Slimfold director chair with reclining backrest

Abstract

A director's chair includes cross members of generally rectilinear U-shapes, frame side assemblies pivotally attached to the cross members, and back support members pivotally connected by recline pivot brackets to the respective frame side assemblies for movement between an upright position and a plurality of pre-defined recline positions. A cross bar of one cross member is substantially longer than a cross bar of the other cross member. The cross members are centrally pivotally attached for folding from a generally X-shaped set up condition to a generally flat and mutually nested collapsed condition. In the set up condition of the cross members the frame side assemblies are transversely spaced apart. In the collapsed condition of the cross members the frame side assemblies are adjacent and nested within the cross members. Recline adjust brackets are affixed to the frame side assemblies, and elbow pads are hingedly connected with the back support members.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A director's chair comprising:
 a first cross member that has front and rear leg portions joined by a cross bar in a generally rectilinear U-shape;   a second cross member that has front and rear leg portions joined by a cross bar in a generally rectilinear U-shape, wherein the cross bar of the second cross member is substantially longer than the cross bar of the first cross member, wherein the second cross member is generally centrally pivotally attached to the first cross member for folding from a generally X-shaped set up condition to a generally flat and mutually nested collapsed condition;   first and second substantially parallel frame side assemblies that are pivotally attached to the cross members, wherein in the set up condition of the cross members the frame side assemblies are generally parallel and transversely spaced apart, whereas in the collapsed condition of the cross members the frame side assemblies are generally parallel and adjacent and nested within an envelope defined by the cross members; and   first and second back support members that are pivotally connected with the respective first and second frame side assemblies for movement between an upright position and a plurality of pre-defined recline positions relative to the frame side assemblies.   
     
     
         2 . The director's chair of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 first links that pivotally connect the first cross member with a first of the frame side assemblies; and   second links that pivotally connect the second cross member with a second of the frame side assemblies, wherein the second links are offset links that include channels for receiving the first cross member.   
     
     
         3 . The director's chair of  claim 1 , wherein the back support members are pivotally connected with the frame side assemblies by respective recline pivot brackets. 
     
     
         4 . The director's chair of  claim 1  wherein the back support members include lower segments that are pivotally connected to the frame side assemblies and include upper segments that are detachable from the lower segments, wherein detachment of the upper segments provides for the lower segments to nest within the cross members in the collapsed condition of the cross members. 
     
     
         5 . The director's chair of  claim 4 , further comprising a flaccid web attached between the back support members to define a back panel of said chair, wherein the flaccid web remains attached to the upper segments and the lower segments of the back support members even when the upper segments are detached from the lower segments. 
     
     
         6 . The director's chair of  claim 1 , wherein the back support members include lower segments that are pivotally connected to the frame side assemblies and include upper segments that are hinged to the lower segments for folding toward the elbow pads. 
     
     
         7 . The director's chair of  claim 1 , wherein forward and rearward terminal ends of the second cross member are bent inwardly toward each other to contact outwardly facing forward and rearward surfaces of the second frame side assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The director's chair of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 recline pivot brackets that pivotally connect the back support members with the frame side assemblies;   recline adjust brackets that are affixed to the frame side assemblies; and   elbow pads that are hingedly connected with the back support members, wherein the elbow pads incorporate pins for engaging the recline adjust brackets in ratchet and pawl connections to the frame side assemblies for defining the upright position and the plurality of recline positions of the back support members.   
     
     
         9 . The director's chair of  claim 1 , wherein each of the frame side assemblies includes a foot portion, a front leg portion, an armrest portion, and a rear leg portion together forming a closed shape. 
     
     
         10 . The director's chair of  claim 8 , wherein the foot portion of each frame side assembly protrudes rearward of the corresponding rear leg portion at least as far as a mid-point of the corresponding back support member in its furthest reclined position. 
     
     
         11 . The director's chair of  claim 8 , wherein the foot portion of each frame side assembly protrudes rearward of the corresponding rear leg portion to an extent beyond the mid-point of the corresponding back support member in its furthest reclined position. 
     
     
         12 . A director's chair comprising:
 a first cross member that has front and rear leg portions joined by a cross bar in a generally rectilinear U-shape;   a second cross member that has front and rear leg portions joined by a cross bar in a generally rectilinear U-shape, wherein the cross bar of the second cross member is substantially longer than the cross bar of the first cross member, wherein the second cross member is generally centrally pivotally attached to the first cross member for folding from a generally X-shaped set up condition to a generally flat and mutually nested collapsed condition;   first and second substantially parallel frame side assemblies that are pivotally attached to the cross members, wherein in the set up condition of the cross members the frame side assemblies are generally parallel and transversely spaced apart, whereas in the collapsed condition of the cross members the frame side assemblies are generally parallel and adjacent and nested within an envelope defined by the cross members;   first and second back support members that are pivotally connected with the respective first and second frame side assemblies for movement between an upright position and a plurality of pre-defined recline positions relative to the frame side assemblies;   recline pivot brackets that pivotally connect the back support members with the frame side assemblies;   recline adjust brackets that are affixed to the frame side assemblies; and   elbow pads that are hingedly connected with the back support members, wherein the elbow pads incorporate pins for engaging the recline adjust brackets in ratchet and pawl connections to the frame side assemblies for defining the upright position and the plurality of recline positions of the back support members.   
     
     
         13 . The director's chair of  claim 12 , wherein each of the frame side assemblies includes a foot portion, a front leg portion, an armrest portion, and a rear leg portion together forming a closed shape. 
     
     
         14 . The director's chair of  claim 13 , wherein the foot portion of each frame side assembly protrudes rearward of the corresponding rear leg portion at least as far as a mid-point of the corresponding back support member in its furthest reclined position. 
     
     
         15 . The director's chair of  claim 13 , wherein the foot portion of each frame side assembly protrudes rearward of the corresponding rear leg portion to an extent beyond the mid-point of the corresponding back support member in its furthest reclined position. 
     
     
         16 . The director's chair of  claim 12  wherein the back support members include lower segments that are pivotally connected to the frame side assemblies and include upper segments that are detachable from the lower segments, wherein detachment of the upper segments provides for the lower segments to nest within the cross members in the collapsed condition of the cross members. 
     
     
         17 . The director's chair of  claim 16 , further comprising a flaccid web attached between the back support members to define a back panel of said chair, wherein the flaccid web remains attached to the upper segments and the lower segments of the back support members even when the upper segments are detached from the lower segments. 
     
     
         18 . The director's chair of  claim 12 , wherein the back support members include lower segments that are pivotally connected to the frame side assemblies and include upper segments that are hinged to the lower segments for folding toward the elbow pads. 
     
     
         19 . The director's chair of  claim 12 , wherein forward and rearward terminal ends of the second cross member are bent inwardly toward each other to contact outwardly facing forward and rearward surfaces of the second frame side assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The director's chair of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 first links that pivotally connect the first cross member with a first of the frame side assemblies; and   second links that pivotally connect the second cross member with a second of the frame side assemblies, wherein the second links are offset links that include channels for receiving the first cross member.