Folding Collapsible Chair

The present invention relates to a folding collapsible chair, and more particularly to a folding collapsible chair adapted for use in a bathroom.

When washing the body, a chair may be used. FIG. 1 shows a chair for use in bathroom. This structure of chair comprises a seat plate A equipped with four legs B. The seat plate A is a flat plate having a plurality of through holes Al for drainage of water. This structure of chair has numerous drawbacks as outlined hereinafter.

1. Because the legs are fixedly fastened to the seat plate, the chair cannot be collapsed when not in use.

2. Because the top side of the seat plate is a flat surface, the chair is not comfortable to sit and water cannot be quickly carried away from the seat plate.

3. Because the seat plate has no means for the holding of the hand, the user may slip from the seat plate when sitting on it or standing up from it.

4. Because the legs are not retractable, the elevation of the chair cannot be adjusted to meet the user's satisfaction.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the folding collapsible chair is comprised of a seat plate having two longitudinal coupling grooves at the bottom, and a folding stand adapted for supporting the seat plate, the folding stand comprised of a first U-tube and a second U-tube pivoted together, and four legs respectively mounted in two opposite ends of each of the U-tubes, the first U-tube of the folding stand being secured to one longitudinal coupling groove of the seat plate by a locating plate and allowed to be turned therein, the second U-tube being adapted to be peripherally and detachably forced into engagement with the second longitudinal coupling groove of the seat plate. According to another aspect of the present invention, the seat plate has a downward stop block raised from the bottom along one side and adapted for stopping the second U-tube at the second longitudinal coupling groove. According to another aspect of the present invention, the seat plate has a concave top for comfortable sitting, and vertical through holes for guiding water out of the concave top. According to still another aspect of the present invention, the seat plate has two hand holes transversely disposed near two opposite ends for the holding of the hand. According to still another aspect of the present invention, the legs of the folding collapsible stand are retractable, so that the elevation of the folding collapsible chair can be adjusted.

FIG. 1 is a chair for use in bathroom according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a folding collapsible chair for use in bathroom according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the folding collapsible chair shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the present invention, showing the folding collapsible chair set in the operative condition;

FIG. 5A sectional view of a part of the present invention, showing the connection between one leg and one end of the corresponding U-tube;

FIG. 5B is similar to FIG. 5A but showing the elevation of the leg adjusted; and

FIG. 6 shows the folding collapsible chair of the present invention collapsed.

Referring to FIGS. 2,3,4,5A and 5B, a folding collapsible chair in accordance with the present invention is generally comprised of a seat plate 1, and a folding stand C. The seat plate 1 has a concave top, a plurality of vertical through holes 12, two hand holes 13 transversely disposed near two opposite sides for the holding of the hand, a downward stop block 11 downwardly raised from one side in the middle, and two coupling grooves 14;15 bilaterally and longitudinally disposed at the bottom (see FIG. 4). The folding stand C is comprised of two U-tubes 2;2' pivoted together by rivets 4, and four tubular legs 3 respectively mounted in two opposite ends of each U-tube 2 or 2'. Each U-tube 2 or 2' has a longitudinal row of locating holes 21 or 21' at each of its two opposite ends. Each tubular leg 3 or 3' has a through hole 31 or 31' at one side near the top. A spring 5 or 5' is mounted inside each tubular leg 3 or 3', having one end fixedly mounted with a retainer rod 6 or 6', which is forced by the spring 5 or 5' out of the through hole 31 or 31' of the corresponding tubular leg 3 or 3' into one locating hole 21 or 21' of one end of the corresponding U-tube 2 or 2'.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 again, the U-tubes 2;2' are respectively and peripherally forced into engagement with the coupling grooves 14;15 of the seat plate 1, and then a locating plate 7 of arched cross section is fixedly secured to the seat plate 1 over one U-tube 2;2' to secure the folding stand C to the seat plate 1. This arrangement permits the U-tube 2 to be forced into engagement with the corresponding coupling groove 15 or disconnected from it.

Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 4 again, when the two U-tubes 2;2' are turned relative to each other to open the folding stand C, the U-tube 2 is forced into engagement with the corresponding coupling groove 15 and stopped in place by the downward stop block 11 of the seat plate 1, and therefore the folding chair is set in the operative condition as shown in FIG. 4; on the contrary, when the two U-tubes 2;2' are turned relative to each other reversely, the U-tube 2 is disengaged from the corresponding coupling groove 15, and the folding chair can then be set in a collapsed condition as shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B again, when the retainer rod 6 forced inwards, the leg 3 can then be moved in and out of the corresponding U-tube 2. By shifting the retainer rod 6 from one locating hole 21 to another, the elevation of the chair is adjusted.

While only one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that various modifications and changes could be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention disclosed.