FOLDING CHAIR HAVING INTEGRATED AUDIO PORT

Abstract

A foldable outdoor chair for supporting at least one person. The chair comprises a framework for supporting the person. The framework, in turn, comprises at least two vertical posts having a plurality of crossbraces attached thereto such that the crossbraces and posts are moveable to convert the chair from a first unfolded position wherein the chair is adapted for seating and a second folded position wherein the chair is adapted for transportation. A flexible fabric is supported from the frame work. The fabric is adapted to provide both a seating surface and a seat back and defines at least one cutout in the seat back the cutout comprising a turned and bound periphery. When the chair is in the transportation mode, the seating surface and seat back are folded. A speaker is attached through the cutout and over the turned and bound periphery. An audio port comprising a plate is attached to one of a flexible, fabric arm rest, the seating surface of the chair and the seat back of the chair. The audio port is placed in a position whereby the person seated in the chair can access the audio port without turning in the chair and without rising from a seated position. A flexible baglike receptacle is attached to one of the flexible fabric arm rest and the flexible fabric seating surface. The receptacle is physically adapted to hold its contents inwardly from an outer periphery of the chair when the chair is in the folded position to protect the contents of the receptacle from damage.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to outdoor folding chairs. More specifically, the invention relates to outdoor folding chairs having an integrated audio port and speakers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Folding chairs are known in the art and are used in a variety of outdoor situations, such as outside a home, while camping or hiking, at a pool or a beach as well as a multitude of other situations. Previously, outdoor folding chairs typically comprised a base and a seat portion that comprised webbing material attached to the chair frame. The chair folded by collapsing the back adjacent the seating area and the webbing material remained taut to the seat back and the seating area whether the chair was folded or unfolded. These chairs did not fold to a very compact configuration and were cumbersome to transport.

Taking the place of older style folding chairs described above were folding chairs that incorporate two rear upright legs attached to crossbraces that support the upright legs, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,406, to form a frame. The contents of the '406 patent are incorporated herein by reference. Flexible fabric panels are attached to the frame to form a seating surface and a seat back. Flexible panels may also be used to form arm rests. Folding chairs of this type, when folded, occupy less space and therefore are more easily transportable by the user. Chairs of this type also commonly incorporate drink holders, as shown in the '406 patent. When the frame of the chair is folded, the flexible panels of the seat back, seating surface and arm rests become folded upon themselves and

However, these chairs represent an obstacle when attaching accessory items because they do not maintain their shape as with prior art chairs when in the folded position. Specifically, the seat back and seating surface fold upon themselves as the framework is moved to the folded or collapsed position, as can be understood from the '406 patent. Moreover, the primary surfaces are flexible or flaccid and do not readily support accessories, such as speakers, amplifiers or input jacks.

Therefore, there is a need in the prior art for a method of attaching speakers, audio input ports and/or audio playback devices to folding chairs of the modern variety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a foldable outdoor chair for supporting at least one person. The chair comprises a framework for supporting the person. The framework, in turn, comprises at least two vertical posts having a plurality of crossbraces attached thereto such that the crossbraces and posts are moveable to convert the chair from a first unfolded position wherein the chair is adapted for seating and a second folded position wherein the chair is adapted for transportation. A flexible fabric is supported from the frame work. The fabric is adapted to provide both a seating surface and a seat back and defines at least one cutout in the seat back the cutout comprising a turned and bound periphery. When the chair is in the transportation mode, the seating surface and seat back are folded. A speaker is attached through the cutout and over the turned and bound periphery. An audio port comprising a plate is attached to one of a flexible, fabric arm rest, the seating surface of the chair and the seat back of the chair. The audio port is placed in a position whereby the person seated in the chair can access the audio port without turning in the chair and without rising from a seated position. A flexible baglike receptacle is attached to one of the flexible fabric arm rest and the flexible fabric seating surface. The receptacle is physically adapted to hold its contents inwardly from an outer periphery of the chair when the chair is in the folded position to protect the contents of the receptacle from damage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an isometric view of a folding chair having integrated audio port according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is an isometric view of a folding chair having integrated audio port according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a folding chair having integrated audio port according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a folding chair having integrated audio port according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a folding chair having integrated audio port according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a folding chair having integrated audio port according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a folding chair having integrated audio port according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a front view of a folding chair having integrated audio port according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a folding chair having integrated audio port according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

The most preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a folding chair incorporating an integrated audio port, amplifier and speakers. The integrated audio port allows the user to connect the audio source of the user's choosing, such as a CD player, DVD player, AM or FM radio or an audio playback device comprising an integrated storage memory, such as devices containing miniature hard drives or solid state memory, for example an APPLE IPOD branded storage device. The chair accepts different audio input sources, amplifies those sources with an integrated adjustable amplifier and plays the sources on integrated speakers while still maintaining the ability of the chair to be folded and transported.

In that regard and referring to FIGS. 1-5, there is shown a chair 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The chair 10 comprises a frame 12 having a pair of upwardly extending posts 14 and a plurality of crossbraces 16. Stretched across the frame 12 are a seating surface 18 and a seat back 20. In the most preferred embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, the seating surface 18 and the seat back 20 comprises a single sheet of fabric attached to the frame 12 only at the four corners of the fabric. The frame 12 is foldable to a retracted position whereby the chair 10 may be easily transported by the user and unfoldable to an expanded position whereby the chair 10 the seating surface 18 may be used to support a user. The seating surface 18 and the seat back 20 will easily compress within the folded seat frame 12 and easily expand to the position shown in FIG. 1 whereupon a person's weight may be supported by the fabric.

The chair 10 further comprises a pair of armrests 24 supported by the posts 14 and two extension rods 22 which extend from some of the cross braces 16. The armrests 24 may optionally include drink holders 26 for supporting a user's drink while seated in the chair 10. Also attached to or disposed in the flexible fabric of one of the arm rests 24 is an integrated audio port 28. The integrated audio port 28 is attached to the fabric of the arm rest 24 such that it does not impede the flexibility of the arm rest 24 and its ability to collapse and fold yet provides a solid surface for an audio jack 30 to be mounted to which an audio playback device may be attached (FIG. 1A). The integrated audio port 28 is attached to the fabric by cutting a hole therein and turning and binding the fabric. The additional overlap of fabric as a result of the turning and binding provides additional thickness, strength and rigidity of the fabric. The integrated audio port 28 is attached to the fabric of the arm rest 24. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1B, the integrated audio port 28 can be attached to an audio playback device storage receptacle 36, described below.

The integrated audio port 28 further comprises a volume switch 32 by which the volume of the sound from the audio playback device can be modulated on a pair of speakers 34 attached to the seat back 20 of the chair 10. The speakers 34 are attached through cutouts in the fabric of the chair 10. The fabric near the speakers 34 is also turned and bound and the speakers 34 are attached to the fabric. The additional overlap of fabric of the turning and binding provides additional thickness, strength and rigidity of the fabric.

Also attached to the flexible armrest 24 is an audio playback device storage receptacle 36 into which the audio playback device may temporarily stored while in use by the user. The placement of the receptacle 36 adjacent the natural sitting position of the user and the user's hands facilitates adjustment of the playback device 36 while in use, for example, by allowing easy selection of songs to be played from the device or changing the station of the device as with a radio. The receptacle 36 is not directly attached to the frame 12 in any manner, but rather hangs from the fabric such that the receptacle 36 is not bound to any fixed position with respect to the frame 12 and may be easily stored within the frame 12 when the frame 12 is folded, such that an audio device within the receptacle 36 is stored within the outer confines of the frame 12 and is protected thereby when in the retracted position (See FIG. 5). Moreover, the speakers 34 are similarly stored within the outer confines of the frame 12 so that they are protected by the frame 12 when the frame 12 is retracted or folded. Flexible electrical wires attach the speakers 34 to the port 28. In a preferred embodiment, the wires are allowed to hang loose from the port 28, chair 10 and speakers 34 in order to facilitate folding of the chair 10.

Referring to FIGS. 6-10, a second embodiment of the presenting invention is shown. In the second embodiment, the chair comprises double chair 100. The double chair 100 comprises a framework 102 for supporting the user according to the same principles as the first embodiment. A fabric seating surface 104 and fabric seat back 106 are constructed from a single length of material. A pair of users may each be seated in the chair 100 upon the seating surface 104. Each user has an armrest 107 resting upon a vertical post 108 of the framework 102 and one of each of two extension rods 110 attached to the crossbraces 112 of the framework 102.

Mounted within the seat back 106 are three speakers 114. The additional overlap of fabric of the turning and binding provides additional thickness, strength and rigidity of the fabric at the mounting point of the speakers 114. Also mounted within the seatback is an integrated audio port 116. The integrated audio port 116 is located between the users' seating areas and further is mounted to only the fabric of the seating area such that the audio port 116 has no fixed relationship with respect to the framework 112 of the chair 100. In this manner, as above, the audio port 116 is maintained within the framework 112 when the chair 100 is folded and is protected from damage during transportation. The port 116 includes an audio jack 118 and a volume control 120. A wire 117 extends from jack 118 to a receptacle 122 that may be used to connect an audio playback device. The receptacle 122 is attached to only the fabric of the seating surface 104 and folds within the framework 102 and is securely protected inside the framework 102 from damage while transporting the chair 100. The receptacle 122 is further located in a position such that both users of the chair may easily access the playback device to manipulate a control, such as song selection controls or radio station selection controls.

The above examples show that the invention, as defined by the claims, has far ranging application and should not be limited merely to the embodiments shown and described in detail. Instead the invention should be limited only to the explicit words of the claims, and the claims should not be arbitrarily limited to embodiments shown in the specification. The scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims, and the Examiner should examine the claims on that basis.

Claims

1. A foldable outdoor chair for supporting at least one person comprising:

a framework for supporting the person, the framework comprising at least two vertical posts having a plurality of crossbraces attached thereto such that the crossbraces and posts are moveable to convert the chair from a first unfolded position wherein the chair is adapted for seating and a second folded position wherein the chair is adapted for transportation;

a flexible fabric supported from the frame work, the piece of fabric adapted to provide both a seating surface and a seat back, the fabric defining at least one cutout in the seat back the cutout comprising a turned and bound periphery, wherein when the chair is in said transportation mode, the seating surface and seat back are folded;

a speaker attached through cutout and over the turned and bound periphery;

an audio port comprising a plate attached to one of a flexible, fabric arm rest, the seating surface of the chair and the seat back of the chair, the audio port placed in a position whereby the person seated in the chair can access the audio port without turning in the chair and without rising from a seated position; and

a flexible baglike receptacle attached to one of the flexible fabric arm rest and the flexible fabric seating surface, the receptacle physically adapted to hold its contents inwardly from outer periphery of the chair when the chair is in the folded position to protect the contents of the receptacle from damage.

2. The chair of claim 1 wherein the seating surface is adapted to seat two or more users, the receptacle being attached to the seating surface between at least two of the users, and the audio port being affixed to the seat back of the chair.

3. The chair of claim 1 wherein the seating surface is adapted to seat no more than one user, the receptacle being attached to the only the flexible arm rest of the chair and hanging therefrom and the audio port being affixed to the flexible fabric surface of the arm rest.

4. The chair of claim 1 wherein the plate further comprises an amplifier affixed only to the plate.

5. The chair of claim 1 wherein the audio port further comprises a volume switch for controlling the volume of the sound emanating from the speakers.

6. A foldable outdoor chair for supporting at least one person comprising:

a framework for supporting the person, the framework comprising at least two vertical posts having a plurality of crossbraces attached thereto such that the crossbraces and posts are moveable to convert the chair from a first unfolded position wherein the chair is adapted for seating and a second folded position wherein the chair is adapted for transportation;

a flexible fabric supported from the frame work, the single piece of fabric adapted to provide both a seating surface and a seat back, the fabric defining at least one cutout in the seat back the cutout comprising a turned and bound periphery, wherein when the chair is in said transportation mode, the seating surface and seat back are folded;

a speaker attached through cutout and over the turned and bound periphery;

an audio port comprising a plate attached to one of a flexible, fabric arm rest, the seating surface of the chair and the seat back of the chair, the audio port placed in a position whereby the person seated in the chair can access the audio port without turning in the chair and without rising from a seated position, wherein the audio port;

a flexible baglike receptacle attached to one of the flexible fabric arm rest and the flexible fabric seating surface, the receptacle physically adapted to hold its contents inwardly from outer periphery of the chair when the chair is in the folded position to protect the contents of the receptacle from damage; and

the seating surface is adapted to seat two or more users, the receptacle being attached to the seating surface between at least two of the users, and the audio port being affixed to the seat back of the chair.

7. The chair of claim 6 wherein the seating surface is adapted to seat no more than one user, the receptacle being attached to the only the flexible arm rest of the chair and hanging therefrom and the audio port being affixed to the flexible fabric surface of the arm rest.

8. The chair of claim 6 wherein the plate further comprises an amplifier affixed only to the plate.

9. The chair of claim 6 wherein the audio port further comprises a volume switch for controlling the volume of the sound emanating from the speakers.

10. A foldable outdoor chair for supporting at least one person comprising:

a framework for supporting the person, the framework comprising at least two vertical posts having a plurality of crossbraces attached thereto such that the crossbraces and posts are moveable to convert the chair from a first unfolded position wherein the chair is adapted for seating and a second folded position wherein the chair is adapted for transportation;

a flexible fabric supported from the frame work, the single piece of fabric adapted to provide both a seating surface and a seat back, the fabric defining at least one cutout in the seat back the cutout comprising a turned and bound periphery, wherein when the chair is in said transportation mode, the seating surface and seat back are folded;

a speaker attached through cutout and over the turned and bound periphery;

an audio port comprising a plate attached to one of a flexible, fabric arm rest, the seating surface of the chair and the seat back of the chair, the audio port placed in a position whereby the person seated in the chair can access the audio port without turning in the chair and without rising from a seated position, wherein the audio port;

a flexible baglike receptacle attached to one of the flexible fabric arm rest and the flexible fabric seating surface, the receptacle physically adapted to hold its contents inwardly from outer periphery of the chair when the chair is in the folded position to protect the contents of the receptacle from damage; and

the seating surface is adapted to seat no more than one user, the receptacle being attached to the only the flexible arm rest of the chair and hanging therefrom and the audio port being affixed to the flexible fabric surface of the arm rest.

11. The chair of claim 10 wherein the plate further comprises an amplifier affixed only to the plate.

12. The chair of claim 10 wherein the audio port further comprises a volume switch for controlling the volume of the sound emanating from the speakers.

13. A foldable outdoor chair for supporting at least one person comprising:

a framework for supporting the person, the framework comprising at least two vertical posts having a plurality of crossbraces attached thereto such that the crossbraces and posts are moveable to convert the chair from a first unfolded position wherein the chair is adapted for seating and a second folded position wherein the chair is adapted for transportation;

a flexible fabric supported from the frame work, the piece of fabric adapted to provide both a seating surface and a seat back, the fabric defining at least one cutout in the seat back the cutout, wherein when the chair is in said transportation mode, the seating surface and seat back are folded;

a speaker attached through the cutout;

a flexible baglike receptacle attached to one of the flexible fabric arm rests and the flexible fabric seating surface, the receptacle physically adapted to hold its contents outwardly from outer periphery of the chair when the chair is in the folded position to provide space the person; and

an audio port comprising a plate attached to the receptacle.

14. The chair of claim 13 wherein the seating surface is adapted to seat two or more users.

15. The chair of claim 13 wherein the plate further comprises an amplifier affixed only to the plate.

16. The chair of claim 13 wherein the audio port further comprises a volume switch for controlling the volume of the sound emanating from the speakers.