IP Library Granted Patent US 7,052,081
Granted Patent B2
US 7,052,081 · App. 10/396,431 · Granted May 30, 2006

Foldable chair

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,052,081
App. No.
10/396,431
Granted
May 30, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A foldable chair that includes front legs, rear legs, a seat and a collar slidable on the front legs pivotally coupling the front and rear legs.

Claims (146)

1. A foldable chair comprising:

a pair of front legs;

a pair of rear legs;

a backrest extending from a top end portion of each of the front legs;

at least one fixed abutment;

a seat pivotally coupled to the front and rear legs;

a collar slidable on the front legs pivotally coupling the front and rear legs, and the collar cooperating with the at least one fixed abutment to stop a spreading-apart of the front and rear legs during an unfolding of the chair to an in-use position; and

wherein the at least one fixed abutment is on the backrest.

2. The foldable chair of claim 1 , wherein the collar slides in a downward direction upon a folding of the chair and slides in an upward direction upon an unfolding of the chair.

3. The foldable chair of claim 1 , wherein a top end portion of the rear legs is pivotally connected to the collar.

4. The foldable chair of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fixed abutment extends downwardly from lower end portions of the backrest.

5. The foldable chair of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fixed abutment is mounted on the front legs.

6. The foldable chair of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fixed abutment is at least two fixed abutments.

7. The foldable chair of claim 1 , wherein the seat is pivotally coupled on its lateral sides near its rear end to the rear legs and pivotally coupled to the front legs forward of the pivotal coupling to the rear legs.

8. The foldable chair of claim 1 , wherein the collar and the at least one fixed abutment create a gap between the collar and the backrest on the front legs when the chair is in an in-use position.

9. The foldable chair of claim 8 , wherein the gap provides means for preventing a person's fingers from getting caught between the collar and the backrest when the chair is being unfolded into an in-use position.

10. A foldable chair comprising:

a pair of front legs;

a pair of rear legs;

a backrest extending from a top end portion of each of the front legs;

at least one fixed abutment;

a seat pivotally coupled to the front and rear legs;

a collar slidable on the front legs pivotally coupling the front and rear legs, and the collar cooperating with the at least one fixed abutment to stop a spreading-apart of the front and rear legs during an unfolding of the chair to an in-use position; and

wherein the collar has a pivot assembly including a pivot connector, leg insert and pivot pin to pivotally connect the front and rear legs.

11. The foldable chair of claim 10 , wherein the pivot connector includes two spaced-apart reinforcing elements.

12. The foldable chair of claim 10 , wherein the pivot connector is connected to the collar by one of adhesive bonding, riveting and screwing.

13. The foldable chair of claim 10 , wherein the pivot connector is made monolithically with the collar.

14. The foldable chair of claim 10 , wherein the pivot connector reinforces the collar to prevent one or more of breaking, undesirable bending, twisting and other undesirable movement.

15. The foldable chair of claim 10 , wherein the leg insert is insertable into a top end portion of the rear legs to pivotally connect the front and rear legs.

16. A foldable chair comprising:

a pair of front lees;

a pair of rear legs;

a backrest extending from a top end portion of each of the front legs;

at least one fixed abutment;

a seat pivotally coupled to the front and rear legs;

a collar slidable on the front legs pivotally coupling the front and rear legs, and the collar cooperating with the at least one fixed abutment to stop a spreading-apart of the front and rear legs during an unfolding of the chair to an in-use position; and

wherein a top end portion of the rear legs is configured to be pivotally connectable to the collar and includes a leg insert and pivot pin to pivotally connect the rear legs to the collar.

17. A foldable chair comprising:

a pair of front legs;

a pair of rear legs;

a backrest extending from a top end portion of each of the front legs;

at least one fixed abutment;

a seat pivotally coupled to the front and rear legs;

a collar slidable on the front legs pivotally coupling the front and rear legs, and the collar cooperating with the at least one fixed abutment to stop a spreading-apart of the front and rear legs during an unfolding of the chair to an in-use position; and

wherein the rear legs have a pivot assembly including a pivot connector, leg insert and pivot pin to pivotally connect the front and rear legs.

18. A foldable chair comprising:

a pair of front legs;

a pair of rear legs;

a backrest extending from a top end portion of each of the front legs;

at least one fixed abutment;

a seat pivotally coupled to the front and rear legs;

a collar slidable on the front legs pivotally coupling the front and rear legs, and the collar cooperating with the at least one fixed abutment to stop a spreading-apart of the front and rear legs during an unfolding of the chair to an in-use position; and

wherein the collar includes an element formed as a lip-shaped extension that cooperates with the at least one fixed abutment to stop a spreading-apart of the front and rear legs during an unfolding of the chair to an in-use position.

19. The foldable chair of claim 18 , wherein the lip-shaped extension extends from the collar at an angle such that it acts as a guide and creates a slot to receive the at least one fixed abutment.

20. The foldable chair of claim 19 , wherein a combination of the lip-shaped extension, slot and fixed abutment help prevent undesirable rotation of the collar when the chair is in an in-use position.

21. The foldable chair of claim 18 , wherein the lip-shaped extension acts as a guard to prevent a person's fingers from getting caught between the collar and the at least one fixed abutment when the chair is moved to an in-use position.

22. A foldable chair comprising:

a pair of front legs;

a pair of rear legs;

a backrest extending from a top end portion of each of the front legs;

a seat pivotally coupled to the front and rear legs;

at least one stopping means;

a connection means slidable on the front legs pivotally coupling the front and rear legs and cooperating with the stopping means to stop a spreading-apart of the front and rear legs during an unfolding of the chair to an in-use position;

wherein the stopping means is at least one fixed abutment; and

wherein the at least one fixed abutment extends downwardly from the backrest.

23. The foldable chair of claim 22 , further including a backrest extending from a top end portion of the front legs.

24. The foldable chair of claim 22 , further including at least one fixed abutment to stop a spreading apart of the front and rear legs during an unfolding of the chair to an in-use position.

25. The foldable chair of claim 24 , wherein the at least one fixed abutment is mounted on the front legs.

26. The foldable chair of claim 24 , wherein the at least one fixed abutment is at least two fixed abutments.

27. The foldable chair of claim 22 further including collars on the front legs, and wherein a top end portion of the rear legs is configured to be pivotally connectable to the collars.

28. The foldable chair of claim 27 , wherein the collars and the at least one fixed abutment create a gap between the collars and the backrest on the front legs when the chair is in an in-use position.

29. The foldable chair of claim 27 , wherein the gap prevents a person's fingers from getting caught between the collars and the backrest when the chair is being unfolded into an in-use position.

30. The foldable chair of claim 27 , wherein the collars slide in a downward direction upon a folding of the chair and slide in an upward direction upon an unfolding of the chair.

31. The foldable chair of claim 22 , wherein the seat is pivotally coupled on its lateral sides near its rear end to the rear legs and pivotally coupled to the front legs forward of the pivotal coupling to the rear legs.

32. A foldable chair comprising:

a pair of front legs;

a pair of rear legs;

a backrest extending from a top end portion of each of the front legs;

at least one fixed abutment;

a seat pivotally coupled to the front and rear legs;

a collar slidable on the front legs pivotally coupling the front and rear legs, and the collar cooperating with the at least one fixed abutment to stop a spreading-apart of the front and rear legs during an unfolding of the chair to an in-use position;

further including at least one fixed abutment; and

wherein the at least one fixed abutment is on a backrest.

33. The foldable chair of claim 32 , wherein the at least one fixed abutment extends downwardly from lower end portions of the backrest.

34. A foldable chair, comprising:

front legs, rear legs and a seat connected in an A-frame arrangement;

collars on the front legs;

the rear legs being pivotally connected to the collars; and

the collars being slidable on the front legs when the chair is moved between folded and in-use positions; and

wherein the collars have a pivot assembly including a pivot connector, leg insert and pivot pin to pivotally connect the front and rear legs.

35. The foldable chair of claim 34 , wherein the pivot connector includes two spaced-apart reinforcing elements.

36. The foldable chair of claim 35 , wherein the pivot connector is connected to the collar by one of adhesive bonding, riveting and screwing.

37. The foldable chair of claim 34 , wherein the pivot connector is made monolithically with the collar.

38. The foldable chair of claim 34 , wherein the pivot connector reinforces the collar to prevent one or more of breaking, undesirable bending, twisting and other undesirable movement.

39. The foldable chair of claim 34 , wherein the leg insert is insertable into a top end portion of the rear legs to pivotally connect the front and rear legs.

40. A foldable chair, comprising:

front legs, rear legs and a seat connected in an A-frame arrangement;

collars on the front legs;

the rear legs being pivotally connected to the collars;

the collars being slidable on the front legs when the chair is moved between folded and in-use positions;

wherein the collars have a pivot assembly including a pivot connector, leg insert and pivot pin to pivotally connect the front and rear legs;

wherein the pivot connector includes two spaced-apart reinforcing elements; and

wherein the pivot connector is connected to the collar by one of adhesive bonding, riveting and screwing.

41. A foldable chair, comprising:

front legs, rear legs and a seat connected in an A-frame arrangement;

collars on the front legs;

the rear legs being pivotally connected to the collars;

the collars being slidable on the front legs when the chair is moved between folded and in-use positions;

wherein the collars have a pivot assembly including a pivot connector, leg insert and pivot pin to pivotally connect the front and rear legs; and

wherein the leg insert is insertable into a top end portion of the rear legs to pivotally connect the front and rear legs.

42. A foldable chair, comprising:

front legs, rear legs and a seat connected in an A-frame arrangement;

collars on the front legs;

the rear legs being pivotally connected to the collars;

the collars being slidable on the front legs when the chair is moved between folded and in-use positions;

wherein a top end portion of the rear legs is configured to be pivotally connectable to the collars; and

wherein the top end portion of the rear legs includes a leg insert and pivot pin to pivotally connect the rear legs to the collar.

43. A foldable chair, comprising:

front legs, rear legs and a seat connected in an A-frame arrangement;

collars on the front legs;

the rear legs being pivotally connected to the collars;

the collars being slidable on the front legs when the chair is moved between folded and in-use positions; and

wherein the rear legs have a pivot assembly including a pivot connector, leg insert and pivot pin to pivotally connect the front and rear legs.

44. A foldable chair, comprising:

front legs, rear legs and a seat connected in an A-frame arrangement;

collars on the front legs;

the rear legs being pivotally connected to the collars;

the collars being slidable on the front legs when the chair is moved between folded and in-use positions;

further including at least one fixed abutment; and

wherein the collars include an element formed as a lip-shaped extension that cooperates with the at least one fixed abutment to stop a spreading-apart of the front and rear legs during an unfolding of the chair to an in-use position.

45. The foldable chair of claim 44 , wherein the lip-shaped extension acts as a guard to prevent a person's fingers from getting caught between the collars and the at least one fixed abutment when the chair is moved to an in-use position.

46. The foldable chair of claim 44 , wherein the lip-shaped extension extends from the collars at an angle such that it acts as a guide and creates a slot to receive the at least one fixed abutment.

47. A foldable chair, comprising:

front legs, rear legs and a seat connected in an A-frame arrangement;

collars on the front legs;

the rear legs being pivotally connected to the collars, the collars being slidable on the front legs when the chair is moved between folded and in-use positions;

at least one fixed abutment;

wherein the collars include an element formed as a lip-shaped extension that cooperates with the at least one fixed abutment to stop a spreading-apart of the front and rear legs during an unfolding of the chair to an in-use position; and

wherein the lip-shaped extension extends from the collars at an angle such that it acts as a guide and creates a slot to receive the at least one fixed abutment.

48. The foldable chair of claim 47 , wherein a combination of the lip-shaped extension, slot and fixed abutment help prevent undesirable rotation of the collars when the chair is in an in-use position.

49. A foldable chair, comprising:

front legs, rear legs and a seat connected in an A-frame arrangement;

collars on the front legs;

the rear legs being pivotally connected to the collars;

the collars being slidable on the front legs when the chair is moved between folded and in-use positions;

wherein a top end portion of the rear legs is configured to be pivotally connectable to the collars and includes a leg insert and pivot pin to pivotally connect the rear legs to the collar.

Assignments (5)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT, RECORDED ON JANUARY 10, 2022 AT REEL 58682 FRAME 0356 Recorded Nov 14, 2025
From: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DOREL HOME FURNISHINGS, INC.; DOREL JUVENILE GROUP, INC.; CYCLING SPORTS GROUP, INC.; PACIFIC CYCLE, LLC; SCHWINN ACQUISITION, LLC
Reel/Frame 073572/0746 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2022
From: DOREL HOME FURNISHINGS, INC.; DOREL JUVENILE GROUP, INC.
To: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 058682/0356 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 29, 2016
From: AMERIWOOD INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: DOREL HOME FURNISHINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040147/0673 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 26, 2014
From: COSCO MANAGEMENT, INC.
To: AMERIWOOD INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 034485/0130 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2003
From: LENG, LU HAO
To: COSCO MANAGEMENT, INC.
Reel/Frame 014262/0580 →