The present invention relates generally to a cushion chair and attachable ottoman that together convert to an amusement slide for children.
U.S. Pat. No. 726,028 discloses a child's exercising and amusement apparatus which includes a chair with rungs 11 between the rear legs adapted to serve as a ladder, and the back of the chair having a large opening 12 above the seat, whereby the child can climb the rungs 11 to get onto the seat of the chair. A slide board 13 is attached to the front of the chair by hinges 14 (FIGS. 1 and 3). The board 13 inclines downward from the hinged end to the floor. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the slide board is attached to the chair by hooks 21, engaging the top rung 22 in the front of the chair.
Although this patent discloses the concept of a chair with a slide, the construction requires a large rigid slide board that has not other purpose than as a slide. If the chair is used alone, the slide board must be disassembled therefrom and stored away. Also, this slide board could not be used with a cushion chair since it must be attached at the top of the front of the seat, and there is no attachment such means with a cushion chair.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,561,757 discloses a hinged modular playground block system. This patent is relevant for its disclosure of block module pairs 14, 15 and 16, 17, wherein the upper module 15 or 16 can be pivoted down to provide a slide. However, there is no indication that this can be used with a chair and ottoman, and there is no indication that both modules 14, 15 can both pivot down or that both modules 16, 17 can both pivot down, to be used as an ottoman.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,736,023 discloses a portable foot stool and lounge chair combination. Specifically, the chair includes cushions A and B superimposed one on top of the other but hinged to each other at a hinge 13, such that cushion A can be pivoted outwardly as shown in FIG. 2A. There are also side arm cushions C and D. Cushions E and F are pivotally mounted to arms C and D by hinges 14 and 15, respectively. It will be appreciated that cushions E and F have a meeting line E′-F′ which is an angle to the vertical. Cushion F can be pivoted upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 2A. Cushion G is pivoted to cushion B at hinge 16 and can be pivoted down on top of cushion A as shown in FIG. 2A.
Although this does show pivoting of various cushions, including the formation of a footstool for the chair, it does not provide a slide, and does not provide a combination chair, and ottomon that can convert to a slide.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,173,045 discloses a combination sofa and bed in which the upper cushion 22 is pivoted clockwise in FIG. 2 about hinge 32, and then bolster 18 is hinged about pivot 40, so that the sofa can be used as a bed, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Although this patent shows pivoting cushions, the arrangement fails to disclose a cushion chair with an attached ottoman that converts to a slide.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,108,113 discloses a folding slide in which the different sections 3 are connected to each other by fastening members 5 which permit the sections to slide outwardly relative to each other. However, this fails to disclose a cushion chair with an attached ottoman that converts to a slide.
French Patent No. 2,616,641 discloses a convertible mattress in which there are two cushions 2 and 3 pivoted relative to each other about a pivot 8. In the position shown in FIG. 1, this functions as a conventional mattress with a horizontal planar surface P2. When cushion 2 is pivoted up to the position shown in FIG. 2, it forms an incline with cushion 3 in order to cradle an infant with gastroesophageal reflux. However, there is no indication of use of the mattress as a slide or of one section being used as a slide or ottoman.
Chinese Patent No. 203446933 discloses a back cushion having two parts 20 and 30 which can be arranged as shown in FIGS. 1-3 as a cushion or folded up to the position shown in FIG. 4. However, this fails to disclose a cushion chair with an attached ottoman that converts to a slide.
Korean Patent No. 10-1869343 discloses a multipurpose playing block having one section that can be pivoted down to form a slide at the left side and another section that can be pivoted down at the right side to form steps. A chair having a pivoted down section is stored in the middle and can be pulled out. However, there is no disclosure of the pivoted chair section being formed in two parts in order to form a slide with the chair.
Chinese Patent No. 211025100 discloses a multifunctional combined assembled slide for children which is effectively the same as Korean Patent No. 10-1869343, and the same remarks apply.
Korean Patent No. 10-2301579 discloses a seat with a slide function. In this patent, the different section 30 normally forms part of the seat, but when pivoted down, as shown in FIG. 2, it provides a slide function. However, as shown in FIG. 4, to use the same as a slide function, the entire chair must be turned upside down.
FIGS. 11-14 show an alternative embodiment which can be utilized in two different ways.
In the first way, a reinforcing member 50 has an inclined rectangular member 51 that is separate from and is position on the seat member 20, as shown in FIG. 11. A triangular member 52 is pivotally connected to inclined rectangular member 51 and pivots down to form the slide. When not in use as a slide, the triangular member 52 is pivoted on top of inclined rectangular member 51 to form a block that can be positioned in front of the chair to form a table, as shown in FIG. 12. However, the bottom of the triangular member 52 is positioned coplanar with the bottom of the inclined rectangular member 51. This means that the bottom of the triangular member 52 is coplanar with the upper surface of the seat 20. As a result, this patent requires an additional extension member 30 pivotally attached to the seat 20, which must be outwardly so that triangular member 52 has a support surface, namely, the extension member 30, thereby rendering the arrangement relatively complicated and more expensive. Further, there is no disclosure of utilizing the block as an ottoman or of forming the slide merely by pivoting one section of an ottoman on top of the seat, while the ottoman is still connected to the seat at the front of the seat. Although the reinforcing member 50 can be positioned in front of the seat, because of the height provisions of the slide, the upper surface has too great a height to be used as an ottoman, and in fact, is used as a table, as stated therein, and as such, a recessed table groove 51a is provided in inclined rectangular member 51, which would reduce the structural integrity when used as a slide.
In the second way, the reinforcing member 50 is pivotally hinged to the top of the backrest 10 of the chair and can pivot rearwardly down behind the chair to a storage position as shown in FIG. 13, or can pivot down on top of the seat of the chair to form a slide. However, again, there is no disclosure of utilizing the block as an ottoman or of forming the slide merely by pivoting one section of an ottoman on top of the seat, while the ottoman is still connected to the seat at the front of the seat.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cushion chair and attachable ottoman that together convert to an amusement slide for children, that overcomes deficiencies in the prior art.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a cushion chair and attachable ottoman that together convert to an amusement slide for children, while the ottomon is still connected to the front of the chair.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a cushion chair and attachable ottoman that together convert to an amusement slide for children, in which conversion from a slide to an ottomon, and vice versa, occurs merely by a pivoting action of only one portion of the ottomon, while the ottomon is still connected to the front of the chair.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a combination chair and ottoman that is adapted to convert to a slide, the combination includes a chair having a seat and a seat back, the seat adapted to be supported directly on a floor; and an ottoman adapted to be supported directly on the floor in front of the seat. The ottoman includes a lower wedge shaped section and an upper wedge shaped section hingedly connected together at common edges thereof, with the upper wedge shaped section adapted to assume each of the following positions when the lower wedge shaped section is positioned in front of the seat and directly supported on the floor, namely, a first position on top of the lower wedge shaped section to form the ottoman, and a second position pivoted upwardly on top of the seat while the lower wedge shaped section remains positioned in front of the seat to form a slide. Further, a restraining arrangement is provided for restraining the slide to the seat when the lower wedge shaped section is positioned in front of the seat.
Each of said upper and lower wedge shaped sections includes an upper inclined surface in the second position, with the inclined surfaces being coplanar.
Alternatively, each of said upper and lower wedge shaped sections includes an upper inclined surface in the second position, with the inclined surfaces being one of convex or concave.
The chair further includes side arms that function to restrain said upper wedge shaped section on said seat in the second position.
The restraining arrangement includes a first securement member connected with the lower wedge shaped section and a second securement member connected with the seat for engagement with the first securement member. The first securement member is connected with a bottom surface of the lower wedge shaped section and the second securement member is connected with a bottom surface of the seat, and one of the first and second securement members are movable to the other of the first and second securement members for engagement therewith. Preferably, the first securement member includes one of hooks and loops and the second securement member includes the other of hooks and loops for engagement with the one of hooks and loops when engaged with each other.
A second securing arrangement is provided for securing the upper wedge shaped section to the seat back when the upper wedge shaped section is pivoted upwardly to the position on top of the seat. The second securing arrangement includes a first securement member connected with the upper wedge shaped section and a second securement member connected with the seat back for engagement with the first securement member. Preferably, the first securement member includes one of hooks and loops and the second securement member includes the other of hooks and loops for engagement with the one of hooks and loops.
Alternatively, the restraining arrangement includes interlocking shapes of the seat and slide that engage with each other to restrain movement of the slide on the seat.
A step is secured to a rear surface of the seat back for enabling a child to reach the top of the slide in the second position. The step is removably secured to the rear surface of the seat back. The seat back includes an opening for storing the step when the step is removed from the seat back.
Alternatively, the step is hingedly secured to the rear surface of the seat back by a hinge. In such case, the seat back includes an opening for storing the step when the step is pivoted about the hinge.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an ottoman which is adapted to convert to a slide for use with a chair having a seat and a seat back, includes a lower wedge shaped section adapted to be supported directly on the floor in front of the seat; and an upper wedge shaped section hingedly connected together with the lower wedge shaped section at common edges thereof. The upper wedge shaped section is adapted to assume each of the following positions when the lower wedge shaped section is supported directly on the floor in front of the seat, namely, a first position on top of the lower wedge shaped section to form the ottoman, and a second position pivoted upwardly on top of the seat while the lower wedge shaped section remains positioned in front of the seat to form a slide. A first securing arrangement is provided for securing the lower wedge shaped section to the seat when the lower wedge shaped section is positioned in front of the seat.
Each of the upper and lower wedge shaped sections includes an upper inclined surface in the second position, with the inclined surfaces being coplanar.
A second securing arrangement is provided for securing the upper wedge shaped section to the seat back when the upper wedge shaped section is pivoted upwardly to the position on top of the seat.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for converting an ottoman to a slide for use with a chair adapted to be supported directly on a floor, the chair having a seat and a seat back, the ottoman having a lower wedge shaped section and an upper wedge shaped section hingedly connected together with the lower wedge shaped section at common edges thereof. The method includes the steps of positioning the ottoman with the upper wedge shaped section positioned on top of the lower wedge shaped section, such that the lower wedge shaped section sits directly on the floor in front of the seat; restraining the lower wedge shaped section to the seat when the lower wedge shaped section is positioned in front of the seat; and pivoting the upper wedge shaped section relative to the lower wedge shaped section around the common edges thereof when the lower wedge shaped section is restrained to the seat so that the upper wedge shaped section rests on top of the seat while the lower wedge shaped section remains positioned in front of the seat, to form a slide.
The method further includes the step of securing the upper wedge shaped section to the seat back when the upper wedge shaped section is pivoted upwardly to the position on top of the seat.
The method further includes the step of removably securing a step to a rear surface of the seat back.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to
An ottoman 20 is positioned in front of seat 12 and has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is also positioned directly on floor 11. Ottoman 20 is formed by two wedge shaped sections 22 and 24 connected together at a common edge so that sections 22 and 24 can pivot relative to each other.
Specifically, as shown best in
In like manner, when in the ottoman configuration of
Further, the rear edges of inclined surfaces 34 and 44 are connected together along a hinge line 46 so that they can be pivoted relative to each other.
Thus, in
It will be appreciated that the height of rectangular rear section 32 of lower wedge shaped section 22 is substantially equal to the height of seat 12. Further, the width of each wedge shaped section 22 and 24 is substantially the same as the width of seat 12.
When it is desired to convert the ottoman to a slide, it is merely necessary to pivot upper wedge shaped section 24 about hinge line 46 such that upper rectangular surface 36 is inverted and sits on the upper surface of seat 12, as shown in
Alternatively, one or both of inclined surfaces 34 and 44 can have a slight convex or concave curvature, rather than the surfaces being coplanar.
Further, as shown in
Also, in the slide configuration of
It will be appreciated that, in such slide configuration, the top of the slide is substantially flush or even with the top of the seat back 14.
In order to restrain wedge shaped sections 22 and 24 in the ottoman configuration of
In like manner, to prevent movement of the slide on chair 10 when in use, flexible fabric tab 50 also includes small hooks or loops 56 on the second, opposite side 59 of free end portion 52, as shown best in
To further prevent movement of the slide on chair 10 when in use, as shown in
In like manner, bottom surface 26 includes two rectangular pieces of fabric 70 fixedly secured at opposite sides thereof, with each piece of fabric 70 including one of said hooks or loops 72. Two rectangular pieces of fabric 74 are hingedly secured to the lower surface of seat 12 only at the front edge of seat 12. Each piece of fabric 74 includes the other of hooks or loops 76. In this manner, each piece of fabric 74 can be pivoted to be in overlapping relation to her respective piece of fabric 70 so that the hooks and loops engage each other to secure lower wedge shaped section 22 to seat 12. The arrangement of hooks and loops is commonly sold under the trademark VELCRO.
It will be appreciated that, when used as an ottoman, pieces of fabric 61, 64, 70 and 74 can be disconnected from each other, so that the ottoman can be moved away from chair 10, as shown in
In order to aid a child to climb to the top of the slide at the upper edge of seat back 14, as shown in
When the arrangement is not used as a slide, but rather, as an ottoman, step 90 can be removed from seat back 14, and stored within seat back 14 in an opening 98 (
Alternatively, as shown in
It will be appreciated that various modifications can be made to the present invention within the scope of the claims. For example, in place of the VELCRO arrangements discussed above, other securing means can be used such as snaps, ties, zippers, buckles and the like.
As another alternative, a restraining arrangement can be provided, for example, seat 12 can have a slight depression and surface 36 can be slightly convex to fit within the depression so as to prevent movement of the ottoman when converted to the slide configuration. It will be appreciated that other complementary shapes, other than convex and concave, can be used to provide such restraining arrangement.
It will be appreciated that, although the present invention has been discussed in relation to a chair with arms 16 and 18, the present invention is not so limited. Specifically, the slide of the present invention can be used with a chair having no arms, as shown in
Having described a specific preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to that precise embodiment and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
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10-1869343 | Jun 2018 | KR |
10-2301579 | Sep 2021 | KR |