Improved Portable Stadium Chair

Abstract

A portable chair for use on plank-style seating has upper and lower back supports connecting to a seat section that can be arranged relative to one another in an extended position, a partially open position, or a folded position. The upper back support folds onto the lower back support and includes slope edges to minimize the overall shape while still providing support. The lower back support includes a crossbar to further support the user when the chair is in its partially open position. The seat section includes a swivel assembly to facilitate different seating environments and heighten enjoyment for the chair's user. The chair can be locked into a folded position for stowing and transporting and further includes carrying straps. Foldable armrests provide additional comfort for the chair's user. Preferably, in its extended position, the back supports recline relative to the seat section between 90 and 180 degrees.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A portable chair having an extended position, a partially open position, and a folded position, the chair comprising:
 a) a lower back support;   b) an upper back support pivotally connected to the lower back support at a back joint, wherein the upper back support is substantially aligned with the lower back support when the chair is in the extended position and substantially parallel to the lower back support when the chair is in the partially open position;   c) a seat section pivotally connected to the lower back support at a seat joint, wherein the seat section projects from the lower back support when in the extended and partially open positions and is substantially parallel to the lower back support when the chair is in the folded position; and   d) a carrying strap attached to the seat section.   
     
     
         2 . The portable chair of  claim 1  wherein the upper back support fits at least partly between the seat section and the lower back support when the chair is in the folded position. 
     
     
         3 . The portable chair of  claim 2  wherein the seat section comprises:
 a) an upper seat frame, wherein the upper seat frame pivotally connects to the lower back support; 
 b) a lower seat frame connected to the upper seat frame with a swivel assembly; and 
 c) a cushion attached to the upper seat frame. 
 
     
     
         4 . The portable chair of  claim 3  wherein the seat section further comprises an anchor assembly attached to the lower seat frame. 
     
     
         5 . The portable chair of  claim 4  wherein the anchor assembly comprises at least two brackets. 
     
     
         6 . The portable chair of  claim 4  wherein the anchor assembly comprises a strap. 
     
     
         7 . The portable chair of  claim 4  wherein the anchor assembly comprises at least two brackets and a strap. 
     
     
         8 . The portable chair of  claim 2  wherein the lower back support comprises a lower back frame, the upper back support comprises an upper back frame, and the chair further comprises a cover attaching to the upper back frame and lower back frame. 
     
     
         9 . The portable chair of  claim 8  wherein the lower back support comprises:
 a) a first lower back frame side section connected to the seat section at a first seat joint; 
 b) a second lower back frame side section positioned substantially parallel to the first lower back frame side section at a spaced distance and connected to the seat section at a second seat joint; and 
 c) a lower back frame cross section connecting the first lower back frame side section to the second lower back frame side section. 
 
     
     
         10 . The portable chair of  claim 9  wherein the first lower back frame side section comprises a first elbow integrally formed in the first lower back frame side section near the first seat joint and the second lower back frame side section comprise a second elbow integrally formed in the second lower back frame side section near the second seat joint, the first and second elbows each configured to increase the space between the lower back support and seat section when the chair is in the folded position to accommodate the upper back support. 
     
     
         11 . The portable chair of  claim 9  wherein the upper back support comprises:
 a) a first upper back frame side section connected to the first lower back frame side section at a first back joint; 
 b) a first upper back frame connector section connected to the first upper back frame side section; 
 c) a second upper back frame side section positioned substantially parallel to the first lower back frame side section at a spaced distance and connected to the first lower back frame side section at a second back joint; 
 d) a second upper back frame connector section connected to the second upper back frame side section; and 
 e) an upper back frame cross section connecting the first upper back frame connector section to the second upper back frame connector section. 
 
     
     
         12 . The portable chair of  claim 11  wherein the first upper back frame connector section comprises a first sloped frame section angled at an obtuse angle relative to the first upper back frame side section, the second upper back frame connector section comprise a second sloped frame section oriented at an obtuse angle relative to the second upper back frame side section. 
     
     
         13 . The portable chair of  claim 10  further comprising a lock, wherein the lock attaches the seat lower frame to the lower back frame cross bar when the lock is engaged and the chair is in the folded position. 
     
     
         14 . The portable chair of  claim 13  wherein the carrying strap comprises:
 a) a first backstrap strap connected at opposing ends to the lower back frame cross bar and the first seat joint; and 
 b) a second backpack strap connected at opposing ends to the lower back frame cross bar and the second seat joint. 
 
     
     
         15 . The portable chair of  claim 1  wherein the seat section projects from the lower back support at an angle between 90 degrees and 180 degrees when the chair is in the extended position. 
     
     
         16 . The portable chair of  claim 15  wherein the seat section projects from the lower back support at an angle between 90 degrees and 110 degrees when the chair is in the extended position. 
     
     
         17 . A portable chair for use on plank-style seating, the portable chair having an extended position, a partially open position, and a folded position and comprising:
 a) a seat section comprising an upper seat frame and a seat cushion attached to the upper seat frame;   b) a lower back support pivotally connected to the seat section, wherein the seat section projects from the lower back support when in the extended and partially open positions and is substantially parallel to the lower back support when the chair is in the folded position, the lower back support comprising:
 i) a first lower back frame side section connected to the upper seat frame at a first seat joint; 
 ii) a second lower back frame side section positioned substantially parallel to the first lower back frame side section at a spaced distance and connected to the upper seat frame at a second seat joint; and 
 iii) a lower back frame cross section connecting the first lower back frame side section to the second lower back frame side section; 
   c) an upper back support pivotally connected to the lower back support at a back joint, wherein the upper back support is substantially aligned with the lower back support when the chair is in the extended position and substantially parallel to the lower back support when the chair is in the partially open position, the upper back support comprising:
 i) a first upper back frame side section connected to the first lower back frame side section at a first back joint; 
 ii) a first upper back frame connector section connected to the first upper back frame side section; 
 iii) a second upper back frame side section positioned substantially parallel to the first lower back frame side section at a spaced distance and connected to the first lower back frame side section at a second back joint; 
 iv) a second upper back frame connector section connected to the second upper back frame side section; and 
 v) an upper back frame cross section connecting the first upper back frame connector section to the second upper back frame connector section; 
   d) a cover attaching to the upper back frame and lower back frame;   e) a carrying strap attached to the seat section; and   f) an anchor assembly attached to the seat section, wherein the anchor assembly is configured to attach the chair to plank-style seating.   
     
     
         19 . The portable chair of claim  18  wherein the seat section further comprises a lower seat frame connected to the upper seat frame with a swivel assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The portable chair of  claim 19  further comprising a lock, wherein the lock attaches the seat lower frame to the lower back frame cross bar when the lock is engaged and the chair is in the folded position.