Seat-forming assembly and a chair having the same

Abstract

 A chair includes a frame (1) having a coupling member (15), and a seat-forming assembly (2). The seat-forming assembly (2) includes first and second plate members (21, 21'), a linking member (22) and a hook unit (23). The first and second plate members (21, 21') serve respectively as a seat and a backrest of the chair, and each have a connecting portion (213) and a hook-mounting portion (214) opposite to each other. The linking member (22) links the connecting portions (213) of the first and second plate members (21, 21') together. The hook unit (23) includes a plurality of first hooks (210) connected to the hook-mounting portion (214) of the first plate member (21), and a plurality of second hooks (230') connected to the hook-mounting portion (214) of the second plate member (21'). The first and second hooks (230, 230') are capable of detachably engaging the coupling member (15).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a chair, more particularly to a seat-forming assembly of a chair.

[0002] Many types of chairs exist nowadays. Among them, a lounge chair is suitable for outdoor use, and usually includes a foldable frame and a seat-and-backrest assembly serving as a seat and a backrest of the lounge chair. There are many types of conventional seat-and-backrest assemblies, all of which are fixedly mounted on the respective foldable frames.

[0003] However, if only one of the seat and the backrest is damaged, it cannot be individually replaced and the entire chair has to be discarded, resulting in waste. In addition, since the seat-and-backrest assembly and the frame of a conventional lounge chair are predetermined instead of being customized based on different user needs.

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a seat-forming assembly and a chair having the same that can eliminate the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seat-forming assembly adapted to be mounted on a frame of a chair. The seat-forming assembly includes first and second plate members, a linking member and a hook unit. The first and second plate members are adapted to serve respectively as a seat and a backrest of the chair. Each of the first and second plate members has a connecting portion and a hook-mounting portion that is opposite to the connecting portion. The linking member links the connecting portions of the first and second plate members together. The hook unit includes a plurality a plurality of first hooks connected to the hook-mounting portion of the first plate member, and a plurality of second hooks connected to the hook-mounting portion of the second plate member. The first and second hooks are adapted for detachably engaging the frame of the chair.

[0006] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a chair including a frame and the abovementioned seat-forming assembly.

[0007] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of a chair according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a seat-forming assembly of the first embodiment;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the first embodiment;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the first embodiment;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the first embodiment taken along line V - V in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the chair according to the present invention.

[0008] Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.

[0009] Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the first embodiment of a chair according to the present invention includes a frame 1 and a seat-forming assembly 2. The frame 1 includes a substantially U-shaped first leg frame 11, a substantially U-shaped second leg frame 12 connected pivotably to the first leg frame 11, two extension rods 13, two positioning members 14 (only one is shown in Fig. 3) and a coupling member 15. The extension rods 13 are spaced apart from each other and mounted telescopically on a top portion of the first leg frame 11. The positioning members 14 are disposed for respectively positioning the extension rods 13 relative to the first leg frame 11. The coupling member 15 is mounted between the second leg frame 12 and the extension rods 13 in an inclined manner such that a front end of the coupling member 15 is lower than a rear end of the coupling member 15.

[0010] In this embodiment, the coupling member 15 is a looped circular rod. The coupling member 15 has a curved first coupling portion 151 at the front end thereof, and a curved second coupling portion 152 at the rear end thereof opposite to the first coupling portion 151. The shape of the coupling member 15 is not limited hereto, as long as the first and second coupling portions 151, 152 are provided. The first and second coupling portions 151, 152 are not necessarily integrally formed into one piece.

[0011] Referring to Figs. 2, 4 and 5, the seat-forming assembly 2 is detachably mounted to the frame 1, and includes first and second plate members 21, 21' that respectively serve as a seat and a backrest of the chair, a linking member 22 and a hook unit 23. Each of the first and second plate member 21, 21' includes a border frame 211 and a support net 212. The border frame 211 has a connecting portion 213 and a hook-mounting portion 214 that is opposite to the connecting portion 213. The support net 212 is connected to and disposed within the border frame 211. The connecting portion 213 of each of the first and second plate members 21, 21' is formed with a plurality of spaced-apart through holes 215. The hook-mounting portion 214 of each of the first and second plate members 21, 21' is proximate to the respective first and second coupling portion 151, 152, and has a curvature that substantially equals that of the respective first and second coupling portion 151, 152. The linking member 22 links the connecting portions 213 of the first and second plate members 21, 21' together. In this embodiment, the linking member 22 is a rope extending through the through holes 215. The configuration of the linking member 22 may vary in other embodiments of this invention.

[0012] In this embodiment, the hook unit 23 includes a plurality of first hooks 230 integrally formed with the hook-mounting portion 214 of the first plate member 21, and a plurality of second hooks 230' integrally formed with the hook-mounting portion 214 of the second plate member 21'. The first and second hooks are capable of detachably engaging the coupling member 15 of the frame 1. Each of the first and second hooks 230, 230' of the hook unit 23 has a hook body 232 that defines a groove 231 and an opening 233 communicating the groove 231. The groove 231 of each of the first hooks 230 receives removably the first coupling portion 151 of the coupling member 15 of the frame 1. The groove 231 of each of the second hooks 230' receives removably the second coupling portion 152 of the coupling member 15. The opening 233 of each of the first and second hooks 230, 230' has a width smaller than a diameter of the corresponding first and second coupling portion 151, 152. In this embodiment, the first hooks 230 are integrally formed with the first plate member 21 as one piece, and the second hooks 230' are integrally formed with the second plate member 21' as one piece. In other embodiments of this invention, the first and second hooks 230, 230' may be independently formed and then connected to the hook-mounting portions 214 of the corresponding first and second plate members 21, 21' by fasteners.

[0013] Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 5, during manufacture of the first embodiment, the first and second leg frames 11, 12, the extension rods 13, the positioning members 14 and the coupling member 15 are assembled together to form the frame 1 of the chair. Then, the first and second plate members 21, 21' are connected together via the linking member 22. Finally, the first hooks 230 are engaged with the first coupling portion 151 of the coupling member 15 of the frame 1, and the second hooks 230' are engaged with the second coupling portion 152 of the coupling member 15 of the frame 1, such that the seat-forming assembly 2 and the frame 1 are assembled together.

[0014] The seat-forming assembly 2 can be easily detached from the frame 1 by disengaging the first and second hooks 230, 230' from the corresponding first and second coupling portions 151, 152.

[0015] Referring to Fig. 6, the second embodiment of the chair according to the present invention is similar to the first embodiment. The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment resides in the configuration of the frame 1. In the second embodiment, the first leg frame 11 is mounted pivotably on the front portion of the coupling member 15, and the second leg frame 12 is mounted pivotably on the rear portion of the coupling member 15. The first and second leg frames 11, 12 are not directly connected to each other. In other words, the same seat-forming assembly 2 can be mounted on frames 1 having different structures, as long as each frame 1 includes the coupling member 15 having the first and second coupling portions 151, 152.

[0016] In sum, due to the provision of the hook unit 23, from the user's perspective, the seat-forming assembly 2 can be easily mounted to and dismounted from the frame 1, so that replacement of the seat-forming assembly 2 and the frame 1 can be easily performed. In addition, replacement of the first and second plate members 21, 21' of the seat-forming assembly 2 can also be easily realized since the two are separately formed and then linked removably together. From the manufacturer's perspective, a variety of frames 1 and a variety of seat-forming assemblies 2 can be provided, so the user can purchase different frames 1 and different seat-forming assemblies 2, and then freely combine them into different chairs. This configuration increases the flexibility of satisfying the users' different needs, and allows consumers to easily replace the parts of the chair.

[0017] While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A chair characterized by:

a frame (1) including a coupling member (15); and

a seat-forming assembly (2) including
first and second plate members (21, 21') that serve respectively as a seat and a backrest of said chair, each of said first and second plate members (21, 21') having a connecting portion (213) and a hook-mounting portion (214) that is opposite to said connecting portion (213),
a linking member (22) that links said connecting portions (213) of said first and second plate members (21, 21') together, and
a hook unit (23) that includes a plurality of first hooks (230) connected to said hook-mounting portion (214) of said first plate member (21), and a plurality of second hooks (230') connected to said hook-mounting portion (214) of said second plate member (21'), said first and second hooks (230, 230') being capable of detachably engaging said coupling member (15) of said frame (1).

2. The chair as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that said coupling member (15) has curved first and second coupling portions (151, 152) opposite to each other, said hook-mounting portion (214) of each of said first and second plate members (21, 21') being proximate to a respective one of said first and second coupling portions (151, 152), and having a curvature that substantially equals that of the respective one of said first and second coupling portions (151, 152).

3. The chair as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that said connecting portion (213) of each of said first and second plate members (21, 21') is formed with a plurality of spaced-apart through holes (215), and said linking member (22) is a rope extending through said through holes (215).

4. The chair as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that each of said first and second hooks (230, 230') of said hook unit (23) has a hook body (232) that defines
a groove (231) receiving removably a corresponding one of said first and second coupling portions (151, 152) of said coupling member (15) of said frame (1), and
an opening (233) communicating said groove (231) and having a width smaller than a diameter of the corresponding one of said first and second coupling portions (151, 152) of said coupling member (15).

5. The chair as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that said frame (1) further includes
a first leg frame (11),
a second leg frame (12) connected pivotably to said first leg frame (11),
two extension rods (13) spaced apart from each other and mounted telescopically on a top portion of said first leg frame (11), and
two positioning members (14) for respectively positioning said extension rods (13) relative to said first leg frame (11);
said coupling member (15) being mounted between said second leg frame (12) and said extension rods (13) in an inclined manner;
each of said first and second plate members (21, 21') including a border frame (211) that has said connecting portion (213) and said hook-mounting portion (214), and a support net (212) that is connected to and disposed within said border frame (211).

6. The chair as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that said frame (1) further includes
a first leg frame (11) mounted pivotably on a front portion of said coupling member (15), and
a second leg frame (12) mounted pivotably on a rear portion of said coupling member (15);
said coupling member (15) being mounted between said first leg frame (11) and said second leg frame (12) in an inclined manner;
each of said first and second plate members (21, 21') including a border frame (211) that has said connecting portion (213) and said hook-mounting portion (214), and a support net (212) that is connected to and disposed within said border frame (211).

7. A seat-forming assembly (2) adapted to be mounted on a frame (1) of a chair, said seat-forming assembly (2) characterized by:

first and second plate members (21, 21') adapted to serve respectively as a seat and a backrest of the chair, each of said first and second plate members (21, 21') having a connecting portion (213) and a hook-mounting portion (214) that is opposite to said connecting portion (213);

a linking member (22) linking said connecting portions (213) of said first and second plate members (21, 21') together; and

a hook unit (23) including a plurality of first hooks (230) connected to said hook-mounting portion (214) of said first plate member (21), and a plurality of second hooks (230') connected to said hook-mounting portion (214) of said second plate member (21'), said first and second hooks (230, 230') being adapted for detachably engaging the frame (1) of the chair.

8. The seat-forming assembly as claimed in Claim 7, characterized in that each of said first and second plate members (21, 21') includes a border frame (211) having said connecting portion (213) and said hook-mounting portion (214), and a support net (212) connected to and disposed within said border frame (211).

9. The seat-forming assembly (2) as claimed in Claim 8, characterized in that said connecting portion (213) of each of said first and second plate members (21, 21') is formed with a plurality of spaced-apart through holes (215), and said linking member (22) is a rope extending through said through holes (215).

10. The seat-forming assembly as claimed in Claim 9, the frame (1) of the chair including a coupling member (15) that has first and second coupling portions (151, 152), characterized in that:

each of said first and second hooks (230, 230') of said hook unit (23) has a hook body (232) that defines
a groove (231) adapted for receiving removably a corresponding one of the first and second coupling portions (151, 152) of the coupling member (15) of the frame (1), and
an opening (233) communicating said groove (231) and having a width that is smaller than a diameter of the corresponding one of the first and second coupling portions (151, 152) of the coupling member (15).

Drawing