Spring Actuated Rocking Mechanism for Collapsible Chair

Abstract

A spring actuated rocking mechanism can be attached to the legs of a collapsible chair to allow for the user to rock in the collapsible chair. The mechanism may be attached at the factory or retrofitted to the chair. The rocking mechanism can be attached to the end of a leg or disposed within a leg, having a leg portion above and below the mechanism.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A rocking mechanism to attach to a single leg of a collapsible chair comprising:
 an upper portion, the upper portion having a first opening in a top end, the first opening configured to receive at least a portion of the single leg of the collapsible chair;   a spring, the spring disposed against the upper portion such that a proximal portion of the spring engages a portion of the upper portion; and   a lower portion, the lower portion configured to engage a distal end of the spring, wherein the spring compresses when pressure is exerted on the upper portion.   
     
     
         2 . The rocking mechanism according to  claim 1 , further comprising a guide member, the guide member fixedly attached to the lower portion and movable within at least a portion of the upper portion. 
     
     
         3 . The rocking mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion functions as a foot to engage a surface. 
     
     
         4 . The rocking mechanism according to  claim 1 , further comprising a foot portion disposed around at least a portion of the lower portion to engage a surface. 
     
     
         5 . The rocking mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion has a top end and bottom end, the lower portion has an upper end and the upper end of the lower portion is disposed between the top end and the bottom end of the upper portion. 
     
     
         6 . The rocking mechanism according to  claim 5 , wherein one of the upper portion and the lower portion has a cavity therein and the other of one of the upper portion and the lower portion is disposed within the cavity thereby sealing the spring within the rocking mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The rocking mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion has at least one second opening therein, the at least one second opening in communication with the first opening to allow a securing member to be inserted into the at least one second opening to secure the single leg of a collapsible chair to the upper portion. 
     
     
         8 . The rocking mechanism according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one second opening comprises two second openings, the two second openings lying on the same axis and wherein the securing member comprises a first securing member and a second securing member, the first and second securing members capable of engaging one another. 
     
     
         9 . The rocking mechanism according to  claim 2 , wherein the spring is coaxial with the guide member. 
     
     
         10 . The rocking mechanism according to  claim 2 , wherein the spring is under constant compression between the upper and lower portions. 
     
     
         11 . The rocking mechanism according to  claim 2 , wherein the first opening in the top end of the upper portion extends through the upper portion, the guide member being disposed within the first opening through a bottom end of the upper portion.