BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to lounge chairs and, more particularly, to lounge chairs especially adapted for permitting a person to read a publication when in a prone position on a lounge chair.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] Lounge chairs are well known in the art. A specific class of lounge chairs are provided with upper chair portions which have an opening that permits a person, who is in a prone position on the lounge chair, to read a publication through the opening in the upper chair portion. More specifically, throughout the years, a number of innovations have been developed relating to lounge chairs which include an opening in a chair portion for permitting a person in a prone position to read a publication, and the following U.S. patents are representative of some of those innovations: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,606,086, 5,222,779, 5,946,749, 6,042,184, and 6,059,365.

[0006] The lounge chairs disclosed in the above-listed patents have two common characteristics which are a tubular frame and a person-bearing webbing material attached to the frame. With the exception of U.S. Pat. No 6,042,184, the above-listed patents share still another common characteristic which is that the chair-portion reading opening is located in the person-bearing webbing material attached to the tubular frame. In U.S. Pat. No 6,042,184, the reading opening is located in an add-on structure which is supported by the tubular frame and the webbing material but which extends a considerable distance beyond the periphery of the tubular frame.

[0007] Many conventional lounge chairs are in use which do not have a chair-portion reading opening. Retrofitting such a chair to one which has a chair-portion reading opening would be a difficult task because making a chair-portion reading opening in webbing material would be difficult to do. Conventionally, webbing strips are stretched across the tubular frame. If portions of webbing strips are cut to make an opening through the cut webbing strips, it would be difficult to properly support cut ends of such cut webbing strips. Nevertheless, it would be desirable if a device could be provided that would permit a conventional lounge chair to be retrofitted to a lounge chair which has a chair-portion reading opening without the need for cutting webbing strips and supporting the cut webbing strips.

[0008] As mentioned above, U.S. Pat. No 6,042,184 discloses a lounge chair which has a reading opening comprised of an add-on structure which is supported by the tubular frame and the webbing material and which extends a considerable distance beyond the periphery of the tubular frame. Rather than have an add-on structure that extends beyond the periphery of the tubular frame, it would be desirable if a device could be provided that provides a reading opening in a lounge chair without using an add-on structure that extends a considerable distance beyond the periphery of the tubular frame.

[0009] Still other features would be desirable in a ergonomic cushion and recliner chair apparatus. For example, when a person lies on one's back, it would be desirable if a lumbar cushion could be provided to add support and comfort to a person's back.

[0010] In addition, when a person lies prone on a lounge chair to read a publication, if the upper portion of the lounge chair has no special access for one's arms, it may be difficult for the person to comfortably turn pages of a book that one is reading. In this respect, it would be desirable if a device provides a reading opening and also provides special access for the reader's arms when the reader is in a prone position.

[0011] Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use lounge chairs providing for a user to read a publication when in the prone position, the prior art described above does not teach or suggest a ergonomic cushion and recliner chair apparatus which has the following combination of desirable features: (1) permits a conventional lounge chair to be retrofitted to a lounge chair which has a chair-portion reading opening without the need for cutting webbing strips and supporting the cut webbing strips; (2) provides a reading opening in a lounge chair without using an add-on structure that extends a considerable distance beyond the periphery of the tubular frame; (3) provides a lumbar cushion which can add support and comfort to a person's back; and (4) provides special access for the reader's arms when the reader is in a prone position. The foregoing desired characteristics are provided by the unique ergonomic cushion and recliner chair apparatus of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention, briefly described, provides an ergonomic cushion apparatus which includes an upper body cushion portion which includes a neck-cushion-reception channel and first upper cushion attachment straps. A flexible hinge is connected to the upper body cushion portion. A lower body cushion portion is connected to the flexible hinge. The lower body cushion portion includes first lower cushion attachment straps and includes attachment means for a lumbar cushion. Also, second upper cushion attachment straps are connected to the upper body cushion portion, and second lower cushion attachment straps are connected to the lower body cushion portion.

[0013] A neck cushion received in the neck-cushion-reception channel. The neck cushion includes a bottom cushion portion received in the neck-cushion-reception channel, and a top cushion portion which is connected to the bottom cushion portion and which extends outward laterally beyond the first input channel. In overall appearance, the neck cushion is mushroom shaped.

[0014] A lumbar cushion is connected to the lumbar cushion attachment means. The lumbar cushion is cylindrical in shape. The lumbar cushion attachment means include a lower-body-cushion-attached hook-or-loop connector, and the lumbar cushion includes a lumbar-cushion-attached loop-or-hook connector which connects with the lower-body-cushion-attached hook-or-loop connector.

[0015] A recliner chair frame assembly is provided for supporting the upper body cushion portion, the flexible hinge, and the lower body cushion portion. The recliner chair frame assembly includes a lower frame member. Lower frame straps are connected across longitudinal portions of the lower frame member. Legs are connected to the lower frame member. Frame orientation assemblies are connected to the lower frame member. An upper frame member is connected to the frame orientation assemblies. Upper frame straps are connected to the upper frame member.

[0016] An auxiliary frame member is connected to the upper frame member and extends below the upper frame member. The auxiliary frame member supports an auxiliary platform. A beverage holder is connected to the auxiliary frame member.

[0017] The upper body cushion portion includes a pair of inwardly directed arm-reception regions located along opposite edges of the upper body cushion portion. Preferably, the inwardly directed arm-reception regions are concave in shape. Preferably, the inwardly directed arm-reception regions are located in alignment with opposite sides of the neck-cushion-reception channel.

[0018] The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will be for the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0019] In this respect, before explaining at least two preferred embodiments of the invention in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood, that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0020] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0021] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved ergonomic cushion and recliner chair apparatus which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

[0022] It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved ergonomic cushion and recliner chair apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

[0023] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved ergonomic cushion and recliner chair apparatus which is of durable and reliable construction.

[0024] An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved ergonomic cushion and recliner chair apparatus which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such ergonomic cushion and recliner chair apparatus available to the buying public.

[0025] Still yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved ergonomic cushion and recliner chair apparatus which permits a conventional lounge chair to be retrofitted to a lounge chair which has a chair-portion reading opening without the need for cutting webbing strips and supporting the cut webbing strips.

[0026] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved ergonomic cushion and recliner chair apparatus that provides a reading opening in a lounge chair without using an add-on structure that extends a considerable distance beyond the periphery of the tubular frame.

[0027] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved ergonomic cushion and recliner chair apparatus which provides a lumbar cushion which can add support and comfort to a person's back.

[0028] Even another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved ergonomic cushion and recliner chair apparatus that provides special access for the reader's arms when the reader is in a prone position.

[0029] These together with still other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.