Collapsible chair
DCFirst Claim
1. A collapsible chair for transporting people up and down stairs, the chair comprising:
- a main frame;
a seating assembly pivotally connected to the main frame for pivotal movement between open and closed positions;
a pair of wheels rotatable mounted on the main frame to support the chair for movement over a surface;
a rail assembly to support the chair for movement down stairs, and pivotally connected to the main frame for pivotal movement between open and closed positions;
an upper frame section connected to and supported by the main frame, wherein the upper frame section has retracted and extended positions, and has forwardly facing and rearwardly facing positions; and
a latching assembly for releasably holding the upper frame section in the retracted, extended, forwardly facing and rearwardly facing positions, wherein the latching assembly includes;
a latch mounted on the main frame for sliding movement between an engaged position and a disengaged position;
in the engaged position, the latch engages the upper frame section and holds the upper fame section in place;
in the disengaged position, the latch is not engaged with the upper frames section and the upper frame section is moveable between the retracted, extended, forwardly facing and rearwardly facing positions; and
biasing means engaging the latch and urging the latch into the engaged position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A collapsible chair for transporting people up and down stairs, comprising a main frame, a seating assembly, and a rail assembly. The seating assembly is provided to form a set for a person, and this assembly is pivotally connected to the main frame for pivotal movement between open and closed positions. The rail assembly is used to support the chair for movement down steps, and this assembly is also pivotally connected to the main frame for pivotal movement between open and closed positions. In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, the chair is provided with uniquely designed gripping bars that may be used to help carry the chair upstairs. Also, the chair is provided with a set of wheels that are uniquely located to help stabilize the chair. Preferably, an improved locking mechanism is mounted on the chair to help lock the seating assembly and the rail assemblies in their open positions, and a specially designed latching assembly is provided to lock an upper frame of the chair in various positions. With the preferred embodiment of the invention, the chair is provided with a harness system to hold a person in the chair, and this system is especially designed to hold the legs of that person so that the person'"'"'s legs do not interfere with someone carrying the chair upstairs.
44 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A collapsible chair for transporting people up and down stairs, the chair comprising:
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a main frame;
a seating assembly pivotally connected to the main frame for pivotal movement between open and closed positions;
a pair of wheels rotatable mounted on the main frame to support the chair for movement over a surface;
a rail assembly to support the chair for movement down stairs, and pivotally connected to the main frame for pivotal movement between open and closed positions;
an upper frame section connected to and supported by the main frame, wherein the upper frame section has retracted and extended positions, and has forwardly facing and rearwardly facing positions; and
a latching assembly for releasably holding the upper frame section in the retracted, extended, forwardly facing and rearwardly facing positions, wherein the latching assembly includes;
a latch mounted on the main frame for sliding movement between an engaged position and a disengaged position;
in the engaged position, the latch engages the upper frame section and holds the upper fame section in place;
in the disengaged position, the latch is not engaged with the upper frames section and the upper frame section is moveable between the retracted, extended, forwardly facing and rearwardly facing positions; and
biasing means engaging the latch and urging the latch into the engaged position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
the latch includes an end portion;
the main frame forms a retaining slot;
the holding means includes the end portion of the latch and the retaining slot;
the latch is supported for pivotal movement between a first position and a second position;
in the first position, the latch is slidable between the engaged and disengaged positions;
in the second position, the end portion of the latch extends into the retaining slot, and the main frame holds the latch in the second position.
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4. A collapsible chair according to claim 3, wherein:
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the main frame includes i) left and right support members, and ii) a cross member supported by and positioned between the left and right support members; and
the latching assembly is mounted on the cross member.
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5. A collapsible chair according to claim 4, wherein:
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the upper frame section includes first and second legs supported by the left and right support members of the main frame;
the first leg forms a first side opening;
the second leg forms a second side opening;
in the engaged position, the latching assembly extends into the first and second side openings to hold the first and second legs in place relative to the left and right side members;
in the disengaged position, the latching assembly is disengaged from the first and second side openings, and the first and second legs are moveable relative to the left and right support members.
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6. A collapsible chair according to claim 5, wherein:
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the latching assembly includes first and second retaining latches;
in the engaged position, the first retaining latch extends into the first side opening to hold the first leg in place, and the second retaining latch extends into the second side opening to hold the second leg in place.
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7. A collapsible chair for transporting people down stairs, the chair comprising:
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a main frame;
a seating assembly pivotally connected to the main frame for pivotal movement between open and closed positions;
a rail assembly to support the chair for movement down steps, and pivotally connected to the main frame for pivotal movement between open and closed positions;
a pair of wheels rotatably mounted on the main frame to support the chair for movement over a surface;
a locking subassembly for connecting the rail assembly to the seating assembly to lock the rail assembly in the open position thereof;
an upper frame section connected to and supported by the main frame, wherein the upper frame section is securable in retracted and extended positions, and forwardly facing and rearwardly facing positions; and
a locking bar connected to the main frame for movement between engaged and disengaged positions, wherein in the engaged position the locking bar engages the seating assembly to help lock the seating assembly and the rail assembly in the open positions, and in the disengaged position, the locking bar is disengaged from the seating assembly, wherein;
the rail assembly includes i) a rail member pivotally connected to the main frame, and ii) a flange mounted on the rail member, extending therealong, and forming an elongated groove;
the seating assembly includes i) a side member pivotally mounted on the main frame and extending rearward therefrom to a position adjacent said flange, and ii) a cross bar connected to the side member for pivotal movement therewith, and extending through the elongated groove for sliding movement therealong;
as the seating assembly pivots between the open and closed positions thereof, the cross bar slides along the elongated groove and pivots the rail assembly between the open and closed positions thereof; and
when the locking bar is in the engaged position, the locking bar extends over and engages the cross bar to help lock the seating assembly and the rail assembly in the open positions thereof. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
the locking bar includes i) first and second legs pivotally connected to and extending from the main frame, ii) a cross leg connected to and extending between the first and second legs, iii) a locking piece mounted on the cross leg for pivotal movement therewith, and forming an outwardly facing notch; and
when the locking bar is in the engaged position, the cross bar is received in said notch, and the locking piece helps lock the cross bar in place.
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Specification