GB2605633A

GB2605633A - A portable chair

Info

Publication number: GB2605633A
Application number: GB2105021.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shaw Teresa
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-04-08
Filing date: 2021-04-08
Publication date: 2022-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 2041-04-08
Also published as: GB2605633B; GB2605633A9; GB202105021D0

Abstract

A portable chair device 99 comprising: a frame 3 supporting a back 1, seat 2, and two arm rests 5, 6; wherein the frame connects to one or more wheels 4; and the chair is arranged to move from a first position where the back and seat are substantially folded coplanar, to a second position where the back and seat are substantially unfolded for use. The wheel could be located on a rear part of the frame behind the seat in use, and there could be a shelf 11 at the rear part of the frame. The shelf could include a plurality of holders, slots, or raised and lowered portions for receiving and retaining items. The arm rests could include storage such as cup holders 10, or compartments that may have with lids 7 and a lock. The chair could include a battery with charging sockets and photovoltaic cells.

Description

A PORTABLE CHAIR

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable chair, more particularly but not exclusively a chair suitable for outdoors events.

Background

Many people enjoy spending time outdoors.

However at the same time many people are keen to have their comforts with them at all times, including for example electronic equipment.

Many people do not like sitting on the ground so it can also be important to have a chair even when in an outdoor setting.

It can be difficult to transport a chair, and required paraphernalia when moving from place to place, particularly when in an external setting, where the floor may be uneven. 20 Or for example over sand.

Prior Art

US 8 926 008 (AL-HASAN) discloses a portable folding chair, comprising: a seat; a backrest pivotally joined at a lower end thereof to a rear end of said seat; a pair of sidewalls respectively secured to a pair of side edges of said seat, an upper edge of each said sidewall having a substantially arcuate contour; and a substantially U-shaped frame.

US 2016 0 000 228 (RESTREPO) discloses a lounge chair, comprising at least one integrated storage compartment.

ES 1 053 466 (TOMAS) discloses a beach trolley-chair with the ability to be disassembled or folded between two positions of use and folding, equipped with 35 wheels or means of rolling on any terrain, and equipped with handle and equipped with a removable bag.

The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a portable chair comprising: a frame supporting a back, seat, and two arm rests; wherein the frame is connected to at least one wheel; and the chair is arranged to move from a first configuration, in which the back and seat are substantially folded, to a second configuration, in which the back and seat are substantially unfolded for use.

In some embodiments it may be envisage that the frame comprises a tubular metal frame. In this way the seat and back may be envisaged to comprise fabric slings or similar.

In some other embodiments the seat or back may comprise rigid parts In some embodiments the chair may comprise two wheels. These wheels may be 20 attached to the frame. The wheels may be located on a rear part of the frame in some embodiments.

Such wheels may be envisaged to be located to rear of the seat in use.

In some embodiments the rear part of the frame comprises a substantially planar shelf section. This shelf section may be envisaged to extend behind the seat and/or frame in use. The shelf section may provide a location for transporting items when the chair is in the first position, for example for supporting heavier items on the wheels for ease of transport; and/or may provide a location for storing items when the chair is in the second position, for example keeping such items off the ground.

In use therefore it may be envisaged that such shelf section may allow the chair to function similar to a sack trolley in the first position. In some embodiments the shelf section may comprise a plurality of holders, slots or raised and lowered portions, for 35 receipt of the ends of body boards or similar. The shelf may also serve as a place to carry, grip, hold or support a cooler or chiller box, beach umbrella, or other large, bulky or heavy items.

In some embodiments the arm rests may be envisaged to be adapted for storage of 5 items, for example small, personal or electronic items. In some embodiments therefore it may be envisaged that the arm rests may include a depth of material. For example in some embodiments the arms may comprise moulded plastic parts, formed of a top face, lower face and side faces. In this way the arm rests may be envisaged to allow for a cup holder indentation, and/or may provide intemal space for one or more 10 compartments.

Having such compartments it may be envisaged that the chair may be enabled to provide closeable storage, such that the compartment may include a closure means, for example a lid.

Such closure means comprise a lock, for example wherein such lock may comprise key or combination locking mechanism.

In some embodiments the chair may comprise an energy source, for example a battery.

Such battery may be rechargeable, for example wherein the battery may comprise one or more sockets. Such sockets may enable the battery to be charged. In addition or the alternative such sockets may enable the battery to charge other items for example personal electronic equipment such as a smartphone or similar.

In some embodiments the chair may comprise one or more photovoltaic cells, for example so as to allow for solar energy harvesting to charge the battery. The cell or cells may be located on the armrest or a separate structure.

In some embodiments the one or more arm rests may be envisaged to comprise a 30 shelf, which shelf may be envisaged to fold out for example including a hinge to connect with the side face of the arm rest. This may provide extra space to the top face of the arm rest.

In some embodiments the chair may provide a third position, where the frame is 35 arranged to reform so as to allow the seat and back to lie substantially planar to form a bed.

The frame may thereby provide a plurality of hinges or pivots, which enable the frame to move between positions.

In some embodiments the arm rests may be envisaged to be enabled to move between positions separately, and in some embodiments the arm rests may be envisaged to be capable of moving independently in addition or the alternative, for example so as to enable a plurality of angled orientations for the arm rest with respect to the seat. In this way the arm rests may be advantageously rendered more usable in the third position also as well as the second position.

in some embodiments the arm rests may comprise a plurality of discrete positions for orientations. In some embodiments the frame may comprise a plurality of discrete positions between the first and second positions, and/or second and third positions in 15 particular, so as to allow for reclining of the back with reference to the seat.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the chair according to the present invention, in the second position; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the chair as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the chair shown in 30 Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the chair shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 shows an isometric view of the embodiment of the chair shown in Figure 1, in a first position; Figure 6 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the chair as shown in Figure 5 Figure 7 shows an isometric view of the embodiment of the chair shown in Figure 1, in a third position; Figure 8 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the chair as shown in Figure 7; and Figure 9 shows a detail isometric view of the embodiment as shown in Figure 2.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the figures there is shown an embodiment of a portable chair 99 generally comprising: a frame 3 with a back 1, seat 2, and two arm rests 5,6; wherein the frame includes one or more wheels 4; and the chair is arranged to move from a first position where the back and seat are substantially folded coplanar, as shown in Figure 5 to a second position where the back and seat are substantially unfolded for use, as shown in Figure 1.

In particular reference to the embodiment shown in Figure 1 the embodiment comprises two arm rests, which are formed of injection moulded plastics such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), each having a flat top face curved edges to two substantially parallel side faces, wherein the top face is curved at its ends, and the lower face being open. The top face on the arm rests each have displaceable lid 7 hinged on side hinges to the top face.

The arm rests both have indented compartments below these lids, and a first arm rest has a combination lock mechanism 53 on the lid.

This compartment has a battery 22 and a charging circuit 21 as well as socket for connection of an electronic item for charging purposes. In this way the user may safely 35 place their item into the compartment for charging and is enabled to discreetly leave it there whilst charging.

The first arm rest further includes a folding flap shelf 8 with a solar cell to its outer side face, which is hinged thereto with a rigid hinge to enable positioning with reference to the sun.

Internally the compartment comprises a vertically arranged slot holder compartment 51 for the item whilst charging.

The frame is tubular steel with a powder coating, and comprises metal hinges 16 and 10 plastic pivots 12 enabling it to move between positions.

The arm rests' lower open faces have a rack 52 with a number of discrete catch positions, wherein the arm rests is lifted out of these positions to enable angle reorientation in use of the arm rest so as to match or compliment the positions, wherein 15 the arm rests are connected by pins to the side members of the back.

The embodiment has two plastic wheels 4, which are wide to easier accommodate a variety of subordinate grounds in use, including sand. Each wheel has an independent axle, and two tabs 14 are provided at the wheels so as to provide support for a rear shelf section 13 when the chair is in the first position, as shown in Figure 5. The two tabs are connected to brackets, preventing rotation about the axles.

The rear shelf section 13 is connected to and extends from the rear of the frame, proximate the wheels and rotatable around the axles. so as to enable the shelf section to be rotated to be in use in the second position and supported from below by a lateral bar proximate rear edge of the seat, so as to provide a shelf substantially parallel the seat, below and in the rear of the back.

The rear shelf section comprises a substantially planar plastic moulded part, and 30 comprises slots 41 for receipt of items such as body boards. It may be envisaged that the chair is provided in use with straps or bungees to attach the body boards to the folded chair for transport purposes.

The seat and back are provided by fabric slings between the tubes of the frame.

The second arm rest includes a drinks holder indentation 10 in its end. The second arm rest also includes a bag 9 hanging to its outer face, for example for receipt of a book or similar item.

The back has a hinged leg support 11 for the third position, hanging to the back's rear face, and a moveable head rest 15 hanging on the front face, comprised by a pad and an elastomeric band, so as to displacement in part or whole.

As shown in Figure 9a in the arm rest there is a compartment that a mobile telephone, 10 keys, sunglasses and money can be stored in.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely 15 combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims

Claims 1 A portable chair comprising: a frame supporting a back, seat, and two arm rests; wherein the frame is connected to at least one wheel; and the chair is arranged to move from a first configuration, in which the back and seat are substantially folded, to a second configuration, in which the back and seat are substantially unfolded for use.
2. A chair according to claim 1 wherein the at least one wheel is located on a rear part of the frame extending behind the seat in use.
3. A chair according to claim 2 wherein a shelf is formed at the rear part of the frame.
4. A chair according to claim 3 wherein the shelf includes a plurality of holders, slots or raised and lowered portions, for receiving and retaining items.
5. A chair according to any preceding claim wherein the arm rests are adapted to store items.
6. A chair according to claim 5 wherein at least one arm rest has a cup holder.
7. A chair according to any preceding claim wherein a compartment with a closure means is formed in at least one of the arms.
8. A chair according to claim 7 wherein the closure means comprises a lock.
9. A chair according to any preceding claim wherein at least one of the arm rests comprises a folding shelf.
10. A chair according to any preceding claim includes an energy source, such as a battery.
11.A chair according to claim 10 comprising one or more charging sockets connected to the battery.
12. A chair according to any preceding claim comprises a photovoltaic cell.
13. A chair according to any preceding claim comprises a means which permits the arm rest to be locked in one of a plurality of angled orientations with respect to the seat.
14. A chair according to any preceding claim wherein the frame is adapted to be configured in a third configuration, in which the back and seat are adapted to provide a substantially planar bed.