Electrically-wired rotatable chair

Abstract

A mobile, rotatable, electrically-wired chair having an upper section containing electrical components integrated therein for use by the chair's occupant, with electrical wires from these components internally affixed to the chair and connected by swivel connector to external communications or power lines. The swivel connector is rigidly affixed to the chair to maintain a constant connection between internal and external electrical wires while at the same time allowing stable positioning of the external wires relative to the chair. The rotational movement of the rotating portion of the chair is transferred to the internal, rigidly affixed wires, then absorbed by the swivel connector, thus allowing chair rotation without tangling, gnarling, and stretching of either the internal or external electrical wires.

Description

1. BACKGROUND

[0001] The subject invention relates to the furniture art and specifically pertains to a chair which can be rotated in a circular movement from a fixed position while the occupant is able to utilize electrical equipment attached thereto. This is accomplished by means of an integral swivel connector which is hertofore unknown in the chair art. More particularly, as discussed below, the subject invention is especially applicable to both the office chair art and the home recliner/lounger art. The invention is directed to both those types of chairs which can be rotated and those types of chairs which contain electrical components.

[0002] There has long been a problem with using communications and electrical equipment such as telephones, lamps, and laptop computers while seated in a rotating chair contained in the prior art because the wires attached to the equipment would render the occupant unable to rotate the chair. Attempts at rotation would end with the wires from the electrical equipment tangled and wrapped around the chair or around the occupant seated therein, or both. On the other hand, chairs containing internal wires for electrical equipment in the prior art cannot be rotated or moved because such rotational movement would result in tangling, stretching, and gnarling of the electrical lines internally as the rotational motion of the chair was transferred to the wires. This tangling, stretching, and gnarling of the wires could cause the wires to become strained, gnarled, frayed, and pull loose from their internally fixed positions, which in turn would create formidable safety hazards.

[0003] Mobile and rotatable chairs which contain integral electrical equipment are new in the art of chairmaking. None of the mobile and rotatable chairs known in the art of both office chairs and seats contain electrical components. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,063 discloses a mobile, rotatable office chair; U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,064 discloses a rotatable seat. However, these mobile and rotatable chairs do not contain electrical components. Chairs with attached electrical appliances are known in the art of chairs. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,457 discloses a combination lounge and study chair with overhead lamp attached. However, this chair does not disclose internal wiring. Chairs and tables containing internal wiring for electrical components are known in the art of chairs and tables. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,369 discloses a chair with a television embodied in the armrest; U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,556 discloses a chair with a video screen embodied in the seatback; U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,256 discloses a work table having electrical lines embodied therein. However, these chairs and tables are not physically mobile horizontally and rotationally since they are designed to be affixed in a single position. Swivel connectors which allow rotational movement of electrical equipment are known in the art of small electrical appliances. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,331 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,963,291 disclose types of swivel connectors which allow full 360 degree rotational movement of electrical appliances. However, these swivel connectors have not heretofore been applied to the art of chairmaking.

[0004] No invention exists in the present state of art which possesses features which allow a person seated within a chair to move that chair horizontally or rotationally, while at the same time using electrical equipment attached thereto. Such a development in the office chair and home recliner/lounger chair arts will allow a seated occupant to continue using a laptop computer, a telephone, a reading lamp, or any other electrical device while at the same time the sitter is able to change the position or facing of the chair by physically displacing or rotating it.

[0005] The rotatable chair containing electrical components therein according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a means whereby a chair occupant is able to utilize electrical equipment while seated in the chair, yet maintain the ability to physically displace and rotate the chair. Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved rotatable chair with electrical components embodied therein which enables the occupant to change the position or facing of the chair while continuing to use the electrical components associated with the chair. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

2. OBJECTS

[0006] It is an object of the subject invention to provide an improved chair.

[0007] It is also an object of the subject invention to provide an improved rotatable chair.

[0008] Yet another object of this subject invention is to provide an improved rotatable chair containing electrical lines therein.

[0009] Another object of the subject invention is to provide an improved type of furniture containing electrical lines therein.

[0010] Another object of the subject invention is to provide an improved type of office chair.

[0011] Another object of the subject invention is to provide an improved type of home recliner/lounger.

[0012] Other and further objects of the subject invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

[0013] I attain the foregoing objects in conformity with the present invention, by the use of an embodied swivel connector within the relatively fixed portion of the rotating chair, which is the base portion in the preferred embodiment, to connect internal wires from electrical equipment associated with the chair to external wires connected to sources of power or communications equipment.

3. DESCRIPTION OF THE GENERAL EMBODIMENT

[0014] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of chairs now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved chair with electrical wires embodied therein. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved chair with electrical wires embodied therein and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

[0015] To attain this, the subject invention is a chair containing electrical wires therein which enable a user to use electrical equipment while seated in the chair as it rotates about a vertical axis or is displaced horizontally. The lower base portion is adapted to set rigidly upon the ground or to be mounted upon wheels for horizontal displacement. The upper seat portion is rotatably mounted on the lower base portion. The upper seat portion contains electrical components for the use of the seated occupants. The electrical lines from these electrical components are rigidly affixed internally to the rotatable portion. The electrical lines are led from the upper seat portion, down through the axis of rotation, and affixed to the lower base portion. These electrical lines are rotatably affixed by swivel connector to the lower base portion, thereby allowing free rotation of the upper seat portion upon the lower base portion without tangling or gnarling of the electrical wires. The rotational motion which would tangle or gnarl wires affixed within chairs in the prior art is dissipated in the present invention by the swivel connector in the lower base portion. The swivel connector connects the internal electrical lines to external electrical supplies. Thus, the occupant of the chair is able to displace the chair horizontally or rotate the chair through angles exceeding 360 degrees while at the same time continuing to use electrical equipment associated with the chair.

[0016] 4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rotatable chair containing electrical components therein of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the chair of the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a side view of the internal shank and base portion of the chair in FIG. 1 showing especially the placement of internal wires from electrical components integral to the chair.

5. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] The preferred embodiment of the subject invention is described hereinbelow and while a preferred embodiment is being described such description shall not be considered as limiting the scope of the subject invention.

[0022] Referring now in particular to FIG. 1 in which the preferred embodiment of the subject invention is shown, a rotatable chair incorporating the features of the subject invention is shown. Such a chair is adapted to rest in a conventional position on the ground or other surface as shown. More particularly, the chair is comprised of an upper rotatable portion (3) and a lower base portion (4). FIG. 2 shows an alternative design for the upper rotatable portion (3) is possible, such as a home recliner/lounger configuration, an automobile, airline, train or boat seat. Various designs for the lower base portion (4) are possible, including wheels, legs, or flat base adapted to rest on the ground in the disposition generally shown in FIG. 1.

[0023] As seen particularly in FIG. 1, the chair's upper rotatable portion contains electrical and communication wires (30 ). These electrical and communication wires are connected to equipment embodied in the upper rotatable portion of the chair such as a lamp (31) or telephone (32) which are conveniently configured for the use of the occupant of the chair as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. In addition to, and as an alternative to, connecting to equipment integral to the chair, these electrical and communication wires may also be connected to electrical outlets (33) or communications jacks (34) of the common type which are embedded in the upper portion of the chair to accommodate portable equipment, such as a laptop computer (35) and modem (36). Thus, the chair's occupant is able to utilize the equipment associated with the chair without regard to the direction of facing of the chair.

[0024] As seen in FIG. 3, the upper rotatable seat portion (3) rests upon a vertical cylindrical shank (3a) attached thereto. In complementary fashion, the lower base portion has a mating bearing surface (3b) disposed therein as shown in FIG. 3. The vertical shank 3a is fitted conformingly to bearing surface 3b. Once so placed, the upper seat portion 3 revolves about the lower base portion 4 on the cylindrical shank (3a), with the mating bearing surface (3b) as a pivot point. This shank (3a) thus serves as a support, in a centrally located position, for the upper rotatable seat portion (3) on the lower base portion (4). Internal to the shank (3a) is located electrical wiring (30) leading from the upper seat portion (3) to the swivel connector (40) in the lower base portion (4).

[0025] As seen particularly in FIG. 3, the electrical and communication wires (30) lead from their terminals (31, 32, 33, 34, 35) in the upper rotatable portion of the chair (3), down through the center of the support shaft (3a) along the axis of rotation of the chair (3c). The electrical and communication lines are internally housed in the shaft (3a) upon which the chair rotates. The lines are immovably affixed to the upper rotatable portion of the chair (3) and rotating shaft (3a) and thus undergo rotational motion as he upper portion of the chair rotates (3d) about a vertical axis (3c).

[0026] The lower terminus of the internal wires is the interior portion (41) of a swivel connector (40). The exterior portion of the swivel connector (42) is embedded in the relatively stationary lower base portion (4) of the chair. External electrical or communication wires (70) are attached to the exterior (42) of the swivel connector (40).

[0027] With reference to FIG. 3, as the rotatable upper portion of the chair (3) rotates about a vertical axis (3c), rotational movement (3d) is translated to the electrical wires (30) rigidly affixed to the rotatable upper portion (3) and shaft (3c) of the chair. This rotational motion (3d) is transmitted through the wires (30) to the internal portion (41) of the swivel connector (40) in the base portion (4) of the chair. The internal portion of the swivel connector (41) rotates in response to the rotational motion (3d) imparted to the internal wires (30) affixed) to the upper portion of the chair (3). The external portion (42) of the swivel connector (40) maintains its fixed position relative to the lower base portion (4) of the chair. The lower base portion (4) of the chair does not rotate as the upper rotatable portion (3) does, thus the exterior lines (70) maintain their position affixed to the external portion (42) of the swivel connector (40) of the chair without disturbance. The rotational motion (3d) of the internal lines (30) caused by rotation (3d) of the upper portion of the chair (3) is dissipated by the swivel connector (40) while a constant, stable connection between the internal wires (30) and external wires (70) is maintained. It is noted that the electrical swivel connector (40) may also be located in the upper rotatable portion (3) of the chair, with the internal electrical and communciation lines (30) immovably affixed to the lower base portion of the chair (4). Further it is noted that no electrical swivel connector (40) is needed if no rotational motion (3d) is required. Further it is noted that the electrical swivel connector assembly (40) may be replaced by an alternative power supply such as a battery pack.

[0028] As the chair is described, the seated occupant of the chair is able to rotate to any position desired while still using the electrical equipment (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36) associated with the chair:

[0029] While an illustrative embodiment of the subject invention has been described, such limited description shall not be construed to limit the scope of the subject invention, but that modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling within the broad spirit and scope of the foregoing disclosure, the following claims and the appended drawings.

Claims

1. A rotatable chair having a seat portion which contains electrical wires therein and is capable of being rotated in a horizontal plane about a base portion, said devise comprising:

(A) a lower base portion mounted on the floor, said lower base portion having an electrical swivel connector rigidly affixed therein;

(B) an upper rotatable seat portion mounted upon the lower base portion, said upper rotatable seat portion containing electrical wires rigidly affixed therein, said rigidly affixed wires being connected at one end to electrical equipment embodied within the upper rotatable seat portion and being connected at the other end to the electrical swivel connector affixed in the lower base portion.

2. A portable chair containing electrical wires rigidly affixed therein, said rigidly affixed wires being connected at one end to electrical equipment embodied within the upper seat portion and being connected at the other end to an electrical connection in the lower base portion, said electrical connection capable of accommodating external power supplies or communications wires.

3. A chair as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper seat portion contains a telephone permanently attached thereto.

4. A chair as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper seat portion contains a lamp permanently attached thereto.

5. A chair as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper seat portion contains a computer permanently attached thereto.

6. A chair as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper seat portion contains an electrical outlet permanently attached thereto.

7. A chair as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper seat portion contains a telephone jack permanently attached thereto.

8. A chair as claimed in claim 2 wherein the upper seat portion contains a telephone permanently attached thereto.

9. A chair as claimed in claim 2 wherein the upper seat portion contains a lamp permanently attached thereto.

10. A chair as claimed in claim 2 wherein the upper seat portion contains a computer permanently attached thereto.

11. A chair as claimed in claim 2 wherein the upper seat portion contains an electrical outlet permanently attached thereto.

12. A chair as claimed in claim 2 wherein the upper seat portion contains a telephone jack permanently attached thereto.

13. Any item of furniture consisting of a lower portion containing electrical wires rigidly affixed therein and a rotatable portion, with one or both portions containing an electrical swivel connector, said electrical swivel connector being connected at one end to electrical equipment embodied within the furniture.