Patent Application
20070012734
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a combined chair and backpack apparatus, suitable for outdoor use by hunters or naturalists. More particularly, the present invention relates to a combined chair and backpack apparatus which includes straps for facilitating transportation, pockets for easy storage of hunting gear, a cushioned seat for improved comfort and a foldable frame capable either of being self-supported or of being supported by a vertical support substrate, such as a tree.
2. Description of the Background Art
Hunters and naturalists often need to carry a variety of gear into the field. Accordingly, there is an ongoing need for an easily transported foldable seat apparatus that is lightweight, but that can carry gear of multiple sizes in a convenient manner. There are many solutions currently available to allow such people to carry gear into the field, including both vests and backpacks, both of which continue to be popular.
Furthermore, in order to increase time spent hunting there have been continuous attempts to increase comfort. This has compelled many easily transportable chairs in the form of folding chairs or seat cushions incorporated into backpacks and vests.
One method of doing this is by attaching a folding chair onto backpack-like straps or to a vest to be worn by the user for transporting the chair.
However, these designs have been adapted to either sit in a self-supporting manner, or to be used in conjunction with a tree or other vertical support, but not both. Therefore, a user must choose to transport either a chair that will support itself, or a chair that must be used together with a tree or similar vertical support.
Examples of patents relating to known foldable chairs for use by hunters include U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,227, “Vest Garment with Pivotable Seat Member,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,110, “Universal Back Pack and Lounge Seat Combination,” and U.S. Pat. No. 6,772,925, “Universal Hunting Pack and Turkey Hunting Vest.” Some of these references disclose folding chairs which are combined with backpacks.
These folding chairs are generally effective in providing a seat that can be transported, but fail to provide a user with the option of either setting up against a tree or freestanding, without an auxiliary support. Depending on the environment encountered by a user in the field, one choice is usually easier and more practical, for a given application, than the other.
An improved backpack/foldable chair apparatus is therefore needed, which would be more versatile and adaptable than the previously known chair and backpack devices. In particular, a apparatus is needed that would be able to be used either in a self-supporting mode, or alternatively, could be leaned against a preexisting vertical support such as a tree, while remaining able to transport various objects comfortably in pockets formed therein.
The present invention provides a comfortable foldable chair apparatus that is operatively attached to a backpack. The backpack and chair apparatus hereof can be arranged to be self-supporting via an integrated frame, or alternatively, can be configured to be sustained by a vertical support. When used in conjunction with a vertical support, the chair frame can be arranged so as to support a user in a comfortably supported lounging posture, including a flexible support panel.
A combined chair and backpack apparatus according to a particular embodiment of the invention may incorporate pockets of varying sizes and shapes in order to carry appropriate gear for hunting. Furthermore, a combined chair and backpack apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention may incorporate a roll-away orange or otherwise brightly colored panel, that can be unfurled for high-visibility safety use, or else can be stowed away when not needed.
The frame of the combined chair and backpack apparatus according to a particular embodiment of the invention also includes a pivotable reinforcing brace, capable of forming an angled support for use as a self-supporting apparatus. The brace is also capable of pivoting into a flat arrangement against a main frame section, in order to allow the user to rest the frame against a tree or other vertical support.
The apparatus also includes a relatively thick cushion member for use as a seat when the user is in the seated position, and including a layer of dense foam for comfort. The cushion is attached to one end of the main frame section via a piece of material and includes a strap at the other end for strapping the cushion to the backpack while in a stowed position such that the cushion does not hit the user's legs while walking.
Furthermore, the apparatus includes shoulder straps in order to allow a user to conveniently carry the apparatus on his or her back. The apparatus may also include a waist strap, to stabilize the apparatus when worn by a user, and a chest strap to more securely attach the apparatus to a wearer's torso.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the reader is referred to the following detailed description section, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description and in the drawings, like numbers refer to like parts.
A combined backpack and outdoor seat apparatus 10, according to a selected illustrative embodiment of the invention, will now be described in some detail, with reference to the drawings.
Referring to
As seen best in
The main frame section 16 includes an inverted, U-shaped member 4, and a crossbar 6 welded across the U-shaped member at an intermediate location thereon, so that a pair of parallel spaced apart leg portions 5, 5 are defined extending downwardly below the crossbar.
The support brace 14 is generally provided as a second U-shaped member, and is attached to a medial portion of the main frame section 16, above the crossbar 6, via fasteners such as rivets 8. The support brace 14 is pivotally attached to the main frame section 16, so as to allow pivotal movement of the support brace 14 in relation to the main frame section. Optionally, plastic bushings 15 may be provided at the juncture between the support brace 14 and the main frame section 16.
While deployed in the self-supporting position shown in
The apparatus 10 also includes a frame cover 20 which surrounds the main frame section 16, and is formed out of a soft material such as mesh, as shown in
The apparatus 10 also includes a seat 30, which is sewn on to or otherwise attached to the frame cover 20 at the bottom edge 24 thereof. The seat 30 can be attached to the frame cover 20 by stitching a connector panel 32, formed from a flexible piece of material, extending between the seat 30 and the frame cover 20, as shown in
The seat 30 includes a relatively thick, dense foam cushion of a size large enough to comfortable support a hunter in the sitting position, and a fabric envelope surrounding and enclosing the cushion, where the bottom panel of the envelope is formed from durable plastic, vinyl, an elastomer, or a similar water-impermeable material. Optionally, in order to maximize comfort, the seat cushion 36 may include a base layer of a relatively dense and resilient foam elastomer, and a top layer of a lighter, more easily compressible foam elastomer.
In the depicted embodiment, the seat 30 includes an adjustable strap 34, located at the bottom of the cushion 36 when in view in the out-of-use position. This adjustable strap 34 can be used to attach the seat cushion 22 to the backpack 50 to keep the seat 30 from hitting the hunter's leg while in the out-of-use position.
The apparatus 10 also includes a backpack 50, which attaches to the frame cover 20 via stitching running across along the bottom edge 24 of the frame cover and continuing up along the two sides of the frame cover, forming the main compartment 52 of the backpack 50. The upper flap of the backpack 50 also removably attaches to the frame cover 20 near the top edge thereof, via two-part adjustable straps 64 that can be detached to uncover the main compartment 52 of the backpack 50 for easier access thereto, as shown in
The backpack 50 may be made from a camouflage material for hunting purposes, but can be made out of many materials such as waterproof and/or scent-suppressing materials.
The backpack 50 also has pockets on the outside surface of the main compartment 52.
The backpack 50 also has an interior mesh pocket 62, shown in
A looped handle strap 68 may be provided at the top of the main frame section 16 near the adjustable straps 64, to permit easy handling of the apparatus 10 when the apparatus 10 is not being transported on a user's back. This looped strap 68, where used, attaches to the main frame section 16 at an opening 22 in the frame cover 20.
The lower ends of the shoulder straps 70 are attached to a lower reinforcing member 78 at the bottom edge 24 of the frame cover, 20 via stitching. Also attached to this lower reinforcing member 78 is a set of waist straps 80 that may be connected around the waist of the user for carrying heavy loads, thereby placing more of the weight of the load on the user's hips as opposed to the user's shoulders.
The large pocket 56 also has a zipper 84, shown in
Although the present invention has been described herein with respect to a specific illustrative embodiment, the foregoing description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art will realize that many modifications of the preferred embodiment could be made which would be operable. For example, a number of variations of pockets and straps can be added or subtracted from the present invention to hold various types of gear. Also, many types of material can be used for the cover or for the backpack, such as waterproof or scent suppressing materials. All such modifications, which are within the scope of the claims, are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention.
