Soft seating convertible chair

Abstract

A modular Soft Seating Convertible Chair is provided comprising a body having a seat attached to a back side, a plurality of zippers and at least two webbing straps attached at opposite ends of the body. The Soft Seating Convertible Chair can be converted into a chair or a table by configuring embedded common zippers to employ the convertible feature according to the individual needs and circumstances. The Soft Seating Convertible Chair is made of shredded foam inside the body in order to achieve an optimal balance between comfort and support for the end user. The Soft Seating Convertible Chair further comprises internal baffles to create chambers for the shredded foam. Foam material used with the modular Soft Seating Convertible Chair can be compressed during product shipment, thereby allowing the Soft Seating Convertible Chair to be packed tightly in a shipping container (e.g., a carton) without impacting the functionality of the finished product.

Claims

1. A convertible chair comprising: a body having a seat and a front side and a back side spaced apart along a longitudinal direction; a pair of side armrests spaced apart along a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; wherein the seat is positioned between the armrests and configured to support the position of a seated person, and wherein the armrests are further attached to opposite and lateral sides of the seat; a plurality of separating common zippers embedded on either side of the chair and configured to attach the back side to the seat and the armrests of the chair body; wherein the back side of the body is hinged and capable of pivoting about a generally horizontal pivot axis extending along the transverse direction; and wherein the plurality of separating common zippers and the pivoting back side of the chair can be used to convert the chair into a table or vice versa; and wherein a board embedded at a pre-determined location within the back side of the chair body; a plurality of internal baffles positioned at a predetermined location within the armrest and the back side of the chair body; and a plurality of webbing straps attached at opposite ends of the chair body in proximity to the armrest.

2. The convertible chair of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises an outer shell filled with an inner material.

3. The convertible chair of claim 2, wherein the outer shell and the inner material further comprise a textile material and shredded foam, respectively.

4. The convertible chair of claim 1, wherein the chair material can comprise of a certain wrinkle-proof and easily compressible soft knitted material.

5. A Soft Seating Convertible Chair comprising: a body having a seat and a front side and a back side spaced apart along a longitudinal direction; a pair of side armrests spaced apart along a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; wherein the seat is positioned between the armrests and configured to support the position of a seated person, wherein the armrests are further attached to the opposite and lateral sides of the seat; a board embedded at a pre-determined location within the back side; a plurality of internal baffles positioned at a predetermined location within the armrests and the back side; a plurality of webbing straps attached at opposite ends of the chair in proximity to the armrests; a plurality of separating common zippers embedded on either side of the chair and configured to attach the back side of the chair to the seat and the armrests; wherein the back side of the body is hinged and capable of pivoting about a generally horizontal pivot axis extending along the transverse direction; and wherein the plurality of separating common zippers and the pivoting the back side can be used to convert the chair into a table or vice versa.

6. The Soft Seating Convertible Chair of claim 5, wherein the board embedded within the back side of the chair comprises of plastic, wood or other similar material providing equivalent functionality.

7. The Soft Seating Convertible Chair of claim 5, wherein the plurality of webbing straps attached at opposite ends of the chair in proximity to the armrests comprises at least two straps.

8. The Soft Seating Convertible Chair of claim 7, wherein the plurality of webbing straps attached at opposite ends of the chair in proximity to the armrests comprises pre-configured webbing thickness.

9. The Soft Seating Convertible Chair of claim 8, wherein each of the webbing straps attached at opposite ends of the chair in proximity to the armrests is a ¾ inch strap.

10. The convertible chair of claim 5, wherein the body further comprises an outer shell filled with an inner material.

11. The Soft Seating Convertible Chair of claim 10, wherein the outer shell and the inner material further comprise textile material and shredded foam, respectively.

12. The Soft Seating Convertible Chair of claim 5, wherein the chair can comprise of a certain wrinkle-proof and easily compressible soft knitted material.

13. A method of converting a Soft Seating Convertible Chair into a table and vice versa, the method comprising the steps of: positioning a chair body having a seat and a front side and a back side spaced apart along a longitudinal direction on a floor; configuring a pair of side armrests spaced apart along a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the chair body; positioning the seat between the armrests to support the position of a seated person and attaching the armrests to opposite and lateral sides of the seat; embedding a board at a pre-determined location within the back side of the chair body; positioning a plurality of internal baffles at a predetermined location within the armrests and the back side; attaching a plurality of webbing straps at opposite ends of the chair in proximity to the armrests; configuring a plurality of separating common zippers embedded on either side of the chair to attach the back of the chair body to the seat and the armrests; wherein the back side of the chair body is hinged and capable of pivoting about a horizontal pivot axis extending along the transverse direction; and using the plurality of separating common zippers while pivoting the back side of the Soft Seating Convertible Chair about the horizontal pivot axis extending along the transverse direction within the body of the chair to convert the chair body into a table or vice versa.

14. The method of converting a Soft Seating Convertible Chair into a table and vice versa of claim 13, wherein the board embedded within the back side of the chair comprises plastic, wood or other similar material providing equivalent functionality.

15. The method of converting a Soft Seating Convertible Chair into a table and vice versa of claim 13, wherein the plurality of webbing straps attached at opposite ends of the chair in proximity to the armrests comprise at least two straps.

16. The method of converting a Soft Seating Convertible Chair of claim 15 into a table and vice versa, wherein the plurality of webbing straps attached at opposite ends of the chair in proximity to the armrests comprise certain pre-configured webbing thickness.

17. The method of converting a Soft Seating Convertible Chair of claim 15 into a table and vice versa, wherein each of the webbing straps is attached at opposite ends of the chair in proximity to the armrests is a ¾ inch strap.

18. The method of converting a Soft Seating Convertible Chair of claim 13 into a table and vice versa, wherein the body further comprise an outer shell filled with an inner material.

19. The method of converting a Soft Seating Convertible Chair of claim 13 into a table and vice versa, wherein the outer shell and the inner material further comprise textile material and shredded foam, respectively.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. However, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings.

(2) FIGS. 1 through 5 show various views of an embodiment of a Soft

(3) Seating Convertible Chair.

(4) FIGS. 6 through 12 show various views and configuration details of an embodiment of a Soft Seating Convertible Chair.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) For the purposes of promoting and understanding the principles disclosed herein, reference is now made to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language is used to describe the same.

(6) It is understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is hereby intended. Such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices and such further applications of the principles disclosed and illustrated herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention relates.

(7) In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a modular Soft Seating Convertible Chair comprises a combination of materials and is uniquely designed and configured with a plurality of common zippers and/or snaps and straps to employ the convertible feature—thereby converting the chair for various types of seating arrangements. By way of example and not of limitation, in the depicted embodiment of the present disclosure, the Soft Seating Convertible Chair comprises a combination of materials having a plurality of embedded zippers and snaps/straps (and other similar arrangements providing similar functionality) uniquely configured to convert from a chair to a table based on the user preferences.

(8) In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a Soft Seating Convertible Chair has a body with a seat, the body having a front side and a back side spaced apart along a longitudinal direction. The body further comprises a pair of side armrests spaced apart along a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; the seat is positioned between the armrests and supports a seated person. The armrests are attached to the opposite and lateral sides of a seat and the hinged back side is capable of pivoting about a generally horizontal pivot axis extending along the transverse direction.

(9) In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a plastic board is embedded within the back side of the Soft Seating Convertible Chair. In the depicted embodiment, internal baffles are positioned at a predetermined location within the armrests and the back side, and at least two webbing straps are attached at opposite ends of the chair in proximity to the armrests. The Soft Seating Convertible Chair further comprises a plurality of separating common zippers embedded on either side of the chair and configured to attach the back of the chair to the seat and the armrests. In the depicted embodiment, the Soft Seating Convertible Chair can be converted into a chair or a table by using the common zippers and pivoting the back side to create the convertible feature.

(10) In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of using a Soft Seating Convertible Chair by the consumer and/or the end-user is provided. The method of converting a Soft Seating Convertible Chair into a table and vice versa comprises the steps of: (1) positioning a chair body having a seat and a front side and a back side spaced apart along a longitudinal direction on a floor; (2) configuring a pair of side armrests spaced apart along a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the chair body; (3) positioning the seat between the armrests to support the position of a seated person and attaching the armrests to the opposite and lateral sides of the seat; (4) embedding a board at a pre-determined location within the back side of the chair body; (5) positioning internal baffles at a predetermined location within the armrests and the back side; (6) attaching a plurality of webbing straps at opposite ends of the chair in proximity to the armrests; (7) configuring a plurality of separating common zippers embedded on either side of the chair to attach the back of the chair body to the seat and the armrests; (8) wherein the back side of the chair body is hinged and capable of pivoting about a generally horizontal pivot axis extending along the transverse direction; and (9) using the plurality of separating common zippers while pivoting the back side of the Soft Seating Convertible Chair about a generally horizontal pivot axis extending along the transverse direction within the body of the chair to convert the chair body into a table or vice versa.

(11) The references shown above in detail, describing the embodiments of the invention, are provided by way of explanation of the invention, not in limitation of the invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment.

(12) It is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Other objects, features and aspects of the present invention are disclosed in the following detailed description. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present invention, which broader aspects are embodied in the exemplary constructions.

(13) The advantages of the present invention will be set forth in and apparent from the description that follows, as well as will be learned by practice of the invention. Additional advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the methods and systems particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof, as well as from the appended drawings.

(14) FIGS. 1 through 5 illustrate various views of an embodiment of a Soft Seating Convertible Chair according to one or more aspects described herein.

(15) FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a perspective of an assembled front view and a back view of an embodiment of a Soft Seating Convertible Chair 100. In the depicted embodiment, the Soft Seating Convertible Chair 100 comprises a modular and compact body with two armrests 112, 114 at opposite lateral sides of the seat attached to the back side 104 of the chair. In the depicted embodiment, the Soft Seating Convertible Chair 100 is hinged (and pivots) on the back side 104 to provide for the convertibility from a chair to a table and vice versa. As further illustrated in the depicted embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2, the Soft Seating Convertible Chair 100 is configured with a flat handle 110 which can be used by the consumer to convert the chair into a table or vice versa.

(16) FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate different back views of an embodiment of a Soft Seating Convertible Chair 100—illustrating how the Soft Seating Convertible Chair can be used as a chair or a table. FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective of an unassembled front view of the back side of an embodiment of a Soft Seating Convertible Chair 100. As shown, the Soft Seating Convertible Chair 100 further includes a plurality of webbing straps with snaps 124a, 124b.

(17) FIGS. 6 through 12 show views and configuration details of various elements of an embodiment of a Soft Seating Convertible Chair 100. The Soft Seating Convertible Chair 100 further includes a ¼-inch webbing strap with snaps 124a, 124b. As further illustrated in FIG. 7, the Soft Seating Convertible Chair comprises built-in embedded common zippers closure means 116 configured to create the convertible feature. Further, the embedded common zippers closure means 116 are used on either side of the chair (back of the seat) to attach the back of the chair to the arms 112, 114 and the base of the chair.

(18) As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the Soft Seating Convertible Chair comprises built-in internal baffles 120 and 122 to create chambers for the foam. The built-in internal baffles 120 and 122 are further configured to be positioned within the armrests 112, 114 creating secure chambers for the internal material (e.g., foam) used in the product. By way of example and not of limitation in the depicted embodiment, the Soft Seating Convertible Chair 100 has an overall dimensional length, width and height of 24.5, 22 and 15 inches, respectively; a seat width of 13.5 inches and a seat height of 8 inches. In the depicted embodiment, the Soft Seating Convertible Chair 100 may also include, in addition to the common separating zippers, webbing straps/snaps 124a, 124b and various other similarly configured straps/snaps. It is to be noted that as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the separating zippers 116 provide flexible configuration for the end user to employ the convertible feature and convert the chair to a table or vice versa.

(19) FIG. 10 shows the configuration and design details of various elements of an embodiment of a Soft Seating Convertible Chair 100. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the Soft Seating Convertible Chair 100 comprising ¼-inch webbing straps with snaps 124a and 124b can have a pre-configured webbing and a predetermined positioning for attachment to the body. By way of example and not of limitation, other similarly configured straps/snaps can be positioned at other predetermined distances along the Soft Seating Convertible Chair to provide flexible configuration for the end user. FIG. 11 illustrates the back view of the Soft Seating Convertible Chair wherein the handle 110 has certain predetermined specific dimensions. Finally, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the back side of the Soft Seating Convertible Chair has an embedded board inside the product to create a firm table top. By way of example and not of limitation, the board embedded within the back side of the chair comprises plastic, wood or paper or other similar material providing equivalent functionality.

(20) It is understood that the preceding is merely a detailed description of some examples and embodiments of the present invention, and that numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments may be made in accordance with the disclosure made herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

(21) The references shown above of the invention are provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

(22) It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present invention, which broader aspects are embodied in the exemplary constructions. The above-detailed description and the examples described therein have been presented for the purposes of illustration and description only and not by limitation. It is therefore contemplated that the present disclosure cover any and all modifications, variations or equivalents that fall within the spirit and scope of the basic underlying principles disclosed above and claimed herein.