AU2018250503A1 - Folding chair and rotatable lifting side table thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

FOLDING CHAIR AND ROTATABLE LIFTING SIDE TABLE THEREOF Abstract A rotatable side table (1) for a chair (5). The side table including a table body (3) connectable to a frame assembly (4). The body including a generally planar surface (7) upon which items can rest. The frame assembly including a first portion (50) connected to said body in use and adapted to permit said body to be rotated about a first axis. A second portion (52) is adapted to be received by a sleeve (22) associated with a chair to which said table is to be connected. The second portion is adapted to permit said body to move along and about a second axis perpendicular to said first axis. A first locking mechanism (23) is adapted to lock said first portion in a user preferred position and a second locking mechanism (60) is adapted to lock said second portion in a user preferred position.

Description

FOLDING CHAIR AND ROTATABLE LIFTING SIDE TABLE THEREOF

[0001] This application is a divisional of Australian Patent Application No. 20132606525, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

Technology [0002] The invention relates to a chair and in particular relates to a folding chair having a side table that can be rotated.

Background [0003] Chairs are used in daily life and are very common. In order to meet the needs of people placed articles, chairs with side tables came into being. The side table is often set at the side of the chair, usually vertical or chair leg side armrests, to use when you can flip to the horizontal and fixed thereon in order to place drinks, pencils, computers and so on.

[0004] However, the current chairs with side tables that flip to the horizontal position after use are fixed and cannot lift, rotate or tilt, effectively and not according to the different needs of the user to adjust accordingly. They are also often inconvenient, difficult to use, get stuck or are expensive to manufacture.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need to improve the structure of a chair having a side table to accommodate the different needs of the user and be sufficiently adjustable accordingly.

Object of the Invention [0006] It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to at least provide a useful alternative.

Summary of the Invention [0007] The present invention, at least in a preferred embodiment, provides a rotatable lifting side table, able to accommodate different needs of users.

[0008] The invention at least in a preferred embodiment also provides an application of the above that can be rotated down the side of folding chairs.

[0009] There is preferably provided a rotatable side table for a chair, the side table including: a table body connectable to a frame assembly, the body including a generally planar surface upon which items can rest, the frame assembly including: a first portion connected to said body in use and adapted to permit said body to be rotated about a first axis; a second portion adapted to be received by a sleeve associated with a chair to which said table is to be connected, said second portion adapted to permit said body to move along and about said axis perpendicular to said first axis; and a first locking mechanism adapted to lock said first portion in a user preferred position and a second locking mechanism adapted to lock said second portion in a user preferred position.

[00010] Preferably, said frame assembly is generally L-shaped, said first and second portions interconnecting together to form said “L” shape.

[0010] Preferably, said second locking mechanism is adapted to lock said second portion to said sleeve.

[0011] Preferably, said first locking mechanism is adapted to lock said first portion relative to said body.

[0012] Preferably, said second locking mechanism including a lever adapted to move from an open position where said second portion is able to move freely within said sleeve to a closed position where said second portion is locked to said sleeve.

[0013] Preferably, said second locking mechanism is adapted to lock said table body in an orientation about said first axis.

[0014] Preferably, the first locking mechanism includes a button.

[0015] Preferably, said button is located adjacent said table body.

[0016] Preferably, including an elongate sleeve, said sleeve adapted to receive a rotatable side table as defined in any one of the above claims.

[0017] There is further provided a folding chair, including a chair body and mounted on said chair body a side table, the side table as described above can be rotated down side table.

[0018] The present invention, at least in a preferred embodiment, provides a rotatable lifting side table, side table by the body through the connecting mechanism mounted on the chair, with the lift and the lift tube fixed tube combination, and through both. The next connection locking the locking mechanism fixed to the main body side table is rotated in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of lift, in order to achieve the different needs of the user's use of the inverted position accordingly.

[0019] Preferably, an application of the above can be rotated down side table folding chairs.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0020] A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0021] Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the invention having an exploded view of the folding chair; [0022] Figure 2 shows a partial enlarged view of the circled region of Figure 1; [0023] Figure 3 shows a folding seat assembly of Figure 1 moving towards an overall open state; [0024] Figure 4 shows a folding chair of Figure 1 in a collapsed state; [0025] Figure 5 is an alternate side table of an embodiment of the present invention; [0026] Figures 6a to 6i show alternate orientations of the side table of Figure 5; [0027] Figures 7a to 7d show an alternate locking mechanism for use with an embodiment of the present invention; and [0028] Figures 8a and 8b show exploded perspective views of the locking mechanism of Figures 7a to 7d.

Detailed Description of the Drawings [0029] Referring to the drawings, item 1 shows a side table; 3 is a body; 4 is a frame assembly; 5 is a chair; 9 is a glass holder; item 11 is a desktop board, 12 is an edging strip, 13 is a bracket, 21 is a lift tube, 22 is a fixed tube 23 is a locking mechanism; 24 is a gasket, 31 is a damping block, 32 is a locking wrench, 33 is a locking washer, 34 is a screw, 35 is a nut.

[0030] The invention at least in a preferred embodiment is directed to a rotatable lifting side table 1, able to accommodate different needs of a user and being able to flip positions and be adjusted accordingly.

[0031] There is disclosed a rotatable lifting side table 1, including a body 3. The body 3 is used to connect to a frame assembly 4 to the chair. The connection includes a lifting tube 21 connected to fixed tube 22 and locked by lower locking mechanism 23. One end of the tube 21 is connected to the body 3 and the other end to the sleeve tube 22. The lifting of the lift tube 21 may be rotated within the fixed tube 22 to slide or drive the side table 1 in the horizontal direction and/or the vertical direction. For example, the movement shown in Figure 3, arrows @ and ® and can be locked by the locking mechanism 23.

[0032] Accordingly, provided is a rotatable lift side table 1 where the table 11, 12 is mounted through the frame 4 to a chair 5, with lifting tube 21 and the sleeve tube 22 in combination with the lower locking mechanism 23 to fix them in place. The body 3 can be rotated in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, in order to achieve the different needs of the user.

[0033] Specifically, the lower locking mechanism 23 is associated with a tube 21 and fixed sleeve tube 22. A sleeve wrench 32 acts as a locking lever to lock the tube together. The hinge end of the sleeve has a cam structure having a flat free end wrench, to facilitate pulling the locking lever 32 turning, the structure shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4. With the end of the locking lever 32 cam structure, in the need to use or put away side table body, just flip up the locking lever 32 to the horizontal state, lifting the lifting tube 21 the rotated and fixed tube 22 slides, thereby stimulating the body side table in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of rotation lift; to be adjusted to the proper position, the locking lever 32 to vertical flip down state, to achieve the lifting of the locking tube 21 fixed. The main body of the side tables will now be maintained in a stable state.

[0034] The present embodiment of the invention provides a rotatable lift side table, the lift tube 22 is fixed to the vertical direction, the top cover provided in lifting tube 21 is bolted to the bottom of the legs and connected to the chair. The fixed tube 22 can also be inclined, this time along the tilt direction side table body movements, in order to meet the user in certain situations, the use of demand.

[0035] In order to further optimize the chair 5, the bottom of the fixed tube 22 is raised with the seat spacer 24 disposed between the legs and pads on both sides of the fixed tube 22. Through the addition of the spacer 24, to facilitate the adjustment of the fixed tube 22, the distance between the chair legs, and the fixed tube 22 is uniform, and acts as a buffer to mitigate wear and in turn, prolong the chair life.

[0036] In this embodiment, the side table body specifically includes desktop board 11 and edge strips 12 and U-shaped bracket 13. The desktop board 11 is provided with edge strips 12 and through the bottom bracket 13 is mounted to the top of the lift tube 21. The structure shown in Figure 1 has a lifting tube 21 and a top frame 13.

[0037] In a meeting or lecture or other occasions, often a place is needed to hold a laptop or desktop computer. Therefore, to further enhance the degree of freedom of the side table, in the present embodiment, the side table in the working state, the body can be tilted.

[0038] Specifically, the connection block 31 provides the main body side table and associated brackets with damping. The connection block 31 of the U-shaped bracket 13 comprises a larger diameter cylindrical section and a relatively smaller diameter damping section. The damping section has a larger diameter than the diameter of the top of the lifting tube 21. The lift tube 21 is fitted at the top of the inner wall. Connection block 31 provides a damping effect. The bottom of the bracket main body side table (i.e. the end of frame 13) rotates relative to lifting tube 21 and is frictionally fixed to the main body side table to achieve the tilt adjustment, the movement shown in Figure 3 in the direction of the arrow (T). The connection block 31 has a step or a shoulder that frictionally engages with the smaller diameter lift tube 21, as shown in Figure 2.

[0039] Advantageously, the damping section of the connection block 31 acts as a damper for the lift tube 21, with the top wall offset for easy installation.

[0040] The rotatable lifting side table 1 provides improved overall system stability and reliability.

[0041] Referring to Figure 2, the locking mechanism comprises a tube 21, and locking wrench 32 between the locking washer 33, the screw 34, locking lever 32, the locking pad sheet 33, the lifting tube 21 to the top and the connection block 31, and the other end fixed by the locking nut 35.

[0042] In order to further optimize the above chair 5, the connection block 31 is provided with a kidney-shaped groove (see Figure 2) to assist with contact to the side table body or frame assembly 4.

[0043] This folding chair side table 1 can be flipped to be adjusted to meet the different needs of the user 1. The side table can be moved within a certain height adjustment 2. The desktop 11 can be adjusted in a horizontal angle. The side table can be lifted relative to the fixed tube 22 and about around 360 degrees of rotation. The movement pattern is shown in Figure 3, arrow φ, ® and ®.

[0044] In Figures 5 onwards further embodiments of the side table 1 are shown. In this embodiment of the rotatable side table 1, the frame assembly 4 can be connected to the bottom of the table body 3 or connected through a portion of the body 3 as best seen in Figure 5. As it will be noted from Figure 5, the body 3 includes a generally planar surface 7 which in the first embodiment is described as desk board 11. That surface 7 can include a holder 9 to hold items. The frame assembly 4 in the embodiment of Figure 5 includes a first portion 50 to be connected to the body 3 and adapted to permit the body 3 to be rotated about a first axis XX (See Figure 6d). A second portion 52 is adapted to be received in the fixed sleeve tube 22 which is secured to or forms part of the chair 5 to which the table 1 is to be connected. The second portion 52 is adapted to move the table 1 along or about an axis YY (see Figure 6d) which is substantially perpendicular to the axis XX. The second portion 52 is lockable in a user defined position to the fixed sleeve tube 22 by use of the lower locking mechanism 23 which has been described above. That locking mechanism 23 could be integrally formed with the second portion 52, the fixed sleeve tube 22 or could include an independent sleeve portion 54 as seen in some of the figures. The second portion 52 is slidable within the fixed sleeve tube 22 and the sleeve portion 54 in a generally vertical direction (axis YY) in use such that the height of the table 1 can be set by the user. It should be appreciated that the table 1 can be moved up and down the axis YY and also rotated about the axis YY.

[0045] As best seen in Figures 7a-7d, second locking mechanism 60 is operatively associated with the first portion 50 and the table 1 such that the planar surface 7 can be rotated about the axis XX as shown in Figures 6h and 6i. The second locking mechanism 60 is best seen in Figures 7a to 7d and 8a to 8b and in this form, includes a cap 62, spring 63, cog 64, housing 65, shaft 66, push button 67 and mounting holes 68, 69. The second locking mechanism 60 is mounted to the side of the table 1 using the mounting holes 68, 69 in the housing 65. Fasteners such as a screw may be used as a mounting means to mate the housing 65 to the side of the table 1. The surface 7 can be fixed to a level or angled position relative to the user by pushing the push button 67 toward housing 65 and rotating table 1 to the desired position and releasing the push button 67. When the push button 67 is pressed toward the housing 65, the shaft 66, which protrudes through a central aperture (not numbered) of the housing 65 and is operatively coupled to the cog 64, displaces the cog 64 away from the housing 65. This action causes the cog 64 to compress spring 63 as the cog moves away from the housing 65 and toward the cap 62. When the user releases the push button 67, the spring 63 urges the cog 64, shaft 66 and push button 67 back to a starting position. The cap is operatively coupled or mated to the first portion 50, which is attached to the underside of the table 1.

[0046] When the table 1 is in a locked position about the axis XX, the push button 67 is in the starting position and the teeth of cog 64 is thus engaged with both sets of internal teeth (not numbered) in the housing 65 and cap 62. This prevents rotation of the table 1 about the axis XX. When rotation about the axis XX is required, the push button 67 is pressed in fully, thereby disengaging the cog from the set of internal teeth (not numbered) of housing 65, thereby only engaging with the set of internal teeth (not numbered) of cap 62, thus allowing the frame assembly 4, first portion 50 and table 1 to rotate together about axis XX.

[0047] Referring to Figure 6d, item 70 is a leveling spacer that can be used to level the table 1. The leveling spacer 70 abuts against the frame assembly 4 to keep the fixed tube 22 and the frame assembly 4 aligned, such that the fixed tube 22 remains substantially vertical. The leveling spacer 70 is slightly U-shaped to grip around the tubular frame of the chair and aims to keep the table in the desired position by preventing movement in the top of the fixed tube 22. The mechanism for locking the table 1 in various locations could also be a bolt, a lever, a screw mechanism or the like. The position of the tubing 50 and locking mechanism 60 is also not limited to being placed in the center or side of the table 1. This table 1 can be used on any chair 5 or the like having an upright leg. In the preferred form, the table 1 would be manufactured from a plastic & aluminum combination but is not limited to only these materials.

[0048] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Claims (9)

1. A rotatable side table for a chair, the side table including: a table body connectable to a frame assembly, the body including a generally planar surface upon which items can rest, the frame assembly including: a first portion connected to said body in use and adapted to permit said body to be rotated about a first axis; a second portion adapted to be received by a sleeve associated with a chair to which said table is to be connected, said second portion adapted to permit said body to move along and about a second axis that is perpendicular to said first axis; and a first locking mechanism adapted to lock said first portion in a user preferred position and a second locking mechanism adapted to lock said second portion in a user preferred position.

2. The side table of claim 1, wherein said frame assembly is generally L-shaped, said first and second portions interconnecting together to form said “L” shape.

3. The side table of claim 1, wherein said second locking mechanism is adapted to lock said second portion to said sleeve.

4. The side table of claim 1, wherein said first locking mechanism is adapted to lock said first portion relative to said body.

5. The side table of claim 3, wherein said second locking mechanism including a lever adapted to move from an open position where said second portion is able to move freely within said sleeve to a closed position where said second portion is locked to said sleeve.

6. The side table of claim 1, wherein said second locking mechanism is adapted to lock said table body in an orientation about said second axis.

7. The side table of claim 4, wherein the first locking mechanism includes a button.

8. The side table of claim 7, wherein said button is located adjacent said table body.

9. A foldable chair, said chair including an elongate sleeve, said sleeve adapted to receive a rotatable side table as defined in any one of the above claims. Oztent Australia Pty. Limited Zhejiang Taipushen Leisure Articles Co., Ltd. Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON