U.S. patent application number 11/516536 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-08 for hanging chair stand.
Invention is credited to Braydon R. Bailey.
Application Number | 20070051858 11/516536 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37829189 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070051858 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bailey; Braydon R. |
March 8, 2007 |
Hanging chair stand
Abstract
A stand for a hanging item, such as a hanging chair, includes a
base leg extending in a substantially two dimensional pattern
defining an interior space. A support arm is secured to an end of
the base leg and extends upwardly from the base leg with an end
portion extending over the interior space defined by the base leg
and terminating in a support end positioned over the interior space
to suspend the item to be hung over the interior space. The stand
may be conveniently formed from a plurality of component pieces, at
least one end of each component piece being secured to an abutting
end of another component piece to assemble the stand. Respective
abutting ends may be scalloped to mate together in a limited number
of orientations with respect to one another to aid assembly. Curved
scallops can make the connections between pieces harder to see.
Inventors: |
Bailey; Braydon R.;
(Syracuse, UT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THORPE NORTH & WESTERN, LLP.
8180 SOUTH 700 EAST, SUITE 200
SANDY
UT
84070
US
|
Family ID: |
37829189 |
Appl. No.: |
11/516536 |
Filed: |
September 5, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60714280 |
Sep 6, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
248/127 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 3/26 20130101; A47C
3/0255 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/127 |
International
Class: |
A45D 19/04 20060101
A45D019/04 |
Claims
1. A stand for a hanging item, such as a hanging chair, comprising:
a base leg extending in a two dimensional pattern defining an
interior space; a support arm secured to the base leg and extending
upwardly from the base leg and having a support arm end portion
extending over the interior space defined by the base leg to
suspend the item to be hung over the interior space.
2. A stand for a hanging item according to claim 1, wherein the
base leg defines an open interior space.
3. A stand for a hanging item according to claim 1, wherein the
support arm end portion includes means for suspending the item to
be hung over a central portion of the interior space.
4. A stand for a hanging item according to claim 3, wherein the
support arm end portion includes means for suspending the item to
be hung over the centroid of the interior space.
5. A stand for a hanging item according to claim 4, wherein the
hanging item is a hanging chair, and additionally including a
hanging chair suspended from the support arm end portion over the
centroid of the interior space.
6. A stand for a hanging item according to claim 1, wherein the
support arm has a first portion that extends upwardly outside the
interior space and an end portion that extends over the interior
space.
7. A stand for a hanging item according to claim 6, wherein the
first portion extends upwardly and rearwardly from its connection
to the base leg.
8. A stand for a hanging item according to claim 1, additionally
including feet associated with the base leg to space the base leg
above the supporting surface.
9. A stand for a hanging item according to claim 1, wherein the
hanging item is a hanging chair, and additionally including a
hanging chair suspended from the support arm end portion.
10. A stand for a hanging item according to claim 1, wherein the
stand is formed from a plurality of component pieces, at least one
end of each component piece being secured to an abutting end of
another component piece to assemble the stand.
11. A stand for a hanging item according to claim 10, wherein the
abutting ends of respective pieces are adapted to telescope one
into the other.
12. A stand for a hanging item according to claim 11, wherein one
of the abutting ends has an insert extending thereform to form an
end that can telescope into the other abutting end.
13. A stand for a hanging item according to claim 12, wherein
respective abutting ends are scalloped to mate together in a
limited number of orientations with respect to one another.
14. A stand for a hanging item according to claim 13, wherein the
scallops are curved.
15. A stand for a hanging item according to claim 10, wherein
respective abutting ends are scalloped to mate together in a
limited number of orientations with respect to one another.
16. A stand for a hanging item, such as a hanging chair,
comprising: a base leg having opposite ends and extending in a
substantially two dimensional pattern defining an open interior
space; a support arm secured to one of the opposite ends of the
base leg and forming a continuation of the base leg extending
upwardly from the base leg and having a support arm end portion
terminating in a support arm end, the support arm end portion
extending over the interior space defined by the base leg to
suspend an item to be hung over the interior space.
17. A stand for a hanging item, such as a hanging chair,
comprising: a continuous bar having a base leg portion adapted to
be placed on a supporting surface and extending from an end of the
bar in a pattern to define an interior space, and a support arm
portion extending upwardly from the base leg portion to terminate
in a support end of the bar, whereby an item to be hung is
suspended from the support end portion of the bar over the interior
space defined by the base leg portion.
18. A stand for a hanging item according to claim 17, wherein the
pattern defined by the base leg portion of the bar is a
substantially two dimensional pattern.
19. A stand for a hanging item according to claim 17, wherein the
continuous bar is assembled from a plurality of component pieces,
at least one end of each component piece being secured to an
abutting end of another component piece to assemble the stand.
20. A stand for a hanging item according to claim 19, wherein
respective abutting ends are scalloped to mate together in a
limited number of orientations with respect to one another.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/714,280, filed Sep. 6, 2005, and entitled
"Hanging Chair Stand."
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] The invention is in the field of stands or hangers for
hanging items such as chairs, particularly hammock type chairs,
which are suspended or hung from a hook above the chair.
[0004] 2. State of the Art
[0005] Chairs are currently available, generally referred to as
hammock chairs, which are hanging chairs suspended by ropes from an
overhead hook. A common embodiment of hammock chairs have a cross
bar, two side bars, and a sling of canvas or similar material in
which the user sits. The cross bar, which has ropes extending from
its ends to the hook, spreads the sling to create the width for the
chair, and the side bars, which have ropes at their ends extending
to the cross bar, create a front to back depth for the sling and
chair. When used under a roof or ceiling, the hook is installed in
the roof or ceiling to suspend the chair. When outside, the chair
can be suspended or hung from a tree branch from either a hook
attached to the tree branch or by tying the ropes from the chair
around the tree branch. When hung from a hook, the chair is free to
swing to some extent. Because these chairs have to be suspended
from a hook or other support above the chair, use of such chairs
has been limited to locations under a roof or ceiling or tree where
the overhead support is available.
[0006] To increase the places where such chairs can be used,
C-stands have been developed to support such chairs. A C-stand has
an arm that extends in a "C" shape from the bottom of the arm which
forms a central base with supporting legs extending outwardly and
downwardly therefrom which rest on a supporting surface, such as a
floor or the ground, to an upper end with a hook, usually about
eight feet above the supporting surface. The upper end receives the
ropes from the chair and suspends the chair above the central base
end of the supporting arm. The upper end is generally located
directly above the central base end for stability. Since the chair
can swing, each supporting leg has to extend outwardly from the
central base about three feet to prevent tipping of the base and
chair. There are usually either three or four legs extending
outwardly from the base arranged at equal angles from one another,
one hundred twenty degrees when using three legs and ninety degrees
when using four legs. This means that the base for the C-stand
extends about six feet out from the central base. The central base
end of the C-shaped arm also generally is supported upwardly from
the supporting surface, meaning that the upper end of the C shaped
arm has to extend high enough so the chair, which is positioned
directly above the base, is supported above the base.
[0007] U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 249,408 shows a variation of a
C-stand with two angled, substantially C-shaped support arms
extending from the center of a decorative flat supporting base with
supporting legs extending outwardly from the base center where the
supporting legs are attached. The top of the C-shaped supports come
together and support the chair above the center of the base.
[0008] U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 230,109 shows a stand similar to a
C-stand where the support arm forms a rear leg for the base and
extends upwardly from contact with the supporting surface. Two
supporting base legs extend at angles forwardly from the bottom of
the support arm. The top of the support arm is positioned between
the two supporting base legs toward the forward ends of the
supporting base legs to support a hanging chair or other item.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 3,344,443 shows a chair stand with two
similarly shaped C supports joined together at their upper ends
from which a chair is hung and which separate as the supports
extend downwardly with the lower ends of the supports spaced apart
and joined by a connecting bar that rests on a supporting surface
to support the front of the stand. A rear cross bar extends
downwardly from the intermediate portions of the C supports to
support the stand at is rear.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 7,040,995 shows various chair stands with two
or more similarly shaped attached supports which provide two
separated hooks for hanging a two point hanging chair, i.e., a
chair that rather than being suspended from a single overhead hook,
is suspended from two separated overhead hooks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] A stand for a hanging item, such as a hanging chair,
includes a base leg for resting on a support surface, such as a
floor or the ground, the base leg extending in a pattern, such as
two sides of a triangle, an arc of about 180.degree., or three
sides of a rectangle, to define an interior space within the
pattern, and a support arm secured to one end of the base leg and
extending upwardly therefrom to a support end portion with a
support end at a height above the base leg sufficient to suspend an
item to be suspported above the base leg and supporting surface.
The support end portion, terminating in a support end, extends over
the interior space defined by the base leg with the support end
portion positioned over such interior space whereby the item to be
supported is suspended in a centralized location so that the stand
remains stable on the supporting surface when the supported item is
suspended from the stand.
[0012] In one embodiment of the stand of the invention, the base
leg portion of the stand has opposite ends and extends in a
substantially two dimensional pattern defining an open interior
space. The support arm is secured to one of the opposite ends of
the base leg portion, forming a continuation of the base leg
portion extending upwardly from the base leg portion and having a
support arm end portion terminating in a support portion end. The
support arm end portion extends over the interior space defined by
the base leg to suspend an item to be hung over the interior space.
The stand may be formed as a continuous bar having a base leg
portion adapted to be placed on a supporting surface and extending
from an end of the bar in a pattern to define an interior space,
and a support arm portion extending upwardly from the base leg
portion to terminate in a support end of the bar, whereby an item
to be hung is suspended from the support end portion of the bar
over the interior space defined by the base leg portion.
[0013] The stand of the invention can be made in pieces for
shipping and storage and be assembled and disassembled by a user.
The ends of the pieces may be joined in a telescoping manner using
an insert with mating end being scalloped to help align and hold
the pieces in a fixed angular relationship. The scalloped ends can
also help to disguise the joints between individual joined pieces.
Even though the stand may be made up of individual pieces, for
purposes of the invention, when assembled, the assembled individual
pieces of the stand may be considered to form one continuous bar
from end to end.
THE DRAWINGS
[0014] In the accompanying drawings, which show the best mode
currently contemplated for carrying out the invention:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a front right side perspective view of a stand of
the invention showing a hanging chair suspended from the support
member;
[0016] FIG. 2, a front elevation of the stand without a chair;
[0017] FIG. 3, a top plan view of the stand of FIGS. 1 and 2
without a chair;
[0018] FIG. 4, a right side elevation of the stand;
[0019] FIG. 5, an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the portion
of the stand encircled by the line 5-5 of FIG. 3, showing a typical
connection of two segments of the stand;
[0020] FIG. 6, a view similar to that of FIG. 5, but rotated around
the connection ninety degrees, and with relation specifically to
FIG. 5, taken from the bottom of FIG. 5;
[0021] FIG. 7, a vertical section taken along the line 7-7 of FIG.
5;
[0022] FIG. 8, a vertical section taken along the line 8-8 of FIG.
3 showing a stand foot;
[0023] FIG. 9, an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the top
portion of the stand encircled by the line 9-9 of FIG. 1, showing a
typical connection of a hanging chair to the top portion of the
stand; and
[0024] FIG. 10, a perspective exploded view of the stand of the
invention showing how the stand can be broken down into pieces and
how the pieces are assembled, each of the pieces being broken along
their length to shorten them for purposes of illustration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, a common style of hammock chair
20, FIG. 1, is suspended by ropes 21 tied to an S hook 22, which is
hung through an eye 23 at the support end 24 of a supporting stand.
The height of chair 20 above the ground is adjusted by changing
where along their lengths the ropes 21 are tied to S hook 22. Tying
ropes 21 to S hook 22 and using S hook 22 to hang the chair from an
overhead support is the usual manner of hanging such hammock
chairs.
[0026] The stand of the invention includes a base leg 25 that rests
on a supporting surface such as a floor or the ground. The base leg
extends in a two dimensional pattern to form an open interior area
or space. In the embodiment shown, see particularly FIGS. 1 and 3,
the base leg 25 forms an equilateral triangular pattern with base
leg portions 26 and 27 forming two equal sides of the equilateral
triangle. The two sides 26 and 27 of the triangle define an open
interior area 28 between the triangle sides 26 and 27. If desired,
a third leg portion could be provided to extend between the ends of
sides 26 and 27 to close the triangle, i.e., to close the interior
area or space, or to extend partially toward one end to still leave
an open enclosed area, but such a third leg is not necessary. The
base leg 25, as shown, is a continuous leg with the two leg
portions 26 and 27 and with two opposite ends 30 and 31. While in
the present embodiment the base leg is shown forming two sides of a
triangle, various other shapes may be used such as an arc of at
least about 180.degree., three or four sides of a rectangle, at
least half the total number of sides of other polygonal shapes, or
other angular or curved shapes which define either an open or
closed interior area within the shape or pattern. The particular
triangular shape shown in the drawings is merely a decorative
choice between various shapes that could be used and provides a
distinctive appearance to the stand.
[0027] In the embodiment shown, the base leg 25 includes feet 32
which actually contact the supporting surface, such as a floor. The
feet may or may not be used, and when used, provide both a
decorative look and serve to protect the supporting floor if the
base leg is slid across the floor. The feet are made of appropriate
material for their purpose such as a relatively soft material, such
as plastic or rubber, for protective use, and decorative material,
such as wood, for decorative use.
[0028] Attached to one end of the base leg, here end 31, is a
support arm 35 with a first portion 36 which angles upwardly and
rearwardly from base leg end 31 and a second portion 37 which
extends upwardly and inwardly with an end portion 38 which extends
over the interior space 28 to provide a support end 24 of the
support arm 35 which is positioned over the interior space and in a
central portion of the interior space so that the stand will
support an item suspended from the support end of the support arm
without tipping over. The end of the support arm includes a
receiver for receiving the suspension point or suspension
connection of a hanging item, such as a hanging chair, to suspend
such item. The receiver may be a hook, an eye, or, as shown,
particularly in FIG. 6, an eye or hole 23 in a plate 40 secured,
such as by welding, to the support end 24 of support arm 35. S-hook
22 is suspended through hole 23 to suspend hanging chair 20 from
the support end 24 of support arm 35. The position of the receiver,
which suspends the item to be supported, is preferably positioned
at about the center or centroid of the interior area defined by the
base leg. Thus, in the embodiment shown, see particularly FIGS. 1
and 3, support end 24 of support arm 35 is positioned over the
centroid of the triangular interior area. The particular shape of
the support arm is not critical as long as the support arm
positions the support end where the supported item is suspended
over the center portion of the interior area defined by the base
leg so that the stand will be stable in supporting the item. The
particular shape of the support arm shown is merely decorative to
provide a distinctive appearance to the stand. While plate 40 which
forms the receiver in the illustrated embodiment is secured to the
actual end of the support end 24, the receiver can be formed in
(such as a receiving hole in) or secured to (such as an eye or a
hook extending from) support end 24 or end portion 38 anywhere
inwardly along support end 24 or end portion 3 8 which positions
the chair or other item to be hung over the interior area defined
by the leg portion in a manner which stabilizes the stand.
[0029] The size and shape of the pattern or area 28 formed by the
base leg is such as to provide a stable base to support the item to
be supported. For supporting a hanging chair that will allow some
swing, an equilateral triangular shape having sides about five feet
in length has been found satisfactory. This gives a depth to the
shape formed by the base leg (distance from open front to the rear
triangle apex) of about fifty six inches and a width across the
open front of about sixty two inches. The overall height of the
support arm is about seventy seven inches with the hole in the
plate at the support end of the support arm about seventy three
inches above the supporting surface on which the stand rests.
[0030] While the stand could be formed as a single piece, it is
preferred for purposes of shipping, transportation, and storage
that the stand be made up of several pieces so it can be
disassembled into several smaller pieces. FIG. 10 shows, for the
stand of the illustrated embodiment, individual pieces or
components of the stand and how they are assembled together to form
a stand. The base leg 25 is broken down into two pieces 50 and 51.
(Note that in FIG. 10, for ease of illustration so that the entire
stand can be shown in one Fig., the individual pieces are also
broken into and shown as two pieces with intermediate lengths of
each piece removed.) Pieces 50 and 51 are tubular and piece 50
includes an insert 52 secured in the end of piece 50 in any
suitable manner and extending from the end thereof to be connected
to piece 51. Piece 51 is slid over insert 52 and secured by screws
53 extending through holes 54 in piece 51 and tightened into
threaded holes 55 in insert 52. Similar holes and screws are
provided in the opposite side of the piece and insert so that
screws are inserted in opposite sides as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
Rather than using an insert so that abutting pieces telescope
together, an end can be formed to telescope into the end of the
abutting piece by crimping or swaging the end of one abutting piece
to form a reduced diameter portion to telescope into the abutting
end of the other piece. Base leg piece 51 forms part of the support
arm, indicated at 57. Support arm intermediate piece 58 has inserts
59 and 60. Insert 59 is slipped into piece 51 at the end of portion
57 and the pieces are secured together by screws 53 extending
through holes 61 and tightened into threaded holes 62 in insert 59.
Upper support arm piece 64 slides onto insert 60 and is secured by
screws 53 extending through holes 65 and tightened into threaded
holes 66 in insert 60. Screws 53 are counter sunk so that screws 53
extending into counter sunk holes 54, 61, and 65 provide a smooth
surface for the base leg and support arm. In addition, the ends of
pieces 50, 51, 58, and 64, where they come together when joined,
are scalloped, as shown particularly in FIGS. 10, 2, 3, and 4,
which disguise the joints and makes them more difficult to see.
When assembled, it is difficult to see that the stand is assembled
of parts. The stand appears as a single continuous piece which adds
to the aesthetics of the device to make it look nice as a piece of
furniture in a room. Wood feet also add to the decorative look of
the stand. For purposes of the invention, although assembled of
several pieces, once assembled, the stand becomes a continuous bar
or single continuous piece stand. The continuous bar or piece
extends from leg portion end 30 to the end of support portion end
24.
[0031] In addition to the aesthetic appearance of the scalloped
connections, the scallops make it easy for a user assembling the
stand to properly position and angularly align the pieces with
respect to one another and to align the receiving holes for the
screws extending through the individual pieces with the mating
holes in the sleeves. Thus, for example, when connecting upper
support arm piece 64 to support arm intermediate piece 58, FIG. 10,
as the pieces are brought together over sleeve 60, the scallop
projections 70 on upper support arm piece 64 will easily move to
and fit into inward scallops 71 between scallop projections 72 on
support arm intermediate piece 58. Similarly, scallop projections
72 on support arm intermediate piece 58 will easily move to and fit
into inward scallops 73 between scallop projections 70 on upper
support arm piece 64. In this way, when the pieces are aligned
using the scallops, the pieces will remain aligned as long as the
pieces are held together so that the connecting screws can be
easily inserted and secured in the mating holes in the pieces and
the inserts. The user does not have to hold the pieces to be
connected in angular alignment with the holes in one piece aligned
with the holes in the insert in the other piece in order to be able
to insert the screws through aligned holes. In addition to helping
with alignment of the pieces during assembly, the mating scallops
will also help to prevent relative rotation of the pieces during
use of the stand and reduce the pressure on the screws securing the
pieces together. The curved scallop configuration illustrated is
currently preferred for aesthetic reasons and is not functionally
necessary as angular tabs or scallops, such as rectangular
scallops, could be used and might provide better resistance to
rotation than the curved scallops.
[0032] The stand of the invention provides a flat base which is
more aesthetic than the raised base of the C stand and makes it
easier to mount a hanging chair without the chair hitting the
raised C arm base of a C stand. Further, the parts of the
disassembled stand of the invention take up less storage room and
fit into a smaller box for storage and shipping. The base of the
stand is also smaller than the base of a C stand so takes up less
room. This is advantageous for indoor use. While the pattern formed
by the leg portion of the stand will generally be a two dimensional
pattern as shown, in some instances the pattern may be formed in
three dimensions. For example, feet may be bent into the legs or
otherwise formed by the leg pattern itself rather than being
separately attached pieces as shown. In such instances, the pattern
will be considered as substantially two dimensional.
[0033] Whereas the invention is here illustrated and described with
reference to an embodiment thereof presently contemplated as the
best mode of carrying out the invention in actual practice, it is
to be understood that various changes may be made in adapting the
invention to different embodiments without departing from the
broader inventive concepts disclosed herein and comprehended by the
claims that follow.
* * * * *