GB2267208A

GB2267208A - Wearable seating apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2267208A
Application number: GB9211359A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Bayley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-05-29
Filing date: 1992-05-29
Publication date: 1993-12-01
Also published as: GB9211359D0

Abstract

The apparatus 10 comprises a cushioned seat member 18 pivotally mounted to a flexible intermediate member 16. A belt 14 is provided mounted on the member 16 and which permits the apparatus to be worn around a person's waist. The apparatus can adopt two positions, a stowed position (shown) with the member 18 lying substantially flat against the member 16, and a seating position (Fig. 2) where the member 18 hangs below the member 16 and can be sat upon by the wearer. Fastening means may be provided for holding the member 18 in the stowed position. A releasable strap (30, Fig. 7) may be provided to hold the member 18 against a person's buttocks. The member 18 may be profiled (Fig. 6). The member 16 and the underside of the member 18 may be of waterproof material. <IMAGE>

Description

Seating Apparatus This invention concerns improvements in or relating to seating apparatus.

In many activities such as walking and hiking, fishing, or boating, a person wishes to sit down at some point. However, it may not be convenient or possible for that person to have a chair with them. Accordingly, the person will probably have to sit on the ground which is often wet and/or dirty and also not particularly comfortable.

According to the present invention there is provided seating apparatus which can be worn by a person, the apparatus comprising a support member and means permitting the support member to either be carried in a stowed position or to be positioned such that the person can sit thereupon.

The support member is preferably padded. The apparatus preferably comprises a belt which can be worn around a person's waist.

An intermediate member preferably extends from the belt, downwardly in use, and on the free end of which is provided the support member.

The support member and intermediate member are preferably pivotally connected. Means are preferably provided for releasably attaching the support member in the stowed position to a point on or adjacent to the belt so as to be carried on the lower part of a person's back.

The releasable attachment means may comprise any of studs, hook and eye fasteners, or strips of fleece and hook fastener.

The intermediate member is preferably made of a flexible material, and stiffening members may be provided therefor.

A releasable strap engagable around a person's thighs may be provided on the free end of the support member to hold same against a person's buttocks.

The support member may be profiled to the shape of a person sittable thereon.

The underside, in use, of the support member may be waterproof, as may the intermediate member.

The support member and intermediate member may be integrally formed.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figs. 1 and 2 are side views of a first embodiment of the invention worn by a person in respectively a standing and seating position; Figs 3 and 4 are similar rear views to figs 1 and 2; Fig. 5 is a perspective front view of the apparatus of figs. 1 to 4; Fig. 6 is a similar view to fig. 5 of a further embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 7 is a similar view of a still further embodiment of the present invention.

Figs 1-5 show a seating apparatus 10 worn by a person 12. The apparatus can adopt two positions, a stowed position as shown in figs 1 and 3 and a seating position as shown in figs. 2,4 and 5. In the stowed position the apparatus 10 permits the person freedom of movement to carry out any activity such as those described above. In the seating position the apparatus provides a seat for a person sitting on the ground.

The apparatus 10 comprises a belt 14 which can be worn around a person's waist. The belt 14 can take any conventional form and will thus not be described in any detail. An intermediate member 16 in the form of a piece of flexible material extends from the rear most part of the belt 14.

Pivotally extending from the bottom edge of the intermediate member 16 is a support member 18 in the form of a cushion. The free end of the cushion may be detachably hooked onto the top of the intermediate member 16 or belt 14 by any suitable fastening meanings such as studs, hook and eye fasteners or strips of fleece and hook fastener, when in the stowed position as shown in figs. 1 and 3. When it is required to sit on the support member 18, the fastenings are detached and the member 18 hangs below the intermediate member 16 and can be located beneath a person's buttocks as shown in figs. 2 and 4.

There is thus described seating apparatus which can be comfortably worn by a person when in an upright position and which provides a comfortable seat for sitting on the ground or elsewhere. The apparatus is of relatively simple construction and can thus be robustly and inexpensively manufactured. As the apparatus is worn low on the back it can be worn in addition to a rucksack. The support member can have any required cushioning such as a filling of foam material. Foam material will be very suitable in that it is very light thus permitting easy carrying of the apparatus.

The intermediate member and any cover for the support member may be made of any suitable material such as canvas or UPVC.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, stiffening strips of plastic may be provided in or on the intermediate member 16. The underside of the support member 18 and perhaps also the intermediate member 16 may be made of a waterproof material thereby protecting a person and their clothing when sitting on wet ground.

The seating apparatus 20 shown in fig. 6 has a contoured support member 22 to provide extra comfort for a user. Fig. 7 shows a further seating apparatus 24.

In the apparatus 24 two tabs 26 are provided one on each side adjacent the free end of the support member 18 upon which is provided any suitable fastening means 28 for retaining the apparatus 24 in a stowed position. A strap 30 detachably mounted on the tabs 26 is also provided. The strap 30 is engagable around a person's thighs to hold the support member 18 against the person's buttocks thereby alleviating the need for a person to direct the member 18 to a correct position below them when sitting down.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

Claims:

1. Seating apparatus which can be worn by a person, the apparatus comprising a support member and means permitting the support member to either be carried in a stowed position or to be positioned such that the person can sit thereupon.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the support member is padded.

3. Apparatus according to claims 1 or 2, in which the apparatus comprises a belt which can be worn around a person's waist.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, in which an intermediate member extends from the belt, downwardly in use, and on the free end of which is provided the support member.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, in which the support member and intermediate member are pivotally connected.

6. Apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 5, in which means are provided for releasably attaching the support member in the stowed position to a point on or adjacent to the belt so as to be carried on the lower part of a person's back.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, in which the releasable attachment means comprises any of studs, hook and eye fasteners, or strips of fleece and hook fastener.

8. Apparatus according to claim 4 or any of claims 5 to 7 when dependent on claim 4, in which the intermediate member is made of a flexible material.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, in which stiffening members are provided for the intermediate member.

10. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which a releasable strap engagable around a person's thighs is provided on the free end of the support member to hold same against a person's buttocks.

11. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the support member is profiled to the shape of a person sittable thereon.

12. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the underside, in use, of the support member is waterproof.

13. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the intermediate member is waterproof.

14. Apparatus according to claim 4 or any of claims 5 to 13 when dependent on claim 4, in which the support member and intermediate member are integrally formed.

15. Seating apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

16. Seating apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings.

17. Seating apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawings.

18. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed in the foregoing specification or claims and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.