IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,427,101
Granted Patent B1
US 7,427,101 · App. 11/108,333 · Granted Sep 23, 2008

Chair shelter

Assignee: Nature Vision, Inc.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,427,101
App. No.
11/108,333
Granted
Sep 23, 2008
Kind
B1
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 (34)

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.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 19, 2009
From: NATURE VISION, INC.; NATURE VISION OPERATING, INC.
To: M&I BUSINESS CREDIT, LLC
Reel/Frame 023107/0877 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 18, 2005
From: ZERNOV, JEFFREY P.
To: NATURE VISION, INC.
Reel/Frame 016485/0282 →