Chair With Handle

Abstract

A chair apparatus is disclosed and described herein. An example apparatus includes a base; a seat connected to the base; and a handle connected to an underside of the seat. The example seat is to support a user, and the example handle is graspable to maneuver the chair apparatus.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to chairs, and, more particularly, to chairs with handles.

BACKGROUND

Chairs are useful for seating and comfort of people in a variety of environments for working, learning, entertaining, socializing, etc. Chairs can be arranged, rearranged, sorted, stored, moved, and the like. However, chairs can often be difficult to arrange, rearrange, sort, store, move, etc., causing hardship to those tasked to do so. As such, there is a need for improved chair mobility and manipulability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-12 illustrate example views of an example chair including a handle.

The figures are not to scale. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawing(s) and accompanying written description to refer to the same or like parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific examples that may be practiced. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice the subject matter, and it is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, electrical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the subject matter of this disclosure. The following detailed description is, therefore, provided to describe an example implementation and not to be taken as limiting on the scope of the subject matter described in this disclosure. Certain features from different aspects of the following description may be combined to form yet new aspects of the subject matter discussed below.

When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

As the terms “connected to,” “coupled to,” etc. are used herein, one object (e.g., a material, element, structure, member, etc.) can be connected to or coupled to another object regardless of whether the one object is directly connected or coupled to the other object or whether there are one or more intervening objects between the one object and the other object. As such, connection references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and/or in fixed relation to each other. As used herein, stating that any part is in “contact” with another part is defined to mean that there is no intermediate part between the two parts.

As used in this patent, stating that any part (e.g., a layer, film, area, region, or plate) is in any way on (e.g., positioned on, located on, disposed on, or formed on, etc.) another part, indicates that the referenced part is either in contact with the other part, or that the referenced part is above the other part with one or more intermediate part(s) located therebetween.

As used herein, singular references (e.g., “a”, “an”, “first”, “second”, etc.) do not exclude a plurality. The term “a” or “an” entity, as used herein, refers to one or more of that entity. The terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more”, and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means, elements or method actions may be implemented by, e.g., a single unit or processor. Additionally, although individual features may be included in different examples or claims, these may possibly be combined, and the inclusion in different examples or claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous.

The term “and/or” when used, for example, in a form such as A, B, and/or C refers to any combination or subset of A, B, C such as (1) A alone, (2) B alone, (3) C alone, (4) A with B, (5) A with C, (6) B with C, and (7) A with B and with C. As used herein in the context of describing structures, components, items, objects, and/or things, the phrase “at least one of A and B” is intended to refer to implementations including any of (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, and (3) at least one A and at least one B. Similarly, as used herein in the context of describing structures, components, items, objects and/or things, the phrase “at least one of A or B” is intended to refer to implementations including any of (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, and (3) at least one A and at least one B. As used herein in the context of describing the performance or execution of processes, instructions, actions, activities and/or steps, the phrase “at least one of A and B” is intended to refer to implementations including any of (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, and (3) at least one A and at least one B. Similarly, as used herein in the context of describing the performance or execution of processes, instructions, actions, activities, and/or steps, the phrase “at least one of A or B” is intended to refer to implementations including any of (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, and (3) at least one A and at least one B.

As used herein, “approximately” and “about” modify their subjects/values to recognize the potential presence of variations that occur in real world applications. For example, “approximately” and “about” may modify dimensions that may not be exact due to manufacturing tolerances and/or other real-world imperfections as will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art. For example, “approximately” and “about” may indicate such dimensions may be within a tolerance range of +/−10% unless otherwise specified in the below description.

In some examples used herein, the term “substantially” is used to describe a relationship between two parts that is within three degrees of the stated relationship (e.g., a substantially colinear relationship is within three degrees of being linear, a substantially perpendicular relationship is within three degrees of being perpendicular, a substantially parallel relationship is within three degrees of being parallel, etc.).

In addition, it should be understood that references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.

Certain examples provide a chair, stool, bench, and/or other seat (hereinafter referred to as a “chair”) that includes a handle. The handle is arranged on the chair to enable movement (e.g., lifting, sliding, etc.) of the chair, arrangement/alignment of the chair in a position, stacking and/or other storage of the chair, etc. For example, the handle allows a user to stack the chair, unstack the chair, and move the chair to a desired position.

The chair includes a chair seat portion, a chair back portion attached to an end of the chair seat portion, and a base (e.g., a set of 3 or more legs, etc.) attached at a first end to an underside of the chair seat portion. A handle is also attached to an underside of the chair seat portion. For example, the handle can be attached at a front underside of the chair seat portion. That is, the handle is attached on an underside of the chair seat portion at a location opposite from the chair back portion, for example. The handle allows the chair to be manipulated or maneuvered to move (e.g., change position) with respect to the floor, ground, etc., stack with respect to another chair, unstack from on top of another chair, otherwise lift and/or slide the chair, etc. As such, the handle can be grasped by a user to reposition the chair along the floor, stack the chair on top of another chair, remove the chair from on top of another chair, etc.

In certain examples, the chair is foam-filled (e.g., cold-cured foam blend, other high density molded foam, etc.) for user comfort (e.g., the seat base and/or seat back of the chair can be filled with foam, etc.). In certain examples, the foam is injection molded with built-in lumbar support and other contours to fit the human form. In certain examples, the seat or chair base has a waterfall front edge to relieve stress on a user's legs. In certain examples, the wood is contoured to match the foam to help ensure that neither the wood nor the foam will break down over time. In certain examples, a frame of the chair is built with an all-welded construction and designed to stand up to the heavy demands of 24/7 casino use. In certain examples, a base of the chair is an aluminum and/or other metal base.

In certain examples, the chair is coated with a film and/or covered in a liner to provide antimicrobial, antibacterial, and/or other sanitary coating. In certain examples, upholstery of the chair inhibits microbiological growth and is also anti-fungal and anti-mildew to prevent harmful growth or spread of virus, bacteria, etc. Such upholstery can be bleach-cleanable, for example.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example chair 100 including a base 110, a seat 120, and a back 130. The chair base 110 includes 3 or more legs, for example. Alternatively or additionally, the chair base 110 includes a pedestal or column from which additional support members can extend parallel (or at least roughly parallel) to a plane of the chair seat 120. The example seat 120 is positioned on top of the base 110, and the chair back 130 is connected to the seat 120 and/or the base 110. In operation, a user sits on the seat portion 120 (e.g., on a top or upperside of the seat 120) and can lean back to rest against the back 130. The base 110 supports the weight of the user, the seat 120, and the back 130 and contacts the floor or ground in which the chair 100 is positioned.

The example chair 100 also includes a handle 140. The example handle 140 is mounted, attached, affixed, and/or otherwise positioned on an underside or bottom of the seat portion 120 toward the floor or ground. The example handle 140 defines an opening between an outer portion of the handle 140 and the bottom or underside of the chair seat 120 that is graspable to move, lift, position, etc., the chair 100. In some examples, the handle 140 includes an outer portion and an inner portion, wherein the inner portion (e.g., a plate, strip, other member that is integrated with the outer portion or attached to the outer portion) is attached to the seat 120 (e.g., via one or more screws, nails, bolts, staples, adhesive, etc.), and the outer portion is graspable to maneuver the chair 100. In other examples, the handle 140 is formed of a single portion. The single portion can be curved and/or angular with holes, openings, and/or other attachment areas at each end to secure the handle 140 to the bottom of the seat portion 120 (e.g., via one or more screws, nails, bolts, staples, adhesive, etc.). As such, the handle 140 can form an oval, elliptical, or circular opening between the handle 140 and the bottom of the seat 120, for example. Alternatively, the handle 140 can form a rectangular, square, triangle, and/or other polygonal shaped opening between the handle 140 and the bottom of the seat 120, for example.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example front view of the chair 100 including the base 110, seat 120, back 130, and handle 140. FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view of the example chair 100. FIGS. 4-5 show example side views of the chair 100 including the example handle 140. FIG. 6 is a top view of the example chair 100. FIG. 7 is an example bottom view of the chair 100 showing an example position of the handle 140 with respect to the seat 120.

FIG. 8 depicts an enlarged or zoomed-in view of the example handle 140 on the seat 120. In the example of FIG. 8, the handle 140 includes a graspable portion 810 as well as two attachment portions 820-825 through which a screw, nail, bolt, staple, adhesive, etc., can be used to affix the handle 140 to the bottom of the seat 120. In certain examples, the handle 140 is centered along a front portion (e.g., at the front, recessed from a front edge, or otherwise set back slightly from the front edge) of the underside of the seat 120. The example handle 140 can be formed of a variety of materials such as brass, bronze, nickel, aluminum, steel, stainless steel, chrome, zinc, plastic, wood, an alloy or other combination of such materials, etc.

FIGS. 9-11 provide additional example views of the handle 140 with respect to the seat 120 and other portions of the chair 100. For example, FIG. 9 shows an underside view of the handle 140 positioned on the underside of the seat portion 120. FIG. 10 shows another view of the handle 140 positioned on the underside front of the seat 120. FIG. 11 shows another view of the handle 140 positioned on the underside front of the seat 120.

FIG. 12 shows an alternative implementation of the chair 100 in which the base portion 110 is implemented as a pedestal, rather than a set of three or more legs. As shown in the example of FIG. 12, the handle 140 is positioned toward the front of an underside of the seat 120 away from the back 130.

In certain examples, the base 110 provides base means. The example seat 120 provides seating means. The example back 130 provides back means. The example handle 140 provides handle means.

From the foregoing, it is appreciated that the above disclosed methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture have been disclosed to provide a new, improved graspable movement apparatus for a chair. The addition of the handle enables the chair to be moved, stacked, repositioned, and/or otherwise adjusted. For example, stacking and unstacking a plurality of chairs 100 is rendered practical and easy using the handle 140 to avoid mishap with respect to the chairs or injury to a user.

Further aspects of the invention are provided by the subject matter of the following clauses.

Example 1 includes a chair apparatus including a base, a seat connected to the base, the seat to support a user, and a handle connected to an underside of the beat, the handle graspable to maneuver the chair apparatus.

Example 2 includes the chair apparatus of any preceding clause, further including a back connected to at least one of the seat or the base.

Example 3 includes the chair apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the handle is connected to the underside of the seat away from the back.

Example 4 includes the chair apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the handle is removably affixed to the seat.

Example 5 includes the chair apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the handle is removably affixed to the seat with screws.

Example 6 includes the chair apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the handle includes an inner portion connected to the seat and a graspable outer portion.

Example 7 includes the chair apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the handle is formed of at least one of metal, wood, or plastic.

Example 8 includes the chair apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the handle is centered along a front portion of the underside of the seat.

Example 9 includes the chair apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the handle is recessed from a front edge of the underside of the seat.

Example 10 includes the chair apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the seat is filled with foam.

Example 11 is an apparatus including: base means; seating means connected to the base; and handle means connected to an underside of the seating means.

Example 12 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, further including back means connected to at least one of the seating means or the base means.

Example 13 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the handle means is connected to the underside of the seating means away from the back means.

Example 14 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the handle means is removably affixed to the seating means.

Example 15 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the handle means is removably affixed to the seating means with screws.

Example 16 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the handle means includes an inner portion connected to the seating means and a graspable outer portion.

Example 17 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the handle means is formed of at least one of metal, wood, or plastic.

Example 18 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the handle means is centered along a front portion of the underside of the seating means.

Example 19 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the handle means is recessed from a front edge of the underside of the seating means.

Example 20 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the seating means is filled with foam.

While the examples depicted and described herein have been illustrated using a chair with a seat and a back, the handle assembly is also applicable to stools and/or other chairs having a seat or base but no back, as well as chairs having a different base than is shown in the figures.

Although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the claims of this patent.

Claims

1. A chair apparatus comprising: a base;a seat connected to the base, the seat to support a user; anda handle connected to an underside of the seat, the handle graspable to maneuver the chair apparatus.

2. The chair apparatus of claim 1, further including a back connected to at least one of the seat or the base.

3. The chair apparatus of claim 2, wherein the handle is connected to the underside of the seat away from the back.

4. The chair apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle is removably affixed to the seat.

5. The chair apparatus of claim 4, wherein the handle is removably affixed to the seat with screws.

6. The chair apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle includes an inner portion connected to the seat and a graspable outer portion.

7. The chair apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle is formed of at least one of metal, wood, or plastic.

8. The chair apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle is centered along a front portion of the underside of the seat.

9. The chair apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle is recessed from a front edge of the underside of the seat.

10. The chair apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seat is filled with foam.

11. An apparatus comprising: base means;seating means connected to the base means; andhandle means connected to an underside of the seating means.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further including back means connected to at least one of the seating means or the base means.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the handle means is connected to the underside of the seating means away from the back means.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the handle means is removably affixed to the seating means.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the handle means is removably affixed to the seating means with screws.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the handle means includes an inner portion connected to the seating means and a graspable outer portion.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the handle means is formed of at least one of metal, wood, or plastic.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the handle means is centered along a front portion of the underside of the seating means.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the handle means is recessed from a front edge of the underside of the seating means.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the seating means is filled with foam.