Chair and hand truck

This invention relates to a chair which is convertible into a trolley.

EP-A-0550940 discloses a chair which is convertible into a trolley: comprising a back, a seat and leg means, the leg means comprising two frames pivoted together so as to intercross when the chair is in a chair mode and foldable so as to lie in substantially the same plane as the seat when the chair is in a trolley mode.

An object of this invention is to provide a more convenient and better chair which is convertible into a trolley.

The present invention provides a chair which is convertible into a trolley: comprising a back, a seat and leg means, the leg means comprising two frames pivoted together so as to intercross when the chair is in a chair mode and foldable so as to lie in substantially the same plane as the seat when the chair is in a trolley mode, characterised by said leg means having a hook device for engaging said seat when the chair is in said trolley mode.

Preferably, one of said frames of said leg means is pivotally connected to a front portion of said seat whereby said one of said frames is pivotable through substantially 180° whilst folded from its position in the trolley mode extending outwardly from the front portion of the seat to a position extending outwardly from the rear of the seat to define a storage mode in which said one of said frames extends a smaller distance outwardly from the seat than when in the trolley mode.

In a preferred embodiment described hereinafter, said two frames comprise a U-shaped rod frame and a rectangular rod frame, and said seat comprises: hangers for pivotally connecting with an upper end of said U-shaped rod frame; bolt holes for receiving pivotal bolt means to pivotally mount said back to said seat; supporters for supporting an upper transverse rod of said rectangular rod frame in said chair mode; and a position hole for engaging with said hook device in said trolley mode, a bottom transverse rod of said U-shaped rod frame functioning as a foot in said chair mode and a pull rod in said trolley mode, a bottom transverse rod of said rectangular rod frame functioning as a foot in said chair mode, said hook device being provided between two opposite rods of said rectangular rod frame extending between said transverse rods thereof, and said back being shaped as a U, having a bolt shaft connected with two bottom ends of said back, and a respective wheel mounted at each end of said bolt shaft, said wheels being rotatable on the ground in said trolley mode.

In order that the present invention may be well understood, the above-mentioned preferred embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only, will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a chair which is convertible into a trolley;
• Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the chair of Figure 1 in a chair mode;
• Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the chair of Figure 1 being collapsed from the position shown in Figure 2;
• Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the chair of Figure 1 in a trolley mode;
• Figure 5 is a view from the rear of the chair of Figure 1 in a trolley mode; and
• Figure 6 is a view from the rear of the chair of Figure 1 in a storage mode.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a chair which comprises a seat 1, a cross frame, or leg means, 2 and a back, or back frame, 3 as main components.

The seat 1 comprises: a set of hangers 11 for receiving a pivotal member 12 such as a pin, or a shaft to combine the cross frame 2 with the seat 1; a set of shaft, or bolt, holes 13 for a pivotal member 14 such as a shaft, or a threaded rod to mount the back frame 3 to the seat 1; a position hole 15 for engaging with a hook device, or hook, 21 of the cross frame 2 and a plurality of retainers 16 for retaining the cross frame 2 in the trolley mode or in the storage mode.

The cross frame 2 has a U-shaped rod frame 2A and a rectangular rod frame 2B pivoted together by means of pivotal members 22 so as to intercross when the chair is in the chair mode. The U-shaped rod frame 2A has a longer length and a longer width than that of the rectangular rod frame 2B. The U-shaped rod frame 2A has a hole 23 near each of two free ends for receiving the pivotal member, or members, 12 so as to pivotally connect the cross frame 2 with the hangers 11 of the seat 1. A bottom transverse rod of the U-shaped rod frame 2A acts as a foot of the chair in the chair mode or as a pulling rod in the trolley mode. The rectangular rod frame 2B has an upper transverse rod which rests on supporters 17 fixed on the bottom of the seat 1 and a bottom transverse rod which acts as a foot of the chair when the chair is in the chair mode. The hook 21 is fixed between two vertical rods of the rectangular rod frame 2B extending between the transverse rods thereof and fits in the position hole 15 of the seat 1 to maintain the chair in the trolley mode. When the chair is collapsed, both the U-shaped rod frame 2A and the rectangular rod frame 2B are held stably by the retainers 16 of the seat 1, preventing loosening of the seat 1.

The back frame 3 is U-shaped, having a bolt hole 31 in each of two opposite vertical rods. The pivotal member 14 fits in each hole 31 and also in the bolt holes 13 of the seat 1 so as to mount the back frame 3 to the seat 1. A transverse rod 32 of the back frame 3 has two screw holes for screws 34. The screws 34 are fitted in the screw holes to fix a back cushion 33 on the back frame 3. A transverse shaft rod, or bolt shaft, 35 is fixed through each end of each of the two opposite vertical rods, and a respective wheel 36 is fixed firmly at each of two ends of the transverse shaft rod 35, the wheels 36 being rotatable on the ground when the chair is in the trolley mode.

Figure 2 shows the chair in the chair mode, with the cross frame 2 intercrossing in an X shape, with the respective bottom transverse rods thereof standing on the ground. An upper end of the U-shaped rod frame 2A connects pivotally with the seat 1 by means of the pivotal members 12 engaging with the hangers 11. An upper end of the transverse rod of the rectangular rod frame 2B rests on the supporters 17. The back frame 3 is located upright to the seat 1, and the back cushion 33 is fixed to the back frame 3 vertically for the back of a user to rest on.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the operation of transforming the chair from the chair mode to the trolley mode will be described. Firstly, the upper transverse rod of the rectangular rod frame 2B of the cross frame 2 is separated from the supporters 17, with the rectangular rod frame 2B being folded to align with the U-shaped rod frame 2A. Then the folded cross frame 2 is pushed to the front of seat 1 until the hook 21 is aligned with the position hole 15, with the two opposite vertical rods of both the U-shaped rod frame 2A and the rectangular rod frame 2B engaging with the retainers 16 as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The hook 21 is then engaged with the position hole (15) to lock the chair in the trolley mode.

Figure 6 shows the chair in the storage mode. From the trolley mode, the folded cross frame 2 is pushed toward the rear of the seat 1 until the folded cross frame 2 may rest in a position extending outwardly from the rear of the seat 1.

The illustrated chair has a simple structure, utilizing the hook 21 and preferably the retainers 16 to keep the chair stably in the trolley mode.

Furthermore, the chair is convenient to manufacture, and easily transformed between modes.

It is also possible to keep the chair stably in each mode.