GB2278271A

GB2278271A - Portable seat

Info

Publication number: GB2278271A
Application number: GB9410553A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Henry William Slack; David Charles Cocks
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-05-26
Filing date: 1994-05-26
Publication date: 1994-11-30
Anticipated expiration: 2014-05-26
Also published as: GB9410553D0; GB2278271B; GB9310852D0

Abstract

A portable seat comprises a folding frame (1) and a receptacle (2) attached to that frame (1). The frame is movable from a collapsed configuration in which the seat provides a receptacle to an extended configuration in which the seat additionally provides a seat. The frame (1) fans out about a single axis AA, thereby enabling the orientation of the bag (2) to remain substantially constant when the seat is erected. <IMAGE>

Description

PORTABLE SEAT The present invention relates to a portable seat, and, in particular, relates to a portable seat which includes a receptacle which allows the storage and transport of objects, the provision of the receptacle not significantly affecting the portability of the seat.

There are many activities in which it is common for participants to carry a portable chair with them. For example, many anglers take a portable seat to the place where they are fishing so that they are able to sit and relax when they wish. In addition, spectators at an outdoor sporting event such as a race meeting or a cricket match, will take a portable seat with them so that they can sit down whilst at the event.

Furthermore, it is common for people engaging in such activities or attending such events to carry one or more bags which contain a number of objects which they may wish to have access to during the event or which are required in that particular activity. For example, an angler may have a number of containers for floats, lines, flies, bait-boxes etc. and a person attending a race meeting may wish to take with them things such as provisions, binoculars, a book to read or a daily newspaper etc.

Up until the advent of the present invention, it was generally accepted that in order to provide a seat at such an event and at the same time to provide a container for transporting any objects required at that event, that it was necessary to carry both a portable seat and a receptacle of some description.

Another situation in which the present invention may find utility is the situation where a person typically carries a bag or suitcase around with them and wishes to sit down and relax for a period of time. For example, a person who is making a journey on public transport may be required to change trains or buses and this may entail having to wait at a station for a considerable period of time.

Until the advent of the present invention it was generally accepted that such a person would be unable to sit down if no seats were available at the station.

According to the present invention there is provided a portable seat as defined in Claim 1.

Preferably, the seat providing means envelopes the receptacle when said portable seat is in its collapsed configuration so as to confine the receptacle to a given volume and also to ensure that the contents of the receptacle are more securely protected from theft.

Advantageously, the elements which form the folding frame fan-out about a given axis, thereby enabling substantially the entire volume between two of those elements to be filled by the receptacle, without this resulting in the obstruction of the unfolding of the frame.

Preferably, the receptacle is positoned substantially underneath the axis about which the folding frame fans out, and the elements of the portable frame which lie immediately either side of the receptacle provide a base for the portable seat and hence the receptacle remains upright and immediately above the ground when the portable seat is extended.

Advantageously, the part of the seat which provides a surface for a person to sit on in the extended configuration of the portable seat further provides a closure for the receptacle in the collapsed configuration.

Preferably, the receptacle is easily accessible to a person sitting on the seat in the extended configuration.

Additonally, it is preferable that when a person is sitting on the seat his body obscures access to the receptacle thereby decreasing the likelihood of theft from the receptacle whilst a person is sitting on the seat.

Advantageously, the portable seat further comprises a mechanical linkage means configured such that the folding or unfolding of one of the elements of the portable frame results in the automatic folding or unfolding of one or more other elements of the portable frame.

The invention will now be described further with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portable seat according to a specific embodiment of the present invention, that portable seat being shown in its extended configuration; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the portable seat of Figure 1 in its collapsed configuration; Figure 3 is a schematic view of the elements of the end hubs of the portable seat when the seat is in its extended configuration; Figure 4 is an exploded view of the right hand side of the folding frame of the portable seat.

Referring now to Figure 1, it can be seen that the portable seat comprises a folding frame arrangement illustrated generally at 1 ) which supports a bag illustrated generally at 2 ) which is attached to the folding frame at a number of points.

The folding frame (1) comprises a pair of end hubs (13,14) from which extend a base-forming part (15,16,19,21), a seat back element (10), and a pair of spaced supporting arms (23,24).

The base-forming part (15,16,19,21) of the folding frame comprises two generally U-shaped metal tubes (15,16), a pair of linear struts (19,20) between the U-shaped members (15,16) and a pair of jointed struts (21,22).

With regard to the U-shaped members (15,16), a first end of each of these U-shaped members is attached to the first end hub (13), the second end of each being connected to the second end hub (14). The central sections (17,18) of the respective U-shaped sections (15,16) are parallel to each-other and also to an axis AA passing through the respective centres of the two end hubs (13,14). For the ease of the following description, the portable seat illustrated in Figure 1 will be assumed to be resting on a horizontal surface (45) with the central sections (17,18) of each of the U-shaped members (15,16) resting on that horizontal surface (45).

Furthermore, those parts of the seat that are substantially on the same side of the vertical plane in which the axis AA lies as the U-shaped member (15) will hereinafter be described as being on the front side of the portable seat.

The linear struts (19,20) connect the front U-shaped member (16) to the rear U-shaped member (15) at each side of the portable seat. A first end of each strut (19,20) is pivotally attached to a point on the outside of the front U-shaped member at a position close to the base of that member (16) and the second end of the strut (19,20) is pivotally attached to a position on the outside of the rear U-shaped member (15) close to the end hub (13,14).

The front U-shaped member (16) and the rear U-shaped member (15) are further connected by a jointed strut (21,22) which is connected between two positions on the inside of each of the U-shaped members near their respective bases.

The seat back element of the folding frame is provided by a U-shaped metal tube (30) which has similar dimensions to the two U-shaped members (15,16) of the base supporting part (15,16,19,21) of the folding frame.

Each of the ends of the U-shaped member (30) is connected to a respective end hub (13,14). A piece of material (32) ( which may for example be made of leather ) is attached to the U-shaped member (30) and extends between the two depending arms of the U-shaped member (30) and is attached to the central member of the U-shaped member (30) by a pair of straps (34,35). This piece of material (32) substantially covers the distal half of the area outlined by the U-shaped member (30) and the axis AA.

The end hubs (13,14) are mirror images of each other and hence only the first end hub (13) is described below. The outermost part of the end hub (13) is adapted to rotate about the axis AA and provides a socket into which a first depending arm of the U-shaped member (30) may be inserted. The innermost member of the end hub (13) has a depending seat supporting arm (23,24) which is also adapted to rotate about the axis AA.

The two end hubs (13,14) are connected by a shaft (40) which lies substantially along the axis AA and is curved slightly to define a central crank.

The bag (2) is made from a flexible material and comprises an extended rear wall, a front wall (52) which has a height equal to approximately 5/6 of the length of the depending arms of the front U-shaped element (15), a pair of side walls (53) which are pleated to allow the expansion of the side wall (53), and a base portion.The base of the bag is attached to the outer ends of each of the U-shaped members (15,16) by four straps (46,47,48,49) which wrap around the metal tube at each of those points and which have a gripping surface on their outer surface where they wrap around the U-shaped metal members (15,16). Two further straps (56,57) extend from the inside of the rear wall of the bag around the shaft (40) and have holes (58) which are adapted to be fastened to a pair of corresponding protrusions (59) secured to the front wall of the bag (2) at a position adjacent to its upper edge. At the uppermost end of the extended rear wall of the bag (2) a length of each side of the rear wall is fixed to a respective seat supporting arm (23,24).It will therefore be seen that in the extended configuration shown in Figure 1 the uppermost portion of the extended rear wall provides a surface which a person may sit on.

Turning now to Figure 2, the extended rear wall of the bag (2) has a handle (42) attached centrally to its outside surface at a height substantially equal to the length of one of the depending arms of each of the Ushaped members (15,16).

In operation, the seat may be moved from its extended configuration ( as illustrated in Figure 1 ) to its collapsed configuration ( as illustrated in Figure 2 by pulling the seat back U-shaped member (30) towards the front of the portable seat. This force will result in the seat back turning through approximately 110 degrees ( thereby rotating it to a horizontal position whereupon on further movement of the seat back towards the front U-shaped member (16) will free the seat supporting members (23,24) allowing them to be rotated with the U-shaped member (30) to a the collapsed position illustrated in Figure 2 in which the U-shaped member (30) and the seat supporting members (23,24) are substantially parallel to the front U-shaped member (16). Furthermore, this movement will result in the rear U-shaped member (15) being brought parallel to the front U-shaped member (16).In this collapsed configuration, the portable seat may be rested on the central sections (17) of the front U-shaped member (16) and the seat back U-shaped member (30).

On unfolding the chair from its collapsed configuration, the above procedure is reversed. Firstly, the seat back U-shaped member (30) is pulled away from the front Ushaped member (16) and thereby rotates through approximately 110 degrees until it is in a position approximately 20 degrees above the horizontal. At this point, the seat supporting arms (23,24) become fixed for rotation with the seat back U-shaped member (30) hence being rotated to a substantially horizontal position as the seat back U-shaped member (30) is rotated to a position behind the vertical as illustrated in Figure 1.

Furthermore, movement of the U-shaped member (30) beyond its position 20 degrees above the horizontal results in the rear U-shaped member (15) being forced away from the front U-shaped member (16), thereby resulting in the base-forming part (15,16,19,21) reaching the configuration shown in Figure 1. It will be seen how the rotation of the seat supporting arms (23,24) results in the handle (42) moving from its position on top of the portable seat (when that seat is in its collapsed configuration) to a position at the rear of the seat when the seat is in its extended configuration. It will also be seen how this feature prevents the handle from inconveniencing a person using the seat.

The construction of the end hubs which enables this operation is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. As stated above, the end hubs (13,14) are mirror images of each other and hence only the construction of the end hub (14) on the right-hand side of the seat when viewed from the front is described below. As can be seen from Figure 4, which shows an exploded view of the right-hand side of the folding frame, the end hub (14) comprises four principal components. These are an outer cap (60) which as stated above provides a socket (61) for the seat back U-shaped member (30) and is therefore fixed against rotation with it, a metal bracket (62) which is fixedly attached to the top of the front U-shaped member (16) and which defines a pair of slots (72,73), and an inner cap (64). Each of those elements (60,62,64) is adapted to rotate about an axle (70) which lies along the axis AA.

For the ease of the following description the direction of various parts of the three elements (60,62,64) of the hub (14) will now be described with reference to an imaginary clock-face centred on the axis AA and facing towards the centre of the seat.

Turning now to the schematic illustration of Figure 3, the outer cap (60) defines on its inside a circular dished volume which has two ribs (68,69) which radiate outwards from a bore (65) at the centre of the volume, the first rib (68) extending at an angle corresponding to 3 o'clock in the extended configuration and the second rib (69) extending at an angle corresponding to 7 o'clock in the extended configuration.

The metal bracket (62) is formed from a rectangular strip of metal which is bent about its width into a 'U' shape, the lenghtwise edges of that strip being substantially horizontal in said extended configuration. The strip is symmetrical about a vertical plane which bisects the 'U', and hence only the inward side (that seen in Figure 3) is described below. The inward side of the bracket has a bore (65) in its centre, and an arcuate slot (72) is provided towards the rearward pointing end of the bracket (62). This arcuate slot (72) follows an arc of a circle centred on the bore (65).

In the extended configuration of the seat, the arcuate slots (72,73) in the bracket (62) extend through an arc which extends from a position at about 7 o'clock to a position at about 10 o'clock.

As stated above, the U-shaped members of the base-forming part (15,16) are connected to the metal bracket (62).

This connecting arrangement is also symmetrical about the plane which bisects the metal bracket (62).

The vertical upper end one of the upwardly depending arms of the front U-shaped member (16) is fixed by suitable means to the metal bracket (62) in such a way that the 'U' bend of the metal strip fits snugly around that upwardly depending arm.

The upper end of the rear U-shaped member (15) has a pin (70) attached thereto. This pin (70) is fixedly attached to the metal member (15) and passes through a diameter of the metal member (15) and protrudes a short distance away from that member on either side. The pin (70) is confined to travel in the slots (72,73) and protudes a short distance beyond the slots. A collar (75,76) is attached to the ends of the pin (70) and each is located on the opposite side of the metal bracket (62) to the rear U-shaped member (15).

In the extended configuration, the pin (70) passing through the top of the rear U-shaped member (15) is located at the lowermost position in the slots (72,73).

The inner cap (64) comprises a substantially circular portion (66) and the seat supporting arm (24) formed as an integral casting. The side of the circular portion facing towards the outside of the seat defines a cylindrical dished volume which is segmented by a supporting rib (80) and a structural rib (81). A bore (65) is formed through the centre of the circular portion (66).

In the extended configuration the supporting rib (80) is located at an angle corresponding to about half-past two and the strengthening rib (81) is located at an angle corresponding to about half-past seven.

Turning to Figure 4, all three elements of the end hub (14) are connected by the axle (70) which passes through the bore (65) formed in each of the elements. The length of the pin (70) is such that the inside collar (75) protrudes into the dished volume of the inner cap (64) and is constrained in its movement by the supporting rib (80) and the structural rib (81), and also such that the outside collar (76) protrudes into the dished volume in the outer cap (60) and is constrained to move between the first (68) and second (69) ribs.

In the extended configuration shown in Figure 3, the inside collar (75) is located immediately above and engages the supporting rib (80) and thereby prevents the unintentional rotation of the seat supporting arm (24) towards its collapsed configuration. Also in the extended configuration, the outside collar (76) is located immediately underneath and engages the second rib (69) on the outer cap (60). The engagement of the outside collar (76) with the second rib (69) in combination with the position of the pin (70) at the base of the slots (72,73) prevents the seat back U-shaped member being moved further away from the front U-shaped member (15).

In operation, pulling the U-shaped member (30) will turn the outer cap (60) in a clockwise direction until the first rib (68) contacts the outside collar (76). Further closing movement of the seat back U-shaped member will result in the pin being pushed clockwise around the circular slots (72,73), the linear strut (20) thereby causing the rear U-shaped member (15) to fold in towards the front U-shaped member (16). Furthermore, at the point where the first rib (68) contacts the outside collar (76), the inside collar (75) will begin to move upwards away from its contact with the supporting rib (80) on the inner cap (64) thereby allowing the seat supporting member (24) to fall under its own weight or be pushed by the user towards its vertical position in the collapsed configuration.It will be seen how the continued movement of the seat back U-shaped member (30) will result in the first rib (68) pushing the outside collar (76) and hence moving the pin (70) to the uppermost position in the slots (72,73), whereupon further movement will be precluded. The seat back Ushaped member will have returned to its vertical position, and the seat supporting member (24) will be free to rotate until the inside collar (75) again contacts the supporting rib (80), i.e. when the seat has reached a substantially vertical position.

It will be seen how the folding operation can be reversed by pulling the U-shaped member (30) away from the front U-shaped member (18). It will be seen how, in the unfolding operation, approximately the first 110 degrees (i.e. the angle between the first (68) and second (69) ribs of the outer cap(60)) of motion of the seat supporting arm (24) do not result in the movement of the outside collar (76), and, furthermore, how once the second rib (63) has engaged the outside collar (76) how the pin (70) is moved downwards along the slots (72,73) and thereby, in combination with the linear strut (20) moves the rear U-shaped member (15) away from the front U-shaped member (16), to form the base of the seat in its extended configuration. It will furthermore be seen how this movement of the pin (70) is communicated via the inside collar (75) and the supporting rib (80) to the seat supporting member (24) so as to raise the seat to a substantially horizontal position.

It will be seen how the specific embodiment of the present invention may facilitate the ease of transporting a seat and provisions and equipment to a given location.

Furthermore, although the portability of the seat is of paramount importance when walking with the portable seat of the specific embodiment, the portable seat has another advantage which may be important when the seat is being carried by public or private transport in that it takes up less space than would be occupied by a separate bag and folding seat. This is particularly so because the seat envelopes the bag and hence tends to keep the contents of the bag within a confined space.

Claims

1. A portable seat which comprises: a receptacle; a seat providing means which is attached to said receptacle and which is convertible between an extended configuration and a collapsed configuration; the arrangement being such that said seat provides a receptacle, additionally provides a seat when said seat providing means is in said extended configuration, and is portable when said seat providing means is in its collapsed configuration.

2. A portable seat according to claim 1 wherein: said seat providing means comprises a folding frame means; the arrangement being such that in unfolding the folding frame from its collapsed configuration to its extended configuration, the orientation of the receptacle remains substantially constant.

3. A portable seat according to claim 1 wherein: said seat providing means envelopes said receptacle in said collapsed configuration.

4. A portable seat according to any preceding claim wherein: said seat providing means comprises: a seat part; means for supporting said seat part and any weight placed thereon; wherein the seat part is substantially parallel to said supporting means in said collapsed configuration and is held at a substantial angle to said supporting means in said extended configuration.

5. A portable seat according to claim 4 wherein: said supporting means comprises two or more elements which are rotatable relative to each other; said seat part is rotatable about a substantially similar axis to said elements; and the arrangement is such that the elements of the seat part fan out around said axis when the folding frame is unfolded from its collapsed configuration to its extended configuration.

6. A portable seat according to claim 5 wherein the base of said receptacle is attached to the distal ends of two of said elements, which, in use, provide a base for said portable seat in its extended configuration, the receptacle being further attached to said folding frame at one or more points substantially on said axis, the orientation of the receptacle thereby remaining substantially constant when the seat is extended from its collapsed configuration to its extended configuration.

7. A portable seat according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein: the seat part fans out from the supporting means by an angle which is substantially greater than the angle between the elements of the supporting means in said extended configuration.

8. A portable seat according to any of claims 4 to 7 wherein: the seat comprising means further comprises a seat back.

9. A portable seat according to claim 8 wherein: the seat back is substantially parallel to said seat part and said supporting means when said seat providing means is in its collapsed configuration, and fans out from said seat part by a substantial angle.

10. A portable seat according to claim 9 wherein: said seat back is of substantially the same height as the elements of the supporting means, thereby providing a support to enable the portable seat to be self-supporting in said collapsed configuration.

11. A portable seat according to claim 4 wherein: the receptacle has a hood means which may be folded over to close the receptacle.

12. A portable seat according to claim 11 wherein: said seat part comprises: a seat plate; a frame for supporting said seat plate; and said seat plate provides said hood means in said collapsed configuration.

13. A portable seat according to claim 12 wherein: the seat part is held at a sufficient angle in said extended configuration to allow a person seated on the seat easy access to the receptacle.

14. A portable seat according to claim 4 wherein: said seat part covers an opening of said receptacle in said collapsed configuration and in said extended configuration, said opening is accessible to a person seated on the seat part.

15. A portable seat according to claim 4 wherein said seat further comprises: a handle means; the arrangement being such that in said collapsed configuration said handle means is located on the exterior of the portable seat, and in said extended configuration, it is located away from the seating surface of the seat plate.

16. A portable seat according to claim 15 wherein: said handle means is at a substantial angle to, and fixed to rotate with, said seat part, and hence, on extension of the portable seat, a handle means moves from a position on top of the portable seat when in use in its collapsed configuration to a position to the side of said portable seat when in use in its extended configuration.

17. A portable seat according to claim 4 wherein: said seat providing means further comprises: a mechanical linkage means; said mechanical linkage means being configured such that when an element of the folding frame is unfolded, the unfolding of other elements of the folding frame is automatic.

18. A portable seat substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.