Folding chair

Claim 2

A folding chair comprising a frame having front, rear, and side portions and a seat portion which define a chamber, and extensible legs and a back member mounted on said frame for folding within said chamber, wherein said back member comprises an upright member, a cross member, and a fastener means which connects said cross member to said upright member to permit folding said cross member in line with said upright member for folding said back member into said chamber and rigidly connects said cross member to said upright member when said back member is in its erected position, said upright member being a U-shaped rod with a closed upper end and open lower terminal ends, said Ushaped rod being Pivotally connected at its terminal ends to said rear portion of said frame and including retention means for retaining the pivotally connected rod in its upright position, said retention means being releasable so that said U-shaped rod can be pivoted to its folded position, the length of said Ushaped rod being such that its closed upper end projects beyond said front portion to provide a handle for carrying the chair in its folded position.

Claim 3

A folding chair comprising a frame having front, rear, and side portions and a seat portion which define a chamber, extensible legs and a back member foldably mounted on said frame and adapted for folding within said chamber, said back member including an upright member, a cross member, and a fastener means which swivally and slidably connects said cross member to said upright member for folding into said chamber and rigidly connects said cross member to said upright member when said chair and said back are unfolded, said upright member including a U-shaped rod which defines a channel and has a closed semi-circular upper end, said fastener means including a cylindrical means mounted on said cross member and disposed within said channel and a locking means for locking said cylindrical means at said upper end of said channel so that said cross member is locked in non-rotating relationship with said upright member, said cylindrical means having a concave circumference which engages said channel and conforms in shape to said one end of said channel.

Claim 4

A folding chair comprising a frame having front, rear, and side portions and a seat portion which define a chamber, extensible legs and a back member foldably mounted on said frame and adapted for folding within said chamber, said back member including an upright member, a cross member, and a fastener means which swivally and slidably connects said cross member to said upright member for folding into said chamber and rigidly connects said cross member to said upright member when said chair and said back are unfolded, said upright member including a U-shaped rod which defines a channel and has a closed semi-circular upper end, said fastener means including a cylindrical means mounted on said cross member and disposed within said channel and a locking means for locking said cylindrical means at said upper end of said channel so that said cross member is locked in non-rotating relationship with said upright member, said cylindrical means having a concave circumference which engages said channel and conforms in shape to said one end of said channel.

Claim 5

The folding chair that is defined in claim 2, wherein said locking means comprises a horseshoe-shaped member pivotally mounted on said cross member and adapted to move from an unlocked position within said cross member to a locked position in which said horseshoe-shaped member overlaps a portion of said concave circumference of said cylindrical means and said U-shaped rod disposed thereabout.

Claim 6

The folding chair that is defined in claim 1, wherein said front portion of said frame has a notch into which said U-shaped rod fits when the chair is in its folded position.

Claim 7

The folding chair that is defined in claim 1, wherein said fastener means includes a bracket member fastened to said cross member and slidably mounted on said upright member for movement between said closed upper end and lower portions of said rod, and a clasp member pivotally mounted on said cross member for pivotal movement between a first position recessed within said cross member and a second position enclasping said closed upper end of said rod.

Claim 8

The folding chair that is defined in claim 5, wherein said cross member is connected to said bracket member for relative rotational movement so that said cross member can be rotated to a position in alignment with said upright member when said clasp member is in its first position.

Claim 9

A folding chair comprising a frame having front, rear, and side portions and a seat portion which define a chamber, and extensible legs and a back member mounted on said frame for folding within said chamber, wherein said back member comprises an upright member, a cross member, and a fastener means which connects said cross member to said upright member so as to permit folding said cross member in line with said upright member for folding said back member into said chamber and rigidly connects said cross member to said upright member when said back member is in its erected position, said upright member being a U-shaped rod with a closed upper end and open lower terminal ends, said U-shaped rod being pivotally connected at its terminal ends to said rear portion of said frame and including retention means for retaining the pivotally connected rod in its upright position, said retention means being releasable so that said U-shaped rod can be pivoted to its folded position, said fastener means including a bracket member fastened to said cross member and slidably mounted on said upright member for movement between said closed upper end and lower portions of said rod, aNd a clasp member pivotally mounted on said cross member for pivotal movement between a first position disengaged from said rod and a second position enclasping said closed upper end of said rod.

Claim 10

A folding chair comprising a frame having front, rear, and side portions and a seat portion which define a chamber, and extensible legs and a back member mounted on said frame for folding within said chamber, wherein said back member comprises an upright member, a cross member, and a fastener means which connects said cross member to said upright member so as to permit folding said cross member in line with said upright member for folding said back member into said chamber and rigidly connects said cross member to said upright member when said back member is in its erected position, said upright member being a U-shaped rod with a closed upper end and open lower terminal ends, said U-shaped rod being pivotally connected at its terminal ends to said rear portion of said frame and including retention means for retaining the pivotally connected rod in its upright position, said retention means being releasable so that said U-shaped rod can be pivoted to its folded position, said fastener means including a bracket member fastened to said cross member and slidably mounted on said upright member for movement between said closed upper end and lower portions of said rod, aNd a clasp member pivotally mounted on said cross member for pivotal movement between a first position disengaged from said rod and a second position enclasping said closed upper end of said rod.

Claim 11

The folding chair that is defined in claim 7, wherein said bracket member has a pivotal connection with said cross member so that the latter can be pivoted to a position in alignment with said upright member for folding of said back member into said chamber.