Consumer assembleable reclining massage chair and shipment method therefor
A consumer assembleable reclinable massaging chair in which the back support, seat and leg support are capable of assembly and disassembly by a consumer. The present chair can be conveniently shipped to the consumer for assembly by the consumer as individual unassembled components or combination of unassembled and/or assembled components in one or more shipping containers having a length dimension no greater than 108 inches and a girth dimension no greater than a difference between 130 inches and the dimension. The shipping container containing the chair components preferably do not exceed 150 pounds.
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This Patent Application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (e) of the co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/504,363 entitled, “CONSUMER ASSEMBLEABLE RECLINING MASSAGE CHAIR AND SHIPMENT METHOD THEREFOR” by Tracy Wan et al., filed Sep. 19, 2003 (Attorney Docket No. SHPR-01427US0) as well as co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/508,823 entitled, “CONSUMER ASSEMBLEABLE RECLINING MASSAGE CHAIR AND SHIPMENT METHOD THEREFOR” by Tracy Wan et al., filed Oct. 3, 2003 (Attorney Docket No. SHPR-01427US1), both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to a consumer assembleable reclining chair and a method of shipping thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONReclining chairs are widely used in a variety of residential and commercial applications and, as such, are adapted to provide reclining movement between the seat and seat back assemblies, tilting movement of the chair frame assembly relative to the base assembly, rocking or gliding movement of the chair frame assembly relative to the base frame assembly and extension and retraction of a leg rest assembly. These chairs are capable of placing the seated occupant in many seated positions ranging from an upright position to a reclined position. Such reclining chairs containing a massage mechanism, however, are not available in a consumer assembleable model.
The reclining mechanisms, tilting mechanisms and leg rest assemblies in commonly known massage chairs are typically integrated such that the chair may only be assembled by one with appropriate skills in the mechanical arts. Therefore, such reclining massage chairs are typically sold and shipped to consumers as a single assembled unit which can be expensive.
What is needed is a reclining massage chair that may be conveniently shipped to a consumer in an unassembled state, using an advantageous shipment method whereby the chair is easily assembleable by the consumer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention is directed to a consumer assembleable reclinable massaging chair in which the back support, seat and leg support are capable of assembly and disassembly by a consumer. The present chair can be conveniently shipped to the consumer for assembly by the consumer as individual unassembled components or combination of unassembled and/or assembled components in one or more shipping containers having a length dimension no greater than 108 inches and a girth dimension no greater than a difference between 130 inches and the dimension. The shipping container containing the chair components preferably do not exceed 150 pounds.
In the embodiment shown in
In one embodiment the leg support 108 may be absent or may be physically detached from the chair 100, whereby a pedestal supports the seat 110 directly. The leg support 108 is preferably able to move between an extended position (
In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
The chair of the present invention preferably includes a control console 120 which is preferably used to adjust the chair's position and/or operate the massage mechanisms 118, 119. The control console 120 is preferably located in the arm 102. The control console 120 can alternatively be tethered to the chair 100 with a cable in another embodiment. Alternatively, the control console 120 wirelessly operates the chair and/or the massaging mechanism.
In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
The embodiment shown in
The side support 102 shown in
In the embodiment shown in
In alternate embodiments, the leg support engagement slot 410, and second pivot rod support 412 may take any appropriate form or may be absent. In still further alternate embodiments, alternate known mechanisms may be used to couple the back support 106 and the leg support 108 to the side supports 102, 104.
In the embodiment shown in
It is preferred that the present invention is able to be shipped to the consumer as unassembled components (e.g. side supports, seat, back supports, leg support, control components, power supply) for the consumer to assemble. Preferably, the unassembled components are able to be shipped in standard sized shipping containers.
In the embodiment shown in
In an alternate embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown, the back support 106 is able to pivot about the pivot rod 902 relative to the seat 110 such that the back support 106 and seat 110 are able to fold together to form a compact unit to be shipped in a shipping container having a longest dimension which preferably does not exceed 108 inches. Additionally, the sum of the longest dimension and the girth dimension of the shipping container preferably does not exceed 130 inches. Additionally, the weight of the container, along with the component, preferably does not exceed 150 lbs. However, in alternate embodiments, the package dimensions and/or weight of the shipping container 608 can exceed the above-specified dimensions and weight.
The base includes two side supports 102, 104 and a seat support 904. The seat support 904 has a top surface 908 which receives the seat 110 thereon. The seat support 904 is pivotally attached to the two side supports 102, 104 at pivoting mechanisms 906 on the side supports 102, 104. In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
The embodiment shown in
The embodiment shown in
Although
It should be understood that the particular embodiments described above are only illustrative of the principles of the present invention, and various modifications could be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Thus, the scope of the present invention is limited only by the claims that follow.
Claims
1. A massage chair adapted to be shipped at least partially unassembled comprising a seat component having dimensions to allow the seat component to be packaged in a first shipping container having a dimension no greater than 108 inches and a girth dimension no greater than a difference between 130 inches and the dimension.
2. The massage chair of claim 1 further comprising a back support component adapted to be assembled to the seat component by a consumer, the back support component having dimensions to allow the back support component to be package in a second shipping package having a dimension no greater than 108 inches and a girth dimension no greater than a difference of 130 inches and the dimension.
3. The massage chair of claim 1 wherein the seat component has a weight such that the first shipping container is no greater than 150 pounds when the seat component is placed within the first shipping container.
4. The massage chair of claim 2 wherein the back support component has a weight such that the second shipping container is no greater than 150 pounds when the back support component is placed within the second shipping container.
5. The massage chair of claim 1 wherein the seat component further comprises a seat.
6. The massage chair of claim 1 wherein the seat component further comprises a plurality of side support components and a seat, wherein the side support components and seat are adapted to be coupled to one another by the consumer.
7. The massage chair of claim 6 wherein the side support components are detached from the seat when packaged in the first shipping container.
8. The massage chair of claim 1 wherein the seat component further comprises a plurality of side support components and a seat, the side support components coupled to the seat and pivotably movable between a folded and an unfolded position, the side supports in a folded position when packaged in the first shipping container.
9. The massage chair of claim 1 wherein the seat component further comprises a plurality of side support components, a seat, and a leg support component, wherein the leg support component and the seat are adapted to be coupled to the side support components by the consumer.
10. The massage chair of claim 1 wherein the seat component includes a selectively controllable massage unit therein.
11. The massage chair of claim 2 wherein the back support component includes a selectively controllable massage unit therein.
12. The massage chair of claim 9 wherein the leg support component includes a selectively controllable massage unit therein.
13. The massage chair of claim 1 wherein the seat component is placed in the first shipping container with a packing material.
14. The massage chair of claim 2 wherein the back support component is placed in the second shipping container with a packing material.
15. The massage chair of claim 2 wherein the back support component is selectively movable between an upright position and a reclined position relative to the seat component when coupled thereto.
16. The massage chair of claim 2 wherein the back support component is coupled to the seat component and pivotably movable between an unfolded position and a folded position.
17. The massage chair of claim 9 wherein the leg support component is selectively movable between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the side support component when coupled thereto.
18. A consumer assemblable chair comprising:
- a. a seat component having dimensions such that the seat component is capable of being packaged in a first shipping container having a first dimension no greater than 108 inches and a first girth dimension no greater than a difference between 130 inches and the first dimension; and
- b. a back support component adapted to be assembled to the seat component, the back support component having dimensions such that the back support component is capable of being placed in a second shipping package having a second dimension no greater than 108 inches and a second girth dimension no greater than a difference between 130 inches and the second dimension.
19. The chair of claim 18 wherein the seat component has a weight such that the first shipping container is no greater than 150 pounds when the seat component is placed within the first shipping container.
20. The chair of claim 18 wherein the back support component has a weight such that the second shipping container is no greater than 150 pounds when the back support component is placed within the second shipping container.
21. The chair of claim 18 wherein the seat component further comprises a seat.
22. The chair of claim 18 wherein the seat component further comprises a plurality of side support components and a seat, wherein the side support components and seat are adapted to be coupled to one another by the consumer.
23. The chair of claim 18 wherein the seat component further comprises a plurality of side support components and a leg support component, wherein the leg support component is adapted to be coupled to the side support components by the consumer.
24. The chair of claim 18 wherein the seat component further comprises at least one side support component.
25. The chair of claim 18 wherein the back support component includes a selectively controllable massage unit therein.
26. The chair of claim 23 wherein the leg support component includes a selectively controllable massage unit therein.
27. The chair of claim 18 further comprising a leg support component adapted to be coupled to the seat component by the consumer, the leg support component having dimensions such that the leg support component is capable of being packaged in a third shipping package having a third dimension no greater than 108 inches and a third girth dimension no greater than a difference between 130 inches and the third dimension.
28. The chair of claim 18 wherein the seat component is placed in the first shipping container with a packing material.
29. The chair of claim 18 wherein the back support component is placed in the second shipping container with a packing material.
30. The chair of claim 18 wherein the back support component is selectively movable between an upright position and a reclined position relative to the seat component when coupled thereto.
31. The chair of claim 23 wherein the leg support component is selectively movable between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the seat component when coupled thereto.
32. A chair kit configured to be packaged unassembled comprising:
- a. a pair of side support components;
- b. a seat adapted to be coupled to the side support components in an assembled state; and
- c. a back support component pivotally moveable between an upright position and a reclined position relative to the seat in the assembled state, wherein the back support component is capable of being packaged in a first shipping container having a first dimension no greater than 108 inches and a first girth dimension no greater than a difference between 130 inches and the first dimension.
33. The chair kit of claim 32 wherein the back support component is coupled to the side support components in the assembled state.
34. The chair kit of claim 32 wherein the back support component is coupled to the seat and pivotably movable between a folded position and an unfolded position, wherein the back support component and the seat are able to be packaged in the first shipping container when in the folded position.
35. The chair kit of claim 32 wherein the side support components are capable of being packaged in a second shipping container having a second dimension no greater than 108 inches and a second girth dimension no greater than a difference between 130 inches and the second dimension.
36. The chair kit of claim 32 further comprising a leg support component adapted to be coupled to the side support components, wherein the leg support component is movable between an extended position and a retracted position.
37. The chair kit of claim 36 wherein the leg support component includes a massaging mechanism.
38. The chair kit of claim 32 wherein the back support component includes a massaging mechanism.
39. The chair kit of claim 35 wherein the seat is capable of being packaged in the second shipping container.
40. The chair kit of claim 32 wherein the first shipping container weighs no greater than 150 pounds when the back support component is placed therein.
41. The chair kit of claim 35 wherein the second shipping container weighs no greater than 150 pounds when the side support component is placed therein.
42. A method of packaging an unassembled chair comprising:
- a. packaging a back support component in a first shipping container having a first dimension no greater than 108 inches and a first girth dimension no greater than a difference between 130 inches and the first dimension; and
- b. packaging a seat component in a second shipping container having a second dimension no greater than 108 inches and a second girth dimension no greater than a difference between 130 inches and the second dimension, wherein the back support component and the seat component are adapted to be assembled by a consumer.
43. The method of claim 42 wherein a combined weight of the first shipping container and the back support component is no greater than 150 pounds.
44. The method of claim 42 wherein a combined weight of the second shipping container and the seat component is no greater than 150 pounds.
45. The method of claim 42 further comprising the steps of:
- a. packaging a leg support component in the second shipping container; and
- b. packaging a plurality of side support components in the second shipping container, wherein the side support components and the leg support component are adapted to be coupled to the back support component and the seat by the consumer.
46. The method of claim 42 further comprising the steps of:
- a. packaging a leg support component in a third container; and
- b. packaging a plurality of side support components in the third shipping container, wherein the side support components and the leg support component are adapted to be coupled to the back support component and the seat by the consumer.
47. A reclinable chair adapted to be shipped in a shipping container, the chair comprising: an unassembled chair component having dimensions capable of being placed in a first shipping container having a dimension no greater than 108 inches and a girth dimension no greater than the difference between 130 inches and the dimension, the unassembled chair component having a weight such that the first shipping container is no greater than 150 pounds when the unassembled chair component is placed within the first shipping container.
48. A massage chair kit configured to be assembled by a consumer comprising:
- a. a pair of side support components;
- b. a seat adapted to be coupled to the side support components; and
- c. a back support component pivotally moveable between an upright position and a reclined position relative to the seat, wherein at least a portion of the chair kit is capable of being packaged in a shipping container having a dimension no greater than 108 inches and a girth dimension no greater than a difference between 130 inches and the dimension.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 17, 2004
Publication Date: Apr 28, 2005
Applicant: SHARPER IMAGE CORPORATION (SAN FRANCISCO, CA)
Inventors: Tracy Wan (San Francisco, CA), William Feroe (San Francisco, CA), Anthony Farrell (San Francisco, CA), Patricia Brenner (Encino, CA), Andrew Parker (Novato, CA)
Application Number: 10/944,351