FOLDING CHAIR

摘要

A folding chair includes a locking mechanism (10, 12, 15) for improved user safety. A locking bar (10) is mounted for limited movement on the underside of a seat panel (3). In the operation of opening the chair for use, the locking bar (10) automatically assumes a locking position in which it is located in a notch (15) formed in one leg frame (5). In order to close the chair, the user must first deliberately and manually dislodge the locking bar (10) from the notch (15). In another embodiment, a pair of folding leg frames (21, 22) are coupled together by a slotted sliding bar (27). A pin (29) which pivotally connects the seat panel (23) to one of the leg frames rides within the slot (28). The slot includes an angled locking portion (32) at one end which traps the pin (29) and thereby locks the leg frames in the open position. The lock is released by manually lifting the sliding bar so that the pin (29) re-enters the sliding portion (31) of the slot (28).