OUTDOOR FOLDING CHAIR

Abstract

A portable tri-folding chair includes a chair seat portion, a chair footrest portion configured to fold relative to the chair seat portion, and a chair back portion that fold relative to the to the chair seat portion. One or more side containers are coupled to the chair seat portion.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/534,160 entitled “Portable Beach Chair with Storage Compartments and Canopy” to Nickell, et al. filed Sep. 13, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present invention relates generally to portable outdoor folding chairs. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to folding beach chairs.

2. Description of the Related Art

Portable chairs are often used in outdoor leisure activities, such as enjoying the beach. To increase portability, some beach chairs are foldable. A folding chair may include, for example, a seat section, a back section, and a footrest section that can be folded relative to one another.

Typically, a beach-goer will have several items other than a chair for enjoying his or her outing. In the case of the beach, for example, these items may include towels, lotion, sunscreen, balls, keys, mobile phones, or other personal items. Because of this, a beach-goer may have to make several trips to get all of the needed items to and from the destination.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of an outdoor folding chair and a shade are described herein. In an embodiment. In an embodiment, a portable tri-folding chair includes a chair seat portion, a chair footrest portion configured to fold relative to the chair seat portion, and a chair back portion that fold relative to the to the chair seat portion. A container (for example, a pouch) is included on the rear of the chair back portion. A pair of shoulder straps is included on the rear of the chair back portion.

In an embodiment, a portable tri-folding chair includes a chair seat portion, a chair footrest portion configured to fold relative to the chair seat portion, and a chair back portion that fold relative to the to the chair seat portion. One or more side containers are coupled to the chair seat portion. At least one of the side containers includes a zippered pouch or a zippered compartment.

In an embodiment, a portable folding chair includes a chair seat portion and a chair back portion that folds relative to the to the chair seat portion. One or more side containers coupled to the chair seat portion. At least one of the side containers is foldable relative to the chair seat portion.

In an embodiment, a shade system for an outdoor chair includes a shade and one or more mounting elements that can detachably couple the shade to an outdoor chair, and one or more containers to hold items. The shade may be at least partially collapsible.

In an embodiment, a portable tri-folding chair includes a chair seat portion, a chair footrest portion configured to fold relative to the chair seat portion, and a chair back portion that fold relative to the to the chair seat portion. A detachable shade is coupled to the chair back portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of a tri-fold chair with backpack straps and a removable shade.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view illustrating the tri-fold chair shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a shade system including zippered pouches for carrying items.

FIG. 4 is a top view illustrating one embodiment of a side bag having multiple compartments with a zippered cover protecting the contents in the compartments.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of side bags that have been folded onto a seat.

FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a chair including a detachable shade mount and shade.

FIG. 7 illustrates a tri-fold chair with a mount for a shade installed on the back of the chair.

FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of a shade system including a detachable shade.

While the invention is described herein by way of example for several embodiments and illustrative drawings, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments or drawings described. It should be understood, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word may is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including, but not limited to.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

As used herein, a “container” includes any element or combination of elements that can hold items. Examples of a container include a bag, a box, a pouch, or bin. In one embodiment, a container is a saddlebag.

As used herein, a “shade” includes any element or combination of elements that can at least partially shade a person from light, such as sunlight. Examples of a shade include an awning, a canopy, a screen, a roof panel, an umbrella, or a parasol.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of a tri-fold chair with backpack straps and a removable shade. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view illustrating the tri-fold chair shown in FIG. 1. Folding chair 20 includes chair seat 22, chair back 24, footrest 26, front leg member 28, and rear leg member 30. Chair seat 22 is suspended between opposing seat frame members 32. Chair seat 22 and seat frame members 32 may form a chair seat portion of folding chair 20. In one embodiment, folding chair 20 is a beach chair. A folding chair may, however, be used in other outdoor settings, such as swimming pool, at a park, or for viewing a sporting event (such as a soccer match, football game, or volleyball match).

Footrest 26 is suspended on footrest frame member 34. Footrest 26 and footrest frame member 34 may form a footrest portion of folding chair 20.

Chair back 24 is suspended on chair back frame member 36. Chair back 24 and chair back frame member 36 may form a chair back portion of folding chair 20.

Footrest frame member 34, back frame member 36, front leg member 28, and rear leg members 30 are coupled to seat frame members 32 by way of hinges 40. Hinges 40 may allow any or all of footrest frame member 34, back frame member 36, front leg member 28, and rear leg members 30 to fold relative to the chair seat portion of folding chair 20. In some embodiments, the chair back portion of folding chair 20 swings downward to a position on top of chair seat 22, and the footrest portion of the folding chair 20 swings downward to a position underneath chair seat 22.

Frame members and other elements of folding chair 20, such as footrest frame member 34, back frame member 36, front leg member 28, and rear leg members 30 are coupled to seat frame members 32 may be made of tubing, such as aluminum tubing. In one embodiment, the frame members folding chair 20 are anodized aluminum tubing.

Seating elements of folding chair 20 may be made of any suitable material. Examples of materials for supporting a user include nylon fabric or cloth. In one embodiment, chair seat 22, chair back 24, and footrest 26 are made of a UV-resistant fabric.

Folding chair 20 includes backpack system 41. Backpack system 41 includes backpack pouch 42 and straps 44. Backpack pouch 42 may include pouch cover 46. Pouch cover 46 may be zippered. In one embodiment, backpack pouch 42 for a chair has a capacity of about two cubic feet. A zippered container may protect items against contamination or damage (for example, sand or salt water encountered at the beach).

Straps 44 may be used to carry folding chair 20. Straps 44 may be adjustable (for example, to fit the size of the person carrying the chair). Folding chair 20 may be folded such that the footrest portion, legs, and back portion are folded relative to the chair seat portion. The folded chair may be carried using straps 44.

In some embodiments, a chair includes elements for securing sections of the chair to one another when the chair is folded. For example, folding chair 20 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes buckle systems 50. Each of buckle systems 50 includes buckle plug 52 and buckle socket 54. Buckle plugs 52 are strapped to back frame member 36. Each of buckle sockets 54 are strapped to one of seat frame members 32. Some or all of the straps for buckle plug 52 and buckle socket 54 may be adjustable in length (for example, by sliding a buckle on the strap).

When chair back 24 and chair seat 22 are folded with respect to one another, buckle plugs 52 may be coupled to buckle sockets 54 to inhibit chair back 24 and chair seat 22 from unfolding. In some embodiments, buckle systems 50 are used to maintain folding chair 20 in a folded condition while folding chair 20 is carried on the back of a user using straps 44.

Folding chair 20 includes side bags 58. Side bags 58 may be saddlebags on chair seat 22. In some embodiments, side bags 58 are flexible and/or collapsible. One of side bags 58 is coupled to each of seat frame members 32. Side bags 58 include compartments 60. Each of compartments 60 may hold various items, such as a mobile phone, media player, keys, watch, lotion, or sunscreen.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of side bags 58 includes two compartments. Containers may nevertheless in various embodiments include any number of compartments or pouches. In certain embodiments, side bags 58 include zippered covers.

Folding chair 20 includes shade system 64. Shade system 64 includes rear shade frame member 65, front shade frame member 66, shade panel 67, hinges 68, and shade mount clip 69. Shade system 64 may be coupled to back frame member 36 by way of shade mount clip 69. Shade panel 67 may be made of a flexible material, such as a nylon sheet, cloth, or fabric. Shade panel 67 includes mesh vent 71.

Shade system 64 may be adjustable (for example, to control how far shade panel 67 extends over a user's head). Shade system 64 may serve as an awning for a user a chair. Shade system 64 may be collapsible. For example, front shade frame member 66 may be moved on hinges 68 to collapse shade system 64 and/or retract shade system 64 against the back of chair 20.

In some embodiments, a shade system includes containers, such as pouches, for carrying items. FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a shade system including zippered pouches for carrying items. Shade system 74 is may be clipped onto a chair by way of clips 69. Shade system 74 includes zippered containers 76. Zippered containers 76 are located on the bottom of shade panel 67 of shade system 74. Shade system 74 includes carrying strap 77. Carrying strap 77 may be a shoulder strap. Carrying strap 77 may be connected and disconnected from another portion of the shade system, such as frame members 65 or 66, for purposes of carrying shade system 74. When not in use, carrying strap 77 may be stowed in one of zippered containers 76.

In one example of a use of a shade system, a user uses carrying strap 77 to carry shade system 74 to a location that already has chairs, such as a swimming pool at a resort. The user may attach shade system 74 to one of the chairs that is already at the location.

Although in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the shade system includes a clip that allows a user to snap the shade system onto a chair, a shade system for a chair may, in various embodiments, be detachably connected to a chair in other manners, such as by screws, clamps, magnets or a cam lock mechanism.

In some embodiments, a side compartment includes multiple containers for holding items. FIG. 4 is a top view illustrating one embodiment of a side bag having multiple compartments with a zippered cover protecting the contents in the compartments. Side bags 51 include compartments 60, zippered cover 57, and mounting sleeve 53. In some embodiments, mounting sleeve 53 slides onto a tubular member. Mounting sleeve 53 may be used to mount side bags 51 on chair, (for example, on seat frame members 32 of folding chair 20).

In some embodiments, side containers can be retracted or captured when a chair is folded. FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of side bags that have been folded onto a seat. In some embodiments, the side bags are folded over and onto a chair seat before the back of the seat is folded down to enable transporting the chair to or from a location. In some embodiments, the side bags flip inward onto the seat on tubular frame members of a chair, such as seat frame members 32. In some embodiments, items are transported in side bags while the side bags and chair are folded up. For example, items may be held in side bags 51 while the user carries folding chair 20 using straps 44 of the backpack system.

FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a chair including a detachable shade mount and shade. FIG. 7 illustrates a tri-fold chair with a mount for a shade installed on the back of the chair. FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of a chair shade system including a detachable shade. Folding chair 80 includes shade system 84. Shade system 84 includes shade 86 and shade mount 88. Shade 86 may be coupled to back frame member 36 by way of shade mount 88. Shade 86 may be detachable. Shade 86 may be adjustable (for example, to control the position of shade 86 to better shade the user of the chair. Shade 86 includes shade panel 89 and shade frame 90. Shade panel 89 may be made of a flexible material, such as a nylon sheet, cloth, or fabric. Shade mount 88 may be made of tubing, such as aluminum tubing. Shade 86 is coupled to shade mount 88 by way of ball mount coupler 92.

In some embodiments, shade 86 is detachable by a user from shade mount 98. For example, in one embodiment, ball mount coupler 92 includes a release that allows shade 86 to be separated from shade mount 88. A shade may be detached from one chair and redeployed on another chair.

Although in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, shade 86 is coupled by way of a ball mount, a shade may in various embodiments be mounted to a chair in other manners. For example, a shade may be coupled by way of a fixed connection or hinge. In certain embodiments, a shade is coupled to a chair using fasteners, such as screws, clamps, a clip, or a cam lock mechanism.

Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the invention may be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description.

Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the general manner of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention shown and described herein are to be taken as embodiments. Elements and materials may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein, parts and processes may be reversed, and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the invention. Methods may be implemented manually, in software, in hardware, or a combination thereof. The order of any method may be changed, and various elements may be added, reordered, combined, omitted, modified, etc. Changes may be made in the elements described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the following claims.

Claims

1. A portable tri-folding chair, comprising:

a chair seat portion;

a chair footrest portion configured to fold relative to the chair seat portion;

a chair back portion configured to fold relative to the to the chair seat portion, the chair back portion comprising a front and a rear;

a container on the rear of the chair back portion; and

a pair of shoulder straps on the rear of the chair back portion.

2. The portable tri-folding chair of claim 1, further comprising one or more side containers coupled to the chair seat portion.

3. The portable tri-folding chair of claim 2, wherein at least one of the side containers comprises a zippered pouch.

4. The portable tri-folding chair of claim 2, wherein at least one of the side containers comprises two or more pouches or compartments, wherein each of at least two of the pouches or compartments comprises a zipper.

5. The portable tri-folding chair of claim 2, wherein at least one of the side containers comprises three or more pouches or compartments, wherein each of at least two of the pouches or compartments comprises a zipper.

6. The portable tri-folding chair of claim 1, further comprising a shade coupled to the chair back portion.

7. The portable tri-folding chair of claim 6, wherein the shade is detachable from the chair back portion.

8. The portable tri-folding chair of claim 6, wherein the shade is configurable to translate on one or more frame members of the chair back portion to translate the shade up or down relative to the chair seat portion.

9. The portable tri-folding chair of claim 1, further comprising one or more connectors configurable to inhibit the chair back portion from unfolding from the chair seat portion when the chair is in a folded state.

10. A portable tri-folding chair, comprising:

a chair seat portion;

a chair footrest portion configured to fold relative to the chair seat portion;

a chair back portion configured to fold relative to the to the chair seat portion, the chair back portion comprising a front and a rear;

a pair of shoulder straps on the rear of the chair back portion; and

a shade detachably coupled to the chair back portion.

11. The portable tri-folding chair of claim 10, wherein the shade is detachable from the chair back portion.

12. The portable tri-folding chair of claim 10, wherein the shade is configurable to translate on one or more frame members of the chair back portion to translate the awning up or down relative to the chair seat portion.

13. The portable tri-folding chair of claim 1, further comprising one or more connectors configurable to inhibit the chair back portion from unfolding from the chair seat portion when the chair is in a folded state.

14. A portable tri-folding chair, comprising:

a chair seat portion;

a chair footrest portion configured to fold relative to the chair seat portion;

a chair back portion configured to fold relative to the to the chair seat portion, the chair back portion comprising a front and a rear;

a pair of shoulder straps on the rear of the chair back portion; and

one or more side containers coupled to the chair seat portion, wherein at least one of the side containers comprises a zippered pouch or a zippered compartment.

15. The portable tri-folding chair of claim 14, wherein at least one of the side containers comprises two or more pouches or compartments, wherein each of at least two of the pouches or compartments comprises a zipper.

16. The portable tri-folding chair of claim 14, wherein at least one of the side containers comprises three or more pouches or compartments, wherein each of at least two of the pouches or compartments comprises a zipper.

17-24. (canceled)