Collapsible support and methods of using the same
DCFirst Claim
Patent Images
1. A support, comprising:
- a frame, said frame having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, said frame including a front portion, a rear portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion, the rear portion being disposed a distance from the front portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration, the rear portion being disposed a distance from the front portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the distance between the rear portion and the front portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration being larger than the distance between the rear portion and the front portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the first side portion being disposed a distance from the second side portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration, the first side portion being disposed a distance from the second side portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the distance between the first side portion and the second side portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration being larger than the distance between the first side portion and the second side portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration; and
a seat membrane, said seat membrane being coupled to said frame, said seat membrane including a retainer, said retainer being configured to retain said frame in said collapsed configuration, said retainer includes a first flap fixedly coupled to said seat membrane and a second flap fixedly coupled to said seat membrane.
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Abstract
A support including a frame having a tension member coupled to the frame is disclosed. The frame has a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The tension member is disposable in a first position to provide support for an arm of a user and a second position to be carried on a shoulder of the user.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. A support, comprising:
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a frame, said frame having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, said frame including a front portion, a rear portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion, the rear portion being disposed a distance from the front portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration, the rear portion being disposed a distance from the front portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the distance between the rear portion and the front portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration being larger than the distance between the rear portion and the front portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the first side portion being disposed a distance from the second side portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration, the first side portion being disposed a distance from the second side portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the distance between the first side portion and the second side portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration being larger than the distance between the first side portion and the second side portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration; and
a seat membrane, said seat membrane being coupled to said frame, said seat membrane including a retainer, said retainer being configured to retain said frame in said collapsed configuration, said retainer includes a first flap fixedly coupled to said seat membrane and a second flap fixedly coupled to said seat membrane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A support, comprising:
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a frame, said frame having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, said frame including a front portion, a rear portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion, the rear portion being disposed a distance from the front portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration, the rear portion being disposed a distance from the front portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the distance between the rear portion and the front portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration being larger than the distance between the rear portion and the front portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the first side portion being disposed a distance from the second side portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration, the first side portion being disposed a distance from the second side portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the distance between the first side portion and the second side portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration being larger than the distance between the first side portion and the second side portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the first side portion having a first member and a second member, the first member of the first side portion extending between the front portion of the frame and the rear portion of the frame, the second member of the first side portion extending between the front portion of the frame and the rear portion of the frame, the first member of the first side portion being pivotally coupled to the second member of the first side portion; and
a seat membrane, said seat membrane being coupled to said frame, said seat membrane including a retainer, said retainer being configured to retain said frame in said collapsed configuration, said retainer includes a first retainer portion and a second retainer portion, said first retainer portion and said second retainer portion being configured to be coupled together to retain the frame in said collapsed configuration. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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8. A support, comprising:
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a frame, said frame having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, and frame including a front portion, a rear portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion, the rear portion being disposed a distance from the front portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration, the rear portion being disposed a distance from the front portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the distance between the rear portion and the front portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration being larger than the distance between the rear portion and the front portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the first side portion being disposed a distance from the second side portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration, the first side portion being disposed a distance from the second side portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the distance between the first side portion and the second side portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration being larger than the distance between the first side portion and the second side portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the first side portion having a first member and a second member, the first member of the first side portion extending between the front portion of the frame and the rear portion of the frame, the second member of the first side portion extending between the front portion of the frame and the rear portion of the frame, the first member of the first side portion being pivotally coupled to the second member of the first side portion; and
a seat membrane, said seat membrane being coupled to said frame, said seat membrane including a retainer, said retainer being configured to retain said frame in said collapsed configuration, said retainer includes a piece of material coupled to said seat, said piece of material having a first end and a second end, said piece of material being configured to enclose a portion of said frame, and said first end being configured to be coupled to said second end to retain said piece of material around said frame.
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14. A support, comprising:
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a frame, said frame having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, said frame including a front portion, a rear portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion, the rear portion being disposed a distance from the front portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration, the rear portion being disposed a distance from the front portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the distance between the rear portion and the front portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration being larger than the distance between the rear portion and the front portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the first side portion being disposed a distance from the second side portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration, the first side portion being disposed a distance from the second side portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the distance between the first side portion and the second side portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration being larger than the distance between the first side portion and the second side portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the first side portion having a first member and a second member, the first member of the first side portion extending between the front portion of the frame and the rear portion of the frame, the second member of the first side portion extending between the front portion of the frame and the rear portion of the frame, the first member of the first side portion being pivotally coupled to the second member of the first side portion; and
a membrane, said membrane being coupled to said frame, said membrane including a body portion, a first side portion and a second side portion, said first side portion of the membrane being configured to be coupled to said second side portion of the membrane to retain said frame in said collapsed configuration. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A support, comprising:
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a frame, said frame having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, said frame including a front frame portion and a rear frame portion, said frame including a front portion, a rear portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion, the rear portion being disposed a distance from the front portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration, the rear portion being disposed a distance from the front portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the distance between the rear portion and the front portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration being larger than the distance between the rear portion and the front portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the first side portion being disposed a distance from the second side portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration, the first side portion being disposed a distance from the second side portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the distance between the first side portion and the second side portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration being larger than the distance between the first side portion and the second side portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration; and
a seat, said seat being coupled to said front frame portion and to said rear frame portion, said seat including a means for retaining said frame in said collapsed configuration, said means for retaining being configured to retain said front frame portion and said rear frame portion in said collapsed configuration, said means for retaining said frame being monolithically formed with said seat. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A method of retaining a support in a collapsed configuration, the support including a frame and a seat, the frame having a deployed configuration and the collapsed configuration, said frame including a front portion, a rear portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion, the rear portion being disposed a distance from the front portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration, the rear portion being disposed a distance from the front portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the distance between the rear portion and the front portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration wherein larger than the distance between the rear portion and the front portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the first side portion being disposed a distance from the second side portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration, the first side portion being disposed a distance from the second side portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the distance between the first side portion and the second side portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration being larger than the distance between the first side portion and the second side portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the seat being coupled to the frame and including a retainer, said method comprising:
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disposing the frame in its collapsed configuration by moving the rear portion of the frame with respect to the front portion of the frame and moving the first side portion of the frame with respect to the second side portion of the frame;
moving the retainer around a portion of the frame; and
securing the retainer to retain the frame in its collapsed configuration. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A frame for a support, said frame being selectively disposable in a first configuration and in a second configuration, said frame comprising:
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a front frame portion;
a rear frame portion, said rear frame portion being selectively disposable in a first position and in a second position, said rear frame portion including a first leg portion, a second leg portion and a connector portion, said connector portion extending between said first leg portion and said second leg portion; and
a base, said base being configured to receive a portion of said rear frame portion, said rear frame portion having a range of motion with respect to said base, said base including a biasing mechanism coupled thereto, said biasing mechanism being coupled to said rear frame portion to bias said rear frame portion with respect to said base into its second position, said base defining a slot therein, said connector portion of said rear frame portion being disposed in said slot for movement along said slot. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of adjusting the inclination of a support, the support including a frame and a seat coupled to the frame, the frame being selectively disposable in an upright configuration and in a reclined configuration, the frame including a front frame portion, a rear frame portion, and a recline mechanism, the rear frame portion being movable between a first position and a second position, the recline mechanism including a base and a biasing mechanism coupled to the base, the biasing mechanism being coupled to the base and configured to engage the rear frame portion, and the biasing mechanism being configured to bias the rear frame portion into its upright position, the frame includes a base, the base defining a slot therein, the rear frame portion engaging the slot and being slidably coupled to the base, said method comprising:
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deploying the frame in its upright configuration; and
moving the rear frame portion against the biasing mechanism to its second position by moving the rear frame portion along the slot in the base, thereby disposing the frame in its reclined configuration. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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40. A support for use in supporting a user, said support comprising:
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a base, said base being configured to engage a support surface on which said support is placed, said base including a biasing mechanism coupled thereto, said base determines a slot therein, said slot includes a first end and a second end, said frame portion engages said slot; and
a frame, said frame including a seat membrane configured to support a user, said frame having a first configuration and a second configuration, a portion of said frame being movable between a first position corresponding to said first configuration and a second position corresponding to said second configuration, said frame portion being movably coupled to said base and having a range of motion between said first position and said second position, said biasing mechanism being coupled to said frame portion, said biasing mechanism biasing said frame portion into said first position, said frame portion is in its first position when said frame portion is proximate to said first end of said slot, and said frame portion is in its second position when said frame portion is proximate to said second end of said slot. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A support, comprising:
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a frame, said frame having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, said frame including a front portion, a rear portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion, the rear portion being disposed a distance from the front portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration, the rear portion being disposed a distance from the front portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the distance between the rear portion and the front portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration being larger than the distance between the rear portion and the front portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the first side portion being disposed a distance from the second side portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration, the first side portion being disposed a distance from the second side portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the distance between the first side portion and the second side portion when the frame is in its expanded configuration being larger than the distance between the first side portion and the second side portion when the frame is in its collapsed configuration, the first side portion having a first member and a second member, the first member of the first side portion extending between the front portion of the frame and the rear portion of the frame, the second member of the first side portion extending between the front portion of the frame and the rear portion of the frame, the first member of the first side portion being pivotally coupled to the second member of the first side portion, said frame including a retainer; and
a seat membrane, said seat membrane being coupled to said frame, said retainer being configured to retain said frame in said collapsed configuration, said retainer including a first retainer portion and a second retainer portion, said first retainer portion and said second retainer portion being configured to be coupled together to retain the frame in said collapsed configuration. - View Dependent Claims (46)
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47. A frame for a support, comprising:
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a base having a slot;
a front frame portion;
a rear frame portion including a first leg, a second leg, and a connecter, the connector having a first portion coupled to the first leg and a second portion coupled to the second leg, the connector being movably coupled to the base, the connector extending through the slot and being configured to slide within the slot from a first position to a second position. - View Dependent Claims (48)
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49. A frame for a support, said frame being selectively disposable in a first configuration and in a second configuration, said frame comprising:
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a front frame portion;
a rear frame portion, said rear frame portion being selectively disposable in a first position and in a second position;
a base, said base including a connector and being configured to receive a portion of said rear frame portion, said rear frame portion having a range of motion with respect to said base, said base including a biasing mechanism coupled thereto, said biasing mechanism being coupled to said rear frame portion to bias said rear frame portion with respect to said base into its second position; and
a tension member, said tension member being coupled to said rear frame portion, said tension member being selectively disposable in a first position coupled to said front frame portion and in a second position de-coupled from said front frame portion, said base connector being configured to be coupled to said tension member so that said tension member can be used as a carrying strap to carry the frame. - View Dependent Claims (50)
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51. A support for use in supporting a user, said support comprising:
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a base, said base being configured to engage a support surface on which said support is placed, said base including a biasing mechanism coupled thereto; and
a frame, said frame including a seat membrane configured to support a user, said frame having a first configuration and a second configuration, a portion of said frame being movable between a first position corresponding to said first configuration and a second position corresponding to said second configuration, said portion of said frame being movably coupled to said base and having a range of motion between said first position and said second position, said biasing mechanism being coupled to said portion of said frame, said biasing mechanism biasing said portion of said frame into said first position, said portion of said frame including a rear frame portion having a first leg portion, a second leg portion, and -an elongate member coupled thereto, said base defining a slot therein, said elongate member engaging and moving along said slot. - View Dependent Claims (52)
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Specification