Movable seating apparatus

Abstract

The present invention provides a seating apparatus that may be easily moved to a desired location and that becomes immobile when in use. The seating apparatus includes a chair that is connected to a wheel assembly by a spring assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the chair includes a generally upwardly extending chair back, a seat combined with the chair back, and a pedestal-type base coupled to the seat and extending generally downwardly, the spring assembly includes at least one spring or other compressible device, and the wheel assembly includes a number of wheels or the like. When the chair is in use, the weight of the user will cause the spring assembly to compress, resulting in the base of the chair resting on the ground. The combination of the user's weight and the frictional force between the ground and the bottom of the base will result in the chair being immobile while occupied. When the chair is not in use, the spring assembly is extended which urges the chair upward thereby freeing the wheel assembly so that the apparatus may be moved.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from provisional application No. 60/503,145 filed Sep. 15, 2003.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

None.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a seating apparatus. More specifically, the present invention encompasses a seating apparatus that can be easily moved to a desired location and then made immobile once positioned at the desired location.

There are many situations in which it is desirable to provide a comfortable chair in a location where chairs are not always present. A casino, for example, would not want to provide a chair in front of every game because of the additional space the chairs would require. The casino may, however, provide a chair that a patron could move to a desired location. Unfortunately, comfortable chairs typically are heavy and, therefore, difficult to move. Moreover, when a patron has a physical disability or the like, moving a large, heavy chair to a desired location can be next to impossible.

Chairs that include wheels that make relocation of the chair more convenient are readily available. However, it is often desirable to prevent movement of the chair when a person is sitting in the chair, and wheeled chairs that include a locking mechanism are more rare. Also, the locking mechanisms currently available for chairs are difficult to use and often inconvenient.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the above referenced problem by providing a seating apparatus that may be easily moved to a desired location and that becomes immobile when in use. The seating apparatus includes a chair that is connected to a wheel assembly by a spring assembly. The chair includes a generally upwardly extending chair back, a seat combined with the chair back, and base coupled to the seat and extending generally downwardly. In a preferred embodiment, the chair base is a pedestal-type base. The spring assembly includes at least one spring or other compressible device and is resiliently biased to urge the chair upward. The wheel assembly includes a number of wheels or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the wheel assembly includes a ball bearing. When the chair is in use, the weight of the user will cause the spring assembly to compress, resulting in the chair base contacting the ground. The combination of the user's weight and the frictional force between the ground and the bottom of the base will result in the chair being immobile while occupied. When the chair is not in use, the spring assembly is extended which urges the chair base upward thereby freeing the wheel assembly so that the apparatus may be moved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates from reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a seating apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the seating apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the seating apparatus of FIG. 1 with the spring element in the extended position;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the seating apparatus of FIG. 1 with the spring element in a compressed position;

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the portion of FIG. 3 enclosed in circle 5; and

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the portion of FIG. 4 enclosed in circle 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a seating apparatus that becomes immobile when in use and that may be easily moved when not in use. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, in one embodiment, the seating apparatus 10 generally includes a chair 20, a spring assembly 60 and a wheel assembly 70.

The chair 20 includes a chair back 30 that is connected with a seat 40. The chair back 30 extends generally upwardly while the seat 40 extends generally horizontally. As shown, the chair back 30 and seat 40 are padded for comfort and covered by a suitable material such as leather. It should be understood, however, that an unpadded chair back and/or seat is included within the scope of this invention. It should also be understood that in additional embodiments one or more armrests may be connected to the seat 40 and/or to the chair back 30.

The chair 20 also includes a base 50 that is coupled to the seat 40. In a preferred embodiment, the chair base 50 is a pedestal-type base as shown in the figures and is sized so that it covers and encloses the wheel assembly 70. It should be understood that the chair base 50 may be many shapes and that these additional shapes are included within the scope of this invention. For example, the chair base 50 may be dome-shaped or cube-shaped or may include only legs that extend downwardly from the chair seat 40. The chair base 50 may be manufactured from plastic, metal, wood, or any combination of these materials. Preferably, the chair base 50 is made from metal. In an alternate embodiment, the chair base 50 is made from plastic using typical injection molding techniques.

The seating apparatus 10 also includes a wheel assembly 70 having at least one wheel 80. The wheel 80 may be a ball bearing, a caster, a roller, or any other device that allows the seating apparatus 10 to move or slide when it is not in use. Preferably, the wheel or wheels 80 allow the seating apparatus 10 to move in any direction when the it is not in use. Thus, in one preferred embodiment the wheel 80 is a ball bearing. In another embodiment the wheels 80 include four rotatable casters. The wheel assembly 70 may be manufactured from plastic, metal, wood, or any combination of these materials. Preferably, the wheel assembly 70 is made from metal. In an alternate embodiment, the wheel assembly 70 is made from plastic using typical injection molding techniques.

A spring assembly 60 connects the wheel assembly 70 with the chair 20, and more specifically with the chair seat 40. The spring assembly 60 includes a compressible device or devices that is normally extended. The spring assembly device has a compression strength that is large enough to support the weight of the chair 20 alone without undue compression. More particularly, the spring assembly 60 has a compression strength that is strong enough to keep the chair base 50 from coming into contact with the floor when no weight is placed on the chair 20.

It should also be understood that the downward extension or length of the chair base 50 is dependent upon the size of the wheel assembly 70 and the size and strength of the spring assembly 60. Thus, the chair base 50 should have a downward length that is at least as long as the length of the wheel assembly 70 plus the length of the spring assembly 60 when it is compressed. In a preferred embodiment, the length of the chair base 50 is such that the bottom of the chair base 50 is approximately one inch above the floor when the chair is not in use. When the chair base 50 is a pedestal-type base, this length has the advantage of hiding the majority of the wheel assembly from casual view. Moreover, this length also allows the use of a relatively stiff spring assembly 60, that is, a spring assembly that only needs a compression length of slightly longer than approximately one inch. Such a spring assembly will more easily support the weight of the chair 20 when the chair is not in use and likely will not wear out as quickly as a spring assembly with a lower compression strength.

As shown in the figures, in a preferred embodiment, the spring assembly 60 includes a single large spring that is connected generally to the center of the chair seat 40. It should be understood that spring assemblies having more than one spring are also included within the scope of the present invention as are spring assemblies have other compressible devices such as a pneumatic piston assembly. Likewise, it should be understood that while the spring assembly 60 shown in the figures is positioned approximately in the center of the chair seat 40, if the spring assembly comprises multiple springs or other devices, then these springs or other devices may be positioned some distance away from the center. For example, the spring assembly 60 may include four springs that are positioned an equal distance toward the corners of the seat 50 and away from the center of the seat 50.

In operation, when the seating apparatus 10 is not in use, that is, when there is no person on the chair 20, the spring assembly 60 is extended so that it supports the weight of the chair 20 without undue compression as shown in FIG. 3 and more particularly in FIG. 5. When in this state, the spring assembly 60 prevents the chair base 50 from coming into contact with the floor so that the wheel assembly 70 is exposed. With the wheel assembly 70 exposed, the wheels 80 are free to rotate, and, thus, the seating apparatus 10 may be moved from one position to another by, for example, pushing the chair back.

As shown in FIG. 4, and more specifically in FIG. 6, a person sitting on the chair seat 40 causes the spring assembly 60 to compress. The compression of the spring assembly 60 allows the chair base 50 to move downwardly until it covers the wheel assembly 70 and the bottom of the chair base 50 comes into contact with the floor. Once in contact with the floor, the combination of the person's weight and the frictional force between the ground and the bottom of the chair base 50 will result in the chair being immobile.

From the above description of preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A seating apparatus capable of being pushed to a desired location and then made immobile once positioned at the desired location, the seating apparatus situated on a floor, the seating apparatus comprising:

a chair, the chair including a generally upwardly extending chair back, a seat combined with the chair back, and a base coupled to the seat and extending generally downwardly;

a wheel assembly; and

a spring assembly connecting the wheel assembly to the chair, the spring assembly resiliently biased to urge the chair in an upward direction so that when the chair is empty the chair base is positioned above the floor and the wheel assembly is operable to move the seating apparatus and when the spring assembly is compressed the base extends to and comes into contact with the floor thereby preventing the wheel assembly from operating to move the seating apparatus

2. The seating apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base is a pedestal-type base.

3. The seating apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base is dome-shaped.

4. The seating apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base is made from metal.

5. The seating apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base is made from plastic.

6. The seating apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base extends downwardly to within one inch of the floor when no weight in present on the seat.

7. The seating apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wheel assembly fits within the periphery of the base.

8. The seating apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wheel assembly includes a ball bearing.

9. The seating assembly of claim 1 wherein the wheel assembly includes at least one rotatable caster.

10. The seating assembly of claim 1 wherein the wheel assembly is made from metal.

11. The seating assembly of claim 1 wherein the wheel assembly is made from plastic.

12. The seating assembly of claim 1 wherein the spring assembly includes a single spring.

13. The seating assembly of claim 1 wherein the spring assembly includes a plurality of springs.

14. The seating assembly of claim 1 wherein the spring assembly includes a pneumatic piston.