Locking collapsible seat apparatus

The present invention relates generally to seat apparatuses and more particularly to a collapsible seat apparatus that can quickly and easily be transitioned between an erected state and a folded state and further comprises a seat locking component to stabilize the seat apparatus in the erected state.

It is often desirable to have a foldable and portable stool device that may be easily transported from one place to another and used in a variety of indoor and outdoor conditions. It is also convenient to provide a portable stool device that may be reduced to a compact configuration for ease of storage and transport.

Folding stool devices are known in the prior art, but these prior art devices are deficient in several respects. First, prior art folding stool devices do not offer a convenient height for sitting or standing according to studies directed to preferred height of the device. Prior art stool devices typically range in height from 9 inches to 12 inches, which fail to accommodate a comfortable sitting position for a user as well as a sufficient height for standing to access out-of-reach places.

Certain prior art stool devices are heavy and clumsy, as well as complex in requiring multiple parts that are separable from the device, which may potentially become lost or misplaced.

Lastly, in addition to prior art stool devices being difficult to erect and fold, often times the user does not know whether or not the stool device is stable in its unfolded state to sit on or step on. Sitting on or stepping on an unstable stool device may cause a failure mode of the device, which may further result in serious injury of a user.

Examples of prior art devices include U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,003 that discloses a stool with an array of slats supported by arms—the arms being pivotally connected to the slats to achieve a parallel and perpendicular position with respect to the slats. U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,861 describes a foldable stool including a shoulder below and spaced inwardly from a lip around the outer periphery of a top wall.

Another type of stool device is a triangular shaped top platform supported by three legs extending away from each other in diverging directions as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,557, U.S. Pat. No. 6,634,704, U.S. Pat. No. 5,851,052, U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,638, U.S. Pat. No. 3,709,167, U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,588, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,722,973.

While these devices fulfill their respective particular objectives and requirements, the need still remains for a locking collapsible seat apparatus that fulfills the deficiencies of these prior art devices. The present invention satisfies this need.

The locking collapsible seat apparatus of the present invention offers a convenient height for sitting or standing according to studies directed to a preferred height of the apparatus, a light-weight construction for easy transport, a compact design for convenient storage and a configuration for effortless transition between an erected state and a folded state and vice versa. The present invention also provides a seat locking component to stabilize the apparatus in an erected state as well as communicate with the user whether or not the locking component is activated. Although the present invention was contemplated as an apparatus for a user to sit, it is also contemplated that the seat apparatus may be for a user to stand, for example to access out-of-reach places.

According to the present invention, seat apparatus includes five support panels and a plurality of hinges. Hinges connect panels and provide rotation. It is contemplated that hinges may be made of flexible material or of moving components. For example, hinges may be a pivot hinge, butt/mortise hinge, continuous hinge, concealed hinge, butterfly hinge, parliament hinge, strap hinge, counterflap hinge, flush hinge, to name a few. In certain embodiments, seat apparatus includes grasping elements to assist a user in erecting the seat apparatus into an erected state and/or folding the seat apparatus into a folded state.

The seat apparatus also includes a seat locking component. Seat locking component includes ramps, receptacles and protrusions. Protrusions are sized and shaped to be received within receptacles. Ramps guide protrusions toward the receptacles when the seat apparatus is unfolded. Ramps also prevent protrusions from escaping from receptacles once received therein.

An object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible seat apparatus configured with a height within a range of about 13 inches to 16½ inches. According to studies based on the height, weight, sex, and age of a user, the most preferred height is about 15 inches.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible seat that is light-weight, for example constructed from materials such as plastic, plastic composite, thermoplastic resin, such as polyurethane, nylon, polyester, or polypropylene. The materials may further be compounded with a glass fiber or other additives to enhance strength, weatherability or other physical properties.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible seat that possesses a compact design in the folded state for convenient storage.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a configuration for effortless transition between an erected state and a folded state, as well as between a folded state and an erected state.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible seat apparatus with a seat locking component to stabilize the seat apparatus in the erected state. The locking component further communicates to the user—the top platform acts as an indicator to the user as to whether or not the locking component is activated. The seat locking component stabilizes the seat apparatus on any surface, for example, thick course carpet or soft ground block.

These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow.

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Hydraulic adjustable seat
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Chair
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