Collapsible pillow for casual seating

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to casual seating, in general, and to collapsible reclining loungers, patio chairs and cots, in particular.

2. Description of the Related Art

Folding or collapsible chairs in the nature of furniture have been described in such United States Patents as U.S. Pat. No. 3,635,520 (Roher et al) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,406 (Lee). In a multiple seat arrangement, they are also described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,928 (Staunton et al). For outdoor use, in camping and watching sports games, chairs of this type have been illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,605 (Chang). When a reclining chair is desired for camping, hiking, fishing, and concert events, a construction of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,068 (Levine) is said to be useful.

While chairs of these types may prove adequate to suit their intended purposes, they have proven deficient when employed at beaches or seashore locations where users prefer low seat heights, typically no more than 6″ to 10″ above ground. While adjustments for multiple reclining positions in these chairs are highly desirable, the need for adjusting the position safely and easily is equally as important. As the reclining chair is oftentimes left unoccupied when open, it is almost as important, if not more so, for the beach chair to have a degree of stability about it, so as to limit its propensity to be blown about by wind gusts, as well as when being sat upon by a user. These various features, however, are not readily available with the type of folding lounge chair arrangements that typify the prior art—whether the folding lounger is used at the beach, at the seashore, or just in one's backyard.

At the same time, where simply used as a non-reclining patio chair, the acceptability of a folding chair depends in large part upon its strength and reliability of operation. In these two areas, the folding chair of the Lee Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,406) falls somewhat short.

To address these limitations, therefore, I have invented a new and improved recliner lounge and a new and improved patio chair. The lounge chair, described in an Application filed Apr. 18, 2000, entitled “Collapsible Reclining Beach Chair” (Ser. No. 09/551,664), now U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,374, incorporates a frame having pairs of crossed front, rear and side legs, with each leg including a pair of bends in opposing directions to allow bringing the seat level of the chair closer to the ground, and with connectors for the legs and a tilt-locking mechanism for stabilizing the chair and positively fixing it at the reclining angle set when opened or folded—and for collapsing the chair to a compact package when closed.

My second improvement, on the other hand, described in application Ser. No. 09/561,339, filed Apr. 28, 2000, and entitled “Collapsible Patio Chair” (now, U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,138), describes a patio chair incorporating a frame having left and right hand rests and pairs of crossed front, rear and side legs, and with connectors for stabilizing the chair when opened and for collapsing the chair to a compact package when closed. With front pad and rear pad connectors, and with rear connectors all being configured with generally perpendicular walls to apertures of which upper and lower ends of both rear legs and one side leg are pivotally connected, the hand rests are automatically folded as the chair is being collapsed, when front connectors employed include a notch within which the upper end of both front crossed legs are arranged to glide in forming the support for the hand rests, and to which an upper end of the other side leg is also pivotally connected.

I have also gone further in this area of casual seating to invent a new and improved collapsible cot, which can easily be carried about, and which is far lighter in weight than conventional cots and hammocks employed at a backyard setting, whose bulky frame typically stays outdoors the whole season, exposed to the elements. Such cot, also automatically folded as the cot is being collapsed, is described in my application Ser. No. 09/593,938, filed Jun. 15, 2000, entitled “Collapsible Cot” (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,410).

As will become clear from the following description, the present invention relates to these areas of casual seating, but more particularly, relates to pillows, cooler/utility bags and cup holders employable with any and all of these reclining loungers, patio chairs and cots of my improved designs—with the pillows, cooler/utility bags and cup holders being characterized by themselves being collapsible, so as to be folded when either the lounger, the patio chair, or the cot with which they are used is being collapsed to their individual compact package. As will also be seen, other aspects relate to arm rests and foot rests available with individual ones of these casual seating arrangements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As will become clear from the following description, the reclining beach chair or lounger of application Ser. No. 09/551,664, U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,374, with which the collapsible pillow, cooler/utility bag and cup holder of the present invention is particularly useful, replaces the straight leg “X” tubing which characterizes standard designs by an “X ” shape tubing incorporating pairs of bends to allow for bringing the seat level of the chair closer to the ground. By replacing the oftentimes used “brake lock” (for free-hand adjustment in sliding the chair back to the desired incline position) with a “positive” slide lock in which a “snap” is secured within a capturing aperture, a true, predetermined locking position results once the recline is set. As will be further described, to increase stability, the reclining lounger is constructed to effectively push forward its center of gravity, as by making the rear legs of the chair longer than the front legs. Where desired, a bar can also be fixed between opposing left and right sides of the chair frame back to further stabilize the chair when extended to an open position. In accordance with its invention, both the chair and the stabilizer bar are easily collapsible into a compact package to facilitate the carrying about and storage of this recliner.

The collapsible patio chair of application Ser. No. 09/561,339, U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,138, on the other hand, consists of a frame including pairs of front crossed legs and rear crossed legs, and two pairs of side crossed legs, with each pair of crossed legs being pivotally connected together where they cross; first and second front pad connectors pivotally connected to lower ends of one of the front crossed legs and one of the side crossed legs, respectively; first and second rear pad connectors pivotally connected to lower ends of one of the rear crossed legs and the other of the side crossed legs, respectively; first and second front connectors pivotally connected to upper ends of the one front crossed leg and the other of the side crossed legs, respectively; first and second rear connectors pivotally connected to upper ends of the rear crossed legs and the one side crossed leg, respectively; a pair of side supports passing through apertures in each of the first and second rear connectors having lower ends fixedly connected to the rear pad connectors; and a fabric liner connected to the first and second front connectors and to upper ends of the pair of side supports.

In accordance with this patio chair invention, to provide strength and reliability of operation beyond that characterizing the patented Lee design, the front connectors include a top surface having a notch therein open at one end and slightly larger than the diameter of the front crossed legs when composed as a tubular configuration, a first wall at an underside thereof defining one side of the notch and to which the upper ends of the front crossed legs are pivotally connected and a second wall at the underside, generally perpendicular to the first wall and combined therewith, to which the upper ends of the other of the side crossed legs are also pivotally connected. In like manner, each of the front and rear connector pads (as well as the rear connectors) include the two generally perpendicular walls for fastening with their respective pivotally connected legs—while the rear connector pads include apertures at the join of the two walls where the side supports are fixed.

The collapsible cot of application Ser. No. 09/593,938, U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,410, furthermore, consists of a frame including two pairs of front crossed legs, two pairs of rear crossed legs, and three pairs of side crossed legs, with each pair of crossed legs being pivotally connected together where they cross. First, second and third front pad connectors are included to pivotally connect to lower ends of the front crossed legs and to individual ones of the side crossed legs—while first, second and third rear pad connectors pivotally connect to lower ends of the rear crossed legs and to individual ones of others of the side crossed legs. First, second and third front connectors pivotally connect to upper ends of the front crossed legs and to individual ones of the side crossed legs, while first, second and third rear connectors pivotally connect to upper ends of the rear crossed legs and to individual ones of others of the side crossed legs. A fabric liner is included connected to two of the front connectors and to two of the rear connectors—and, in completing a preferred construction, a pair of side extenders are pivotally coupled to one of the front crossed legs and to one of the rear crossed legs, where they are joined with the fabric liner for a user to rest upon.

In accordance with this collapsible cot invention, to provide strength and reliability of operation, the front connectors where the two side extenders couple include a top surface having a notch therein open at one end and slightly larger than the diameter of the crossed legs when composed as a tubular configuration, a first wall at an underside thereof defining one side of the notch and to which the upper ends of the crossed legs are connected, along with a second wall at the underside, generally perpendicular to the first wall and combined therewith, to which the upper ends of the others of the crossed legs are also pivotally connected. In like manner, each of the remaining pad connectors include the two generally perpendicular walls for fastening with their respective pivotally connected legs.

In one embodiment of the collapsible cot invention, the side extenders are each pivotally coupled to their associated front crossed leg and to their rear crossed leg at a point below the connector which joins them, whereas in a second embodiment, the sides extenders are pivotally coupled at a point above the connectors. In this first embodiment, various taps, fasteners, and overlying rings are employed to align the crossed legs and extenders together, and to secure them in position; in the second embodiment, hinges are employed to achieve this comparable result.

As will become clear from the following description, the pillow, cooler/utility-bag and cupholder of the present invention cooperates with each of these recliner loungers, patio chairs and cots so as to be usable and collapsible, and to fold with each of them as they are each being collapsed to their respective compact package. When enlarged with the arm rest and/or foot rest for the recliner lounger, a particularly attractive type of casual seating can be had.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the collapsible constructions of the present invention will be more clearly understood from a consideration of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

A. U.S. Ser. No. 09/551,664, U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,374, Collapsible Reclining Beach Chair

FIG. 1

is a front perspective view of the collapsible reclining beach chair or lounger of the application Ser. No. 09/551,664, U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,374 invention in an unfolded position, with its seating fabric removed;

FIG. 2

is a rear perspective view of the reclining beach chair in its unfolded position;

FIG. 3

is a front perspective view of the chair as it is being collapsed;

FIG. 4

is a front perspective view of the beach chair when fully collapsed, ready for storage;

FIG. 5

is a front perspective view of the collapsible reclining beach chair or lounger in its unfolded position, with the seating fabric in place;

FIG. 6A & 6B

,

7

A &

7

B,

8

A &

8

B,

9

A &

9

B,

10

A &

10

B,

11

A &

11

B,

12

A &

12

B, and

13

A &

13

B are top and bottom perspective views respectively of various component parts of the beach chair of such invention, which allow the chair to be opened, low to the ground when in use, and to be collapsed for storing away (in a duffle-type bag, for example) once the chair is fully collapsed;

FIGS. 14A & 14B

and

15

A &

15

B are top perspective views of components helpful in an understanding of the operation of the optional stabilizer bar of such reclining beach chair or lounger invention;

FIG. 16A and 16B

pictorially illustrate two of the eight “X” shaped tubing legs of the reclining beach chair with the bends which allow for bringing its seat near to the ground, while allowing the chair to be eventually collapsed compactly; and

FIG. 17

pictorially illustrates a manner for securing the “X” shaped tubing legs together.

B. U.S. Ser. No. 09/561,339, U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,138, Collapsible Patio Chair

FIG. 18

is a front perspective view of the collapsible patio chair of the application Ser. No. 09/561,339, U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,410, invention in an unfolded position, with its seating fabric removed;

FIG. 19

is a rear perspective view of the patio chair in its unfolded position;

FIG. 20

is a front perspective view of the patio chair when fully collapsed, ready for storage;

FIG. 21

is a front perspective view of the collapsible patio chair in its unfolded position, with the seating fabric in place;

FIG. 22A & 22B

and

23

A &

23

B are top and bottom perspective views respectively of the front connectors of the patio chair of this Application;

FIGS. 24A & 24B

are top and bottom perspective views respectively of the front connector pads;

FIGS. 25A & 25B

are top and bottom views respectively of the rear connectors pads; and

FIG. 26A & 26B

and

27

A &

27

B are top and bottom perspective views respectively of the rear connectors of the patio chair invention.

C. U.S. Ser. No. 09/593,938, U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,410, Collapsible Cot

FIG. 28

is a front perspective view of the collapsible cot of the application Ser. No. 09/593,938, Patent No. invention in an unfolded position, with its seating fabric removed;

FIG. 29A-29F

are helpful in an understanding of the operation of the collapsible cot of

FIG. 28

;

FIG. 30A & 30B

are top and bottom perspective views, respectively, of two of the three front pad connectors of the collapsible cot;

FIG. 31A & 31B

are top and bottom perspective views, respectively, of a first front connector of the cot;

FIGS. 32A & 32B

are top and bottom perspective views, respectively, of two of the three rear pad connectors of the cot;

FIGS. 33A & 33B

are top and bottom perspective views, respectively, of the collapsible cot's first rear connector;

FIGS. 34A & 34B

are top and bottom perspective views, respectively, of the cot's second front connector and second rear connector;

FIG. 35

is a front perspective view of the collapsible cot of this Application also in an unfolded position with its seating fabric removed, in accordance with a second construction of the cot;

FIG. 36A & 36B

are views helpful in an understanding of the construction of

FIG. 35

;

FIG. 37

illustrates the construction of the collapsible cot of

FIG. 35

with the seating fabric in place, but is also helpful in an understanding of the installation of the seating fabric in the first construction of

FIG. 28

; and

FIG. 38A

,

38

B and

38

C are sectional views helpful in understanding one manner of securing the seating fabric as a liner for the collapsible cot of FIG.

28

.

D. Collapsible Pillow of the Present Invention

FIG. 39

is a front perspective view of the collapsible pillow of the invention as employed with a reclining lounger in its opened position;

FIG. 40

is a front perspective view of the pillow with the lounger of

FIG. 39

in a closed position, with the fabric liner removed;

FIG. 41A and 41B

are schematic diagrams helpful in visualizing the folding and twisting of the pillow of the invention for storage within the collapsed lounger of

FIG. 40

;

FIG. 42A-42D

are schematic diagrams helpful in an understanding of the folding and twisting of the pillow into the collapsed lounger.

E. Collapsible Cooler/Utility Bag of the Present Invention

FIG. 43

is a front perspective view of the cooler/utility bag of the present invention as employed with a reclining lounger in its opened position;

FIG.

44

and

44

A-

44

D are perspective and detail views showing a manner of attaching the cooler/utility bag to the fabric liner;

FIGS. 45A-45D

are schematic diagrams helpful in understanding a manner of folding and twisting the cooler/utility bag for storage with the lounger;

FIG. 46

is a front perspective view of the lounger of

FIG. 44

showing the cooler/utility bag when folded into position.

F. Collapsible Arm Rest of the Present Invention

FIG. 47

is front perspective view of the collapsible reclining lounger of

FIG. 1

as modified to accept the hand rest of the present invention;

FIG. 48

is a front perspective view of the lounger of

FIG. 47

with its fabric liner in place, showing the hand rest of the present invention, along with the collapsible pillow and collapsible utility/cooler bag of

FIGS. 39-42

and

43

-

46

, respectively;

FIG. 49 and 50

are front perspective views of the lounger with the arm rest of the invention in one of two possible positions of adjustable length;

FIG. 51-54

illustrate a first embodiment of the invention in adjusting the arm rest to the lengths and positions shown in

FIGS. 49 and 50

;

FIG. 55

illustratively shows a second embodiment for adjusting the arm length of the lounger, according to the invention;

FIG. 56

is a front perspective view of the lounger employing the adjustable length arm rest of FIG.

55

.

G. Collapsible Foot Rest of the Present Invention

FIG. 57

is a front perspective view of the lounger of

FIG. 47

, modified to include the foot rest of the present invention;

FIG. 58

is a front perspective view of the lounger of

FIG. 57

as it would employ a 1-piece fabric liner construction;

FIG. 59

is a front perspective view of the lounger of

FIG. 57

as it would appear with a 2-piece fabric liner;and

FIG. 60

illustrates a manner of securing the foot rest of the present invention to the lounger in converting the lounger from the appearance of

FIG. 47

to the appearance of FIG.

57

.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A. U.S. Ser. No. 09/551,664, U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,374, Collapsible Reclining Beach Chair

As with the folding chair of U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,406, the collapsible reclining beach chair or lounger of the application Ser. No. 09/551,664, U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,374 invention is constructed out of tubular members. In

FIG. 1

, the frame of the beach chair

10

includes eight crossed legs in pairs of two each—front legs

12

,

14

, rear legs

16

,

18

, and side legs

20

,

22

and

24

,

26

. As illustrated, each of the pairs

12

&

14

,

16

&

18

,

20

&

22

and

24

&

26

are joined together by pivot pins

25

. The frame

10

, furthermore, includes a pair of side supports

28

,

30

—which, like the crossed legs

12

&

14

,

16

&

18

,

22

and

24

are tubular, and are constructed of aluminum or steel. The side legs

20

and

26

, on the other hand, are constructed of extruded aluminum tubing, the reason for which is explained below.

A pair of front connectors

35

join the crossed legs

14

&

20

and

12

&

26

together at their upper ends. A pair of front pad connectors

40

join the crossed legs

12

&

22

together, as well as the crossed legs

14

&

24

, at their bottom ends. Similarly, two rear connectors

45

,

50

respectively connect the upper ends of crossed legs

16

&

22

and

18

&

24

at their upper ends. Two rear pad connectors

55

,

60

respectively join the lower ends of the crossed legs

18

&

20

and

16

&

26

. As shown in

FIGS. 1-3

, the side supports

28

,

30

respectively extend downwardly through apertures

33

, in the rear connectors

45

,

50

, to couple with a sliding lock mechanism

37

arranged to move linearly along the legs

20

and

26

. As will be described below, the position of the lock mechanism along the legs

20

,

26

sets the angle of recline of the chair frame

10

, where it is positively secured in place.

As illustrated in

FIGS. 16A & 16B

, the cross leg members

12

(also

16

,

20

,

24

) and

14

(also

18

,

22

,

26

) are fabricated with a pair of opposing “bends” at

17

,

19

rather than being of “straight” length as are the legs of U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,406. An aperture

27

is provided mid-way between the bends

17

,

19

to receive the pivot pin

25

(FIG.

17

). Additional apertures

29

,

31

,

39

and

41

receive rivets or similar such fasteners in coupling the crossed legs

12

&

14

,

16

&

18

,

20

&

22

and

24

&

26

to the various connectors

35

,

40

,

45

,

55

and

60

of FIG.

1

.

In particular, the lower end

101

of the crossed legs

12

&

14

are fastened by rivet or other appropriate manner to the front wall

77

of the front pad connector

40

shown as having a perpendicular side wall

78

(FIG.

7

A), the fastener passing through its aperture

79

A. Similarly, the lower end

102

of the crossed legs

22

&

24

also are riveted, or otherwise fastened, to the perpendicular wall

78

, by means of its aperture

79

B. As illustrated, both front pad connectors

40

are identical, with one of the lower ends

101

being on one side of the front wall

77

, the other lower end being on the opposite side, and with the two lower ends

102

being on opposing faces of the side wall

78

.

In like manner, the lower end

103

of the crossed legs

18

&

20

and the lower end

104

of the crossed legs

16

&

26

are fastened by rivets, or otherwise, to the rear pad connectors

55

,

60

respectively, with the rear pad connector

55

being shown in

FIGS. 9A & 9B

, and with the rear pad connector

60

being shown in

FIGS. 10A & 10B

. Each of the connectors

55

,

60

similarly include a pair of perpendicular walls

81

,

82

and

83

,

84

, each with their own apertures

85

A &

85

B and

86

A &

86

B. As indicated, the lower end

103

of leg

20

is fastened to one side of the wall

81

via aperture

85

A while the lower end

103

of leg

18

is fastened to one side of the wall

82

via aperture

85

B. Correspondingly, the lower end

104

of leg

26

is fastened to the opposing surface of wall

83

of connector

60

via aperture

86

B, while the lower end

104

of leg

16

is fastened to the opposing surface of wall

84

via aperture

86

A.

In accordance with the teachings of this reclining beach chair or lounger Application, the dimension L

1

(

FIGS. 9B & 10B

) between the front and rear surfaces of the connectors

55

and

60

is greater than the dimension L

2

(

FIG. 7B

) between the front and rear surfaces of the connector

40

(a diameter in the embodiment of

FIGS. 7A & 7B

) so as to effectively move the center of gravity of the frame

10

forward. This provides a greater stability to the reclining beach chair, a safety feature. Also to enhance stability and safety, a plurality of spaced, compressible pins

91

are included along the lower portion of legs

20

and

26

for fitting within the sliding lock mechanism

37

(FIGS.

8

A and

8

B). An aperture

92

in mechanism

37

receives the lower portion of the leg, with a second aperture

93

available to accept and capture the pin

91

by snap action to form a positive locking securement. A tab

94

, of any desired cross-section, runs along the length of aperture

92

from front to back so as to slide within a linear groove

95

cut along the lower portion of legs

20

and

26

to secure and lock legs

20

,

26

against sideways rotation—with the legs fabricated of extruded aluminum, which can be formed with the linear groove

95

as part of the extrusion. As will be appreciated, it is not generally an easy matter to make steel tubing with the groove

95

as required.

The upper end

111

of leg

20

and the upper end

113

of leg

14

are fastened together in front connector

35

in manner identical to the fastening in connector

32

of upper end

115

of leg

12

and upper end

117

of leg

26

. The connectors

35

are illustrated in

FIGS. 6A & 6B

with one of the legs (

20

or

12

) being fastened through the apertures

121

A and

121

B of two parallel walls

122

,

123

, and with the other of the legs (

14

or

26

) being fastened through the aperture

124

of the perpendicular wall

125

. The aperture

126

will be understood as receiving a screw or like fastener extending upwardly through the connector

35

to join with a cap

130

which holds the fabric liner

131

of the chair in place along the front of the seat (FIG.

5

).

The upper end

141

of the leg

22

is similarly coupled with the upper end

142

of leg

16

within the connector

45

, designed as a mirror image of the connector

50

which receives the upper end

143

of leg

18

and the upper end

144

of leg

24

. These connectors

45

and

50

are illustrated in

FIGS. 12A & 12B

and

11

A &

11

B, respectively, with one leg fastened through each aperture

145

,

146

of the perpendicular walls

147

,

148

, and with the aperture

149

corresponding to the aperture

33

in the connectors

45

and

50

of FIG.

1

.

As illustrated in

FIG. 1

, to complete the basic frame

10

of the reclining beach chair or lounger, the side supports

28

and

30

pass through the aperture

33

in the connectors

45

and

50

to fasten by rivets or otherwise to the slide locking mechanism

37

, and more particularly between the apertures

151

—

151

or

152

—

152

—as illustrated in

FIGS. 8A & 8B

.

FIG. 5

illustrates the manner of attaching the fabric liner

131

to the chair frame

10

. As previously mentioned, a cap

130

secures the front of the liner to the front of the frame. A strap

132

is sewn at left and right undersides

133

of the fabric liner

131

, and is provided with an opening defined by a grommet (not shown), through which the side supports

28

,

30

pass. A sleeve

134

is included at the rear underside of the fabric liner

131

, to slip over the top

135

of the side supports

28

,

30

, reinforced in any desired manner. As shown, the strap

132

rests atop the rear connectors

45

,

50

.

With the frame

10

incorporating a pair of bends

17

,

19

spaced about the pivot point

27

, the seat level of the chair can be brought lower to the ground, to as low as six inches above it, as many users at a beach or seashore location (or just even on a backyard deck, or on the grass) prefer. By providing a slide locking mechanism

37

along the legs

20

and

26

, the beach chair or lounger can be reclined to the desired angle, and with the snap provided through the multiple push pin positions with its capturing aperture

93

, a secure lock at the desired position results. By making the rear pad connectors

55

,

60

longer than the front pad connectors

40

, further increased stability follows. With the position locking arrangements typifying the prior art, freeways rotational turning of the frame was experienced because of the “roundness” of the tubing employed in the lock—a possibility which is virtually eliminated through the scoring of the cross legs

20

and

26

at the groove

95

, in receiving the tab

94

of the snap lock

37

. In a preferred construction, the bends

17

,

19

extend on either side of the pivot pins

25

a distance of 2 to 4 inches, depending upon how low to the ground the seat level of the frame

10

is to go. At the same time, the position to which the recline is set is adjustable either before or after the chair is opened.

While the reclining beach chair or lounger as so far described performs quite well, a further feature of the design offers even greater stability in windy conditions, through the use of a bar

160

hinged between the supports

28

,

30

. Shown in

FIG. 1

, such bar

160

may be of a 2-piece tubular fabrication, fitted-at one end “A” onto a rotatable extension

161

of a roller hinge

162

(

FIGS. 14A & 14B

showing the limits of rotation). At the opposite end “B” of the bar fabrication, a hinged bracket

163

is provided with its own rotatable extension

164

to fit within the tubular length (

FIGS. 15A & 15B

illustrating the rotational limits of this hinge). As shown in

FIGS. 1

,

13

A and

13

B, one rotatable extension

164

on each hinge

163

fits within an opening

165

in a coupler

166

, a second opening

167

of which goes over the upper end

171

of the side supports

28

,

30

, where it is held by a press fit. When fabricating the bar

160

of aluminum or other stiffening material, not only is back support provided for the fabric of the chair, but stability of the side supports

28

,

30

is present against ensuing wind.

FIG. 3

illustrates the first step in collapsing the reclining beach chair after use, where the stabilizer bar

160

is employed. Namely, the roller hinge

162

is lifted upwardly, as shown by the arrow

200

, which exerts a pressure on the side supports

28

,

30

, in the direction of the arrows

201

pulling the supports toward each other. The motion rotates the locking mechanisms and the various legs and connectors inwardly, to take on the compact configuration of FIG.

4

. Such action raises the rear connectors

45

and

50

, to lift the fabric liner

131

which rests thereon, to collapse it as well, wherein the beach chair or lounger, then in a collapsed condition, can be placed in a duffle bag and carried about, or otherwise stored. Where the stabilizer bar

160

is not employed, only a gentle pressure on the supports

28

,

30

in the direction of the arrows

201

is all that is necessary to begin the collapsing action.

As my application Ser. No. 09/551,664, U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,374 describes, whereas compressible pins

91

are set out to snap the slide lock mechanism

37

in secured position, other manners of fastening the mechanism in place can be utilized instead—such as by a lever and actuating spring into the extruded tubing.

B. U.S. Ser. No. 09/561,339, U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,138, Collapsible Patio Chair

As with the folding chair of U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,406, the collapsible patio chair of the application Ser. No. 09/561,339, U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,138 invention is also constructed out of tubular members. In

FIG. 18

, the frame of the patio chair

210

includes eight crossed legs in pairs of two each—front legs

212

,

214

, rear legs

216

,

218

, and side legs

220

,

222

and

224

,

226

. As illustrated, each of the pairs

212

&

214

,

216

&

218

,

220

&

222

and

224

&

226

are joined together by pivot pins

225

. The frame

210

, furthermore, includes a pair of side supports

228

,

230

—which, like the crossed legs

212

&

214

,

216

&

218

,

220

&

222

and

224

&

226

are tubular, and are constructed of aluminum or steel.

A pair of front connectors

235

join the crossed legs

214

&

220

and

212

&

226

together at their upper ends. A pair of front pad connectors

240

join the crossed legs

212

&

222

together, as well as the crossed legs

214

&

224

, at their bottom ends. Similarly, two rear connectors

245

,

250

respectively connect the upper ends of crossed legs

216

&

222

and

218

&

224

at their upper ends. Two rear pad connectors

255

,

260

respectively join the lower ends of the crossed legs

218

&

220

and

216

&

226

. As shown in

FIGS. 18-20

, the side supports

228

,

230

respectively extend downwardly through apertures

233

, in the rear connectors

245

,

250

, to fix with the rear pad connectors

255

and

260

without pivoting. With the patio chair constructed with hand rests, each front leg

212

,

214

is provided with an extension

265

that extends upwardly through the front connectors

235

and bends outwardly to form a front support

266

where it is secured, as by a screw, with a sleeve at a front underside of a fabric hand rest (

215

, in FIG.

21

), at the rear of which a grommet

267

on the fabric encircles the side supports

228

,

230

, and where it is restricted in upwards movement by a ring

268

on the supports

228

,

230

. As with the hand rests of U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,406, the hand rest

215

provides a support for the user's arm, as well as a manner to fold and unfold the chair with adequate leverage.

Particularly referring to

FIGS. 18

,

19

,

24

A &

24

B, and

25

A &

25

B, the lower end

301

of the crossed legs

212

&

214

are fastened by rivet or other pivot manner to the front wall

284

of the front pad connector

240

shown as having a generally perpendicular side wall

283

, the fastener passing through its aperture

286

A. Similarly, the lower end

302

of the crossed legs

222

&

224

is also fastened by rivet, or other pivot to the wall

283

, by means of its aperture

286

B. As illustrated, both front pad connectors

240

are identical, with one of the lower ends

301

being pivoted on one surface of the front wall

284

, with the other one of the lower ends

301

being on the opposite surface of the front wall

284

, and with the two lower ends

302

being pivoted on opposing faces of the side wall

283

.

In like manner, the lower end

303

of the crossed legs

218

&

220

and the lower end

304

of the crossed legs

216

&

226

are fastened by rivets, or other pivots to the rear pad connectors

255

,

260

respectively, with the rear pad connector

255

being of the configuration shown in

FIGS. 25A & 25B

, and with the rear pad connector

260

being of the configuration shown in

FIGS. 25A & 25B

rotated

90

counterclockwise. Each of the connectors

255

,

260