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[0002] Such leisure chairs are known and are used as garden furniture, camping furniture etc. They can be folded with few manipulations and can be transported without problems so that they can be used at many places.
[0003] Furthermore, so-called beach chairs are known which are relatively heavy wood/basket mesh structures which cannot be transported without problems on account of their weight. In order to move the beach chairs over large distances appropriate mechanical lift means as well as transport vehicles are necessary. Such beach chairs have the advantage that they enable a duration protected against wind and rain on account of their construction which includes solid side walls, a solid back wall and a solid ceiling, which is not the case with the above-described known foldable leisure chairs. Accordingly, the known leisure chairs are not used at exposed places, for instance at the beach, at which the user is exposed to the weather conditions relatively unprotected.
[0004] It is the object of the present invention to provide a foldable and portable leisure chair of the cited kind which has a low weight, a simple handling and a good portability and which offers a maximum of weather protection, especially wind protection, to the user.
[0005] According to the invention this object is obtained with a leisure chair of the cited kind which, for a design as beach chair, comprises a hood-like windbreak consisting of textile fabric and a foldable supporting structure for the windbreak which is or can be fixed to the support rods.
[0006] Accordingly, the inventive leisure chair comes very close to a beach chair since it is provided with a hood-like windbreak that enables a duration protected from the atmospheric conditions. On the other side, this leisure chair does not have the disadvantages of a conventional beach chair, namely a high weight and a large volume. The basic framework can be folded wherein the web of textile fabric forming the seat can be cofolded so that a compact portable assembly results. Of course, it is not out of the question that the web forming the seat can be removed from the basic framework prior to the folding of the same either. Also the supporting structure for the windbreak is foldable wherein the windbreak is cofolded either. Also in this case it is not out of the question that the windbreak can be removed prior to the folding of the supporting structure. Accordingly, in order to make the chair portable at first the supporting structure is folded and brought into a position which is approximately parallel to the support rods. Then, the support rods are laid down with the folded supporting structure onto the remaining basic framework with armrests, or the basic framework is laid down at the support rods. If, for instance, additional feet are present the same are folded into the plane of the other parts either. Now, all the parts are substantially in one plane so that an assembly results which can be handled and transported in a simple manner.
[0007] Advantageously, the basic framework is provided with wheels so that the formed compact assembly gets the form of a “buggy” in its folded condition. Then, the assembly can be grasped at one end while the other end has contact to the ground through the provided wheels. Accordingly, the assembly must not be carried but can be rolled.
[0008] Preferably, the windbreak extends over the upper side, back side and the two lateral surfaces of the chair. Accordingly, the chair is enclosed by the windbreak from all sides—without the front side—so that an especially effective weather protection results. The supporting structure which is or can be fixed to the support rods forms the supporting frame for the windbreak so that the same extends over the leisure chair in a hood-like manner. Practically, the windbreak is fixed to the basic framework in the lower region in order to reach a bracing effect. Of course, these fixations are removed prior to the folding of the leisure chair.
[0009] The windbreak consists of a suitable textile material which is used for such purposes, for instance linen cloth. It can be provided with windows, for instance at the side walls. These windows can be formed by suitable plastic foils which are impermeable with regard to wind, however, have a window effect. Moreover, the design of the windbreak depends on the construction of the leisure chair.
[0010] The inventive leisure chair, i.e. its basic framework, cross rods, support rods and supporting structure, consists of a plurality of tubes or rods which are fixedly or movably connected with one another. Suitable materials herefor are especially steel, aluminum or plastics. The rigid connections are preferably formed by welding connections while the movable connections are customary hinge joints. In order to fix the respective members relative to another, for instance in order to determine the inclination of the support rods with respect to the basic framework, known means are used, for instance protrusions on the arm-rests which can engage into different holes of the basic framework.
[0011] An embodiment of the inventive leisure chair is characterized by the fact that the windbreak is disposed substantially only above the support rods. In this case it is desisted from enclosing the leisure chair in its lower range. For instance, such a windbreak can have the shape of an openable hood which can be folded in such a manner that it is approximately in one plane with the support rods.
[0012] Of course, the windbreak can consist of several parts either. For instance, with this embodiment two windbreak parts can be used of which one is disposed substantially only above the support rods and has the shape of a foldable hood while the other windbreak portion encloses the side surfaces and the back surface of the leisure chair. When the leisure chair is folded at first the lower windbreak portion is removed whereafter the upper windbreak portion is folded.
[0013] Preferably, the supporting structure for the windbreak has two stays which are pivotally supported at the support rods and which have at their free ends retaining means for the windbreak. Preferably, this embodiment is used if the windbreak surrounds the entire chair. When erecting the chair the stays which are situated in the plane of the support rods are tilted outwardly and brought into a fixed end position. Together with this movement the windbreak is spread, or the windbreak is fixed at the stays after outwardly tilting of the same. The retaining means provided at the ends of the stays serve for this purpose. These retaining means are preferably formed by retaining rods lying within the plane of the stays and pivotally supported at the stays approximately in the middle thereof.
[0014] Preferably, the stays are displacably supported at the support rods so that they can be moved along the stays when tilting outwardly or tilting inwardly and can be fixed in different end positions. In this manner the stays reach a position approximately parallel with regard to the support rods when they are folded so that they do not substantially extend beyond the support rods in their folded condition. This is realized by the feature that the stays are connected to sleeves gripping around the support rods and adapted to be fixed at the same in certain positions.
[0015] For further stabilization the stays can have connecting rods which realize a connection between their free end portions and the support rods. Of course, these connecting rods are also pivotally and displacably fixably supported.
[0016] Preferably, the stays are formed as telescopic rods. This has the advantage that they have a relatively great length in their operating condition and can thus support the windbreak sufficiently high over the seat so that the comfort is increased. In the transport condition they can be retracted and thus can obtain a small length which is desired for the folding of the chair. The inward and outward movement of the telescopic rods can be preferably realized manually wherein a fixation in the respective end position is preferably obtained by a relative rotation between the two telescopic rod portions.
[0017] According to another embodiment of the supporting structure the same comprises a plurality of arcuate members extending over the seat and pivotally supported at their two ends at a respective holding device fixed at the support rod. Preferably, the windbreak and the arcuate members form an assembly, i.e. the windbreak is fixed at the arcuate members. Accordingly, the supporting structure can be folded by tilting of the arcuate members into the plane of the support rods. According to this embodiment the windbreak is preferably fixed at the upper cross rod connecting the two support rods. The holding devices for the arcuate members are displacably supported at the support rods and can be fixed in a desired position.
[0018] As regards the design of the basic framework, an embodiment is preferred according to which the basic framework includes two retention rods which are connected to the support rods like scissors and between which the lower cross rod extends. According to this embodiment in the operating condition of the chair a fixation of the retention rods and the support rods relative to one another takes place. If this fixation is released, the support rods and the retention rods can be folded like scissors so that they are substantially in one plane. For instance, the arm-rests are pivotally arranged at the forward ends of the retention rods and are also moved into the common plane during the folding of the support rods and the retention rods. The angle which is formed by the support rods and the retention rods is adjustable by means of the fixation means so that the inclination of the seat can be changed in this manner, if desired. For instance, a flexible member (ribbon, band etc.) is used as fixation means which is fixed at the lower end of the retention rods, extends around a deflection roller disposed at the lower end of the support rods and can be fixed at corresponding protrusions of the support rods which are positioned at different heights. The fixation means is released prior to the folding step.
[0019] The web consisting of textile material forming the seat is normally fixed at the lower cross rod. According to the above-described embodiment this cross rod extends preferably between the two retention rods. However, it can be also provided between the forward ends of the two arm-rests wherein these arm-rests are pivotally connected to the retention rods.
[0020] According to another embodiment the basic framework comprises a frame including the lower cross rod wherein the support rods are pivotally supported at the frame. In the erected condition of the leisure chair this frame is preferably slightly inclined while the two support rods form approximately an angle of 90° herewith which can be adjusted for adjustment of the inclination. Preferably, two wheels are positioned in the rear portion of the leisure chair at the frame wherein these wheels enable a simple transport, In its forward portion the frame has two tiltable feet. A suitable foot support member can be fixed at the forward frame portion of the basic framework or can be fixable at the same. According to this embodiment the arm-rests are practically pivotally supported at the support rods and rest upon support members disposed at the frame wherein they can be fixed at the same in different positions depending on the inclination of the support rods.
[0021] According to the above-described embodiment the folding of the chair is carried out in such a manner that at first the supporting structure carrying the windbreak is tilted into the plane of the support rods with or without windbreak. By releasing the arm-rests from their fixed positions the support rods are then tilted into the plane of the frame forming the basic framework. The feet disposed at the frame and/or the foot support member are also tilted from the lower side into the plane of the frame. Then the assembly can be transported.
[0022] For the transport the folded assembly can be also accommodated in a receptacle, for instance a suitable bag or a suitable sack. The receptacle can be provided with handles.
[0023] Furthermore, the invention provides that two or more inventive leisure chairs can be laterally joined. According to this embodiment one side surface of both side surfaces of the windbreak are separable, for instance by means of a zipper. Accordingly, when joining the chairs the adjacent side surfaces of the windbreak can be removed.
[0024] Generally, it can be said that the windbreak can be provided with separable portions which can also be preferably realized by means of zippers.
[0025] Fixation means can be provided in order to connect several joined chairs with one another.
[0026] Above it was mentioned that the stays of the supporting structure for the windbreak can be formed as telescopic rods. However, the invention is not restricted to this embodiment. The stays can be rather generally adjusted in their length in order to fulfill their supporting function and to form a compact assembly for the transport as much as possible.
[0027] Furthermore, it was mentioned that the holding device for the windbreak located at the free stay end comprises a pivotally supported retention rod. However, the invention is not restricted to this embodiment either. Also in this case other means can be provided, for instance frames, angle members etc. These holding devices can be disposed freely tiltable at the stays or can be also fixed in a certain position. The corresponding design can depend on the fact whether the windbreak is braced at the basic framework or hangs only in a free manner.
[0028] In the following the invention is described by means of examples in connection with the drawing in detail. Of the drawing
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[0043] Furthermore, the leisure chair has two support rods
[0044] A seat
[0045] Furthermore, the leisure chair
[0046] The windbreak
[0047] The leisure chair shown in
[0048]
[0049] One recognizes in
[0050]
[0051]
[0052] According to
[0053]
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[0055]
[0056] The leisure chair shown in
[0057] Also this embodiment has a windbreak
[0058] According to this embodiment the stays
[0059]
[0060] As mentioned above, the stays
[0061] Furthermore, in
[0062] The fixation means for fixing the basic framework in its operating condition is formed as rope
[0063] As mentioned above, the seat
[0064] Furthermore, a stabilization bag
[0065] Of course, the windbreak
[0066] When folding the chair the telescopic stays
[0067]
[0068] According to this embodiment a windbreak
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[0070]
[0071] Supplementary to