U.S. patent application number 11/379765 was filed with the patent office on 2007-04-26 for travel chair attachable to a suitcase.
Invention is credited to Ganelle Graves-York, Ronald Harris.
Application Number | 20070090675 11/379765 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38008039 |
Filed Date | 2007-04-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070090675 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Graves-York; Ganelle ; et
al. |
April 26, 2007 |
TRAVEL CHAIR ATTACHABLE TO A SUITCASE
Abstract
A portable chair attachable to a suitcase. One embodiment
includes a foldable wheeled frame configured to rotate around a
single axis, a fabric chair back, and a strap to secure the chair
to a suitcase.
Inventors: |
Graves-York; Ganelle;
(Cashmere, WA) ; Harris; Ronald; (Cashmere,
WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLACK LOWE & GRAHAM, PLLC
701 FIFTH AVENUE
SUITE 4800
SEATTLE
WA
98104
US
|
Family ID: |
38008039 |
Appl. No.: |
11/379765 |
Filed: |
April 21, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60674222 |
Apr 22, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
297/397 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 4/52 20130101; A47D
13/025 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/397 |
International
Class: |
A47C 7/36 20060101
A47C007/36 |
Claims
1. A chair comprising: a foldable wheeled frame configured to
rotate around a single axis; a chair back attached to the frame and
configured to support an occupant's weight; at least one strap
attached to the frame and configured to secure the frame to a
suitcase; and at least one belt for securing an occupant to the
frame.
2. The chair of claim 1 wherein the frame includes: a seat back
attached to the chair back and the at least one strap, the seat
back having two ends, each end connected to a pin; a pair of
slotted seat arms pivotably connected to the seat back at one end;
a pair of arm supports each rotatably connected to one of the pins
at one end and slidably connected to the seat arms at an opposite
end; a seat bottom having two ends, each end rotatably connected to
one of the pins; and a wheeled leg member having two ends, each end
connected to one of the seat arms, wherein the single axis goes
through both pins.
3. The chair of claim 2 wherein the wheeled leg member includes a
brake.
4. The chair of claim 1, wherein when the frame is attached to a
tilted suitcase, the frame may be rotated to be more nearly
upright.
5. The chair of claim 1, including six straps for securing the
chair to a suitcase.
6. The chair of claim 5, wherein the straps are adjustable in
length.
7. The chair of claim 1, wherein the at least one belt is one of a
seat belt and a five point harness system.
8. The chair of claim 1, including a headrest attached to one of
the chair back and the frame by at least one headrest strap.
9. The chair of claim 8, wherein the headrest is one of a pillow, a
cushioned closable bag, and a pillow with an attached closable
bag.
10. The chair of claim 1, including an underseat bag attached to
one of the chair back and the frame.
11. The chair of claim 1, including a pair of vertically adjustable
footrests attached to the frame.
12. The chair of claim 1, including an adjustable canopy attached
to the frame.
13. The chair of claim 1, further including a detachable tray table
attached to the frame.
14. The chair of claim 13, wherein the tray table includes a cup
holder.
15. The chair of claim 13, wherein the tray table includes a
closable video screen.
16. The chair of claim 13, including a U-shaped bar, the tray table
further including a pair of receptacles for receiving the U-shaped
bar.
17. The chair of claim 13, further including a detachable closable
tray table bag attached to an underside of the tray table.
18. A travel chair improvement system for use with a travel chair
having a seat back, a pair of seat arms, a fabric seat, and a seat
bottom comprising at least one of: a detachable headrest attached
to one of the chair seat back and the fabric seat, the detachable
headrest comprising one of a pillow, a cushioned closable bag, and
a pillow with an attached closable bag; a detachable closable seat
bag attached to one of the seat bottom and the fabric seat; a
detachable tray table attached to one of the pair of seat arms and
the seat back; a detachable closable tray table bag attached to an
underside of the tray table; a vertically adjustable footrest
attached to the chair; and, a detachable adjustable canopy attached
to one of the seat back and the pair of seat arms.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the tray table further includes
at least one of a cup holder, a foldable video screen, and a pair
of receptacles for receiving a U-shaped bar.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] The present application claims priority from U.S.
Provisional Application No. 60/674,222 filed Apr. 22, 2005, which
is herein incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to portable chairs and,
more specifically, to a portable chair attachable to a
suitcase.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Traveling with small children, especially in an airport, can
be demanding. There are devices to aid parents traveling with small
children. U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,039 to Alper et al. (herein
incorporated by reference) teaches a wheeled suitcase designed to
allow attachment of a child seat. U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,657 to Henkel
(herein incorporated by reference) teaches a suitcase adapted to be
reconfigured to form a seat suitable for a child. U.S. Pat. No.
6,241,313 to Lenz et al. (herein incorporated by reference) teaches
a child seat attachable to a suitcase, including a harness to
secure a child to the seat and straps to secure the seat to a
suitcase. While these devices are useful, what is needed is an
improved travel chair attachable to a suitcase.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] Preferred and alternative embodiments of the present
invention are described in detail below with reference to the
following drawings.
[0005] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a chair frame according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a chair according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of a chair according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0008] FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C show top, bottom, and side views,
respectively, of a tray table according to at least one embodiment
of the present invention; and
[0009] FIG. 5 shows a side perspective view of a frame and five
point harness according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0010] One aspect of an embodiment of the invention includes a
chair comprising a foldable seat rotatable around a single axis,
including a pair of wheeled front legs so the device can be pushed
or pulled, a strap for attaching the seat to a suitcase, and a belt
for securing a child to the seat.
[0011] In another aspect of the invention, a brake is provided for
greater control of the wheeled device.
[0012] In accordance with further aspects of the invention, the
chair includes a headrest, and a closable pouch or bag attachable
to the underside of the headrest.
[0013] In accordance with other aspects of the invention, the chair
includes arm rests and a tray table with cup holder attachable to
the armrests.
[0014] In accordance with still further aspects of the invention,
the chair includes a closable pouch or bag attachable to the
underside of the seat.
[0015] In accordance with yet other aspects of the invention, the
chair includes a bar to which toys may be attached.
[0016] In accordance with further aspects of the invention, a visor
or canopy is provided to shield a child from the weather.
[0017] In accordance with still further aspects of the invention,
all of the elements may be removed and are easily detachable and
washable.
[0018] In accordance with other aspects of the invention, the tray
table includes a video screen or television viewable from the
seat.
[0019] In accordance with further aspects of the invention, an
adjustable footrest may be provided to provide support for a
child's feet.
[0020] As will be readily appreciated from the foregoing summary,
the invention provides an improved travel chair attachable to a
suitcase.
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a detachable travel chair frame 12 according to
an embodiment of the present invention. The frame 12 is preferably
made of aluminum tubing, but may be made of fiberglass or any other
suitable material known to those having skill in the art, and may
be solid or hollow.
[0022] The frame 12 includes a generally U-shaped seat back 14.
Left and right arms 16, 18 are pivotably connected to the seat back
14 by, for example, screws or rivets 20. The arms 16, 18 include
slots 22 slidably connected to pins 24, 26 fixably attached to left
and right arm supports 28, 30. Opposite ends of the arm supports
28, 30 may be pivotably connected to left and right suitcase
contact surfaces 32, 34. The ends of the seat back 14 may also be
pivotably connected to the surfaces 32, 34. Seat bottom 36 may also
be generally U-shaped and sized to fit inside seat back 14 when the
frame 12 is folded. The ends of the seat bottom 36 may be pivotably
connected to the surfaces 32, 34. Seat leg member 38 may also be
generally U-shaped and may be pivotably connected to seat bottom 36
and seat arms 16, 18. Left and right wheels 40, 42 may be pivotably
connected to seat leg member 38, and may include brakes (43),
including centrifugal or inertial braking systems.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a chair 10 according to an embodiment of the
present invention attached to a suitcase 100. The chair 10 includes
frame 12 and chair back 44. Chair back 44 may include fabric or
other appropriate materials known to those having skill in the art,
and is attached to seat back 14 and seat bottom 36. In an
embodiment, the seat bottom 36 is rectangular or square, and the
chair back 44 wraps around the seat bottom 36. Embodiments (FIG. 5)
include a five point harness (88), or other devices known to those
having skill in the art for securing a child in the chair 10.
[0024] Left and right lower straps 46, 48 are attached to surfaces
32, 34 and may be wrapped around the suitcase 100 and connected to
each other at their opposite ends by clips 54, 56 or other
attachment devices. Left and right upper straps 50, 52 may be
attached to surfaces 32, 34 and may be wrapped around the suitcase
handle 102 and connected by clips 54, 56. Left and right seat back
straps 58, 60 may be attached to seat back 14 and may be wrapped
around the suitcase handle 102 and connected by clips 54, 56. All
straps may be adjustable in length. When left and right seat back
straps 58, 60 are unclipped, the chair 10 may rotate around an axis
through suitcase contact surfaces 32, 34, thereby allowing the
wheels 40, 42 to maintain contact with the ground when the suitcase
100 is being pulled. Many other strap arrangements are possible, as
well.
[0025] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention
including a headrest 62 attached to the frame 12 or the chair back
44 with headrest straps 64. The headrest 62 may be a pillow,
cushioned or inflatable, a cushioned pouch with a zipper (not
shown) on the underside of the pouch, or a pillow with pouch
attached to the underside of the pillow. The chair 10 may also
include a zippered seat bag 66 attached to the underside of the
chair back 44 or frame 12 with seat bag straps 68. The chair 10 may
also include adjustable footrests 70 clampably attached to seat leg
member 38 that may be raised or lowered. The chair 10 may also
include a canopy 71 rotatably connected to the seat arms 16, 18,
which may be rotated forward to shield the occupant from the
weather.
[0026] FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are top, bottom, and side views
respectively, of an embodiment of a tray table 72 according to the
present invention. The tray table 72 may include a cup holder 74
which may include netting or plastic (not shown) for retaining
objects placed in the cup holder 74. The tray table 72 may also
include a closable video screen 76. The tray table 72 may be
attached to the seat arms 16, 18 by deformable clips 78, or other
suitable means known to those having skill in the art. The tray
table 72 may also define receptacles 80 for attaching a bar 82
which may be used to hang toys to entertain the occupant. The tray
table 72 may also include a closable tray table bag 84 which may
attach to the underside of the tray table 72 using snaps, buckles,
zippers, buttons, or other means known to those having skill in the
art.
[0027] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been
illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For
example, all elements may be removed and may be easily detachable
and washable. Additionally, the leg member may comprise a pair of
legs. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the
disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention
should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that
follow.
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