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Spring chairSpring chair description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070188006, Spring chair. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. FIELD of the INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to a chair, and more specifically to a chair formed from a single piece of metal or other material that flexes when supporting a person and returns to its original shape when not supporting a person. [0003] 2. DESCRIPTION of the RELATED ART [0004] Efforts have been made to make chairs that are more comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, and unique. Such chairs have been made from a wide variety of materials, including wood, metal and plastic, thus giving chairs a wide range of styles, comfort and appearance. [0005] Lounge chairs are sometimes provided with mechanisms that permit rocking, sliding or other desired movements. Such lounge chairs often operate with two parallel frames connected therebetween by a seating surface, and require complex parts to rock back and forth. Although these chairs are more comfortable than chairs that do not move, they are complicated and expensive to build. Moreover, lounge chairs have a very limited range of motion dictated by their frames and rocking mechanisms. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The present invention solves the above-described problems and provides a distinct advance in the art of chairs. More particularly, the invention provides a chair formed from a continuous piece of metal or other material that flexes in a wave-like fashion when supporting a person to provide a unique rocking motion and returns to its original shape when not supporting the person. The chair is preferably formed from a single piece of metal that is shaped by a set of rolls and then connected by its ends to form a closed loop with no frame or internal support mechanism. The metal is preferably an alloy selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, silicon and combinations thereof. [0007] By constructing the chair in accordance with the present invention, numerous advantages are realized. For example, the continuous piece of metal provides an aesthetically pleasing appearance with a unique rocking motion. The rocking motion has a nearly infinite range of direction and motion that is dependent on the size, weight, and movements of the person sitting on the chair. Each time the seated person moves, the chair reacts by flexing to a new shape. This results in a gentle, fluid rocking motion, similar to if the person were resting on a spring, but without the use of rockers, springs or other devices. The metal alloy used to construct the chair can support the weight of a person and provides the above-described rocking motion without permanent deformation. Specifically, the chair deforms when a person sits in it, but returns to its original shape once the person gets off the chair. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES [0008] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: [0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chair configured in accordance with various preferred embodiments of the present invention, the chair shown presenting an original shape; [0010] FIG. 2 is a side view of the chair of FIG. 1; [0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the chair of FIGS. 1-2, the chair shown in a different shape because of deformation from a person sitting in the chair; [0012] FIG. 4 is a side view of the chair of FIGS. 1-3 showing a person seated in the chair. [0013] The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0014] The following descriptions are of exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. [0015] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a chair 10 is shown comprising a continuous surface 12 which includes an inner face 30 and an outer face 40. The continuous surface 12 preferably forms a closed loop. The chair may have a length ranging from approximately 48 inches to 132 inches, with a preferred length of approximately 82 inches and a height ranging from approximately 24 inches to 60 inches, with a preferred height of approximately 43 inches. The continuous surface of the chair 10 is preferably contoured similar to a lounge style chair, such that a person can recline in the chair. [0016] The continuous surface 12 can be created using one or more sheets of metal or other material. "Sheet" as defined herein means any piece of metal with a thickness less than its length. Preferably, the continuous surface 12 is created using a single sheet of metal, shaped by a set of rolls and coupling opposing ends, such that the sides of the sheet are alignably connected. [0017] The material utilized to create the chair 10 may be any material which provides the resiliency required of the invention but is preferably composed of an alloy selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, silicon and combinations thereof. The length of the sheet utilized may range from 106 inches to 308 inches, but is preferably approximately 212 inches. The width of the sheet may range from approximately 2 feet to 6 feet but is preferably approximately 4 feet. [0018] When formed as described above, the chair 10 comprises an upper seating portion 16 and a lower ground-engaging portion 18. The lower ground-engaging portion 18 presents a contour similar to the contour presented by the upper seating portion 16, but may have different lengths and bend angles. The lower ground-engaging portion 18 contacts the ground at at least one point, area or location. In the preferred embodiment the lower ground-engaging portion 18 contacts the ground at two points, a first ground-engaging point 14a and a second ground-engaging point 14b. [0019] The upper seating portion 16 is further comprised of a foot-supporting area 20, a knee-supporting area 22, a hip-supporting area 24 and a head-supporting area 26. The first ground-engaging point 14a is approximately below the foot-supporting area 20. The second ground-engaging point 14b, corresponds to a point on the upper seating portion 16 between the hip-supporting area 24 and the head-supporting area 26. An open space exists between the upper seating portion 16 and the lower ground-engaging portion 18, which is completely devoid of structural supports, such that the lower ground-engaging portion 18 bears the weight of the upper seating portion 16. [0020] The foot-supporting area 20, the knee-supporting area 22, the hip-supporting area 24 and the head-supporting area 26 are each located in bends on the upper seating portion 16 and generally correspond to the area on the chair where the seated persons feet, knees, hips, and head would be located, respectively. Continue reading about Spring chair... Full patent description for Spring chair Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Spring chair 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. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Spring chair or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Easy assembly barstool Next Patent Application: Automotive vehicle seat insert Industry Class: Chairs and seats ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Spring chair patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.0937 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Software: Finance , AI , Databases , Development , Document , Navigation , Error 174 |
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