A folding chair is a light portable chair that can be stored in a stack or row. They are usually used for parties, card games, and temporary seating. They typically weigh between five to ten pounds and are produced in a different variety of styles.
History
Folding chairs were already being used in Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. The curule chair of the Roman magistrate was a folding chair, as well as the seat of the emperor. The frame was mostly made of wood, and seldomly made of metal. The wood was inlaid with artistic carvings, gilded, and decorated with ivory. In Northern Europe, folding chairs date back to the bronze age.
The folding chair became especially widespread during the Middle Ages. Here it was treasured as a liturgical furniture piece. Since the 15th and 16th century the folding chair has mostly had arm and head rests.
Of course, newer chairs which are often found in functions and events are also called folding chairs. Today, the folding chair is mostly made of hard plastic or metal or wood.
Folding chairs can be divided into different categories :
Pivot under seat level
Side-X Stools
Two Xs that can be aligned with a piece of cloth between.
Side-X chairs
The supports for the backrest and front foot is the same side-part. The seat is collapsed to align between the sidebars, either downwards between the front legs, og upwards to align between back-sidebars. Mechanisms vary but the supports for the back and the front feet are invariably the same part.
Front X chairs
Essentially a side-x stool with a backrest.
Bow shape
The supports for the backrest and the hind legs are the same side-part. The seat is collapsed to align between the back-supports. Patented in 2006.
Pivot at seat level
Triangle shape
The most common kind of chair, the triangle shape chair was patented by Jeremiah Todd from Oklahoma. The seat automatically aligns between the back supports. The back support and the front legs are the same part.
Professional Wrestling
Folding chairs, often referred to as steel chairs or metal chairs - depending on which material they are made from - are also famous for being used as weapons, props, or by other means (set ups for other attacks) in the world of professional wrestling. The fact that these types chairs are constantly used in high numbers for seating the audience, announcers, timekeeper, and any other promotion staff or attendees makes them easily and readily available for use. The timekeeper's chair is most often used as a weapon in many cases.