Tent chair

• US 7,311,355 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2005
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fargason Outdoor Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fargason Outdoor Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Fargason, William H. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Cranmer, Laurie K.
• Application Number:
  US11/079,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20060220424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 297/184.1, 297/184.11, 297/184.12, 297/184.14, 297/184.15, 297/184.17, D64/91, 135/96, 135/128, 135/132, 135/133, 135/143, 135/125, 135/126, 135/137
• US Class Current: 297/184.15
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 97/01 for ice-fishing ; Ice drilling, hook-setting or signalling devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 4/286 foldable side to side and front to back, e.g. umbrella type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/66 Means to protect against weather
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/666 of enclosure type with side panels

Abstract

The tent chair includes a folding frame supporting a folding cover, with the frame attached to a folding or portable chair. The chair has a single rearward frame bow which is radially flexible but rigid orthogonal to the lateral bow pivot axis of the chair. A series of similar bows is pivotally attached at or toward the front of the chair. The axially orthogonal rigid rearward bow supports the cover and prevents the forward bows from collapsing the cover forwardly as it is pulled taut. One use of the device is as a hunting blind, with a quick release optionally allowing the cover to be rapidly opened. Other configurations provide for use as a photography blind, a privacy shelter for camping or beach use, ice fishing, as a wheelchair or beach lounge chair cover, etc., and may have sufficient room for more than one person.

Claims

1. A tent chair, comprising:

a chair having at least a left side, a right side opposite the left side, a seating surface, and a back support with an upper edge;

at least one rear cover support bow extending above the upper edge of said back support and laterally from the left side to the right side thereof;

at least one forward cover support bow pivotally attached to the left side and right side of said chair and extending laterally thereacross, the forward bow pivots defining a lateral bow pivot axis;

a cover extending from at least said at least one rear cover support bow and over said at least one forward cover support bow, secured to and completely covering each said bow; and

at least one resilient tensile member extending from said chair to said at least one forward cover support bow and urging said at least one forward cover support bow pivotally toward said at least one rear cover support bow when said at least one forward cover support bow is moved to either side of a neutral position.

2. The tent chair according to claim 1, wherein each said cover support bow comprises a thin, flat length of unidirectionally flexible material oriented to flex radially planar to the lateral bow pivot axis of said chair while remaining rigid orthogonal to the lateral bow pivot axis.

3. The tent chair according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one rear cover support bow comprises a single bow selectively deployed above the upper edge of said back support, and rigidly and immovably attached thereto when deployed; and

said at least one forward cover support bow comprises a plurality of bows.

4. The tent chair according to claim 1, wherein said cover has at least one opening therein, said cover further including a closure selectively installed over the opening.

5. The tent chair according to claim 1, wherein said cover has a lower periphery lying closely adjacent the underlying surface of said chair when said cover is deployed and extends to completely conceal said chair.

6. The tent chair according to claim 5, further including a floor extending beneath said chair and spanning said lower periphery of said cover.

7. A tent chair, comprising:

a chair having at least a left side, a right side opposite the left side, a seating surface, and a back support with an upper edge;

a single, selectively deployed rear cover support bow extending above the upper edge of said back support, laterally from the left side to the right side of said back support and rigidly and immovably attached to said back support when deployed;

a plurality of forward cover support bows pivotally attached by forward bow pivots to the left side and right side of said chair, and extending laterally thereacross, the forward bow pivots defining at least one lateral bow pivot axis; and

a cover extending from at least said rear cover support bow and over each of said forward cover support bows, secured to and completely covering each of said bows;

wherein said rear cover support bow is movably attached when not deployed.

8. The tent chair according to claim 7, wherein each said cover support bow comprises a thin, flat length of unidirectionally flexible material oriented to flex radially planar to the lateral bow pivot axis of said chair while remaining rigid orthogonal to the lateral bow pivot axis.

9. The tent chair according to claim 7, further including at least one resilient tensile member extending from said chair to a forwardmost of said forward cover support bows and urging the forwardmost of said forward cover support bows pivotally toward said rear cover support bow when said forwardmost of said forward cover support bows is moved to either side of a neutral position.

10. The tent chair according to claim 7, wherein said cover further includes at least one opening therein.

11. The tent chair according to claim 10, wherein said opening further includes a closure selectively installed thereover.

12. The tent chair according to claim 7, wherein said cover further includes a lower periphery lying closely adjacent the underlying surface of said chair when said cover is deployed, and extends to completely conceal said chair.

13. A tent chair, comprising:

a chair having at least a left side, a right side opposite the left side, a seating surface, and a back support with an upper edge;

a single, selectively deployed rear cover support bow extending above the upper edge of said back support, laterally from the left side to the right side of said back support and rigidly and immovably attached to said back support when deployed;

a plurality of forward cover support bows pivotally attached by forward bow pivots to the left side and right side of said chair, and extending laterally thereacross, the forward bow pivots defining at least one lateral bow pivot axis;

a cover extending from at least said rear cover support bow and over each of said forward cover support bows, secured to and completely covering each of said bows; and

a locking mechanism for maintaining said rear cover support bow in rigid and immovable attachment when said locking mechanism is activated and for allowing said rear cover support bow to be movably attached when said locking mechanism is inactivated.

14. The tent chair according to claim 13, wherein said locking mechanism comprises a right sleeve and a left sleeve, each said sleeve movable along said rear cover support bow and slidingly movable to lock said rear cover support bow in alignment with a portion of said chair.

15. A tent chair, comprising:

a chair having at least a left side, a right side opposite the left side, a seating surface, and a back support with an upper edge;

a single, selectively deployed rear cover support bow pivotally attached by a left rear bow pivot and a right rear bow pivot to the left side and right side of said chair, respectively;

a plurality of forward cover support bows pivotally attached by forward bow pivots to the left side and right side of said chair, and extending laterally thereacross, the forward bow pivots defining at least one lateral bow pivot axis; and

a cover extending from at least said rear cover support bow and over each of said forward cover support bows, secured to and completely covering each of said bows;

a left extension and a right extension fixed to said chair and extending above said left rear bow pivot and said right rear bow pivot, respectively, and parallel to the rear cover support bow when said chair is deployed;

a left sleeve and a right sleeve, each said sleeve movable along said rear cover support bow;

wherein said left sleeve and said right sleeve can be moved over said left extension and said right extension, respectively to maintain said rear cover support bow parallel with each said extension when said rear cover support bow is deployed, and said left sleeve and said right sleeve can be moved away from said left extension and said right extension, respectively so that said rear support bow can be pivoted for storage of said tent chair.