The present invention relates generally to improvements in lockers or storage cabinets used in athletic or sporting facilities, and more specifically to seating incorporated into such lockers.
The aesthetics and utility of lockers or storage cabinets in “locker rooms” of athletic and sporting facilities of sports teams and country clubs, for example, have become a measure of the quality and prestige of such organizations and an increasingly important aspect of recruiting new team or club members. Modern lockers are a far cry from the simple wood or metal cabinets of the past.
Modern lockers incorporate storage for specific items of equipment, such as helmets and shoes, and features promoting comfort and luxury. There is a constant need for improvement in both functional and aesthetic aspects of such lockers.
The novel features believed characteristic of the embodiments of the present application are set forth in the appended claims. However, the embodiments themselves, as well as a preferred mode of use, and further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
While the assembly and method of the present application is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present application as defined by the appended claims.
Illustrative embodiments of the locker seat assembly are provided below. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions will be made to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with assembly-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
Referring now to
Between the sidewalls 13 of each locker 1, 2, 3, a plurality of compartments 15 are defined by shelves or other horizontally extending surfaces or platforms (only one compartment is indicated in each locker for clarity and simplicity). Multiple additional sidewalls may be placed between the “main” or exterior sidewalls 13 to define compartments and the like. As used herein, “sidewall” or “sidewalls” may refer to either “main” sidewalls 13 or other sidewalls arranged between the “main” sidewalls. Each compartment 15 may be sized and otherwise configured for storage of clothing or sporting equipment or other items 15 and may include a door, which may be lockable.
Each of the lockers 1, 2, 3 also incorporates a seat assembly 11 according to an embodiment of the present application. Each seat 11 generally comprises a horizontal portion or bench 21 and the seatback assembly 23, 25 according to the present application. Bench 21 and seatback 23, 25 may be disposed and extend between main sidewalls 13 or other sidewalls defined between the main sidewalls 13. Bench 21 may extend at least partially forward of the front edges of sidewalls 13 and may be bordered by armrests or other structures raised above the sides of bench 21 (see
As is depicted, seatback 23, 25 extends above and to the rear of horizontal bench 21 and is generally vertical, including slightly inclined to the rear, to support the back of the person sitting on bench 21 (see
As shown in
Recesses may be formed in the upper and lower edges of lower 23 and upper 25 seatback portions that cooperate to form an aperture to facilitate opening the seatback. Recesses may be of varying configuration (as shown in
It is apparent that a system with significant advantages has been described and illustrated. The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the embodiments may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified, and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the application. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the description and claims. Although the present embodiments are shown above, they are not limited to just these embodiments, but are amenable to various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/423,942, filed 28 May 2019, titled “Locker Seat Assembly,” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/140,788, filed 25 Sep. 2018, titled “Locker Seat Assembly,” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/603,875, filed 24 May 2017, titled “Locker Seat Assembly,” all of which are incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 16423942 | May 2019 | US |
Child | 16686991 | US | |
Parent | 16140788 | Sep 2018 | US |
Child | 16423942 | US | |
Parent | 15603875 | May 2017 | US |
Child | 16140788 | US |