Dual Swivel Seats for Hunting Blinds

Abstract

A dual swivel seat assembly has a single base support member that rotatably supports plural seats for rotation about a common vertical axis. The seats are rotatably supported by at least two swivel arms that rotatably connect the seats to the support member.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an arrangement for swivel chairs. Swivel chairs are frequently employed in environments where it is desirable to allow for freedom of movement of a person seated in a chair in several directions and orientations. Hunters, fishermen, dentists, workers in production facilities are examples of individuals who require seating arrangements that provide a wide range of orientation.

2. Description of Related Art

Single swivel chairs that allow for quick movement in multiple orientations are known in the art such as those described in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,798,361; 1,484,229; and 4,979,458. A dual swivel seat arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,709,555 to Ostertag. However, the arrangement in Ostertag does not allow for full movement of the two seats with respect to each other and includes only one swivel arm for each chair. Furthermore the first swivel arms are not mounted for rotation about the same vertical axis.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed herein overcomes the above noted deficiencies in the art by providing for a single support member for two swivel chairs that have first swivel arms that are mounted for rotation about a common axis. In environments such as a deer hunting blinds there are frequently more than one hunter seated. A deer hunting blind typically includes a very limited number of windows of small size and it is crucial to be able to move from one vantage point to another without interference from another person seated in the blind. This is especially important when one of the individuals is instructing the other and needs to position themselves quickly to view what the student is seeing through the window and vice versa. In addition to a pair of first swivel arms mounted for rotation about a common axis, each chair includes a second swivel arm that rotatably supports a chair thus allowing for a wide range of movement within the hunting blind and with respect to the other chair that is mounted on the base support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention showing the chairs in a first configuration.

FIG. 2 is perspective view of the invention showing the chairs in a second configuration.

FIG. 3 is a view of the various components of the support structure.

The drawings provided herein are meant to illustrate the principles of the invention in general terms and are not intended to limit the invention to the specific details shown in the drawings. Also other shapes and sizes for the various structural members could be used without departing from the invention, which is set forth in the accompanying claims. Furthermore the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of the overall assembly of the dual swivel seats according to an embodiment of the invention. The assembly includes a main support member 20 which includes a plurality of L-shaped support arms 2 which extend radially outwardly from a central tubular member 35 shown in FIG. 3. Support arms 2 are provided with one or more apertures 21 by which they may be secured to the floor of a hunting blind by suitable fasteners. At their inner end support arms 2 are welded or otherwise secured to tubular member 35. A pair of first swivel arms 3 are pivotally supported on a spindle 9 for rotation about a vertical axis. In the embodiment shown a hollow spindle sleeve 8 is positioned at the inner end of each swivel arm 2 and rotably fits over the spindle 9. The lower end of spindle 9 is secured within tubular member 35.

The other end of first swivel arms 3 are provided with a first tubular sleeve 5 that is adapted to receive a shaft 11 located at one end of the second swivel arm 4. The outer ends of second swivel arms 4 are also equipped with a second tubular socket member 6 that rotatably supports a shaft 34 shown in FIG. 3 connected to seat support plates 33.

The arrangement described above permits the seats to move about the hunting blind quickly and in a variety of orientations. FIG. 2 shows one of the orientations that is achievable according to the invention. A multitude of other orientations within the blind are possible.

FIG. 3 illustrates the details of various components of the support assembly. The L-shaped support legs 2 are secured at their inner end to a hollow cylindrical tubular member 35 which is sized to receive the lower end of spindle 9 which may be a solid rod. Sleeve 8 of the first swivel arm 3 rotatably fits over spindle 9. A needle bearing 31 with a washer is positioned between sleeve 8 and tubular member 35. A second needle bearing 31 is positioned on the rod between sleeve 8 and a set collar 32 which is also positioned on the rod. A third needle bearing is positioned between the set collar and sleeve 8 of the upper first swivel arm 3. A set collar 32 and a needle bearing 31 is provided on the mid portion of shaft 11. The lower portion of shaft 11 is received within sleeve member 5. A seat support shaft 34 is provided with a set collar 32 and extends through sleeve 6 provided on the outer end of second swivel arm 4. A needle bearing 31 is located on the seat support shaft 34 between set collar 32 and sleeve 6. A seat support plate 33 is secured to the upper portion of support shaft 34. The second chair is supported in a manner similar to that of the first chair beginning within the second first swivel arm 3 shown on the top portion of spindle 9 in FIG. 3.

The preceding description is intended to provide a detailed description of an embodiment of the invention but is not intended to limit the invention to the particular details disclosed. For example the main support base can be configured in a number of ways and the various swivel joints could be formed using several different swivel arrangements and bearings that are known in the art.

Claims

1. A dual swivel seat assembly comprising:

a main support member;

a plurality of first swivel arms;

means for pivotally mounting the first swivel arms about a single axis through the support member;

a plurality of second swivel arms;

means for pivotally connecting an outer portion of the first swivel arms to an inner portion of the second swivel arms;

a plurality of seats; and

means for pivotally mounting the seats on an outer portion of the second swivel arms.

2. A dual swivel seat assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for pivotally mounting the first swivel arms about a single axis through the support member comprises a vertical mounted spindle and a spindle sleeve mounted on an inner end of the first swivel arms.

3. A dual swivel seat assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for pivotally connecting an outer portion of the first swivel arms an inner portion of the second swivel arm comprises a socket member on an outer end of the first swivel arm that receives a shaft located on the inner end of the second swivel arm.

4. A dual swivel seat assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for pivotally mounting the seats on an outer portion of the second swivel arms comprises a shaft extending downwardly from the seats and second tubular socket member receiving the shaft located at an outer end of the second swivel arm.

5. A dual swivel seat assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein a set collar is positioned on the spindle between the spindle sleeves of the first swivel arms and a pair of needle bearings are positioned between the set collar and the spindle sleeves.

6. A dual swivel seat assembly as claimed in claim 5 further including a third needle bearing on the spindle sleeve between one of the first swivel arms and the main support member.