GB2370495A

GB2370495A - Folding leisure chair or stool

Info

Publication number: GB2370495A
Application number: GB0029450A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Fagg
Original assignee: CHUB LEISURE Ltd
Current assignee: CHUB LEISURE Ltd
Priority date: 2000-12-01
Filing date: 2000-12-01
Publication date: 2002-07-03
Also published as: GB0029450D0

Abstract

A leisure chair or stool has a pair of generally U-shaped frames 10,11 each having a substantially linear base section 12 from which projects a pair of linear parallel limbs 13,14. The limbs of one frame 10 are pivotally connected to the respective limbs of the other frame 11 about a common axis 15 intermediate the ends of the limbs 13,14 so that the chair may be collapsed or opened out by relative pivoting movement of the frames. A fabric seat portion 16 extends between and links together the two base sections 12 to limit opening movement. At least two of the limbs are provided with respective foot portions 25,30 each of which is extensible with respect to its associated limb and may be secured by a peg mechanism 27,28,29 at a selected one of several pre-set positions 29, thereby to permit adjustment of the effective length of the limb.

Description

LEISURE CHAIR OR STOOL

This invention relates to a leisure chair or stool and in particular-but not exclusively-to such a stool or chair suitable for use in outdoor pursuits, such as fishing.

In this specification, the term"chair"is used to mean both a chair in the strict sense of the word (that is to say, a seat portion provided with legs to support that seat portion above the ground together with a backrest portion to support the back of a user) as well as a simple stool (that is to say, a seat portion having legs to support that seat portion above the ground but no backrest).

Leisure chairs for use with outdoor pursuits need to be relatively light so that they may be carried from place to place. Further, such chairs preferably are collapsible, so as to permit stowage and transport to the location where they are to be used. Further, for reliable operation, such chairs should be relatively simple, to permit easy stowing and opening-out, to be ready for use.

A known kind of collapsible leisure chair has a pair of generally rectangular frames pivoted together in an X-formation, so that the frames may be relatively pivoted from a first position where both lie in substantially the same plane and a second position where the plane of one frame lies at an acute angle to the plane of the other frame. A seat portion, typically made of canvas, is connected to the upper horizontal members of both frames so that when the frames are opened out, the canvas presents a surface on which a user may sit.

A disadvantage of the kind of collapsible leisure chair described above is that when used out of doors on uneven ground, it can be relatively unstable,

especially when the frames are made of light-weight materials so that the chair is easily portable. In an attempt to improve the stability, the lower generally horizontal member of each of the two frames often is curved inwardly in the plane of the respective frame so that each frame defines two foot portions, but even so if the chair is used on uneven or sloping ground, it still can be relatively unstable.

The present invention aims at addressing the stability problem associated with a collapsible leisure chair having a pair of relatively pivoting frames, to enhance safety and comfort when in use.

According to the present invention, there is provided a leisure chair (as defined herein) comprising a pair of generally U-shaped frames each having a substantially linear base section from which projects a pair of substantially linear parallel limbs, the limbs of one frame being pivotally connected to the respective limbs of the other frame about a common axis intermediate the ends of the limbs whereby the two base sections may be moved towards and away from one another by relative pivoting movement of the frames, and a flexible seat portion extending between and linking together the two base portions, at least two of the four limbs having a foot portion connected thereto below the pivotal connection of that limb to the corresponding limb of the other frame each of which foot portions is extensible with respect to its associated limb and is securable at least at a selected one of a plurality of pre-set relative dispositions thereby to permit adjustment of the effective length of the limb.

It will be appreciated that by providing a pair of generally U-shaped frames with the free ends of the limbs of the frames lowermost, and by

providing at least two of those limbs with means permitting the effective length thereof to be adjusted, the chair may be adjusted as required to rest stably on uneven or sloping ground. Advantageously, all four free ends of the limbs of the two U-shaped frames are provided with adjustable feet, whereby the seat portion may be set more or less horizontal, irrespective of the slope or uneveness of the ground on which the chair is used.

In a preferred embodiment, each foot portion is telescopically adjustable with respect to its associated limb. For example, each limb may be tubular so that the foot portion of that limb can be a sliding fit within the limb.

Conveniently, each frame member is formed from tubular stock for example of a hard aluminium material, of circular cross-section.

Various mechanisms may be provided to allow the securing of a foot portion to its associated limb at a selected position. For example, a plurality of holes may be formed along one of the members and at least one hole formed in the other member, a peg being provided to engage through aligned holes.

For the case where the foot portion is hollow and slides telescopically within the associated limb, the peg may be mounted within the foot portion and be resiliently urged outwardly through a single hole in the foot portion, the surrounding associated limb having a series of holes formed therealong and into any selected one of which the peg may be engaged.

In an alternative arrangement, a locking mechanism may be provided so as to secure the foot portion to the associated limb at any selected adjusted position, rather than just at one of a number of such positions. For example, a clamping mechanism may be provided for this purpose. Alternatively, a

jamming mechanism may be employed, having a plate supported at an angle to the axis of the limb and having a hole through which the foot portion passes, the plate being arranged so that when in its normal position, the plate resists the foot portion sliding deeper into its limb. Moving the plate to a strictly transverse position may then allow the foot portion to slide freely. Other mechanisms could instead be used for this purpose.

A backrest may be provided for the chair, which backrest is defined by a U-shaped component having its two limbs pivotally connected to the two limbs of one of the two U-shaped frames. That pivotal connection of said U-shaped component to the one frame should be located between the base section of that frame and the pivotal connection of that frame to the other U-shaped frame. Advantageously, the U-shaped component is pivotally connected to the outside of the associated U-shaped frame and the free ends of the limbs of the component are turned inwardly to engage the limbs of the frame, thereby to limit pivotal movement of the component with respect to the frame.

By way of example only, one specific embodiment of chair constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of the chair, opened out and ready for use; Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 but showing the chair on uneven ground; Figure 3 is a front view of the chair of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side view of the chair but fully collapsed, ready for transport or storage;

Figure 5 is a detail view on an enlarged scale of the lower end of one of the limbs ; and Figure 6 is a cross-section through the assembly of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown an embodiment of collapsible leisure chair of this invention, comprising first and second U-shaped frames 10 and 11 each arranged with its base section 12 uppermost and with its limbs 13,14 depending downwardly from the base section. Typically, the frames are made of hard aluminium alloy tubing, of circular cross-sectional shape. The two frames are pivoted together by pins 15 extending through the adjacent limbs 13,14 of the two frames, approximately midway along the length of those limbs. A canvas seat portion 16 extends between the base sections 12 of the two frames, and is secured to each base section by means of a respective canvas loop 17, stitched into the seat portion. In this way, the seat portion 16 limits the relative separation of the base sections 12, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and permits collapsing of the chair by the folding together of the two frames, as shown in Figure 4.

A backrest 19 is defined by a further U-shaped component 20, pivoted to the first U-shaped frame 10 by pins 21. These pins pass through the limbs of the first U-shaped frame partway between pins 15 and the respective base section 12, and through the limbs 22 of the component 20 adjacent the lower ends thereof. The free end portions 23 of the component 20 are turned inwardly as shown in Figure 3 so as to limit counter-clockwise movement (in Figure 1) of the component 20 so that it may serve as a backrest for the chair.

The upper region of the component 20 carries a canvas sleeve 24, to enhance user comfort.

As best seen in Figure 4, the component 20 may be pivoted round from the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 so as to lie generally alongside the length of limbs 13 of the first U-shaped frame, when the chair is folded to its collapsed position, for storage or transport purposes. Unfolding of the chair so as to be ready for use is very easy and does not require the operation of any locking devices or the like.

The lower end of each limb 13 of the first and second frames has a tubular foot portion 25 slidably received within the limb, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. Each foot portion is of tubular material and is a close sliding fit within the respective limb. A locking mechanism is provided to secure each foot portion at a selected position, this mechanism comprising a peg 27 carried on a spring blade 28 secured to the interior of the foot portion, the peg projecting radially outwardly through a hole formed in the material of the foot portion. A corresponding series of holes 29 is formed along the length of the lower part of the limb 13 or 14 and through any one of which the peg 27 may project as shown in Figure 6.

The lower end of the foot portion 25 carries a resilient cap 30 having a frictional outer surface. Such a cap may be of a durable rubber material.

In use, the chair is very simply opened out from its folded or collapsed position and is then immediately ready for use, as shown in Figure 1. If however the chair is to be used on uneven ground, the pegs 27 of the appropriate limbs 13,14 may be pushed inwardly so freeing the associated foot

portion 25 for sliding movement within its limb. To facilitate freeing of the foot portion, the outer end of the peg 27 may be rounded so that depression of the peg so as not to project beyond the outer surface of the limb enables the foot portion to be moved, driving the peg to lie below the outer surface of the foot portion. Once set at the required position, the foot portion may be adjusted until the peg 27 protrudes through the nearest hole 29 in the limb, so locking the foot portion against further axial movement. In this way, the chair may be adjusted so as to stand essentially level despite considerable unevenness in the ground on which the chair is placed, as shown in Figure 2.

Though the chair has been shown as having a backrest, it will be appreciated that the backrest may be omitted so that the chair serves as a stool, without losing the advantageous levelling properties as described above.

Claims

1. A leisure chair comprising a pair of generally U-shaped frames each having a substantially linear base section from which projects a pair of substantially linear parallel limbs, the limbs of one frame being pivotally connected to the respective limbs of the other frame about a common axis intermediate the ends of the limbs whereby the two base sections may be moved towards and away from one another by relative pivoting movement of the frames, and a flexible seat portion extending between and linking together the two base portions, at least two of the four limbs having a foot portion connected thereto below the pivotal connection of that limb to the corresponding limb of the other frame each of which foot portions is extensible with respect to its associated limb and is securable at least at a selected one of a plurality of pre-set relative dispositions thereby to permit adjustment of the effective length of the limb.

2. A leisure chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein each foot portion is telescopically adjustable with respect to its associated limb.

3. A leisure chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein each limb is tubular, and the associated foot portion is a sliding fit within the associated tubular limb.

4. A leisure chair as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein each frame is formed from tubular stock of circular cross-section.

5. A leisure chair as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, wherein one of the limb and the foot portion has a plurality of holes formed therealong and the other of the limb and the foot portion has at least one hole formed therein, there being a peg engageable with a selected one of the plurality of holes in the one of the

limb and the foot portion, and also with the least one hole of the other of the limb and the foot portion.

6. A leisure chair as claimed in claim 5 and in which each foot portion is hollow and slides telescopically within the associated limb, wherein the peg is mounted within the foot portion and is resiliently urged outwardly though a single hole in the foot portion, the associated limb having a plurality of holes formed therealong and into any selected one of which the peg may be engaged.

7. A leisure chair as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein a locking mechanism is provided to secure the foot portion to the associated limb at any selected adjusted position of the foot portion.

8. A leisure chair as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein each limb of both frames is provided with a respective adjustable foot portion.

9. A leisure chair as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein each foot portion is provided with a ground-contacting head having a friction outer surface.

10. A leisure chair as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein there is provided a backrest defined by a U-shaped component having its two limbs pivotally connected to the two limbs of one of the two U-shaped frames, the pivotal connection of said component to the frame being located between the base section of that frame and the pivotal connection of that frame to the other U-shaped frame.

11. A leisure chair as claimed in claim 10, wherein the U-shaped component is pivotally connected to the outside of the associated U-shaped frame and the

free ends of the limbs of the component are turned inwardly to engage the limbs of the frame, thereby to limit pivotal movement of the component with respect to the frame.

12. A leisure chair as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein a piece of flexible material extends between the limbs of the U-shaped component adjacent the base section thereof, to support the back of a user of the chair.

13. A leisure chair as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the seat portion comprises a piece of material connected at its two ends to the base sections of the two frames respectively.

14. A leisure chair as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.