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Eccentrically rotatable swivel seat deviceEccentrically rotatable swivel seat device description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070018489, Eccentrically rotatable swivel seat device. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] The field of the invention pertains to seat accessories and assists, and more particularly pertains to a seat accessory with an off-center rotation for moving a seated individual, especially an elderly, disabled, or handicapped individual, closer to a table or desk while remaining on the chair and without having to physically move the chair closer to the table or desk. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Assists and devices to aid elderly, infirm, handicapped or disabled individuals range from simple walkers and hearing aids to artificial implants that replace weakened, decayed or malfunctioning bones, joints and organs. The elderly and the handicapped face physical constraints, inconveniences and difficulties when accomplishing or performing even the simplest, perfunctory tasks--such as seating themselves at the dining table or at a desk. For example, the standard way for an elderly or handicapped individual to seat himself or herself adjacent and forward to, for example, a dining table, is to first position the chair a sufficient distance from the table so that the individual can first be positioned between the chair and table. The difficulties now arise as the individual must drag or slide the chair to the table with the individual half-standing so that his or her full weight is not upon the chair. This is generally a difficult, if not impossible task, as elderly or handicapped individuals simply lack the arm and upper body strength to drag a chair (whether it is a folding chair or a heavy wooden chair) across a floor. Given this insuperable impediment to seating at a table, one option is to position the chair at an angle to the table so that the individual can partially squeeze onto the chair so as to avoid the difficulty of having to drag the chair forward and adjacent to the table. [0003] However, this maneuver can lead to unpleasant and dangerous falls, as elderly and handicapped individuals are generally physically unsteady. This problem of properly seating an elderly, disabled or handicapped individual at a table is not obviated when other people--family members, spouse, health aides, for example--are available to provide assistance. For instance, even if the chair has been moved far enough away from the table so that the elderly individual can sit in the chair, the family member will still need to turn, move or push the chair, with the individual seated thereon, forward to the table. This is not an easy task even if the elderly individual is considered, in general terms, small and lightweight. Thus, various types of devices have been conceived to assist in the positioning of an individual adjacent and forward to a table or desk. Such devices have also been broadened to assist an individual in entering and exiting from the seat of an automotive vehicle. [0004] For example, the Geisel patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,947) discloses a rotating seat device that includes a pair of rotatably interconnected circular pad members with the upper pad member rotatable relative to the lower pad member, and the lower pad member frictionally engaging the seat cover of the seat for maintaining its stationary position thereon. [0005] The Tabayashi patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,050) discloses a rotary support device that includes upper and lower rings rotatable relative to each other by enclosing therebetween ball bearings held in place by a separator. [0006] The Grappo patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,426) discloses a seat accessory that includes a seat element having an ergonomic saddle-shaped configuration and that rotates on a base element that is attached to a vehicle seat for allowing the ingress and egress of an individual to and from a vehicle. [0007] The Janisch patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,329) discloses a rotatable seat that includes a top plate pivotally secured to a bottom plate, and the top plate including a polygonal periphery for engaging and holding thereon an upholstery pad. [0008] The Koester et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,353) discloses a pivoting seat portion for vehicles that includes a fixed seat portion on which a pivotal seat portion is mounted so that the pivot seat portion can pivot slightly past the vehicle sill or rocker edge of the vehicle seat thereby facilitating vehicle ingress and egress. [0009] The Lu patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,309) discloses a swivel plate device that includes a rotating plate pivotally interconnected to a base plate through a main post with a cover placed upon the rotating plate and a return spring interconnecting the rotating plate with the base plate. [0010] The Ropp patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,447,065 B1) discloses an adjustable swivel assembly that includes a first swivel plate, a second swivel plate, and a plurality of ball bearings enclosed therebetweeen and in contact with an adjustment plate so that the pressure on the bearings can be increased or decreased for adjusting the suspension of the seat. Nonetheless, despite the ingenuity of the above devices, there remains a need for a swivel seat device that facilitates the positioning of an individual, especially a handicapped or elderly individual, adjacent to a table or desk while avoiding the problem of having to push, lift or move the entire chair, with the individual seated thereon, to the table so that the individual can be properly seated. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] The present invention comprehends an eccentrically rotatable swivel seat device that is securable to a chair, such as a standard dining chair, for positioning an individual seated on a rotatable member of the device forward and adjacent to the table. The device is especially useful for seating elderly, infirm, or handicapped individuals at the table while avoiding the difficulties involved in moving the entire chair to the table. [0012] The present invention includes a circular lower supporting member that is fixedly secured to the seat rest of the chair by flexible straps that encompass both the chair seat rest and the lower supporting member. A circular upper supporting member is interconnected to the lower supporting member for rotatable or swiveling motion thereon relative to the stationarily secured lower supporting member. Moreover, the upper supporting member is eccentrically or off-centeredly interconnected to the lower supporting member so that the upper supporting member swivels the individual forward and adjacent to the table. In place of the flexible straps, the lower supporting member can be secured to the seat rest of the chair by retaining members that clip to the chair seat rest. In addition, the upper supporting member can be modified to include a semi-circular backrest that upwardly extends from the periphery of the upper supporting member for use with, for example, a bar stool. [0013] It is an objective of the present invention to provide an eccentrically rotatable swivel seat device that seats the individual closer to the table and obviates the need to push, lift or move the chair, with the individual seated thereon, closer to the table. [0014] It is another objective of the present invention to provide an eccentrically rotatable swivel seat device that is a convenient assistance device for elderly, disabled or handicapped individuals. [0015] It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide an eccentrically rotatable swivel seat device that will assist any individual that has difficulty or is unable to physically move the chair forward in order to sit comfortably at the table and backward in order to exit the table. [0016] It is still yet another objective of the present invention to provide an eccentrically rotatable swivel seat device that can be easily and quickly attached to and detached from the chair or stool, as the situation requires. [0017] Still yet another objective of the present invention is to provide an eccentrically rotatable swivel seat device that gives the elderly, handicapped or disabled individual a measure of independence by allowing such individuals to perform the task of seating themselves forward and close to the dining table or desk by their own efforts. [0018] Still yet a further objective of the present invention is to provide an eccentrically rotatable swivel seat device that can be utilized in small apartments and mobile homes, and in other cramped quarters, for seating the individual adjacent to the dining table. [0019] These and other objects, features and advantages will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon a perusal of the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the eccentrically rotatable swivel seat device of the present invention illustrating the attachment of the swivel seat device to the seat rest of a chair; [0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the eccentrically rotatable swivel seat device of the present invention illustrating the disposition of the upper supporting member when rotated to bring the individual closer to the table; Continue reading about Eccentrically rotatable swivel seat device... Full patent description for Eccentrically rotatable swivel seat device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Eccentrically rotatable swivel seat device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. 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