PORTABLE FOOTSTOOL AND LOUNGE CHAIR COMBINATION
United States Patent 3736023
A portable footstool and lounge chair combination is formed from a plurality of cushions of non-rigid material. Certain of the cushions are hinged to each other so that when folded up, in which state its overall shape is that of a compact, rectangular prism, it provides a footstool or hassock. When unfolded the combination of cushions provides an extensive lounge having a seat, a pair of arm rests, a back rest, a head rest, and an elevated leg rest.
US Patent References:
Foldable mattress
Slayen - March 1952 - 2589579
Child's combination chair
Schultz - March 1953 - 2631699
Convertible seat
Ashworth - July 1959 - 2896695
Folding sofa lounge and knockdown furniture
Pagliaro - September 1961 - 3001822
PIECE OF FURNITURE
Larsen - September 1969 - 3469882
Foldable mattress
Slayen - March 1952 - 2589579
Child's combination chair
Schultz - March 1953 - 2631699
Convertible seat
Ashworth - July 1959 - 2896695
Folding sofa lounge and knockdown furniture
Pagliaro - September 1961 - 3001822
PIECE OF FURNITURE
Larsen - September 1969 - 3469882
Application Number:
05/222804
Publication Date:
05/29/1973
Filing Date:
02/02/1972
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
297/423.400, 5/722
International Classes:
A47C13/00; A47C17/04; A47C17/00; A47C13/00
Field of Search:
5/352,345,357 297/118,17,440,423
Primary Examiner:
Zugel, Francis K.
Claims:
I claim
1. A portable and foldable footstool and lounge chair which in its fully folded state comprises a combination of discreet cushions, said combination having an overall rectangular prismatic shape defined by front, bottom, rear, top and opposite side faces, said cushions including first and second cushions each of rectangular prismatic shape horizontally disposed in stacked face-to-face relation with the second cushion disposed above the first, the corresponding vertical faces of the two cushions defining respective portions of said overall front, opposite side and rear faces, the lower face of the first cushion forming said overall bottom face, and the immediately adjacent concurrent edges of the two cushions at said overall front face being hinged to each other effective to permit the second cushion to be pivoted thereabout to an unfolded position in which said front vertical faces thereof are disposed in abutting face-to-face relation; spaced third and fourth cushions each of rectangular prismatic shape disposed upright from the second cushion along the respective ones of said overall side faces, the third and fourth cushions having top faces forming portions of said overall top face, a pair of rear faces forming additional portions of said overall rear face, a pair of outer side faces forming additional portions of said overall side faces, a pair of opposed inner faces in spaced relation to each other and a pair of front faces disposed rearwardly of said overall front face; fifth and sixth cushions together forming a rectangular prism disposed on the top of the second cushion between the third and fourth cushions and having top faces forming a further portion of said overall top face and side faces abutting respective ones of said opposed inner faces of the third and fourth cushions, the fifth and sixth cushions being separated in a plane normal to said overall side faces and through the bottom and top faces of the fifth and sixth cushions intermediate the front and rear faces thereof, said plane also inclining upwardly and rearwardly toward said overall rear face, the fifth cushion being secured to the top face of the second cushion and having a rear face forming the remainder of said overall rear face, the third and fourth cushions being attached to the fifth cushion at least at the two respective pairs of the immediately adjacent concurrent edges of the third and fourth cushions and the fifth cushion at said overall top face, the immediately adjacent concurrent edges of the fifth and sixth cushions at said overall top face being hinged to each other effective so that the sixth cushion can pivot thereabout to a position in which the top faces of the fifth and sixth cushions are in abutting face-to-face relation; and seventh and eighth cushions together forming a rectangular prism disposed on the top of the second cushion forward of the third and fourth cushions and having respective side faces forming the remainder of said overall side faces, the rear faces of the seventh and eighth cushions abutting the front faces of the third and fourth cushions, the seventh cushion having a front face forming the remainder of said overall front face and a top face forming a further portion of said overall top face, the seventh and eighth cushions being separated in a plane normal to said overall side faces, said plane also inclining upwardly and rearwardly from the lower edge of the front face of the seventh cushion and through the rear faces of the seventh and eighth cushions intermediate bottom and top faces thereof, whereby the seventh cushion is disposed above the eighth cushion, the seventh cushion being hinged to the second cushion along the immediately adjacent concurrent edges thereof at said overall front face effective so that the seventh cushion can be pivoted thereabout to a position in which the front face of the seventh cushion and the bottom face of the first cushion are in abutting face-to-face relation when the first cushion has been pivoted relative to the second cushion as aforesaid.
2. The combination of claim 1 in which the second and fifth cushions are integrally formed as a single cushion.
3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said attachment of the third and fourth cushions to the fifth cushion comprises a hinged connection.
4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the front faces of said third, fourth and sixth cushions are coplanar and abut the rear faces of the seventh and eighth cushions.
5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the front face of the sixth cushion is disposed rearwardly of the front faces of the third and fourth cushions in spaced relation to the rear faces of the seventh and eighth cushions, and including a ninth cushion of rectangular prismatic shape disposed therebetween, the ninth cushion having front and rear faces abutting respectively the rear faces of the seventh and eighth cushions and the front face of the sixth cushion and side faces abutting said opposed inner faces of the third and fourth cushions.
6. The combination of claim 5 wherein the lower edge of the front face of the ninth cushion is attached to a lower portion of the sixth cushion so that after the sixth cushion has been pivoted relative to the fifth cushion as aforesaid, the ninth cushion can then be pivoted relative to the sixth cushion to a position in which the front face of the ninth cushion lies in abutting face-to-face relation upon the face of the sixth cushion formed by said plane separating the fifth and sixth cushions.
1. A portable and foldable footstool and lounge chair which in its fully folded state comprises a combination of discreet cushions, said combination having an overall rectangular prismatic shape defined by front, bottom, rear, top and opposite side faces, said cushions including first and second cushions each of rectangular prismatic shape horizontally disposed in stacked face-to-face relation with the second cushion disposed above the first, the corresponding vertical faces of the two cushions defining respective portions of said overall front, opposite side and rear faces, the lower face of the first cushion forming said overall bottom face, and the immediately adjacent concurrent edges of the two cushions at said overall front face being hinged to each other effective to permit the second cushion to be pivoted thereabout to an unfolded position in which said front vertical faces thereof are disposed in abutting face-to-face relation; spaced third and fourth cushions each of rectangular prismatic shape disposed upright from the second cushion along the respective ones of said overall side faces, the third and fourth cushions having top faces forming portions of said overall top face, a pair of rear faces forming additional portions of said overall rear face, a pair of outer side faces forming additional portions of said overall side faces, a pair of opposed inner faces in spaced relation to each other and a pair of front faces disposed rearwardly of said overall front face; fifth and sixth cushions together forming a rectangular prism disposed on the top of the second cushion between the third and fourth cushions and having top faces forming a further portion of said overall top face and side faces abutting respective ones of said opposed inner faces of the third and fourth cushions, the fifth and sixth cushions being separated in a plane normal to said overall side faces and through the bottom and top faces of the fifth and sixth cushions intermediate the front and rear faces thereof, said plane also inclining upwardly and rearwardly toward said overall rear face, the fifth cushion being secured to the top face of the second cushion and having a rear face forming the remainder of said overall rear face, the third and fourth cushions being attached to the fifth cushion at least at the two respective pairs of the immediately adjacent concurrent edges of the third and fourth cushions and the fifth cushion at said overall top face, the immediately adjacent concurrent edges of the fifth and sixth cushions at said overall top face being hinged to each other effective so that the sixth cushion can pivot thereabout to a position in which the top faces of the fifth and sixth cushions are in abutting face-to-face relation; and seventh and eighth cushions together forming a rectangular prism disposed on the top of the second cushion forward of the third and fourth cushions and having respective side faces forming the remainder of said overall side faces, the rear faces of the seventh and eighth cushions abutting the front faces of the third and fourth cushions, the seventh cushion having a front face forming the remainder of said overall front face and a top face forming a further portion of said overall top face, the seventh and eighth cushions being separated in a plane normal to said overall side faces, said plane also inclining upwardly and rearwardly from the lower edge of the front face of the seventh cushion and through the rear faces of the seventh and eighth cushions intermediate bottom and top faces thereof, whereby the seventh cushion is disposed above the eighth cushion, the seventh cushion being hinged to the second cushion along the immediately adjacent concurrent edges thereof at said overall front face effective so that the seventh cushion can be pivoted thereabout to a position in which the front face of the seventh cushion and the bottom face of the first cushion are in abutting face-to-face relation when the first cushion has been pivoted relative to the second cushion as aforesaid.
2. The combination of claim 1 in which the second and fifth cushions are integrally formed as a single cushion.
3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said attachment of the third and fourth cushions to the fifth cushion comprises a hinged connection.
4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the front faces of said third, fourth and sixth cushions are coplanar and abut the rear faces of the seventh and eighth cushions.
5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the front face of the sixth cushion is disposed rearwardly of the front faces of the third and fourth cushions in spaced relation to the rear faces of the seventh and eighth cushions, and including a ninth cushion of rectangular prismatic shape disposed therebetween, the ninth cushion having front and rear faces abutting respectively the rear faces of the seventh and eighth cushions and the front face of the sixth cushion and side faces abutting said opposed inner faces of the third and fourth cushions.
6. The combination of claim 5 wherein the lower edge of the front face of the ninth cushion is attached to a lower portion of the sixth cushion so that after the sixth cushion has been pivoted relative to the fifth cushion as aforesaid, the ninth cushion can then be pivoted relative to the sixth cushion to a position in which the front face of the ninth cushion lies in abutting face-to-face relation upon the face of the sixth cushion formed by said plane separating the fifth and sixth cushions.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Chairs and lounges, especially those designed for eye-level viewing of television, should be light in weight and readily movable from place to place since they must often be moved aside or stored. At the same time, they should be extensive enough to provide adequate comfort for the viewer, who is usually rather stretched out horizontally on them, and yet not occupy an excessive or inconvenient amount of space when not in use. These characteristics have not, so far as is known, been very well provided by chairs, lounges and the like currently used for this purpose. Rather the latter tend to be somewhat heavy and complex, are not readily portable, and when not in use occupy an unnecessary or inconvenient amount of space. Indeed, most of them when not in use as a chair or lounge are otherwise relatively useless. Hence the primary object of the present invention is a chair or lounge, especially for eye-level television viewing, which provides certain advantages not enjoyed by those currently in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Each of the cushions making up the portable lounge chair and footstool of the present invention is formed wholly of a foamed plastic or rubber core simply covered with suitable fabric. No steel, wood or other rigid material is employed or needed which consequently reduces both weight and cost since only sewing is needed for assembly. The several cushions of the unit are first separately made up in appropriate shapes, hereafter described in more detail, and selected ones are then joined by additional fabric and sewing so as to form hinged joints therebetween. The latter are located in such a manner as to permit the whole unit to be readily unfolded out into a complete lounge chair and just as readily to be refolded into a compact, easily movable assembly which is useful as a footstool, all as shown in the drawings and described in the more detailed description which follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a top plan view of the portable footstool and lounge chair combination of the present invention shown folded up when it is to be stored or used as a footstool or hassock.
FIGS. 1B, 1C and 1D are respectively, rear, side and front elevation views of FIG. 1A.
FIG. 2A is a side elevational view of the footstool and lounge chair of FIG. 1A, but shown fully unfolded when it is to be used as a chair or lounge, while FIG. 2B is a rear elevational view of the latter.
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1C but illustrating a slightly modified version.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As shown in FIGS. 1A - 1D and 2A - 2B, the portable footstool and lounge chair combination of the present invention consists of a total of nine individual cushions A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and I. Each of these is made up from a suitable plastic foam or foam rubber block 10 and is encased in typical fashion in a fabric cover 11 sewn thereabout and provided with beaded edges 12, all as indicated in FIGS. 1A - 1D. Since there are numerous ways in which such cushions can be so made and since the manner of their covering forms no part of the present invention, this aspect of their construction is not further set forth, as it will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
The cushions A and B are identical in size, each being of rectangular prismatic shape, and are stacked horizontally one on top of the other as indicated in FIGS. 1B - 1D. The adjacent beaded edges 12 along the front faces of cushions A and B are sewn to each other, or otherwise joined by suitable strips of the cover fabric 11, to form hinges 13 so that the cushion A can be pivoted about the hinges 13, as indicated by the arrow "A" in FIG. 1C, to the position shown in FIG. 2A. The cushions C and D are also identical in size and of rectangular prismatic shape, being disposed upright along and flush with the respective side faces of cushion B, their rear faces also being flush with the rear faces of cushions A and B. Between the opposed inner faces of the cushions C and D are located two cushions E and F which together also form a rectangular prism, the rear face of cushion E being flush with the rear faces of cushions A and B and the top face of cushion E being flush with the top faces of cushions C and D. The opposed inner faces of the cushions C and D abut the respective side faces of the cushions E and F, while the front face of the cushion F is spaced rearwardly of the front faces of the cushions C and D. The cushions E and F are separated in a rearwardly inclined plane E' - F' normal to the side faces of cushions C and D, which plane intersects the top and bottom faces of cushions E and F midway between their front and rear faces. The lower face of cushion E is suitably attached to the upper face of cushion B, or if desired, cushions B and E can be made integrally as one cushion. The upper side edges of cushion E are hinged at 14 in the foregoing manner to the top inner side edges of cushions C and D, and the adjacent edges of cushions E and F at their top faces are also similarly hinged at 15 so that cushion F can be pivoted about the hinges 15, as indicated by the arrow "F" in FIG. 1C, to the position shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.
The cushions G and H also form a rectangular prism disposed on top of cushion B at its forward end. The front and side faces of cushions G and H are flush with the front and side faces of cushions A and B and the top face of cushion G is flush with the top faces of the cushions C, D, E and F, while the rear faces of cushions G and H abut the front faces of cushions C and D, all as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1C and 1D. The cushions G and H are also separated in a rearwardly inclined plane G'- H' normal to the side faces of cushions A and B, which plane intersects the lower front edge of cushions G and H at the upper front edge of cushion B and the rear faces of cushions G and H between their top and bottom faces, whereby cushion G lies above cushion H. The lower edge of the front face of cushion G is also hinged in the foregoing manner at 16 to the upper front edge of the cushion B so that cushion G can pivot, as indicated by the arrow "G" in FIG. 1C, to the position shown in FIG. 2A. Finally, the cushion I, also of rectangular prismatic shape, is disposed in the space between the opposed inner faces of cushions C and D at their forward ends and the front and rear faces respectively of cushion F and cushions G and H, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1C. A strip of fabric 17 is hinged at one end at 18 to the lower edge of the front face of cushion I and at the other end at 19 to the lower edge of the front face of cushion F (see FIG. 2A) so that it can be flopped over onto the inclined face of cushion F when the latter is in the position shown in FIG. 2A.
Accordingly, as shown in its fully folded position in FIGS. 1A - 1D, the combination is a compact assembly of overall, rectangular prismatic shape which is readily portable and useful as a footstool when turned upside down so that cushion A is uppermost. When unfolded for use as a chair or lounge, the cushion A is swung about its hinges 13 and the cushion G about its hinges 16 to the positions shown in FIG. 2A, whereupon the cushion H can then be removed and placed as indicated in that Figure. Finally, the cushion F is swung about its hinges 15 and the cushion I flopped over onto the inclined face of cushion F, all as shown in FIG. 2A. Hence, the cushions A and B form an elongated base or seat, the cushions C and D providing arm rests and the cushions E and F an inclined back rest with the cushion I acting as a neck rest and the cushions G and F as an elevated leg rest. In the alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 3 the cushion I is simply omitted and the front face of cushion F therefore abuts the rear faces of cushions G and H.
Though the invention has been described in terms of two particular embodiments, being the best modes known of carrying out the invention, it is not limited to those embodiments alone. Instead, the following claims are to be read as encompassing all modifications and adaptations of the invention falling within its spirit and scope.
Chairs and lounges, especially those designed for eye-level viewing of television, should be light in weight and readily movable from place to place since they must often be moved aside or stored. At the same time, they should be extensive enough to provide adequate comfort for the viewer, who is usually rather stretched out horizontally on them, and yet not occupy an excessive or inconvenient amount of space when not in use. These characteristics have not, so far as is known, been very well provided by chairs, lounges and the like currently used for this purpose. Rather the latter tend to be somewhat heavy and complex, are not readily portable, and when not in use occupy an unnecessary or inconvenient amount of space. Indeed, most of them when not in use as a chair or lounge are otherwise relatively useless. Hence the primary object of the present invention is a chair or lounge, especially for eye-level television viewing, which provides certain advantages not enjoyed by those currently in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Each of the cushions making up the portable lounge chair and footstool of the present invention is formed wholly of a foamed plastic or rubber core simply covered with suitable fabric. No steel, wood or other rigid material is employed or needed which consequently reduces both weight and cost since only sewing is needed for assembly. The several cushions of the unit are first separately made up in appropriate shapes, hereafter described in more detail, and selected ones are then joined by additional fabric and sewing so as to form hinged joints therebetween. The latter are located in such a manner as to permit the whole unit to be readily unfolded out into a complete lounge chair and just as readily to be refolded into a compact, easily movable assembly which is useful as a footstool, all as shown in the drawings and described in the more detailed description which follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a top plan view of the portable footstool and lounge chair combination of the present invention shown folded up when it is to be stored or used as a footstool or hassock.
FIGS. 1B, 1C and 1D are respectively, rear, side and front elevation views of FIG. 1A.
FIG. 2A is a side elevational view of the footstool and lounge chair of FIG. 1A, but shown fully unfolded when it is to be used as a chair or lounge, while FIG. 2B is a rear elevational view of the latter.
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1C but illustrating a slightly modified version.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As shown in FIGS. 1A - 1D and 2A - 2B, the portable footstool and lounge chair combination of the present invention consists of a total of nine individual cushions A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and I. Each of these is made up from a suitable plastic foam or foam rubber block 10 and is encased in typical fashion in a fabric cover 11 sewn thereabout and provided with beaded edges 12, all as indicated in FIGS. 1A - 1D. Since there are numerous ways in which such cushions can be so made and since the manner of their covering forms no part of the present invention, this aspect of their construction is not further set forth, as it will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
The cushions A and B are identical in size, each being of rectangular prismatic shape, and are stacked horizontally one on top of the other as indicated in FIGS. 1B - 1D. The adjacent beaded edges 12 along the front faces of cushions A and B are sewn to each other, or otherwise joined by suitable strips of the cover fabric 11, to form hinges 13 so that the cushion A can be pivoted about the hinges 13, as indicated by the arrow "A" in FIG. 1C, to the position shown in FIG. 2A. The cushions C and D are also identical in size and of rectangular prismatic shape, being disposed upright along and flush with the respective side faces of cushion B, their rear faces also being flush with the rear faces of cushions A and B. Between the opposed inner faces of the cushions C and D are located two cushions E and F which together also form a rectangular prism, the rear face of cushion E being flush with the rear faces of cushions A and B and the top face of cushion E being flush with the top faces of cushions C and D. The opposed inner faces of the cushions C and D abut the respective side faces of the cushions E and F, while the front face of the cushion F is spaced rearwardly of the front faces of the cushions C and D. The cushions E and F are separated in a rearwardly inclined plane E' - F' normal to the side faces of cushions C and D, which plane intersects the top and bottom faces of cushions E and F midway between their front and rear faces. The lower face of cushion E is suitably attached to the upper face of cushion B, or if desired, cushions B and E can be made integrally as one cushion. The upper side edges of cushion E are hinged at 14 in the foregoing manner to the top inner side edges of cushions C and D, and the adjacent edges of cushions E and F at their top faces are also similarly hinged at 15 so that cushion F can be pivoted about the hinges 15, as indicated by the arrow "F" in FIG. 1C, to the position shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.
The cushions G and H also form a rectangular prism disposed on top of cushion B at its forward end. The front and side faces of cushions G and H are flush with the front and side faces of cushions A and B and the top face of cushion G is flush with the top faces of the cushions C, D, E and F, while the rear faces of cushions G and H abut the front faces of cushions C and D, all as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1C and 1D. The cushions G and H are also separated in a rearwardly inclined plane G'- H' normal to the side faces of cushions A and B, which plane intersects the lower front edge of cushions G and H at the upper front edge of cushion B and the rear faces of cushions G and H between their top and bottom faces, whereby cushion G lies above cushion H. The lower edge of the front face of cushion G is also hinged in the foregoing manner at 16 to the upper front edge of the cushion B so that cushion G can pivot, as indicated by the arrow "G" in FIG. 1C, to the position shown in FIG. 2A. Finally, the cushion I, also of rectangular prismatic shape, is disposed in the space between the opposed inner faces of cushions C and D at their forward ends and the front and rear faces respectively of cushion F and cushions G and H, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1C. A strip of fabric 17 is hinged at one end at 18 to the lower edge of the front face of cushion I and at the other end at 19 to the lower edge of the front face of cushion F (see FIG. 2A) so that it can be flopped over onto the inclined face of cushion F when the latter is in the position shown in FIG. 2A.
Accordingly, as shown in its fully folded position in FIGS. 1A - 1D, the combination is a compact assembly of overall, rectangular prismatic shape which is readily portable and useful as a footstool when turned upside down so that cushion A is uppermost. When unfolded for use as a chair or lounge, the cushion A is swung about its hinges 13 and the cushion G about its hinges 16 to the positions shown in FIG. 2A, whereupon the cushion H can then be removed and placed as indicated in that Figure. Finally, the cushion F is swung about its hinges 15 and the cushion I flopped over onto the inclined face of cushion F, all as shown in FIG. 2A. Hence, the cushions A and B form an elongated base or seat, the cushions C and D providing arm rests and the cushions E and F an inclined back rest with the cushion I acting as a neck rest and the cushions G and F as an elevated leg rest. In the alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 3 the cushion I is simply omitted and the front face of cushion F therefore abuts the rear faces of cushions G and H.
Though the invention has been described in terms of two particular embodiments, being the best modes known of carrying out the invention, it is not limited to those embodiments alone. Instead, the following claims are to be read as encompassing all modifications and adaptations of the invention falling within its spirit and scope.