U.S. patent application number 09/731477 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-13 for electrically-wired rotatable chair.
Invention is credited to Carstens, Douglas P..
Application Number | 20020070590 09/731477 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24939665 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020070590 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Carstens, Douglas P. |
June 13, 2002 |
Electrically-wired rotatable chair
Abstract
A mobile, rotatable, electrically-wired chair having an upper
section containing electrical components integrated therein for use
by the chair's occupant, with electrical wires from these
components internally affixed to the chair and connected by swivel
connector to external communications or power lines. The swivel
connector is rigidly affixed to the chair to maintain a constant
connection between internal and external electrical wires while at
the same time allowing stable positioning of the external wires
relative to the chair. The rotational movement of the rotating
portion of the chair is transferred to the internal, rigidly
affixed wires, then absorbed by the swivel connector, thus allowing
chair rotation without tangling, gnarling, and stretching of either
the internal or external electrical wires.
Inventors: |
Carstens, Douglas P.;
(Torrance, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Douglas P. Carstens
10951 WEST PICO BLVD.
THIRD FLOOR
LOS ANGELES
CA
90064
US
|
Family ID: |
24939665 |
Appl. No.: |
09/731477 |
Filed: |
December 7, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/217.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 3/18 20130101; A47C
7/72 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/217.3 |
International
Class: |
A47C 007/62; A47C
031/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A rotatable chair having a seat portion which contains
electrical wires therein and is capable of being rotated in a
horizontal plane about a base portion, said devise comprising: (A)
a lower base portion mounted on the floor, said lower base portion
having an electrical swivel connector rigidly affixed therein; (B)
an upper rotatable seat portion mounted upon the lower base
portion, said upper rotatable seat portion containing electrical
wires rigidly affixed therein, said rigidly affixed wires being
connected at one end to electrical equipment embodied within the
upper rotatable seat portion and being connected at the other end
to the electrical swivel connector affixed in the lower base
portion.
2. A portable chair containing electrical wires rigidly affixed
therein, said rigidly affixed wires being connected at one end to
electrical equipment embodied within the upper seat portion and
being connected at the other end to an electrical connection in the
lower base portion, said electrical connection capable of
accommodating external power supplies or communications wires.
3. A chair as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper seat portion
contains a telephone permanently attached thereto.
4. A chair as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper seat portion
contains a lamp permanently attached thereto.
5. A chair as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper seat portion
contains a computer permanently attached thereto.
6. A chair as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper seat portion
contains an electrical outlet permanently attached thereto.
7. A chair as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper seat portion
contains a telephone jack permanently attached thereto.
8. A chair as claimed in claim 2 wherein the upper seat portion
contains a telephone permanently attached thereto.
9. A chair as claimed in claim 2 wherein the upper seat portion
contains a lamp permanently attached thereto.
10. A chair as claimed in claim 2 wherein the upper seat portion
contains a computer permanently attached thereto.
11. A chair as claimed in claim 2 wherein the upper seat portion
contains an electrical outlet permanently attached thereto.
12. A chair as claimed in claim 2 wherein the upper seat portion
contains a telephone jack permanently attached thereto.
13. Any item of furniture consisting of a lower portion containing
electrical wires rigidly affixed therein and a rotatable portion,
with one or both portions containing an electrical swivel
connector, said electrical swivel connector being connected at one
end to electrical equipment embodied within the furniture.
Description
1. BACKGROUND
[0001] The subject invention relates to the furniture art and
specifically pertains to a chair which can be rotated in a circular
movement from a fixed position while the occupant is able to
utilize electrical equipment attached thereto. This is accomplished
by means of an integral swivel connector which is hertofore unknown
in the chair art. More particularly, as discussed below, the
subject invention is especially applicable to both the office chair
art and the home recliner/lounger art. The invention is directed to
both those types of chairs which can be rotated and those types of
chairs which contain electrical components.
[0002] There has long been a problem with using communications and
electrical equipment such as telephones, lamps, and laptop
computers while seated in a rotating chair contained in the prior
art because the wires attached to the equipment would render the
occupant unable to rotate the chair. Attempts at rotation would end
with the wires from the electrical equipment tangled and wrapped
around the chair or around the occupant seated therein, or both. On
the other hand, chairs containing internal wires for electrical
equipment in the prior art cannot be rotated or moved because such
rotational movement would result in tangling, stretching, and
gnarling of the electrical lines internally as the rotational
motion of the chair was transferred to the wires. This tangling,
stretching, and gnarling of the wires could cause the wires to
become strained, gnarled, frayed, and pull loose from their
internally fixed positions, which in turn would create formidable
safety hazards.
[0003] Mobile and rotatable chairs which contain integral
electrical equipment are new in the art of chairmaking. None of the
mobile and rotatable chairs known in the art of both office chairs
and seats contain electrical components. For example, U.S. Pat. No.
5,380,063 discloses a mobile, rotatable office chair; U.S. Pat. No.
5,380,064 discloses a rotatable seat. However, these mobile and
rotatable chairs do not contain electrical components. Chairs with
attached electrical appliances are known in the art of chairs. For
example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,457 discloses a combination lounge and
study chair with overhead lamp attached. However, this chair does
not disclose internal wiring. Chairs and tables containing internal
wiring for electrical components are known in the art of chairs and
tables. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,369 discloses a chair with
a television embodied in the armrest; U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,556
discloses a chair with a video screen embodied in the seatback;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,256 discloses a work table having electrical
lines embodied therein. However, these chairs and tables are not
physically mobile horizontally and rotationally since they are
designed to be affixed in a single position. Swivel connectors
which allow rotational movement of electrical equipment are known
in the art of small electrical appliances. For example, U.S. Pat.
No. 3,957,331 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,963,291 disclose types of swivel
connectors which allow full 360 degree rotational movement of
electrical appliances. However, these swivel connectors have not
heretofore been applied to the art of chairmaking.
[0004] No invention exists in the present state of art which
possesses features which allow a person seated within a chair to
move that chair horizontally or rotationally, while at the same
time using electrical equipment attached thereto. Such a
development in the office chair and home recliner/lounger chair
arts will allow a seated occupant to continue using a laptop
computer, a telephone, a reading lamp, or any other electrical
device while at the same time the sitter is able to change the
position or facing of the chair by physically displacing or
rotating it.
[0005] The rotatable chair containing electrical components therein
according to the present invention substantially departs from the
conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so
provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of
providing a means whereby a chair occupant is able to utilize
electrical equipment while seated in the chair, yet maintain the
ability to physically displace and rotate the chair. Therefore, it
can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new
and improved rotatable chair with electrical components embodied
therein which enables the occupant to change the position or facing
of the chair while continuing to use the electrical components
associated with the chair. In this regard, the present invention
substantially fulfills this need.
2. OBJECTS
[0006] It is an object of the subject invention to provide an
improved chair.
[0007] It is also an object of the subject invention to provide an
improved rotatable chair.
[0008] Yet another object of this subject invention is to provide
an improved rotatable chair containing electrical lines
therein.
[0009] Another object of the subject invention is to provide an
improved type of furniture containing electrical lines therein.
[0010] Another object of the subject invention is to provide an
improved type of office chair.
[0011] Another object of the subject invention is to provide an
improved type of home recliner/lounger.
[0012] Other and further objects of the subject invention will
become apparent from a reading of the following description taken
in conjunction with the drawings.
[0013] I attain the foregoing objects in conformity with the
present invention, by the use of an embodied swivel connector
within the relatively fixed portion of the rotating chair, which is
the base portion in the preferred embodiment, to connect internal
wires from electrical equipment associated with the chair to
external wires connected to sources of power or communications
equipment.
3. DESCRIPTION OF THE GENERAL EMBODIMENT
[0014] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known
types of chairs now present in the prior art, the present invention
provides an improved chair with electrical wires embodied therein.
As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will
be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new
and improved chair with electrical wires embodied therein and
method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of
the disadvantages.
[0015] To attain this, the subject invention is a chair containing
electrical wires therein which enable a user to use electrical
equipment while seated in the chair as it rotates about a vertical
axis or is displaced horizontally. The lower base portion is
adapted to set rigidly upon the ground or to be mounted upon wheels
for horizontal displacement. The upper seat portion is rotatably
mounted on the lower base portion. The upper seat portion contains
electrical components for the use of the seated occupants. The
electrical lines from these electrical components are rigidly
affixed internally to the rotatable portion. The electrical lines
are led from the upper seat portion, down through the axis of
rotation, and affixed to the lower base portion. These electrical
lines are rotatably affixed by swivel connector to the lower base
portion, thereby allowing free rotation of the upper seat portion
upon the lower base portion without tangling or gnarling of the
electrical wires. The rotational motion which would tangle or gnarl
wires affixed within chairs in the prior art is dissipated in the
present invention by the swivel connector in the lower base
portion. The swivel connector connects the internal electrical
lines to external electrical supplies. Thus, the occupant of the
chair is able to displace the chair horizontally or rotate the
chair through angles exceeding 360 degrees while at the same time
continuing to use electrical equipment associated with the
chair.
[0016] 4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] In the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this
specification:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rotatable chair
containing electrical components therein of the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of
the chair of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a side view of the internal shank and base portion
of the chair in FIG. 1 showing especially the placement of internal
wires from electrical components integral to the chair.
5. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] The preferred embodiment of the subject invention is
described hereinbelow and while a preferred embodiment is being
described such description shall not be considered as limiting the
scope of the subject invention.
[0022] Referring now in particular to FIG. 1 in which the preferred
embodiment of the subject invention is shown, a rotatable chair
incorporating the features of the subject invention is shown. Such
a chair is adapted to rest in a conventional position on the ground
or other surface as shown. More particularly, the chair is
comprised of an upper rotatable portion (3) and a lower base
portion (4). FIG. 2 shows an alternative design for the upper
rotatable portion (3) is possible, such as a home recliner/lounger
configuration, an automobile, airline, train or boat seat. Various
designs for the lower base portion (4) are possible, including
wheels, legs, or flat base adapted to rest on the ground in the
disposition generally shown in FIG. 1.
[0023] As seen particularly in FIG. 1, the chair's upper rotatable
portion contains electrical and communication wires (30 ). These
electrical and communication wires are connected to equipment
embodied in the upper rotatable portion of the chair such as a lamp
(31) or telephone (32) which are conveniently configured for the
use of the occupant of the chair as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.
In addition to, and as an alternative to, connecting to equipment
integral to the chair, these electrical and communication wires may
also be connected to electrical outlets (33) or communications
jacks (34) of the common type which are embedded in the upper
portion of the chair to accommodate portable equipment, such as a
laptop computer (35) and modem (36). Thus, the chair's occupant is
able to utilize the equipment associated with the chair without
regard to the direction of facing of the chair.
[0024] As seen in FIG. 3, the upper rotatable seat portion (3)
rests upon a vertical cylindrical shank (3a) attached thereto. In
complementary fashion, the lower base portion has a mating bearing
surface (3b) disposed therein as shown in FIG. 3. The vertical
shank 3a is fitted conformingly to bearing surface 3b. Once so
placed, the upper seat portion 3 revolves about the lower base
portion 4 on the cylindrical shank (3a), with the mating bearing
surface (3b) as a pivot point. This shank (3a) thus serves as a
support, in a centrally located position, for the upper rotatable
seat portion (3) on the lower base portion (4). Internal to the
shank (3a) is located electrical wiring (30) leading from the upper
seat portion (3) to the swivel connector (40) in the lower base
portion (4).
[0025] As seen particularly in FIG. 3, the electrical and
communication wires (30) lead from their terminals (31, 32, 33, 34,
35) in the upper rotatable portion of the chair (3), down through
the center of the support shaft (3a) along the axis of rotation of
the chair (3c). The electrical and communication lines are
internally housed in the shaft (3a) upon which the chair rotates.
The lines are immovably affixed to the upper rotatable portion of
the chair (3) and rotating shaft (3a) and thus undergo rotational
motion as he upper portion of the chair rotates (3d) about a
vertical axis (3c).
[0026] The lower terminus of the internal wires is the interior
portion (41) of a swivel connector (40). The exterior portion of
the swivel connector (42) is embedded in the relatively stationary
lower base portion (4) of the chair. External electrical or
communication wires (70) are attached to the exterior (42) of the
swivel connector (40).
[0027] With reference to FIG. 3, as the rotatable upper portion of
the chair (3) rotates about a vertical axis (3c), rotational
movement (3d) is translated to the electrical wires (30) rigidly
affixed to the rotatable upper portion (3) and shaft (3c) of the
chair. This rotational motion (3d) is transmitted through the wires
(30) to the internal portion (41) of the swivel connector (40) in
the base portion (4) of the chair. The internal portion of the
swivel connector (41) rotates in response to the rotational motion
(3d) imparted to the internal wires (30) affixed) to the upper
portion of the chair (3). The external portion (42) of the swivel
connector (40) maintains its fixed position relative to the lower
base portion (4) of the chair. The lower base portion (4) of the
chair does not rotate as the upper rotatable portion (3) does, thus
the exterior lines (70) maintain their position affixed to the
external portion (42) of the swivel connector (40) of the chair
without disturbance. The rotational motion (3d) of the internal
lines (30) caused by rotation (3d) of the upper portion of the
chair (3) is dissipated by the swivel connector (40) while a
constant, stable connection between the internal wires (30) and
external wires (70) is maintained. It is noted that the electrical
swivel connector (40) may also be located in the upper rotatable
portion (3) of the chair, with the internal electrical and
communciation lines (30) immovably affixed to the lower base
portion of the chair (4). Further it is noted that no electrical
swivel connector (40) is needed if no rotational motion (3d) is
required. Further it is noted that the electrical swivel connector
assembly (40) may be replaced by an alternative power supply such
as a battery pack.
[0028] As the chair is described, the seated occupant of the chair
is able to rotate to any position desired while still using the
electrical equipment (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36) associated with the
chair:
[0029] While an illustrative embodiment of the subject invention
has been described, such limited description shall not be construed
to limit the scope of the subject invention, but that modifications
thereof are intended to be included as falling within the broad
spirit and scope of the foregoing disclosure, the following claims
and the appended drawings.
* * * * *