Chairs and seats – Portable bottom with occupant attacher
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-17
2001-06-26
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Portable bottom with occupant attacher
C297S017000, C297S022000, C297S129000, C297S377000, C297S027000, C297S027000, C297S027000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250712
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to a portable body support. More particularly, the invention relates to a portable, foldable chair well suited for outdoor activities such as hunting, bird watching, and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For many years, hunters and outdoor enthusiasts have braved the elements in pursuit of their outdoor sports and hobbies. Several of these outdoor activities involve sitting outside for extended periods of time. Those involved in such activities often bring seat cushions or other pads along with them on their outdoor excursions to ensure that they will have a comfortable and dry place to sit.
Although capable of providing a soft, dry surface to sit on, conventional seat cushions and pads present several drawbacks to the outdoorsman. First, these cushions are often bulky and difficult to carry when the user already has other equipment that must be carried. Second, although providing support for the user's buttocks, these cushions typically provide no support whatsoever for the user's back and head. Therefore, when simple seat cushions or pads are used, discomfort and fatigue can set in quickly. This discomfort and fatigue can be substantial, especially when long periods of time are spent in one particular seated position.
In response to the need for an improved portable body support, a handful of portable chair designs have been introduced into the market. Such chairs, however, have proven to be too bulky and/or too difficult to transport and set-up for the typical outdoor enthusiast. Accordingly, it can be appreciated that it would be desirable to have a portable chair that provides adequate support to the user's body, that is easily transported, and that is easily set-up. The present disclosure describes several variants of one such portable chair.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a foldable chair. The foldable chair generally comprises a frame, an upper body support, a lower body support, and a frame support. The frame is normally formed of an upper member, a lower member, and a pair of opposed side members that are typically constructed of PVC tubing. Each of the tubes is connected at both of its ends to an L-shaped member which joins one tube to the next in the frame such that the members are arranged to form the general outline of a rectangle.
The upper body support is typically connected to the opposed side members of the frame and comprises a top side and a bottom side. To increase user comfort, the upper body support is provided with inner padding material which normally comprises sheets of high density polymeric foam. Encasing the padding material is a fabric covering. This fabric is normally constructed of a synthetic material and can be constructed of a substantially waterproof material such as Courdora® if desired.
The upper body support has side portions that each extend outwardly from the top side of the upper body support, around a side member, and to the bottom side of the upper body support. The side portions surround padding material that is disposed about the side members of the frame. To secure the side portions in place on the side member and to prevent dirt and other debris from collecting therebetween, each end of the side portions usually is provided with an elastic cuff.
Extending from the lower end of the upper body support is a central web of material that connects the upper body support to the lower body support. Like the upper body support, the lower body support typically includes interior padding material and an exterior synthetic fabric.
Pivotally connected to the upper member of the frame is the frame support. The frame support preferably comprises opposed elongated side members and a base member that connects to the side members with L-shaped members. Disposed at the ends of the side members most distal to the base member are T-shaped members. These T-shaped members form the pivotal connection between the side members of the frame support and the upper member of the frame. To lower the tolerance between the T-shaped members and the upper member, the T-shaped members are preferably fitted with inner bushings. In a first embodiment, the frame support is relatively large, maintaining the upper body support at an angle approximately between 40 and 60 degrees with respect to the ground or floor surface. In a second embodiment, the frame support is relatively small, maintaining an upper body support angle of approximately between 0 and 30 degrees. In a third embodiment, the frame support is adjustable such that the angle of inclination of the upper body support can be varied.
Extending from the upper portion of the upper body support is a head support. The head support wraps about the upper member of the frame between the two T-shaped members of the frame support. Like the upper and lower body supports, the head support comprises inner padding material covered with a synthetic fabric.
To aid in folding and transport of the chair, the folding chair of the present invention normally includes a plurality of straps. The first of these straps is a frame support securing strap connected at one end to the lower member of the frame and to the base member of the frame support at its other end. Normally, the securing strap is adjustable and comprises two separate segments that are releasably connected to each other with a quick release fastener. When adjusted to the proper length, the securing strap ensures that the base of the frame support will not slip along the ground or floor surface upon which the chair is placed. The second strap is a lower body support retaining strap which is attached to the lower body support and the upper body support. Like the securing strap, the lower body support retaining strap typically includes two separate segments that are releasably connectable with a quick release fastener. The lower body support retaining strap is used to hold the lower body support against the upper body support when the chair is to be transported.
In addition to the above described straps, the foldable chair of the present invention is preferably provided with a pair of adjustable shoulder straps that extend from the upper member to the lower member of the frame. Like the other straps mentioned above, the shoulder straps are formed of two segments that are releasably connected with quick release fasteners. These shoulder straps permit the user to easily carry the folded chair on his or he back for hands-free transport.
The objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1842424 (1932-01-01), Ponten et al.
patent: 3292189 (1966-12-01), Parker et al.
patent: 3808616 (1974-05-01), White
patent: 4375901 (1983-03-01), MacDonald
patent: 4654907 (1987-04-01), Haugaard
patent: 5121961 (1992-06-01), Marshall
patent: 5272777 (1993-12-01), Favagrossa
patent: 5396674 (1995-03-01), Bolds
patent: 5409291 (1995-04-01), Lamb et al.
patent: 5425567 (1995-06-01), Albecker, III
patent: 5588696 (1996-12-01), Jay et al.
patent: 5755492 (1998-05-01), Iver
patent: 5882079 (1999-03-01), Yang
patent: 494515 (1950-07-01), None
patent: 277939 (1951-09-01), None
patent: 995277 (1951-11-01), None
patent: 1088925 (1955-03-01), None
patent: 1167623 (1958-11-01), None
Advertisement in the Turkey and Turkey Hunting Magazine, Feb. 1997, p. 51.
Advertisement in the Turkey and Turkey Hunting Magazine, Feb. 1997, p. 63.
Farmer Mark S.
Livington B. Bruce
Livington Barry B.
Cuomo Peter M.
LongBeard Industries, L.L.C.
Thomas Kayden Horstemeyer & Risley LLP
White Rodney B.
LandOfFree
Foldable chair does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Foldable chair, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Foldable chair will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2498949