BACKGROUND
Attending outdoor activities in warmer weather also typically means that individuals must tolerate excessive heat from direct sunlight and ambient temperature. This can lead to an individual being uncomfortable, cause excessive sweating, and in extreme cases it can also present safety issues. Relatedly, seats in various outdoor settings, such as stadiums, amphitheaters, seats within motor vehicles, portable chairs, and the like, are typically relatively uncomfortable in warm weather due to being unsuitable for maintaining a reasonable temperature for users. Some settings, such as club level seating at sports stadiums, include luxury seats in view of these issues, although the relatively high costs of such seats are often passed along to customers. Accordingly, improvements are needed so that individuals can sit comfortably and regulate their body temperature while enjoying outdoor activities in warmer temperatures.
SUMMARY
According to one embodiment (“Embodiment 1”), a seat cover system for detachably coupling to a seat includes a main body and a cooling pack. The main body includes a top end, a bottom end, a first side, and a second side, the first side including a first gusset and the second side including a second gusset. The cooling pack is carried in the main body. The seat cover system is configurable from a rolled configuration to a seat configuration and vice versa, and the first gusset and the second gusset are configured to inhibit the seat cover system from reconfiguring from the seat configuration to a flat configuration.
According to another embodiment (“Embodiment 2”), the seat cover system of Embodiment 1 further includes a plurality of straps coupled to the main body.
According to another embodiment (“Embodiment 3”), the seat cover system of Embodiment 2 wherein the plurality of straps are configured to extend around the seat to couple the seat cover system to the seat.
According to another embodiment (“Embodiment 4”), the seat cover system of Embodiment 2 further includes a plurality of swivel buckles coupling the plurality of straps to the main body.
According to another embodiment (“Embodiment 5”), the seat cover system of Embodiment 1 wherein the main body further includes a back portion and a seat portion defining an angle therebetween in a range of 100 degrees to 120 degrees.
According to another embodiment (“Embodiment 6”), the seat cover system of Embodiment 1 further includes an insulating pouch disposed in the main body and carrying the cooling pack.
According to another embodiment (“Embodiment 7”), a method of coupling a seat cover system to a seat, the seat cover system including a main body, a plurality of straps coupled to the main body, and a cooling pack carried in the main body, includes: positioning the seat cover system in a rolled configuration; coupling the plurality of straps to each other to maintain the seat cover system in the rolled configuration; decoupling the plurality of straps from each other; repositioning the seat cover system from the rolled configuration to a seat configuration; and coupling the plurality of straps to each other and positioning the plurality of straps around the plurality of straps around the seat.
According to another embodiment (“Embodiment 8”), the method of Embodiment 7 wherein the plurality of straps includes a plurality of upper straps and a plurality of lower straps, coupling the plurality of straps to each other to maintain the seat cover system in the rolled configuration includes coupling each upper strap of the plurality of upper straps to one of the lower straps of the plurality of lower straps, and coupling the plurality of straps to each other and positioning the plurality of straps around the seat includes coupling the plurality of upper straps to each other and positioning the plurality of upper straps around the seat.
According to another embodiment (“Embodiment 9”), the method of Embodiment 7 wherein the seat cover system further includes a plurality of swivel buckles coupling the plurality of straps to the main body.
According to another embodiment (“Embodiment 10”), the method of Embodiment 9 further includes: (1) after decoupling the plurality of straps from each other and (2) before coupling the plurality of straps to each other and positioning the plurality of straps around the plurality of straps around the seat, pivoting the plurality of straps relative to the main body via the plurality of swivel buckles.
While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a seat cover system, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, in a seat configuration.
FIG. 2 is an end view of the seat cover system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is another front perspective view of the seat cover system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a partial front perspective view of the seat cover system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the seat cover system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the seat cover system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a rear view of the seat cover system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the seat cover system of FIG. 1 in a rolled configuration.
FIG. 9a is another rear view of the seat cover system of FIG. 1 in a flattened configuration.
FIG. 9b is a rear view of the seat cover system of FIG. 1 in an inverted configuration.
FIG. 10 is a side view of the seat cover system of FIG. 1 in the seat configuration.
FIGS. 11a-11c are perspective views of buckles of the seat cover system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 12 is a front view of a main body of the seat cover system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 13 is a front view of a cooling pack of the seat cover system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a zipper pull of the seat cover system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of insulation material to be positioned with the seat cover system of FIG. 1.
FIGS. 16a-16c are views of a seat cover system, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, in a flattened configuration.
FIG. 17 is a flow diagram of a method for coupling a seat cover system to a seat, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
It should be understood that the drawings are intended facilitate understanding of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not necessarily to scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following description refers to the accompanying drawings which show specific embodiments. Although specific embodiments are shown and described, it is to be understood that additional and/or alternative features are employed in other embodiments. The following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the claimed invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
It should be understood that like reference numerals are intended to identify the same structural components, elements, portions, or surfaces consistently throughout the several drawing figures, as such components, elements, portions, or surfaces may be further described or explained by the entire written specification, of which this detailed description is an integral part. Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read (for example, cross-hatching, arrangement of parts, proportion, degree, etc.) together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the written description.
FIGS. 1-15 illustrate a seat cover system 10, or components thereof, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The seat cover system 10 is configured to be detachably coupled to a seat, more specifically and for example, a stadium seat, motorized vehicle seat, or any other seat with a back to which straps can be attached. The seat cover system 10 may have dimensions of about 1010 cm×450 cm×10 cm, or various other dimensions. In certain embodiments, the seat cover system 10 includes a main body 12, which may be constructed of pack cloth or other weather-resistant material, a zipper 14 (FIG. 1), such as a YYK #5 zipper, a plurality of straps 16 (FIGS. 6-8), such as straps constructed of a 1.5″ or 38 mm black polyester webbing, webbing components 18, such as a 10 mm polyester webbing, an upper flap 20 (FIGS. 3-5), which may be a silver foil layer, a refreezable or recoolable cooling pack 22 (FIG. 13), more specifically a flexible ice pack, a zipper pull 24 (FIG. 14), coupling buckles 26 (FIGS. 6-8, 11a, and 11b), and swivel connectors or buckles 28 (FIGS. 6-8 and 11c). According to some embodiments, stitching may match the main body 12 of the seat cover system 10 and may have eight stitches per inch. The stitching may be nylon, and the seat cover system 10 may be individually packed in a poly bag.
Referring specifically to FIG. 1, the seat cover system 10 is shown in a “use” or “seat” configuration (that is, in the general shape of a seat). Illustratively, the zipper 14 of the seat cover system 10 is disposed at a top end 30 of the seat cover system 10. Alternatively, the zipper 14 may be disposed on a side of the seat cover system 10. The zipper 15 facilitates removing the cooling pack 22 and an insulating pouch (shown elsewhere) from the system 10, cooling the cooling pack 22, and subsequently reinserting the cooling pack 22 and the insulating pouch. The webbing components 18 are disposed near corners 32 of the seat cover system 10. Referring specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first or left side 34 and a second or right side 36 of the seat cover system 10, which extend between the top end 30 and an opposite bottom end 38, include a first or left gusset 40 and a second or right gusset 42, respectively, that inhibit the seat cover system 10 from reconfiguring from the seat configuration to a flat configuration (that is, a configuration in which the seat cover system 10 is generally disposed in a single plane), for example, under its own weight. The left gusset 40 and the right gusset 42 also facilitate identifying the top and bottom orientations of the seat cover system 10.
Referring specifically to FIGS. 3-5, the upper flap 20 is disposed at or near the top end 30 of the seat cover system 10. The upper flap 20 is foldable over the top end 30 to make an envelope for the cooling pack 22. More specifically, the upper flap 20 extends, for example, by approximately 100 mm, past the top end 30 of the seat cover system 10 and rolls forward to facilitate insulating the cooling pack 22.
Referring specifically to FIGS. 6-8, rear views of the seat cover system 10 are illustrated. The swivel buckles 28 couple the straps 16 to the main body 12. The swivel buckles 28 also permit the straps 16 to transition, more specifically pivot, from a first configuration to a second configuration and vice versa. In the first configuration (generally as shown in solid lines in FIGS. 6 and 7), the straps 16 may be coupled to form vertical loops and thereby act as compression/shoulder straps (stated another way, the straps 16 occupy a carrying or arm attachment configuration). In the second configuration (generally as shown in phantom lines in FIGS. 6 and 7), the straps 16 may be coupled to form a horizontal loop and thereby act as securement straps and attach the seat cover system 10 to a seat (stated another way, the straps 16 occupy seat attachment configuration), such as stadium seats, automobile seats, other outdoor chairs, or other types of seats. As illustrated, the coupling buckles 26 on opposite upper straps 16a, 16b are reversed (that is, one upper strap 16a includes a male buckle 26a and one upper strap 16b includes a female buckle 26b) to permit the upper straps 16a, 16b to be selectively coupled to each other in the seat attachment configuration. Also as illustrated, the coupling buckles 26 on lower straps 16c, 16d are reversed relative to the upper straps 16a, 16b on the same side of the cover 10 (that is, one lower strap 16c includes a female buckle 26c and one lower strap 16d includes a male buckle 26d) to permit the straps 16 on the same side of the cover system 10 to be coupled to each other when the cover system 10 occupies the arm attachment configuration or when the cover system 10 occupies a rolled configuration (FIG. 8).
FIG. 9a illustrates a rear view of the seat cover system 10 in a flat configuration, and FIG. 9B illustrates a rear view of the seat cover system 10 in an inverted (stated another way, inside-out) configuration. The seat cover system 10 may have a height of about 1010 cm, a width of about 450 cm, and a distance between the straps 16 of about 240 cm. In some embodiments, the rear side of the seat cover system 10 has a double layer of insulation or bubble wrap foil, and the front side of the seat cover system 10 has a single layer of insulation.
FIG. 10 illustrates a side view of the seat cover system 10 in the seat configuration. In some embodiments and as illustrated, adjusters 44 are coupled to the straps 16 and facilitate adjusting the length of the straps 16. In some embodiments, the depth of the seat cover system 10 has a depth of about 10 cm. A back portion 46 and a seat portion 48 of the seat cover system 10 form an angle therebetween, which may be in a range of 100 degrees to 120 degrees, more specifically 105 degrees to 115 degrees, and even more specifically about 110 degrees. The back portion 46 may have a height of about 605 cm and the seat portion 48 may have a length of about 405 cm.
FIGS. 11a-11c illustrate buckles of the seat cover system 10. More specifically, FIG. 11a illustrates, one of the adjusters 44, FIG. 11b illustrates one of the coupling buckles 26, and FIG. 11c illustrates the swivel buckles 28. FIG. 12 illustrates a portion of the main body 12 of the seat cover system 10. FIG. 13 illustrates the cooling pack 22 of the seat cover system 10, which is carried in the main body 12. FIG. 14 illustrates the zipper pull 24 of the seat cover system 10. FIG. 15 illustrates insulation material 50 to be positioned with the seat cover system 10 and form a pouch for receiving the cooling pack 22.
In some embodiments, testing requirements for the seat cover system 10 are as follows: POM: 50 kg, reciprocation cycles: 500 cycles, salt spray: 5.5+/−1.0 PH (white); for zippers, 5.75+/−1.75 pH (colored materials)-no tolerance, UV colorfastness: 3.5 for non-white, and seam allowance of ⅜″ minimum.
FIGS. 16a-16c illustrate a seat cover system 110, or components thereof, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The seat cover system 110 is configured to be detachably coupled to a seat, more specifically and for example, a lounge seat. The seat cover system 110 may have dimensions of about 1905 cm×560 cm×10 cm or various other dimensions. In certain embodiments, the seat cover system 110, except for the above dimensions, has substantially similar features and is used in a substantially similar manner to the seat cover system 10. More specifically, in some embodiments the seat cover system 110 includes a main body 112, which may be constructed of pack cloth or other weather-resistant material, a zipper (not shown; the same or substantially similar to the zipper 14 of the seat cover system 10), a plurality of straps 114 (FIG. 16a), such as straps constructed of a 1.5″ or 38 mm black polyester webbing, webbing components (not shown; the same or substantially similar to the webbing components 18 of the seat cover system 10), a side orientated flap (not shown; the same or substantially similar to the upper flap 20 of the seat cover system 10), a refreezable or recoolable cooling pack (not shown; the same or substantially similar to the cooling pack 22 of the seat cover system 10), a zipper pull (not shown; the same or substantially similar to the zipper pull 24 of the seat cover system, with a side orientation rather than on the top of the seat cover system 10), coupling buckles 116, swivel connectors or buckles 118, and adjusters 120. According to some embodiments, stitching may match the main body 112 of the seat cover system 110 and may have eight stitches per inch. The stitching may be nylon, and the seat cover system 110 may be individually packed in a poly bag.
In some embodiments, testing requirements for the seat cover system 110 are as follows: POM: 50 kg, reciprocation cycles: 500 cycles, salt spray: 5.5+/−1.0 PH (White); for zippers, 5.75+/−1.75 pH (colored materials)-no tolerance, UV colorfastness: 3.5 for non-white, and seam allowance of ⅜″ minimum.
FIG. 17 shows a method 210 for coupling a seat cover system to seat, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The following description of the method 210 refers to the seat cover system 10 and components thereof as an example, although the method 210 may be used to couple other seat cover systems to seats, such as the seat cover system 110. The method begins at block 212 by providing or positioning the seat cover system 10 in a rolled configuration, and the straps 16 are coupled to each other to maintain the seat cover system 10 in the rolled configuration (for example, as shown in FIG. 8). More specifically, each upper strap 16a, 16b is coupled to one of the lower straps 16c, 16d. At block 214, the straps 16 are decoupled from each other, for example, by decoupling the coupling buckles 26. At block 216, the seat cover system 10 is repositioned from the rolled configuration to a seat configuration (for example, as shown in FIG. 1). In some embodiments, the upper straps 16a, 16b are reconfigured from a first configuration (for example, as shown with solid lines in FIG. 6) to a second configuration (for example, as shown with phantom lines in FIG. 6) by pivoting the straps 16a, 16b relative to the main body 12 via the swivel buckles 28. At block 218, the straps 16 are coupled, more specifically, the upper straps 16a, 16b are coupled to each other, and at block 220 the straps 16 are positioned around a seat, more specifically, the upper straps 16a, 16b are positioned around the seat. In certain embodiments, the method 210 further includes coupling each upper strap 16a, 16b to one of the lower straps 16c, 16d in the seat configuration to form carrying loops, and carrying the seat cover system 10 in the seat configuration via the carrying loops. Stated another way, the straps 16 are positioned around the arms of user to facilitate carrying the seat cover system 10 in the seat configuration.
Various other modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, while the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the above described features.
Patent Application
20250089909
