Abstract:
The lawn chair screen and cover is an enclosure system for lawn or folding chairs to protect the occupant from flying insects. The lawn chair screen and cover is made of fabric mesh and supported by a frame structure that may connect to the chair by rope, hook and loop fasteners or clamps. The fabric mesh extends around the chair, thus allowing the user full visibility and air flow through the lawn chair screen and cover. The sloped front of the invention provides a door closed by a zipper. An opening is ideal for allowing a fishing rod to extend through, thus allowing the user to comfortably fish while being shielded from flying insects such as mosquitoes, flies, gnats and the like. The use of the lawn chair screen and cover allows outdoor enthusiasts the ability to sit and relax in a chair without being annoyed or bitten by flying insects.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present invention was first described in Disclosure Document Registration 502,395 filed on Dec. 17, 2001 under 35 U.S.C. §122 and 37 C.F.R. §1.14. There are no previously filed, nor currently any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to an insect screen, more particularly, an insect screen attached to a lawn chair and provided with an opening for the passage of various items. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   A great number of people around the world enjoy fishing. Whether fishing for food or for the sport of it, the calmness and serenity of the sport coupled with the excitement of landing “the big one” makes fishing a popular pastime. Much fishing takes place from a chair on the banks of a river or lake. While this type of fishing has many advantages, one disadvantage that must be dealt with is that of flying insects such as mosquitoes, flies, gnats and the like. Area foggers, bug lights, candles and the like provide some relief, but they are not totally effective and may negatively affect the environment. Also, if one should move their chair, the repellent system is difficult or impossible to move. Another solution is that of a spray-on insect repellant. However, many people do not like the feel or smell of such sprays. These sprays also require repeated application, especially if the user is sweating or gets wet. 
   The present invention is aimed at a screen and cover attachable to a lawn chair, thereby preventing annoyance from insects while fishing or other outdoor activities. The present invention is a dome-shaped screen coupled to a support member. The support member may include a connector, such as rope or a hook and loop material strap, for securing the support member to a lawn chair. The present invention includes an entrance and an opening for passing items into and out of the screen and cover. The present invention may be reinforced with a sufficiently rigid band that maintains the structure of the screen. 
   A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,650 issued in the name of Gonzalez, Jr. et al., describes a sunshade attachment for a chair. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,405 issued in the name of Foster et al., describes a sunshade attachment for a chair. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,363 issued in the name of Kidwell et al., describes a portable canopy attachment. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,281 issued in the name of Pappalardo, describes a sunshade attachment for a chair. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,257 issued in the name of Clark, describes an adjustable sunshade apparatus for a recreational chair. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,479 issued in the name of Servi, describes a wheelchair shade or canopy means. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,404,915 issued in the name of de Souza Filho, describes a combination beach chair and cot. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 900,572 issued in the name of Morton, describes a sunshade attachment for a chair. 
   Consequently, there exists a continuous need for new product ideas and enhancements for existing products in the insect screen industry. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a screen and cover attachable to a lawn chair. 
   It is a feature of the present invention to provide a lawn chair screen and cover that combines inexpensive and long-lasting components completely integrated to provide a convenient means for enjoying outdoor activities without the annoyance or interference of insects. 
   It is yet another feature of the present invention to provide a lawn chair screen and cover that includes an entrance for entering and exiting the device. 
   It is yet another feature of the present invention to provide a lawn chair screen and cover that includes an opening for allowing penetration by a fishing rod, a hunting rifle or other items that might be passed from inside to outside or vice versa. 
   It is yet another feature of the present invention to provide a lawn chair screen and cover that includes a support member that may be collapsed thereby providing a convenient means for storage or transportation. 
   It is yet another feature of the present invention to provide a lawn chair screen and cover that includes reinforcing bands for maintaining the structural integrity of the screen. 
   It is yet another feature of the present invention to provide a lawn chair screen and cover that includes a second opening capable of accommodating a second fisher or hunter. 
   It is yet another feature of the present invention to provide a lawn chair screen and cover that includes a padded compartment for allowing a user to rest. 
   It is yet another feature of the present invention to provide a lawn chair screen and cover that includes an outside canopy, thereby allowing other users to shade themselves. 
   It is yet another feature of the present invention to provide a lawn chair screen and cover that includes a cooling and/or heating system. 
   Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention, the lawn chair screen and cover, provides an enclosure system for lawn or folding chairs to protect the occupant from flying insects. Designed specifically for use with lawn or folding chairs, the invention is made of fabric mesh and supported by a frame structure that connects to the chair by rope, hook and loop fasteners or clamps. The fabric mesh extends all around the chair, thus allowing the user full visibility and air flow through the invention. The sloped front of the invention provides a door closed by a zipper. An opening is also ideal for allowing a fishing rod to extend through, thus allowing the user to comfortably fish while being shielded from flying insects such as mosquitoes, flies, gnats and the like. The use of the lawn chair screen and cover allows outdoor enthusiasts the ability to sit and relax in a chair without being annoyed or bitten by flying insects. 
   An advantage of the present invention is that it is specifically adapted for personal use because of the light weight components and the use of inexpensive materials, making the present invention cost affordable and easy to assemble and disassemble. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a lawn chair screen and cover; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of a support member, having lockable and collapsible hinges, and depicting the upper, middle and lower portions in a collapsed manner; 
       FIG. 3-A  is an exploded perspective view of the upper portion and the middle portion connected by an impingement pin placed through an aperture in the upper and middle portions of the support member; 
       FIG. 3-B  is an exploded perspective of an alternative embodiment of the impingement means, depicting the upper portion and middle portion connected by threaded members; 
       FIG. 4-A  is a perspective view of a connector depicted as hook and loop material; 
       FIG. 4-B  is a perspective view of a connector depicted button snaps; 
       FIG. 4-C  is a perspective view of a connector depicted rope or string; 
       FIG. 4-D  is a perspective view of a connector depicted as a C-shaped connector with ribs that is snapped onto and around the frame of a lawn chair; 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the mesh-lattice screen depicting the diameters of the lattice d 1  and d 2  in which the lattice diameters are preferably less than 0.50 millimeters; 
       FIG. 6  is a front view of the opening in the screen illustrating the two rectangular panels filled with foam and the integral relationship between the panels forming the slit for passing items from the outside to the inside; 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of the lawn chair screen and cover depicting an alternative embodiment illustrating two openings and an entrance positioned between the two openings; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the alternative embodiment depicted in  FIG. 7 , illustrating a fisher using a rod and reel through the opening to fish; 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of  FIG. 1  in which a padded compartment with enclosure and a cooling and/or heating system are included to provide added comfort to a user; and 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of  FIG. 1  in which an outside canopy is included, having a cover and two legs, for providing shade to those that may not want to stay inside the lawn chair screen and cover. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the Figures. 
   1. Detailed Description of the Figures 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a lawn chair screen and cover  10  is shown, according to the present invention, and includes a linearly elongated vertical support member  12 , wherein the support member  12  includes an upper portion  14  supporting the apex of a mesh-lattice screen  16 , a middle portion  18 , and a lower portion  20  coupled to a lawn chair  22  by a connector  28 . The lawn chair screen and cover  10  further includes an entrance  26 , for entering and exiting the lawn chair screen and cover  10 , and an opening  24  so as to allow passage of various items through the lawn chair screen and cover  10 , such as fishing rods, hunting weapons, food or other similar items. The lawn chair screen and cover  10  is a dome-shaped device. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the support member  12  includes an upper portion  14  coupled to a middle portion  16  by a first impingement means  30 , and the middle portion  18  coupled to a lower portion  20  by a second impingement means  32 . The first and second impingement means  30  and  32  allow the support member  12  to foldably collapse into a compacted component, thereby providing easy disassembly, storage and transportation. Preferably, the upper portion  14  and middle portion  18  are each approximately three to four feet in length, while the lower portion  20  is no shorter than three and one-half feet in length. The length combinations described provide a unitary support member  12  which may vary from nine and one-half feet to eleven and one-half in height. At least one and one-half feet of the lower portion  20  is buried within the ground, either driven like a stake or cork-screwed into the ground, thereby providing a lawn chair screen and cover  10  that has an apex height of at least eight feet and may extend as tall as ten feet. The lower portion  20  includes a connector  28  for securing the support member  12  to the lawn chair  22 . The connector  28  may be a hook and loop material strap  66 , a button snap strap  68 , a rope  70 , or a C-shaped connector  72  (as shown in  FIG. 4-A  through  FIG. 4-D ). The C-shaped connector  72  with a pair of opposable gripping ribs  74  for sliding around and coupling to the upper back  76  of a lawn chair  22 . The first and second impingement means  30  and  32  may be locking and collapsible hinges  60  ( FIG. 2 ), pins  62  ( FIG. 3-A ), or threaded members  64  ( FIG. 3-B ) coupled to one another. Preferably, the support member  12  is manufactured from a flexibly-durable, lightweight material, such as plastic, so as to provide structural support for the screen  16  while providing easy of assembly, disassembly, transportation and storage. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the mesh-lattice screen  16  is a tightly woven mesh-lattice pattern with a diameter “d 1 ” or “d 2 ” that is 0.50 millimeters or less, thereby preventing the usual size of insects from penetrating the lawn chair screen and cover  10 . However, the mesh-lattice pattern allows for the fresh circulation of air through the lawn chair screen and cover  10 . Preferably, the mesh-lattice screen  16  is manufactured from nylon or other similar material capable of withstanding repeated assembly and disassembly and general use associated with such an item. 
   Referring again to  FIG. 1 , a protective hoop  34  lies along the curvilinear plane of the mesh-lattice screen  16  and radially extending from the apex of the screen  16 . The protective hoop  34  is attached to the screen  16  by hook and loop material, button snaps, tie downs or another securing mechanism and may be attached to or removed from the screen  16  depending upon the environment desired by the user. For instance, the protective hoop  34  might be attached to the screen  16  so as to provide protection from rain or snow. Conversely, the protective hoop  34  might be removed from the screen  16  so as to provide a sunbather protection from the insects while allowing sunlight to penetrate the screen  16 . The protective hoop  34  might include reflective material so as to combat the ultraviolet and heat generating rays emitted by the sun. 
   The entrance  26  is positioned along the circumference of, and in the same curvilinear plane as the screen  16 , providing a convenient means for entering and exiting the lawn chair screen and cover  10 . The entrance  26  extends from the lower lip of the screen  16  and up to a point approximately four feet high along the circumference of the screen  16 , although a variation of the height is foreseeable. The entrance  26  avoids the inefficient necessity of entering and exiting the lawn chair screen and cover  10  by way of raising the lowest lip of the screen  16 , and then hoping that the lawn chair screen and cover  10  remains secured and/or standing. Preferably, the entrance  26  is opened or closed by a zipper  36 , although it is foreseeable that other closure means  36  may be employed, such as button snaps or hook and loop fasteners. 
   A plurality of support bands  58  are included which radiate from the apex of the screen  16  and extending to the lowest lip of the screen  16 . The bands  58  act to provide further structural reinforcement to the lawn chair screen and cover  10 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 6 , the opening  24  is positioned along the circumference of, and in the same curvilinear plane as the lawn chair screen and cover  10 , thereby providing a convenient means for passing items through the lawn chair screen and cover  10  without having to physically pass the items through the entrance  22 . The opening  24  extends from near the apex of the dome to near the lip of the screen  16 , and is approximately six feet in length and approximately six to twelve inches wide. The opening  24  has two rectangular panels  38  and  40 , in which the first and second panels  38  and  40  extend along the curvilinear length of the opening  24 . The first and second panels  38  and  40  are filled with a soft material, such as foam, to provide structural support to the first and second panels  38  and  40  while also providing the flexibility desired for passing items into and out of the lawn chair screen and cover  10 . The first and second panels  38  and  40  are integral along respective lengths so as to provide a resilient slit  42  in which the slit  42  completely seals around and envelopes an item passed through or when unused. Thus, the opening  24  allows a fisher to cast a rod either within or outside the lawn chair screen and cover  10 , pass the handle of the rod/reel through the opening  24  and patiently wait for a strike. When the line is struck, the opening  24  allows a fisher to pull on the rod/reel either up or down the length of the opening  24 , and ultimately, pull the fish into the lawn chair screen and cover  10 . Preferably, the opening  24  is positioned at least eighteen inches up and away from the lowest lip of the screen  16  so as to ensure optimum convenience for passing a fishing rod or other similar item through the lawn chair screen and cover  10 . However, it is also foreseeable that people other than fishers may find use for the lawn chair screen and cover  10 , such as hunters, and may pass a hunting rifle or any number of items from person to person without having to do so through the entrance  26  or underneath the lowest lip of the screen  16 . Preferably, the opening  24  is opened or closed by a zipper  36 , although it is foreseeable that other closure means may be employed, such as button snaps or hook and loop material. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , an alternative embodiment is shown in which two openings  24  are included with the lawn chair screen and cover  10  so as to provide adaptability for accommodating two fishers or hunters. The two openings  24  have the same construction and arrangement as described for the lawn chair screen and cover  10  having one opening  24 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 9 , another alternative embodiment is shown in which the lawn chair screen and cover  10  includes a compartment  44  for providing a place for a user to lie down or rest. The compartment  44  includes a padded base  46  and an enclosure  48 . 
     FIG. 9  also shows yet another alternative embodiment of the lawn chair screen and cover  10  which includes a cooling and/or heating system  78 . The cooling and/or heating system  78  may include a fan or a water misting device for cooling and generated heat distributed by a fan. The fan, as shown in  FIG. 9 , preferably lies in the same curvilinear plane as the mesh-lattice screen  16  and is operated through electricity generated from an automobile or a generator. The cooling and/or heating system  78  adds further comfort and convenience to the user of the lawn chair screen and cover  10 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 10 , another alternative embodiment is shown in which the lawn chair screen and cover  10  includes an adjustable canopy  50  which attaches along the outside of the screen  16 . The canopy  50  includes two exterior support members (first exterior support member)  52  and (second exterior support member)  54  and a protective cover  56 . The canopy  50  is envisioned as adaptable in allowing those that wish to remain outside the lawn chair screen and cover  10  to do so in a shaded area. The canopy  50  is adaptable to shade from one to four people comfortably. 
   2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment 
   A user will unfold or the support member  12  about the impingement means  30  and  32 , resulting in a unitary support member  12  at least nine and one-half feet in length. A user will then drive the pointed end of the lower portion  20  into the ground, either by force or by cork-screwing the lower portion  20  into the ground. The user will then place a plurality of stakes  78  around the lower lip of the screen  16  to secure the screen  16  to the ground. A user will then attach the lower portion  20  or middle portion  18  to the lawn chair  22  via a connector  28 . A user may then pass a fishing rod (or hunting rifle) through the opening  24  and begin fishing (or hunting). While fishing, if a struggle ensues between the fisher and the fish, the fisher may raise or lower the rod within the opening  24 . 
   To disassemble the lawn chair screen and cover  10 , the user will pull up the stakes  78  and collapse (or disconnect) the support member  12 . The user may then compact the lawn chair screen and cover  10  so as to fit within a traveling bag, case or within a compacted area of an automobile. 
   The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.