WO2010056360A2

WO2010056360A2 - Sunbather article

Info

Publication number: WO2010056360A2
Application number: PCT/US2009/006135
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonathan Jay Feinstein
Original assignee: Jonathan Jay Feinstein
Priority date: 2008-11-15
Filing date: 2009-11-13
Publication date: 2010-05-20
Also published as: WO2010056360A3; US20100038938A1

Abstract

An article suitable for sitting or lying thereon comprising a surface adapted for containing a fluid, means for dispensing the fluid (e.g., water) onto at least one surface at a first elevation and therefrom onto at least one surface at a lower second elevation, means for collecting the fluid from the at least one surface at its second elevation and means for recirculating the fluid from the collection means to the dispensing means. The article may be a chair including integrally disposed seat and back sections onto which a user may sit or recline, such as a lounge chair. The chair contains a foot reservoir and/or a hip reservoir which may singly or collectively be filled with a fluid to cool a person sitting or lying upon the chair. Alternatively, the article may be a mat positioned on any type of a chair wherein the mat contains a foot reservoir and/or a hip reservoir which may singly or collectively be filled with a fluid to cool a person sitting or lying upon the mat.

Description

SUNBATHER ARTICLE

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

This application claims the priority of United States provisional patent application serial no. 61/199,249 filed November 15, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety. Also incorporated in their entirety are the disclosures of United States provisional patent application serial no. 61/189,337 filed August 18, 2008 and United States utility patent application serial no. 12/542,675, filed August 17, 2009.

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a particular type of chair, preferably a lounge chair, or a mat that may be laid upon any type of chair. The particular type of chair and the mat contains a fluid, e.g., water. The fluid is cascaded over a person sitting on or lying upon the chair or mat to keep the person, e.g., a sunbather, cool.

Background of the Invention

It is known that immersing parts of a person's body in water can have a cooling, warming or otherwise comforting effect on the person. It is desirable and known to support a person such as in a chair while that person is immersed in water to eliminate the need for swimming or other exertion. Chairs that float or attach to a side of a pool of water are known. US Patent D298.055 teaches a "Suntanning Pool" that contains a molded chair shape to support a person within a container of water in which the container and chair shape are a unitary piece.

US Patent 3,969,776 is an example of an open rectangular box or receptacle that contains a bath of water and which has a reclining wall at one end to support the torso of a reclining human body immersed in the open, rectangular box of water.

It is also known that molded plastic can be shaped to conform to the shape of the human body both to support and immerse a body in water, such as in the molded baby baths of US Patents D299.741 and D469.860, and 4,561 ,135. US Patent 4,466,141 discloses a molded plastic hydrothermal treatment enclosure that serves a similar purpose for supporting a person's body immersed in water. US Patents 3,528,111 , 4,150,445, 3,346,885, 4,160,292, and 4,521 ,926 similarly disclose bath chairs. Some Jacuzzis contain molded shapes to support in a sitting position a person immersed in a pool of water. Additional relevant prior art include the following:

US Patent 7,077,465 B1 pertains to a combined chair and water-misting apparatus to provide comfort to a user in inclement weather conditions. The chair includes seat and back sections with isolated first and second cavities for containing water. US Patent 4,854,502 pertains to a recycling spray apparatus for lounge chairs.

US Patent 5,387,181 pertains to an environmentally-controlled lounge chair to accommodate a person in a reclining position while exposing the person to a stress-relieving environment. The apparatus provides sounds simulating those of a running brook and mist to envelop the person in a stress-relieving environment.

US Patent 4,979,375 relates to a mat for cooling a person during hot weather without wetting the person. The mat is positioned upon a lounge chair or placed on the ground and tap water circulates through the mat to cool the person lying on the mat.

To provide cooling to a human body while conserving space such as on small patios, to reduce the chair's strength requirements, and to improve control of water temperature it is desirable to immerse at least portions of a person's body in a minimal volume and weight of water. The previously mentioned prior art chairs are useful for immersing a person in water and supporting the person, but require large amounts of water. They are not portable or convenient to fill or use or to control the temperature of the water, and do not contain portable means for dispensing, flowing, and collecting water as in the present invention. Objects of the Invention

It is an object of the invention to provide an article that is suitable for cooling, warming or massaging a person with a minimum amount of fluid, e.g., water. It is a further object of the invention to provide a portable article for that is suitable for outdoor use for cooling a person with a minimum amount of fluid, e.g., water.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide cooling while the person is comfortably seated or lying down without the need for expensive supporting chair structures.

The foregoing objects and additional objects discussed below have been met by the present invention described and claimed hereinbelow.

Summary of the Invention In its broadest aspect, the article of the invention comprises:

(a) at least one surface adapted for containing a fluid;

(b) means for dispensing the fluid onto the at least one surface at a first elevation and therefrom onto the surface at a lower second elevation;

(c) means for collecting the fluid from the at least one surface at its second elevation; and

(d) means for recirculating the fluid from the collection means to the dispensing means.

The surface will be that of a chair, preferably a lounge chair, i.e., a reclining chair, or a mat that may be positioned on a chair. The chair or the mat contains a reservoir of fluid, preferably water, to collect the fluid near the foot of a person sitting or lying upon the chair or the mat (such reservoir is hereinafter referred to as a "foot reservoir"). The chair or the mat will alternatively or additionally contain a reservoir of fluid, preferably water, to at least partially immerse the buttocks of a person sitting or lying upon the chair or mat (such reservoir is hereinafter referred to as a "hip reservoir"). Preferably, the chair or the mat will contain both a foot reservoir and a hip reservoir which may communicate with each other above a prescribed elevation. The fluid is contained in the foot reservoir between walls including the wall of the chair or the wall of the mat that supports the lower portion of the legs of a person sitting or lying upon the chair or the mat. Such walls are hereinafter referred to as the "calf wall", an end wall near the foot of the chair or the mat and two side walls joined to or proximate the calf and end walls. The foot reservoir will typically take the form of a concave-dished shape for collecting or retaining fluid cascading from the hip reservoir to the foot reservoir.

The fluid is contained in the hip reservoir between walls including the wall of the chair or the wall of the mat that supports the upper portion of the legs of a person sitting or lying upon the chair or the mat (hereinafter referred to as the "thigh wall"), the wall that supports the back of a person sitting upon or lying upon the chair or the mat, (hereinafter referred to as the "back wall") and two side walls joined to or proximate the thigh and back walls. The hip reservoir will typically take the form of a concave-dished shape for collecting or retaining fluid cascading from the back wall or the head area of the chair or the mat to the hip reservoir.

The chair or the mat will contain conduits and pumping means for directly or indirectly pumping fluid from the foot reservoir to the hip reservoir. The chair or the mat will optionally contain a headrest, e.g., a pillow, that may be adjustably (i.e., in accordance with the height of the person sitting or lying upon the chair or the mat) affixed to the back of the chair or the mat and internal channels to direct the flow of the fluid onto the person sitting or lying upon the chair or mat. Conveniently, the means to dispense the fluid onto the surface may be contained within the headrest. The chair or the mat may optionally contain means for adjusting the level of fluid in the hip reservoir, the foot reservoir or in both reservoirs. The chair or the mat may further optionally contain means for controlling the flow rate of fluid dispensed from the dispensing means (and optionally the forcefulness of the flow such that it will massage a person sitting or lying upon the chair or mat). The chair or mat may also optionally contain means for controlling the frequency (i.e., the timing) of fluid dispensed from the dispensing means as well as means for turning the dispensing and/or the recirculating means on and off.. Typically, the dispensing and/or the recirculating means may be powered by non-rechargeable batteries, rechargeable batteries, solar cells, etc.

In the case of the article being a chair, the chair optionally may contain front and/or back legs and optionally wheels. Additionally, the chair may contain an internal support, e.g., a hammock comprised of a fluid-permeable material such as a nylon netting or be covered with a fluid-impervious membrane such as a sheet of plastic, located above the back, thigh and calf walls and on which a person lying upon the chair rests.

In the case of the article being a mat, the mat may optionally be at least partially covered of a fluid-permeable material or at least partially covered with a fluid-impervious membrane. The fluid-impervious membrane separates a person sitting or lying upon the chair or mat from the fluid flowing over the chair or mat and below the membrane to enable the person to keep dry while being cooled by the fluid.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG.1 is a side view of the chair of the present invention.

FIG.2 is a perspective view of the chair of the present invention.

FIG.3 is a side view of the mat of the present invention. FIG.4 is a perspective view of the mat of the present invention.

FIG.5 is a plan view of the top surface of the mat of the present invention when the mat is in a straight position.

Detailed Description of the Drawings The following detailed description pertains to various exemplary embodiments and features of the present invention. Such detailed description is presented for illustrative purposes only and is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited only by the claims presented hereinbelow. Referring to FIG. 1 , chair 1 is provided with foot reservoir 2 and hip reservoir 3 which may be alternately or collectively be filled with a fluid, e.g., water, to cool a person sitting or lying upon the chair. Fluid in foot reservoir 2 is contained by end wall 4, calf wall 5 and two side walls 6 up to maximum fill edge 7. Fluid in hip reservoir 3 is contained by thigh wall 8, back wall 9, and two side walls 10 up to maximum fill edge 7. Back wall 9 extends from hip reservoir 3 to the head of chair 1 to support the back and head of a person sitting or lying upon the chair. Back wall 9 is bounded by two side wings 11 and top edge 12. Chair 1 may also be optionally equipped with head rest 13 affixed to the chair by string or attachment 14 such that the length of attachment 14 is adjustable, thereby adjusting the position of head rest 13. Chair 1 may also be equipped with back and/or front legs and/or wheels. An example of back leg 15 is shown in FIG. 1. The lowest point within hip reservoir 3 is at a higher elevation than the lowest point within foot reservoir 2. Foot reservoir 2 and hip reservoir 3 may share side walls 6 and 10 such that they are in the same plane and rise to the same elevation or maximum fill edge 7 that is horizontal.

The walls of the chair of the invention may be constructed of any of various materials that are nontoxic, sun resistant and impervious to the fluid being employed, e.g., water. Suitable materials include plastics or resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyurethane, etc. Plastics and resins are preferred over metals or ceramics.

Chair 1 is optionally equipped with conduit 16 which communicates with foot reservoir 2 at one end and with the upper surface of back wall 9 or hip reservoir 3 at the other end and with pumping means 17 which may be a water pump. Conduit 16 and pumping means 17 pump the fluid, e.g., water, from foot reservoir 2 to hip reservoir 3.

As may be seen from FIG. 1 , conduit 16 is fastened to or is part of the lower surfaces of chair 1 and recirculates the fluid from foot reservoir 2 to a position above the shoulders of the person sitting or lying upon the chair, from which the fluid cascades to hip reservoir 3. The pumping and filling of hip reservoir 3 cause the fluid to overflow from hip reservoir 3 to foot reservoir 2. The fluid level of foot reservoir 2 may be maintained at the same or lower level than exists in hip reservoir 3. The fluid levels in both reservoirs may be maintained up to the maximum fill edge 7. Chair 1 optionally may contain conduit 18 illustrated with dashed lines. Conduit 18 allows hip reservoir 3 and foot reservoir 2 to communicate with each other at a lower elevation than via the overflow elevation of the lowest portion of the intersection of calf wall 5 and thigh wall 8. By opening a plug or valve (not shown) in conduit 18, the fluid level in hip reservoir 3 can overflow to foot reservoir 2 at a lower level than when the plug or valve is closed.

Alternatively, the upper end of conduit 16 may inject fluid into head rest 13. In this embodiment, head rest 13 contains either conduits or porous elements to convey fluid from conduit 16 to parts of the surface of head rest 13 from which the fluid exits head rest 13 and cascades to hip reservoir 3. In this embodiment, head rest 13 optionally may be rotated so as to direct the flow of cascading fluid from head rest 13 toward the front, or alternatively toward the back, of the torso of a person sitting or lying in chair 1. Such adjustment of head rest 13 provides a person sitting or lying upon chair 1 control over which portions of the person's head and torso are wetted and cooled by the cascading fluid flow.

In another embodiment, chair 1 is fitted with an internal support (not shown) such as a hammock or highly-permeable pad which is positioned above back wall 9, thigh wall 8 and calf wall 5 and on which the person sitting or lying upon chair 1 rests. The internal support supports the person sitting or lying upon chair 1 above the respective back, thigh and calf walls so that cooling fluid may flow between the person and the respective walls to effectively cool the person.

In a first internal support embodiment, the top surface or the surface of the internal support contacting the person's body is permeable to the fluid, e.g., a netting material, such that the person's body is cooled by direct contact with the fluid. In a second internal support embodiment, the support separates the person from the fluid flow by means of a fluid-impervious pad or membrane such that the person is indirectly cooled by the fluid without the person being wetted or requiring appropriate attire for being wet by the fluid.

The internal support optionally may contain longitudinal channels extending from the upper end of conduit 16 to hip reservoir 3, to foot reservoir 2 or to the lower end of conduit 16. The walls of the channels may be rigid such that the channels are not closed by the person's weight so that the fluid may flow unimpeded through the channels. Alternatively, the first and second support embodiments may be combined such that , e.g., the upper portions of the internal support are impervious to the fluid and the lower portions are pervious to the fluid such that the person may be kept dry in the upper portions of the body and wetted in the lower portions of the body.

Chair 1 optionally may contain typical accessories, e.g., foot rests, cup holders, arm rests, movable trays, book supports, steps for entering and exiting the chair, etc.

Referring to FIG. 2, a perspective view is presented in which all items corresponding to FIG.1 have the same numbering as set forth in FIG.1. Step 19, illustrated with dotted lines, is molded into calf wall 5 to facilitate entry and exit from chair 1. Conduits and pumping means are not shown in FIG.2.

Referring to FIG. 3, mat 31 is provided for resting upon a chair, such as a lounge chair (not shown). Mat 31 is provided with foot reservoir 32 and hip reservoir 33 which may be alternatively or collectively be filled with a fluid, e.g., water, to cool a person sitting or lying upon the mat. Fluid in foot reservoir 32 is contained by end wall 34, calf wall 35 and two side walls 36 up to maximum fill edge 37. Fluid in hip reservoir 33 is contained by thigh wall 38, back wall 39, and two side walls 40 up to maximum fill edge 41. Back wall 39 extends from hip reservoir 33 to the head of the mat to support the back and head of a person sitting or lying upon the mat. Mat 31 is preferably equipped with head rest 42. Head rest 42 preferably contains manifold or header 43 and one or more orifices or spouts 44. Fluid, e.g., water, is preferably pumped into header 43 which distributes the fluid to and through multiple spouts 44 to cascade over the head or shoulders and the upper portions of the body of a person sitting or lying upon the mat.

The walls of mat 31 may be constructed of any materials that are nontoxic, sun resistant, impervious to the fluid and preferably flexible. Suitable materials include foam rubber (which is preferred) or other foamed or thin sheets of plastic, e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, nylon, etc. A particularly suitable material is a product sold under the name of "Aqua Cell" by Spongex LLC of the USA. Mat 31 contains at least one conduit 45 (shown in FIG.3 as a wide line) which communicates with foot reservoir 32 at one end and with the upper surface of back wall 39, with hip reservoir 33 or preferably with head rest 42 at the other end and contains pumping means 47 which may be a fluid pump located within foot reservoir 32. Fluid is preferably pumped via the pumping means 47 and conduit 45 from foot reservoir 32 to header 43 located within head rest 42, and therefrom the fluid flows through spouts 44 to the upper surface of back wall 39 or to hip reservoir 33. Conduit 45 may be an enclosed channel within mat 31 or may be a tube separate from mat 31 or may be a tube within a laterally enclosed or partially exposed channel in the mat. Fluid directly or indirectly entering hip reservoir 33 from the recirculation pumping means 47 and conduit 45 overflows from hip reservoir 33 into foot reservoir 32. The fluid levels in foot reservoir 32 and hip reservoir 33 may be maintained up to their respective maximum fill edges 37 and 41. The fluid level of foot reservoir 32 may be maintained at the same level as or at a lower elevation than the fluid level in hip reservoir 33.

In the simplest embodiment of mat 31 , fluid overflows from hip reservoir 33 into foot reservoir 32 at the lowest point at which the upper surfaces of calf wall 35 and thigh wall 38 intersect. The weight of the legs of the person sitting or lying upon mat 31 may compress the material of which the mat is comprised and locally depress the elevation of such intersection to define the lowest point in the intersection.

When mat 31 is positioned on a cushioned or sling chair, fluid will overflow around the area where the person's legs depress the elevation of that intersection. When mat 31 is positioned upon a chair that is inflexible, e.g., a chair constructed or wood or a metal in which the transverse cross section of that intersection is essentially flat, the mat may have small side walls (not shown), to either side of the intersection to cause the fluid to flow over that intersection into foot reservoir 32 rather than to spill to either side of the mat.

Mat 31 optionally may be equipped with tube 46 (illustrated in FIG. 3 with dotted lines) which allows hip reservoir 33 and foot reservoir 32 to communicate with each other at a lower elevation than via the overflow elevation of the lowest point of the intersection of calf wall 35 and thigh wall 38. Tube 46 may contain a valve or plug (not shown) to open or close communication between hip reservoir 33 and foot reservoir 32 via tube 46. When the plug or valve in tube 46 is open, fluid in hip reservoir 33 can overflow to foot reservoir 32 through tube 46, causing the fluid to drain from hip reservoir 33 at a lower hip reservoir fill height than when the plug or valve is closed. Alternatively, by constructing tube 46 of a flexible tubing, the highest elevation of tube 46 may be manually adjusted to cause fluid to manually overflow into foot reservoir 32 at that highest elevation of tube 46. In this alternative embodiment, a plug or valve in tube 46 may be unnecessary. In a different embodiment, tube 46 may be operated as a siphon to further lower the fluid level in hip reservoir 33. Tube 46 is advantageously located to the side of the chair that mat 31 rests upon to avoid interference between tube 46 and the supporting chair.

Referring to FIG. 4, a perspective view is presented in which all items corresponding to FIG. 3 has the same numbering as in FIG. 3. The header, conduits and pumping means are not shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 5, in a preferred embodiment, portions of the upper surfaces of mat 31 extending from head end 50 to foot end 51 are fitted with protrusions 52 separated by channels to cause fluid to flow between the mat and the person sitting or lying upon the mat. Protrusions 52, all shown as shaded areas in FIG. 5, are separated from each other by longitudinal channels 53 and transverse channels 54. Longitudinally-successive sections of longitudinal channels 53 are transversely offset from each other to create turbulence in the fluid flowing along the longitudinal channels. The turbulence provides additional heat transfer between the fluid and the person sitting or lying upon mat 31 and has the effect of vibrating or massaging the person. For example, protrusions 52 separating longitudinal channels 53 and transverse channels 54 are 0.5 inch wide, 4 inches long and protrude 0.5 inch above the surface of the mat, and the longitudinal and transverse channels are 0.3 inch wide.

Mat 31 optionally may be provided with upwardly protruding walls (not shown) along the lateral edges of the surface of the mat to prevent fluid from spilling over the sides of the mat. Mat 31 optionally may also be provided with a fluid-impervious membrane (not shown) positioned on the upper surface and on the protrusions of the mat and separating at least the upper portions of the person sitting or lying upon the mat from the fluid flowing through longitudinal channels 53 and transverse channels 54 such that the person is indirectly cooled by the fluid without the person being wetted or requiring appropriate attire for being wet by the fluid. Mat 31 additionally may contain other features such as foot rests, arm rests, cup holders, a movable tray, a book support, etc.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, various features of separate embodiments can be combined to form additional embodiments not expressly described. Moreover, other embodiments apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading this disclosure are also within the scope of this invention. Furthermore, not all of the features, aspects and advantages are necessarily required to practice the present invention. Thus, while the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointed out novel features of the invention as applied to various embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the apparatus or process illustrated may be made by those of ordinary skill in the technology without departing from the spirit of the invention. The inventions may be embodied in other specific forms not explicitly described herein. The embodiments described above are to be considered in all respects as illustrative only and not restrictive in any manner. Thus, the scope of the invention is indicated by the following claims rather than by the foregoing description.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An article suitable for sitting or lying thereon comprising: (a) at least one surface adapted for containing a fluid; (b) means for dispensing the fluid onto the at least one surface at a first elevation and therefrom onto the at least one surface at a lower second elevation; (c) means for collecting the fluid from the at least one surface at its second elevation; and (d) means for recirculating the fluid from the collection means to the dispensing means.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein the fluid comprises water.

3. The article of claim 1 comprising a chair including integrally disposed seat and back sections onto which a user may sit or recline.

4. The article of claim 3 wherein the chair comprises a lounge chair.

5. The article of claim 3 wherein the chair contains a foot reservoir and/or a hip reservoir which are singly or collectively filled with a fluid to cool or warm or massage a person sitting or lying upon the chair.

6. The article of claim 5 further comprising means for adjusting the level of the fluid in the foot reservoir and/or the level of the fluid in the hip reservoir.

7. The article of claim 5 wherein the fluid in the foot reservoir is contained by an end wall, a calf wall and two side walls and the fluid in the hip reservoir is contained by a thigh wall, a back wall and two side walls.

8. The article of claim 3 further comprising a head rest adjustably affixed to the back section of the chair.

9. The article of claim 8 wherein the head rest comprises the dispensing means.

10. The article of claim 3 further comprising back and/or front legs adjustably affixed to the back and/or seat sections of the chair.

11. The article of claim 3 further comprising wheels affixed to the back and/or seat sections of the chair.

12. The article of claim 7 further comprising an internal support located above the back, thigh and/or calf walls and on which a person sitting or lying upon the chair rests.

13. The article of claim 1 comprising a mat positioned upon a chair.

14. The article of claim 13 wherein the mat contains a foot reservoir and/or a hip reservoir which is singly or collectively filled with a fluid to cool a person sitting in or lying upon the mat.

15. The article of claim 1 further comprising means for controlling the flow rate of the fluid dispensed from the dispensing means.

16. The article of claim 1 further comprising means for controlling the frequency at which the dispensing means dispenses the fluid.

17. The article of claim 1 wherein the recirculation means comprises a pump and a conduit.

18. The article of claim 1 wherein the dispensing and/or the recirculating means are powered by a power source selected from the group consisting of non-rechargeable batteries, rechargeable batteries and solar cells.