COLLAPSIBLE STOOL FOR HUNTING AND OUTDOOR USE
A stool includes a collapsible frame, a triangular seat and a back. The frame includes a bottom hub with three telescopingly adjustable legs and enlarged feet. A top hub is rotatably coupled to the bottom hub for 360 degree rotation, and includes three seat-supporting arms that extend from the top hub, and a pair of uprights that extend from two of the arms. The seat hook-attaches to loops on ends of the arms, and the back extends between the uprights. The legs and arms are pivoted to their respective hubs, but the pivots are slightly frictional so that the arms and legs remain in adjusted positions, with stops on the hubs stopping the legs and arms in their upwardly-pivoted use positions. The frictional pivots include lubricious plastic that facilitates quiet unfolding of the stool, which is important when hunting.
This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of provisional application 61/019,950, filed Jan. 9, 2008, entitled COLLAPSIBLE HUNTING STOOL.
BACKGROUNDThe present invention relates to a folding stool, such as may be used for hunting, photography, and other outdoor applications.
Hunting stools must be durable and long-lasting, yet light weight, portable, easy to set up, and comfortable for seated individuals. They preferably should be adjustable to fit different body sizes and preferences, with any adjustment being quiet, intuitive, and easily done. Also, the equipment should be adapted for use in a variety of different situations encountered in the wild. Still further, it is desirable that the equipment have relatively few components to minimize labor, cost and assembly. I do not know of any existing stools that satisfactorily meet these requirements and functional demands, in my opinion.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTIONThe present inventive stool includes several innovative features. The hubs for supporting the legs and seat are cast metal, such that they are more durable and less noisy than existing known designs. They are pivotally interconnected for 360 degree rotation of the seat, such that the hunter does not have to change his/her position in the seat . . . but instead can simply rotate the seat. The legs are connected to rotate downward into a folded dense storage position, and the seat-supporting arms also rotate downward into their storage position parallel the legs. The legs are infinitely telescopingly adjustable, and are quietly adjustable. They include enlarged feet that do not sink into mud and soft soil. The seat clips into U shackles (loops) on the upper arms, such that they are durable and easy to erect. This creates a comfortable hammock-like seat arrangement. This also leaves the ends of the arms free for mounting back rest hinges, gun mounts, camera mounts, and other accessories to the stool. The back is optional, and includes folding uprights that co-exist with the folding seat-supporting arms and legs. The seat is padded, quilted for aesthetics, insulated for comfort, and both functional and visually pleasing.
In one aspect of the present invention, a stool includes a frame and a seat supported on the frame. The frame includes a top hub and seat-supporting arms extending from the top hub, and further includes a bottom hub and legs extending from the bottom hub. The top and bottom hubs are rotationally connected so that the seat and seat-supporting arms can be rotated without changing a position of the legs.
In another aspect of the present invention, a stool includes a frame and a seat supported on the frame. The frame includes at least one hub. Seat-supporting arms extend from the at least one hub and also legs extend from the at least one hub. The seat-supporting arms and the legs each are movable between a raised position for use and a lowered position where the arms and legs extend parallel each other in a collapsed storage position.
In another aspect of the present invention, a stool includes a frame including seat-supporting arms extending from a hub and a pair of uprights extending from ends of two of the seat-supporting arms. The arms and uprights are movable between a raised position for use and a lowered position where the arms and legs extend parallel each other in a collapsed storage position. A seat is attached to the seat-supporting arms. A back is attached between the uprights.
In another aspect of the present invention, a stool includes a frame and a seat supported on the frame, the frame including at least one hub, seat-supporting arms extending from the at least one hub. The arms and seat include a hook attachment system that supports the seat in a hammock-simulating manner, the hook attachment system including several hooks shaped to releasably engage several mating shackles.
In another aspect of the present invention, a stool includes a frame and a seat supported on the frame. The seat is a flexible insulated padded construction with at least three hooks for engaging mating loops on the frame for supporting the seat in a hammock-simulating arrangement.
In still another aspect of the present invention, a stool includes a frame including seat-supporting arms and uprights. A seat is supported on the arms and a back is supported on the uprights. The back includes a thoracic-supporting section extending between the uprights and a lumbar-supporting section extending between the uprights, and further including a strap that connects the thoracic-supporting section to at least one of the lumbar-supporting section and the seat, the strap being adjustable and/or rotatable to change an amount of support received from the one section.
These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
A hunting stool 20 (
The triangular seat 22 (
The back 23 (
The bottom hub 25 (
The three telescopingly adjustable legs 26 (
The top hub 28 (
The pair of uprights 30 (
The seat 22 (
Preferably, the hubs are metal (such as aluminum or other strong metal) and cast metal, such that they are more durable and less noisy than existing known designs. They are pivotally interconnected for 360 degree rotation, such that the hunter does not have to change his/her position in the seat . . . but instead can simply rotate the seat. The legs are connected to rotate downward into a storage position, and the arms also rotate downward into their storage position parallel the legs, which is a novel approach not found in known folding stools. This folding arrangement permits a more dense and shorter storage arrangement. Further, even though the arms fold up for use, they are securely held in their upright use position by the hooks on the seat . . . in a hammock-simulating manner that is very secure and comfortable to a seated user.
The legs are infinitely telescopingly adjustable, and are quietly adjustable, which is contrary to previous legs which include spring-biased detents that noisily snappingly-engage into selected holes when adjusted. The enlarged feet (which have about 18 square inches of surface area) do not sink into mud and soft soil. The seat clips into U shackles (loops) on the upper arms, instead of using a fabric pocket, such that they are more durable and easier to erect. This also creates the comfortable hammock-like seat arrangement noted above. This also leaves the ends of the arms free for mounting back rest hinges, gun mounts, camera mounts, and other accessories to the stool. The back is optional, and includes folding uprights that co-exist with the folding seat-supporting arms and legs. The padded seat is quilted for aesthetics, insulated for comfort, and both functional and visually pleasing.
It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
Claims
1. A stool comprising:
- a frame and a seat supported on the frame;
- the frame including a top hub and seat-supporting arms extending from the top hub, the frame further including a bottom hub and legs extending from the bottom hub, the top and bottom hubs being rotationally connected so that the seat and seat-supporting arms can be rotated without changing a position of the legs.
2. The stool defined in claim 1, wherein the seat-supporting arms and the legs each are movable between an upward use position for use, and a downward storage position where the arms and legs extend generally parallel each other in a collapsed storage position.
3. The stool defined in claim 1, including a pair of uprights extending from ends of two of the seat-supporting arms, the arms and uprights being movable between a raised position for use and a lowered position where the arms and legs extend parallel each other in a collapsed storage position; and a back attached between the uprights.
4. The stool defined in claim 1, wherein the arms and seat include an attachment system that supports the seat in a hammock-simulating manner, the attachment system including shackles that are releasably engaged to support the seat.
5. The stool defined in claim 1, wherein the seat is a flexible thermoformed construction with at least three hooks for engaging mating structure on the frame for supporting the seat in a hammock-simulating arrangement.
6. The stool defined in claim 1, wherein the frame includes uprights; a back supported on the uprights; the back including a thoracic-supporting section extending between the uprights and a lumbar-supporting section extending between the uprights, and further including a strap that connects the thoracic-supporting section to at least one of the lumbar-supporting section and the seat, the strap being one of adjustable or rotatable to change an amount of support received from the one section.
7. A foldable stool comprising:
- a frame and a seat supported on the frame;
- the frame including at least one hub, seat-supporting arms extending from the at least one hub, and legs extending from the at least one hub; the seat-supporting arms and the legs each being movable between a raised position for use and a lowered position where the arms and legs extend parallel each other in a collapsed storage position.
8. The stool defined in claim 7, including a pair of uprights extending from ends of two of the seat-supporting arms, the arms and uprights being movable between a raised position for use and a lowered position where the arms and legs extend parallel each other in a collapsed storage position; and a back attached between the uprights.
9. The stool defined in claim 7, wherein the arms and seat include an attachment system that supports the seat in a hammock-simulating manner, the attachment system including shackles that are releasably engaged to support the seat.
10. The stool defined in claim 7, wherein the seat is a flexible thermoformed construction with at least three connectors for engaging mating structure on the frame for supporting the seat in a hammock-simulating arrangement.
11. The stool defined in claim 7, wherein the frame includes uprights; a back supported on the uprights; the back including a thoracic-supporting section extending between the uprights and a lumbar-supporting section extending between the uprights, and further including a strap that connects the thoracic-supporting section to at least one of the lumbar-supporting section and the seat, the strap being one of adjustable or rotatable to change an amount of support received from the one section.
12. A stool comprising:
- a frame including seat-supporting arms extending from a hub and a pair of uprights extending from ends of two of the seat-supporting arms, the arms and uprights being movable between a raised position for use and a lowered position where the arms and legs extend parallel each other in a collapsed storage position;
- a seat attached to the seat-supporting arms; and
- a back attached between the uprights.
13. The stool defined in claim 12, wherein the arms and seat include a releasable attachment system that supports the seat in a hammock-simulating manner, the attachment system including several first connectors shaped to releasably engage several mating connectors.
14. The stool defined in claim 12, wherein the seat is a flexible thermoformed construction with at least three hooks for engaging mating structure on the frame for supporting the seat in a hammock-simulating arrangement.
15. The stool defined in claim 12, wherein the frame includes uprights; a back supported on the uprights; the back including a thoracic-supporting section extending between the uprights and a lumbar-supporting section extending between the uprights, and further including a strap that connects the thoracic-supporting section to at least one of the lumbar-supporting section and the seat, the strap being one of adjustable or rotatable to change an amount of support received from the one section.
16. A foldable stool comprising:
- a frame and a seat supported on the frame;
- the frame including at least one hub, and seat-supporting arms extending from the at least one hub; and
- the arms and seat including a releasable attachment system that supports the seat in a hammock-simulating manner on the frame, the attachment system including several first connectors shaped to releasably engage mating connectors.
17. The stool defined in claim 16, wherein the seat is a flexible insulated padded construction, the first and mating connectors including at least three hooks for engaging mating structure on the frame for supporting the seat in a hammock-simulating arrangement.
18. The stool defined in claim 16, wherein the frame includes uprights; a back supported on the uprights; the back including a thoracic-supporting section extending between the uprights and a lumbar-supporting section extending between the uprights, and further including a strap that connects the thoracic-supporting section to at least one of the lumbar-supporting section and the seat, the strap being one of adjustable or rotatable to change an amount of support received from the one section.
19. A stool comprising:
- a frame and a seat supported on the frame;
- the seat being a flexible insulated padded construction with at least three hooks for engaging mating loops on the frame for supporting the seat in a hammock-simulating arrangement.
20. A stool comprising:
- a frame including seat-supporting arms and uprights;
- a seat supported on the arms and a back supported on the uprights;
- the back including a thoracic-supporting section extending between the uprights and a lumbar-supporting section extending between the uprights, and further including a strap that connects the thoracic-supporting section to at least one of the lumbar-supporting section and the seat, the strap being adjustable to change an amount of support received from the one section.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 22, 2008
Publication Date: Jul 9, 2009
Inventor: Frederick Scott Hoffman (Holland, MI)
Application Number: 12/196,402
International Classification: A47C 4/00 (20060101);