Folding chair frame and folding chair

Abstract

Provided in the present invention is a folding chair frame, comprising a first mounting mechanism, which comprises a first mounting body and support tubes arranged on the first mounting body; and a second mounting mechanism, which comprises a second mounting body located above and mating with the first mounting body, leg tubes arranged on the second mounting body, and fastening slots provided in the second mounting body. Elastic members configured to mate with the fastening slots are provided in the leg tubes, and the second mounting body is configured to move downwards under the action of an external force, such that the leg tubes are allowed to open outwards under the action of the elastic members until the elastic members are locked with the fastening slots.

Description

Frame for folding chairs and folding chairs Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of folding chairs, and more particularly to a frame for a folding chair, and a folding chair comprising such a frame. Background Technology

[0002] Folding chairs are easy to fold and carry, making them suitable not only for outdoor and temporary use, but also as an essential emergency item for the home.

[0003] Currently, traditional folding chairs typically consist of a folding frame and a supporting fabric cover, with the folding frame made up of multiple support rods. Therefore, the following problems exist during the use of folding chairs: First, the folding frame of a traditional folding chair retracts inward after being pulled up, requiring readjustment of the frame's connections when changing the chair's position, which significantly impacts the user experience. Second, traditional folding chairs are relatively bulky and long when folded, making them inconvenient to carry and store. Especially when carrying many items while outdoor activities, the large size of the folding chair not only provides a poor user experience but also causes considerable inconvenience. Third, the unfolding process of traditional folding chairs is complex and not smooth, resulting in time-consuming and inconvenient unfolding.

[0004] Therefore, it is desirable in the art to provide a frame for a folding chair and a folding chair in order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a frame for a folding chair is provided, comprising: a first mounting mechanism including a first mounting body and a support tube disposed on the first mounting body; and a second mounting mechanism including a second mounting body positioned above and adapted to the first mounting body, a leg tube disposed on the second mounting body, and a slot disposed within the second mounting body. The leg tube contains an elastic element for adapting to the slot. The second mounting body is configured to move downwards under external force, thereby allowing the leg tube to open outwards under the action of the elastic element until the elastic element locks with the slot.

[0006] According to a second aspect of the invention, a folding chair is provided, comprising a frame as described above, and a chair cover disposed on the frame. The four corners of the chair cover are fixedly connected to the seat tube and the backrest tube, respectively. Attached Figure Description

[0007] The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0008] Figure 1A schematically shows the structure of the frame for a folding chair according to the present invention;

[0009] Figure 1B shows the structure of the first mounting mechanism;

[0010] Figure 1C shows the structure of the second mounting mechanism;

[0011] Figure 2 is a front view of the frame for a folding chair according to the present invention;

[0012] Figure 3 is a side view of the frame for a folding chair according to the present invention;

[0013] Figure 4A is a top view of the frame for a folding chair according to the present invention;

[0014] Figure 4B is a partial cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 4;

[0015] Figure 4C is a partial cross-sectional view along line BB in Figure 4;

[0016] Figure 4D is a magnified view of a portion of Figure 4B;

[0017] Figure 5 schematically shows the closed state of the frame for a folding chair according to the present invention;

[0018] Figures 6 to 10 schematically illustrate the various stages of the skeleton opening process.

[0019] In the accompanying drawings, the same parts use the same reference numerals. The drawings are not drawn to scale. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] As shown in Figures 1A, 1B, 1C, 4B, and 5, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a frame 100 for a folding chair is provided, mainly comprising a first mounting mechanism 120 and a second mounting mechanism 130. Preferably, the first mounting mechanism 120 is positioned above the second mounting mechanism 130, and the two mechanisms are capable of moving towards each other until they merge together when the frame 100 is open, and conversely, are capable of separating and moving away from each other when the frame 100 is closed, until the leg tubes 22 (described below) are fully retracted.

[0022] Figure 4A is a top view of the frame 100 for a folding chair according to the present invention; Figure 4C is a partial cross-sectional view at BB in Figure 4A;

[0023] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG2, the first mounting mechanism 120 includes a first mounting body 11. Preferably, as shown in FIG4B, a track 12 is provided on the first mounting body 11. Therefore, during the opening of the frame 100, the track 12 can effectively restrict the movement path of the leg tubes 22, so that the leg tubes 22 can only move along the path defined by the track 12. In this invention, a plurality of inclined tracks 12 are provided, which are arranged at intervals on the first mounting body 11.

[0024] In this invention, as shown in FIG4B, a guide ramp 121 is formed on the inner wall of the track 12 for abutting against the upper surface of the foot tube 22. Preferably, when the frame 100 is in the open state, the upper end face of the foot tube 22 is always in contact with the guide ramp 121 of the track 12. In this way, the foot tube 22 can have good sturdiness and stability during use, improving the user experience.

[0025] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG1C, the second mounting mechanism 130 includes a second mounting body 21 and a foot tube 22 disposed on the second mounting body 21. Preferably, the foot tube 22 is hinged to the second mounting body 21 via a mounting cavity 42. In addition, the free end of the foot tube 22 of the second mounting mechanism 130 is configured to extend through a corresponding track 12 of the first mounting mechanism 120 and form a sliding connection thereto.

[0026] Therefore, when the frame 100 is opened and closed, the leg tube 22 can rotate around the second mounting body 21 to complete the action of opening outward or retracting inward. In other words, the leg tube 22 can switch between the open and closed states under the combined action of the elastic element and the track 12, which will be described below.

[0027] As shown in Figure 1A, in the frame 100 for a folding chair according to the present invention, the first mounting mechanism 120 is generally above the second mounting mechanism 130, but the first mounting body 11 of the first mounting mechanism 120 is below the second mounting body 21 of the second mounting mechanism 130.

[0028] In this invention, as shown in FIG4D, a locking cavity 111 is provided in the first mounting body 11, and a locking tongue 211 is provided in the second mounting body 21, which is arranged longitudinally and embedded in the locking cavity 111. In this way, the first mounting body 11 can be matched with the second mounting body 21. In this document, "matching" has the following meaning. When the frame 100 is in the open state, the locking tongue 211 of the second mounting body 21 can be embedded in the locking cavity 111 of the first mounting body 11, so that the upper end face of the first mounting body 11 and the lower end face of the second mounting body 21 form a sealed connection. At this time, it can be considered that the first mounting body 11 and the second mounting body 21 are matched.

[0029] According to the present invention, as shown in Figures 4B and 4D, the second mounting mechanism 130 includes a slot 23 disposed within the second mounting body 21. Preferably, a plurality of mounting cavities 42 are arranged circumferentially spaced around the locking tongue 211, and the slot 23 is formed at the upper end face of the mounting cavity 42. Simultaneously, an elastic element adapted to the slot 23 is also provided within the foot tube 22. In a specific example of the present invention, this elastic element is 30. According to the present invention, the torsion spring 30 is configured to form a lock with the slot 23, thereby ensuring the stability and firmness of the connection between the first mounting body 11 and the second mounting body 21.

[0030] In this invention, when the torsion spring 30 and the slot 23 are locked, the foot tube 22 will be in an open state under the action of the torsion spring 30. At the same time, the foot tube 22 is also constrained by the track 12, thereby ensuring that the foot tube 22 completes the outward opening action under the combined action of the torsion spring 30 and the track 12 during the downward movement of the first mounting body 11. In this way, the robustness and stability of the frame 100 are further improved.

[0031] Preferably, since the leg tube 22 remains in the open state when the torsion spring 30 and the slot 23 are locked, the overall structure of the frame 100 (i.e., the open state of the leg tube 22) does not change during the repositioning of the folding chair. Furthermore, the frame 100 can continue to be used after the folding chair is repositioned, thus avoiding the need to readjust the connection relationship of the folding bracket due to the repositioning of the folding chair. Therefore, users do not need to spend time and effort readjusting the bracket, further improving ease of use.

[0032] In this invention, the second mounting body 21 is configured to move downwards under the action of an external force (e.g., an axial thrust applied by the user). In this case, the foot tube 22 can gradually change from a closed state to an open state along the movement path formed by the track 12 under the action of the torsion spring 30, until the torsion spring 30 is embedded in the slot 23 to form a locked state. At this time, the foot tube 22 will be fully opened, thereby putting the frame 100 in the open state.

[0033] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG4D, the torsion spring 30 is constructed as a bidirectional torsion spring and includes a connecting portion 31 configured in a helical form, a first support portion 32 disposed at a first end of the connecting portion 31, and a second support portion 33 disposed at a second end of the connecting portion 31. Preferably, the first support portion 32 is configured to always abut against the inner wall of the foot tube 22, thereby applying an outward force to the foot tube 22 to ensure that it can open outward smoothly. The second support portion 33 is configured to be embedded in the slot 23 to form a locking connection therewith, thereby ensuring the robustness and stability of the frame 100.

[0034] In one embodiment of the invention, the first mounting body 11 is configured to release the torsion spring 30 from the locking state of the slot 23 under the action of an external force (e.g., an axial thrust applied by a user) and continue to descend. During this process, the foot tube 22 will retract inward under the constraint of the track 12 to be in a closed state.

[0035] As shown in Figure 1B, according to the present invention, the first mounting mechanism 120 further includes a fixing cavity 41 and a support tube 60 hinged to the first mounting body 11 via the fixing cavity 41. As shown, the support tube 60 includes a seat tube portion 13 and a back tube portion 14, both of which are connected to the fixing cavity 41 (described in detail below). Thus, when the frame 100 is opened, the support tube 60 can be manually opened outwards. Preferably, a limiting block (not shown) is provided within the fixing cavity 41 to limit the maximum range of motion of the support tube 60, thereby ensuring the stability and firmness of the support tube 60 during use.

[0036] Preferably, the fixing cavity 41 and the track 12 are arranged alternately along the circumference of the frame 100. Since the support tube 60 is hinged to the first mounting body 11 through the fixing cavity 41, and the foot tube 22 needs to pass through the track 12 and form a sliding connection with it, in the frame 100 of the present invention, the support tube 60 and the foot tube 22 are actually arranged alternately along the circumference.

[0037] In existing technologies, a symmetrical arrangement in pairs is typically used, meaning two support tubes are placed between two adjacent leg tubes. Obviously, with such a structure, the chair is prone to tilting backward or falling over when the user stands up or sits down. However, according to the present invention, the support tubes 60 and leg tubes 22 are arranged alternately along the circumference, which effectively ensures the balanced force and stability of the folding chair, further guaranteeing user safety.

[0038] In other embodiments, three leg tubes 22 can be provided, with adjacent leg tubes 22 spaced 120° apart. This approach ensures the structural stability of the folding chair while reducing overall weight and production costs, further enhancing the portability of the device.

[0039] According to the present invention, as shown in FIG1B, the support tube 60 includes at least two adjacently arranged seat tube portions 13 and at least two adjacently arranged back tube portions 14. In order to meet the needs of users, the length of the back tube portion 14 is usually greater than the length of the seat tube portion 13, thereby providing the folding chair with a firm sitting environment for the user.

[0040] In one embodiment, both the seat tube 13 and the back tube 14 are typically composed of multiple interconnected telescopic tubes, and adjacent telescopic tubes are connected by locking devices. In this invention, the user can extend the corresponding telescopic tubes and easily lock two adjacent telescopic tubes using the locking devices at the corresponding positions, thereby further improving the operability of the device.

[0041] In one embodiment of the invention, the locking device can be a pin. Therefore, locking between two adjacent telescopic tubes can be achieved by ejecting the pin. It is readily understood that other locking devices can also be used; any structure capable of locking two adjacent telescopic tubes together can be used in this invention.

[0042] In one embodiment, a tube plug 62 is provided at the free end of both the seat tube 13 and the back tube 14, as shown in FIG1B. The tube plug 62 can prevent hands from being cut and prevent the chair fabric from being cut, thereby further improving the safety of the device.

[0043] In one embodiment, a foot pad 221 is provided at the bottom end of the leg tube 22, as shown in FIG4B. Preferably, the foot pad 221 wraps around the outside of the leg tube 22, thereby increasing its contact area with the ground and further improving the stability of the folding chair during use. In other embodiments, the foot pad 221 may also be installed inside the leg tube 22.

[0044] Preferably, the second mounting mechanism 130 further includes a limiting seat 65 adapted to the support tube 60. Preferably, the limiting seat 65 and the mounting cavity 42 are alternately arranged circumferentially on the second mounting body 21. When the frame 100 is in the fully open state, the limiting seat 65 can be fully seated on the support tube 60 to prevent the support tube 60 from swaying in the left and right directions, thereby further improving the stability of the folding chair.

[0045] According to a second aspect of the invention, a folding chair (not shown) is provided, comprising a frame 100 as described above, and a chair cover (not shown) covering the frame. Preferably, the four corners of the chair cover are fixedly connected to the seat tube portion 13 and the back tube portion 14 respectively (e.g., by screws), thereby providing the user with a comfortable sitting experience.

[0046] In one embodiment, the chair cover may include a seat and a backrest that are fixedly connected to each other. Preferably, the angle formed between the seat and the backrest is generally in the range of 90° to 110°. In this case, the chair cover can provide a comfortable sitting experience for the user after it is assembled with the frame.

[0047] The opening process of the frame 100 according to the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 6-10. Initially, the frame 100 is in a closed state, as shown in Figure 6. Then, as shown in Figure 7, the seat tube 13 and back tube 14 of the support tube 60 of the first mounting mechanism 120 are opened outwards. Then, the second mounting body 21 of the second mounting mechanism 130 is pushed downwards by an external force (e.g., an axial thrust applied by the user). At this time, the foot tubes 22 of the second mounting mechanism 130 move along the movement path defined by the track 12 under the action of the torsion spring 30, gradually changing from a closed state to an open state until the torsion spring 30 is embedded in the slot 23 to lock them together. At this point, the foot tubes 22 will be fully opened, so that the frame 100 is in an open state. This process is shown in Figures 8 to 10.

[0048] The closing process of the skeleton 100 according to the present invention is described below.

[0049] First, an external force (e.g., an axial thrust applied by the user) releases the torsion spring 30 from the locking groove 23, pushing the first mounting body 11 downwards until the foot tube 22 is fully retracted and closed under the limiting action of the track 12. It is noteworthy that during this period, external forces are simultaneously applied to the seat tube 13 and back tube 14, which are arranged diagonally (i.e., in the MM or PP direction in Figure 4A), to cause the first mounting body 11 to move downwards. Simultaneously, under the lever principle, the second mounting body 21 experiences an upward force, thus overcoming the force of the torsion spring 30 and moving upwards. As a result, the first mounting body 11 and the second mounting body 21 are separated from each other. Then, the seat tube 13 and back tube 14 are retracted inwards to bring the frame 100 into a fully closed state.

[0050] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of this invention are:

[0051] Firstly, the present invention can control the switching between the closed and open states of the foot tube 22 through the relative movement of the first mounting body 11 and the second mounting body 21 and the combined action of the torsion spring 30 and the track 12, so that the frame 100 has the ability to open and close quickly, which significantly improves the operability of the frame 100.

[0052] In other words, when the first mounting body 11 and the second mounting body 21 are separated, the leg tube 22 and the support tube 60 in this invention can both retract inward to effectively reduce the overall size of the folding chair, thus facilitating carrying and storage during outdoor activities. When the first mounting body 11 and the second mounting body 21 are in a mating state and the torsion spring 30 and the slot 23 are locked together, the leg tube 22 and the support tube 60 can both extend outward, thereby providing a comfortable seating environment and space for the user in conjunction with the chair cover.

[0053] Secondly, when the frame 100 is in the open state, the leg tubes 22 open outward under the action of the torsion spring 30, and at the same time, the upper end face of the leg tubes 22 abuts against the guide slope 121 of the track 12, thus providing a good limiting effect. In this way, the leg tubes 22 can always be in the open state, so the overall structure does not change when the folding chair is moved, and the folding chair can still be used after the position is changed, thus avoiding the need to readjust the connection relationship of the folding frame due to the change of position, further improving the user experience.

[0054] Thirdly, according to the present invention, the support tube 60 and the foot tube 22 are arranged alternately along the circumference, which can effectively ensure the force balance and stability of the folding chair, further ensuring the safety of the user. In addition, this structure can effectively prevent the seat from leaning backward or tilting when the user gets up or sits down.

[0055] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art can easily make changes or modifications within the scope of the present invention, and such changes or modifications should all be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A frame (100) for a folding chair, comprising: First installation mechanism (120). It includes a first mounting body (11) and a support tube (60) disposed on the first mounting body (11); and a second mounting mechanism (130), which includes a second mounting body (21) located above and adapted to the first mounting body (11), a foot tube (22) disposed on the second mounting body (21), and a slot (23) disposed in the second mounting body (21). The foot tube (22) is provided with an elastic element (30) for fitting with the slot (23). The second mounting body (21) is configured to move downward under the action of an external force, thereby allowing the foot tube (22) to open outward under the action of the elastic element (30) until the elastic element (30) locks with the slot (23).

2. The frame (100) for a folding chair according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support tube (60) and the foot tube (22) are arranged alternately along the circumference of the skeleton (100).

3. The frame for a folding chair according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The elastic element is a torsion spring (30).

4. The frame for a folding chair according to claim 3, characterized in that, The torsion spring (30) is constructed as a bidirectional torsion spring and includes a helical connecting part (31), a first support part (32) disposed at the first end of the connecting part (31) and abutting against the inner wall of the foot tube (22), and a second support part (33) disposed at the second end of the connecting part (31) and used to lock with the slot (23).

5. The frame (100) for a folding chair according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The support tube (60) is hinged to the first mounting body (11) through the fixing cavity (41), the foot tube (22) is hinged to the second mounting body (21) through the mounting cavity (42), and the slot (23) is formed at the upper end face of the mounting cavity (42).

6. The frame (100) for a folding chair according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The first mounting body (11) is provided with a track (12) for defining the movement path of the foot tube (22).

7. The frame (100) for a folding chair according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first mounting body (11) is configured to move downward under the action of an external force to release the locking connection between the torsion spring (30) and the slot (23), thereby allowing the foot tube (22) to retract inward under the action of the track (12).

8. The frame (100) for a folding chair according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, A lock cavity (111) is provided in the first mounting body (11), and a lock tongue (211) is provided in the second mounting body (21) arranged longitudinally and embedded in the lock cavity (111). The mounting cavities (42) are arranged circumferentially around the lock tongue (211).

9. The frame (100) for a folding chair according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The support tube (60) includes at least two adjacent seat tube sections (13) and at least two adjacent back tube sections (14), wherein the back tube section (14) is longer than the seat tube section (13).

10. The frame (100) for a folding chair according to claim 9, characterized in that, Both the seat tube (13) and the back tube (14) are composed of multiple interconnected telescopic tubes, and adjacent telescopic tubes are connected by a locking device.

11. A folding chair comprising a frame (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, and a chair cover disposed on said frame (100), wherein, The four corners of the chair cover are fixedly connected to the seat tube (13) and the backrest tube (14), respectively.