Collapsible and portable rocking chair

Abstract

A collapsible and portable rocking chair is provided. The rocking chair includes a frame comprising a pair of frame side assemblies and each frame side assembly has a front leg portion and a rear leg portion. The pair of frame side assemblies are movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The rocking chair also includes at least one pair of first cross members and at least one pair of second cross members. Each first cross member is pivotally connected to each other and connected to at least one of the front leg portion and the rear leg portion. Each second cross member is pivotally connected to each other and to the at least one pair of first cross members. The rocking chair also includes at least one rocker mechanism attached to the chair frame for effecting movement of the chair frame between forward and rearward positions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible and portable rocking chair comprising:
 a frame comprising a pair of frame side assemblies, each frame side assembly having a front leg portion and a rear leg portion,
 wherein the pair of frame side assemblies are movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, and 
 wherein in the open configuration the frame side assemblies are transversely spaced apart from one another and in the closed configuration, the frame side assemblies are substantially adjacent to each other; 
   at least one pair of first cross members, each first cross member pivotally connected to each other and connected to at least one of the front leg portion and the rear leg portion;   at least one pair of second cross members, each second cross member pivotally connected to each other and to the at least one pair of first cross members,
 wherein the at least one pair of first cross members and the at least one pair of second cross members are moveable between the open configuration and the closed configuration, 
 wherein the first cross members of at least one pair of first cross members and the second cross members of the at least one pair of second cross members are each pivoted apart from each other at a pivot point and define an angle between the first cross members and the second cross members in the open configuration, and 
 wherein the first cross members of at least one pair of first cross members and the second cross members of the at least one pair of second cross members are each disposed substantially parallel to each other in the closed configuration; and 
   at least one rocker mechanism attached to the chair frame for effecting movement of the chair frame between forward and rearward positions.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible and portable rocking chair according to  claim 1 , wherein the angle is at least 90 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible and portable rocking chair according to  claim 1 , wherein said rocker mechanism is attached to the rear of at least one of the frame side assemblies. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible and portable rocking chair according to  claim 3 , wherein said rocker mechanism comprises a tubular extension member projecting outwardly and downwardly from the rear of at least one of the frame side assemblies and received within a sleeve housing a spring to which the tubular member is attached. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible and portable rocking chair according to  claim 4 , further comprising a pair of static support runners connected to and supporting each frame side assembly via a load nearing feature associated with each said frame side assembly;
 wherein the sleeve of the rocker mechanism is supported by at least one of said support runners.   
     
     
         6 . The collapsible and portable rocking chair according to  claim 1 , wherein the rocker mechanism comprises a tubular extension member projecting outwardly and downwardly from the rear of each of the frame side assemblies and received within a respective sleeve pivotally mounted to a respective support runner, each sleeve housing a compression spring to which the respective tubular member is attached. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible and portable rocking chair according to  claim 6 , said support runner associated with each frame side assembly further defining first and second longitudinally spaced apart contact points; and
 said chair further comprising a third contact point associated with the lower end of the front leg portion of each frame side assembly;   wherein each frame side assembly contacts the support surface on which said frame side assembly is set up with at least two of the first, second and third contact points at all rocking positions of the chair.   
     
     
         8 . The collapsible and portable rocking chair according to  claim 1 , wherein the rocker mechanism is attached to at least one of the front leg portion and the rear leg portion of each side frame assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible and portable rocking chair according to  claim 8 , wherein the front leg portion includes a tubular front leg member and the rear leg portion includes a tubular rear leg member; and
 wherein the rocker mechanism comprises a sleeve associated with at least one of the front leg member and the rear leg member, said sleeve further housing a spring to which said leg member is connected.   
     
     
         10 . The collapsible and portable rocking chair according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one support brace, each support brace of the at least one support brace connected the at least one second pair of cross members and the frame side assembly.   
     
     
         11 . The collapsible and portable rocking chair according to  claim 10 , wherein each support brace includes a support reinforcement which is configured to support the at least one second pair of cross members when the chair is in the open configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The collapsible and portable rocking chair according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a backrest support member connected to each frame side assembly; and   a flexible backrest support panel mounted between said backrest support members and defining a generally taut back support when the chair is in the open configuration.   
     
     
         13 . The collapsible and portable rocking chair according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pair of first cross members and the at least one pair of second cross members are each substantially V-shaped. 
     
     
         14 . The collapsible and portable rocking chair according to  claim 13 , wherein the substantially V-shape of the at least one pair of first cross members is upside down and the substantially V-shape of the at least one pair of second cross members is right side up, wherein the at least one pair of second cross members has an offset portion that is offset towards a center of the frame. 
     
     
         15 . The collapsible and portable rocking chair according to  claim 14 , wherein the offset portion of the at least one pair of second cross members provide clearance for forward rocking motion of the collapsible and portable rocking chair. 
     
     
         16 . The collapsible and portable rocking chair according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible seat panel further comprises a backrest panel. 
     
     
         17 . The collapsible and portable rocking chair according to  claim 1 , further comprising a backrest panel separate from the flexible seat panel. 
     
     
         18 . A collapsible and portable rocking chair comprising:
 a frame comprising a pair of frame side assemblies having substantially mirrored construction and being relatively movable with respect to one another between a set-up configuration of said chair where said frame side assemblies are transversely spaced apart from one another and a collapsed configuration of said chair where said frame side assemblies are generally adjacent to one another, each frame side assembly including a front leg portion and a rear leg portion;   a first straight cross member having a plurality of component struts configured to collapse around a straight cross member pivot;   a generally V-shaped cross member pivotally connected to the first straight cross member for pivotal movement between a) an open configuration wherein the generally V-shaped cross member are disposed to generally resemble a V-shaped configuration and b) a closed configuration wherein arms of the generally V-shaped cross member are disposed in generally parallel relationship with one another,   wherein the first straight cross member has terminal ends pivotally secured to the front leg portions of the frame side assemblies, and   wherein the generally V-shaped cross members collectively defining a seat support when in the open configuration;   a flexible seat panel mounted between the generally V-shaped cross member and defining a generally taut seat when the cross members are in the open configuration;   and   at least one rocker mechanism attached to the chair frame for effecting movement of the chair frame between forward and rearward positions;   wherein the open and closed configurations generally correspond to the set-up and collapsed configurations of the chair.   
     
     
         19 . The collapsible and portable rocking chair according to  claim 18 , wherein each frame side assembly maintains at least two contact points with the support surface on which said frame side assembly is set up. 
     
     
         20 . A collapsible and portable rocking chair comprising:
 a frame comprising a pair of frame side assemblies, each frame side assembly having a front leg portion and a rear leg portion,
 wherein the pair of frame side assemblies are movable between a set-up configuration and a collapsed configuration, and 
 wherein in the set-up configuration the frame side assemblies are transversely spaced apart from one another and in the collapsed configuration, the frame side assemblies are substantially adjacent to each other; 
   two sets of a first pair of generally upside-down V-shaped cross members pivotally connected to one another for pivotal movement between an open configuration wherein said cross members are disposed to generally resemble a V-shaped configuration and a closed configuration wherein said cross members are disposed in generally parallel relationship with one another,
 wherein a first set of the two sets of generally upside-down V-shaped cross members having terminal ends thereof pivotally secured to the front leg portions of the frame side assemblies and a second set of the two sets of generally upside-down V-shaped cross members having terminal ends thereof pivotally secured to the rear leg portions of the frame side assemblies; 
   a second pair of generally V-shaped cross members pivotally connected to one another for pivotal movement between an open configuration wherein said cross members are disposed to generally resemble a V-shaped configuration and a closed configuration wherein said cross members are disposed in generally parallel relationship with one another, said second pair of generally V-shaped cross members collectively defining a seat support when in the open configuration,   a flexible seat panel mounted between the second pair of generally V-shaped cross members and defining a generally taut seat when the cross members are in the open configuration;   a load bearing feature supporting the chair frame, and about which said chair frame can move between forward and rearward positions; and   at least one rocker mechanism attached to the chair frame for supporting the chair during movement of the chair frame between said forward and rearward positions;   wherein the open and closed configurations of the cross members generally correspond to the set-up and collapsed configurations of the chair.