Collapsible chair

Abstract

A folding chair which comprises a frame ( 100 ), a piece of cloth ( 400 ) and fastening and tensioning devices ( 430, 440 ). The seat side members ( 121 a, 121 b ) are telescopic and so arranged that a seat cross member ( 120 ) is movable. Straps ( 430, 440 ) extend around the chair frame ( 100 ) and preferably run over the members ( 110, 120, 131, 141 ) so as to hold the chair in an unfolded position. The straps, which transfer all tensile forces, are joined in a buckle ( 435 ) and are fastened to the members ( 110, 120, 131, 141 ) in such manner that the elements can rotate freely about the respective members.

1 . A folding chair, comprising a frame ( 100 ), a piece of cloth ( 400 ) and fastening and tensioning devices, comprising: 
 a seat frame having two substantially parallel seat side members ( 121   a ,  121   b ), pivotally interconnected at their respective first, outer ends to opposite respective ends of a substantially transverse seat cross member ( 120 ) by means of respective swivelling corner joints ( 150   a ,  150   b ), which said seat side members ( 121   a ,  121   b ) at their respective second, inner ends are pivotally connected to respective seat or combined joints ( 190 ;  193 );    a back frame comprising two substantially parallel back side members ( 111   a ,  111   b ), pivotally interconnected at their respective first, upper ends to opposite respective ends of a substantially transverse back cross member ( 110 ) by means of respective swivelling corner joints ( 150   a ,  150   b );    a front leg assembly comprising two substantially parallel front leg side members ( 130   a ,  130   b ), pivotally interconnected at their respective, first lower ends to opposite respective ends of a substantially transverse front leg cross member ( 131 ) by means of respective swivelling corner joints ( 150   a ,  150   b );    a rear leg assembly comprising two substantially parallel rear leg side members ( 140   a ,  140   b ), pivotally interconnected at their respective, first lower ends to opposite respective ends of a substantially transverse rear leg cross member ( 141 ) by means of respective swivelling corner joints ( 150   a ,  150   b ), which said rear leg side members ( 140   a ,  140   b ) at their respective second, upper ends are pivotally connected to said respective seat or combined joints ( 190 ;  193 ),    wherein the chair comprises tension-absorbing elements ( 430 ,  435 ,  440 ) which extend around the chair frame ( 100 ) and preferably run across the said substantially transverse members ( 110 ,  120 ,  131 ,  141 ) so as to maintain the chair in an unfolded state;    wherein the chair is characterised in that:    said seat side members ( 121   a ,  121   b ) are telescopic and so arranged that said seat cross member ( 120 ) is movable;    said corner joints ( 150   a ,  150   b ) comprise an offset corner joint ( 150   a ) having a pivot point which is drawn back some distance from the pivot point of a second corner joint ( 150   b ); and    said seat frame, back frame, front and rear leg assemblies are all pivotally interconnected to substantially transverse members by means of pivotal joints.    
     
     
         2 . A folding chair according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the tension-absorbing elements ( 430 ,  440 ) are fastened to said members ( 110 ,  120 ,  131 ,  141 ) in such manner that the elements can rotate freely about the respective members.  
     
     
         3 . A folding chair according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said seat or combined joints ( 190 ,  193 ) are so arranged that the back side members ( 111   a ,  111   b ) of the back frame are rotatable in the vertical plane in order, when folded, to be close to, and substantially parallel with, said leg assembly.  
     
     
         4 . A folding chair according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said back side members ( 111   a ,  111   b ) at their respective second, lower ends are pivotally connected to respective back or combined joints ( 191 ;  193 ).  
     
     
         5 . A folding chair according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said front leg side members ( 130   a ,  130   b ) at their respective second, upper ends are pivotally connected to respective back or combined joints ( 191 ;  193 ).  
     
     
         6 . A folding chair according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said distance is greater than or equal to the respective external diameter of the members ( 111   a,b ,  121   a,b ,  130   a,b ,  140   a,b ).  
     
     
         7 . A folding chair according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said seat joint ( 190 ) and back joint ( 191 ) are substantially coincident and form one combined joint ( 193 ).  
     
     
         8 . A folding chair according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said seat joint ( 190 ) is positioned at a distance from the back joint ( 191 ).  
     
     
         9 . A folding chair according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said back and leg side members ( 111   a ,  111   b ,  130   a ,  130   b ,  140   a ,  140   b ) and said corner joints ( 150   a ,  150   b ) are combined in such manner that all respective pairs of side members and corner joints are of equal length.  
     
     
         10 . A folding chair according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said side members ( 11   a ,  111   b ,  121   a ,  121   b ,  130   a ,  130   b ,  140   a ,  140   b ) in combination with said corner joints ( 150   a ,  150   b ) are of equal length when the chair is folded.  
     
     
         11 . A folding chair according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said seat joints ( 191 ) or the combined joints ( 193 ) are so arranged that respective pairs of the back side members ( 111   a ,  111   b ) and the front leg side members ( 130   a ,  130   b ) are substantially axially oriented relative to one another when the chair is unfolded.  
     
     
         12 . A folding chair according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said seat or combined joints ( 191 ;  193 ) are so arranged that respective pairs of the back side members ( 111   a ,  111   b ) and the front leg side members ( 130   a ,  130   b ) are oriented substantially parallel to one another when the chair is folded.  
     
     
         13 . A folding chair according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said seat, back and combined joints ( 190 ,  191 ;  193 ) are so arranged that the members ( 111   a ,  111   b ,  121   a ,  121   b ,  130   a ,  130   b ,  140   a ,  140   b ) are oriented substantially parallel to each other when the chair is folded.  
     
     
         14 . A folding chair according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said corner joints ( 150   a ,  150   b ) are so arranged that the members ( 110 ,  120 ,  131 ,  141 ) are oriented substantially parallel to one another when the chair is folded.