The present disclosure generally relates to portable seats, and more specifically a portable seat having hooks affixed to an inner frame configured to engage a stadium bench.
Many people find stadium seating or other bench style seating to be uncomfortable. As a result, there are a number of options for portable seats to make sitting on stadium or bench style seat more comfortable. These options generally include some sort of cushion and covering with a mechanism for securing the portable seat to the stadium seat. Some products also use a backrest and armrest in order to increase comfort.
Generally, there are two mechanisms for securing the portable seat to the stadium seat. First, a strap is often used to essentially tie the portable seat to the stadium seat. The other mechanism for securing the portable seat to the stadium seat is by using hooks mounted on a lower portion of the portable seat that engage a front lip of the stadium seat.
For portable seats that have their metal frames encased in fabric, use of a strap with buckle/clip is generally favored as a mechanism for securing it to a stadium seat, but this has certain drawbacks. For example, the strap which is stitched to the seat fabric can rip/tear off the fabric if excessive force is applied to it when a user leans against a backrest or the stitching of the strap comes apart over time through constant use. Alternatively, the hooks may be affixed to an internal metal frame of the portable seat, but a drawback to that configuration is that the covering must be removed or opened in some way in order for the user to remove the hook from the covering and make it accessible. By requiring the cover to be removed or opened in some way, the internal components, including the cushion, are likely to accumulate dirt and other materials. Also, exposing the internal components of the portable seat can allow water/moisture to enter in, which subsequently can cause mold to take hold on the inner padding if not dried out. Portable seats are often used during wet conditions outdoors.
What is needed is a portable seat that is able to secure itself to a stadium seat while having a compact profile when not in use, and mechanisms of securing the seat that are sturdy and prevent unnecessary wear or dirt accumulation in the chair.
Various embodiments of the present disclosure may be directed to a portable seat. The portable seat may comprise a rigid internal frame, cushion, cover, and rigid hooks.
In one embodiment, a portable seat may comprise an internal frame; a cover; and one or more hook assemblies; wherein the internal frame may be encased by the cover; wherein the one or more hook assemblies may comprise a hook, biasing element, and anchoring element; wherein the one or more hook assemblies may engage the internal frame at an engagement area via the anchoring elements; and wherein the cover comprises one or more holes through which the one or more hooks traverse. The biasing element may apply a force to the hooks such that the hooks pivot at the engagement area and the hooks rest against the cover. The one or more holes may be not configured to be sealed. The hooks may be configured to may engage a front surface of a bench by pivoting away from the cover and extending orthogonally relative to the cover. The portable seat may further comprise a cushion encased within the cover. The internal frame may be rigid. The internal frame may be metal. The internal frame may comprise a plurality of hinges, such that the portable seat comprises a flat configuration and a seated configuration. The portable seat may further comprise carrying straps. The carrying straps may be affixed to an outside surface of the cover. The carrying straps may be affixed to the internal frame.
In some embodiments the rigid hooks may be securely attached to the internal frame, extend passed the cover, and be biased or spring-loaded such that the hooks are biased toward laying flat against an outer portion of the cover.
Other features and advantages are inherent in the replica human foot shoe fit testing device claimed and disclosed will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and its accompanying drawings.
The drawings are of illustrative embodiments. They do not illustrate all embodiments. Other embodiments may be used in addition or instead. Details which may be apparent or unnecessary may be omitted to save space or for more effective illustration. Some embodiments may be practiced with additional components or steps and/or without all of the components or steps, which are illustrated. When the same numeral appears in different drawings, it refers to the same or like components or steps.
Before the present methods and systems are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the methods and systems are not limited to specific methods, specific components, or to particular implementations. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.
As is used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various aspects of one or more embodiments. However, these embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and/or components have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of embodiments.
While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. As will be realized, these embodiments are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of protection. Accordingly, the screenshots, figures, and the detailed descriptions thereof, are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Also, the reference or non-reference to a particular embodiment shall not be interpreted to limit the scope of protection.
In the following description, certain terminology is used to describe certain features of one or more embodiments. For purposes of the specification, unless otherwise specified, the term “substantially” refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, in one embodiment, an object that is “substantially” located within a housing would mean that the object is either completely within a housing or nearly completely within a housing. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking, the nearness of completion will be so as to have the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of “substantially” is also equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result.
As used herein, the terms “approximately” and “about” generally refer to a deviance of within 15% of the indicated number or range of numbers. In one embodiment, the term “approximately” and “about”, refer to a deviance of between 0.0001-40% from the indicated number or range of numbers.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The portable seat may comprise a bottom portion 101 (the seat), a top portion 102 (the back), and armrests 103, 104.
In some embodiments, the end of the hooks 115, 120, when measured from the bottom portion 101 of the portable seat 100 may be greater than the thickness of the flat surface 200.
In a preferred embodiment, the holes 405, 410 may be configured to allow the hooks 115, 120 to traverse them, but not so large so as to allow dirt and other debris from getting under the cover 110.
Additionally, straps 400 may be affixed to the cover 110 or some other component of the portable seat 100 in order to more easily move and carry around the portable seat 100.
The cushion may be substantially any soft material that may be used to increase the comfort of using the portable seat 100.
The internal frame 105 may be substantially any rigid material, including metal, wood, composites, plastic, or any other rigid material. In a preferred embodiment, the internal frame 105 may be made of aluminum, which is relatively strong and light.
In a preferred embodiment, the internal frame 105, cushion 725, anchoring elements 700, 701, and biasing elements 705, 706 may be encased within the cover 110 when the cover is used.
The internal frame may comprise a bottom portion 101, top portion 102, and armrest portions 103, 104. The internal frame 105 may also comprise a plurality of hinges 750, 751, 752, 753, 754, 755, 756, 757. In a preferred embodiment, the hinges 750, 751, 752, 753, 754, 755, 756, 757 may allow the portable seat 100 to switch to and from a flat storage configuration, as shown in
In alternate embodiments, the biasing element 705 may be substantially any structure or material in any configuration that applies a force to the hook 115 sufficient to cause the hook 115 to lay flat or substantially flat against the portable seat 100 when no other forces act on the hook 115, but weak enough that the hook 115 may be manipulated by a user. The hook 115 may be maneuvered into a deployed position, as shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the anchoring element 700 securely affixes the hook 115 to the internal frame 105.
As shown in
In one embodiment, the location where the anchoring element 700 engages the internal frame 105 may be considered the engagement area.
In one embodiment, the second hook assembly 721 functions substantially similar to the first hook assembly 720. In some embodiments, the second hook assembly 721 and first hook assembly 720 are mirrored versions of one another.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the present disclosure that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Unless otherwise stated, all measurements, values, ratings, positions, magnitudes, sizes, locations, and other specifications which are set forth in this specification, including in the claims which follow, are approximate, not exact. They are intended to have a reasonable range which is consistent with the functions to which they relate and with what is customary in the art to which they pertain.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the above detailed description. As will be realized, these embodiments are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the protection. Accordingly, the detailed description is to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Also, although not explicitly recited, one or more embodiments may be practiced in combination or conjunction with one another. Furthermore, the reference or non-reference to a particular embodiment shall not be interpreted to limit the scope of protection. It is intended that these embodiments not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims that are appended hereto.
Except as stated immediately above, nothing which has been stated or illustrated is intended or should be interpreted to cause a dedication of any component, step, feature, object, benefit, advantage, or equivalent to the public, regardless of whether it is or is not recited in the claims.
This U.S. Non-Provisional Patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/147,929, filed on Feb. 10, 2021, titled “PORTABLE SEAT”, by inventor Jamie Purchas, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by this reference as though set forth in their entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63147929 | Feb 2021 | US |