The invention generally relates to chairs.
Portable chairs are useful for transporting a chair to a desired location where the chair can be set up and used. One exemplary application for such a chair is hunting, which often requires a user to both transport a chair to a relatively inaccessible location and stay seated for long periods of time during the hunt. Other exemplary applications include sporting events, social events, and ice fishing.
Embodiments of the invention include a stowable chair system. Such a chair system is useful for providing a chair that can be placed in a stowed configuration so that it can easily be transported to a desired location for use. Some embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for use as a hunting chair, where the chair can be placed in its stowed configuration and carried to a hunting location where it can be placed in a seating configuration for use by a hunter. Embodiments of the invention are also useful at sporting events, social events, and for ice fishing.
Some embodiments of the invention include a chair with a first leg retention assembly and a second leg retention assembly. The first leg retention assembly is useful for retaining chair legs in a seating configuration, and the second leg retention assembly is useful for retaining chair legs in a stowing configuration. Further, some embodiments also include a swivel system to allow a user seated in the chair to swivel with respect to the legs when the chair is in the seating configuration. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention provide a chair that is both easily stowable in a compact shape for transporting to desired locations, as well as large and comfortable for a user that is seated in the chair, even for long periods of time.
The following drawings are illustrative of particular embodiments of the invention and therefore do not limit the scope of the invention. The drawings are not necessarily to scale (unless so stated) and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description. Embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like numerals denote like elements.
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawing and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended; any alterations and further modifications of the described or illustrated embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein, are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. It should be noted that all references to vertical, horizontal, above, below, front, rear, left, right and the like are terms of convenience referring to the chair as positioned in a seating configuration.
Embodiments of the invention include a stowable chair system 10. Such a chair system 10 is useful for providing a chair that can be placed in a stowed configuration such that it can easily be transported to a desired location for use. Some embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for use as a hunting chair, where the chair can be placed in its stowed configuration and carried to a hunting location where it can be placed in a seating configuration for use by a hunter, and for use at sporting events, social events, and for ice fishing.
As shown in
As shown by comparison of
The first leg retention assembly 20 can include any structure useful for retaining the legs 40, 42, 44, 46 in a configuration useful for seating (i.e., extending generally downward from a base supporting a seating surface). In the embodiment shown in
The second leg retention assembly 30 can include any structure useful for retaining the legs 40, 42, 44, 46 in a configuration useful for stowing. In certain embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, as shown in
As shown in
The back 78 is configured to supply a comfortable supportive member to a user sitting in the chair 10. In some embodiments, it is pivotably connected (e.g., via a bolt) to the base assembly 50 such that it can be folded with respect to the base assembly to provide a compact shape for the stowing configuration. In some embodiments, the back 78 has a first upright member 90 and a second upright member 92 spaced from the first upright member. The back 78 can also have a first horizontal frame member 94 and a second horizontal member 96 connected to the first and second upright members. In such embodiments, the second horizontal member can be spaced from the first horizontal member. Further, as shown in
In some embodiments, the back 78 includes a substrate 100 spanning the area defined by the first and second upright members 90, 92 and the first and second horizontal members 94, 96. Further, a back fabric 104 can be provided in apposition to the substrate to span the area defined by the first and second upright members and the first and second horizontal members. In a particular embodiment, the fabric includes a polyester.
As shown in
The legs 40, 42, 44, 46 can be any rigid member, and in some embodiments include elongated hollow members with a square or circular cross-sectional shape comprising aluminum (e.g., powder-coated aluminum). In some embodiments, the legs are adjustable in length (e.g., between about 13 to about 18 inches). In such embodiments, as illustrated on leg 40 in
In some embodiments, as shown in
As shown in
Some embodiments of the chair 10 include integrated handles to enhance the chair's portability while in the stowing configuration. As shown in
Accordingly, embodiments of the invention include a chair system 10 with a first leg retention assembly 20 useful for a seating configuration and a second leg retention assembly 30 useful for a stowing configuration. Embodiments of the invention also provide for a compact stowing configuration. In some embodiments, the chair has a maximum thickness of less than about 12 inches (e.g. less than about 10 inches), a maximum width between about 25 inches and about 28 inches (e.g. about 26 inches), and a maximum height between about 20 inches and about 24 inches (e.g., about 22 inches) when in the stowing configuration, yet provides a full-size chair having a maximum height between about 38 inches and about 42 inches (e.g., about 39 inches) (in embodiments including legs with an adjustable length, this height is with the legs adjusted to their maximum length) and a maximum width between about 25 inches and about 28 inches (e.g. about 26 inches) when in the seating configuration. Accordingly, some embodiments of the chair have a ratio of a height in the stowing configuration over a height in the seating configuration that is between about 0.5 to about 0.7. Such an embodiment allows the chair to be easily portable while in the stowing configuration. Further, embodiments of the invention can achieve these dimensional results while allowing the base to swivel with respect to the legs 40, 42, 44, 46 via a swivel system when the chair is in the stowing configuration, and can also provide arms to increase the comfort of a user. In addition, the chair is compact enough to be easily carried in a bag when it is in the stowing configuration.
Embodiments of the invention also include methods of selectively configuring any of the various embodiments of chairs described herein between a seating configuration and a stowing configuration. Embodiments of such methods include one or more of the steps of: attaching or detaching first, second, third, and fourth legs from a first leg retention assembly, attaching or detaching first, second, third, and fourth legs to a second leg retention assembly, folding a base and a back together or apart about a pivot, pivoting first and second arms about a back, and attaching and detaching first, second, third, and fourth feet from first, second, third, and fourth legs, respectively.
While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations, which fall within the spirit and broad scope of the invention.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 13006880 | Jan 2011 | US |
Child | 14267994 | US |