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Collapsible rocker chairCollapsible rocker chair description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060103178, Collapsible rocker chair. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application claims priority to Great Britain Application No. 0425461.1, titled "Collapsible Rocker Chair" filed Nov. 18, 2004, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to rocker chairs and in particular to rocker chairs for infants which are formed around a collapsible frame. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Infant rocker seats are well known in the art which are collapsible for compact storage. Strict safety legislation exists relating to the design of such collapsible rocker seats, in particular relating to the locking system utilised to prevent accidental collapse of the frame when an infant is seated therein. In order to meet these requirements, one existing design of collapsible rocker seat utilises two separate locking systems which are remotely located from each other, a user being required simultaneously to release a first lock with one hand and a second lock with the other hand. This system has the drawback, however, that it is very cumbersome to operate since both hands of the user are required to release the locks making it difficult then to press the frame towards its closed position. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] According to the present invention there is provided a collapsible chair frame comprising a base having a pair of longitudinally extending side bars, a first pair of brackets attached proximate to a first end of each side bar so as to be freely rotatable about a first axis substantially perpendicular to said side bars, an actuation member extending between and rotatably connected to each bracket of said first pair so as to be rotatable relative to said first pair of brackets about a second axis parallel to but offset from said first axis, a second pair of brackets secured proximate to a second end of each side bar, a first pair of support bars each having a first end secured to a respective one of opposing ends of said actuation member and a second end having engagement means provided thereon, each of said first pair of support bars extending from said actuation member at an inclined angle substantially towards said second end of its respective side bar, and a second pair of support bars which extend at an inclined angle substantially towards said first end of its respective side bar, each second support bar having a first end rotatably connected to a respective one of said second pair of brackets and a second end having engagement means provided thereon, said engagement means of the second end of each of said second pair of support bars engaging with the engagement means of the second end of an associated one of the first pair of support bars, such that each of said second pair of support bars and its associated one of the first pair of support bars are constrained to rotate together, wherein said actuation member further includes locking means engageable with said first pair of brackets to secure said actuation member against rotation relative to said brackets, release means operable to move said locking means from a locked position to an unlock position in order to release said actuation member for rotation relative to said first pair of brackets, and safety catch means which, in a first position interacts with the release means to prevent operation thereof and in a second position is released from said release means so as to enable operation thereof to unlock said actuation member from said brackets. [0005] A collapsible chair frame in accordance with the invention has the advantage that the provision of the release means and the safety catch means necessitates operation of the two separate catches in sequence in order to enable collapse of the frame, thereby reducing the possibility of accidental collapse, whilst the two catches can be configured to enable operation with a single hand of a user, thereby simplifying the collapse operation. [0006] Preferably, a housing is provided on each side of the frame in which are received the second end of a respective one of each of the first pair of support bars and the second pair of support bars so as to maintain the engagement means provided thereon in engagement. More particularly, the second end of each of the first and second pairs of support bars are pivotally mounted in their respective housing, for example by means of through pins, which maintain said ends in positions in which their engagement means are engaged. The engagement means may particularly advantageously take the form of gear teeth which may be formed directly on the second end of the each of the first and second support bars, or may alternatively be formed on end plates which are separately attached to said second ends. [0007] The base of the frame preferably includes a pair of end bars which extend from proximate ends of the side bars transversely of said side bars towards each other, each of said first pair of brackets being rotatably mounted on the end of a respective one of the end bars and the actuation member, which preferably takes the form of a handle, then extends between said brackets substantially parallel to said end bars. [0008] Preferably, tubing defining the plane of the seat and the back of the chair extend between said side housings, in particular each of the back tubing and the seat tube being substantially U-shaped with one end engaged in each of the side housings. The back tubing may advantageously be pivotally connected to said side housings and include locking means operable to lock the back tube in a number of different pivotal positions relative to the side housing, thereby enabling adjustment of the angle of the back of the seat. [0009] The locking means preferably takes the form of a pair of pins which extend from opposing ends of the actuation means and engage in complementary shaped recesses formed in said first brackets, when the actuation means is properly aligned therewith, in order to lock said actuation means against relative rotation, said release means operating to retract said pins from said recesses in order to enable relative rotation to take place. The pins are then attached either to common sides of separate pivot levers or opposing sides of a common pivot lever, operation of the release means causing rotation of the or each pivot lever in order to retract said pins. [0010] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the release means is a button which projects from the side of the actuation member and is depressible thereinto in order to operate said locking means. More particularly, said button includes a pin which engages into cam openings formed in opposing pivot levers to which said locking pins are connected, movement of the button relative to said pivot levers causing rotation of said levers in opposing directions, which, in turn, pulls said locking pins in opposite directs into the actuation member. In this configuration, the safety catch takes the form of a button which is slidably mounted in the actuation member and has at least one projection which, in a first slide position of the safety catch, extends into the path of movement of the button so as to prevent operation movement thereof, and in a second position, is retracted from said path of movement so as to permit release of said locking pins. In a further development, the safety catch is slidably mounted for movement away from its first position in opposite directions such that in said first position the button is locked against movement, and upon movement away from the fist position in either direction, the button is free to be operated to release the locking pins. In this way, operation by both left and right-handed users is possible. Alternatively, however, the release means may take the form of a rotatable lever with the safety catch having a projection which engages into an opening in the lever so as to prevent rotation thereof. Preferably, biasing means such as a spring is associated with the safety catch which biases it into a position in which operational movement of the release means is prevent, the safety catch being manually retractable against the loading of the biasing means. [0011] Other developments and improvements will follow from the embodiment examples described below. [0012] In order that the invention may be well understood, there will now be described some embodiments thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rocker seat frame according to the invention in an erect position; [0014] FIGS. 2a to 2c are perspective views of the seat frame of FIG. 1 at various stages of collapse; [0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the seat frame of FIG. 1 in a collapsed position; [0016] FIGS. 4a to 6b are enlarged views, at various stages of collapsed, of a gearing mechanism coupling the movement of front and rear legs of the seat frame of FIG. 1; [0017] FIGS. 7a and 7b are an enlarged view of a locking mechanism of the seat frame according to a first embodiment of the invention; [0018] FIG. 8 is a side view of the rocker seat of the invention; [0019] FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the seat frame of FIG. 1 illustrating operation of a seat back adjustment mechanism; and Continue reading about Collapsible rocker chair... Full patent description for Collapsible rocker chair Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Collapsible rocker chair patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Collapsible rocker chair or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Seat that is retractable into the floor Next Patent Application: Multi-position chair Industry Class: Chairs and seats ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Collapsible rocker chair patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.23012 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Novartis , Pfizer , Philips , Polaroid , Procter & Gamble , 174 |
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