Chair shelter

• US 7,427,101 B1
• Filed: 04/18/2005
• Issued: 09/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nature Vision Inc. (SoOum Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Nature Vision Inc. (SoOum Corp.)
• Inventors: Zernov, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn; David R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lynch; Patrick D
• Application Number:
  US11/108,333
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 297/184.14, 297/184.15, 297/184.17, 297/16.2, 297/184.11, 297/184.1, 135/96, 135/136, 135/133, 135/124, 135/132
• US Class Current: 297/184.14
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 29/006 Mosquito nets
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/66 Means to protect against weather
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/666 of enclosure type with side panels
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/003 Bathing or beach cabins

Abstract

A collapsible user support coupled to a collapsible, walled shelter. One assembly provides a sling chair having a number of frame pieces that are trained through grommets at a fabric seat and backrest fitted to pivot couplers. Armrests are optionally included along with accessory supports and pockets. Pivoting link arms couple to stay or bow pieces of an independently collapsible shelter. The shelter frame pieces mount to pivot couplers and a surrounding multi-panel fabric shelter. The shelter can include windows and/or doors and/or vents with fasteners. The chair and shelter frameworks and fabric shelter are organized to collapse and deploy to several seating conditions ranging from the chair being partially to completely protected from the environment.

Claims

1. A shelter comprising:

a) a chair including a framework comprised of a plurality of interlocking frame pieces and a plurality of fabric members mounted to said frame pieces to define a seat, a backrest and first and second armrests including first and second pivot axles that project from distal ends of said first and second armrest defining frame pieces;

b) first and second pivot pieces respectively mounted to radiate from said first and second pivot axles;

c) a plurality of flexible struts mounted to said first and second pivot axles, span said framework, pivot about said first and second pivot axles, and engage said first and second pivot pieces; and

d) a fabric cover fastened to said struts to rotate between a transport condition wherein said shelter collapses to a generally elongated, cylindrical configuration and a deployed condition wherein said struts and cover rotate to enclose and completely cover said chair.

2. A shelter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover comprises a plurality of sewn panels.

3. A shelter as set forth in claim 2 wherein one of said fabric panels comprises a transparent material.

4. A shelter as set forth in claim 2 wherein one of said fabric panels comprises a screen material.

5. A shelter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame pieces are secured to said fabric members to collapse to a unitary assembly and deploy to define a sling seat, sling backrest and first and second sling armrests.

6. A shelter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pivot pieces exhibit a diameter substantially greater than the width of said struts to displace said struts and cover away from said framework and an occupant seated at said chair.

7. A shelter as set forth in claim 1 including means for retaining said plurality of struts in an upright condition to expose said chair.

8. A shelter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fabric cover includes a plurality of storage pockets.

9. A shelter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fabric cover includes a plurality of vent apertures.

10. A shelter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fabric cover includes a transparent window.

11. A shelter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second pivot pieces each comprise an annular member having a bore through which one of said first and second pivot axles extends.

12. A shelter as set forth in claim 11 wherein at least one of said first and second pivot pieces includes a slot for containing a portion of at least one of said struts.

13. A shelter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second pivot pieces each comprise an annular member having a bore through which one of said first and second pivot axles extends and further having a slot for containing a portion of at least one of said struts.

14. A shelter comprising:

a) a chair including a framework comprised of a plurality of interlocking frame pieces and a plurality of fabric members mounted to said frame pieces to define a seat, a backrest and first and second armrests;

b) first and second pivot axles comprising distal ends of first and second armrest defining frame pieces and including first and second circular pivot pieces mounted to radiate from said first and second pivot axles;

c) a plurality of flexible struts mounted to said first and second pivot axles, span said framework, pivot about said first and second pivot axles and engage said first and second pivot pieces to displace said struts away from said framework; and

d) a fabric cover fastened to said struts to rotate between a transport condition wherein said shelter collapses to a generally elongated, cylindrical configuration and a deployed condition wherein said struts and cover rotate to enclose and completely cover said chair.

15. A shelter as set forth in claim 14 wherein said first and second pivot pieces each include a slot for containing a portion of at least one of said struts.

16. A shelter comprising:

a) a chair including a framework comprised of a plurality of interlocking frame pieces and a plurality of fabric members mounted to said frame pieces to define a seat, a backrest and first and second armrests and wherein said framework supports first and second pivot axles;

b) first and second annular pivot pieces, each having a bore through which one of said first and second pivot axles extends;

c) a plurality of flexible struts mounted to said first and second pivot axles, span said framework, pivot about said first and second pivot axles and engage said first and second pivot pieces to displace said struts away from said framework; and

d) a fabric cover fastened to said struts to rotate between a transport condition wherein said shelter collapses to a generally elongated, cylindrical configuration and a deployed condition wherein said struts and cover rotate to enclose and completely cover said chair.

17. A shelter comprising:

a) a chair including a framework comprised of a plurality of interlocking frame pieces mounted to define and support a seat portion and wherein said framework supports first and second pivot axles and first and second washer-shaped pivot pieces mounted to radiate from said first and second pivot axles;

b) a plurality of flexible struts mounted to said first and second pivot axles, span said framework, pivot about said first and second pivot axles and engage said first and second pivot pieces to displace said struts away from said framework; and

c) a fabric cover fastened to said struts to rotate between a transport condition wherein said shelter collapses to a generally elongated, cylindrical configuration and a deployed condition wherein said struts and cover rotate to enclose and completely cover said framework.

18. A shelter as set forth in claim 17 including first and second sling-mounted arm rests.

19. A shelter as set forth in claim 17 wherein said first and second pivot pieces each include a slot for containing a portion of at least one of said struts.