Chair and sink system

Abstract

A chair is adjustable in many planes and includes inflatable sections that support the seat of a patron as well as the lumbar section of the patron. A sink is adjustable and is used in conjunction with the chair to provide maximum comfort to both the patron and to the stylist. The sink includes a neck opening that cooperates with a neck support section on the chair whereby a patron is comfortably supported with his or her head on both the chair and on the sink.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/751,613, filed Dec. 19, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the general art of chairs, and to the particular field of chairs used in hair salons.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hairdressing or haircutting or cosmetology can be a tiring occupation. A hairdresser, for example, must often spend up to ten hours per day on his or her feet performing a variety of operations on a customer's hair such as, for example, cutting. The fatigue occasioned by such a schedule is physically debilitating and mentally fatiguing to such an extent that the quality of the service performed may suffer. Further, for some individuals with physical impairments standing is difficult, if not impossible.

A hairdresser must also have ready variety of hairdressing implements, such as scissors, razors, curlers, and the like and expendable items, such as hairspray, gels, water, and the like. A fixed table provides a surface to hold such implements or items but must be reached by walking from a position contiguous with the customer's chair to the table and back again. This only increases the amount of walking a hairdresser must do and, concomitantly increases the fatigue suffered by the hairdresser.

A requirement for a shampoo bowl may further exacerbate the above-mentioned problems. Shampoo bowls of this general type typically include a forward edge portion that is formed with a so-called neck rest. The neck rest is a rearwardly extending, rounded cut-out adapted to define a forwardly and upwardly facing depression adapted to receive an individual's neck.

When shampooing an individual's hair in a beauty salon or barber shop, it is common practice to seat the individual in a chair that is positioned forwardly of the shampoo bowl, and tilt the individual's head backward over the bowl. Preferably, the individual's neck is received into and generally supported by the neck rest formed in the bowl. This can be uncomfortable for the patron as well as for the stylist. It may even be dangerous for the patron because his or her neck may be bent at a sharp angle thereby reducing the flow of air to and from the patron's lungs and, possibly, increasing their blood pressure.

Accordingly, there are many types of reclining chairs available which are particularly adapted to use in hairdressing salons. They are used in conjunction with washbasins mounted behind them. The chairs recline to allow the client's hair to be washed and otherwise treated over the basin while minimizing entry of water, shampoo and treatment agents onto the face of the client.

A variety of techniques have been employed in attempts to ensure that despite the wide range of sizes of clients, the basin may be correctly and comfortably positioned under the client's head when their chair is reclined. The most common way of providing some adjustment for the client's size is to provide a tilting mechanism for the basin, which is to change its angular orientation fore and aft while maintaining the general position of its bottom where its plumbing is connected.

A more complex arrangement includes a chair incorporating a basin which, in addition to the tilting facility, may also be moved backwards and forwards relative to the seat in order to better accommodate different sized clients. While this is an improvement over the simple tilt adjustment, some clients can still not be made completely comfortable because either the front wings of the basin are pushing down on the client's shoulders, or the client's neck is being stretched by their head being pushed upwards by the basin, or the client is not leaning far enough back. In particular it can still be difficult to comfortably accommodate clients with longer or shorter than average torsos or with restricted neck movement.

Alternately, chairs may be provided with pivotally connected backs to enable each person to reposition the angle of the back, and the position of the chair inwardly and outwardly from the bowl so as to adjust the length between the chair seat and the neck rest. Frequently, however, the individual will not make the necessary adjustment, but will simply “slide” up or down in the chair, thus leaving the lower back unsupported.

In some “European-style” arrangements, the shampoo bowl and chair are connected to a pedestal for positioning in a room such that the beautician or barber stands behind the bowl to wash the individual's hair. In this instance, the shampoo bowl may be pivotally mounted to the pedestal to enable positioning of the bowl to accommodate an individual's height. However, such an arrangement has met with limited acceptance in the United States because the shampoo bowl is traditionally and typically mounted to a wall and the beautician or barber stands adjacent the bowl when washing the individual's hair.

Therefore, there is a need for a chair and basin that is comfortable for both the patron and the stylist.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above-discussed disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by a chair and shampoo combination which includes a chair having several inflatable sections which are strategically located to provide the maximum comfort and support for a patrons, even if the patrons are widely diverse in size and comfort requirements and a sink that is adjustable and works in conjunction with the chair to provide the maximum comfort for a patron. The chair further includes controls and adjustable support legs that can be used as needed. A movable foot rest as well as a movable neck support are also included. The sink has compartments to store items that will be useful for the styling operation.

Using the embodying the present invention will permit a patron to be positioned in the most comfortable position for both the patron and for the hair stylist and to permit the patron to be supported in an effective manner. The combination of the adjustable chair and the adjustable sink permits matching the needs of the patron as well as the needs of the stylist.

Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable chair included in the combination embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an adjustable sink included in the combination ng the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring first to the FIG. 1, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a combination that includes a chair 10 that will support a patron in a position that is comfortable to the patron as well as to a stylist. Chair 10 includes a pedestal 12 that is adjustable and on which a seat section 14 is supported.

Seat section 14 includes a foot section 20, a seat section 22 and a back section 24 to which arm sections 26 and support leg section 28 are attached. A neck support section 30 is mounted on a top section 32 of the back section. A removable protector 36 is mounted on the neck support section.

Seat section 14 includes a support surface 40 which is indented at 42 to be contoured to a patron. The indented section is inflatable so the size of the indentation can be adjusted to the particular needs and desires of the patron. Back support section 24 also includes an indented section 44 which is also inflatable so the size thereof can be adjusted to meet the particular needs patron's back and lower lumbar section.

A flexible joint 50 acts as a support for the rear of the patron's knees and to movably connect the leg section to the seat section. Joint 50 includes suitable mechanisms that are covered with table material to be comfortable for the patron. A corresponding joint 54 is located at the other end of the seat section to movably connect the seat section to the back section in a manner that is similar to the just-described joint 50. Joints 50 and 54 permit the chair to be positioned for maximum comfort for both the patron and the stylist.

Arm sections 26 include arm rests 60 on which control buttons 62 are located for controlling operation of the chair. A drink holder 64 is also located on one of the arm rests. Foot operated pedals can also be included on the chair pedestal so a stylist can operate the chair if desired. Locks and pouches can also be included on the chair if desired.

Foot section 20 includes a foot rest 66 which is oriented at an angle to the leg section for comfortably supporting a patron's feet. The foot rest can include suitable material 68 that will securely support a patron's feet on the foot section. The foot rest can be adjusted with respect to the remainder of the foot section so there are several degrees of freedom for the foot section.

Telescoping legs 70 are attached at one end thereof to the chair and have a floor-engaging foot 72 on the other end thereof. The legs will support the back section of the chair so a patron can lie down if necessary.

Referring next to FIG. 2, it can be understood that the combination embodying the present invention further includes a sink 80 that is adjustable to cooperate with the chair. Sink 80 includes a pedestal 82 which rests on the floor adjacent to the chair and which includes water connections, such as shutoff 84. Pedestal 82 is height adjustable and includes motors and mechanisms required for such height adjustment as well as foot operated pedals 86 that control these mechanisms so the height of the sink can be adjusted using the foot pedals.

Sink 80 further includes a bowl section 90 that has an outer surface 92 and an inner surface 94. A drain 96 is located in the inner surface and is fluidically connected to a suitable water drain system via the pedestal. Both hot and cold water can be directed through the sink as suitable. A rim 98 is defined on the top of the sink and has a neck opening section 100 defined therein to be located adjacent to neck support section 30 of the chair to comfortably support a patron's neck during a hair washing operation. Suitable pads, such as pad 102, can be placed on the neck opening section to ensure comfort. A spray unit 104 is also located in the sink and includes a flexible hose 106 to which is attached a spray nozzle 110. A hydraulic pump can be associated with the spray unit if suitable. Utility shelves 112 are located in the sink to store items that are associated with hair styling and/or hair washing. A storage compartment 120 is also defined on the sink for further storage capacity. Brushes, combs, towels, hair curling elements, wave rods, papers and the like can be stored in compartment 120. First aid items can also be stored in the storage compartment as well. A hose storage hook 130 is also located on the pedestal.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A patron accommodating unit for use by a hair stylist comprising:

A) a chair which includes (1) an adjustable pedestal that rests on a supporting surface, such as a floor; (2) a seat section supported on the pedestal and which includes (a) a foot section which has a foot rest, (b) a seat section which includes a support surface on which a patron is supported when the seat section is in use, the support surface having an indented portion, (b) a back section having a portion that is a top portion when the seat section is in use and an indented portion in the back section, (c) arm sections connected to the back section, the arm sections including arm rests on which control buttons are located, (d) a leg section, (e) a neck support section on the top portion of the back section, and (f) a protector element removably mounted on the neck support section; (2) a flexible joint which movably connects the leg section to the seat section; (3) a second joint which movably connects the seat section to the back section; (4) a cup holder on an arm rest; (5) two telescoping legs attached to the back section and having foot elements thereon; and

B) a sink which is located on the supporting surface closely adjacent to the adjustable pedestal of the chair and which includes (1) an adjustable pedestal that rests on the supporting surface adjacent to the chair and which is adjustable so the sink can be adjusted in conjunction with the chair to accommodate a patron, (2) water connections, (3) a water shutoff valve in the water connections, (4) a bowl which includes (a) a drain fluidically connected to the water connections, (b) a rim which is located adjacent to the neck support section of the chair, (c) a neck accommodating indented portion in the rim, (d) a pad on the rim and located in the neck accommodating indented portion, the patron resting their neck on the pad during use, (e) a spray nozzle unit fluidically connected to the water connections, (f) a utility shelf mounted on the bowl, (g) a storage compartment mounted on the bowl, and (h) a hose storage hook mounted on the adjustable pedestal.

2. A patron accommodating unit for use by a hair stylist consisting of:

A) a chair which includes (1) an adjustable pedestal that rests on a supporting surface, such as a floor; (2) a seat section supported on the pedestal and which includes (a) a foot section which has a foot rest, (b) a seat section which includes a support surface on which a patron is supported when the seat section is in use, the support surface having an indented portion, (b) a back section having a portion that is a top portion when the seat section is in use and an indented portion in the back section, (c) arm sections connected to the back section, the arm sections including arm rests on which control buttons are located, (d) a leg section, (e) a neck support section on the top portion of the back section, and (f) a protector element removably mounted on the neck support section; (2) a flexible joint which movably connects the leg section to the seat section; (3) a second joint which movably connects the seat section to the back section; (4) a cup holder on an arm rest; (5) two telescoping legs attached to the back section and having foot elements thereon; and

B) a sink which is located on the supporting surface closely adjacent to the adjustable pedestal of the chair and which includes (1) an adjustable pedestal that rests on the supporting surface adjacent to the chair and which is adjustable so the sink can be adjusted in conjunction with the chair to accommodate a patron, (2) water connections, (3) a water shutoff valve in the water connections, (4) a bowl which includes (a) a drain fluidically connected to the water connections, (b) a rim which is located adjacent to the neck support section of the chair, (c) a neck accommodating indented portion in the rim, (d) a pad on the rim and located in the neck accommodating indented portion, the patron resting their neck on the pad during use, (e) a spray nozzle unit fluidically connected to the water connections, (f) a utility shelf mounted on the bowl, (g) a storage compartment mounted on the bowl, and (h) a hose storage hook mounted on the adjustable pedestal.