Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to an inflatable chair, and
in particular to a chair for use on land or in water. ~--
Inflatable chairs are disclosed by United States
Patents Nos. 3,408,107, issued to B.D. Savage on October 29,
1968; 3,572,836, issued to M.N. Khanh on March 30, 1971 and
3,712,674, issued to S. Ando on January 23, 1973. Inflatable
air mattresses are commonplace. However; inflatable chairs
which can be used in either environment, i.e. on land or in
water are rare or non-existent.
¦ 10 An object of the present invention is to provide an -~
inflatable chair, which is relatively simple in terms of - ~-~
! structure, and which can be used on land and in the water.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a
chair, which can readily and quickly be unfolded to a use - ~-~
position, and folded to a storage or carrying position.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a ~;
chair which can easily be releasably latched in the folded or ~ `
use positions, and which uses the same or similar parts for
the chair and backrest portions thereof, and in hinge and
latch structures. thus, the chair includes relatively few
parts, and the same parts are used for a variety of purposes.
Accordingly, the invention relates to an inflatable
chair comprising first and second identical inflatable
sections, each section defining a closed tubular loop; hinge
means interconnecting said sections end-to-end so that one
said section defines a seat and the other said section defines
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a backrest; and stand means pivotally connected to said
backrest for movement between a folded position against said
backrest and an extended position in which the stand means
supports the backrest in a back supporting, inclined position.
The invention also provides a novel connector device
for releasably and pivotally interconnecting two articles
comprising first and second pad means for mounting on the
articles, block means on each said pad means; male buckle -~
means pivotally connected to one said pad means; and female
buckle means pivotally connected to the other said pad means
for releasably coupling with said male buckle means.
The invention will be described in greater detail
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with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate
a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein:
Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views from the front
and rear, respectively of an inflatable chair in accordance -
wikh the present invention in the use position;
Figure 3 is a side view of the chair of Figs. 1 and
2 in the use position;
Figure 4 is a plan view of the chair of Figs. 1 to 3
in the use position;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a hinge area of `
the chair of Figs. 1 to 4;
Figure 6 is a plan view of two halves of a buckle
connector used in the hinges shown in Fig. 5; `
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Figure 7 is an exploded, perspective view of the
connector shown in Fig. 6;
Figure 8 is a schematic side view of the chair of
Figs. 1 to 4 in the folded, carrying or storage condition;
Figures 9 and 10 are schematic end views of the
chair of Figs. 1 to 4 in the folded condition;
Figure 11 is a perspective view of a hinge used to
connect one arm of a stand to the backrest of the chair of
Figs. 1 to 4;
Figure 12 is an end view of a portion of the chair
of Figs. 1 to 4 on a larger scale;
Figure 13 is a perspective view of a chair and float
combination; ~ ;-;
Figure 14 is a perspective view of a portion of a
chair and float combination as viewed from the rear;
Figure 15 is a perspective view of the float shown
in Fig. 14; and
Figure 16 is a perspective~ view of a buckle-type
connector used to couple the ha~r to the float of Fig. 15.
Figure 17 is a plan view of a raft formed by a
plurality ofinterconnected chairs of the type shown in Figs. 1
to 4.
With reference to Figs. 1 to 4, the chair of the
present invention includes two identical sections, which
define a seat 1 and a backrest 2, respectively. Each section
is defined by an inflatable tubular body, which is generally
oval with one more or less straight end 3. A conventional
flap valve (not shown) of the type commonly used in beach ;
balls and air mattresses is provided in each of the seat 1 and
2 ~
the backrest 2 for inflating the chair. A fabric panel 5
covers the central opening 6 in each of the sections. In the
case of the seat 1, the panel 5 is on the top, and in the case
of the backrest 2, the panel 5 covers the front of the opening
6. The seat 1 and the backrest 2 are pivotally interconnected
by a pair of hinges generally indicated at 8.
As best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, each hinge 8
includes a flexible oval patch 3 which is glued to the seat 1 ;
or the backrest 2, as the case may be. Each patch 9 carries a
block or projection 10, which is generally semicylindrical,
resembling the body of a pillow block bearing. The projection
10 has a hole 11 (Fig. 7) therethrough carrying a pin or axle
12. One pin 12 is used to pivotally connect a male connector
13 to the seat 1, and the other pin 12 pivotally connects a
female connector 14 co the backrest 2. It will be appreciated
that the locations of the male and female connectors 13 and
14, respectively can be reversed. In the seat of Fig. 12, the
male connector 13 is on the backrest 2 and the female
connector 14 is on the seat 1. Together the connectors 13 and
14 define a buckle of the type commonly used, for example on
life jackets.
The male connector 13 is in the form of a skeletal,
generally C-shaped body 16, the arms 17 of which have circular
(Figs. 5 and 6) or semicircular free ends 19 (Fig. 7~ with
aligned holes 20 for receiving one of the pins 12. Resilient
fingers 21 extend outwardly from near the corners of the body
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16 for insertion into the female connector 14. The distance
between the outside edges of the inner ends of the fingers 21
is only slightly less than the width of the open end 23 of the
female connector 14. The fingers 21 converge slightly towards
the longitudinal axis of the connector 13, and are provided
with enlarged heads 24. The heads 24 are pointed for
facilitating insertion of the fingers 21 into the open end 23
of the female connector 14. A crossbar 26 (which defines part ~ - -
of the C-shaped body 16) supports and is integral with the
fingers 21 and a central guide finger 27. The finger 27 ~ --
includes longitudinally extending central recesses 28 in the
top and bottom surfaces thereof for reducing both sliding
friction between the connectors and the quantity of material
used in the connectors 13 and 14.
The female connector 14 includes a tubular,
rectangular cross section body 30, the open end 23 of which
receives the male connector 13. The other end 31 of the body
30 is open, and includes a pair of arms 32 with aligned holes
33 for receiving another pin 12. Recesses 35 are provided in
the sides of the body 30 with openings 36 therein. A pair of
spaced apart ribs 37 e~tend longitudinally of the interior
surfaces of both the top and bottom of the body between the
open ends thereof. The ribs 37 act as guides for the central
rectangular finger 27 on the male connector 13.
Thus, when the connectors 13 and 14 are coupled, ;~
i.e. the fingers 21 are inserted into the open end 23 of the
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, . . .
female connector, the fingers 21 flex inwardly towards the
longitudinal centre lines of the connectors. When the
connector 13 has been fully inserted into the connector 14,
the heads 24 are aligned with the openings 36 and spring
outwardly to lock the connectors together. The shoulders ~-
' defined by the corners of the body 16 at the ends of the
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crossbar 26 limit movement of the male connector 13 into the ~ I
female connector 14. To release the connectors, the heads 24
are pressed towards each other and the connectors are then
10pulled apart to reverse the action described above. The
connectors 13 and 14 are used as parts of the hinges 8, as
latches generally indicated at 38 (Figs. 8, 9 and 17) and as
couplers 39 (Fig. 17). When used as latches 38, the
connectors 13 and 14 are used on the front of the backrest 2
~ lSand the top of the seat 1, respectively. When the seat ~and
! the backrest 2) are folded together (Figs. 8 to 10), the
¦ connectors 13 and 14 are coupled to releasably lock the seat
and backrest in the folded carrying or storage position. When
used as couplers, the connectors 13 and 14 interconnect seats
201 and backrest 2 end to end and side by side to form a raft
(Fig. 17). In one embodiment of the invention, a male
connector 13 is provided on one side of the seat 1 and a
female connector is provided on the other side of the seat.
Thus, the seats can be interconnected side by side to form the
raft of Fig. 17.
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A generally U-shaped stand 40 is connected to the
backrest 2 for supporting the latter in the inclined use
position (Figs. 1 to 4). The stand 40 includes a pair of arms -~
41 interconnected at their outer free ends by a crossbar 42.
The inner ends of the arms 41 include outwardly bowed portions
44 facilitating carrying and handling of the seat in the
closed position. The arms 41 are pivotally connected to the
backrest by hinges generally indicated at 45. Each hinge 45
includes a patch 46 glued to the backrest. The patch 46
carries a projection or lug 48 with a hole therethrough for
receiving a pin 49. A slot 51 in the centre of the lug 48
receives the thin, inner end of the arm 41. The pin 49 passes ~ --
through the hole in the lug 48 and an aligned hole (not shown)
in the arm 41. The centre of the crossbar 42 is connected to
the bottom centre of the backrest 2 by a strap 52.
The strap 52 extends between a male connector 54 on
the bottom centre of the backrest 2 and a female connector 55
on the centre of the crossbar 42. The male connector 54
(Figs. 5 and 12), is pivotally mounted on a projection or lug
56 by means of a pin 57. The lug 56 is supported by a pad 58
glued to the backrest 2. The female connector 55 is pivotally
mounted on a pin 59 extending through a pair of lugs or ears
60. The ears 60 project forwardly from the crossbar 42. When
the chair is in the folded position (Figs. 8 to 10), the male
connector 54 is coupled to the female connector 55 (Fig. 12),
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so that the strap 52 forms a loop which can be placed on a
shoulder to facilitate carrying of the chair.
The female connector 55 can also be used to connect
the crossbar 42 to a hollow, inflatable float 62 (Fig. 13).
The float 62 is used in the water as a buoyancy aid.
Preferred forms of float 63 are illustrated in Figs. 14 and
15. The float 63 of Fig. 14 is defined by a hollow body 64,
which includes longitudinally extending, alternating peaks and
troughs, i.e. the top and bottom panels of the body 64 are
scalloped in cross section. A conventional flap valve (not
shown) is provided in the body 64 for inflating and deflating
the float. A pair of male connectors 67 are pivotally mounted
on the longitudinal centre of the body 64 for attaching the
crossbar 42 to the float. With the chair in the use position,
lS one of the male connectors 67 is coupled to the female -
connector 55 on the crossbar 42. The use of two male
connectors 67 permits the changing of the angle of inclination
of the stand 40 and consequently the inclination of the
backrest 2. A female connector 68 is connected to the male
connector 54 on the bottom centre of the backrest to attach
the chair to the float. Each male connector 67 is pivotally
connected to a lug 69 by a pin 70. The lug 69 is mounted on a
pad 72, which is glued to the float body 64.
In the float of Fig. 15, a pair of spaced apart
female connectors 74 is provided near the front end of the
float body 64. The connectors 74 are pivotally mounted on
2~3~
lugs 75 supported by pads 76 glued to the body 64. The female
connectors 74 are coupled to a pair of male connectors (not ;~
shown) on the bottom of the backrest 2. With this
arrangement, the front end 78 of the float extends a short
distance (15-18 ) beneath the seat 1 of the chair to provide ;~;
added buoyancy. In the absence of any float under the seat 1,
the rear end of the seat tends to sink when a person sits on
the chair in water, because the weight of the person is
concentrated at the rear of the seat. The front end 78 of the
float 63 keeps the seat 1 more or less horizontal in the
water.
It will be appreciated that with the above described
structure, the chair can be used on land or in the water. The
chair is easily unfolded and refolded, and can readily be
releasably locked in either position. The chair can also be
opened flat, and connected end to end and side to side with
similar chairs to form a raft (Fig. 17). It is also possible
to disconnect the seat 1 from the backrest 2, and use each
section in the same manner as an inner tube. sy turning the
section over, the resulting small raft has a base on which a
child can kneel, sit or lay.
