Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CHAIR SYSTEMS AND METHOD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The following includes information that may be useful in
understanding the
present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information
provided herein is prior
art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that
any publication or
document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of chairs and
more specifically
relates to a portable chair system.
2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0003] Travelling has become a very common part of life, whether it is for
work, visiting
friends or family or for a vacation. People often travel for long periods
during which time
they are seated in a chair and are generally sedentary. In particular,
traveling on airplanes
requires a passenger to be seated in a cramped position for many hours.
Travelling in trains,
buses and the like can also see a passenger seated for long periods of time in
awkward and
uncomfortable positions. A suitable solution is desired.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 7,954,900 to Totada R. Shantha et al. relates to a leg
supporting
device for use behind a head rest for air and vehicular travel. The described
leg supporting
device for use behind a head rest for air and vehicular travel includes a leg
supporting device
for use behind a head rest for air and vehicular travel having a head rest
support portion that
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fits over a head rest of a forwardly positioned seat and supports a back flap
portion that hangs
down behind the forwardly positioned seat. A pair of adjustment straps
adjustably attach to
the back flap portion and supports a foot support portion. A user slips one or
both of their feet
into the foot support portion and then adjusts the adjustment straps to
support their feet at a
desired height and position. The foot support portion handles to carry it. In
use, the leg
supporting device can be folded and placed within the foot support portion and
carried using
the handles until needed. One embodiment includes pockets for holding drinks,
computer,
and other carry-on items. A leg massage unit may be built in for additional
relief.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known chair
and accessory
art, the present disclosure provides a novel chair system and method. The
general purpose of
the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater
detail, is to provide a
chair system and method.
[0006] A chair system is disclosed herein. The chair system includes a
chair assembly
including a body having a seat portion, a leg-support member, and at least one
leg, and a seat-
fastener.
[0007] According to another embodiment, a chair system is also disclosed
herein. The
chair system and method includes a chair assembly including a body having a
seat portion, a
sheet cover, leg-support member, and at least one leg, and a seat-fastener.
According to this
embodiment, the chair system comprises the chair assembly. The chair assembly
comprises
the body. The body comprises the leg-support member, a sheet cover, the seat
portion, and
the seat-fastener in functional combination. The body is flexible and
comprises fabric for
comfort and support. The fabric is similar to a foldable lawn chair.
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[0008] The seat portion may include an inflatable insert for supporting the
user and
reducing undesired movement during use. The inflatable insert is designed to
prevent an
infant or child from rolling off the seat when moving while sleeping. The leg-
support
member is fastened via fasteners to a second-end of the seat portion. The leg-
support member
comprises at least one leg for supporting legs of a user while sitting or
lying down for
extended periods of time. The leg-support member is collapsible for storage.
The legs include
pivoting features to fold in a manner similar to a foldable lawn chair. The
leg-support
member preferably comprises four adjustable legs. The legs may be manufactured
using
light-weight material for portability and durability. The legs may have base
members for
support against a planar surface such as the floor in a plane or vehicle. The
base members
may further include gripping members (means) to reduce undesired movement.
[0009] The scat-fastener is located at a first-end of the removable sheet
portion. The leg-
support member is fastened via the fasteners to a second-end of the seat
portion when the
sheet is attached to the portable chair. The fasteners may comprise elastic or
other suitable
materials. The chair assembly is fastened to a seat via the seat-fastener. The
chair assembly is
useful for removably coupling to a (host) seat and supporting a user in a
comfortable position.
The seat is selected from a group of airplane-seats and vehicle-seats. Other
scats may be
used. The chair assembly comprises about a width of the seat. The at least one
leg comprises
a height of the seat to support legs of the user in a laying down position.
The seat-fastener
comprises fastening means for coupling to the seat and supporting the user in
a comfortable
legs-extended-position.
[00010] According to another embodiment, a chair system and method is also
disclosed
herein. The chair system and method includes step one, placing a seat portion
ontop of a scat,
attaching the comfort sheet attachment on top of the chair to the host seat,
resting legs on leg-
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support member, collapsing at least one leg of a leg-support member for
storage, and storing
chair assembly.
[00011] For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects,
advantages, and novel
features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood
that not
necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one
particular
embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried
out in a
manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as
taught herein
without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested
herein. The
features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly
pointed out and
distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and
other features,
aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood
with
reference to the following drawings and detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[00012] The figures which accompany the written portion of this
specification illustrate
embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a chair system and
method,
constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present
disclosure.
[00013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the chair system and method during
an 'in-use'
condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
[00014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the chair assembly of FIG. 1,
according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
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[00015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the chair assembly of FIG. 1,
according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[00016] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use for the chair
system,
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[00017] The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be
described in
conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like
elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00018] As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a
chair
accessory and more particularly to a chair system and method as used to
improve the comfort
and support of legs of a user during extended periods of sitting.
[00019] Generally, chair system and method. The present invention comprises
a leg-
support member having a similar but novel function as to an outdoor folding
chair. The leg-
support member includes pivoting legs that are collapsible for portability and
easy storage.
The device may function as a lie down bed for children when traveling on an
airplane or in a
vehicle for extended periods of time. The height of the chair system matches
the height from
the ground to an air plane seat. Adults may use the device for leg support as
well. The chair
system may further include an additional soft chair top attachment when being
used on an
airplane for children to sleep on. The chair system also reduces the chance of
kids falling
down or off a seat when turning their bodies while resting or sleeping. The
device provides
additional comfort for longer sleeping time.
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[00020] Referring
now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is
shown in FIGS. 1-3, various views of a chair system and method 100. FIG. 1
shows a chair
system and method during an 'in-use' condition 150, according to an embodiment
of the
present disclosure. Here, the chair system and method 100 may be beneficial
for use by a user
140 to provide comfort and leg support for user 140. As illustrated, the chair
system and
method 100 may include body 114 having seat portion 120, sheet cover 124, leg-
support
member 130; and at least one leg 134, and comfort sheet attachment 160.
[00021] FIG. 2 shows chair system and method 100 of FIG. 1, according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the chair system and method
100 may
include body 114 having seat portion 120, sheet cover 124, leg-support member
130, and at
least one leg 134, and comfort sheet attachment 160. Chair system 100
comprises chair
assembly 110. Chair assembly comprises 110 body 114. Body 114 comprises sheet
cover
124, leg-support member 130, seat portion 120, and comfort sheet attachment
160 in
functional combination. Sheet cover 124, is removably coupleable to seat
portion 120 and
extends to seat 10. Shown in FIG. 2 is leg-support member 130 comprising at
least one leg
134 for supporting user 140. Leg-support member 130 is fastened via fasteners
to a second-
end of seat portion 120. Seat-fastener 160 is located on top of seat portion
120. Chair
assembly 110 is fastened to seat 10 of an airplane, a car or other vehicle via
seat-fastener at
the end of comfort sheet attachment 160 if desired. Chair assembly 110 is
useful for
removably coupling to seat 10 and supporting user 140 in a comfortable
position.
[00022] Leg-support member 130 is fastened via the fasteners to a second-end
of seat
portion 120. Fasteners may comprise rope or elastic. Leg-support member 130
may have four
legs comprising light-weight material for portability. Body 114 of chair
system 100 is flexible
and comprises fabric. Leg-support member 130 is collapsible for storage. At
least one leg is
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adjustable 134. At least on leg 134 comprises base members for support against
a planar
surface such as a floor of a plane or a car. Seat 10 is selected from a group
of airplane-seats
and vehicle-seats. Chair assembly 110 comprises a width of seat 10. At least
one leg 134
comprises a height of seat 10 to support legs of user 140 in a laying down or
sitting position.
Seat portion 120 includes an inflatable insert for supporting user 140 and
reducing undesired
movement during use. The inflatable insert is designed to reduce the risk of a
child falling
from the chair system while rolling around while sleeping. Seat-fastener
comprises fastening
means for coupling to seat 10 and supporting user 140 in a comfortable legs-
extended-
position. The invention may comprise a frame including pairs of front crossed
legs and rear
crossed legs, and two pairs of side crossed legs, with each pair of crossed
legs being pivotally
connected together where they cross. Base members may be connected to the legs
lower ends.
The legs may be pivotally connected to allow for folding and storing the leg-
support member.
[00023] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 400 for supporting
legs of a user,
140 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the
method for
supporting legs of a user 140 may include one or more components or features
of the chair
system and method 100 as described above. As illustrated, the method for
supporting legs of
a user 140 may include the steps of: step one 501, placing comfort sheet
attachment 160 on
top of seat 10; step two 502, attaching the comfort sheet attachment 160 on
top of the host
seat 10; step three 503, resting legs on leg-support member 130; step four
504, collapsing at
least one leg 134 of a leg-support member 130 for storage; and step five 505,
storing chair
assembly 110.
[00024] It should be noted that step two 502, steps four 504, and five 505
are optional
steps and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use
500 are
illustrated using dotted lines in FIG. 4 so as to distinguish them from the
other steps of
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method of use 500. It should also be noted that the steps described in the
method of use can
be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use
of "step of"
should not be interpreted as "step for", in the claims herein and is not
intended to invoke the
provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(0. It should also be noted that, under
appropriate
circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences,
marketing
preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological
advances, etc.,
other methods for supporting a user 140 while sitting for extended periods of
time (e.g.,
different step orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of
certain steps,
including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc.), are taught herein.
[00025] The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and
numerous
modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to
achieve
substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced
within the spirit and
scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to
enable the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the
scientist, engineers
and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms
or phraseology, to
determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the
technical
disclosure of the application.
