The present invention relates to seating devices, in particular to foldable backrests.
Comfortable staying on the ground in a full lying position may be either on the back or the belly. However, during full lying on the back or belly, it is impossible to comfortably perform activities like reading, writing, view viewing, eating and the like. Such activities are normally performed in a sitting position, which is not comfortable when performed on the ground, due to the lack of support to the nape and back. Furthermore, if one desires to lie in an angled position, namely partially lying backwards while the back does not touch the ground, in order to perform such activities, one has to lean on the ground with his or her hands or elbows for supporting the nape and back. Of course, at this position the hands are not free for performing desired activities. In addition, leaning on the hands and elbows for a prolonged period of time is not comfortable and occasionally accompanied with pain.
In order to facilitate lying, or sitting, or partially lying on the ground, various devices for this purpose are currently available, namely sitting devices and backrests. Generally, three types of devices for sitting, lying and partially lying on the ground, especially but not necessarily for being used outdoors, are known in the art: sitting devices, backrests and inflatable sitting or lying devices.
Backrests are also addressed for example in CN202086044, CN102525770, WO2011082465 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,979.
CN202086044 discloses a folding chair used on a bed and belongs to articles for daily use. The folding chair comprises a back and a seat cushion. The lower end of the back is connected with a base through a movable shaft. The seat cushion is arranged at the front end of the base, a clamping groove is arranged at the rear end of the base, one end of a support is connected with the back through a shaft, and the other end of the support is arranged inside the clamping groove. Different tooth-shaped clamping grooves can be designed on the base so that angles of inclination of human bodies can be adjusted according to comfortableness. Sponge cushions are arranged on the back, a back cushion and the seat cushion.
CN102525770 describes a bed backrest, which includes a backup plate and a base, where the two sides of the backup plate are movably connected with one end of the base, the bed backrest further includes an angle adjusting device used for adjusting angles between the backup plate and the base.
WO2011082465 describes a foldable padded beach mat with an adjustable backrest, the backrest can be adjusted by means of a stand formed by three aluminum parts. The four adjustment degrees for the backrest and the foam padding make the beach mat more comfortable, since it can be adjusted to each user. The beach mat further has a handle that makes it easier to transport in the folded state.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,979 describes a bag that is converted into a backrest. The fabric is folded to form a bag, and there is a zipper on one side. Three wooden structures are placed in the interior of the bag. These structures provide a back rest when the zipper is opened, and the bag is unfolded.
One object of the present invention is to provide a backrest that allows sitting, or lying, or partially lying in various angles.
Another object of the present subject invention is to provide a backrest that allows sitting on a surface, while keeping the hands free and accessible for performing any desired activity.
The present invention relates to seating devices, in particular to foldable backrests.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention there is provided a foldable backrest, including a backrest plate, operatively configured to be leaned upon by a back of a user. A support plate pivotally connected to the backrest plate operatively configured to be placed on a surface on which a user desires to sit or lie. One or more movable rigid wedges configured to form a desired angle between the backrest plate and the support plate in respect to the pivot connection between the backrest plate and the support plate. One or more wedge-stopping means for fixing the movable rigid wedge in a position for forming the desired angle. The one or more movable rigid wedge(s) configured to transfer mechanical support to the backrest plate from a surface on which support plate is positioned when the rigid wedge is fixed in a desired position by the wedge-stopping means. Thus, holding the backrest plate in a desired angle relative to the support plate.
The invention may be understood upon reading of the following detailed description of non-limiting exemplary embodiments thereof, with reference to the following drawings, in which:
The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings referred to above. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are chosen for convenience or clarity of presentation and are not necessarily shown to scale. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts.
Before explaining at least one embodiment in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The subject matter is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. In discussion of the various figures described herein below, like numbers refer to like parts. The drawings are generally not to scale. For the sake of simplicity only, the terms “sit” and “sitting” as used herein below may refer to any one of the aforementioned positions, or any combination of any at least two of the aforementioned positions. Optionally, the provided backrest may allow sitting in various possible angles. Optionally, the provided backrest may allow sitting on a surface, whether outdoors and/or indoors.
Referring to
According to some embodiments of the present invention, backrest plate 10, support plate 20 and wedge 30 are made of a rigid material, for example but not limited to, plastic, wood, metal, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), carbon, foam and the like. According to a preferred embodiment, the backrest plate 10, the support plate 20 and the wedge 30 are made of rigid plastic. According to some other embodiments, the backrest plate 10, the support plate 20 and the wedge 30 are made of rigid plastic and manufactured by high pressure injection or any other suitable manufacturing means known in the art.
The backrest plate 10 and the support plate 20 are pivotally connected by a pivot 40. Any type of pivot 40 is under the scope of the present subject matter, for example but not limited to, a hinge, a foldable sheet made for example of fabric connecting the backrest plate 10 to the support plate 20, and the like.
The wedge 30 is configured to slide along the rail 15 of the backrest plate 10 and be fixed to any one of slot(s) 152 along the rail 15. When the backrest plate 10 and the support plate 20 are folded one towards the other, while the rail 15 of the back rest plate 10 faces the rail 25 of the support plate 20, and the wedge 30 is fixed to one of slot(s) 152, the wedge prevents complete folding of the backrest plate 10 and the support plate 20, thus holding the backrest plate 10 in a certain angle relative to the support plate 20, as illustrated for example in
According to some embodiments of the present invention a single wedge 30 as described for example in
Referring to
In addition, the number of possible angles 500 that may be fixed is determined by the number of slots 152 along the rail 15. According to an exemplary embodiment, the rail 15 comprises six slots 152, thus enabling the fixation of the wedge 30 in five positions along the rail 15 that determine five different angles 500 between the backrest plate 10 and the support plate 20. The sixth slot 152 is for completely folding the foldable backrest 1, as described hereinafter. It should be noted that this was only an exemplary number of slots 152 along the rail 15, any that any number of slots 152 along the rail 15 is under the scope of the present subject matter.
According to another embodiment, the rail 15 does not comprise slots 152, and instead the wedge 30 comprises a locking element that is configured to lock the wedge 30 in any position along the rail 15. Any locking element known in the art is under the scope of the present subject matter, for example but not limited to, a clamp-like element that clinches the rail 15 tightly and prevents movement of the wedge 30. Thus, according to this embodiment, any possible angle 500 between the backrest plate 10 and the support plate 20 may be achieved.
The feature of the foldable backrest 1, of changing the angle 500 between the backrest plate 10 and the support plate 20, allows a user to sit in various possible angles, or essentially completely lying down, easily and comfortably, simply by changing the position of the wedge 30 along the rail 15 of the backrest plate 10.
When the wedge 30 is fixed to the slot 152 that is mostly distant from the pivot 40, the foldable backrest 1 may be folded completely, namely be completely closed. This state, of completely closed foldable backrest 1 is illustrated for example in
Referring to
As described earlier, the rail 15 of the backrest plate 10 is in line with the rail 25 of the support plate 20. Therefore, in order to facilitate complete folding of the foldable backrest 1, the rail 15 of the backrest plate 10 and the rail 25 of the support plate 20 are configured to allow complete folding without one interfering with the other.
The presence of one wedge 30 that allows changing of the angle 500 between the backrest plate 10 and the support plate 20 is preferable over prior art sitting devices and backrests. It is more comfortable to slide the wedge 30 along the rail 15 of the backrest plate 10 in order to change the angle 500, even while still using the foldable backrest, compared to prior art sitting devices and backrests where there is need to stand up and change the angle of lying.
As illustrated for example in
These features are different and advantageous over prior art seating devices and backrests, illustrated for example in
In addition, in prior art seating device as illustrated for example in
Another difference between the foldable backrest 1 of the present subject matter and prior art seats and backrest is in the nature of the component of the backrest or seat that is configured to be in contact with a surface on which the seat or backrest is positioned. The prior art seats and backrests, as illustrated for example in
According to one embodiment, the foldable backrest 1 further includes a detachable sheet 50, as can be seen for example in
According to one embodiment, the sheet 50 is configured to be seated on when the foldable backrest 1 is placed on a surface, like ground, and the sheet 50 is spread out on the ground, while still attached to the backrest plate 10 or the support plate 20. The sheet 50 is spread out in a manner that allows a user to sit on the sheet 50 while leaning his back on the backrest plate 10.
Referring to
According to an additional embodiment, the foldable backrest 1 further comprises at least one strap 60, as can be seen in
Referring to
Some of the benefits of the present invention are described below. One of the benefits of the present invention is that the backrest components can be modular for example. A backpack 200 can be attached also to strap 60 where strap 60 is configured to carry both the backrest 1 where sheet 50 renders a sac-like structure and to carry backpack 200 as shown for example in
Another benefit of the present invention is because sheet 50 is flexible the user can use the backrest and seat on any terrain even when the surface is not flat. The user can use the backrest on any type of surface—solid like an uneven bare rock, soft like sand, and the like, without interfering with its function—support and bearing of high-pressure forces.
Yet another benefit of the present invention is that the backrest can be used also on a moving surface such as but not limited to a Stand Up Paddle Board.
Another benefit of the present invention is to provide a foldable backrest that allows sitting on a surface, and when carrying the folded backrest from one place to another keeping the user hands free from holding the backrest and accessible for performing any desired activity with his hands.
Yet another benefit of the present invention is that the features of the present invention allows a freedom to design the backrest in any desired commercial shape for example in a form of a surfboard like shape as shown for example in
Another benefit of the present invention is that the range of the angle 500 can be configured from 15° or less up to 90°.
Another benefit of the present invention is that the support plate 20 allows to be significantly short and thus making the backrest more space efficient, both in carrying position and in open position of backrest 1.
Another benefit of the present invention is that the use of a single bulk piece as a wedge 30 in lieu of two support beams as commonly used in prior art, provides added structural strength and flexibility of the Backrest plate 10.
It should be understood that the above description is merely exemplary and that there are various embodiments of the present invention that may be devised, mutatis mutandis, and that the features described in the above-described embodiments, and those not described herein, may be used separately or in any suitable combination; and the invention can be devised in accordance with embodiments not necessarily described above.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/IL2018/051374 | 12/19/2018 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2019/123460 | 6/27/2019 | WO | A |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20200163461 A1 | May 2020 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62607953 | Dec 2017 | US |