Quad Chair With Safety Spacer

Abstract

A collapsible chair ( 100 ) with quad configuration includes a spacer element ( 160 ) that increases the distance between the cross bars ( 152, 154 ) of a cross brace ( 150 ). While contemplated spacer elements reduce collapsibility of the chair, they will in most cases prevent injury to the fingers of a person that collapses the chair by holding on, or applying force to one or more cross bars ( 152, 154 ).

1 . A collapsible chair that comprises:
 a first cross brace with a first cross bar and a second cross bar, and a second cross brace with a third cross bar and a four cross bar;   wherein the first and second cross braces are coupled to each other via a third cross brace with a fifth cross bar and a sixth cross bar and a fourth cross brace with a seventh cross bar and an eighth cross bar, such that one end of the first cross bar is pivotably coupled to one end of the eighth cross bar and one end of the second cross bar is pivotably coupled to one end of the sixth cross bar to thereby form a quad structure;   wherein each of the first cross bar and the second cross bar, the third cross bar and the fourth cross bar, the fifth cross bar and the sixth cross bar, and the seventh cross bar and the eighth cross bar are rotatably coupled to each other via a first, second, third, and fourth axis, respectively;   wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth axes is coupled to a spacer element that maintains a minimum distance of at least 1 cm between the cross bars that are rotatably coupled to each other; and   wherein the spacer element reduces collapsibility of the collapsible chair as compared to the chair without the spacer element.   
   
   
       2 . The collapsible chair of  claim 1  further comprising a pedestal connector having a supplemental spacer, wherein at least one of the cross braces is pivotably coupled to the supplemental spacer. 
   
   
       3 . The collapsible chair of  claim 1  further comprising a second spacer element coupled to another one of the at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth axes. 
   
   
       4 . The collapsible chair of  claim 3  wherein at least one of the spacer elements has a cylindrical shape. 
   
   
       5 . The collapsible chair of  claim 3  wherein at least one of the spacer elements has a channel in which the axis is at least partially disposed. 
   
   
       6 . The collapsible chair of  claim 3  wherein at least one of the spacer elements is manufactured from a synthetic polymer or metal. 
   
   
       7 . The collapsible chair of  claim 1  wherein the spacer element maintains a minimum distance of at least 1.5 cm between the cross bars that are rotatably coupled to each other. 
   
   
       8 . A spacer that has a continuous channel formed therein, the spacer further having a first end and a second end, wherein the continuous channel is configured to receive an axis that rotatably connects a first cross bar with a second cross bar in a collapsible chair that has a quad configuration, and wherein the first and second ends engage with the first and second cross bars such that the first and second cross bars remain at a distance of at least 1 cm from each other as the collapsible chair collapses. 
   
   
       9 . The spacer of  claim 8  wherein the collapsible chair is configured such that the spacer reduces collapsibility of the chair as compared to the chair without the spacer. 
   
   
       10 . The spacer of  claim 9 , wherein the spacer has a cylindrical shape. 
   
   
       11 . The spacer of  claim 10  wherein the chair is proportioned for a child. 
   
   
       12 . The spacer of  claim 10  the first and second cross bars remain at a distance of at least 1.5 cm from each other as the collapsible chair collapses. 
   
   
       13 . The spacer of  claim 10  wherein the spacer is manufactured from a synthetic polymer or metal.