Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02557140 2006-08-23
A SITTING APPARATUS
FIELD OF TI4E INVENTION
The present invention pertains to the field of sitting apparatuses. In
particular, the present
invention pertains to a deformable chair comprising a computing device and one
or more sound
gene7ating devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a sitting apparatus. In
accordance with an aspect
of the present invention, there is provided a sitting apparatus comprising:
a flexible shell defining an inner cavity, said inner cavity at least
partially filled with a
deformable material;
one or more sound generating device coupled to the flexible shell; and
a computing device coupled to the flexible shell and operatively coupled to
the one or
more sound generating devices, said computing device configured to control the
operation of the
one or more sound generating devices.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Figure 1 illustrates a front view of one embodiment of the sitting apparatus
of the present
invention.
Figure 2 illustrates a side view of one embodiment of the sitting apparatus of
the present
invention.
Figure 3 illustrates a back view of one embodiment of the sitting apparatus of
the present
invention.
Figure 4 illustrates one embodiment of the sitting apparatus of the present
invention.
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CA 02557140 2006-08-23
Figure 5 illustrates a side view of one embodiment of the sitting apparatus of
the present
invention.
Figure 6 illustrates one embodiment of the sitting apparatus of the present
invention.
Figure 7 illustrates one embodiment of the sitting apparatus of the present
invention.
Figure 8 illustrates one embodiment of the sitting apparatus of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides for a sitting apparatus comprising a flexible
shell defining an
inner cavity at least partially filled with a deformable material; one or more
sound generating
devices coupled to the flexible shell; and a computing device coupled to the
flexible shell and
operatively coupled to the one or more sound generating devices, said
computing device
configured to control the operation of the one or more sound generating
devices.
In one embodiment of the present there is provided a beanbag chair with built-
in speakers and a
console which may be connected to an electronic device with an audio device.
Examples of
electronic devices include TVs, music players (such as MP3 players, iPods, CD
players), video
game consoles (such as Microsoft Xbox, Sony Play Station and Nintendo Game
Cube) or DVD
players.
Sitting apparatus
The sitting apparatus of the present invention may be in a variety of
different forms, including
but not limited to, chairs, ottomans, pillows, sofas and beds. In one
embodiment of the present
invention, the sitting apparatus is in the form of beanbag furniture. In
another embodiment of the
present invention, the sitting apparatus is in the form of a beanbag chair.
The sitting apparatus of
the present invention may be for indoor or outdoor use. In one embodiment of
the present
invention, the sitting apparatus is for indoor use only. In another embodiment
of the present
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invention, the sitting apparatus is for indoor and outdoor use. In another
embodiment of the
present invention, the sitting apparatus is for outdoor use only.
Shell
The shell of the sitting apparatus of the present invnetion defines an inner
cavity at least partially
filled with a deformable material. The shell is typically consttucted from a
flexible material in
order to allow the deformable fill material to conform to the contours of the
user's body. The
shell may be permanently closed or may include a reversibly sealable opening.
A worker skilled
in the art would appreciate that such an opening would allow for the addition
or removal of the
defromable material.
A worker skilled in the art could readily detenYiine suitable flexible
materials. Factors which may
be considered in the determination of suitability of a material include, but
are not limited to, the
strength of the material, texture of the material, water or weather resistant
of the material,
puncture resistance of the material, fire resistance of the material and
washability of the material.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the shell is constructed from
water or weather
resistant fabric. In another embodiment of the present invention, the shell is
constructed from
puncture resistant fabric. In another embodiment of the present invention, the
shell is
constructed from fire resistant fabric. In a further embodiment of the present
invention, the shell
is constructed from washable fabric. A worker skilled in the art would further
appreciate that the
determination of suitability of materials will further depend on the use of
the sitting apparatus.
For example, the shell of a sitting apparatus of the present invention for use
outdoors may be
constructed from water or weather resistant fabric.
Deformable material
The sitting apparatus is at least partially filed with a defonnable material.
The deformable
material may be in the form of a single element or may be a multiplicity of
elements. A worker
skilled in the art could readily determine suitable defonnable material.
Examples of suitable
materials include, but are not limited to, beans, polystyrene beads, foam and
plastic pellets.
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In one embodiment of the present invention, the deformable material is high-
density polystyrene
beads.
Sound Generating Device
"Ilie sitting apparatus of the present invention includes one or more sound
generating devices
coupled, permanently or reversibly, to the flexible shell. A worker skilled in
the art could
readily identify sound generating devices suitable for use in the sitting
apparatus of the present
invention, the number and arrangement of such sound generating devices.
Examples of sound
generating devices include but are not limited to speakers and horns, loud
speakers.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the sitting apparatus comprises
one or more
speakers. In another embodiment of the present invention, the sitting
apparatus comprises two or
more speakers. In another embodiment of the present invention, the sitting
apparatus comprises
three or more speakers.
The sound generating devices may be position in a variety of different
arrangements. For
example, the sound generating devices may be positioned for stereo sound. In
another
embodiment the sound generating devices are positioned for surround sound.
Computing Device
The sitting apparatus of the present invention further comprises a computing
device coupled to
the flexible shell which can store and/or transmit sound information to the
sound generating
devices. The computing device may be permanently or reversibly couple to the
flexible shell.
The computing device may include one or more inputs for coupling of alternate
source of sound
information. A worker skilled in the art could readily determine computing
devices suitable for
use in the present invention.
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Examples of altemate sources of sound information include but are not limited
to TVs, music
players (such as MP3 players, iPods, CD players), video game consoles (such as
Microsoft Xbox,
Sony Play Station and Nintendo Game Cube) or DVD players.
Cover
The sitting apparatus of the present invention optionally comprises a
removable cover. The
removable cover may be manufactured from a variety of materials. A worker
skilled in the art
could readily determine suitable cover materials. Examples of suitable
materials include, but are
not limited to, cotton, nylon, denim, vinyl, leather, silk, and polyester. The
cover may optionally
having openings for the computing device and one or more sound generating
devices. The cover
may further optionally include one or more storage compartments and one or
more handles.
Factors which may be considered in the determination of suitability of a
material for the cover
include, but are not limited to, the strength of the material, texture of the
material, water or
weather resistant of the material, puncture resistance of the material, fire
resistance of the
material and washability of the material. A worker skilled in the art would
further appreciate that
the determination of suitability of materials will further depend on the use
of the sitting
apparatus. For example, is the sitting apparatus for a child's use, indoor use
or outdoor use.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the cover is constructed from
water or weather
resistant fabric. In another embodiment of the present invention, the cover is
constructed from
puncture resistant fabric. In another embodiment of the present invention, the
cover is
constructed from fire resistant fabric. In a further embodiment of the present
invention, the cover
is constructed from washable fabric.
Additional Features
The sitting apparatus of the present invention may optionally further include
a source of heat,
vibration or both. A worker skilled in the art could readily determine
suitable sources of heat
and/or vibration.
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