U.S. patent application number 13/196928 was filed with the patent office on 2013-02-07 for in swimming pool chair with adjustable angle and height.
The applicant listed for this patent is Edward Gossett, Diane Hamilton. Invention is credited to Edward Gossett, Diane Hamilton.
Application Number | 20130031712 13/196928 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47625977 |
Filed Date | 2013-02-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130031712 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gossett; Edward ; et
al. |
February 7, 2013 |
In Swimming Pool Chair with Adjustable Angle and Height
Abstract
A swimming pool chair for use within a pool has a base that
interfaces with the floor of the pool. A seat portion of the
swimming pool chair has an adjustable height and an adjustable
angle to compensate for variations in water depth and variations in
pool floor angles, thereby providing a comfortable seating position
for the user in many locations within the pool.
Inventors: |
Gossett; Edward; (Indian
Rocks Beach, FL) ; Hamilton; Diane; (Indian Rocks
Beach, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Gossett; Edward
Hamilton; Diane |
Indian Rocks Beach
Indian Rocks Beach |
FL
FL |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
47625977 |
Appl. No.: |
13/196928 |
Filed: |
August 3, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/496 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 3/34 20130101; A47C
3/36 20130101; A47C 3/40 20130101; E04H 4/14 20130101; A47C 15/004
20130101; A47C 9/002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/496 |
International
Class: |
E04H 4/14 20060101
E04H004/14 |
Claims
1. A chair for use within a swimming pool, the chair comprising: a
base, the base having a top and a bottom; a base adapter, the base
adapter interfaced to the top of the base; a telescoping post, the
telescoping post having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal
end of the telescoping post slidably interfaced to the base
adapter; an adjustable joint, the adjustable joint interfaced to
the proximal end of the telescoping post; a seat, the seat
comprising a seat base, the seat interfaced to the adjustable
joint; whereas a height of the seat is adjusted by moving the
telescoping post with respect to the base adapter, and a seat angle
relative to the base is adjusted through use of the adjustable
joint.
2. The chair for use within a pool of claim 1, wherein the base is
substantially hollow.
3. The chair for use within a pool of claim 1, wherein the base is
substantially solid.
4. The chair for use within a pool of claim 1, the seat further
comprising a seat back.
5. The chair for use within a pool of claim 4, wherein the seat
further comprises arms.
6. The chair for use within a pool of claim 1, wherein the seat is
slidably mounted to the joint.
7. The chair for use within a pool of claim 1, wherein the
adjustable joint is a ball joint.
8. The chair for use within a pool of claim 1, wherein the base
further comprises an opening and a cover.
9. The chair for use within a pool of claim 1, further comprising
feet interfaced to the bottom of the base, wherein the feet are
comprised of a non-slip material.
10. The chair for use within a pool of claim 1, further comprising
drain holes and vent holes within the seat.
11. A chair for use within a swimming pool, the chair comprising: a
base, the base having a top and a bottom; a base adapter, the base
adapter interfaced to the top of the base; a telescoping post, the
telescoping post having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal
end of the telescoping post slidably interfaced to the base
adapter; an adjustable joint, the adjustable joint interfaced to
the proximal end of the telescoping post; a seat, the seat
comprising a seat base, the seat slidably mounted to the joint;
whereas a height of the seat is adjusted by moving the telescoping
post with respect to the base adapter, and a seat angle relative to
the base is adjusted through use of the adjustable joint.
12. The chair for use within a pool of claim 11, wherein the base
is filled with a material denser than water.
13. The chair for use within a pool of claim 11, wherein the seat
comprises a seat base and a seat back.
14. The chair for use within a pool of claim 11, wherein the
adjustable joint is a ball joint.
15. The chair for use within a pool of claim 11, wherein the base
further comprises a hole and a plate.
16. The chair for use within a pool of claim 11, further comprising
feet interfaced to the bottom of the base, wherein the feet are
comprised of a non-slip material.
17. The chair for use within a pool of claim 11, further comprising
drain holes and vent holes within the seat.
18. A chair for use within a swimming pool, the chair comprising: a
base; the base being substantially hollow, with a top and a bottom,
filled with a material denser than water; a base adapter, the base
adapter interfaced to the top of the base; a telescoping post, the
telescoping post having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal
end of the telescoping post slidably interfaced to the base
adapter; an adjustable joint, the adjustable joint interfaced to
the proximal end of the telescoping post; a seat, the seat
comprising a seat base and a seat back, the seat slidably mounted
to the adjustable joint; whereas a height of the seat is adjusted
by moving the telescoping post with respect to the base adapter,
and a seat angle relative to the base is adjusted through use of
the adjustable joint.
Description
FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to the field of in swimming pool
furniture and more particularly to in swimming pool furniture with
adjustable angle and height.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Furniture has existed for as long as individuals wanted to
avoid sitting on the ground, or have a place to rest their
possessions. The field of in swimming pool furniture is not as old
and consists generally of items that either float on the surface of
the water or attach to the side wall of a swimming pool. Pool
furniture which floats is unstable and susceptible to the waves of
the pool or weight of the individual occupying the furniture.
Moreover, in swimming pool furniture that attaches to the wall of
the swimming pool is inferior because it is non-adjustable and
requires the user to remain affixed to the wall. Swimming pool
furniture designed for use near the swimming pool functions poorly
when placed into the pool, with some examples sinking to the bottom
in deep water where a user cannot sit.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,587 to Bosnich discloses a
counter-weighted chair with a threaded shaft. The Bosnich chair is
poorly suited for a pool because the chair cannot be locked at a
specific angle. The chair disclosed in Bosnich adjusts its angle
without user input, subjecting it to any force present that will
change the seat angle. This may be a minor issue when used above
water because of the minimal forces exerted by air, but within the
water the forces of current are significant. A rocking or tipping
motion caused by the force of the water would cause user
discomfort. Additionally, the base is not a weighted base
appropriate for use within a pool. Rather than weighting the base,
weights are hung below the seat. When the angle of the seat
relative to the base is severe, the center of gravity moves outside
of the area of the base, increasing the tendency of the chair to
tip over.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,433 to Stanley discloses a floating
stool for use in a pool. The stool has a single leg that ends in a
gripping tip. Because the stool has only a single leg, it cannot
remain upright without either the user, or an anchor bar connecting
the stool to the side of the pool. A weighted base is not
disclosed, and therefore, if the stool were placed in the water it
would either float, supported by the buoyancy of the seat and post,
or sink to the bottom, lying on its side. Even in use, the device
relies on "the weight of a person sitting on [the] stool" to keep
the tip from slipping, as well as a person's balance to prevent the
chair from tipping over. Additionally, because the stool floats, it
cannot remain in a single location if not held in position.
Instead, it will float around the pool on the surface of the
water.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 7,478,878 to Oettinger discloses a self
righting chair for use in an office. The chair has a rounded base
to allow the user to adopt many different seated positions. The
base is weighted to return the post to a vertical position when the
user is not seated. The base is not designed for use in a pool
because it does not have the flat bottom surface required for
stability. The Oettinger device requires constant user input to
remain upright when the user is seated. While the Oettinger device
itself is self-righting when not in use, when a user is seated, the
goal is to "encourage[ ] constant muscle use in the back and
abdominal areas . . . " Thus the user must constantly work to keep
the chair in a specific position, or risk tipping over. This is not
practical in a pool environment where the motion of the water would
cause the user fatigue, rather than providing relaxation by
allowing the user to rely on the chair for stability.
[0006] U.S. Patent Application 2011/0095586 to Fernandez discloses
a chair that can be tipped in any direction. The Fernandez chair
has a flexible base that absorbs downward force from the weight of
the user, as well as angular forces from the user tipping the seat
in different directions. The Fernandez chair lacks the ability to
lock the angle of the seat relative to the floor. As a result, the
seat cannot comfortably accommodate a user on a sloped surface
because a constant force is required to keep the seat tilted
relative to the base. The instability that is intentional when the
chair is used in an office is detrimental when the chair is used in
the water. The rocking or tipping motion caused by the force of the
water will cause user discomfort and a constant need for
correction.
[0007] What is needed is in swimming pool furniture for use in
multiple locations throughout a pool, each with a different water
depth and pool bottom angle (relative to horizontal) while
providing a stable base for use.
SUMMARY
[0008] In one embodiment, a system is disclosed including an
xxx.
[0009] In another embodiment, a method of xxx is disclosed
including xxx.
[0010] In another embodiment, an apparatus for XXX is disclosed
including xxx.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The invention can be best understood by those having
ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed
description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a first embodiment, fully
retracted with the seat parallel to the base.
[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates a second front view of a first
embodiment, with the telescoping portion extended and placed on an
angled surface.
[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates a third view, showing the components of a
first embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Reference will now be made in detail to the presently
preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following
detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same
elements in all figures.
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, a front view of the in swimming pool
chair 1 embodiment is shown. This embodiment has a seat 2, the seat
2 having a seat base 6 and a seat back 4. In other embodiments the
seat 2 is similar to a stool, with only a seat base 6 and no seat
back 4.
[0017] The seat 2 is mounted to a joint. In the preferred
embodiment the joint is a ball-and-socket joint. In other
embodiments the joint is any known joint such as an ellipsoidal
joint, a saddle joint, a hinge joint, or a pivot joint. As shown in
the figures, the ball portion 12 is mounted to the seat 2 but it is
also anticipated that the socket portion 15 be mounted to the seat
2. The ball portion 12 is slidably mounted to rails 8 on the bottom
of seat base 6, allowing adjustment from front to back. Using the
rails, the seat 2 position is adjustable for different user
conditions, allowing the seat 2 to be located in a position that
creates stability. In other embodiments, the in swimming pool chair
1 does not have rails, and the ball portion 12 is mounted directly
to the bottom of seat base 6. In other embodiments, the ball
portion 12 is mounted to the seat back 4, with the ball portion
projecting outward from the seat back 4. In still other
embodiments, the ball portion 12 is integrated with the seat base
6, rather than being a separate part.
[0018] The ball portion 12 is held by a socket 15. In this
embodiment the socket 15 consists of two halves, a first half 16
and a second half 14. The two halves 14/16 are clamped together
using a screw 42 or other means as known in the industry. The screw
42 has a head that is large enough for a user to grip to tighten
and loosen to adjust the clamping force produced by the two halves,
14 and 16. This allows the user to decrease the compressive force
on the ball portion 12, freeing the ball portion 12 within the
socket portion 15, allowing the seat 2 to be tilted and rotated. In
some embodiments, the ball portion 12 is smooth and a reduction in
compressive force allows motion in all directions. In other
embodiments, the ball portion 12 has a channel that interacts with
a protrusion in the socket 15, allowing the ball portion 12 to move
in only a specific direction or directions. For example, if a
channel runs front to back on the ball portion 12, with a
corresponding protrusion running front to back in the socket 15,
the seat 2 will only tilt forward and backward, but will not tip
side to side or rotate. In other embodiments, the socket 15 is
mounted to the seat base 6, or rails 8, and the ball portion 12 is
integrated with the telescoping post 50.
[0019] In this embodiment, the second half 14 of the socket 15 is
integrated with the telescoping post 50. The telescoping post 50
slides into the base adapter 18, which in turn is interfaced to the
base 30. A pin 44 interacts with slots 52 (see FIG. 2) to hold the
telescoping post 50 at a specific elevation.
[0020] The in swimming pool chair is intended for use within a
pool, with the feet 38 in contact with a surface that is wet, and
potentially slippery. Because of these conditions, in some
embodiments the in swimming pool chair 1 has feet 38 made from a
non-slip material such as rubber. In this embodiment, the base 30
has feet 38. In some embodiments the feet 38 are portions of the
base 30, and in other embodiments the feet 38 are separate parts. A
non-slip material is a material with a high coefficient of
friction. Preferably, the material used for the feet 38, or the
base 30 if feet 38 are not present, is non-abrasive to prevent
scratches to the pool bottom.
[0021] In some embodiments, the base 30 is a hollow member. This
makes the in swimming pool chair 1 lighter, and thus easier to
handle during manufacturing and shipping. In such embodiments,
after the device arrives at its destination, the base is filled
with any material with a density equal to or greater than liquid
water (generally, 1,000 kg/m.sup.3), such as sand, gravel, soil,
rocks, etc. These materials provide mass, causing the in swimming
pool chair 1 to rest on the bottom of the pool, thereby preventing
tipping.
[0022] In other embodiments the base 30 is a solid member, and does
not need to be filled with any material. In such embodiments, the
base 30 has sufficient mass to keep the in swimming pool chair 1
positioned on the bottom of the pool with sufficient stability for
use.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 2, the first embodiment is shown,
demonstrating use on an angled surface 60. This figure shows the in
swimming pool chair's 1 ability to independently change the seat 2
angle with respect to the base 30, and the seat 2 height with
respect to the base 30. Depending on the location of the in
swimming pool chair 1 within the pool, the water depth and bottom
angle will vary. It is uncomfortable to sit on an in swimming pool
chair 1 with a tilted seat 2. It is also uncomfortable to sit at
certain levels in the water, such as deeper than one's shoulders,
making one buoyant, or higher than waist, making one unstable. As
shown in FIG. 2, the in swimming pool chair 1 compensates for both
of these conditions by extending the telescoping post 50 to adjust
the height, and positioning the ball portion 12 within the socket
15 to adjust the angle of the seat 2.
[0024] In order to extend the telescoping post 50, the user pulls
the locking pin 44 outwardly to disengage it from the locking slots
52. The user then moves the seat 2 up or down, and pushes the
locking pin 44 to once again lock it within the locking slots 52.
In some embodiments, the locking pin 44 is spring-loaded and snaps
back into place after being released by the user. In other
embodiments, the locking pin 44 is one or more snap buttons
contained within the telescoping pole 50, with a plurality of holes
within the telescoping pole 50, interacting with one or more holes
in the base adapter 18. In other embodiments, the telescoping pole
50 threads into the base adapter 18 and the height is adjusted by
turning the telescoping pole 50 (and seat 2) in a clockwise or
counter-clockwise direction to raise or lower the seat 2. In this
embodiment, the locking pin 44 is optional, but if used, allows the
height to be locked and unwanted rotation to be prevented.
[0025] The seat 2 does not require a seat back 4. In some
embodiments the seat 2 has only a seat base 6, similar to a stool.
In other embodiments the seat 2 has a very wide seat base 6,
similar to a bench. In other embodiments, the seat 2 has arms,
allowing a user to rest her arms, and avoid sliding off the seat
2.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 3, the first embodiment is shown in an
exploded view to display the components of an exemplary in swimming
pool chair 1. The screw 42 is shown, with corresponding nut 43. The
nut 43 is captured within a recess of telescoping post 50 to
prevent the nut 43 from rotating when the screw 42 is tightened or
loosened. Capturing of a nut 43 is well known in the industry and
other ways to capture the nut 43 and prevent it from turning when
the thumb screw 42 is tightened are fully anticipated.
[0027] The base adapter 18 is shown, and interfaces with the base
30 through a base hole 32. The telescoping pole 50 slides into the
base adapter 18 through opening 20. Other means of attaching the
base adapter 18 to the base 30 are anticipated, including bolting
to the base 30, threading into the base 30, welding, brazing,
gluing, and other means of attachment as known in the art. In other
embodiments there is no base adapter 18, and instead the
telescoping pole 50 attaches directly to the base 30.
[0028] The base 30 is shown with a hole 34 and a cover 36, held by
screws/bolts 46. As discussed, in some embodiments, the base 30 is
shipped empty and filled at the final destination with a material
denser than water. In such embodiments, the hole 34 provides a
location to fill the base 30, allowing it to be sealed with the
cover 36 to prevent the fill material from moving in or out. In
some embodiments, the cover 36 is watertight. In other embodiments,
the base 30 has openings allowing the base 30 to fill with water,
releasing trapped air, and allowing the base 30 to sink. In some
embodiments it is unnecessary to fill the base 30 with a negatively
buoyant material because the mass of the in swimming pool chair 1
itself, when the air is removed, is sufficient to make the in
swimming pool chair 1 negatively buoyant, causing it to sink.
[0029] In some situations, portions of the seat 2 will be below the
surface of the water. There are multiple methods of manufacturing
seat 2, including rotational molding and blow molding, which could
result in the capture of air within the seat 2. To allow the air to
exit the seat 2, and prevent the seat 2 from floating, in some
embodiments there are fill/drain holes 53 in the seat base 6, and
vent holes 54 in seat back 4. As the seat 2 submerges below the
level of the water, the chair will fill with water through the
fill/drain holes 53, and the trapped air vents through vent holes
54. When the seat 2 is removed from the water, the water drains
from the fill/drain holes 53 and air refills the back through the
vent holes 54.
[0030] Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set
forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner
in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same
result.
[0031] It is believed that the system and method as described and
its advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It
is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may
be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components
thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the
invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages.
The form herein before described being merely exemplary and
explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the
following claims to encompass and include such changes.
* * * * *