Poolside lounge chair

• US 6,860,567 B1
• Filed: 03/12/2004
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bo Bauer
• Original Assignee: Bo Bauer
• Inventors: Bauer, Bo
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US10/799,956
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 297/900, 297/354.12, 297/354.13, 297/357, 297/377, 297/144, 297/228.11, 297/228.12
• US Class Current: 297/144
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/143 Chaise lounges
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/043 by means of peg-and-notch or pawl-and-ratchet mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/90 Chair for suntanning in the prone, i.e. facedown position

Abstract

A lounge chair with ergonomic features. The lounge chair includes frame, a contoured seat section and an adjustable contoured back section that can be angularly biased relative to the seat section. The mechanism that permits the angular positioning between the seat and back sections includes a biasing member (such as a spring) and an actuator that can be operated with one hand, thereby promoting ease of use. A variable-position aperture formed into the back section can accommodate users of different heights. The contouring can be bowed upward to provide additional ventral or dorsal support to a user depending on whether the user lying prone or supine on the chair. In one embodiment, the lounge chair is of predominantly wooden construction, preferably from a dense hardwood.

Claims

1. A lounge chair comprising:

a frame;

a seat section coupled to said frame, said seat section defining a substantially rigid upper surface;

a back section cooperative with said frame, said back section defining a substantially rigid upper surface, said seat and back sections comprising a plurality of longitudinally-spaced slats coupled thereto to define said respective upper surfaces, said back section comprising an adjustable head aperture formed therein by cut-outs in at least a portion of said slats, and wherein at least said slats that define said head aperture are slidably coupled to said back section to facilitate adjustability of said head aperture; and

a hinge section disposed between said seat and back sections to facilitate pivotal movement therebetween.

2. The lounge chair of claim 1, wherein said substantially rigid upper surfaces of said seat and back sections are constructed predominantly of wood.

3. The lounge chair of claim 2, wherein said wood comprises hardwood.

4. The lounge chair of claim 3, wherein said hardwood is selected from the group consisting of ipe, teak and oak.

5. The lounge chair of claim 1, wherein said hinge section comprises:

an actuator responsive to user input;

an angle adjustment mechanism responsive to said actuator, said angle adjustment mechanism configured to allow a plurality of angular positions between said back section and said seat section; and

a biasing member configured to promote engagement of said angle adjustment mechanism and a corresponding member on at least one of said back section and said frame.

6. The lounge chair of claim 5, wherein said actuator is disposed on said back section and is responsive to single-hand input such that said angular position between said seat and back sections can be adjusted while said user is on said lounge chair.

7. The lounge chair of claim 5, wherein said biasing member comprises a spring.

8. The lounge chair of claim 1, wherein said substantially rigid upper surfaces of at least one of said seat and back sections define orthopedic curvature.

9. The lounge chair of claim 8, wherein said orthopedic curvature defines a curvature along a longitudinal dimension of said chair.

10. The lounge chair of claim 8, wherein said orthopedic curvature of said seat section upper surface is integrally formed therein.

11. The lounge chair of claim 8, wherein said orthopedic curvature of said seat section upper surface defines a substantially convex shape.

12. The lounge chair of claim 1, wherein said slidably coupled slats are adjustable along at least a longitudinal dimension of said lounge chair.

13. The lounge chair of claim 1, wherein said seat section defines a lateral taper on said upper surface.

14. The lounge chair of claim 1, further comprising a magazine rack coupled to said frame or said back section.

15. The lounge chair of claim 14, wherein said magazine rack is hingedly connected to said frame or back section such that upon deployment, said magazine rack is situated adjacent said head aperture.

16. The lounge chair of claim 1, further comprising a pull-out tray cooperative with said frame or said seat section.

17. The lounge chair of claim 1, further comprising wheels disposed in at least one leg of said frame.

18. The lounge chair of claim 1, further comprising at least one cushion configured to engage at least one of said seat section upper surface and said back section upper surface.

19. The lounge chair of claim 18, wherein said cushion defines an opening therethrough such that upon placement of said cushion onto said lounge chair, said head aperture and said opening are substantially aligned.

20. The lounge chair of claim 19, wherein said cushion further comprises an attachment member with which to engage said lounge chair.

21. The lounge chair of claim 20, wherein said attachment member comprises at least one strap.

22. The lounge chair of claim 21, wherein said at least one strap comprises a hook-and-loop fastener.

23. A method of using a lounge chair, said method comprising:

configuring said chair to comprise;

a frame;

a seat section coupled to said frame, said seat section defining a substantially rigid upper surface;

a back section cooperative with said frame, said back section defining a substantially rigid upper surface, said seat and back sections comprising a plurality of longitudinally-spaced slats coupled thereto to define said respective upper surfaces, said back section comprising an adjustable head aperture formed therein by cut-outs in at least a portion of said slats, and wherein at least said slats that define said head aperture are slidably coupled to said back section to facilitate adjustability of said head aperture; and

a hinge section disposed between said seat and back sections to facilitate pivotal movement therebetween;

positioning a user on said chair such that at least one of said user'"'"'s ventral and dorsal regions is placed on said upper surface; and

placing a portion of said user'"'"'s head in said head aperture.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising adjusting the position of said head aperture within said back section.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein said hinge section comprises:

an actuator responsive to user input;

an angle adjustment mechanism responsive to said actuator, said angle adjustment mechanism configured to allow a plurality of angular positions between said back section and said seat section; and

a biasing member configured to promote engagement of said angle adjustment mechanism and a corresponding member on at least one of said back section and said frame.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein said configuring said chair further comprises configuring at least said back section and said seat section predominantly from wood.