 58 are rotated around the first leg connecting shaft 56 relative to the upper leg support 53 and leg hinge member 57 so that the upper first leg support 53 and lower first leg support 55 of the first leg support section 51 are in a straight position. When the abutting portions 57a and 58a of the two leg hinge members 57 and 58 of the first leg hinge section 54 come into contact, the straight position of the first leg support section 51 prevents the first leg supports 53 and 55 from being bent (rotated around the first leg connecting shaft 56) in the opposite direction to the bent position. In addition, the connecting shaft stopper 59 provided on the first leg support section 51 is positioned on the movement trajectory M of the second leg connecting shaft 66.

[0048] Next, as shown in Figure 8, the lower second leg support 65 and the second leg hinge member 68 are rotated around the second leg connecting shaft 66 so that both second leg supports 63 and 65 of the second leg support section 61 are in a straight position. The abutting portions 67a and 68a of the two leg hinge members 67 and 68 of the second leg hinge section 64 come into contact, preventing the second leg supports 63 and 65 from bending (rotating around the second leg connecting shaft 66) in the opposite direction from the folded position.

[0049] Subsequently, the second leg support column 61 is rotated around the second leg rotation axis 62 so that the second leg connecting shaft 66 contacts the connecting shaft stopper 59. This completes the operation to change the posture of the leg 2 to the deployed position (see Figure 2, etc.).

[0050] When using the folding chair 1 with the ground contact members 21 of the unfolded leg portion 2 placed on the floor surface F, if a downward load is applied to the seat portion 3 due to sitting or the like, a force is applied to the straight-positioned leg support portions 51 and 61 in a direction toward the seat portion 3 around the leg rotation axes 52 and 62. The connecting shaft stopper 59 of the first leg support portion 51 and the second leg connecting shaft 66 of the second leg support portion 61 come into contact, preventing the rotation of both leg support portions 51 and 61 toward the seat portion 3. As a result, the leg portion 2 can firmly withstand the downward load on the seat portion 3 while maintaining its unfolded position.

[0051] When changing the position of the leg portion 2 from the extended position to the stored position, as shown in Figure 6(B), when the first leg support portion 51 is raised so that the restricting member 5a abuts against the restricting member receiving portion 36, the rotation of the second leg support portion 61, which is facing the underside of the seat portion 31, around the second leg rotation axis 62 is prevented. Therefore, when storing the leg portion 2 inside the seat portion 3, the first leg portion 5 is first folded and stored inside the seat portion 3, and then the second leg portion 6 is folded and stored.

[0052] As shown in Figure 4, the second leg connecting shaft 66 of the second leg body 6 housed in the seat 3 is positioned on the opposite side of the seat surface 31 from the first leg support portion 51 of the first leg body 5. Therefore, in order to deploy the leg 2, it is necessary to raise the second leg support portion 61 before raising the first leg support portion 51.

[0053] As shown in Figure 6(B), the second leg connecting shaft 66 of the second leg body 6 in the upright position has its range of movement restricted (see movement trajectory M) so as not to slip under the seat portion 31 side relative to the upper first leg support 53 of the first leg body 5 in the upright position. As a result, the second leg connecting shaft 66 is always positioned below (away from the seat portion 31) the connecting shaft stopper 59 of the first leg body 5 when the first leg support 51 is in a straight position, thus preventing the first leg body 5 from being assembled in an incorrect deployed position and ensuring safety.

[0054] Furthermore, in the first leg support section 51, the front and rear lower first leg supports 55 may rotate individually around the first leg connecting shaft 56 of the first leg hinge section 54, or they may rotate in conjunction. For example, the front and rear lower first leg hinge members 58 may be fixed to the front and rear ends of the first leg connecting shaft 56, respectively, so that the front and rear lower first leg supports 55 rotate in conjunction around the first leg connecting shaft 56. Similarly, the front and rear lower second leg supports 65 of the second leg support section 61 may be fixed to the front and rear ends of the second leg connecting shaft 66, respectively, so that they rotate in conjunction around the second leg connecting shaft 66. By having the front and rear lower first leg supports 55 rotate in conjunction, and / or the front and rear lower second leg supports 65 rotate in conjunction, the number of operations required when changing the posture of the leg section 2 can be reduced, making it user-friendly. Furthermore, the connecting shaft stopper 59 may be provided on the upper first leg hinge member 57 or the upper first leg support column 53. In this case, if the rotatable range of the first leg body 5 is restricted by the restricting member 5a so that the connecting shaft stopper 59 is located on the movement trajectory M, the second leg connecting shaft 66 will be positioned below the connecting shaft stopper 59, thus ensuring safety.

[0055] <Summary> As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the folding chair 1 of this embodiment has legs 2 in the stored position that are contained within the contour of the seat surface 31 on the underside of the seat 3, thus creating an appearance that suppresses the exposure of legs 2 and makes the presence of the chair almost imperceptible.

[0056] As shown in Figure 4, the wall mounting means 4 is provided on the underside of the seat 3, inside the contour of the seat 31. This suppresses the exposure of the wall mounting means 4 when the folding chair 1 is attached to the wall W, resulting in a clean appearance. In this embodiment, the member supporting the magnet 41 is formed by the leg support member 34, but a separate dedicated member may be provided inside the seat 3.

[0057] Furthermore, since the wall mounting means 4 is composed of a magnetic attachment means having a magnet 41 provided on the back side of the seat 3, the folding chair 1 can be easily attached to and detached from a wall W made of a magnetic material such as steel, making it user-friendly. In addition, the mounting position and arrangement of the folding chair on the wall W can be appropriately selected, improving the freedom of spatial design. Alternatively, the folding chair 1 may be attached to the wall by magnetically attaching the magnet 41 to a magnetic material or magnet provided on the wall.

[0058] As shown in Figure 4, the seat portion 3 includes a seat side portion 32 that extends toward the underside along the periphery of the seat surface portion 31. The legs 2 in the retracted position are housed within a storage space enclosed by the seat surface portion 31 and the seat side portion 32. This provides a clean appearance by preventing the legs 2 from being exposed when the folding chair 1 with the legs 2 in the retracted position is mounted on the wall surface W, and also allows the surfaces (outer surfaces) of the seat surface portion 31 and the seat side portion 32 to be used as design surfaces, thereby improving the design appeal as a wall-mounted interior piece.

[0059] As shown in Figures 4 to 8, the first leg body 5 and the second leg body 6 of the leg section 2 are divided into first leg support columns 53 and 55 or second leg support columns 63 and 65 in the length direction of the leg body, and are designed to be foldable to fit inside the contour of the seat section 31. This allows for a compact configuration in which the folded leg bodies 5 and 6 are stored inside the contour of the seat section 3, while the leg bodies 5 and 6 can be extended to increase the length of the leg section 2 when in use. This makes the seat height dimension of the seat section 3 larger than the dimension of the seat section 31, and even with a compact seat section 3, it is possible to secure a seat height of a typical chair (for example, about 400 mm).

[0060] <Other Embodiments> Figure 9 shows the second embodiment, where (A) is a side view in the stored state, (B) is a perspective view from the front, (C) is a perspective view from the rear, (D) is a perspective view of the unfolded state from diagonally above, and (E) is a perspective view from diagonally below.

[0061] As shown in Figure 9, the folding chair 1 of the second embodiment comprises a seat 3 having a circular seat surface 31 in plan view and a circular frame-shaped seat side surface 32 hanging down from the periphery of the seat surface 31, and a leg 2 having a leg body 22 that can be attached to and detached from a leg support member 34 of the seat 3. The folding chair 1 also includes a belt-shaped wall mounting means 4 whose both ends are connected to the seat side surface 32.

[0062] The seat portion 31, seat side portion 32, and leg support member 34 of the seat portion 3 are made of metal, for example, and cushioning material and upholstery are provided on the surface of the seat portion 31. The leg support member 34 is formed of substantially cylindrical members provided at four locations on the periphery of the seat side portion 32 and has leg support holes 34a into which the upper end of the leg body 22 is inserted.

[0063] The leg section 2 comprises, for example, four leg bodies 22 made of metal pipes. The leg bodies 22 are provided with a length slightly shorter than the inner diameter of the seat section 3. As shown in Figure 9(C), the leg section 2 is configured to be able to be stored inside the seat section 3 in a storage position with the four leg bodies 22 parallel to the underside of the seat section 31, using leg body holding parts (not shown), such as belts or clips. On the other hand, when the folding chair 1 is in use, the leg section 2 in an unfolded position, with one end of each leg body 22 inserted into the leg support hole 34a of the leg support member 34, supports the seat section 3.

[0064] The wall mounting means 4 includes, for example, a leather belt body 42 and belt body support parts 43 that rotatably connect both ends of the belt body 42 to the outer surface of the seat side portion 32. The belt body 42 is connected to the seat side portion 32 at two points where a straight line passing through the center of the seat portion 31 intersects the seat side portion 32 when viewed from the front.

[0065] As can be seen from Figures 9(A) to (C), the length of the belt body 42 is set to be longer than half the outer circumference of the seat 3, and when the belt body 42 is positioned along the seat side portion 32, the middle portion of the belt body 42 in the longitudinal direction is curved outward in a convex shape, thus separating it from the seat side portion 32. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9(A), the folding chair 1 with the legs 2 in the stored position housed inside the seat 3 can be attached to a wall W, for example, by hooking the belt body 42 onto a hook H provided on the wall W.

[0066] Figure 10 shows a third embodiment, where (A) is a side view of the stored state, (B) is a perspective view from the front, (C) is a perspective view from the rear, (D) is a perspective view of the unfolded state from diagonally above, and (E) is a perspective view from diagonally below.

[0067] As shown in Figure 10, the folding chair 1 of the third embodiment comprises a seat 3 having a rounded rectangular seat surface 31 in plan view and a rounded rectangular frame-shaped seat side surface 32 hanging down from the periphery of the seat surface 31, and a leg 2 having a leg body 22 that can be attached to and detached from the leg support member 34 of the seat surface 3. A magnet 41, which constitutes a wall mounting means for attaching the seat surface 3 and the leg 2 to a wall surface W, is housed inside the leg body 22 as a magnetic attachment means.

[0068] The seat portion 31, seat side portions 32, and leg support members 34 of the seat portion 3 are made of metal, for example, and cushioning material and upholstery are provided on the surfaces of the seat portion 31 and seat side portions 32. The leg support members 34 are formed of four rectangular cylindrical members provided near each of the four corners of the seat side portions 32 and are equipped with leg support holes 34a into which the upper ends of the legs 22 are inserted.

[0069] The leg section 2 comprises four leg bodies 22 made of, for example, metal square pipes. The leg bodies 22 are provided with a length slightly shorter than the inner dimensions of the seat section 3 along the longitudinal direction of the seat section 31. As shown in Figure 10(C), the leg section 2 is configured to be able to be stored inside the seat section 3 by a square frame-shaped leg body holder 37 provided on the underside of the seat section 31, with the four leg bodies 22 arranged parallel to each other and parallel to the underside of the seat section 31.

[0070] As shown in Figures 10(D) and (E), when the folding chair 1 is in use, the legs 2 in their unfolded position, with one end of each leg 22 inserted into the leg support hole 34a of the leg support member 34, support the seat 3. The midpoint of each leg 22 in the longitudinal direction is connected to the underside of the seat 31 by an elastic cord member 23, such as a rubber cord, which has elasticity, thus preventing the loss of the legs 22.

[0071] As shown in Figures 10(C) to (E), a magnet 41 that forms the wall mounting means 4 is housed inside the leg body 22. For example, the leg body 22 that houses the magnet 41 may be made of a magnetic material so that the leg body 22 itself is magnetized and used as a wall mounting means. In this embodiment, a magnet 41 is provided in each of the four leg bodies 22, but the magnetic attachment function to the wall surface W can be achieved if a magnet 41 is provided inside at least one leg body 22.

[0072] As shown in Figure 10(A), the folding chair 1, with its legs 2 in a stored position housed inside the seat 3, can be attached to a wall surface W made of a magnetic material by the magnetic force of a magnet 41 provided inside the leg 22.

[0073] Figure 11 shows the fourth embodiment, where (A) is a side view in the stored state, (B) is a perspective view from the front, (C) is a perspective view from the rear, (D) is a perspective view of the unfolded state from diagonally above, and (E) is a perspective view from diagonally below.

[0074] As shown in Figure 11, the folding chair 1 of the fourth embodiment comprises a seat 3 having a circular seat surface 31 in plan view and a circular frame-shaped seat side surface 32 hanging down from the periphery of the seat surface 31, and a leg 2 having a leg body 22 that can be attached to and detached from a leg support member 34 of the seat 3. A wall mounting means 4 having a donut-shaped magnet 41 is provided on the end face of the leg support member 34.

[0075] The seat portion 31, the seat side portion 32, and the leg support member 34 are made of metal, for example, and cushioning material and upholstery are provided on the surface of the seat portion 31. The leg support member 34 is formed of substantially cylindrical members provided at three locations at the vertices of a virtual equilateral triangle inscribed in the seat side portion 32, and is equipped with leg support holes 34a into which the upper ends of the legs 22 are inserted.

[0076] A donut-shaped magnet 41 is fixed to the end face of the leg support member 34, and the upper end of the leg body 22 is inserted through it. In this embodiment, the wall mounting means 4 comprises the magnet 41 and the leg support member 34 that supports it.

[0077] The leg section 2 comprises, for example, three leg bodies 22 made of metal pipe. Each leg body 22 is detachably provided as an upper leg body 24, one end of which is inserted into a leg support hole 34a of a leg support member 34, and a lower leg body 25, the upper end of which is connected to the lower end of the upper leg body 24. Although detailed illustrations are omitted, the upper end of the lower leg body 25 is provided with a smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the upper leg body 24, and is provided so as to be insertable into the lower end of the upper leg body 24.

[0078] Furthermore, an elastic cord member 23, such as a rubber band, is inserted through the upper and lower leg bodies 24 and 25. One end of the elastic cord member 23 is locked inside the upper leg body 24, and the other end of the elastic cord member 23 is fixed to the center of the underside of the seat portion 31.

[0079] The folding chair 1 of this embodiment has a compact configuration in which the legs 22, which are disassembled into an upper leg 24 and a lower leg 25, are stored inside the seat 3. However, when in use, the upper leg 24 and the lower leg 25 can be connected to lengthen the legs 22. This makes the seat height dimension larger than the dimensions of the seat 31, and even with a compact seat 3, it is possible to secure a seat height of a typical chair (for example, about 400 mm).

[0080] Furthermore, the leg body 22 connects the upper and lower leg bodies 24 and 25, and by inserting the upper end of the upper leg body 24 into the leg support hole 34a of the leg support member 34 against the elastic force of the elastic cord member 23, the lower leg body 25 can be prevented from falling out of the upper leg body 24. In addition, since the upper and lower leg bodies 24 and 25 are connected to the underside of the seat portion 31 via the elastic cord member 23, the loss of the leg bodies 24 and 25 can be prevented.

[0081] As shown in Figure 11(A), the folding chair 1, with its legs 2 in a stored position housed inside the seat 3, can be attached to a wall surface W made of a magnetic material by the magnetic force of a magnet 41 provided on the underside of the seat 3.

[0082] The folding chair 1 of the second to fourth embodiments described above can be attached to a wall surface W, similar to the folding chair 1 of the first embodiment described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. Furthermore, since the legs 2 in the stored position are contained within the contour of the seat surface 31 on the underside of the seat 3, an appearance can be formed that suppresses the exposure of the legs 2, making it possible to make the presence of the chair almost imperceptible.

[0083] Although embodiments and modifications have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and can be embodied in various forms. The configuration of each part is not limited to the illustrated embodiments and can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the configurations described in the embodiments and modifications described above (in the notes, etc.) may be combined, and the configurations can be added, omitted, replaced, or otherwise modified.

[0084] The folding chair 1 can be attached to any surface made of magnetic material, such as the side or support of office furniture or partitions, not just the wall W, by the magnetic force of the magnet 41. Furthermore, the material forming the surface (design surface) of the seat 3 is not limited to upholstery, but may also be a wooden material such as veneer, a resin material such as melamine laminate, or a metal plate. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0085] 1 Folding chair 2 legs 3 Seat 4. Wall mounting means 5 First leg 6 Second leg body 31 Seat part 32 Seat side part 34 Leg support members 41 Magnets 51 1st leg support section 52. First leg rotation axis 53 Upper 1st leg support 54. First leg hinge section 55 Lower 1st leg support 56 1st leg connection shaft 59. Connecting shaft stopper 61 2nd leg support section 62. Second leg rotation axis 63 Upper second leg support 64 Second leg hinge section 65 Lower second leg support 66 2nd leg connection shaft F Floor W Wall

Claims

1. Legs that can be changed between an extended position and a retracted position, A seat supported by the legs in the aforementioned unfolded position, The device includes a wall mounting means for attaching the seat and legs to a wall in a wall-mounted position where the underside of the seat faces the wall, In the aforementioned storage position, the legs are contained within the contour of the seat on the underside of the seat. Folding chair.

2. The wall mounting means is provided on the back side of the seat portion, inside the contour of the seat portion. The folding chair according to claim 1.

3. The wall mounting means is a magnetic attachment means having a magnet provided on the back side of the seat portion. The folding chair according to claim 2.

4. The seat portion includes a seat side portion that extends toward the underside along the peripheral edge of the seat surface portion, In the aforementioned storage position, the legs are housed within a storage space enclosed by the seat surface and the side surface of the seat. The folding chair according to claim 1.

5. The leg portion is divided in the longitudinal direction of the leg body and is provided with a leg body that is foldable or disassembled to a size that fits inside the contour of the seat portion. A folding chair according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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