US3895839A

US3895839A - Portable folding seat

Info

Publication number: US3895839A
Application number: US424455A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry Amato
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-12-13
Filing date: 1973-12-13
Publication date: 1975-07-22
Anticipated expiration: 1992-07-22

Abstract

A portable folding seat comprises a pair of inverted U-shaped frames pivotally joined at their legs and which fold for storage into the thickness of a single frame. A canvas strip is secured to the cross-pieces of the frames and is adjustable in length to provide adjustability of the height of the seat when open. Two elastic straps of adjustable length are secured to opposite ends of one of the crosspieces and are adapted to attach to the belt of the user. A non-elastic strap is secured proximate the midpoint of the same cross-piece and is likewise adapted to attach to the user''s belt and thereby permit portability during non-use. When the elastic straps are adjusted to the proper length for the user, the seat may be suspended from the rear during non-use and readily deployed by simply pushing downward on the crosspiece of one of the frames.

Description

U United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,895,839 Amato July 22, 1975 PORTABLE FOLDING SEAT Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel II A 99 L k St., [76] Inventor ag all: m Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Rose & Edell [22] Filed: Dec. 13, 1973 1211 Appl. No.: 424,455 [571 ABSTRACT A portable folding seat comprises a pair of inverted [52] US. Cl 297/4; 297/26 ap frames p ota y jo ned at their legs and [51] Int. Cl. A47c 3/32 which fold for Storage into the thickness of a ng 58 Field of Search 297/4, 16, 26, 17, 45; frame A canvas Strip is secured to the cross-Pieces of 24 /154; 103 11 the frames and is adjustable in length to provide adjustability of the height of the seat when open. Two [56] R f r Cit d elastic straps of adjustable length are secured to oppo- UNITED STATES PATENTS site ends of one of the crosspieces and are adapted to attach to the belt of the user. A non-elastic strap is segfi cured proximate the mid-point of the same cross-piece 807 394 12/1905 I I I i i I26 and is likewise adapted to attach to the user's belt and 2 7:953 5/191 Zolp D l 297 thereby permit portability during non-use. When the 1,417, 0 5 1922 Nesland 108/113 elastic straps are adjusted to the proper length for the 3,062,580 11/1962 Jasmin 297/4 user, the seat may be suspended from the rear during 3,122,397 2/1964 Mintz 248/164 X non-use and readily deployed by simply pushing down- 3,I82,6I4 McLean 108/118 ward on the cfosspiece of one of the frames FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 5 CI 4 D F 775,193 5/1957 United Kingdom 297 4 fl 'awmg gums 1 PORTABLE FOLDING SEAT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention. relates to portable seats and, more particularly, to seats which are readily secured to the apparel of the user during non-use.

The problem toward which the present invention is directed concerns the need for a portable seat which, when not in use, can be carried unobtrusively at public events such as parades, fairs, races, etc. The seat should be lightweight, small when stored, easily carried and adaptable to different size persons.

Numerous approaches to portable seats exist in the prior art, but none have the combination of features described in the preceding paragraph. For example, US. Pat. Nos. l,468,072 and 3,062,580 disclose cushiontype seats which are conveniently attachable to the users belt. These seats have limited utilization because the user must find some support structure on which to sit, or else sit on the ground. Often the support structure is not present and the ground affords a poor vantage point. Moreover these seats are not adapted to fit different size persons. 1

In US. Pat. No. 3,306,658 there is disclosed a rigid contoured seat which can be suspended from the users belt and supported by a single leg. This arrangement is extremely cumbersome to carry when supported from the belt due to the configuration of the seat. Moreover, the single support leg requires the user to support himself with both legs while using the seat. A similarly disadvantageous arrangement is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 774,873 and takes the form of two pivotally joined legs which can be forced open against the action ofa spring. The seat is suspended from a specially provided harness and remains between the users legs when not in use. Apart from the disadvantage of the special harness, the location of the seat between the users legs causes considerable discomfort.

In US. Pat. No. 332,749 there is disclosed a folding seat which attaches to the wearers belt and is suspended so that one pair of legs touches the floor when the seat is not in use. The seat is thus dragged along the floor or ground by the user when the seat is in its folded condition, a highly undesirable and annoying feature.

I Further, the seat is of bulky construction, further adding to the annoyance of carrying it, and has no adjustability for use by different size persons. Moreover, the use of wheels on one pair of legs makes it extremely dangerous for the user to deploy the seat for use directly from the stored position attached to the users belt.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a portable folding seat which is convenient to carry when not in use, which is readily and safely deployed for use from its stored position, and which is adaptable for use by persons of different size.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable seat which can be secured to the users apparel and carried without annoyance when not in use.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable folding seat which is adjustable for use by different size persons.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION According to the presentinvention a portable folding seat is constructed from a pair of inverted U'shaped frames which are pivotally-joined at their legs. One frame. is of shorter length than the other so that the smaller frame can be located entirely within the periphery of the larger frame when the seat is folded closed. The cross-piece of the shorter frame has two elastic straps secured at its ends and a non-elastic strap secured proximate its middle, the straps being adapted to be secured to the rear of the users belt. The elastic straps are adjustable in length to permit the seat to be suspended to the level at which deployment is facilitated for any size person.

A canvas seat portion is secured to one cross-piece and is folded around the opposite cross-piece. The folded end is secured to a strap which is also attached to the first cross-piece and which is adjustable to permit adjustment of the length of the canvas seat portion extending between the cross-pieces.

The seat is readily deployed for use from its suspended and folded position by simply pushing down on the cross-piece of one of the frame members to thereby open the frame and present the seat portion for occupancy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and still further objects, features and ad vantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of one specific embodiment thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the portable folding seat of the present invention shown folded closed and attached to the belt of the user at the users side;

FIG. 2 is a side view in section, of the portable folding seat of the present invention shown folded closed and attached to the belt of the user at the users rear;

FIG. 3 is a side view in section, of the portable folding seat of the present invention shown open and in use; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of the portable folding seat of the present invention shown open and ready to be used.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings with greater specificity, the seat of the present invention includes a pair of U-

shaped frames

11 and 12 made from suitably lightweight and rigid material such as aluminum, fiberglas, or plastic of the necessary strength. Preferably the frame structures are hollow, as best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, to further minimize the weight. Frame 11, which is somewhat larger than frame 12, includes opposed parallel-extending

legs

13 and 14 joined at one end of each leg by a cross-piece 16. Smaller frame 12 includes opposed parallel-extending

legs

17 and 18 joined at one end of each leg by cross-piece 19. A pivot pin or bolt 21 joins

legs

13 and 17 in pivotal engagement proximate their mid-points; a similar pin or bolt 22 joins

legs

14 and 18 in pivotal engagement proximate their midpoints. The pivotal connection thus provided permits the seat to be folded closed, when not in use, or open, when in use. Non-slip rubber or

plastic tips

23, 24, 26, and 27 are secured to the lower ends of

legs

13, 14, 17 and 18, respectively.

A strip 28 of canvas or similarly strong foldable material extends between

cross-pieces

16 and 19 and thereby provides a seating portion when the seat is open. One end of strip 28 is folded over cross-piece 19 and sewn back upon itself to provide a sleeve within which cross-piece 19 resides. The other end of strip 28 is folded over cross-piece 16 and passes through the narrow space provided between that cross-piece and a flat member 29 secured at its ends along a side of crosspiece 16 which is remote from cross-piece 19. Member 29 prevents strip 28 from sliding along the length of cross-piece 16. After passing between cross-piece 16 and member 29, strip 28 is folded back toward crosspiece 19. The extreme end of this portion of strip 28, which resides under the seat portion when the seat is open, is folded over a flat elongated member 31 and sewn back upon itself to provide a sleeve surrounding member 31. Member 31 serves to effect rigid planar support for this end of strip 28.

A two-piece strap arrangement includes one piece 32 secured about support member 31, through canvas strip 28, and arranged to be engaged by a buckle 33. The buckle is secured to one end of the second strap piece 34, which is in turn secured to cross-piece 19 proximate its mid-point through canvas strip 28 by means of a bolt or rivet 35. The length of the seat portion of strip 28 thus subtended between

cross-pieces

16 and 19 is rendered adjustable by tightening or loosening the two-piece strap arrangement comprising

strap pieces

32 and 34 and buckle 33. If the strap arrangement is loosened the seat portion becomes larger, permitting the

frames

11 and 12 to open wider and thereby support the seat portion at a lower level. If the twopiece strap arrangement is tightened the frames cannot open as wide and the seat portion is thus supported at a higher level. The overall result, therefore, is a capability of adjusting the height of the seat portion.

The end of strap 34 which is remote from buckle 33 is secured to a clip 36 which is adapted to be removably secured over a belt or the like. As illustrated in FIG. 1, clip 36 fits over the users belt and permits the seat to hang suspended at the users side or rear.

An important feature of the present invention is that frame 12 is sized to fit within the periphery of frame 11 when the seat is closed (see FIGS. 1, 2). This permits the seat, when not in use, to occupy no more than one frame thickness, thereby minimizing its bulk and rendering it unobtrusive when suspended from the wearers belt.

An elastic strap 37, adjustable in length by means of buckle 38, is secured at one end to frame 12 proximate the junction between leg 18 and cross-piece 19. The other end of elastic strap 37 has a clip 39 secured thereto, which clip is likewise adapted to be removably secured to a users belt. A similar elastic strap 41, adjustable in length by means of buckle 42, is secured at one end to frame 12 proximate the junction between leg 17 and cross-piece 19. The other end of elastic strap 41 has a clip 43 secured thereto, which clip is likewise adapted to be removably secured to a users belt. The ability to adjust the length of

elastic straps

37 and 41 permits the user to suspend the seat from the rear of his or her belt at a level which corresponds to that of the users buttocks. The user then need only reach around his or her back or between his or her legs and push cross-piece l6 downward and away from cross-piece 19, whereupon the seat will open in a suitable position relative to the user's body.

It should be noted that when the seat is not in use it may be supported from the users belt by the single centrally located clip 36; the support location may be at the side or rear of the user. Alternatively, all three

clips

36, 39 and 43 may be attached to the rear portion of the users belt during non-use. In either case, the central clip 36, secured to inelastic strap 34, is removed from the users belt prior to opening the seat in order to facilitate positioning of the seat. If the seat had been carried by clip 36 alone, clips 39 and 43 should be attached to the users belt before the seat is opened.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the seat may be supplied with a belt in case the user does not wear belts.

My invention, as described, is extremely flexible in that it permits the seat to be set to different heights and to be suspended, when not in use, at a level which is convenient for opening and deployment. It is fabricated from light weight material and can be folded to occupy one frame thickness so that it may be conveniently carried.

While I have described and illustrated one specific embodiment of my invention, it will be clear that variations of the details of construction which are specifically illustrated and described may be resorted to without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A portable folding seat of the type which is adapted to be secured to apparel of a user when not in use, said seat comprising:

first and second inverted U-shaped frames of light weight material, each including first and second legs joined by a cross-piece, said frames being pivotally joined to one another along a common axis through said legs, the legs and cross-piece of said first frame being slightly larger than the legs and cross-piece of said second frame such that in a closed pivotal position of said frames said second frame fits entirely within the periphery and thickness of said first frame;

a strip of foldable material extending between the cross-pieces of said first and second frames to define a seating portion when said frames are in an open position;

adjustable means for adjusting the length of said strip of material extending between said cross-pieces to vary the height of and spacing between said crosspieces in the open position of said frames, thereby permitting the height of said seating portion to be adjusted at will; and

attachment means for removably supporting said seat behind and from the waist of said user, said attachment means comprising; first means for supporting said seat at a standard position below said users waist when said seat is being carried in a nondeployed condition: and second means for supporting said seat at an adjustable position below the users waist with the frames in an open position to facilitate deployment of said seat by users of different heights.

2. The seat according to claim 1 wherein said strip of foldable material forms a sleeve surrounding one of said cross-pieces and is folded over the other crosspiece to extend back toward said one cross-piece beneath said seat portion, and wherein said means for adjusting comprises two-piece strap means of adjustable length extending below said seat portion between the to be secured to said belt-like member, whereby, upon disengagement of said inelastic strap clip means from said belt-like member, said seat may be pulled downward against opposing forces exerted by said elastic straps.

5. The seat according to claim 4 further comprising means for adjusting the length of said pair of elastic straps when unextended.

Claims

1. A portable folding seat of the type which is adapted to be secured to apparel of a user when not in use, said seat comprising: first and second inverted U-shaped frames of light weight material, each including first and second legs joined by a cross-piece, said frames being pivotally joined to one another along a common axis through said legs, the legs and cross-piece of said first frame being slightly larger than the legs and cross-piece of said second frame such that in a closed pivotal position of said frames said second frame fits entirely within the periphery and thickness of said first frame; a strip of foldable material extending between the cross-pieces of said first and second frames to define a seating portion when said frames are in an open position; adjustable means for adjusting the length of said strip of material extending between said cross-pieces to vary the height of and spacing between said cross-pieces in the open position of said frames, thereby permitting the height of said seating portion to be adjusted at will; and attachment means for removably supporting said seat behind and from the waist of said user, said attachment means comprising; first means for supporting said seat at a standard position below said user''s waist when said seat is being carried in a non-deployed condition; and second means for supporting said seat at an adjustable position below the user''s waist with the frames in an open position to facilitate deployment of said seat by users of different heights.

2. The seat according to claim 1 wherein said strip of foldable material forms a sleeve surrounding one of said cross-pieces and is folded over the other cross-piece to extend back toward said one cross-piece beneath said seat portion, and wherein said means for adjusting comprises two-piece strap means of adjustable length extending below said seat portion between the extremity of the folded end of said strip of folded material and said one cross-piece.

3. The seat according to claim 1 wherein said first means is an inelastic strap secured at one end to one of said cross-pieces and having clip means at its other end for attaching said inelastic strap to a belt-like article worn by said user.

4. The seat according to claim 3 wherein said second means comprises a pair of elastic straps secured to opposite ends of said one cross-piece and being adapted to be secured to said belt-like member, whereby, upon disengagement of said inelastic strap clip means from said belt-like member, said seat may be pulled downward against opposing forces exerted by said elastic straps.