Folding stool

Claim 2

A folding stool capable of assuming folded and unfolded positions comprising a hub, three legs pivoted to the hub for movement from folded positions to unfolded positions at which the legs normally extend downwardly and outwardly from the hub, three seat braces pivoted to the hub for movement from folded positions coextensive with the folded legs to unfolded positions at which the braces normally extend upwardly and outwardly from the hub, a seat adapted to be attached to the outer ends of the seat braces, first restraining means for preventing the seat braces from pivotally moving inwardly from their unfolded positions when the stool is in use, and second restraining means for preventing the legs from pivotally moving upwardly from their unfolded positions when the stool is in use, the three legs moving through paths to their unfolded positions and the second restraining means including elements movably disposed on the hub and associated with each leg for preventing the legs from pivotally moving upwardly from their unfolded positions when the movable elements are moved into the paths of pivotal movement of the legs and for allowing the legs to move pivotally upwardly and into positions coextensive with the folded seat braces when tHe restraining means is moved out of the paths of pivotal movement of the legs.

Claim 3

A folding stool capable of assuming folded and unfolded positions comprising a hub, three legs pivoted to the hub for movement from folded positions to unfolded positions at which the legs normally extend downwardly and outwardly from the hub, three seat braces pivoted to the hub for movement from folded positions coextensive with the folded legs to unfolded positions at which the braces normally extend upwardly and outwardly from the hub, a seat adapted to be attached to the outer ends of the seat braces, first restraining means for preventing the seat braces from pivotally moving inwardly from their unfolded positions when the stool is in use, and second restraining means for preventing the legs from pivotally moving upwardly from their unfolded positions when the stool is in use, each leg including major and minor portions extending in opposite directions from its pivot point, the major portions extending downwardly and outwardly from the hub when the stool is in its unfolded position, the minor portion moving through a path when the leg is pivoted to its unfolded position, and the second restraining means including an edge of each leg minor portion, three grooves in the hub, part of each groove extending through the path of pivotal movement of one of the minor portion edges, a slug slidably disposed in each groove, each slug being capable of movement into and out of the part of its groove that extends through the path of pivotal movement of the minor portion edge so that when the stool is in its normal unfolded position the minor portion edges engage the slugs, thereby preventing the legs from pivotally moving upwardly beyond the predetermined positions.

Claim 4

A folding stool capable of assuming folded and unfolded positions comprising a hub, three legs pivoted to the hub for movement from folded positions to unfolded positions at which the legs normally extend downwardly and outwardly from the hub, three seat braces pivoted to the hub for movement from folded positions coextensive with the folded legs to unfolded positions at which the braces normally extend upwardly and outwardly from the hub, a seat adapted to be attached to the outer ends of the seat braces, first restraining means for preventing the seat braces from pivotally moving inwardly from their unfolded positions when the stool is in use, and second restraining means for preventing the legs from pivotally moving upwardly from their unfolded positions when the stool is in use, each leg including major and minor portions extending in opposite directions from its pivot point, the major portions extending downwardly and outwardly from the hub when the stool is in its unfolded position, the minor portion moving through a path when the leg is pivoted to its unfolded position, and the second restraining means including an edge of each leg minor portion, three grooves in the hub, part of each groove extending through the path of pivotal movement of one of the minor portion edges, a slug slidably disposed in each groove, each slug being capable of movement into and out of the part of its groove that extends through the path of pivotal movement of the minor portion edge so that when the stool is in its normal unfolded position the minor portion edges engage the slugs, thereby preventing the legs from pivotally moving upwardly beyond the predetermined positions.

Claim 5

A folding stool in accordance with claim 2, wherein each slug is movable due to gravity, and each groove includes stop means at each end thereof for preventing the slug from falling out of its groove.

Claim 6

A folding stool in accordance with claim 2, wherein the minor portion edge that engages the slug is an edge that is angularly disposed to the major longitudinal axis of the leg, the angle determining the maximum distance that the major portion of the leg can move upwardly when the edge engages the slug.

Claim 7

A folding stool in accordance with claim 2, wherein the hub includes three channels formed by pairs of spaced apart flange members extending outwardly from the hub, and three pivot pins extending across the channels and through the legs being anchored by the flanges for pivotally connecting the legs to the hub.

Claim 8

A folding stool in accordance with claim 5, wherein each pivot pin also extends through a seat brace, thereby pivotally connecting the legs and seat braces to the hub at the same pivot points.

Claim 9

A folding stool capable of assuming folded and unfolded positions comprising a hub, three legs pivoted to the hub for movement from folded positions to unfolded positions at which the legs normally extend downwardly and outwardly from the hub, three seat braces pivoted to the hub for movement from folded positions coextensive with the folded legs to unfolded positions at which the braces normally extend upwardly and outwardly from the hub, a seat adapted to be attached to the outer ends of the seat braces, first restraining means for preventing the seat braces from pivotally moving inwardly from their unfolded positions when the stool is in use, and second restraining means for preventing the legs from pivotally moving upwardly from their unfolded positions when the stool is in use, the first restraining means comprising a lock hub and three brace members pivotally connected at their one ends to the seat braces and at their other ends to the lock hub, the longitudinal axes of the brace members being slightly above the horizontal when the stool is in its normal unfolded position, and means providing overcenter action of the lock hub when it is moved downwardly a short distance through the horizontal position of the brace mEmbers for preventing the seat braces from moving inwardly from their unfolded positions when the stool is in use.

Claim 10

A folding stool capable of assuming folded and unfolded positions comprising a hub, three legs pivoted to the hub for movement from folded positions to unfolded positions at which the legs normally extend downwardly and outwardly from the hub, three seat braces pivoted to the hub for movement from folded positions coextensive with the folded legs to unfolded positions at which the braces normally extend upwardly and outwardly from the hub, a seat adapted to be attached to the outer ends of the seat braces, first restraining means for preventing the seat braces from pivotally moving inwardly from their unfolded positions when the stool is in use, and second restraining means for preventing the legs from pivotally moving upwardly from their unfolded positions when the stool is in use, the first restraining means comprising a lock hub and three brace members pivotally connected at their one ends to the seat braces and at their other ends to the lock hub, the longitudinal axes of the brace members being slightly above the horizontal when the stool is in its normal unfolded position, and means providing overcenter action of the lock hub when it is moved downwardly a short distance through the horizontal position of the brace mEmbers for preventing the seat braces from moving inwardly from their unfolded positions when the stool is in use.

Claim 11

A folding stool capable of assuming folded and unfolded positions comprising a hub that includes three pairs of spaced apart flange members extending outwardly from the hub, each pair of flange members forming a channel between them, a pivot pin anchored by each pair of flange members and extending across the channel, a leg and a seat brace pivotally attached to the hub by each pivot pin, each leg including major and minor portions extending in opposite directions from its pivot pin, a seat attached to the ends of the seat braces, first restraining means for preventing the seat braces from pivotally moving inwardly from their unfolded positions when the stool is in use, the hub further including a groove extending along a portion of the back wall of each channel, a portion of each groove extending through the path of pivotal movement of the minor portion of the leg, and a slug slidably disposed in each groove, each slug being capable of sliding into and out of said portion of each groove, so that the major portions of the legs are prevented from pivotally moving upwardly from their unfolded positions when the slugs are in said portions of the grooves and the legs engage the slugs, and the legs are permitted to move pivotally upwardly to positions coextensive with the folded seat braces when the slugs are slidably moved out of said portions of the grooves.

Claim 12

A folding stool capable of assuming folded and unfolded positions comprising a hub that includes three pairs of spaced apart flange members extending outwardly from the hub, each pair of flange members forming a channel between them, a pivot pin anchored by each pair of flange members and extending across the channel, a leg and a seat brace pivotally attached to the hub by each pivot pin, each leg including major and minor portions extending in opposite directions from its pivot pin, a seat attached to the ends of the seat braces, first restraining means for preventing the seat braces from pivotally moving inwardly from their unfolded positions when the stool is in use, the hub further including a groove extending along a portion of the back wall of each channel, a portion of each groove extending through the path of pivotal movement of the minor portion of the leg, and a slug slidably disposed in each groove, each slug being capable of sliding into and out of said portion of each groove, so that the major portions of the legs are prevented from pivotally moving upwardly from their unfolded positions when the slugs are in said portions of the grooves and the legs engage the slugs, and the legs are permitted to move pivotally upwardly to positions coextensive with the folded seat braces when the slugs are slidably moved out of said portions of the grooves.