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The present application is claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/790,574 filed on Apr. 8, 2006.
The present invention involves a seating device, being tubular in nature and capable of receiving a cylindrical pole which, in turn, supports such diverse items as umbrellas, flags, banners and shelters.
Seating devices, such as chairs, benches, stools and the like are commonly used outdoors while viewing sporting events, while camping and at the beach. As in any outdoor activities, one often seeks shade and protection from wind or the elements. In doing so, it is commonplace to employ an umbrella or other type of shelter. It is also common to display a flag or banner particularly at sporting events all of which requires a substantial vertical support member, such as an aluminum pole which must be erected and properly supported in a pre-selected orientation.
If one was to erect, for example, an umbrella at a sporting event, one would obviously seek a large patio size version for maximum protection. Patio-sized umbrellas or, for that matter, shelters, banners or flags all require a significant anchoring system to prevent them from collapsing or being blown away as a result of the significant surface area that the fabric portions of such devices occupy. Vertically extending supporting poles for such objects generally are used in conjunction with heavy bases acting as anchors or supports which are difficult to transport and situate on the sidelines of a sporting event or while camping.
Although foldable chairs composed of metal frames are commonplace, no one has suggested the combination of a seating device with a vertically oriented cylindrical pole for supporting an umbrella and the like. Such seating devices can be made of tubular metal, such as aluminum whose frame members are draped with webbing to create a seating surface and back where the tubular frame can act not only as structural elements for the seating device itself but as receivers for umbrellas, flags, banners and shelters without having to provide for cumbersome, heavy and weight incurring fixtures as suggested by the prior art.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a seating device which is capable of receiving as part of its frame, a cylindrical pole which can be employed to support umbrellas, flags, banners and shelters and which can be employed to support them without the need for weighted bases or elaborate fixtures.
This and further objects will be more readily apparent when considering the following disclosure and appended claims.
The present invention is directed to a seating device comprising a frame and webbing bridging said frame to create a horizontal surface and backing to support the torso of a user. The frame is characterized as comprising at least one tubular member oriented vertically as constituting at least a portion of said back, a cylindrical pole having first and second ends sized to telescope within said tubular member and a releaseable locking device providing conjunction with said tubular member for releasably retaining the first end of the cylindrical pole within the tubular member. A functional device, such as an umbrella, banner, flag or shelter is appended to the second end of the cylindrical pole.
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a chair and an umbrella constructed in accordance with the present invention.
FIGS. 2-4 are perspective views of various alternative clamps employed in retaining a vertically extended cylinder to the frame of a seating device pursuant to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention showing an embodiment in securing a seating device to its ground support for stability.
FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention showing the application of a flag or banner rather than an umbrella as shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention in which two seating devices are employed in tandem to support a suitable shelter pursuant to the present invention.
Turning first to FIG. 1, seating device 10 is depicted as typifying the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, seating assembly 10 includes a tubular frame composed of, most ideally, tubular aluminum as being relatively strong and lightweight and suitable for use herein. Bridging frame components 4 is webbing 2 which is typically cloth, plastic or vinyl sheeting creating horizontal surface 15 and back 16 to support the torso of a user (not shown). For the sake of convenience, the present disclosure repeatedly characterizes the frame components as being “tubular.” However, this term, as used herein, is intended to embrace open linear members having any number of cross section of shapes such as ovals, squares, triangles and rectangles. The only requirement of such members is that the pole supporting, for example, an umbrella and the like removably fits therein.
Back 16 is supported by vertically extending tubular member 4 as constituting a back portion of the frame. Cylindrical pole 18 having first (lower) and second (upper) ends is sized to telescope within tubular member 4 as shown. As is immediately obvious, cylindrical pole 18 supporting umbrella canopy 1 at its second or upper end is maintained in position using nothing more than frame component 4. In doing so, there is no need for elaborate add on devices to add stability to the umbrella canopy such as a heavy weighted base or stand. The mere body weight of a user supported by assembly 10 would be enough to keep the umbrella from blowing over or otherwise being impacted by the elements.
Cylindrical pole 18 can be maintained in position through the use of various clamping devices as best depicted in FIGS. 2-4. For example, reference is made to FIG. 2 in which locking clamp 3 is placed within tubular member 4 for receiving vertically extending cylindrical member 18 therein. In this embodiment, locking clamp 3 includes cam handle 25 which, when moved in the direction of arrow 26, applies an internal clamp surface onto cylindrical member 18 thus selectively holding it within clamp 3 and, in turn, tubular member 4.
FIG. 3 depicts several alternative retainers for maintaining cylindrical member 18 in its vertical orientation within tubular member 4. Specifically, FIG. 3 shows the application of pins 6 which can pass through aligned openings within cylindrical member 18. Alternatively, thumb screws 5 can be selectively screwed down within tubular member 4 until the outer surface of cylindrical member 18 is confronted. Alternatively, as noted in FIG. 4, a locking screw can be employed wherein nut 7 is screwed within or removed from tubular member 4 by providing screw threads therein corresponding to threads 8. Turning nut 7 in a clockwise direction would cause cylindrical member 18 to be selectively retained within tubular member 4 and extend vertically from the back of seat 10.
As a further preferred embodiment, reference is made to FIG. 5 showing chair 50 partially supporting vertically extending cylindrical member 18. In this instance, feet 9 are provided having openings therein for receiving stakes 14. As noted previously, a user of chair 50 would easily provide sufficient weight to ensure that any lateral forces placed on cylindrical member 18 such as by a strong wind catching the canopy of an umbrella appended thereto from toppling chair 50. However, if one wishes to stand and move away from chair 50, it may be advantageous to employ stakes 14 within feet 9 to ensure that, in the event of a strong wind, chair 50 maintains its upright orientation.
As noted with reference to FIG. 6, umbrellas are not the only functional attachment supportable by vertically extending cylindrical member 18. In this instance, banner 11 is depicted. As was the case with the umbrella embodiment discussed previously, support for banner 11 is maintained by simply telescoping cylindrical member 18 within tubular frame 4 as part of the vertically extending back portion of seating assembly 60 without requiring any further add ons. When appropriate, releaseable locking feature 3 can again be employed as necessary, or the other locking elements 5, 6 and 7 employed as well.
As noted previously, the present invention can also be used to support such diverse items as standing shelters which can provide protection from sun, wind and rain superior to that offered by an umbrella canopy. In this regard, reference is made to FIG. 7 in which chairs 70 and 75 are shown having virtually the same tubular frame structure in support of vertically extending cylindrical poles 18 and 18′. These vertically extending cylindrical members emanating from tubular frames 4 and including releaseable locking members 3 or the like act as supports for shelter 12 which further includes other supporting frame members (not shown).
The benefits in applying the present invention to the configuration shown in FIG. 7 are quite evident. Under normal, static conditions, shelter 12 will remain merely through the support of cylindrical members 18 and 18′. In high wind or other adverse conditions, the mere use of chairs 70 and 75 as seating elements will provide additional support as the weight of each torso stabilizes the overall configuration. Further, spikes such as those shown as elements 14 (FIG. 5) can be employed in this embodiment as well to further add stability. It is further recognized that shelter 12 can be disassembled and removed while chairs 70 and 75 remain functional merely as seating devices. Also, vertically extending cylindrical members and 18 and 18′ can be employed to support umbrellas, banners, and flags and the like as previously discussed.
The iteration of the present invention depicted in FIG. 7 can further be modified by providing a single bench, love seat or extended multi-purpose seating device which can similarly receive vertically extending cylindrical members within its various vertically extending tubular frame portions to create the frame work of a shelter. In other words, there is no need to restrict the embodiment of FIG. 7 to one in which separate chairs 70 and 75 act to support shelter 12. For that matter, none of the embodiments of this invention are restricted to chairs as the necessary seating devices. Virtually any seating element having a suitable vertically extending tubular frame that can act to receive a vertically extending support pole can be considered as constituting this invention.