CHAIR BOOSTER

Abstract

A chair booster for assisting an individual from getting into and out of a chair, such as a deck chair. The booster includes a set of individual seat slats or seat slats integrated as single piece that are connected together via a set of side seat supports and a rear scat support. The booster may be locked into place within the chair via a locking wedge.

Description

FIELD

The disclosure is generally directed at furniture, and more specifically, at a chair booster for use with a chair.

BACKGROUND

Outdoor furniture has been a growing industry over the past few years with many individuals purchasing new deck chairs so that they can enjoy the outdoors. Deck chairs typically last many years, however, as individuals age, it becomes more challenging for individuals to get in and out of deck chairs, such as Adirondack chairs. While, one solution may be to purchase new deck furniture, this may become a very expensive endeavor as new chairs may be needed on a regular basis. Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide assistance to individuals to get into and out of deck chairs as they age.

Therefore, there is provided a novel chair booster for use with a chair.

SUMMARY

The disclosure is directed at a chair booster that supports individuals in need of assistance to easily access and exit from a chair, such as a deck chair, and more specifically, an Adirondack deck chair. An advantage of the disclosure is that there is no shuffling to get to the front of the chair in order to stand up as the disclosure positions the individual at an angle more level with the ground thereby reducing the strain one would exert without the assistance, or presence, of the chair booster of the disclosure.

In one embodiment, disclosure is designed to fit the contours of the seat and back of a chair, such as a deck chair. In another embodiment, the disclosure is designed to fit the contours of the individual sitting in the chair. In other embodiments, the disclosure is designed to fit both the contours of the chair and the contours of the individual sitting in the chair. The disclosure may be designed to the contours of a specific individual or may designed to the general contours of different groupings of individuals.

In one embodiment, the disclosure is inserted into or placed on the seat of a chair (and locked in place) and may be easily removed when not in use so that other individuals who do not need the advantages of the disclosure can sit in the chair or so that individuals who may have their own chair booster may place their chair booster in the seat of the chair. The disclosure may include a securing wedge that enables the disclosure to remain in the chair at all times or while in use. In one embodiment, the device of the disclosure is designed to look like the seat of a chair that it is being placed in and/or may be finished with a similar material or look (paint or stain or coloured recycled plastic).

In one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a chair booster for a chair including a set of seat slats; at least two seat supports wherein the at least two seat supports are attached to opposites ends of each of the set of seat slats; a rear seat support connected to ends of the at least two seat supports; and a locking wedge in contact with the rear seat support and rear seat slat and the chair for locking the chair booster into a seat of the chair.

In another aspect, the set of seat slats includes a set of middle seat slats; and a rear seat slat. In a further aspect, the set of seat slats further includes a front seat slat. In yet another aspect, the set of middle seat slats and the rear seat slat are integrated as a single piece. In yet a further aspect, the front seat slat, the set of middle seat slats and the rear seat slat are integrated as a single piece.

In another aspect, the locking wedge is integrated with the rear seat support, the rear seat slat or both the rear seat support and the rear seat slat. In a further aspect, the rear seat support and the locking wedge are a single piece. In an aspect, rear seat slat and the locking wedge are a single piece. In another aspect, the set of seat slats are contoured. In yet another aspect, the set of seat slats are contoured to a person sitting in the chair. In yet a further aspect, the at least two side seat supports are contoured to fit the seat of the chair. In another aspect, the chair is an Adirondack chair or deck chair. In yet another aspect, the chair booster includes a cushion. In another aspect, the locking wedge includes a pair of sides for contact with the rear seat support and one of the seat slats; and a set of sides for contact with the chair to lock the booster within the chair.

This disclosure provides assistance to individuals to more easily enter and exit a chair, such as a deck chair, and still maintain the comfort of any deck chair. In some embodiments, the device of the disclosure could, for some, make the chair more comfortable to sit in.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a chair booster installed in a chair;

FIG. 2a is a perspective view of a chair booster;

FIG. 2b is a top view of a chair booster;

FIG. 2c is a bottom view of a chair booster;

FIG. 2d is a top view of another embodiment of a chair booster;

FIG. 2e is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 2d;

FIG. 2f is a rear view of a chair booster;

FIGS. 3a to 3f are views of different components of the chair booster; and

FIGS. 4a to 4h are diagrams of different components of another embodiment of a chair booster.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is directed at a chair booster for use in a chair, such as, but not limited to, a deck chair. In one embodiment, the chair booster assists individuals to get in and out of the chair. The disclosure may also be designed to fit the contours of the individual so that they may experience a more comfortable fit within a, typically, one size fits all type of chair. The disclosure may also be designed to fit the contours of different chairs. In another embodiment, the disclosure includes a locking wedge that is in contact with the seat of the chair to reduce the likelihood of or prevent the chair booster from sliding within the chair when a user is sitting on the chair booster.

Turning to FIG. 1, a side view of a chair booster of the disclosure placed within a chair is shown. In the current embodiment, the chair is an Adirondack deck chair. The chair booster 10 is placed within a seat 12 of the chair 14 and, in the current embodiment, is designed and or manufactured, to fit the contours of the seat 12 of the chair. In the current embodiment, the chair booster 10 is in the same colour as the chair 14 in order to be more aesthetically pleasing, although it is understood that the booster 10 may be any colour. In other embodiments, the chair booster 10 may be made from the same material as the chair 14 although different materials are contemplated.

Turning to FIG. 2a, a perspective view of an embodiment of a chair booster is provided. The chair booster 10 includes a top portion 16 which may be seen as a seat portion in which an individual sits. In the current embodiment, the top, or seat, portion 16 includes a front seat slat 18, a set of middle seat slats 20 and a rear seat slat 22. This may be seen in more detail in the top view of FIG. 2b.

In the current embodiment, the number of middle seat slats 20 is three, although depending on chair, individual and/or chair booster characteristics, there may less or more middle seat slats. In some embodiments, the set of middle seat slats 20 and the front seat slat 18 may be collectively seen as a set of middle seat slats 20. Although shown as being relatively flat, the top of the front, middle and rear seat slats may also be contoured such as to provide a more comfortable fit for an individual's body. The positioning of the seat slats may also provide the contouring. In some embodiments, the rear seat slat 22 may also be designed or shaped to fit the contours of the back of the chair (such as via a curved section 23 of the rear seat slat) so that the fit between the chair booster and the chair is improved. The front 18, middle 20 and rear seat slats 22 may also be designed or shaped such that the front top edge is slightly rounded over to remove the straight edge and provide a smoother seating surface.

The chair booster 10 further includes a pair of base frame side seat supports 24 to which opposite ends of the front 18, middle 20 and rear 22 seat slats are attached or fastened. This may be seen in more detail in the bottom view of FIG. 2c. In one embodiment, the seat slats may be screwed into the side seat supports 24, however, in other embodiments, the seat slats may be nailed, glued, bolted with appropriate anchors or fastened in any other known manners. In one embodiment, a bottom of the seat supports 24 is contoured to match the contours of the chair that it is being placed into. The seat supports 24 also provide support to the individual when they are sitting in the chair as they may be able to take some of the weight of the individual.

The chair booster 10 further includes a base frame rear, seat or, slat support 28 that, in the current embodiment, is connected to the ends of the pair of side seat supports 24 at a rear of the chair booster 10. The rear slat support 28 provides support to the rear seat slat 22 and the side seat supports 24 and the individual when the chair booster is in use.

In some embodiments, the rear slat support 28 may be wedge shaped to enable the chair booster seat to be “locked” in place in the chair so that it does not slide while installed within the chair. Alternatively, the chair booster 10 may include a locking wedge 30 that may be integrated with parts of the chair booster or may be a separate piece that is attached to a rear slat support 28 and/or the rear seat slat 22. The locking wedge 30 is used to lock the chair booster in place within the seat of the chair in order to reduce movement of the booster when an individual is sitting on the chair booster. In one embodiment, the locking wedge reduces any forward shifting of the booster within the chair.

FIG. 2d is a top view of another embodiment of a chair booster. The chair booster 10 includes a larger rear seat slat 22 that may provide for more support to an individual as they sit back in the deck chair. A side view of the chair booster of FIG. 2d is shown in FIG. 2e. As can be seen in the side seat supports 24 are triangular in shape such that the chair booster can rest on any chair. In this embodiment, the bottom of each of the side seat supports is flat such that the chair booster of FIG. 2d can be used for any chair based on the design of the bottom surface of the side seat supports 24. The side seat supports 24 provide support to the chair booster when an individual is sitting on the booster.

FIG. 2f is a rear view of a chair booster of FIG. 2d showing a connection between the base frame rear slat support and one of the side seat supports and the rear seat slat.

Turning to FIGS. 3a to 3f, different views of the different embodiments of components of a chair booster are shown.

FIG. 3a is a top view of one embodiment of a base frame rear slat support 28. As can be seen, in the current embodiment, the base frame rear slat support has straight edges, however, the edges be designed to mate with the surfaces of the rear seat slat and the side seat supports to provide a flush mating surface whereby those edges may not be entirely straight. The rear slat support may include notches to improve the connection between the rear slat support 28 and the rear seat slat 22. This provides further support to the chair booster when installed.

FIG. 3b is a side view of one embodiment of a side seat support 24. As can be seen, the bottom edge of the seat support is curved or contoured to follow the contours of the chair and on the top to provide a contoured surface for supporting and/or positioning the seat slats. It is understood that the curvature or curvatures shown in FIG. 3b are one embodiment and that other curvatures may be selected or used based on the chair that the chair booster is designed for or the type of individuals that may be using the chair booster, for example, youth, adult, senior, male, female etc.

FIG. 3c is a top view of different locking wedges 30. In one embodiment, the locking wedge 30 includes four sides. One of the four sides 30b abuts the base frame rear slat support while a second of the four sides 30a abuts a bottom of the rear seat slat. The angled side 30c and the long side 30d fit into the seat of the chair to provide a lock between the chair booster and the chair when the chair booster is installed. In the current embodiment, contact between the long side 30d and the seat of the chair provide the locking mechanism to reduce the likelihood of the booster sliding forward in the chair as the user is sitting on it. In another embodiment, contact between the chair and the sides of the locking wedge that are not in contact with the booster providing the locking mechanism to reduce or prevent sliding and/or stability. While shown as being a separate piece, in other embodiments, the locking wedge may also be integrated with either the rear slat support or the rear seat slat or both as a single piece component.

In another embodiment, the locking wedge 30 may have six sides. Depending on the design and implementation, side 30a and one of side 30b or 30d abuts the bottom of the rear seat slat and the base frame rear slat support, respectively. The remaining sides, 3c, 3e, 3f and one of sides 3b or 3d fit into the seat of the chair to provide a lock between the chair booster and the chair when the chair booster is installed or in use. In other embodiments, only some of the remaining sides are in contact with the chair to provide the locking functionality.

FIG. 3d is a top view and FIG. 3e is a side view of one embodiment of a rear seat slat 22. As discussed above, a portion of the rear seat slat is curved such that it can mate with the contours of a back of the chair when it is installed. In one embodiment, the curvature of the rear seat slat is complementary with the back of the chair. As such, the dimensions of the chair which the chair booster is to be installed may be known prior to manufacture or design. In other embodiments, the curvature of the rear seat slat is designed such that it fits within the dimensions of different types of chairs based on an understanding of the curvatures of chair backs that the chair booster is designed for.

FIG. 3f is a top view of a set of middle seat slats 20. Although shown as being rectangular in the figures, it is understood that other shapes may be contemplated that may more closely match contours of the chair or for aesthetic purposes. It is understood that the top and bottoms of the middle seat slats may be flat or may be shaped or contoured. In other embodiments, one of the middle seat slats may be a front seat slat.

Turning to FIGS. 4a to 4h, drawings of components of another embodiment of a chair booster are provided. FIG. 4a is a top view of a set of seat slats. As can be seen, unlike the previous embodiments, the seat slats are integrated as a single piece 40 where the rear seat slat and the middle seat slats and the front seat slat are connected together via a set of seat slat connectors. In one embodiment, the one-piece seat slats 40 may be manufactured via a mould. FIG. 4b is a bottom view of the one-piece integrated seat slats 40. As can be seen in FIG. 4b, the one-piece integrated seat slats include a set of openings 42 for receiving anchor blocks 44 (schematically shown in FIG. 4e). The anchor blocks 44 enable or allow the one-piece integrated seat slats to be connected, such as via anchor bolts and the like, to the side seat supports 24 and/or the rear seat, or slat, support 28 (such as shown in FIG. 4f). FIG. 4c is a side view of the assembled chair booster.

FIG. 4d is a side view of the one-piece integrated seat slats which show that the seats slats are in a contoured position with respect to each other to provide comfort to an individual sitting on the chair booster. FIG. 4g is a diagram of a locking wedge 30 for use with the chair booster and functions in a similar manner to the locking wedges discussed above. FIG. 4h is a side view of one of the side seat supports 24. As with the previous embodiments, the side supports are contoured. The side seat supports and the rear seat, or slat, support include openings for receiving an anchor block 44 that may enable either support to be connected via an anchor bolt to the one-piece integrated seat slats 40.

In manufacture, the components of the chair booster may be manufactured out of a composite material, a recycled plastic, plastic or wood or a combination thereof. In another embodiment, the chair booster may include a cushion to further provide comfort to a user.

Although the present disclosure has been illustrated and described herein with reference to various embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the elements of the embodiments may be combined in other ways to create further embodiments and also other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims. For example, the principles and concepts herein are believed to apply to other shape memory materials, including shape memory plastics or the like.

In the preceding description, for purposes of explanation, numerous details may be set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details may not all be required. In other instances, well-known structures may be shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the understanding.

Claims

1. A chair booster for a chair comprising: a set of seat slats;at least two seat supports wherein the at least two seat supports are attached to opposites ends of each of the set of seat slats;a rear seat support connected to ends of the at least two seat supports; anda locking wedge in contact with the rear seat support and rear seat slat and the chair for locking the chair booster into a seat of the chair.

2. The chair booster of claim 1 wherein the set of seat slats comprises: a front seat slat;a set of middle seat slats; anda rear seat slat.

3. The chair booster of claim 2 wherein the set of middle seat slats and the rear seat slat are integrated as a single piece.

4. The chair booster of claim 2 wherein the front seat slat, the set of middle seat slats and the rear seat slat are integrated as a single piece.

5. The chair booster of claim 1 wherein the locking wedge is integrated with the rear seat support, the rear seat slat or both the rear seat support and the rear seat slat.

6. The chair booster of claim 1 wherein the rear seat support and the locking wedge are a single piece.

7. The chair booster of claim 2 wherein the rear seat slat and the locking wedge are a single piece.

8. The chair booster of claim 1 where the set of seat slats are contoured.

9. The chair booster of claim 1 wherein the set of seat slats are contoured to a person sitting in the chair.

10. The chair booster of claim 1 wherein the at least two side seat supports are contoured to fit the seat of the chair.

11. The chair booster of claim 1 wherein the chair is an Adirondack chair or deck chair.

12. The chair booster of claim 1 further comprising a cushion.

13. The chair booster of claim 1 wherein the locking wedge comprises: a pair of sides for contact with the rear seat support and one of the seat slats; anda set of sides for contact with the chair to lock the booster within the chair.