TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to chairs for use outdoors and indoors and more particularly, relates to a swinging chair, with an optional auto-reclining feature, made of a hard material such as wood or plastic or a lightweight material such as fabric or leather that hangs from and within a lightweight, freestanding frame, and wherein in one embodiment, the entire chair seat and frame can be folded or transformed into a compact package for use in outdoor camping, backpacking, beach and other outdoor or indoor activities where a transformable, compact and comfortable chair is desirable.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Campers, hikers, backpackers and others who pursue outdoor activities desire and enjoy the ability to sit down comfortably once they arrive at their final destination or at some intermediate point. Current folding or otherwise transforming chairs do not offer the swinging action or auto-reclining feature desired by users. Some current chairs are rocking chairs, but rocking is not well suited for use on the bumpy, uneven terrain typical of the outdoors and is a very different action and feeling from a hanging chair. In addition, users of chairs indoors or in a patio setting also desire and new sitting experience that is comfortable, enjoyable and adjustable.
Accordingly, what is needed is a portable swinging chair that can be set up on terrain typically found at camping sites or at the beach and providing a chair offering the experience of both upright sitting and reclining. Such a needed chair should interface with the ground by static legs similar to ordinary chairs while providing the dynamic action of swinging that happens between the frame and the hammock-like suspended chair portion, allowing the swinging to take place independent of the terrain. Further, this new solution should, if desired, be easy to disassemble or transform, be lightweight and pack small and the various legs and other frame pieces should be coupled together so as not to be lost.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is front photograph of the swinging chair according to the present invention;
FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the swinging chair frame according to one aspect of the invention;
FIG. 2B is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the swinging chair frame according to one aspect of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a front view of the swinging chair frame according to the invention;
FIG. 4 is a side view of the swinging chair frame according to the invention.
FIGS. 5A-5E are perspective views of the swinging chair frame hub connector according to one feature of the present invention;
FIGS. 6A-6C are front, top and side perspective views of the swinging chair frame according to the invention;
FIGS. 7A and 7B our close-up views of the legs and upright support of the swinging chair frame according to one embodiment of the present invention illustrating extra tube wall thickness in selected locations;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the swinging chair support and reclining system in accordance with one feature of the present invention;
FIGS. 9A and 9B is a top view of the chair reclining mechanism strap lock according to one feature of the present invention;
FIGS. 10A-10B are close-up perspective views of the locking upright pole tip according to one feature of the present invention;
FIGS. 11A-11K are close-up perspective views of two embodiments of the chair reclining mechanism strap lock according to one feature of the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a view of one side of the auto reclining mechanism of the swinging chair according to the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a close-up view of the auto reclining mechanism pulley system of the swinging chair according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the reclining mechanism and pulley system of the auto reclining system of the present invention;
FIG. 15 is a side view of the auto reclining system and attachment to the armrest and the back rest of the swinging chair according to the present invention;
FIGS. 16A and 16B are front and rear views respectively of one embodiment of the back rest and headrest support system according to one feature of the present invention;
FIGS. 17A and 17B are side views of the back rest and headrest support according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 18A-18E are perspective views of the swinging chair according to the present invention utilizing flat bars to support the headrest and back portion of the chair seat;
FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the swinging chair according to the present invention utilizing poles to support the headrest and back portion of the chair seat;
FIGS. 20A, 20B, 21A and 21B are perspective front and side views of high back and low back versions of the hanging chair in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of a generally U-shaped crossbar in accordance with one feature of the present invention;
FIG. 23A is a perspective view of a chair frame in accordance with one feature of the present invention;
FIG. 23B is a perspective view of a chair frame pole tip in accordance with one feature of the present invention;
FIG. 23C is a detailed view of a knurled ferrule interconnecting two chair support members in accordance with yet another feature of the present invention;
FIGS. 24A and 24B are side and front views of another embodiment of the chair frame ground contacting end cap in accordance with another feature of the present invention;
FIG. 25 is a close-up cross-sectional view of a chair frame ground contacting end cap in accordance with a feature of the present invention;
FIGS. 26A and 26B are perspective views of an elastic backrest support in accordance with one feature of the present invention; and
FIGS. 27A, 27B, 28A, 28B, 29A and 29B are detailed views of a slider buckle in accordance with yet another feature of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention features a swinging chair 10, FIG. 1, having a swinging seat portion 12. In one embodiment, the swinging seat portion 12 is made of a lightweight, pliable material such as woven or knit fabric, mesh, or leather. In another embodiment, the swinging seat portion 12 may be made of a more rigid, non-pliable material such as wood, plastic or composite material.
The seat portion 12 hangs from a lightweight and strong freestanding frame 14 (FIG. 2 for example) typically made of aluminum tubing having cross sectional widths in the range of 0.25 to 5.0 inches. The frame 14 is termed “rigid” however the frame 14 exhibits the properties of being free standing and able to support the weight of a person in the chair but is in fact also flexible to some extent, as is generally found in materials such as aluminum. The aluminum material may have a shape other than circular such as elliptical or square for example and generally has a wall thickness of approximately 0.05 to 0.5 inches. Other suitable materials such as metals, metal alloys, polymers, polymer composites, wood, ceramics or any combination thereof are contemplated and considered to be within the scope of the present invention.
The frame 14, FIG. 2, is, in one embodiment, preferably formed by seven (7) segments: a first three (3) segment portion 16 including one set of two legs (16a and 16b) and upright chair support member (16c); and a second three (3) segment portion 18 forming a second set of two legs (18a, 18b) and upright chair support member 18c. In another embodiment, in order to make the frame 14 more portable and packable, the upright chair support members 16c and 18c may each be provided as two interconnecting segments (16c1, 16c2, 18c1 and 18c2, FIG. 2A) to provide more portability and packability for the chair. Each individual segment 16c1/16c2 and 18c1/18c2 may be connected together to the corresponding adjacent segment by an elastic shock cord as is commonly found in tent frames. Each individual upright support member segment 16c1, 16c2, 18c1 and 18c2 may be roughly the same length to provide for easy packing.
In another embodiment of a less portable and non-packable chair, the frame 14 may not break down but may be formed of a welded steel or aluminum frame, molded carbon fiber or composite, or the like.
In one of the embodiments disclosed herein, the first three segments 16 are held together in place by a first “hub” 20, while the second three segments 18 are held together and in place by a second identical “hub” 22. A “crossbar” spacer segment 24 keeps the first and second hubs 20, 22 and accompanying segments 16/18 in a fixed relationship (i.e. a fixed distance) from one another.
Each “hub” 20/22 (shown in greater detail in FIGS. 5A-5E) are manufactured from metals, metal alloys, polymers, polymer composites, wood, ceramics or any composite material that can be used to fabricate the hubs 20/22, all considered to be within the knowledge of those skilled in the art and within the scope of the present invention.
The leg segments 16a, 16b and 18a, 18b are arranged by the hubs 20, 22 at an angle 26 in FIG. 3 of between 45 and 90 degrees (preferably 32 degrees) from a vertical axis 30 when viewed from the front or back (as in FIG. 3), while each pair of leg segments 16a/16b and 18a/18b are also arranged at an angle 42FIG. 4 vis-à-vis one another in the range of 0 to 90 degrees (preferably approximately 54 degrees) from the vertical axis 44 when viewed from the side. The chair support segments 16c and 18c are arranged and maintained at an angle 28 in FIG. 3 of between 0 and 45 degrees from the vertical axis 30 (preferably approximately 20 degrees).
In one embodiment, spacer segment 24 is arranged essentially level horizontally. In another embodiment, spacer segment 24 may be curved as shown by dashed line 24a in FIG. 3 (see also FIG. 22) so the height of the hub 20 can be increased and the crossbar segment 24 does not interfere with the bottom of the swinging seat 12.
It is contemplated that the swinging chair in accordance with the teachings of the present invention may be provided in 2 sizes. In the small size, the chair legs 16a/16b and 18a/18b have a length of approximately 11.4 inches while in the larger size, have a length of approximately 15 inches. The frame upright chair supports 16c/18c have a length of approximately 23.6 inches in the small size and 28 inches in the large size. In the small size, the crossbar segment 24 is approximately 18 inches in length while approximately 17 inches in length and the large size.
Chair components of the sizes (large and small) contemplated by the present invention provide a chair frame having approximately 34 inches of spacing for the small frame and 35.5 inches of spacing for the large frame between the 2 upright most portions of the frame 50 and 52FIG. 6A; 26 inches between the bottoms of the chair frame feet where they contact the ground from a frontal perspective in the small size, FIG. 6B, and 28 inches between the bottoms of the chair frame feet in the large size.
The chair frame feet are preferably arranged approximately 19 inches apart at the base of the feet where they contact the ground from a side perspective for the small size, FIG. 6B, and 25 inches for the same components in the large size. The bottom portion of each of the legs 16a-16b and 18a-18b may include a nonslip foot 31 as shown in FIG. 8.
In one embodiment wherein the chair frame and or chair is packable or can collapse to make it more portable, the individual segments 16a-c, 18a-c and 24 are removed from the hubs 20, 22 and can be stored in a small bag or sleeve along with the hubs and potentially the chair seat for later assembly.
In another embodiment, the individual segments 16a-16c from one side of the frame 14, and segments 18a-18c from the other side of the frame 14 as well as spacer segment 24 may be held together by a standard shock cord run through the center of the segments as is well-known in the tent industry, in order to afford easy assembly and disassembly of the frame 14 and to prevent loss of the frame segments. In another embodiment of the present invention, the individual segments 16a-c, 18a-c and 24 could attach to hubs 20, 22 by hinging or swiveling elements, allowing the chair frame 14 to fold.
An additional feature of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes reinforcement in strategic locations in one or more of the chair frame feet and upright segments. For example, in the leg segments 16a and 18a and 16b and 18b, FIG. 7A, approximately 4 inches (section 52) of that portion of the leg support that is inserted into the hub 20/22 may be reinforced with an additional piece of tubing 53 permanently located in the end region 52 where the leg segments enter the hub. Alternatively, the legs themselves may be made with a thicker wall thickness or diameter in the area of section 52 proximate the hub, tapering toward the feet 31FIG. 8. These inserts and/or increased diameter or wall thickness in the legs help to strengthen the legs and help prevent their breakage or bending.
In somewhat similar fashion as shown in FIG. 7b, the upright supports 16c/18c may include a portion 54 having either an insert or an increased wall thickness to also help strengthen the uprights and help prevent breakage or bending. Use of these reinforcements may allow the use of lighter weight materials for the rest of the frame and a reduction of overall weight of the chair frame 14.
The swinging seat portion 12, FIGS. 1 and 8, may, in one embodiment, be made of a more rigid, non-pliable, non-collapsible material such as wood, plastic or composite material. In another embodiment, the swinging chair portion 12 may be made of a pliable, durable material such as woven or knit fabric, mesh or leather. The swinging seat portion 12 comprises a seat bottom region 32, and a seat back portion 34. Three nylon or similar straps or cordage 60, 62 and 64 are provided on each side of the swinging seat and serve to support and suspend the seat for the user.
One strap 60a/b, preferably of fixed length, is attached proximate each front corner portion 36a/b of each side of the seat bottom portion 32 to a front portion of each armrest 37; one strap 64a/b is attached proximate each of the top corner regions 38a/b of the seat back portion 34; while one set of straps 62a/b is attached part-way down the seat back portion 34 to a rear portion of each armrest 37. The swinging seat portion 12 may also have built-in armrests 37 made of a rigid or semi-rigid structure enclosed in seat material.
In one embodiment, the straps 60, 62 and 64 (three from each side) come together at a metal locking plate system 42, 44FIG. 9 (as will be explained in greater detail below) that have a hole and/or slot in the center of the metal locking plates. In this embodiment, there is a relatively short knob or protrusion 46, 48FIGS. 9 and 10 at the top of each of the chair supports 16c and 18c over which the metal locking plate systems 42, 44 are placed, to support the swinging seat portion 12.
The metal locking plate system 42/44 is designed to lock the seat 12 into the frame 14 without using complex mechanisms, while ensuring that the user's weight prevents it from becoming unlocked during use. The metal locking plate system 42/44 is made up of 3 components: a locking pole tip 46/48 with an undercut 49 which are part of the frame 14; and two metal plates 68, 70 which are attached to the seat straps 69/71. The bottom metal plate 68 has a hole 72 for the pole tip 46/48 to fit through and, in one embodiment shown in FIG. 11E two parallel slots 74a/b for webbing from the support straps 69/71 to weave through.
In another embodiment shown in FIG. 11F, slots 704C and 704D may be at an angle vis-à-vis one another in a similar angle as shown in the slots in the top plate 70a. The top plate 70 has a keyhole 76 which is a cut out in the shape of 2 staggered circles of different diameters, as well as webbing slots 78 that are at an angle to each other. The plates 68 and 70 which make up the metal locking plate system 42, 44 can slide relative to each other to allow different alignments between the keyhole 76 and the hole 72 in the bottom plate.
To install the metal locking plate system 42, 44 on the pole tip 46/48, the top plate 70 must slide over and align the larger portion of the keyhole 76 with the bottom plate's hole 72. After installation, the top plate 70 will slide back over with the keyhole fitting into the undercut 49 of the pole tip 46/48. When the chair is weighted and the webbing tensioned, it is unreasonably difficult to align the plates for seat removal ensuring that the user's weight maintains the swinging chair 12 securely on the frame 14.
The straps 60, 62 and 64 are automatically adjustable to allow the user to adjust the swinging angle he or she is seated at as well as the angle between the back of the chair 34 and the bottom 32 allowing a user to adjust the chair 12 to provide nearly upright seating or a reclined lounge seating.
In another embodiment, the frame 14 may be provided without a protrusion for connecting to the metal locking plate system 42, 44. Instead, the seat 12 may include a reinforced “pocket” which slides over the top of the uprights 16c, 18c, to secure the chair seat 12 to the frame 14. In another embodiment, the seat 12 could have a short post or plug that inserts into a hollow and of the uprights 16c, 18c.
In one embodiment, the back portion 34 of the chair 12 is attached by a 2:1 pulley system 71, FIG. 12, on each side of the chair, which pulley system connects to the swinging points 46/48 of the swinging chair and back down to the back portion 72 of the armrests 37. The pulley system 71 is balancing the user's weight to the pressure they are applying to the backrest 34 with a 2:1 advantage for the backrest. A person sitting down in the chair can push back against the backrest 34 to recline. When the user sits up, the user's weight automatically brings the backrest back up behind them. Accordingly, the novel pulley system 71 of the present invention provides an auto-reclining feature to the chair of the present invention without utilizing springs, elastics, weights or other mechanisms to activate reclining of the back portion of the chair 34.
As shown in greater detail in FIG. 13, the pulley system 71 in accordance with one feature of the present invention includes a topmost pulley 75 and a bottom pulley 77. The topmost pulley 75 is commonly known or referred to as a strap adjuster or a triglide and may be made of metal or plastic, as appropriate and required. The second or bottom most pulley 77 is commonly known or referred to as a strap loop and may also be made of metal or plastic, or composite as appropriate and required.
The topmost pulley 75 includes a central region 77 to which is permanently fastened a first portion of strap 78 approximately 2.25 inches long which anchors the top pulley 75 a fixed distance from the frame anchor point 46/48. A second region 79 of the top pulley 75 provides a region through which a portion of strap 80 attached at one end to the frame anchor point 46, 48 of the respective side of the chair. Strap portion 80 begins from the frame anchor point 46/48, threads downward through the bottom pulley 77; upward through the second region 79 of the top pulley 75 and then subsequently attaches to the sides of the backrest 34 forming strap portion 64 previously described in connection with FIG. 12. The bottom pulley 77 is fixed by strap 82 to the rear of the arm rest 37 forming strap portion 62 previously described. The dashed lines show the path of the strap 80 through the top and bottom pulleys 75/77. Additional perspective views of the pulley system 71 are shown in FIGS. 14 and 15.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a deployable, foam padded headrest along with one or more headrest and chair back support elements may be provided. In one embodiment shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, the backrest 34 may be provided with several flat aluminum bars 100 which serve to keep the shape of the back element upright and support a headrest 102.
In the preferred embodiment, four flat aluminum bars 104, FIG. 17 may be provided. In this embodiment, the aluminum bars may have pre-bends 105, 106 in them to generally match the shape of the user's back. The aluminum bars 104 provide lumbar support and support for the headrest 102.
In this embodiment, the top bars 104a and 104c are approximately 21 inches in length and the bottom bars 104b and 104d approximately 14 inches in length. The top and bottom bars overlap in a central region 106 and may be provided with a bend or custom bent by the user to achieve a comfortable fit in the area of the chair back 34. The top bars 104a and 104c are sewn into the seat except where they overlap with the lower bars enabling the top bars to pop off the lower bars to enabling folding of the seat back 34, FIG. 18.
In the preferred embodiment of the swinging chair with headrest and back support according to the present invention, a complete backrest 34 and headrest 102, FIG. 19 may be provided utilizing two poles 108 and 108a. The two poles 108 are similar in style to tent poles running up the length of the backrest 34 to fully support the headrest 102. The poles 108 may be in one piece or preferably, each pole is in 2 segments of similar length connected by a shock cord, to allow them to disassemble for packing. The lower half of each poll 108 is fully inserted into a sleeve where it can stay when packed. The topmost tip of each upper half of each poll 108 is inserted into a small pocket near the headrest 102 to keep it located and securely attached to the headrest. The poles are tent style poles connected together with a shock cord allowing them to be folded for disassembly and storage yet stay connected together so as not to be lost. The top portion of the seat back or backrest 34 may include padding 110 to add additional support and stability to the back of the chair. The bottom portion 112 of the padded area aligns generally with the location of the poles segments which facilitates folding of the backrest for storage and packing. In one embodiment, the headrest 102 may be a pillow type device to provide more comfort and support for the user, as needed. The headrest 102 may be attached with hook and loop fasteners to the seat back 34 so it can be relocated, removed and/or adjusted as needed or desired by the user.
In a second embodiment, another feature of the present invention is a frame for a portable swinging or hanging chair that can be set up on terrain typically found at camping sites or at the beach, or even around the home on a patio or living room floor, and providing an improved frame for such a hanging and swinging portable chair that prevents the fabric of the hanging chair from hitting the bottom of the frame when at rest or when swinging. Such a frame interfaces with the ground by static legs similar to ordinary chairs while providing the dynamic action of swinging that happens between the frame and the hammock-like suspended chair portion, allowing the swinging to take place independent of the frame. Further, this new solution is easy to disassemble or transform, lightweight and packs small and the various legs and other frame pieces are or may be coupled together so as not to be lost.
As shown in FIGS. 22 and 23A one feature of the present invention is a crossbar 180 having a generally U-shaped configuration which provides clearance between a chair seat bottom (not shown) hanging on the chair frame and the top portion 182 of the crossbar 180.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide pole tips 184, FIG. 23B having a hole or opening 186 through which can be threaded an elastic cord (not shown) which serves to keep the legs together with no loss of any pieces. In a similar fashion, the bottom leg caps 188, FIG. 24, may also include a hole or opening 190 through which and elastic cord can be fastened. In this manner, all of the upright pieces in the leg pieces may be connected by shock cord to allow the chair or seat frame to pack into a small package while at the same time ensuring that none of the pieces become lost.
Another feature of the bottom leg caps 188 according to one feature of the present invention is their size or dimension. Since the bottom leg cap 188 is meant to be inserted into the aluminum tube of the lower leg 198, the outside diameter (OD) of the end cap 188 is intentionally made larger than the OD of the leg tube by approximately 0.8 mm. In this manner, the sharp edge 200 at the end of the aluminum tube 198 will grab onto the rubber end cap portion 202 of the end cap 188, thus preventing the end cap 188 from accidently falling off the end of the aluminum tube 198.
A further feature of the present invention is the provision of knurled ferrule 192, FIG. 23C between the top upright 194 and the bottom upright 196. The knurled ferrule 192 includes a knurled exterior surface and wherein the knurled ferrule 192 is provided for strength between the top and bottom upright members 194/196 while at the same time allowing the top and bottom uprights 194/194 to be disassembled for storage and packing.
Yet another feature of the present invention is the provision of an elastic in the back rest of a portable hanging and/or swinging chair as shown in FIGS. 26A and 26B. The elastic 104 is provided between an approximate midpoint on the seat back 100 and the corner of an armrest 102 as shown in FIG. 26B. The elastic member 104 may be provided having a knot 106 proximate its end and a metal washer 108 which prevents the knot from pulling through the material in which the elastic is held in place.
Another feature of the present invention includes a slider buckle which is utilized with a piece of webbing to bring 2 separate parts or pieces closer together or further part, and for carefully being able to regulate the speed and distance of this action. Any existing prior art buckle, often called a triglide or tribar buckle 130, FIG. 27A is often used to tighten the shoulder straps on the backpack for example. Such existing tension lock buckles work well for the tightening action but when loosening, the webbing slides quickly through with little or no control over the loosening motion.
In accordance with the present invention, the triglide or tribar buckle is modified to include 2 perpendicular attachment points 132, 134. See also FIG. 27B. This configuration allows careful control in both loosening and tightening applications. This is made possible by adding an additional webbing attachment 0.134, FIG. 28 that extends away from the main body. This new attachment 0.134 prevents the webbing sections from touching and having friction with each other. A short webbing loop 136 with a metal ring at the end acts as a handle. The new attachment 0.132 for the handle 136 is even further away from the body, creating a lever arm. When the handle is pushed or pulled it makes the entire buckle rotate. This rotation changes the contact area of the webbing woven through the buckle and reduces or increases friction. See FIGS. 29A and 29B. The buckle rotation, and therefore the friction on the webbing, can be modulated or controlled by the user pushing or pulling on the handle 136 with different amounts of force in a different direction. This change in friction, combined with the direction the handle is pushed or pulled in, will move the entire buckle and adjust the webbing system with ease and great control.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a novel, lightweight and portable, auto-reclining swinging chair frame and seat with an auto-recline feature that can easily be adjusted and which entire chair that can be easily packed and carried for use in outdoor or indoor settings.
Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the allowed claims and their legal equivalents.
Patent Application
20210112985
