CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to Chinese Utility Model Application CN 201821844027.9 filed Nov. 11, 2018. The disclosure of the application is incorporated herein for all purposes by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to supporting frames, and more particularly, to collapsible supporting frames and furniture having collapsible supporting frames.

BACKGROUND

Tables and chairs are common household furniture items. However, many existing tables and chairs are not user-friendly. For instance, supporting frames of some existing tables and chairs are integrally made as one unit. They cannot be disassembled or folded. As such, they are extremely inconvenient to carry or store. Supporting frames of some other existing tables and chairs can be disassembled but they usually are complex, and thus inconvenient to disassemble/assemble and use.

Given the current state of the art, there remains a need for collapsible supporting frames and furniture that address the abovementioned issues.

The information disclosed in this Background section is provided for an understanding of the general background of the invention and is not an acknowledgement or suggestion that this information forms part of the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides collapsible supporting frames and furniture such as tables and chairs with collapsible supporting frames.

In various exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides a collapsible supporting frame including a first supporting unit, a second supporting unit, a first bar unit and a second bar unit. The first supporting unit is disposed at a first side of the collapsible supporting frame. The second supporting unit is disposed at a second side of the collapsible supporting frame. The first bar unit has a first end rotatably connected with a first end of the first supporting unit and a second end rotatably connected with a first end of the second supporting unit. The second bar unit has a first end rotatably connected with a second end of the first supporting unit and a second end rotatably connected with a second end of the second supporting unit. Each of the first and second bar units includes a first bar and a second bar. Each of the first and second bars includes an upper slot and a lower slot at a proximal end thereof. The upper slots of the first and second bars are symmetrically disposed with respect to each other, and the lower slots of the first and second bars are symmetrically disposed with respect to each other. A first insert has a first end disposed in the upper slot of the first bar and rotatably connected with the first bar, and a second end disposed in the upper slot of the second bar and rotatably connected with the second bar. A second insert has a first end disposed in the lower slot of the first bar and rotatably connected with the first bar, and a second end disposed in the lower slot of the second bar and rotatably connected with the second bar.

In some exemplary embodiments, each of the first and second bar units further includes a first shaft substantially perpendicular to the first bar and a second shaft substantially perpendicular to the second bar. The first or second insert includes a first through-hole and a second through-hole. The first or second insert is rotatably connected with the first bar by the first shaft through the first through-hole, and rotatably connected with the second bar by the second shaft through the second through-hole.

In an exemplary embodiment, middle portions of the first and second inserts are connected by a limiting member.

In some exemplary embodiments, the first bar includes a first receptacle and the second bar includes a second receptacle. The first or second receptacle is configured to removably receive an end of a lateral supporting bar.

In some exemplary embodiments, each of the first and second supporting units includes a first leg at the first end thereof and a second leg at the second end thereof. The first bar unit is disposed between the first legs of the first and second supporting units. The second bar unit is disposed between the second legs of the first and second supporting units. Each of the first and second legs of the first and second supporting units includes a first bracket at an interior side thereof. Each of the first and second ends of the first and second bar units includes a second bracket at an interior side thereof. Each first bracket is rotatably coupled with a corresponding second bracket.

In some exemplary embodiments, each of the first and second brackets includes an upper portion, a middle portion and a lower portion. The middle portion of the first bracket is fixedly connected with the first or second end of the first or second bar unit. The middle portion of the second bracket is fixedly connected with the first or second leg of the first or second supporting unit. The upper portion of the second bracket is disposed below and rotatably connected with the upper portion of the first bracket. The lower portion of the second bracket is disposed above and rotatably connected with the lower portion of the first bracket.

In an exemplary embodiment, the middle portion of the first or second bracket is formed with a slot.

In some exemplary embodiments, a panel is disposed on the first and second supporting units, and connected with the first and second supporting units by a plurality of pins disposed spatially along a periphery of the panel and coupled with at least one lateral pin hole formed on top of at least one leg in the first and second legs of the first and second supporting units and at least one longitudinal pin hole formed on top of at least one leg in the first and second legs of the first and second supporting units.

In some exemplary embodiments, the first leg of each of the first and second supporting units includes a first upper portion above the first bar unit. The collapsible supporting frame further includes a plurality of longitudinal connecting bars disposed between the first upper portions of the first legs of the first and second supporting units and removably connected with the first upper portions of the first legs by slots disposed at the first upper extensions and corresponding couplers at ends of the longitudinal connecting bars.

In an exemplary embodiment, each slot is a “T” shaped slot open at a top and closed at a bottom.

In various exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides a collapsible supporting frame including a first supporting unit, a second supporting unit, a first bar unit and a second bar unit. The first and second supporting units are disposed substantially symmetrically with each other. Each of the first and second supporting units includes a first leg, a second leg, and one or more lateral connecting bars disposed between and fixedly connected with the first and second legs. The first and second bar units are disposed between the first and second supporting units. Each of the first and second bar units includes a first bar and a second bar. The first and second bars are rotatably connected with each other at proximal ends thereof. A distal end of the first bar is rotatably connected with the first or second leg of the first supporting unit. A distal end of the second bar is rotatably connected with the first or second leg of the second supporting unit. Rotational movement of the first and second bars pulls the first and second supporting units together or pushes the first and second supporting units away from each other.

In some exemplary embodiments, each of the first and second bars includes an upper slot and a lower slot at the proximal end thereof, wherein the upper slots of the first and second bars are symmetrically disposed with respect to each other, and the lower slots of the first and second bars are symmetrically disposed with respect to each other. A first insert has a first end disposed in the upper slot of the first bar and rotatably connected with the first bar, and a second end disposed in the upper slot of the second bar and rotatably connected with the second bar. A second insert has a first end disposed in the lower slot of the first bar and rotatably connected with the first bar, and a second end disposed in the lower slot of the second bar and rotatably connected with the second bar.

In an exemplary embodiment, middle portions of the first and second inserts are connected by a limiting member, wherein the limiting member restricts rotation of the first and second bars within certain positions.

In some exemplary embodiments, the first bar includes a first receptacle and the second bar includes a second receptacle, wherein the first or second receptacle is configured to removably receive an end of supporting bar.

In some exemplary embodiments, each of the first and second legs of the first and second supporting units includes a first bracket at an interior side thereof. Each dismal end of the first and second bars of the first and second bar units includes a second bracket at an interior side thereof. Each of the first and second brackets includes an upper portion, a middle portion and a lower portion. The middle portion of the first bracket is fixedly connected with the first or second leg of the first or second supporting unit. The middle portion of the second bracket is fixedly connected with the first or second end of the first or second bar unit. The upper portion of the second bracket is rotatably connected with the upper portion of the first bracket. The lower portion of the second bracket is rotatably connected with the lower portion of the first bracket.

In an exemplary embodiment, of each of the first and second brackets, the upper and lower portions are substantially perpendicular to the middle portion, wherein the upper and lower portions of one of the first and second brackets are disposed between the upper and lower portions of the other of the first and second brackets.

In various exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides a table including a collapsible supporting frame disclosed herein and a panel coupled with the collapsible supporting frame.

In some exemplary embodiments, of each of the first and second supporting units, the first leg has a length substantially the same as the second leg. At least one lateral pin hole is formed on top of at least one leg in the first and second legs of the first and second supporting units. At least one longitudinal pin hole is formed on top of at least one leg in the first and second legs of the first and second supporting units. The panel includes a plurality of pins disposed spatially along a periphery of the panel. The panel is disposed on the first and second supporting units, and connected with the first and second supporting units by two or more pins in the plurality of pins that are coupled with the at least one lateral pin hole and the at least one longitudinal pin hole.

In various exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides a chair including a collapsible supporting frame disclosed herein, wherein the first leg of each of the first and second supporting units includes a first upper portion above the first bar unit. A plurality of longitudinal connecting bars is disposed between the first upper portions of the first legs of the first and second supporting units and removably connected with the first upper portions of the first legs. The plurality of longitudinal connecting bars collectively serves as a backrest.

In some exemplary embodiments, the second leg of each of the first and second supporting units includes a second upper portion above the second bar unit, wherein the second upper portion is shorter than the first upper portion. Each of the first and second supporting units further includes an armrest, wherein the armrest has a first end connected with the first upper portion of the first leg, and a second end disposed on top of the second upper portion of the second leg and connected with the second upper portion of the second leg.

In some exemplary embodiments, the first bar includes a first receptacle and the second bar includes a second receptacle, wherein the first or second receptacle is configured to removably receive an end of lateral supporting bar. Of each of the first and second supporting units, a lateral connecting bar in the one or more lateral connecting bars includes a plurality of third receptacles. Each third receptacle is configured to removably receive an end of a longitudinal supporting bar that is disposed above or below the lateral supporting bars. The lateral and longitudinal supporting bars are configured to support a seat.

The collapsible supporting frames and furniture of the present invention have other features and advantages that will be apparent from, or are set forth in more detail in, the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which together serve to explain certain principles of exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

