CHAIR

Abstract

A folding chair may include a seat, a backrest, and a frame with one or more legs. The folding chair may also include brackets and the brackets may attach the seat and the frame. An upper crossmember may be movable relative to the seat as the chair is folded and unfolded. A first guide member may be attached to a first end of the crossmember, and a second guide member may be attached to a second end of the crossmember. The first guide member may be disposed within a first guide and the first guide may be formed by a portion of a first bracket and a first downwardly extending portion of the seat. The second guide member may be disposed within a second guide and the second guide may be formed by a portion of a second bracket and a second downwardly extending portion of the seat.

Claims

1. A folding chair movable between a folded position and an unfolded position, the folding chair comprising: a seat; a frame sized and configured to support the seat; a first bracket connecting the seat and the frame; a second bracket connecting the seat and the frame; a crossmember connected to the frame, the crossmember movable relative to a lower portion of the seat as the chair is moved between the folded and unfolded positions; a first guide member connected to a first end of the crossmember, the first guide member disposed in a first guide at least partially formed by the first bracket; and a second guide member connected to a second end of the crossmember, the second guide member disposed in a second guide at least partially formed by the second bracket.

2. The folding chair of claim 1, wherein a lower portion of the seat includes a downwardly extending first guide surface that is integrally formed with the seat as part of a unitary, one-piece structure, the first guide surface of the seat spaced apart from a guide surface of the first bracket to form at least a portion of the first guide; and wherein a lower portion of the seat includes a downwardly extending second guide surface that is integrally formed with the seat as part of a unitary, one-piece structure, the second guide surface of the seat spaced apart from a guide surface of the second bracket to form at least a portion of the second guide.

3. The folding chair of claim 1, wherein the first guide member includes a body at least partially disposed in the first guide and an enlarged end at least partially disposed within an interior portion of the first bracket; and wherein the second guide member includes a body at least partially disposed in the second guide and an enlarged end at least partially disposed within an interior portion of the second bracket.

4. The folding chair of claim 1, wherein the first guide member is a first stud attached to a first end of the crossmember; and wherein the second guide member is a second stud attached to a second end of the crossmember.

5. The folding chair of claim 1, wherein a first end of the crossmember is connected to a recess in an upper portion of a first rear leg of the frame; wherein a second end of the crossmember is connected to a recess in an upper portion of a second rear leg of the frame; wherein the first guide member is attached to the first end of the crossmember; and wherein the second guide member is attached to the second end of the crossmember.

6. The folding chair of claim 1, wherein an end of the first guide member is connected to a first end of the crossmember, a body of the first guide member is disposed between a guide surface of the first bracket and a first guide surface of the seat, and an enlarged end of the first guide member is at least partially disposed within an interior portion of the first bracket; and wherein an end of the second guide member is connected to a second end of the crossmember, a body of the second guide member is disposed between a guide surface of the second bracket and a second guide surface of the seat, and an enlarged end of the second guide member is at least partially disposed within an interior portion of the second bracket.

7. The folding chair of claim 1, wherein an end of the first guide member is inserted into a first end of the crossmember, the first end of the crossmember is connected to an upper portion of a first leg of the frame, and the first guide member is disposed within the first guide at least partially formed by the first bracket and a first guide surface of a lower portion of the seat; and wherein an end of the second guide member is inserted into a second end of the crossmember, the second end of the crossmember is connected to an upper portion of a second leg of the frame, and the second guide member is disposed within the second guide at least partially formed by the second bracket and a second guide surface of the lower portion of the seat.

8. The folding chair of claim 1, wherein a first side of the first bracket includes a downwardly and inwardly extending attachment portion and a second side of the first bracket includes a downwardly and inwardly extending attachment portion; wherein a first portion of the seat is inserted into an upper portion of the first bracket to connect the first portion of the seat to the first bracket; wherein a first side of the second bracket includes a downwardly and inwardly extending attachment portion and a second side of the second bracket includes a downwardly and inwardly extending attachment portion; and wherein a second portion of the seat is inserted into an upper portion of the second bracket to connect the second portion of the seat to the second bracket.

9. The folding chair of claim 1, wherein the first guide member is connected to a first end of the crossmember; wherein a first leg of the frame is connected to the first end of the crossmember; wherein the seat includes a first downwardly extending guide surface that is integrally formed with the seat as part of a unitary, one-piece structure; wherein the first guide is at least partially formed by the first bracket and the first downwardly extending guide surface of the seat; wherein the second guide member is connected to a second end of the crossmember; wherein a second leg of the frame is connected to the second end of the crossmember; wherein the seat includes a second downwardly extending guide surface that is integrally formed with the seat as part of a unitary, one-piece structure; and wherein the second guide is at least partially formed by the second bracket and the second downwardly extending guide surface of the seat.

10. A folding chair movable between a folded position and an unfolded position, the folding chair comprising: a first front leg; a second front leg; a first rear leg connected to the first front leg; a second rear leg connected to the second front leg; a backrest connected to an upper portion of the first front leg and the second front leg; a first bracket pivotally connected to the first front leg; a second bracket pivotally connected to the second front leg; a seat connected to the first bracket and the second bracket; a crossmember connected to an upper portion of the first rear leg and a second rear leg; a first guide member disposed at least proximate a connection of the first rear leg and the crossmember, the first guide member including a body and an enlarged head, the first guide member disposed in a first guide at least partially formed by the first bracket; and a second guide member disposed at least proximate a connection of the second rear leg and the crossmember, the second guide member including a body and an enlarged head, the second guide member disposed in a second guide at least partially formed by the second bracket.

11. The folding chair of claim 10, wherein the first guide is formed by the first bracket and a first downwardly extending portion of the seat; and wherein the second guide is formed by the second bracket and a second downwardly extending portion of the seat.

12. The folding chair of claim 10, wherein the first guide member is a first stud attached to a first end of the crossmember; and wherein the second guide member is a second stud attached to a second end of the crossmember.

13. The folding chair of claim 10, wherein the first guide member includes an elongated body disposed between a guide surface of the first bracket and a first guide surface formed by a first downwardly extending portion of the seat; and wherein the second guide member includes an elongated body disposed between a guide surface of the second bracket and a second guide surface formed by a downwardly extending portion of the seat.

14. The folding chair of claim 10, wherein the crossmember is attached to an upper portion of the first rear leg and an upper portion of the second rear leg; wherein the first guide member is attached to a first end of the crossmember; and wherein the second guide member is attached to a second end of the crossmember.

15. The folding chair of claim 10, wherein an upper portion of the first rear leg includes a recess and a first end of the crossmember is at least partially disposed in the recess; and wherein an upper portion of the second rear leg includes a recess and a second end of the crossmember is at least partially disposed in the recess.

16. The folding chair of claim 10, wherein an end of the first guide member is connected to a first end of the crossmember, an elongated body of the first guide member is disposed between a guide surface of the first bracket and a first guide surface of the seat, and an enlarged head of the first guide member is at least partially disposed within an interior portion of the first bracket; and wherein an end of the second guide member is connected to a second end of the crossmember, an elongated body of the second guide member is disposed between a guide surface of the second bracket and a second guide surface of the seat, and an enlarged head of the second guide member is at least partially disposed within an interior portion of the second bracket.

17. The folding chair of claim 10, wherein an end of the first guide member is inserted into a first end of the crossmember, the first end of the crossmember is connected to an upper portion of the first rear leg, and the first guide member is disposed within a first guide at least partially formed by the first bracket; and wherein an end of the second guide member is inserted into a second end of the crossmember, the second end of the crossmember is connected to an upper portion of the second rear leg, and the second guide member is disposed within a second guide at least partially formed by the second bracket.

18. The folding chair of claim 10, wherein a first side of the first bracket includes a downwardly and inwardly extending attachment portion and a second side of the first bracket includes a downwardly and inwardly extending attachment portion; wherein a first portion of the seat is inserted into an upper portion of the first bracket to connect the first portion of the seat to the first bracket; wherein a first side of the second bracket includes a downwardly and inwardly extending attachment portion and a second side of the second bracket includes a downwardly and inwardly extending attachment portion; and wherein a second portion of the seat is inserted into an upper portion of the second bracket to connect the second portion of the seat to the second bracket.

19. A folding chair movable between a folded position and an unfolded position, the folding chair comprising: a seat; a frame sized and configured to support the seat, the frame including a right side with a right front leg and a right rear leg, the frame including a left side with a left front leg and a left rear leg; a first bracket connected to the right side of the frame; a second bracket connected to the left side the frame; a first guide member disposed at least proximate an upper portion of the right rear leg of the frame; a second guide member disposed at least proximate an upper portion of the left rear leg of the frame; a first guide including a lower guide surface at least partially formed by the first bracket and an upper guide surface at least partially formed by a first downwardly extending portion of the seat, the first guide member at least partially disposed between the lower guide surface and the upper guide surface as the folding chair is moved between the folded and unfolded positions; and a second guide including a lower guide surface at least partially formed by the second bracket and an upper guide surface at least partially formed by a second downwardly extending portion of the seat, the second guide member at least partially disposed between the lower guide surface and the upper guide surface as the folding chair is moved between the folded and unfolded positions.

20. The folding chair of claim 19, wherein the seat is constructed from molded plastic, the seat including a first downwardly extending portion disposed proximate a first side of the seat and a second downwardly extending portion disposed proximate a second side of the seat; wherein the upper guide surface of the first guide is integrally formed with the seat as part of a unitary, one-piece structure; wherein the upper guide surface of the second guide is integrally formed with the seat as part of a unitary, one-piece structure; wherein the first guide member may contact the upper guide surface or the lower guide surface of the first guide as the folding chair is moved between the folded and unfolded positions; and wherein the second guide member may contact the upper guide surface or the lower guide surface of the second guide as the folding chair is moved between the folded and unfolded positions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of an example chair;

[0044] FIG. 2 is a lower perspective view of the chair shown in FIG. 1;

[0045] FIG. 3 is a front view of the chair shown in FIG. 1;

[0046] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the chair shown in FIG. 1;

[0047] FIG. 5 is a left side view of the chair shown in FIG. 1;

[0048] FIG. 6 is a right side view of the chair shown in FIG. 1;

[0049] FIG. 7 is a top view of the chair shown in FIG. 1;

[0050] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the chair shown in FIG. 1;

[0051] FIG. 9 is an upper perspective view of an example chair frame;

[0052] FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the chair frame shown in FIG. 9;

[0053] FIG. 11 is an enlarged front view of a portion of the chair frame shown in FIG. 9;

[0054] FIG. 12 is an enlarged front, lower perspective view of a portion of the chair frame shown in FIG. 9;

[0055] FIG. 13 is an enlarged rear, lower perspective view of a portion of the chair frame shown in FIG. 9;

[0056] FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of an example bracket;

[0057] FIG. 15 is a rear perspective view of the bracket shown in FIG. 14;

[0058] FIG. 16 is a front view of the example bracket shown in FIG. 14;

[0059] FIG. 17 is a right side view of the example bracket shown in FIG. 14;

[0060] FIG. 18 is a top view of the example bracket shown in FIG. 14;

[0061] FIG. 19 is a bottom view of the example bracket shown in FIG. 14;

[0062] FIG. 20 is an upper perspective view of an example seat;

[0063] FIG. 21 is a lower perspective view of the seat shown in FIG. 20;

[0064] FIG. 22 is an enlarged lower perspective view of a portion of the seat shown in FIG. 20;

[0065] FIG. 23 is another enlarged lower perspective view of a portion of the seat shown in FIG. 20;

[0066] FIG. 24 is another enlarged lower perspective view of a portion of the seat shown in FIG. 20;

[0067] FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of the seat shown in FIG. 20;

[0068] FIG. 26 is an upper perspective view of an example chair, illustrating the seat being attached to the frame when the frame is in an assembled configuration;

[0069] FIG. 27 is a lower perspective view of an example chair, illustrating the seat spaced apart from the frame by a distance and the edges of the seat aligned with the brackets;

[0070] FIG. 28 is an enlarged lower perspective view of a portion of the chair shown in FIG. 27;

[0071] FIG. 29 is a side view of the chair shown in FIG. 27, illustrating the frame in a folded configuration and the seat sized and configured to be attached to the frame;

[0072] FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of the seat and frame shown in FIG. 29, illustrating the seat being attached to the frame;

[0073] FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional side view of the seat and frame shown in FIG. 30, illustrating the seat attached to the frame;

[0074] FIG. 32 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of a portion of the seat and frame shown in FIG. 30, illustrating the seat being attached to the frame;

[0075] FIG. 33 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the portion of the seat and frame shown in FIG. 32, illustrating the seat attached to the frame;

[0076] FIG. 34 is another enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the seat and frame shown in FIG. 32, illustrating the seat attached to the frame;

[0077] FIG. 35 is an upper perspective view of another embodiment of an example chair;

[0078] FIG. 36 is an upper perspective view of the chair shown in FIG. 35, illustrating the seat being attached to the frame when the frame is in an assembled configuration;

[0079] FIG. 37 is a lower perspective view of the chair shown in FIG. 35, illustrating the seat spaced apart from the frame by a distance and the edges of the seat aligned with the brackets;

[0080] FIG. 38 is an upper perspective view of another embodiment of an example chair seat;

[0081] FIG. 39 is a lower perspective view of the chair seat shown in FIG. 38;

[0082] FIG. 40 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of an example bracket;

[0083] FIG. 41 is a rear perspective view of the bracket shown in FIG. 40;

[0084] FIG. 42 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of a chair seat attached to a frame; and

[0085] FIG. 43 is a perspective view of a backrest and an upper portion of the frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0086] The present invention is generally directed towards chairs. The principles of the present invention, however, are not limited to chairs. It will be understood that, in light of the present disclosure, the chairs disclosed herein may have a variety of shapes, sizes, configurations, and arrangements. It will also be understood that chairs may include any suitable number and combination of features, components, aspects, and the like. In addition, while the chairs shown in the accompanying figures are illustrated as having particular styles, it will be appreciated the chairs may have other suitable styles and/or configurations. Further, the chair disclosed herein may have other configurations and arrangements such as glider chairs, stacking chairs, and the like.

[0087] Additionally, to assist in the description of various example embodiments of the chairs, words such as top, bottom, front, rear, sides, right, and left are used to describe the accompanying figures which may be, but are not necessarily, drawn to scale. It will further be appreciated the chairs may be disposed in a variety of desired positions or orientations, and used in numerous locations, environments, and arrangements. A detailed description of example embodiments of the chairs now follows.

[0088] FIGS. 1-8 illustrate an example embodiment of a chair 10, and the chair may include a seat 12. The seat 12 may have an upper portion or surface 14 and a lower portion or surface 16. The chair 10 may include a back or backrest 18, which may have a front portion or surface 20 and a rear portion or surface 22. A frame 24 may support the seat 12 and the backrest 18. The frame 24 may include a right side portion 26 and a left side portion 28, and the frame may include one or more supports or legs, which may be used to support the chair 10 above a surface such as a floor or the ground. In an example embodiment, the chair may include a right front leg 30, a left front leg 32, a right rear leg 34, and a left rear leg 36. The right front leg 30 and the right rear leg 34 may form a right leg assembly, which may be disposed on the right side of the chair 10, and the left front leg 32 and the left rear leg 36 may for a left leg assembly, which may be disposed on the left side of the chair. The right front leg 30 and the right rear leg 34 may be pivotally connected, and the left front leg 32 and the left rear leg 36 may be pivotally connected. The legs 30, 32, 34, 36 may be pivotally connected by fasteners, pins, rivets, and the like. After reviewing this disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the chair 10 may have any suitable number of legs and the legs may have assorted sizes, shapes, configurations, and arrangements depending, for example, upon the intended use of the chair.

[0089] The chair 10 may include other parts and components, such as one or more brackets 38, and the brackets may be used to connect the seat 12 to the chair 10. For instance, a bracket 38 may be connected to the right front leg 30 and a bracket 38 may be connected to the left front leg 32. The brackets 38 may be part of the frame 24, or the brackets may be attached to the frame. The brackets 38 may be pivotally connected to the legs 30, 32 by fasteners, pins, rivets, and the like. One of ordinary skill in the art, after reviewing this disclosure, will appreciate that the chair 10 may include other parts and components, such as armrests and the like.

[0090] The chair 10 may be sized and configured for use by a single person, but the chair could also be smaller, such as a kid's chair, or larger, such as a two-person chair. The chair 10 may have other suitable designs depending, for example, upon its intended appearance, aesthetics, and the like. It will be understood that the chair 10 could have a variety of suitable shapes, sizes, and configurations, depending, for example, upon the intended use of the chair.

[0091] At least a portion of the chair 10 may be constructed from plastic, such as blow-molded plastic. For example, the seat 12 and/or backrest 18 may be constructed from blow-molded plastic. Advantageously, the blow-molded plastic seat 12 and backrest 18 may allow a strong, durable, and/or lightweight chair 10 to be quickly and efficiently manufactured. The seat 12 and backrest 18 could also be formed by other methods or processes such as injection molding, extrusion molding, vacuum forming, tumble molding, rotary molding, and the like. The seat 12 and backrest 18 may also be manufactured from different processes. For example, the seat 12 could be constructed from blow-molded plastic and the backrest 18 could be formed from vacuum or injection molded plastic. One of ordinary skill in the art, after reviewing this disclosure, will appreciate that any suitable portions of the chair 10 can be constructed from plastic. One of ordinary skill in the art, after reviewing this disclosure, will also appreciate that the chair 10, including the seat 12 and the backrest 18, may be constructed from other suitable materials such as wood, fabric, leather, nylon, acrylic, and the like.

[0092] One or more portions of the chair 10, such as the frame 24, the legs 30, 32, 34, and 36, and/or the brackets 38, may be constructed from strong and durable materials, such as metal. In an example embodiment, the frame 24, the legs 30, 32, 34, and 36, and the brackets 38 may be constructed from steel. If the frame 24, the legs 30, 32, 34, and 36, and the brackets 38 are constructed from steel, the chair 10 may be strong, sturdy, and able to support a significant amount of weight.

[0093] In an example embodiment, the legs 30, 32, 34, and 36 may be constructed from hollow metal tubes, and the metal tubing may be bent or formed into the desired shapes and configurations. For example, the legs 30, 32, 34, and 36 may have a generally oblong configuration with generally flat or planar sections and rounded sections. The legs 30, 32, 34, and 36 could have other suitable sizes, shapes, configurations, and/or arrangements, such as circular, square, rectangular, oval, and the like. The legs 30, 32, 34, and 36 may also be constructed from other materials with appropriate characteristics. After reviewing this disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the frame 24, legs 30, 32, 34, and 36, and brackets 38 may be constructed from other materials and have other suitable sizes, shapes configurations, and arrangements depending, for example, upon the intended use of the chair 10.

[0094] As shown in FIG. 9, for example, the chair 10 may one or more crossmembers, and the crossmembers may be connected to portions of the frame 24, such as the legs 30, 32, 34, and 36. For example, a front lower crossmember 40 may be connected to the front legs 30, 32, and a rear lower crossmember 42 may be connected to the rear legs 34, 36. An upper crossmember 44 may be connected to an upper portion of the legs, such as an upper portion of the rear legs 34, 36. The example crossmembers 40, 42, 44 may be attached to the legs 30, 32, 34, 36 in a fixed position, such as by welding, and the crossmembers may be formed by a tube, bar, or the like. In an example embodiment, the lower crossmembers 40, 42 may have a generally tubular configuration and the ends of the crossmembers may be flattened or compressed, which may facilitate attachment of the crossmembers to the legs 30, 32, 34, 36. The lower crossmembers 40, 42 may form at least a portion of a stop, which may help prevent unintended movement of the chair 10. For instance, the front lower crossmember 40 may create a stop when folding the chair 10 into the collapsed position.

[0095] The upper crossmember 44 may have a generally tubular configuration, and the upper crossmember may be constructed from metal tubing with a relatively larger diameter, such as between ? inches and ? inch. In an example embodiment, the upper portion of the rear legs 34, 36 may include rounded or curved portions, such as cutouts or recesses, and the upper crossmember 44 may be at least partially disposed in the recesses. The upper crossmember 44 may be securely connected to the legs 34, 36, such as by welding, fusing, bonding, and the like. The upper crossmember 44 may have an arched or curved configuration, and the arched configuration of the crossmember 44 may at least partially correspond to a curved portion of the lower surface 16 of the seat 12. For example, a portion of the lower surface 16 of the seat 12 may curve downwardly, and an arched portion of the upper crossmember 44 may curve downwardly. The downwardly curved portion of the upper crossmember 44 and the downwardly curved lower surface 16 of the seat 12 may generally match or be similar. Thus, a nominal distance between the upper crossmember 44 and the lower surface 16 of the seat 12 may be generally constant. The nominal distance between the upper crossmember 44 and the lower surface 16 of the seat 12 may reduce or eliminate pinch points and, because the nominal distance may be small, such as ? inch or less, the upper crossmember may support a portion of the seat.

[0096] The upper portion of the rear legs 34, 36 and the upper crossmember 44 may be movable relative to the seat 12. For example, the upper portion of the rear legs 34, 36 and the upper crossmember 44 may be slidable relative to the lower portion 16 of the seat 12. In an example embodiment, the upper portion of the rear legs 34, 36 and the upper crossmember 44 may be slidable relative to the lower portion 16 of the seat 12 while the chair 10 is folded and unfolded. The movement of the upper portion of the rear legs 34, 36 and/or the upper crossmember 44 may be controlled, which may allow the chair 10 to be easily folded and unfolded.

[0097] In an example embodiment, such as shown in FIGS. 10-12, the upper crossmember 44 may include one or more guide members 46, and a guide member may be attached to each end of the upper crossmember. For example, a guide member 46 may be at least partially disposed, inserted into, or connected to an end of the upper crossmember 44, and the guide member may include a body 48 and an enlarged end such as a head 50. For instance, the guide member 46 may be a stud, and the stud may be inserted into an end of the upper crossmember 44. The stub 46 may be securely attached to the upper crossmember 44 by welding, fusing, bonding, adhesives, and the like. The stud 46 may include an elongated body 48 and an enlarged head 50.

[0098] The guide member 46 may be movable or slidable within a guide 52, and the guide may be formed by at least a portion of the bracket 38 and/or a portion of the seat 12, such as a downwardly extending portion of the lower surface 16 of the seat. In an example embodiment, when the chair 10 is folded and unfolded, the guide members 46 and the guide 52 may at least partially control movement of the upper crossmember 44 and/or the rear legs 34, 36.

[0099] In an example embodiment, the bracket 38 may have a generally U-shaped configuration with walls 54, 56, and a connecting portion 58. For example, as shown in FIGS. 10-19, the wall 54 may be an outer wall, such as an outer sidewall, and the wall 56 may be an inner wall, such as an inner sidewall. The connecting portion 58 may form a lower portion of the bracket 38. The bracket 38 may include an interior portion 60, and the interior portion may be at least partially disposed between the walls 54, 56.

[0100] The bracket 38 may include one or more attachment portions 62 and the attachment portions may be sized and configured to facilitate attachment of the bracket and the seat 12. In an example embodiment, such as shown in FIG. 14, the attachment portions 62 may include one or more inwardly extending portions, such as tabs, and the inwardly extending attachment portions may be sized and configured to be at least partially disposed within corresponding attachment portions, such as receiving portions, of the seat 12. As shown in the accompanying figures, the inner sidewall 56 of the bracket 38 may include one or more attachment portions 62, such as two attachment portions. One attachment portion 62 may be disposed towards or proximate a front portion of the bracket 38, and another attachment portion may be disposed towards or proximate a rear portion of the bracket. The attachment portions 62 may be sized and configured to allow the seat 12 to be inserted downwardly relative to an upper portion of the bracket 38, and the attachment portions may be sized and configured to prevent the seat from being unintentionally removed from the bracket. For example, the seat 12 may be inserted downwardly relative to an upper portion of the bracket, the attachment portions 62 may include inwardly extending tabs, and the inwardly extending attachment portions may be disposed in corresponding receiving portions in the seat 12. A portion of the seat 12 and/or a portion of the attachment portions 62 may bend or deform while the seat is inserted into the bracket 38, and then seat and/or attachment portions may at least partially revert and/or resiliently return to the original configurations, which may help connect the bracket 38 and the seat 12.

[0101] The bracket 38 may include multiple support portions, such as support surfaces, which may be sized and configured to support the seat 12. In an example embodiment, the inner sidewall 56 of the bracket 38 may include a first portion 64, which may be disposed towards or proximate a front portion of the bracket, and a second portion 66, which may be disposed towards or proximate a rear portion of the bracket. An upper portion 68 of the front portion 64 of the bracket 38 may be sized and configured to support a portion of the seat 12, and an upper portion 70 of the rear portion 66 of the bracket may be sized and configured to support a portion of the seat. For example, the upper portion 68 of the front portion 64 of the bracket 38 may include an inwardly extending portion, which may have a generally planar upper surface, and the inwardly extending portion may be sized and configured to support the seat 12. The upper portion 70 of the rear portion 66 of the bracket 38 may include an inwardly extending portion, which may have a generally planar upper surface, and the inwardly extending portion may be sized and configured to support the seat 12.

[0102] The lower portion 58 of the bracket 38 may include an inner surface 72 and the inner surface may be sized and configured to support a portion of the seat 12, such as a lower portion of the downwardly extending lip or sidewall. The outer sidewall 54 of the bracket 38 may be sized and configured to contact, engage, abut., interlock, and/or be attached to a portion of the seat 12, such as an outer portion of the seat. For instance, the outer sidewall 54 of the bracket 38 may include an upper portion 74 and the upper portion may be sized and configured to contact, abut, connect, engage, interlock, and/or be disposed in a portion of the seat 12, such as a recess portion and/or attachment portion. Thus, in an example embodiment, the upper portion 74 of the outer sidewall 54 of the bracket 38 may be at least partially disposed in recessed portion of the seat 10, which may also be referred to as an attachment portion.

[0103] As shown in the accompanying figures, such as FIGS. 10-11 and 14-17, the upper portion 74 of the outer sidewall 54 of the bracket 38 may include an attachment portion 76. The attachment portion 76 may include an inwardly extending portion, and the inwardly extending portion may be sized and configured to help connect the bracket 38 and the seat 12. For example, the inwardly extending portion 76 may be curved inwardly and downwardly. In an example embodiment, the upper portion of the inwardly extending portion 76 may have a generally rounded or curved configuration, and a distal end of the inwardly extending portion may be angled inwardly and/or towards the lower portion 58 of the bracket 38. At least a portion of the inwardly extending portion 76 may be sized and configured to be disposed in attachment portion of the seat 12, such as a groove, channel, or receiving portion. As shown in the accompanying figures, the inwardly extending portion 76 may extend at least substantially or entirely along a length of the bracket 38. The inwardly extending portion 76 and/or a portion of the seat 12 may bend or deform while the seat is attached to the bracket 38. Once the seat 12 is attached to the bracket 38, then the inwardly extending portion 76 may be disposed in an attachment portion of the seat, such as a groove or receiving portion, and the inwardly extending attachment portion and/or the seat may revert and/or resiliently return, at least partially, to an initial configuration, which may help connect the seat and the bracket. The inwardly extending portion 76 may be sized and configured to allow the seat 12 and the bracket 38 to be connected by a friction, interference, and/or snap fit. After reviewing this disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the attachment portion 76 could have any desired length, the bracket could include any number of attachment portions, the attachment portion could have other shapes, sizes, configurations, and arrangements, and the attachment portion is not required.

[0104] The bracket 38 may include an opening or a cutout 78, which may be disposed in the inner sidewall 56 of the bracket. The opening 78 may extend longitudinally along a length of the bracket 38, and the opening may extend downwardly relative to an upper portion of the bracket. An upper portion of the opening 78 may be open or exposed, and the lower portion of the opening may be spaced apart from the lower surface 16 of the seat 12 by a gap 80. The opening 78 may include a front potion 82 disposed towards a front portion of the bracket 38 and the opening may include a rear portion 84 disposed towards a rear portion of the bracket.

[0105] The opening 78 may form at least a portion of the guide 52. For example, the guide 52 may include a lower portion 86 and the lower portion may have a generally planar or smooth upper surface. The lower portion 86 of the guide 52 may include an inwardly extending portion. A gap or space may be disposed between a front portion of the inwardly extending portion 86 and the front portion 82 of the opening 78. A gap or space may also be disposed between a rear portion of the inwardly extending portion 86 and the rear portion 84 of the opening 78. A downwardly extending notch 88 may be disposed between the rear portion of the inwardly extending portion 86 and the rear portion 84 of the opening 78. The guide 52 may be sized and configured to receive at least a portion of the guide member 46, and the guide may facilitate folding and unfolding of the chair 10.

[0106] In an example embodiment, the seat 12 and the bracket 38 may be attached by a friction, interference, and/or snap fit configuration. The bracket 38 may allow the seat 12 to be inserted downwardly into an upper portion of the bracket, and one or more portions of the bracket and/or seat may be sized and configured to bend or deform when the seat is attached to the bracket. Once the seat 12 is attached to the bracket 38, then the portions of the bracket and/or seat may revert or resiliently return, at least partially, to an initial configuration, which may facilitate connection of the seat and the bracket.

[0107] As shown in the accompanying figures, the inner sidewall 56 of the bracket 38 may include one or more attachment portions, such as the attachment portions 62, and the outer sidewall 54 of the bracket may include one or more attachment portions, such as the attachment portion 76. In an example embodiment, the inner sidewall 56 of the bracket 38 may include two inwardly extending attachment portions 62 and the outer sidewall 54 the bracket may include one attachment portion 76. The attachment portions 62, 76 may extend inwardly and may be angled downwardly towards the lower portion 58 of the bracket 38, which may facilitate insertion of the seat 10 downwardly relative to the upper portion of the bracket. Thus, in an example embodiment, the bracket 38 may include multiple attachment portions, such as attachment portions 62 and 76, the attachment portions may extend inwardly and downwardly, and the attachment portions may be disposed on opposing sides of the bracket.

[0108] The brackets 38 may include one or more support surfaces and the support surfaces may be sized and configured to support the seat 12. For example, the upper portion 68 of the front portion 64 of the bracket 38, the upper portion 70 of the rear portion 66 of the bracket, the inner surface 72 of the lower portion 58 of the bracket, and/or the upper portion 74 of the outer sidewall 54 of the bracket may include one or more surfaces or portions that are sized and configured to support the seat 12. Advantageously, the multiple support surfaces may allow the seat 12 to be firmly supported.

[0109] As shown in the accompanying figures, the brackets 38 may include one or more angled portions, such as the upper portion 68 of the front portion 64 of the bracket 38, the upper portion 70 of the rear portion 66 of the bracket, the upper portion 74 of the outer sidewall 54 of the bracket, and/or the lower portion 86 of the guide 52. The angled portions 68, 70, 74, and/or 86, which may be referred to as flanges, may increase the stiffness and rigidity of the bracket. The flanges may facilitate attachment of the bracket 38 and seat 12 because, for example, the flanges may be disposed in receiving portions and/or the flanges may be sized and configured to contact, engage, abut., interlock, and/or be attached a particular portion of the seat 12. Because the flanges may be disposed on opposing sides of the bracket 38, the bracket may have considerable strength and rigidity.

[0110] The chair 10 may include one or more stops, and the stops may be used to control movement of the legs 30, 32, 34, 36 and/or the upper crossmember 44 relative to the seat 12. For example, the stops may abut, contact, or engage the crossmember 44 and/or the guide members 46 when the chair 10 is in a particular configuration. For instance, the upper crossmember 44 and/or the guide members 46 may abut, contact, or engage one or more of the stops when the chair 10 is in the unfolded or use position. The upper crossmember 44 and/or the guide members 46 may abut, contact, or engage one or more of the stops when the chair is in the folded or collapsed positions. In an example embodiment, the front portion 82 of the opening 78 may form a stop, such as when the chair 10 is in the use or unfolded position. In an example embodiment, the front lower crossmember 40 may form a stop, such as when the chair 10 is in the folded or collapsed position.

[0111] As shown in FIGS. 20-25 and 30-34, the seat 12 may include a generally downwardly extending portions, such as sidewalls 100, and the sidewalls may be sized and configured to be connected to the bracket 38. The sidewall may include an outer surface 102, an inner surface 104, and a lower surface 106. The sidewall 100 may include one or more reinforcement portions 108, such as inwardly extending protrusions, and the reinforcement portions may be disposed in the outer surface 102 of the sidewall 100. The sidewall 100 may include one or more attachment portions 110, and the attachment portions may be receiving portions that are sized and configured to receive at least a portion of the attachment portions 62 of the bracket 38. The lower portion 16 of the seat 12 may include a guide surface 112, and the guide surface may extend downwardly. In an example embodiment, the guide surface 112 may be disposed in the inner surface 104 of the sidewall 100 and the guide surface may have a generally planar configuration. The guide surface 112 may be spaced apart from the lower portion 86 of the opening 78 in the bracket by a distance, which may be generally constant, to form at least a portion of the guide 52. Thus, a lower portion of the guide 52 may be formed by a portion of the bracket 38, such as the lower portion 86 of the opening 78, and the upper portion of the guide may be formed by a portion of the seat 12, such as the guide surface 112. After reviewing this disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any suitable portions of the bracket 38 and/or the seat 12 may be used to form all or portions of the guide 52.

[0112] As shown in the accompanying figures, the sidewalls 100 of the seat 12 may abut, contact, or engage the brackets 38. In an example embodiment, the seat 12 may be inserted into an upper portion of the brackets 38. For example, as shown in FIG. 26, the seat 12 may be connected to a substantially or fully assembled frame 24, and the seat may be attached to the brackets 38 when the chair 10 is in the unfolded configuration. Additionally, and/or alternatively, the seat 12 may be connected to the brackets 38 when the chair 10 is in the folded configuration, such as shown in FIGS. 27-29. In either configuration, the attachment portions 62 of the brackets 38 may be generally aligned with the attachment portions 110 of the seat 12, and the seat may be inserted into the upper portions of the brackets until the lower surface 106 of the sidewall 100 is disposed at least proximate the lower portion 58 of the bracket. In this example embodiments, the inwardly extending attachment portions 62 of the bracket 38 may be disposed in the receiving portion of the attachment portion 110 of the seat, which may help secure the seat and brackets.

[0113] As shown in FIGS. 30-34, the upper portion 74 of the outer wall 54 of the bracket 38 may include an attachment portion 76 and the attachment portion may be sized and configured to be connected to an attachment portion 114 of the seat 12, such as a receiving portion. For example, a distal portion of the attachment portion 76 may extend downwardly and inwardly, and the distal portion of the attachment portion may be disposed in the receiving portion 114 of the seat, which may help connect the seat 10 and the brackets 38.

[0114] One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate after reviewing this disclosure that the chair may have different shapes, sizes, configurations, and/or arrangements. For example, as shown in FIGS. 35-42, the bracket 38 may have a different size, shape, configuration, and arrangement. In this example embodiment, the bracket 38 may have a generally U-shaped configuration with an outer portion 54, such as an outer sidewall, an inner portion 56, such an inner sidewall, and a lower portion 58, such as a connecting portion. The bracket 38 may include two attachment portions 62 disposed in the inner sidewall 56, which may include one attachment portion disposed in a first portion 64 of the bracket and another attachment portion disposed in a second portion 66 of the bracket. The upper portion 68 of the first portion 64 of the bracket 38 may extend inwardly towards an inner portion of the seat 12, and the upper portion of the first portion of the bracket may facilitate positioning of the bracket and/or may support a portion of the seat. The upper portion 70 of the second portion 66 of the bracket 38 may extend inwardly towards an inner portion of the seat 12, and the upper portion of the second portion of the bracket may facilitate positioning of the bracket and/or may support a portion of the seat. The upper portion 74 of the outer sidewall 54 of the bracket 38 may include an attachment portion 76, and the attachment portion may extend inwardly and downwardly towards the lower portion 58 of the bracket. As shown in the accompanying figures, the upper portion 74 of the outer sidewall 54 of the bracket may include rounded corners or angled corners. In addition, the attachment portion 76 may extend along a portion of a length of the bracket 38 or the attachment portion may extend an entire the length of the bracket. Thus, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the chair 10, and its parts and components, may have different shapes, sizes, configurations, and/or arrangements. For example, the bracket 38 could include two or more attachment portions 76, and the attachment portion or portions could have any suitable length. The attachment portion 76, however, is not required.

[0115] As shown in FIG. 43, the backrest 18 may include one or more attachment portions 120 and the attachment portions may be disposed along opposing sides of the backrest. The frame 24 may include one or more attachment portions 122 and the attachment portions may be disposed in inner portions of the right and left front legs 30, 32. The seat attachment portions 120 may be sized and configured to contact, abut, engage, interlock, attach, connect, and the like with corresponding frame attachment portions 122 to connect the backrest 18 to the frame 24.

[0116] One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate after reviewing this disclosure that the chair 10 and components of the chair may have other suitable shapes, sizes, configurations, and arrangements depending, for example, upon the intended use of the chair. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the chair 10 may include any suitable number or combination of features or aspects, but these features or aspects may not be required.

[0117] For example, the chair 10 may have other suitable embodiments such as shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed Mar. 7, 2024 (attorney docket no. L1006.10727US02), which is incorporated by reference it its entirety.

[0118] Although this invention has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art are also within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is intended to be defined only by the claims which follow.