PORTABLE SWING SEAT

Abstract

A portable swing seat comprises a flexible seat portion, a support assembly having a pair of flexible support straps affixed to the seat portion, a spreader extending between the support straps distally from the seat portion, and an attachment strap affixed to the support assembly. The attachment strap is attachable to an object whereby when in use the attachment strap is affixed to an object above the spreader and an individual may be supported while sitting on the seat portion with the support straps extending upward from the seat portion such that the spreader maintains spacing between the support straps.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority of U.S. provisional application, Ser. No. 61/341,614 filed Apr. 2, 2010, by Douglas. A. Spencer for EASY CARRY PORTABLE SWING SEAT, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a swing seat, and in particular a swing seat that may be collapsed for portable carrying.

Transportable hanging seats are desirable for uses such as outdoor activities, including camping, bird watching and hunting. Such hanging seats are affixed to an object, such as a tree, to enable an individual to recline in a seated position while observing his or her surroundings. The seat is affixed to the object above the location in which a user sits on the seat such that the user may be supported above the ground surface.

The portable swing seat of the present invention provides structural and operational improvements compared to known transportable hanging seats that increase the usability and comfort of the portable swing seat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a collapsible and portable seating apparatus.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a portable swing seat comprises a flexible seat portion, a support assembly including a pair of flexible support straps affixed to the seat portion, a extending between the support straps distally from the seat portion, and an attachment strap affixed to the support assembly. The attachment strap is attachable to an object whereby when in use the attachment strap is affixed to an object above the spreader and an individual may be supported while sitting on the seat portion with the support straps extending upward from the seat portion with the spreader being located above the seat portion such that the spreader maintains spacing between the support straps.

In particular embodiments the spreader includes a pair of distal ends and each support strap includes a pocket member, with each end of the spreader being selectively insertable into a respective pocket member. The spreader may comprise a collapsible spreader assembly having a plurality of spreader members, with each spreader member being connectable to an adjacent spreader member. For example, each spreader member comprises a tube member, with adjacent tube members being connectable together by insertion of an end one tube member into an end of the adjacent tube member. The tube members may be hollow and include an elastic member disposed internally through the tube members, with the elastic member providing a biasing force that aids in retaining the tube members together when interconnected. Each support strap may include a pocket member for selectively receiving the distal ends of the spreader assembly, and the ends of the elastic member may be affixed to or within respective pocket members.

The support straps may each include a strap adjuster to selectively shorten and lengthen the flexible support straps. A hanging strap may also be included with the support assembly, with the hanging strap being connected to the attachment strap and being affixed to each of the flexible support straps distally from their connection with the seat portion, and wherein said attachment strap is connected to said hanging strap. A hook member may be connected to the attachment strap for selectively receiving the attachment strap to form a loop for connecting the swing seat to an object. The attachment strap may also include an attachment strap adjuster through which the attachment strap is passed to enable the attachment strap to be selectively cinched about an object.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a portable swing seat comprises a flexible seat portion, a support assembly including a pair of flexible support straps affixed to the seat portion, a spreader comprising a plurality of spreader members, and an attachment strap affixed to the support assembly. Each flexible support strap includes a strap adjuster to selectively shorten and lengthen the support strap and the spreader extends between the support straps distally from the seat portion when assembled with each spreader member being connectable to an adjacent spreader member. The attachment strap is attachable to an object whereby when in use the attachment strap is affixed to an object above the spreader and an individual may be supported while sitting on the seat portion with the support straps extending upward from the seat portion with the spreader being located above the seat portion such that the spreader maintains spacing between the support straps.

In additional particular embodiments each spreader member may be formed as a tube member, with adjacent tube members being connectable together by insertion of an end of one tube member into an end of an adjacent tube member. The tube members may be hollow and include an elastic member disposed internally through the tube members, with the elastic member providing a biasing force that aids in retaining the tube members together when interconnected. Each support strap may include a pocket member for insertably receiving the distal ends of the spreader therein, and each end of the elastic member may be affixed to a respective pocket member. Still further, the spreader members may have a length that is approximately equivalent to the width of the flexible seat portion when collapsed whereby the swing seat may be collapsed with the collapsible spreader and seat portion being wrapped together such that the size of the swing seat when collapsed is minimized.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a portable swing seat comprises a flexible seat portion, a support assembly, and a collapsible spreader comprising a plurality of spreader members. The support assembly includes a pair of flexible support straps affixed to the seat portion, with each flexible support strap including a strap adjuster to selectively shorten and lengthen the flexible support strap. The spreader extends between the support straps distally from the seat portion with each spreader member being connectable to an adjacent spreader member when assembled. The spreader members have a length approximately equivalent to the width of the seat portion when collapsed whereby the swing seat may be collapsed with the spreader and seat portion being wrapped together such that the size of the swing seat when collapsed is minimized. The swing seat may further include an attachment strap affixed to the support assembly that is attachable to an object whereby when in use an individual may be supported while sitting on the seat portion with the support straps extending upward from the seat portion and the spreader being located above the seat portion such that the spreader maintains spacing between the support straps.

Swing seats in accordance with the present invention provide a convenient and portable seating apparatus for use in, for example, outdoor settings. Adjustable length support straps enable the swing seat to be modified, including based on a user's height as well as the object to which the seat is affixed, with a spreader maintaining the spacing of the support straps to inhibit the support straps from undesirably contacting the user and/or restricting the user's movement within swing seat. The swing seat may be readily collapsed for transport, including by way of a multi-part collapsible spreader assembly enabling the swing seat to be compactly rolled up for carrying, such as in a pocket.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of this invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a portable swing seat in accordance with the present invention shown in operation to support an individual;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the portable swing seat of FIG. 1 shown removed from the object to which it is mounted;

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view illustrating the connection of a portion of the support assembly and the spreader assembly;

FIG. 4 is a close up plan view of the interconnection of the support assembly and spreader;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the support assembly illustrating the pocket for receiving the spreader;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view illustrating the interconnection of the attachment member and support assembly;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view disclosing the interconnection of the seat portion with the support strap;

FIG. 8 is a side cross sectional view taken along the lines VIII-VIII of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the portable swing seat of FIG. 2 shown in a partially collapsed orientation; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the portable swing seat of FIG. 9 shown in a fully collapsed orientation for storage and transportation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein the numbered elements in the following written description correspond to like-numbered elements in the figures. A portable swing seat 20 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 to include a flexible seat portion 22, a support assembly 24, a spreader 26, and an attachment assembly 28 having an attachment member or strap 30. The attachment strap 30 may be disposed about an object, such as tree 32, and is connected to the support assembly 24 whereby an individual 34 may recline in a seated position on seat portion 22 and be supported by swing seat 20. The support assembly 24 includes a pair of support arms or straps 36a, 36b that are connected to the seat portion 22 at one end, with the spreader 26 extending between the support straps 36a, 36b above the seat portion 22. The spreader 26 thus maintains spacing between the support straps 36a, 36b such that support straps 36a, 36b do not angle upwardly to the connection point 38 with attachment strap 30, which may undesirably result in the straps 36a, 36b contacting individual 34, such as about the shoulders, and/or restrict movement within swing seat 20.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, in addition to support straps 36a, 36b, the illustrated support assembly further includes a hanging member or strap 40 that is connected to attachment strap 30 at connection point 38. Support assembly 24 further includes a pair of pockets or receptacles 42a, 42b for receiving the ends 44a, 44b of spreader 26.

Each support strap 36a, 36b includes an upper strap 46 and a lower strap 48, with the upper strap 46 and lower strap 48 being connected together by a strap adjuster 50. A lower end 52 of lower strap 48 is affixed to seat portion 22, such as by being sewn or stitched together, and the upper end 54 of lower strap 48 is looped about a portion of strap adjuster 50 and affixed back upon itself, such as by being sewn together in similar fashion as that shown in FIG. 6. An upper end 56 of upper strap 46 is affixed together with one of pockets 42a, 42b by being sewn or stitched 58 together as shown in FIGS. 4-5, with dashed lines being used to indicate stitching throughout the various drawings. The lower end 60 of upper strap 46 is looped through strap adjuster 50 whereby each support strap 36a, 36b may be lengthened or shortened. The adjustability of support straps 36a, 36b in this manner enables swing seat 20 to be conveniently adjusted to accommodate differences in user preference and/or height, as well as provide flexibility based on the location, shape and/or orientation of objects, such as tree trunks, limbs, or rocks, to which swing seat 20 may be connected. As shown, strap adjuster 50 is a conventional metal buckle, such as may be supplied by Granat Industries of Elk Grove Village, Illinois, having a spring loaded member with gripping teeth that are biased into engagement with the strap material for retaining the strap in place. Alternative strap adjusters, however, may be employed within the scope of the present invention.

Hanging strap 40 extends between pockets 42a, 42b and upper ends 56 of upper straps 46 and is connected to attachment member 30. As understood from FIGS. 3-5, each end 62a, 62b of hanging strap 40 is affixed by stitching 64 to a respective support strap 36a, 36b within, as well as to, a respective pocket 42a, 42b. As understood from FIG. 6, an end 66 of attachment member 30 is turned back upon itself and sewn or stitched 68 together to form a loop 70 through which hanging strap 40 is passed, with the mid-point of hanging strap 40 being affixed to attachment member 30 by being stitched 72 within loop 70.

In the illustrated embodiment, the material of support straps 36, hanging strap 40, as well as attachment member 30, is a 3/4 inch nylon strap. However, alternative straps and/or sizes may be employed within the scope of the present invention. Alternative types of materials may also be employed and the term “strap” should be understood to include alternative flexible members that are able to support loads in tension, such as ropes, cords, lines, or otherwise.

Referring again to FIGS. 2-5, each pocket 42a, 42b is formed by doubling a material back over upon itself, such as a 2 inch wide nylon strap, and stitching 74 along the edges 76 to leave an opening 78 for receiving a respective end 44a, 44b of spreader 26. Still further, the stitching together of pocket 42, support strap 36 and hanging strap 40 creates a strong interconnection simultaneous with the formation of pocket 42.

The spreader 26 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is collapsible, as understood from FIGS. 9 and 10, and is constructed from three spreader members 82 (FIG. 1) that, in the illustrated embodiment, comprise hollow end tubes 84a, 84b and a hollow center tube 84c (FIG. 2), each of which is constructed of steel and is approximately 11.5 inches long. Each end tube 84a, 84b may be connected to center tube 84c with center tube 84c having a slightly greater diameter whereby end tubes 84a, 84b may be inserted into internal cavities 86 of center tube 84c. As shown in FIG. 3, center tube 84c includes internal cavity 86 into which end tube 84a is inserted, with a similar internal cavity being located at the opposite end of center tube 84c for receiving end tube 84b. An elastic member 88, such as a bungee cord, is centrally disposed through hollow end tubes 84a, 84b and center tube 84c (FIG. 3). As understood from FIG. 3, each end 90 of elastic cord 88 is affixed within one of the pockets 42a, 42b, such as by stitching ends 90 within pocket 42 via the stitching affixing pocket 42, support strap 36, and hanging strap 40 together. Elastic member 88 thereby provides a biasing force aiding in retaining tubes 84 together when interconnected, with the affixing of ends 90 of elastic member 88 to pockets 42 aiding in assembly of swing seat 20, as the spreader 26 will be maintained in proper position. An alternative spreader, however, may be constructed with more or less than three spreader members, may not be collapsible, and/or may not include an internal elastic member, or may include an elastic member that is not affixed to pockets.

As noted, attachment strap 30 is used to support swing seat 20, such as around the trunk of tree 32 as shown. Attachment assembly 28 includes a connecting link 94 used to enable attachment strap 30 to form a loop 96 for connecting to an object. Connecting link 94 includes a strap adjuster 98 connected to a ring 100 by a length of strap 101, with strap 101 being connected to strap adjuster 98 and ring 100 by stitching the strap 101 back over upon itself in like manner to that described above. Connecting link 94 further includes a hook member 102, which in the illustrated embodiment comprises a conventional carabiner 104, with ring 100 being linked to carabiner 104. In use, attachment strap 30 is positioned within carabiner 104 as shown in FIG. 2. Although a ring may be utilized in place of carabiner 104 as a hook member, carabiner 104 includes a pivoting arm or gate 106, which aids in the looping of attachment strap 30 around an object by allowing attachment strap 30 to be inserted into carabiner 104 via gate 106 rather than having to thread attachment strap 30 through a central opening. To install swing seat 20, attachment strap 30 is initially wrapped around tree 32 when disconnected from carabiner 104. Upon encircling tree 32, carabiner 104 is connected to attachment strap 30 by passing attachment strap 30 through the gate 106 of carabiner 104 such that attachment strap 30 is contained within carabiner 104 as shown in FIG. 2. The length of attachment strap 30 extending out of strap adjuster 98 may then be pulled to cinch attachment strap 30 to tree 32. Swing seat 20 is shown affixed to the trunk of tree 32 in FIG. 1, with the trunk also thereby acting as a backrest for an individual 34 using swing seat 20. Swing seat 20 may alternatively be connected to a branch of tree 32 or other supporting objects.

The connection of support straps 36a, 36b to seat portion 22 may be understood with reference to FIGS. 2, 7 and 8. Flexible seat portion 22 may be constructed of a CORDURA® material, canvas, or other such material and is generally rectangular in shape in the illustrated embodiment, with the lower ends 52 of lower straps 48 being connected to opposite ends 108 of seat portion 22. The lengthwise edges 110 of seat portion 22 are folded over and stitched 112 such that seat portion 22 in the illustrated embodiment has a width 114 of approximately 8.5 inches. As understood from FIGS. 7 and 8, for added strength, lower ends 52 may be sewn or stitched to the underside 116 of scat portion 22 together with a pair of flaps 118a, 118b. Lower end 52 is initially passed through an aperture 120 in seat portion 22 and the corner end portions of seat portion 22 are folded over to form flaps 118a, 118b (see arrow identifiers A and B in FIG. 7), with the flaps 118a, 118b being stitched 22 to lower end 52 along the length of lower strap 48. The flaps 118a, 118b are then again folded over together and stitched 124 to the underside of seat portion 22 (see arrow identifier C in FIG. 7). In the illustrated embodiment seat portion is approximately 32 inches long.

As understood from FIGS. 9 and 10, swing seat may be readily collapsed for compact and convenient storage and carrying when not in use, such as within a pocket of an individual. As shown, the various spreader members of spreader assembly may be collapsed and folded over one another, with the support assembly being wrapped there about. The spreader and support assembly may then be rolled up within seat portion with the attachment strap used to wrap around seat portion to retain swing seat in the collapsed orientation of FIG. 10. The width of seat portion is approximately equivalent to the length of the collapsed spreader assembly as a result of the size of each spreader member, with seat portion being slightly smaller in width relative to the length of each spreader member in the illustrated embodiment, whereby the collapsed swing seat remains compact with the overall size minimized and without components of the spreader assembly excessively extending out of the rolled up seat portion. Still further, swing seat may be used as a sling to haul or pull items, such as by a hunter using swing seat to pull a deer felled in the woods to an area accessible by a vehicle. For example, the seat support may be placed across the chest of the user, with one support strap extending over the top of one shoulder and the other support strap extending under the shoulder of the opposite arm, with the attachment strap being tied to the object to be pulled.

Although discussed in above in accordance with the illustrated embodiment, various alternatives may be employed. For example, alternative methods of connecting the various straps and seat portion together may be utilized in place of stitching, such as riveting or the like. The support assembly may alternatively be constructed of a unitary strap, including either with or without adjustable length side portions. Still further, a swing seat may be constructed having a unitary spreader and/or a spreader that is not straight or not hollow.

Swing seats in accordance with the present invention provide a convenient and portable seating apparatus for use in settings such as the outdoors. The adjustable length support straps enable swing seat to be modified to the preferences of the user, including based on the user's height as well as the object to which the seat is affixed, with the spreader maintaining the spacing of the support straps to inhibit support straps from undesirably contacting the user and/or restricting the user's movement within swing seat. Swing seat may be readily collapsed for transport, including by way of a multi-part collapsible spreader assembly enabling swing seat to be compactly rolled up for carrying.

Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.

Claims

1. A portable swing seat, said seat comprising:

a flexible seat portion;

a support assembly, said support assembly including a pair of flexible support straps affixed to said seat portion;

a spreader, said spreader extending between said support straps distally from said seat portion; and

an attachment strap, said attachment strap being affixed to said support assembly and being attachable to an object whereby when in use said attachment strap is affixed to an object above said spreader and an individual may be supported while sitting on said seat portion with said support straps extending upward from said seat portion with said spreader being located above said seat portion such that said spreader maintains spacing between said support straps.

2. The portable swing seat of claim 1, wherein said spreader includes a pair of distal ends and each said support strap includes a pocket member, and wherein each said end of said spreader is selectively insertable into a respective said pocket member.

3. The portable swing seat of claim 1, wherein said spreader comprises a collapsible spreader assembly having a plurality of spreader members, with each said spreader member being connectable to an adjacent spreader member.

4. The portable swing seat of claim 3, wherein each said spreader member comprises a tube member, with adjacent tube members being connectable together by insertion of an end of one said adjacent tube member into an end of the other said adjacent tube member.

5. The portable swing seat of claim 4, wherein said tube members are hollow and wherein an elastic member is disposed internally through said tube members, said elastic member providing a biasing force that aids in retaining said tube members together when interconnected.

6. The portable swing seat of claim 5, said spreader assembly further including a pair of distal spreader ends and each said support strap including a pocket member, and wherein each said spreader end is selectively insertable into a respective said pocket member,

7. The portable swing seat of claim 6, wherein said elastic member includes a pair of distal elastic member ends with each said elastic member end being affixed to a respective said pocket member.

8. The portable swing seat of claim 1, wherein each said flexible support strap includes a strap adjuster to selectively shorten and lengthen said flexible support strap.

9. The portable swing seat of claim 1, said support assembly further including a hanging strap, said hanging strap being affixed to each said flexible support strap distally from the connection of said flexible support straps with said seat portion, and wherein said attachment strap is connected to said hanging strap.

10. The portable swing seat of claim 1, further including a hook member connected to said attachment strap, said hook member selectively receiving said attachment strap to form a loop for connecting to an object.

11. The portable swing seat of claim 10, further including an attachment strap adjuster through which said attachment strap is passed, said attachment strap adjuster enabling said attachment strap to be selectively cinched about an object.

12. A portable swing seat, said seat comprising:

a flexible seat portion;

a support assembly, said support assembly including a pair of flexible support straps affixed to said seat portion, with each said flexible support strap including a strap adjuster to selectively shorten and lengthen said flexible support strap;

a spreader comprising a plurality of spreader members, said spreader extending between said support straps distally from said seat portion when assembled with each said spreader member being connectable to an adjacent spreader member; and

an attachment strap, said attachment strap being affixed to said support assembly and being attachable to an object whereby when in use said attachment strap is affixed to an object above said spreader and an individual may be supported while sitting on said seat portion with said support straps extending upward from said seat portion with said spreader being located above said seat portion such that said spreader maintains spacing between said support straps.

13. The portable swing seat of claim 12, wherein each said spreader member comprises a tube member, with adjacent tube members being connectable together by insertion of an end of one said adjacent tube member into an end of the other said adjacent tube member.

14. The portable swing seat of claim 13, wherein said tube members are hollow and wherein an elastic member is disposed internally through said tube members, said elastic member providing a biasing force that aids in retaining said tube members together when interconnected.

15. The portable swing seat of claim 14, said spreader assembly further including a pair of distal spreader ends and each said support strap including a pocket member, and wherein each said spreader end is selectively insertable into a respective said pocket member,

16. The portable swing seat of claim 15, wherein said elastic member includes a pair of distal elastic member ends with each said elastic member end being affixed to a respective said pocket member.

17. The portable swing seat of claim 12, wherein said flexible seat portion has a seat width, and wherein said spreader members have a length approximately equivalent to said seat width when collapsed whereby said swing seat may be collapsed with said collapsible spreader and said seat portion being wrapped together such that the size of said swing seat when collapsed is minimized.

18. A portable swing seat, said swing seat comprising:

a flexible seat portion having a seat width;

a support assembly, said support assembly including a pair of flexible support straps affixed to said seat portion, with each said flexible support strap including a strap adjuster to selectively shorten and lengthen said flexible support strap; and

a collapsible spreader comprising a plurality of spreader members, said spreader extending between said support straps distally from said seat portion with each said spreader member being connectable to an adjacent spreader member when assembled and said spreader members having a length approximately equivalent to said seat width when collapsed whereby said swing seat may be collapsed with said spreader and said seat portion being wrapped together such that the size of said swing seat when collapsed is minimized.

19. The portable swing seat of claim 17, further including an attachment strap, said attachment strap being affixed to said support assembly and being attachable to an object whereby when in use said attachment strap is affixed to an object above said spreader and an individual may be supported while sitting on said seat portion with said support straps extending upward from said seat portion with said spreader being located above said seat portion such that said spreader maintains spacing between said support straps.