Walking stick chair
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- US · United States
- Patent Type
- Applications(United States)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- STEP2GOLD
- Filing Date
- 2025-05-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-06
Smart Images
Figure US20260223995A1-D00000_ABST
Abstract
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to Taiwanese Invention Patent Application No. 114104038, filed on Feb. 4, 2025, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a sitting device, and more particularly to a walking stick chair provided with auxiliary support.BACKGROUND
[0003] A conventional foldable chair disclosed in Taiwanese Patent No. I730881 includes a pivot seat unit and at least three support units. Each of the support units includes a support rod, and a push member that has two push surfaces. The support units are convertible between a folded state and an unfolded state. When one of the support units rotates relative to the pivot seat unit, one of the push surfaces of the push member of the one of the support units pushes one of the push surfaces of the push member of an adjacent support unit to rotate the adjacent support unit, and another support unit next to the adjacent support unit is rotated by another one of the push surfaces of the push member of the adjacent support unit in a manner similar to the above. As such, the support units are converted into the unfolded state. The foldable chair further includes a sitting unit. The sitting unit includes a sitting set that is connected to the support rod of one of the support units, and a linkage set. The sitting set is operable to convert the support units between the folded state and the unfolded state.
[0004] Though the conventional foldable chair may be folded or unfolded via the support units, it may still be necessary to provide foldable chairs with different structures to meet different user requirements.SUMMARY
[0005] Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a walking stick chair that has a configuration different from the abovementioned prior art.
[0006] According to the disclosure, the walking stick chair includes a pivot base unit, a support unit, a carry unit, and a central rod unit. The pivot base unit has an axis, and a through hole that extends therethrough along the axis. The support unit is rotatably connected to the pivot base unit, and includes at least three support rods that surround the axis. Each of the at least three support rods is rotatable relative to the axis, and has a rotation portion that is rotatably connected to the pivot base unit, a top end portion that is located at one side of the rotation portion, and a bottom end portion that is located at another side of the rotation portion opposite to the top end portion. Each of the at least three support rods is convertible between a storage state, in which the top end portion and the bottom end portion thereof are proximate to the axis, and a support state, in which the top end portion and the bottom end portion thereof are distal to the axis. The carry unit includes a slide seat that is slidably sleeved on one of the at least three support rods, and a carry subunit that is rotatably connected to the slide seat. The central rod unit extends through and is slidably mounted in the through hole, and includes an upper end portion that is rotatably connected to the carry subunit, and a lower end portion that is opposite to the upper end portion. When each of the at least three support rods is in the support state, the lower end portion of the central rod unit corresponds in position to the bottom end portions of the at least three support rods so that the lower end portion of the central rod unit and the bottom end portions of the at least three support rods cooperatively abut against a ground when the walking stick chair is placed on the ground.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiment(s) with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that various features may not be drawn to scale.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a walking stick chair according to the disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged view of a part of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a part of the first embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the walking stick chair according to the disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a part of the second embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the second embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 4, illustrating that a linkage seat of the second embodiment is operated to rotate.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a result of the operation shown in FIG. 7.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the walking stick chair according to the disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 10 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a part of the third embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line XI-XI of FIG. 9, illustrating that a linkage seat of the third embodiment is operated to rotate.
[0019] FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a result of the operation shown in FIG. 11.
[0020] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the walking stick chair according to the disclosure.
[0021] FIG. 14 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a part of the fourth embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view of the fourth embodiment.
[0023] FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI of FIG. 15 illustrating that a linkage seat of the fourth embodiment is operated to rotate.
[0024] FIG. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a result of the operation shown in FIG. 16.
[0025] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the walking stick chair according to the disclosure.
[0026] FIG. 19 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a part of the fifth embodiment.
[0027] FIG. 20 is a fragmentary sectional view of the fifth embodiment.
[0028] FIG. 21 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line XXI-XXI of FIG. 18, illustrating that a linkage seat of the fifth embodiment is operated to rotate.
[0029] FIG. 22 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a result of the operation shown in FIG. 21.
[0030] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the walking stick chair according to the disclosure.
[0031] FIG. 24 is a fragmentary sectional view of the sixth embodiment.DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics.
[0033] It should be noted herein that for clarity of description, spatially relative terms such as “top,”“bottom,”“upper,”“lower,”“on,”“above,”“over,”“downwardly,”“upwardly” and the like may be used throughout the disclosure while making reference to the features as illustrated in the drawings. The features may be oriented differently (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative terms used herein may be interpreted accordingly.
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a first embodiment of a walking stick chair according to the present disclosure includes a pivot base unit 1, a support unit 2, a linkage device 3, a central rod unit 4, and a carry unit 5.
[0035] The pivot base unit 1 has an axis (L), and is in a shape of a flat cylinder. The pivot base unit 1 has a top surface 11, a bottom surface 12 that is spaced apart from the top surface 11 along the axis (L), a peripheral surface 13 that interconnects a periphery of the top surface 11 and a periphery of the bottom surface 12, a through hole 14 that extends therethrough along the axis (L), three limit holes 15 that extend from the top surface 11 to the bottom surface 12, that surround the axis (L) (i.e., arranged in a circumferential direction of the axis (L)) and the through hole 14, that are spaced apart from the through hole 14, and that are spaced apart from each other, and three rotation shafts 16 that surround the axis (L) (i.e., arranged in the circumferential direction of the axis (L)), that are arranged at intervals, and that respectively extend into the limit holes 15. The number of the limit holes 15 is not limited to three, and may be four (not shown).
[0036] The support unit 2 is rotatably connected to the pivot base unit 1, and includes three support rods 201 that surround the axis (L). Each of the support rods 201 is rotatable relative to the axis (L), extends through a respective one of the limit holes 15, and is disposed at the respective one of the limit holes 15. The number of the support rods 201 is not limited to three, and may be four (not shown). Each of the support rods 201 has a rotation portion 21 that is rotatably connected to a respective one of the rotation shafts 16, a top end portion 22 that is located at one side of the rotation portion 21 and that is located above the top surface 11, a bottom end portion 23 that is located at another side of the rotation portion 21 opposite to the top end portion 22, and a lower pivot portion 24 that is located between the rotation portion 21 and the bottom end portion 23. When each of the support rods 201 rotates relative to the axis (L), the rotation portion 21 thereof rotates at the respective one of the limit holes 15. Each of the support rods 201 is convertible between a storage state (not shown), in which the top end portion 22 and the bottom end portion 23 thereof are proximate to the axis (L), and a support state (see FIG. 1), in which the top end portion 22 and the bottom end portion 23 thereof are distal to the axis (L).
[0037] The linkage device 3 includes a linkage seat 31 and three lower connection rods 32. The linkage seat 31 is located among the support rods 201, and includes a main seat body 301 that is hollow and annular, and three pivot elements 302 that are connected to the main seat body 301 and that surround the axis (L). The main seat body 301 has an inner annular surface 312 that surrounds the axis (L) to define a through hole 311. Each of the lower connection rods 32 has two opposite ends that are respectively and pivotally connected to a respective one of the pivot elements 302 of the linkage seat 31 and the lower pivot portion 24 of a respective one of the support rods 201.
[0038] The central rod unit 4 extends through the linkage seat 31, and includes a central rod member 401 that is configured to be a one-piece rod and that extends through and is slidably mounted to the through hole 14, and two limit fastener rings 402 that are mounted to the central rod member 401. The central rod member 401 extends along the axis (L), and has an upper end portion 411, a lower end portion 421 that is opposite to the upper end portion 411, and two annular grooves 413 that are spaced apart from each other. The limit fastener rings 402 are respectively mounted to the annular grooves 413. The linkage seat 31 of the linkage device 3 is rotatably disposed on the central rod member 401 and is located between the limit fastener rings 402. The linkage seat 31 is positioned at the central rod member 401 by the limit fastener rings 402 such that movement of the linkage seat 31 relative to the central rod member 401 along the axis (L) is restrained while the linkage seat 31 is rotatable relative to the central rod member 401 about the axis (L).
[0039] The carry unit 5 includes a slide seat 51 that is slidably sleeved on one of the support rods 201, and a carry subunit 52 that is rotatably connected to the slide seat 51. The carry subunit 52 has a lug 521 that is disposed on a bottom surface thereof. The upper end portion 411 of the central rod member 401 is rotatably connected to the lug 521 of the carry subunit 52.
[0040] When a user wants to convert each of the support rods 201 between the storage state and the support state, the user may urge the slide seat 51 to slide along the one of the support rods 201 on which the slide seat 51 is sleeved. At this time, the slide seat 51 urges the carry subunit 52 to pivot such that the carry subunit 52 urges the central rod unit 4 to slide up or down relative to the pivot base unit 1, and that each of the support rods 201 rotates relative to the pivot base unit 1. Rotation of each of the support rods 201 urges the respective one of the lower connection rods 32 to pivot, and pivot movement of each of the lower connection rods 32 urges the linkage seat 31 to rotate relative to the central rod member 401 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2). That is to say, the support rods 201 urge the linkage seat 31 to rotate relative to the central rod member 401 about the axis (L) via the lower connection rods 32 when each of the support rods 201 is converted between the storage state and the support state.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 1, when each of the support rods 201 is converted from the storage state to the support state, an area of an imaginary surface defined by the top end portions 22 of the support rods 201 increases. Therefore, when each of the support rods 201 is in the support state, the top end portions 22 of the support rods 201 may cooperatively provide a larger area to support the carry subunit 52.
[0042] When each of the support rods 201 is in the support state, the lower end portion 421 of the central rod unit 4 corresponds in position to the bottom end portions 23 of the support rods 201 so that the lower end portion 421 of the central rod unit 4 and the bottom end portions 23 of the support rods 201 cooperatively abut against a ground when the walking stick chair is placed on the ground. Consequently, the walking stick chair has more support points on the ground, and the central rod unit 4 may provide auxiliary support for the carry subunit 52, thereby improving stability and safety of the walking stick chair.
[0043] Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, a second embodiment of the walking stick chair according to the present disclosure is generally similar to the first embodiment, and includes a pivot base unit 1, a support unit 2, a linkage device 3, a central rod unit 4, and a carry unit 5. For the sake of brevity, only differences between the second and the first embodiments will be described in the following description of the second embodiment.
[0044] The inner annular surface 312 of the linkage seat 31 has a stepped structure, and has a large diameter segment 313, a small diameter segment 314 that has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the large diameter segment 313 and that is located below the large diameter segment 313, and a shoulder portion 315 that interconnects the large diameter segment 313 and the small diameter segment 314. The large diameter segment 313 has a guide groove 316. The small diameter segment 314 has a plurality of inner protrusions 317 that surround the axis (L), that are spaced apart from each other, and that protrude toward the axis (L). The guide groove 316 may extend about the axis (L).
[0045] The central rod unit 4 includes a central rod member 401, and a bias member 403 that is disposed on the central rod member 401.
[0046] The central rod member 401 has a lower rod section 42, and an upper rod section 41 that is sleeved on and coupled to the lower rod section 42.
[0047] The upper rod section 41 of the central rod member 401 has an upper end portion 411, an outer end portion 412 that is opposite to the upper end portion 411 and that abuts against the shoulder portion 315 of the linkage seat 31, a stepped hole 414 that is recessed from the outer end portion 412 toward the upper end portion 411, and a guide block 410 that protrudes from the outer end portion 412. An interior of the upper rod section 41 has a wide hole segment 415 that has a first diameter, a narrow hole segment 416 that is located below the wide hole segment 415 and that has a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and a shoulder surface 417 that interconnects the wide hole segment 415 and the narrow hole segment 416 and that cooperates with the wide hole segment 415 and the narrow hole segment 416 to define the stepped hole 414. The wide hole segment 415 has two guide portions 418 that are recessed therefrom, and that extend in an extending direction of the axis (L). The guide block 410 is coupled to the guide groove 316 such that the linkage seat 31 is rotatably connected to the outer end portion 412 of the upper rod section 41 of the central rod member 401, and that the linkage seat 31 is rotatable relative to the upper rod section 41 of the central rod member 401 but not slidable relative to the upper rod section 41 of the central rod member 401 along the axis (L).
[0048] The lower rod section 42 of the central rod member 401 has a lower end portion 421, an inner end portion 422 that is opposite to the lower end portion 421, that extends through the outer end portion 412 of the upper rod section 41 of the central rod member 401 to be slidably mounted in the interior of the upper rod section 41, and that is not rotatable relative to the upper rod section 41, an abutment portion 423 that is located between the lower end portion 421 and the inner end portion 422, an outer peripheral surface 424 that extends from the lower end portion 421 to the inner end portion 422, and a plurality of outer protrusion portions 425 (only one is visible in FIG. 5 due to the viewing angle) that protrude from the outer peripheral surface 424 and that extend from the inner end portion 422 toward the lower end portion 421. The inner end portion 422 has two slide parts 426 that are respectively coupled to the guide portions 418 of the upper rod section 41 of the central rod member 401 such that the lower rod section 42 is slidably mounted in the interior of the upper rod section 41 but is not rotatable relative to the upper rod section 41. In this embodiment, each of the slide parts 426 is configured to be a resilient claw piece (e.g., a resilient curved plate). However, in one embodiment, each of the slide parts 426 may be a compression spring (not shown). Each of the slide parts 426 is resiliently deformable so that when the lower rod section 42 of the central rod member 401 is inserted into the stepped hole 41 and when the slide parts 426 are moved past the narrow hole segment 416 and arrive at the wide hole segment 415, the slide parts 426 are resiliently deformed and then restored. Because the slide parts 426 abut against the shoulder surface 417 when the lower rod section 42 is urged to leave the interior of the upper rod section 41, the lower rod section 42 is prevented from being easily separated from the upper rod section 41. The outer protrusion portions 425 are arranged at intervals around the axis (L), and each of the outer protrusion portions 425 has a rough surface.
[0049] The bias member 403 is configured to be a compression spring, and is disposed between and abuts against the upper rod section 41 and the lower rod section 42. The bias member 403 has two opposite ends that respectively and resiliently abut against a top end of the stepped hole 414 and the inner end portion 422. The bias member 403 resiliently biases the inner end portion 422 of the lower rod section 42 away from the interior of the upper rod section 41 (i.e., the top end of the stepped hole 414), thereby resiliently biasing the lower end portion 421 toward the ground so that the lower end portion 421 abuts against the ground when the walking stick chair is placed on the ground.
[0050] Referring to FIGS. 6 to 8, when each of the support rods 201 is converted between the storage state and the support state, the support rods 201 urge the linkage seat 31 to rotate relative to the upper rod section 41 of the central rod member 401 about the axis (L) via the lower connection rods 32 (a direction of rotation of the linkage seat 31 is illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 7). When the linkage seat 31 rotates, the inner protrusions 317 respectively engage the outer protrusion portions 425 of the lower rod section 42 such that movement of the linkage seat 31 and movement of the lower rod section 42 are linked, and that relative movement between the upper rod section 41 and the lower rod section 42 of the central rod member 401 along the axis (L) is impeded. By virtue of each of the outer protrusion portions 425 having the rough surface, engagement between the inner protrusions 317 and the outer protrusion portions 425 of the lower rod section 42 is improved.
[0051] Therefore, the second embodiment of the present disclosure may achieve the same purpose and effects as the first embodiment.
[0052] Referring to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, a third embodiment of the walking stick chair according to the present disclosure is generally similar to the second embodiment, but includes different configurations of the outer protrusion portions 425. In the third embodiment, each of the outer protrusion portions 425 of the lower rod section 42 of the central rod unit 4 has a plurality of tooth-like projections 427 that are arranged at intervals along the axis (L). By virtue of each of the outer protrusion portions 425 having the tooth-like projections 427, the engagement between the inner protrusions 317 and the outer protrusion portions 425 of the lower rod section 42 may be further improved.
[0053] Referring to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, when each of the support rods 201 is converted between the storage state and the support state, the support rods 201 urge the linkage seat 31 to rotate relative to the upper rod section 41 of the central rod member 401 about the axis (L) via the lower connection rods 32 (a direction of the rotation of the linkage seat 31 is illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 11). When the linkage seat 31 rotates, the inner protrusions 317 respectively engage the outer protrusion portions 425 of the lower rod section 42 such that movement of the linkage seat 31 and movement of the lower rod section 42 are linked. Therefore, the third embodiment of the present disclosure may achieve the same purpose and effects as the second embodiment.
[0054] Referring to FIGS. 13 to 15, a fourth embodiment of the walking stick chair according to the present disclosure includes a pivot base unit 1, a support unit 2, a linkage device 3, a central rod unit 4, and a carry unit 5. The central rod member 401 has an upper rod section 41, a lower rod section 42, and an annular sleeve 43 that is sleeved on the lower rod section 42 and that is located between the linkage seat 31 and the lower rod section 42.
[0055] The linkage seat 31 has a structure that is generally similar to a structure of the linkage seat 31 in the second embodiment. The inner annular surface 312 has a guide groove 316, and a plurality of inner protrusions 317 that are arranged in the circumferential direction of the axis (L) and that protrude toward the axis (L).
[0056] Because the upper rod section 41 and the lower rod section 42 are generally similar to the upper rod section 41 and the lower rod section 42 in the second embodiment, detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.
[0057] The annular sleeve 43 has a plurality of cut grooves 431 and a plurality of sleeve protrusions 432 that protrude from an outer circumferential surface thereof.
[0058] Referring to FIGS. 15 to 17, when each of the support rods 201 is converted between the storage state and the support state, the support rods 201 urge the linkage seat 31 to rotate relative to the upper rod section 41 of the central rod member 401 about the axis (L) via the lower connection rods 32, and the inner protrusions 317 of the linkage seat 31 squeeze the sleeve protrusions 432 such that the annular sleeve 43 constricts the lower rod section 42 of the central rod unit 4, and that the linkage seat 31, the annular sleeve 43, and the lower rod section 42 are interlocked. It is noted that, the linkage seat 31 is not visible in a sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI of FIG. 15, but is depicted by the dot-dot-dash broken lines in each of FIGS. 16 and 17 for the sake of clearer illustration and description. The cut grooves 431 facilitate deformation of the annular sleeve 43.
[0059] Therefore, the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure may achieve the same purpose and effects as other embodiments.
[0060] Referring to FIGS. 18 to 20, a fifth embodiment of the walking stick chair according to the present disclosure includes a pivot base unit 1, a support unit 2, a linkage device 3, a central rod unit 4, and a carry unit 5.
[0061] The linkage seat 31 has a plurality of engagement protrusions 318 that are arranged around the axis (L) at intervals.
[0062] The central rod member 401 has an upper rod section 41, a lower rod section 42, and an annular sleeve 43 that is mounted to a top end of the lower rod section 42 and that is located in an interior of the upper rod section 41. The lower rod section 42 has a plurality of outer protrusion portions 425 that are disposed on the top end thereof, and a plurality of engagement grooves 428 that extend in the extending direction of the axis (L) and that are respectively coupled to the engagement protrusions 318 so that the linkage seat 31 is slidable but not rotatable relative to the lower rod section 42.
[0063] The annular sleeve 43 is slidable but not rotatable relative to the upper rod section 41, and has a plurality of cut grooves 431 and a plurality of sleeve protrusions 432 that protrude from an inner circumferential surface thereof.
[0064] The central rod unit 4 has an upper rod section 41 that is generally similar to the upper rod section 41 in the second embodiment (see FIG. 6) and that has at least one guide portion 418. The annular sleeve 43 further has a slide part 433 that is coupled to the guide portion 418 such that the annular sleeve 43 is slidable but not rotatable relative to the upper rod section 41.
[0065] By virtue of the engagement grooves 428 being respectively coupled to the engagement protrusions 318, the linkage seat 31 is slidable but not rotatable relative to the lower rod section 42. The linkage seat 31 is rotatable but not slidable relative to the upper rod section 41.
[0066] Referring to FIGS. 21 and 22, when each of the support rods 201 is converted between the storage state and the support state, the support rods 201 urge the linkage seat 31 and the lower rod section 42 to rotate relative to the upper rod section 41 of the central rod member 401 about the axis (L) via the lower connection rods 32, and the outer protrusion portions 425 of the lower rod section 42 push the sleeve protrusions 432 such that the annular sleeve 43 is expanded, and that the linkage seat 31, the annular sleeve 43, and the upper rod section 41 are interlocked.
[0067] Therefore, the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure may achieve the same purpose and effects as other embodiments.
[0068] Referring to FIGS. 23 and 24, a sixth embodiment of the walking stick chair according to the disclosure includes a pivot base unit 1, a support unit 2, a linkage device 3, a central rod unit 4, and a carry unit 5.
[0069] The central rod unit 4 includes a central rod member 401 that is configured to be a one-piece rod, and a bias member 403 that is sleeved on the central rod member 401. The bias member 403 resiliently biases the lower end portion 421 of the central rod unit 4 toward the ground so that the lower end portion 421 abuts against the ground when the walking stick chair is placed on the ground. The bias member 403 is located between the pivot base unit 1 and the linkage seat 31 of the linkage device 3.
[0070] Therefore, the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure may achieve the same purpose and effects as the first embodiment. Moreover, by virtue of the bias member 403 resiliently biasing the lower end portion 421 of the central rod unit 4 toward the ground, each of the support rods 201 may be quickly converted from the storage state to the support state.
[0071] It is mentioned that, the second to fifth embodiments of the present disclosure are all provided with the bias member 403, but the lower rod section 42 may slide relative to the upper rod section 41 (not shown) by its own weight even if the bias member 403 is omitted.
[0072] In summary, the walking stick chair according to the disclosure has an overall structure that is relatively simple, is easy to manufacture and to be assembled, and may be positioned on the ground with more support points. In addition, the central rod unit 4 provides auxiliary support for the carry subunit 52. Therefore, the purpose of the disclosure is achieved.
[0073] In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiment(s). It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,”“an embodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of various inventive aspects; such does not mean that every one of these features needs to be practiced with the presence of all the other features. In other words, in any described embodiment, when implementation of one or more features or specific details does not affect implementation of another one or more features or specific details, said one or more features may be singled out and practiced alone without said another one or more features or specific details. It should be further noted that one or more features or specific details from one embodiment may be practiced together with one or more features or specific details from another embodiment, where appropriate, in the practice of the disclosure.
[0074] While the disclosure has been described in connection with what is(are) considered the exemplary embodiment(s), it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiment(s) but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
Claims
1. A walking stick chair comprising:a pivot base unit having an axis, and a through hole that extends therethrough along the axis;a support unit rotatably connected to the pivot base unit and including at least three support rods that surround the axis, each of the at least three support rods being rotatable relative to the axis, and having a rotation portion that is rotatably connected to the pivot base unit, a top end portion that is located at one side of the rotation portion, and a bottom end portion that is located at another side of the rotation portion opposite to the top end portion, each of the at least three support rods being convertible between a storage state, in which the top end portion and the bottom end portion thereof are proximate to the axis, and a support state, in which the top end portion and the bottom end portion thereof are distal to the axis;a carry unit including a slide seat that is slidably sleeved on one of the at least three support rods, and a carry subunit that is rotatably connected to the slide seat; anda central rod unit extending through and slidably mounted to the through hole of the pivot base unit, and having an upper end portion that is rotatably connected to the carry subunit, and a lower end portion that is opposite to the upper end portion;wherein, when each of the at least three support rods is in the support state, the lower end portion of the central rod unit corresponds in position to the bottom end portions of the at least three support rods so that the lower end portion of the central rod unit and the bottom end portions of the at least three support rods cooperatively abut against a ground when the walking stick chair is placed on the ground.
2. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivot base unit further has at least three limit holes that surround the through hole, that are spaced apart from the through hole, and that are spaced apart from each other, the at least three support rods respectively extending through the at least three limit holes.
3. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a linkage device, the linkage device including a linkage seat and at least three lower connection rods, the linkage seat being located among the at least three support rods, the central rod unit extending through the linkage seat, each of the at least three lower connection rods having two opposite ends that are respectively and pivotally connected to the linkage seat and a respective one of the at least three support rods.
4. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 3, wherein the linkage seat of the linkage device is positioned at the central rod unit such that movement of the linkage seat relative to the central rod unit along the axis is restrained, the linkage seat being rotatable relative to the central rod unit about the axis, the at least three support rods urging the linkage seat to rotate relative to the central rod unit about the axis via the at least three lower connection rods when each of the at least three support rods is converted between the storage state and the support state.
5. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 3, wherein the central rod unit includes a central rod member, and a bias member that is disposed on the central rod member, the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the central rod unit being provided on the central rod member, the bias member resiliently biasing the lower end portion toward the ground so that the lower end portion abuts against the ground when the walking stick chair is placed on the ground.
6. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 5, wherein the central rod member extends along the axis, and has a lower rod section, and an upper rod section that is sleeved on and coupled to the lower rod section, the bias member being disposed between and abutting against the upper rod section and the lower rod section, the upper end portion being provided on the upper rod section, the lower end portion being provided on the lower rod section, the upper rod section further having an outer end portion that is opposite to the upper end portion, the lower rod section further having an inner end portion that extends through the outer end portion to be slidably mounted in an interior of the upper rod section and that is not rotatable relative to the upper rod section, the bias member resiliently biasing the inner end portion of the lower rod section away from the interior of the upper rod section.
7. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 6, wherein:the lower rod section of the central rod unit has an outer peripheral surface, a plurality of outer protrusion portions that protrude from the outer peripheral surface and that extend from the inner end portion thereof toward the lower end portion thereof, each of the plurality of outer protrusion portions having a rough surface, the linkage seat being rotatably connected to the outer end portion of the upper rod section of the central rod member, the linkage seat having a plurality of inner protrusions; andwhen each of the at least three support rods is converted between the storage state and the support state, the at least three support rods urge the linkage seat to rotate relative to the upper rod section of the central rod member about the axis via the at least three lower connection rods, and the plurality of inner protrusions of the linkage seat engage the plurality of outer protrusion portions of the lower rod section of the central rod unit such that movement of the linkage seat and movement of the lower rod section of the central rod unit are linked.
8. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of outer protrusion portions of the lower rod section of the central rod unit has a plurality of tooth-like projections that are arranged at intervals along the axis.
9. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 7, wherein the upper rod section of the central rod unit further has a stepped hole, the interior of the upper rod section having a wide hole segment that has a first diameter, a narrow hole segment that is located below the wide hole segment and that has a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and a shoulder surface that interconnects the wide hole segment and the narrow hole segment and that cooperates with the wide hole segment and the narrow hole segment to define the stepped hole, the wide hole segment having at least one guide portion that extends in an extending direction of the axis, the inner end portion of the lower rod section of the central rod unit having a slide part that is coupled to the at least one guide portion such that the lower rod section is slidably mounted in the interior of the upper rod section but is not rotatable relative to the upper rod section.
10. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 6, wherein:the central rod unit further includes an annular sleeve that is sleeved on the lower rod section thereof and that is located between the linkage seat and the lower rod section thereof, the linkage seat having a plurality of inner protrusions, the annular sleeve having a plurality of cut grooves and a plurality of sleeve protrusions; andwhen each of the at least three support rods is converted between the storage state and the support state, the at least three support rods urge the linkage seat to rotate relative to the upper rod section of the central rod member about the axis via the at least three lower connection rods, and the plurality of inner protrusions of the linkage seat squeeze the plurality of sleeve protrusions such that the annular sleeve constricts the lower rod section of the central rod unit, and that the linkage seat, the annular sleeve, and the lower rod section are interlocked.
11. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 10, wherein the upper rod section of the central rod unit further has a stepped hole, the interior of the upper rod section having a wide hole segment that has a first diameter, a narrow hole segment that is located below the wide hole segment and that has a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and a shoulder surface that interconnects the wide hole segment and the narrow hole segment and that cooperates with the wide hole segment and the narrow hole segment to define the stepped hole, the wide hole segment having at least one guide portion that extends in an extending direction of the axis, the inner end portion of the lower rod section of the central rod unit having a slide part that is coupled to the at least one guide portion such that the lower rod section is slidably mounted in the interior of the upper rod section but is not rotatable relative to the upper rod section.
12. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 6, wherein:the central rod unit further includes an annular sleeve that is mounted to a top end of the lower rod section thereof and that is located in the interior of the upper rod section thereof, the lower rod section having a plurality of outer protrusion portions that are disposed on the top end thereof, the annular sleeve being slidable but not rotatable relative to the upper rod section, and having a plurality of cut grooves and a plurality of sleeve protrusions, the linkage seat being rotatable but not slidable relative to the upper rod section, the linkage seat being slidable but not rotatable relative to the lower rod section; andwhen each of the at least three support rods is converted between the storage state and the support state, the at least three support rods urge the linkage seat and the lower rod section to rotate relative to the upper rod section of the central rod member about the axis via the at least three lower connection rods, and the plurality of outer protrusion portions of the lower rod section push the plurality of sleeve protrusions such that the annular sleeve is expanded, and that the linkage seat, the annular sleeve, and the upper rod section are interlocked.
13. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 12, wherein the upper rod section of the central rod unit further has a stepped hole, the interior of the upper rod section having a wide hole segment that has a first diameter, a narrow hole segment that is located below the wide hole segment and that has a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and a shoulder surface that interconnects the wide hole segment and the narrow hole segment and that cooperates with the wide hole segment and the narrow hole segment to define the stepped hole, the wide hole segment having at least one guide portion that extends in an extending direction of the axis, the annular sleeve further having a slide part that is coupled to the at least one guide portion such that the annular sleeve is slidable but not rotatable relative to the upper rod section, the linkage seat having at least one engagement protrusion, the lower rod section having at least one engagement groove that extends in the extending direction of the axis and that is coupled to the at least one engagement protrusion so that the linkage seat is slidable but not rotatable relative to the lower rod section.
14. The walking stick chair as claimed in claim 5, wherein the bias member of the central rod unit is sleeved on the central rod member, and is located between the pivot base unit and the linkage seat.