GB2052960A

GB2052960A - Portable seat convertible to a container

Info

Publication number: GB2052960A
Application number: GB8019673A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Thorne G R C
Current assignee: Thorne G R C
Priority date: 1979-06-25
Filing date: 1980-06-17
Publication date: 1981-02-04
Also published as: GB2052960B

Abstract

A portable seat comprising a seat structure 22 formed of a tubular metal frame 23 and sheet material 24 and provided with a frame structure 29 formed of tubular metal frame portions 33, 34, 36, 38 which are hinged together and to the frame 23 by hinges 32, 35, 37, 39, the frame structure 29 supporting a canopy 30, the frame structure 29 and canopy 30 being foldable between a position (Fig. 4) in which the frame structure 29 supports the canopy 30 above the seat structure 22 to protect the user from inclement weather and a collapsed position (Fig. 5) in which the frame structure 29 and canopy 30 form with the seat structure an enclosure forming a portable container. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Portable seat convertible to a container This invention relates to a portable seat which is convertible to a container.

According to the present invention there is provided a portable seat comprising a seat structure provided with a frame structure supporting a canopy, said frame structure and canopy being foldable between a position in which the frame structure supports the canopy above the seat structure and a collapsed position in which they form with the seat structure an enclosure forming a portable container.

Such a portable seat when in the collapsed condition forms a container which can be carried and the seat when in the condition for use as a seat is provided with a canopy for protecting the sitter from sun, wind, rain and snow. The seat when folded to form a container can be used for carrying articles, such as clothing and/or a fisherman's fishing requisites or an artists painting requisites, etc.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a portable seat according to the present invention in the condition for use as a seat, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the portable seat of Fig. 1 in the condition for use as a container, Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the portable seat of Fig. 1 in a collapsed flat condition for storage, Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a portable seat according to the present invention in the condition for use as a seat, Figure 5 is a perspective view of the seat of Fig. 2 in the condition for use as a container, Figure 6 is a side view of the seat of Fig. 4, Figure 7 is a side view of the seat of Fig. 4 with the side screen removed and with the canopy in a partly folded down position, Figure 8 is a front elevation of the seat of Fig. 2 in the condition for use as a container, and Figure 9 is a side elevation of the seat of Fig. 2 in the condition for use as a container.

The portable seat shown in Figs. 1 to 3 comprises a seat structure 10 comprising a tubular metal frame 11 supporting a seat 1 2 which may be rigid or formed of a flexible sheet material, such as sheet plastics material or a textile material. Pivotably connected. to the frame 11 are supports 1 3 formed of metal tubes. Suspended along the front part of the frame 11 are carriers 1 4 which are in the form of pockets and are formed of sheet plastics material or textile material. The drawings show two carriers 1 4 but it will be appreciated that a single carrier 14 may be provided or more than two carriers 14 can be provided. The carrier or carriers 14 are hingedly attached to the frame 11.The supports 1 3 are hinged to the frame at 1 5. The carrier or carriers 14 may be detachable from the frame 11.

The upper part of the frame 11 forms arm rests 1 6. The frame supports a frame structure 1 7 which carries a canopy 1 8 formed from plastics sheeting or textile material. The canopy 18 includes side screens 18'. The frame structure 1 7 is formed from metal tubes and is hingedly connected at 1 9 to the frame 11. The frame structure 1 7 is provided with a hinge 20 and with side braces 21.

In the condition for use as a seat, as shown in Fig. 1, the canopy 1 8 extends above the seat 1 2 and serves to protect the user, when sitting, from the sun, wind, rain and snow.

The seat can be held to the ground when used under windy conditions by providing guy ropes which at one end are attached to the canopy frame 1 7 and at their other end fixed to the ground by pegs or attached to weights, such as a bag containing ballast, i.e. sand, stones, soil. A bag containing ballast can be placed over the bottom supports 1 3.

The frame structure 1 7 and canopy 1 8 can be folded downwardly about the hinge 1 9 to the position shown in Fig. 2, in which the front part of the canopy 1 8 overlaps the front part of the seat structure 10 to form an enclosure into which articles can be placed.

Before the frame structure 1 7 and canopy 1 8 are folded downwardly, the carrier or carriers 1 4 are swung upwardly to rest on the seat 1 2 and are located within the enclosure when the frame 1 7 and canopy are folded downwardly.

Any suitable means can be provided for securing the folded down frame 1 7 and canopy 1 8 to the seat structure 1 0. The supports 1 3 are swung upwardly about hinge 1 5 so as to lie along the underside of the seat 1 2.

The seat structure 10 can be provided on its rear side with carrying straps so that the container can be easily carried on a person's shoulders, and attachments may be provided to enable the seat when folded to be fitted to an L-shaped carrying frame of the type normally used with a rucksack.

Such a portable seat convertible to a container can be used by anglers who can carry clothing etc. in the container and who can sit on the seat when fishing and be protected from the weather.

The canopy 18, seat 1 2 and carriers 1 4 may be made of canvas.

A lightweight waterproof sheet may be provided which can be attached to the seat and canopy to cover the occupant. When the seat is used for bird watching or shooting this may be a camouflage sheet.

The side braces 21 may be detachably mounted so that they can be removed or disconnected at one end to allow the frames 11 and 1 7 to be collapsed to a flat condition, as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 3, for storage. The embodiment shown in Figs. 4 to 9 comprises a seat structure 22 comprising a tubular metal- frame 23 supporting a seat 24 which may be rigid or formed of a flexible sheet of material, such as a sheet plastics material or a textile material. Pivotably connected to the frame 23 are supports 25 formed of metal tubes, the supports being hinged to the frame 23 at 26.

Suspended along the front part of the frame 23 is a carrier 27 formed of sheet plastics material or textile material. There may be two or more carriers 27 if desired and the or each carrier 27 may be detachable from the frame 23.

The upper part of the frame 23 includes arm rests 28. The frame 23 supports a frame structure 29 which carries a canopy 30 and side screens 31. The frame structure 29 is formed from metal tubes and the canopy 30 and side screens 31 are formed, for example, from sheet plastics material on a textile material. The side screens 31 are attached to the frame 29 or canopy 30 by any suitable means, and as by press-studs or strips of material sold under the Registered Trade Mark "Velcro".

The frame structure 29 is hinged to the frame 23 at 32 and includes a frame section 33 which is hinged to a frame section 34 at 35, a frame section 36 which is hinged at 37 to section 34 and a section 38 which is hinged at 39 to section 36. Extending between the frame sections 34 and 36 are foldable braces 40. The hinges 32, 35 and 39 are rigid when their respective frame sections which they join together are aligned and may include slidable sleeves to lock them in this position. In order to convert the seat from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the container forming condition shown in Fig. 5, the side screens 31 are disconnected from the canopy 30 or frame structure 29 and are rolled up and stored beneath the arm rests 28. The frame section 33 is then moved downwardly about hinge 32 to rest on the arm rests 28, the frame section 34 is pivoted about hinge 35 to rest on the frame section 33, the frame section 36 is moved about hinge 37 to rest on the frame section 34 and the frame section 38 is moved about hinge 39 to lie across the front of the seat structure 22, the carrier or carriers 27 having been swung upwardly so as to rest on the top of the seat 24. The legs 25 are folded about hinges 26 to lie against the underside of the seat structure 22.

The seat structure 22 can be provided with carrying straps on its rear side.

Claims

1. A portable seat comprising a seat structure provided with a frame structure supporting a canopy, said frame structure and canopy being foldable between a position in which the frame structure supports the canopy above the seat structure and a collapsed position in which they form with the seat structure an enclosure forming a portable container.

2. A portable seat as claimed in claim 1, in which the frame structure is pivotably connected to the seat structure and part of the canopy and frame structure extend over the front of the seat structure when in the collapsed position.

3. A portable seat as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the seat structure is provided on its underside with supports which can be pivoted so as to lie close to the underside of the seat structure.

4. A portable seat as claimed in any preceding claim, in which at least one carrier is hinged to the seat structure so as to be movable between a position in which it is suspended from the seat structure to a position in which it rests on the seat portion of the seat structure.

5. A portable seat as claimed in any preceding claim, in which side screens are provided on each side of the frame structure which supports the canopy.

6. A portable seat as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the seat structure and frame structure are formed of metal tubes.

7. A portable seat structure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the frame structure for supporting the canopy comprises a plurality of frame sections connected together by hinges.

8. A portable seat structure as claimed in claim 7, in which the frame structure has three frame sections hinged one to another and which are folded about their hinges to lie one on top of another in the collapsed position, and a fourth frame section which in the collapsed position lies across the front side of the seat structure.

9. A portable seat structure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the canopy and the seat are formed of sheet plastics material or a woven textile material.

1 0. A portable seat structure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the seat structure is provided on its rear side with carrying straps.

11. A portable seat structure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the frame structure is provided at each side with braces.

1 2. A portable seat structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 or Figs. 4 to 9 of-the accompanying drawings.