US20100219665A1

US20100219665A1 - Modular chair

Info

Publication number: US20100219665A1
Application number: US12/545,923
Authority: US
Inventors: Scott Hollaway; Michael Carrier
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-12-31
Filing date: 2009-08-24
Publication date: 2010-09-02

Abstract

The present invention relates to a modular chair comprising: a seat assembly, where the seat assembly includes a seat member, a back member, and an adjustable leg support extending from the seat member; and a leg assembly, where the leg assembly attaches to the seat assembly, said leg assembly includes a pair of front legs and a pair of hind legs, where said pair of hind legs includes a mechanism to vertically adjust the height of the hind legs. In one particular embodiment, the vertical adjusting mechanism includes a hollow tubular structure configured to receive a pair of extension members, a first extension member and a second extension member.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/141,700 filed on Dec. 31, 2008.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to seating furniture, and, more particularly, to a modular chair adapted to be utilized on both sloped and/or uneven surfaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Seating furniture, such as a chair, a tool, a settee, a couch, a sofa, and the like, has been known since time immemorial. The seating furniture ranges from expensive and elaborate fixtures to inexpensive and portable fixtures. Portable seating furniture, such as the chair, finds its utility at multitude of places, indoor as well as outdoors. A wide range of portable, foldable, and compact outdoor chairs is known in the art for providing comfort to a user at outdoor locations. Spectators of outdoor events, such as golf, baseball, and soccer events, firework displays, parades, and the like; and participants in outdoor activities, such as fishing, camping, trekking, and the like, often carry their own outdoor chairs. Such a conventional outdoor chair is beneficial, as the user may place the conventional outdoor chair at any location of his/her choice.
However, the structural configuration of the conventional outdoor chair is optimized for a leveled or a horizontal surface, and as such, lacks ability to support the user on a sloping or an uneven surface. Sitting on a conventional outdoor chair placed on the sloping or the uneven surface may be uncomfortable for the user, as the user has to constantly make efforts to remain seated on the conventional outdoor chair and to prevent the conventional outdoor chair from toppling.
Further, the conventional outdoor chair lacks storage capabilities, and as such become burdensome for a user at an outdoor location, as the user also needs to carry other articles, such as a fishing tackle kit, a pack, and the like, along with the conventional outdoor chair. Furthermore, the conventional outdoor chair lacks ability to hold items, such as a can or a bottle of a cold drink, water, and the like, when the user is engrossed in watching an outdoor event, such as a golf or soccer match, a baseball game, firework displays, parades, and the like.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a modular chair configured to maintain balance and to provide comfortable seating facility to a user in all types of topographical surfaces such as a leveled or a horizontal surface, and a sloping or an uneven surface. Further, there exists a need for a modular chair with storage capabilities. Also, there exists a need for a modular chair, which is capable of holding items, such as a can or a bottle of a cold drink, water, and the like.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to obviate above and other disadvantages from existing art and to provide a modular chair which is configured to maintain balance and to provide comfortable seating facility to a user in all types of topographical surfaces such as a leveled or a horizontal surface, and a sloping or an uneven surface.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide a modular chair with storage capabilities.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide a modular chair configured to hold items.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a modular chair comprising: a seat assembly, where the seat assembly includes a seat member, a back member, and an adjustable leg support extending from the seat member; and a leg assembly, where the leg assembly attaches to the seat assembly, said leg assembly includes a pair of front legs and a pair of hind legs, where said pair of hind legs includes a means to vertically adjust the height of the hind legs. In one particular embodiment, the pair of hind legs, a first hind leg and a second hind leg, include a hollow tubular structure configured to receive a pair of extension members, a first extension member and a second extension member, where the first extension member is configured to telescopically fit into the first hind leg and the second extension member is configured to telescopically fit into the second hind leg. The pair of hind legs may further include a locking mechanism on each of hind leg.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a modular chair, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The best mode for carrying out the present invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted in FIG. 1. The preferred embodiment described here in detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.
The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.
The present invention provides a modular chair which is capable of maintaining a balance in all types of topographical surfaces, such as a leveled or a horizontal surface, and a sloping or an uneven surface. The present invention is capable of providing a comfortable seating facility to a user. The present invention finds its utility indoor such as in homes, commercial establishments, offices, and the like, and outdoors.
FIG. 1 illustrates a modular chair 100, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The modular chair 100 includes a seat assembly 10 and a leg assembly 12 attached with the seat assembly 10. It may be evident to a person skilled in the art that the seat assembly 10 and the leg assembly 12 are configured together to constitute the modular chair 100 which is capable of stably standing on a sloping or an uneven surface.
The seat assembly 10 includes a seat member 14 and a back member 16 mounted with the seat member 14 in a manner such that the seat member 14 provides a seating surface for a user (not shown) and the back member 16 provides a support to a back portion of the user. The seat member 14 may be made of any sturdy and lightweight material, such as a canvas material. The back member 16 includes a cushioned layer 18 for providing a cushioned and comfortable support to the back portion of the user. Further, the seat assembly 10 may include an adjustable leg support 20 extending outwardly from the seat member 14, as shown in FIG. 1. The adjustable leg support 20 is configured to provide comfort to legs of a user seated on the modular chair 100.
The leg assembly 12 includes a pair of front legs, such as a first front leg 22 and a second front leg (not shown). Further, the leg assembly 12 includes a pair of hind legs, such as a first hind leg 24 and a second hind leg (not shown). The pair of hind legs, such as the first hind leg 24 and the second hind leg, is a hollow tubular structure configured to receive a pair of extension members, such as a first extension member 26 and a second extension member (not shown), respectively. More specifically, the first extension member 26 is configured to telescopically fit into the first hind leg 24 and the second extension member is configured to telescopically fit into the second hind leg. Telescopic arrangement of the pair of extension members in the pair of hind legs helps to secure the modular chair 100 on either a sloping or an uneven surface. The pair of hind legs further includes a locking mechanism on each of the pair of hind legs. In an embodiment of the present invention, the locking mechanism, such as a push button 28, is shown to be configured on the first hind leg 24 for securing the first extension member 26 in the first hind leg 24. Similar arrangement may be configured on the second hind leg for securing the second extension member in the second hind leg.
Further, the pair of front legs may include a first brace member (not shown). More specifically, the first front leg 22 and the second front leg may connected to each other by the first brace member for providing extra strength to the modular chair 100. Similarly, the pair of hind legs may include a second brace member (not shown) for providing extra strength to the modular chair 100.
Further, the pair of front legs may include at least one holder, such as a holder 30, configured to hold items such as a can or a bottle of a cold drink, water, and the like. In an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one holder, such as the holder 30, may be configured on the first front leg 22, as shown in FIG. 1.
The modular chair 100 may include pair of armrests, such as a first armrest 32 and a second armrest (not shown), adapted to support arms of the user for comfort. The pair of armrests may have a cushion member, such as a cushion member 34, as shown in FIG. 1. The cushion member of each armrest of the pair of armrests provides a comfortable base for resting the arms of the user. Further, the modular chair 100 includes a belt assembly 36 capable of allowing the user to carry the modular chair 100 with ease.
Also, the modular chair 100 includes a storage means (not shown) for storing articles such as a fishing tackle kit, a medical aid box, and the like. The storage means includes a compartment (not shown) and a lid (not shown) hingedly coupled to the compartment. The compartment and the lid may include an attachment means for coupling the lid over the compartment. In an embodiment of the present invention, the attachment means may be a magnetic latch. Further, the compartment may include adjustable dividers for accommodating different articles.
The modular chair 100 is configured to be used on all types of topographical surfaces, such as a leveled or a horizontal surface, and a sloping or an uneven surface. The pair of hind legs of the modular chair 100 includes the pair of extension members telescopically configured in the pair of hind legs. The pair of extension members is moved in order to securely place the modular chair 100 on the sloping or the uneven surface. The pair of extension members is then locked at a desired position in the pair of hind legs by means of the locking mechanism, such as the push button 28. The locking mechanism is capable of locking and/or unlocking the pair of extension members in the pair of hind legs. After the pair of extension members has been locked at the desired position in the pair of hind legs, the modular chair 100 is fit to be used by a user for sitting. Further, the first brace member and the second brace member provide extra strength and support to the modular chair 100 in order to make the user comfortably seated on the modular chair 100. The storage means of the modular chair 100 helps the user in storing and retrieving various articles of use. The at least one holder, such as the holder 30, is configured to hold items. For providing comfort to the legs of the user, the modular chair 100 is provided with the adjustable leg support 20. Also, the belt assembly 36 of the modular chair 100 provides the user a means for carrying the modular chair 100 from one place to another with ease.
The modular chair 100, as described herein, serves as stable seating furniture configured to be used on all types of topographical surfaces, such as a leveled or a horizontal surface, and a sloping or an uneven surface. The modular chair 100 provides a storage means for holding various articles of use and also provides a holder for holding various items. The modular chair 100 precludes the need for carrying various articles of use separately in order to provide comfort to the user.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A modular chair comprising:

a. a seat assembly, where the seat assembly includes a seat member, a back member, and an adjustable leg support extending from the seat member; and

b. a leg assembly, where the leg assembly attaches to the seat assembly, said leg assembly includes a pair of front legs and a pair of hind legs, where said pair of hind legs includes a means to vertically adjust the height of the hind legs.

2. The modular chair according to claim 1, where said pair of hind legs, a first hind leg and a second hind leg, include a hollow tubular structure configured to receive a pair of extension members, a first extension member and a second extension member, where the first extension member is configured to telescopically fit into the first hind leg and the second extension member is configured to telescopically fit into the second hind leg.

3. The modular chair according to claim 2, where the pair of hind legs further includes a locking mechanism on each of hind leg.

4. The modular chair according to claim 3, where the locking mechanism includes a push button configured on the first hind leg for securing the first extension member and a push button on the second hind leg for securing the second extension member in the second hind leg.

5. The modular chair according to claim 1, where the pair of front legs include a first brace member, where first brace member connects the pair of front legs and the pair of hind legs include a second brace member, where the second brace member connects the pair of hind legs.

6. The modular chair according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of armrests, a first armrest and a second armrest adapted to support arms of the user.

7. The modular chair according to claim 6, where said pair of armrests may have a cushion member.

8. The modular chair according to claim 1, further comprising a belt assembly capable of allowing the user to carry the modular chair.

9. The modular chair according to claim 1, further comprising a storage means for storing articles.

10. The modular chair according to claim 1, where said seat member is made of sturdy lightweight material.

11. The modular chair according to claim 10, where the material includes canvas.

12. The modular chair according to claim 1, further comprising at least one holder, where said holder is configured to hold a beverage container.