CA3125738A1 - Convertible chair and transport device - Google Patents

Abstract

A chair device with different modes, namely a low chair mode, a high chair mode, an upright lounger mode, a reclined lounger mode, a flat lounger mode and a cart mode. These configurations can be selected by simply adjusting a dual folding mechanism on the chair device.

Description

Convertible Chair and Transport Device BACKGROUND
Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to chair devices that convert from one mode to another and more particularly to a convertible chair, cart and transport device.
Description of the Prior Art Chairs with and without wheels are known in the art as are push dollies and flat wagon type carts. Weldon in U.S. Patent No. 6,131,925 teaches a beach chair that folds up into a cart designed to carry beach equipment. Weldon et al.
in U.S. Patent No. 8,814,181 teach a base with wheels that accepts a foldable beach chair. While these devices are useful, they do not serve the three-fold purpose of acting as a multi-configured wheeled chair, a dolly and a flat wagon cart.
In a companion patent application published as U.S. 2018/0000252, we teach a cart type convertible chair that resembles a commercial vertical dolly.
It would be advantageous to have a device that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art foldable devices and provides all three modes of operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wheeled device that converts between a multi-mode beach chair and a standard vertical dolly. It can also be used as a flat 2-wheeled wagon. A rigid frame includes at least two parts coupled by hinges, a first part (long part) that can fold to different lengths, and a second part (short part). There is a swiveling top handle on the end of the long part, and a swiveling bottom handle on the end of the short part. In a long chair mode, the long part is fully extended; in the short chair mode, it is folded and In the dolly mode, the short part forms the bottom of the dolly.
The present invention, in addition to being a basic convertible device, can optionally be equipped with modern features such as a solar-powered USB port charger. The invention also allows for different accoutrements (or models) for specialized activities such as hunting, fishing, camping RV'ing, beach, outdoor sports, tailgating and the like. In the chair mode, the present invention can have multiple chair positions along with the ability to lie flat.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Attention is now directed to several figures that illustrate features of embodiments of the present invention:
Figs. 1A-1B show a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention in the dolly mode. Fig. 1A shows an embodiment with rotating hinges, while Fig. 1B shows an embodiment that telescopes.
Fig. 2 shows the long flat chair mode,

2 Fig. 3 shows the short flat chair mode by folding the front section under.
Fig. 4 shows the reverse mode, long-back chair.
Fig. 5 shows the reverse mode, short back chair.
Fig. 6 shows the folded store-away mode.
Fig. 7 shows a first embodiment of the present invention in several different modes, namely a low chair mode, a high chair mode, an upright lounger mode and a flat lounger mode. This embodiment has wheels.
Fig. 8 shows the embodiment of Fig. 7 in an upright lounger mode, in a reclined lounger mode.
Fig. 9 shows the embodiment of Fig. 7 in a low chair mode, in a high chair mode.
Fig. 10 shows a top and side view of the embodiment of Fig. 7 in a flat lounger mode.
Fig. 11 shows a side and perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 7 in a cart mode.
Fig. 12 shows the embodiment of Fig. 7 totally folded with wheels and with wheels removed.
Fig. 13 shows a second embodiment of the present invention in a fully folded mode. This embodiment has no wheels.
Fig. 14 shows the embodiment of Fig. 13 in a high chair mode.
Fig. 15 shows the embodiment of Fig. 13 in a low chair mode.
Fig. 16 shows the embodiment of Fig. 13 in an upright lounger mode.
Fig. 17 shows the embodiment of Fig. 13 in a reclined lounger mode.

3

4 Fig. 18 shows the embodiment of Fig. 13 in a flat lounger mode.
Fig. 19 shows leg attachment details for the embodiment of Fig. 13.
Fig. 20 shows the wheeled embodiment of Fig. 7 carrying several models of the non-wheeled embodiment of Fig. 13 Several drawings and illustrations have been presented to aid in understanding the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited to what is shown in the figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention relates to a convertible device that can become a vertical dolly, a flat cart and a chair with different seat heights and lengths. It also relates to embodiments that have now wheels.
A first embodiment of present invention is equipped with at least two wheels 4 attached to an elongated frame as shown in Figs. 1A, 1B and 2. The frame can preferably be made from aluminum for lightness and strength;
however, any rigid material may be used. The long surface 11 on the frame 10 includes a canvas or other covering material. The frame includes a short chair part 9 and a long telescoping part 9. There are two folding joints in the frame - a lower chair joint 7 and an upper handle joint 6. The lower chair joint 23 is connected to a rotating leg portion 2. The upper handle joint 6 is connected to a rotating handle portion 4 with handle 3.
Figs. 1A-1B show what can be called the dolly mode of the device. The preferred width of the wheel base is around 31 inches with the preferred width of the main frame being around 22-23 inches. While these are preferred sizes, any sizes are within the scope of the present invention. In the dolly mode, the bottom of the wheel 4 and the dolly foot 2 are flush with the ground when the dolly is simply standing. The dolly can be leaned backward slightly to roll forward.
Other features shown in Figs. 1A-1B are that the handle 3 that can pivot from the frame on the joint 6. The device has a long surface 11 and a short surface 1.
The long surface 11 is supported by a first pair of rigid bars 10 that fold around hinges in Fig. 1A and telescope in Fig. 1B forming a frame that is attached to a pair of non-folding second bars 9 forming a secondary frame, and short surface 23. The folded length of bars 10 is approximately the same as the length of bars 9. The non-folded length of bars 10 is approximately twice the length of bars 9. The bars 10 and bars 9 are connected through a rotating hinge or joint 22 so that they can be adjusted to different angles with respect to one-another including completely folding the two frames flat against each other for storage. The wheels 4 are also rigidly attached to this joint. The long and short surfaces 11 and 23 respectively can be covered with a flexible material like canvas, or they can be made from slats or any other surface material.
The first frame formed by the bars 10 connect to an approximately rectangular handle made from bars 3 and 4 that can rotate about a hinge 6 with respect to the bars 10. The second frame formed by the bars 9 connect to a second approximately rectangular handle or foot made from bars 5 and 2 that can rotate about a second hinge 24.
Fig. 2 shows the long flat chair mode. The long surface 11 forms a continuous beach chair. The short surface 1 forms the back of the chair. What

5 was the dolly foot 2 is now part of a handle along with is connector 5. What was the dolly handle 3 is not a front leg that swivels on front bar 12. Two arms 13 run from the rear vertical frame forward, and are anchored by descending supports 15. The arms 13 can be optionally equipped with drink holders 14 which can also double as ash trays.
Fig. 3 shows the short flat chair mode. The long surface 11 is split into two parts ha and 11b, with lib folded under 11a. The frame 10, in addition to telescoping, also rotates about a hinge 20 to form the fold. The other features are the same as the long flat chair mode shown in Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 shows the reverse mode, long-back chair. Here, the device is flipped into what resembles dolly mode; however the seat 1 is higher than the other chair mode, and the back 11 forms a long, tall back.
Fig. 5 shows the reverse mode, short-back chair mode, made by from the long-back mode by simply folding the upper part of the long back 11 behind the chair leaving a short chair back 11a.
Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of the present invention folded for storage or transport. In this mode, the wheels 4 are optionally removable for convenience.
Some embodiments have non-removable wheels. Also, in some embodiments, the arms 13 are also removable.
Numerous accessories may be used with the present invention. They can include, but are not limited to, the solar-powered USB charger previously discussed; fishing rod holders; large bungee straps to hold everything on cart;
wagon sides; hooks on back of chair to hang or hold towels/hats/etc.; storage

6 compartment or compartments; shade canopy; umbrella holder; removable seat cushions; and an extension at seat base (leg support) to convert chair to a lounger.
In summary, in this embodiment, the device has a rigid base frame that includes two equal length, folding approximately parallel first bar members (10), having a central first pair of rotatable hinges (30) allowing a folded configuration and an un-folded configuration, where the distance between the first bar members in the folded configuration is approximately equal to their folded length, and where the unfolded length is approximately double the folded length; the first bar members each have a distal end and a proximal end.
The device also has a rigid secondary frame also having a proximal and distal end that includes two equal length second parallel bar members (9) of length approximately equal to the folded length of the first bar members rotatably attached to the distal ends of the first bar members through a second pair of rotating hinges (22) at the proximal end of the second bar members. In addition, the device has a pair of wheels rotatably mounted to extension arms (25) that are rigidly attached to the first rotatable hinges (22) left and right.
The device has a dolly mode, a long flat chair mode, a short flat chair mode, a reversed tall back chair mode, a reversed short back chair mode, and a folded mode. In the dolly mode, the first bar members are in the un-folded mode forming a vertical back for the device; the second bar members are approximately perpendicular to the first bar members, and the second handle forms a lower foot for the device. In the long flat chair mode, the first and second

7 bar members are configured as in the dolly mode, and the second bar members for a back for the device, while the first handle forms a lower foot for the device.
In the short flat chair mode, the first bar members are in a folded configuration, the second bar members are approximately perpendicular to the first bar members; the second bar members form a back for the device, and a pair of descending legs (15) form a lower foot for the device. In the reversed tall back chair mode, the first bar members and the second bar members are configured as in the dolly mode with the first bar members forming a long chair back for the device and the second handle forming a lower foot for the device. In the reversed short back chair mode, the first bar members are in the folded configuration forming a short chair back for the device, and the second bar members and second handle are configured as in the tall back chair mode. In the folded mode, the first bar members are in the folded configuration, the second bar members are approximately parallel to the first bars, and the first and second handles are folded and also approximately parallel to the first bar members.
Fig. 7 shows a different embodiment of the invention. Four different modes of the unit with wheels can be seen, namely a low chair mode, a high chair mode, an upright lounger mode and a flat lounger mode. Fig. 8 shows the two configurations of the lounger mode, namely with an upright back or a reclined back. Fig. 9 shows the beach/field chair mode of this embodiment. These configurations can be selected by simply flipping the folding mechanism on the chair. Fig. 10 shows the frame of the flat lounger mode of this embodiment.
Fig.

8 11 shows a cart mode for this embodiment. Finally, Fig. 12 shows this embodiment folded.
Fig. 13 shows a different embodiment of the invention with no wheels. The chair is fully folded in Fig. 13 and can be stored in that mode. Fig. 14 shows this embodiment in a high chair mode, while Fig. 15 shows it in a low chair mode.
Again, switching from one mode to another only requires moving the adjustable hinges to different positions. Fig. 16 shows this embodiment in an upright lounger mode, while Fig. 17 shows it in a reclined lounger mode. Fig. 18 shows it in a flat lounger mode.
Fig. 19 shows a particular way of attaching the fixed legs of the embodiment of Fig. 13. While this is one way of attaching them, any method or technique for attaching the fixed legs is within the scope of the present invention.
Fig. 20 shows the embodiment of Fig. 7 in cart mode carrying three models of the embodiment of Fig. 13. This figure demonstrates the utility of cart mode.
Several descriptions and illustrations have been presented to aid in understanding the present invention. One with skill in the art will realize that numerous changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Each of these changes and variations is within the scope of the present invention.

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Claims (7)

We claim:
1. Claim 1. A folding combination chair device comprising:
   a rigid elongated frame with a length and a width, the length being approximately four times the width, the frame folding in two locations along the length using two pairs of adjustable hinges, making the chair device to have five modes: a low chair mode, a high chair mode, an upright lounger mode, a reclined lounger mode, and a flat lounger mode;
   and wherein the chair device also has a totally folded mode.
2. Claim 2. The folding combination chair device of claim 1 further comprising a pair of wheels rotatably mounted to extension arms that are attached to the frame.
3. Claim 3. The folding combination chair device of claim 1 further comprising a pair of flat arms attachable to the frame.
4. Claim 4. The folding combination chair device of claim 3 wherein the flat arms have drinking cup holders.
5. Claim 5. The folding combination chair device of claim 1 further comprising a saddle bag attachable to the frame.
6. Claim 6. The folding combination chair device of claim 5 wherein the saddle bag has a sun port adapted to hold solar cells.
7. Claim 7. The folding combination chair device of claim 1 further comprising a cart mode.