Abstract:
The locking collapsible seat apparatus of the present invention offers a convenient height for sitting or standing according to studies directed to preferred height of the apparatus, a light-weight construction for easy transport, a compact design for convenient storage and a configuration for effortless transition between an erected state and a folded state. The present invention also provides a seat locking component to stabilize the apparatus in an erected state as well as communicates with the user whether or not the locking component is activated.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to seat apparatuses and more particularly to a collapsible seat apparatus that can quickly and easily be transitioned between an erected state and a folded state and further comprises a seat locking component to stabilize the seat apparatus in the erected state. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is often desirable to have a foldable and portable stool device that may be easily transported from one place to another and used in a variety of indoor and outdoor conditions. It is also convenient to provide a portable stool device that may be reduced to a compact configuration for ease of storage and transport. 
         [0003]    Folding stool devices are known in the prior art, but these prior art devices are deficient in several respects. First, prior art folding stool devices do not offer a convenient height for sitting or standing according to studies directed to preferred height of the device. Prior art stool devices typically range in height from 9 inches to 12 inches, which fail to accommodate a comfortable sitting position for a user as well as a sufficient height for standing to access out-of-reach places. 
         [0004]    Certain prior art stool devices are heavy and clumsy, as well as complex in requiring multiple parts that are separable from the device, which may potentially become lost or misplaced. 
         [0005]    Lastly, in addition to prior art stool devices being difficult to erect and fold, often times the user does not know whether or not the stool device is stable in its unfolded state to sit on or step on. Sitting on or stepping on an unstable stool device may cause a failure mode of the device, which may further result in serious injury of a user. 
         [0006]    Examples of prior art devices include U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,003 that discloses a stool with an array of slats supported by arms—the arms being pivotally connected to the slats to achieve a parallel and perpendicular position with respect to the slats. U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,861 describes a foldable stool including a shoulder below and spaced inwardly from a lip around the outer periphery of a top wall. 
         [0007]    Another type of stool device is a triangular shaped top platform supported by three legs extending away from each other in diverging directions as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,557, U.S. Pat. No. 6,634,704, U.S. Pat. No. 5,851,052, U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,638, U.S. Pat. No. 3,709,167, U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,588, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,722,973. 
         [0008]    While these devices fulfill their respective particular objectives and requirements, the need still remains for a locking collapsible seat apparatus that fulfills the deficiencies of these prior art devices. The present invention satisfies this need. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The locking collapsible seat apparatus of the present invention offers a convenient height for sitting or standing according to studies directed to a preferred height of the apparatus, a light-weight construction for easy transport, a compact design for convenient storage and a configuration for effortless transition between an erected state and a folded state and vice versa. The present invention also provides a seat locking component to stabilize the apparatus in an erected state as well as communicate with the user whether or not the locking component is activated. Although the present invention was contemplated as an apparatus for a user to sit, it is also contemplated that the seat apparatus may be for a user to stand, for example to access out-of-reach places. 
         [0010]    According to the present invention, seat apparatus includes five support panels and a plurality of hinges. Hinges connect panels and provide rotation. It is contemplated that hinges may be made of flexible material or of moving components. For example, hinges may be a pivot hinge, butt/mortise hinge, continuous hinge, concealed hinge, butterfly hinge, parliament hinge, strap hinge, counterflap hinge, flush hinge, to name a few. In certain embodiments, seat apparatus includes grasping elements to assist a user in erecting the seat apparatus into an erected state and/or folding the seat apparatus into a folded state. 
         [0011]    The seat apparatus also includes a seat locking component. Seat locking component includes ramps, receptacles and protrusions. Protrusions are sized and shaped to be received within receptacles. Ramps guide protrusions toward the receptacles when the seat apparatus is unfolded. Ramps also prevent protrusions from escaping from receptacles once received therein. 
         [0012]    An object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible seat apparatus configured with a height within a range of about 13 inches to 16½ inches. According to studies based on the height, weight, sex, and age of a user, the most preferred height is about 15 inches. 
         [0013]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible seat that is light-weight, for example constructed from materials such as plastic, plastic composite, thermoplastic resin, such as polyurethane, nylon, polyester, or polypropylene. The materials may further be compounded with a glass fiber or other additives to enhance strength, weatherability or other physical properties. 
         [0014]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible seat that possesses a compact design in the folded state for convenient storage. 
         [0015]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a configuration for effortless transition between an erected state and a folded state, as well as between a folded state and an erected state. 
         [0016]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible seat apparatus with a seat locking component to stabilize the seat apparatus in the erected state. The locking component further communicates to the user—the top platform acts as an indicator to the user as to whether or not the locking component is activated. The seat locking component stabilizes the seat apparatus on any surface, for example, thick course carpet or soft ground block. 
         [0017]    These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to the limit the invention, where like designations denote like elements, and in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a collapsible seat apparatus in the erected state in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is an alternate perspective view of a collapsible seat apparatus in the erected state in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a collapsible seat apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a collapsible seat apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a collapsible seat apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a collapsible seat apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a collapsible seat apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of a collapsible seat apparatus in the erected state in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a close-up view of a seat locking component of a collapsible seat apparatus in the erected state in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a collapsible seat apparatus in the folded state in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]    Preferred embodiments of a seat apparatus according to the present invention are generally shown by referring to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  are perspective views of a collapsible seat apparatus  10  in the erected state accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, a seat apparatus  10  includes five support panels  100  and a plurality of hinges  300 . The first support panel  100  is a top platform  110 . Other support panels  100  include two walls  120 ,  130  opposing one another and two plates  140 ,  150  also opposing one another. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  and more particularly in  FIG. 3 , top platform  110  includes a top platform surface  111  and a bottom platform surface  112 . Top platform  110  is divided by a platform hinge  310  into a first platform portion  220  and a second platform portion  230 . First platform portion  220  includes a first top surface  221  and a first bottom surface  222 . First platform portion  220  further includes a center edge  225 , wall edge  226 , first plate edge  227  and a second plate edge  228 . Second platform portion  230  includes a second top surface  231  and a second bottom surface  232 . Second platform portion  230  further includes a center border  235 , wall border  236 , first plate border  237  and a second plate border  238 . Platform hinge  310  is positioned at the center edge  225  of the first platform portion  220  and center border  235  of the second platform portion  230 . 
         [0032]    In certain embodiments, both first platform portion  220  and second platform portion  230  include grasping elements  500 . Grasping elements  500  are in the form of elliptical cutouts  510  although any size and shape grasping elements are contemplated. Grasping elements  500  assist a user in erecting the seat apparatus  10  into an erected state and/or folding the seat apparatus  10  into a folded state. 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  also illustrates as hidden lines portions of the seat locking component  400  described more fully in reference to  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 . 
         [0034]    As shown more particularly in  FIG. 4 , first wall  120  includes a first exterior surface  121  and a first interior surface  122 . First wall  120  further includes a top perimeter  125 , first side perimeter  126 , second side perimeter  127  and a bottom perimeter  128 . Bottom perimeter  128 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , forms a first wall punch-out  129  that is trapezoidal in shape, although any shape and size is contemplated for punch-out  129 . 
         [0035]    Second wall  130 , as shown more particularly in  FIG. 5 , includes a second exterior surface  131  and a second interior surface  132 . Second wall  130  further includes a top verge  135 , first side verge  136 , second side verge  137  and a bottom verge  138 . Bottom verge  138 , forms a second wall punch-out  139  that is trapezoidal in shape, although any shape and size is contemplated for punch-out  139 . 
         [0036]    A first wall hinge  320  connects the first platform portion  220  of the top platform  110  and the first wall  120 . First wall hinge  320  is located at the wall edge  226  of the first platform portion  220  and at the top perimeter  125  of the first wall  120 . 
         [0037]    A second wall hinge  330  connects the second platform portion  230  of the top platform  110  and the second wall  130 . Second wall  330  hinge is located at the wall border  236  of the second platform portion  230  and at the top verge  135  of the second wall  130 . 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , first plate  140  includes an external surface  141  and an internal surface  142 . First plate  140  is divided by a first plate hinge  340  into a first plate portion  240  and a second plate portion  250 . First plate portion  240  includes a first external surface  241  and a first internal surface  242 . First plate portion  240  further includes a center rim  245 , wall rim  246 , top rim  247  and a bottom rim  248 . Second plate portion  250  includes a second external surface  251  and a second internal surface  252 . Second plate portion  250  further includes a center boundary  255 , wall boundary  256 , top boundary  257  and a bottom boundary  258 . First plate hinge  340  is positioned at the center rim  245  of the first plate portion  240  and center boundary  255  of the second plate portion  250 . 
         [0039]    Bottom rim  248  and bottom boundary  258 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , forms a first plate punch-out  249  that is triangular in shape, although any shape and size is contemplated for punch-out  249 . 
         [0040]    Second plate  150 , as shown in  FIG. 7  includes an outside surface  151  and an inside surface  152 . Second plate  150  is divided by a second plate hinge  350  into a third plate portion  260  and a fourth plate portion  270 . Third plate portion  260  includes a first outside surface  261  and a first inside surface  262 . Third plate portion  260  further includes a center periphery  265 , wall periphery  266 , top periphery  267  and a bottom periphery  268 . Fourth plate portion  270  includes a second outside surface  271  and a second inside surface  272 . Fourth plate portion  270  further includes a center edging  275 , wall edging  276 , top edging  277  and a bottom edging  278 . Second plate hinge  350  is positioned at the center periphery  265  of the third plate portion  260  and center edging  275  of the fourth plate portion  270 . 
         [0041]    Bottom periphery  268  and bottom edging  278 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , forms a second plate punch-out  259  that is triangular in shape, although any shape and size is contemplated for punch-out  259 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  also illustrate as hidden lines portions of the seat locking component  400  as described more fully in reference to  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 . 
         [0043]    A first corner hinge  360  connects the first wall  120  and the first plate portion  240  of the first plate  140 . First corner hinge  360  is located at the second side perimeter  127  of the first wall  120  and the wall rim  246  of the first plate portion  240  of the first plate  140 . 
         [0044]    A second corner hinge  370  connects the first wall  120  and the third plate portion  260  of the second plate  150 . Second corner hinge  370  is located at the first side perimeter  126  of the first wall  120  and the wall periphery  266  of the third plate portion  260  of the second plate  150 . 
         [0045]    A third corner hinge  380  connects the second wall  130  and the second plate portion  250  of the first plate  140 . Third corner hinge  380  is located at the first side verge  136  of the second wall  130  and the wall boundary  256  of the second plate portion  250  of the first plate  140 . 
         [0046]    A fourth corner hinge  390  connects the second wall  130  and the fourth plate portion  270  of the second plate  150 . Fourth corner hinge  390  is located at the second side verge  137  of the second wall  130  and the wall edging  276  of the fourth plate portion  270  of the second plate  150 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of a collapsible seat apparatus in the erected state in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The seat locking component  400  is positioned on the bottom platform surface  112  of the top platform  110  and on plates  140 ,  150 . Locking component  400  includes ramps  410 , receptacles  420  and protrusions  430 . Ramps  410  are positioned on the bottom platform surface  112  of the top platform  110  and are triangular in shape, but any size or shape ramps  410  are contemplated. Receptacles  420  are also located on the bottom platform surface  112  of the top platform  110  and are rectangular in shape, but any size or shape such as circular or square is contemplated such that receptacles  420  can receive protrusions  430 . Protrusions  430  are positioned on plates  140 ,  150  and sized and shaped to be received within receptacles  420 ; in this embodiment, the protrusions  430  are rectangular shaped. 
         [0048]      FIG. 9  is a close-up view of the seat locking component  400 . Seat locking component  400  can also be seen as hidden lines in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 6 , and  FIG. 7 . 
         [0049]    A first ramp  411  and first receptacle  421  are positioned on the first bottom surface  222  of the first platform portion  220  of top platform  110 . Both the first ramp  411  and the first receptacle  421  are positioned from the first plate edge  227 . First bottom surface  222  also includes a third ramp  413  and third receptacle  423 . Third ramp  413  and the third receptacle  423  are positioned from the second plate edge  228  of first bottom surface  222 . 
         [0050]    First protrusion  431  is positioned on the top periphery  267  of the third plate portion  260  of plate  150 . Third protrusion  433  is positioned on top rim  247  of first plate portion  240  of plate  140 . 
         [0051]    A second ramp  412  and second receptacle  422  are positioned on the second bottom surface  232  of the second platform portion  230  of top platform  110 . Both the second ramp  412  and the second receptacle  422  are positioned from the first plate border  237  of second platform portion  230 . Second platform portion  230  also includes a fourth ramp  414  and a fourth receptacle  424 . Fourth ramp  414  and the fourth receptacle  424  are positioned from the second plate border  238  of second bottom surface  232 . 
         [0052]    Second protrusion  432  is positioned on the top edging  277  the fourth plate portion  240  of plate  150 . Fourth protrusion  434  is positioned on the top boundary  257  of second plate portion  250  of plate  140 . 
         [0053]    In the erected state as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the seat locking component  400  stabilizes the seat apparatus  10  when first protrusion  431  clears the first ramp  411  and is seated in first receptacle  421  and second protrusion  432  clears the second ramp  412  and is seated in second receptacle  422  and third protrusion  433  clears the third ramp  413  and is seated in third receptacle  423 , and fourth protrusion  434  clears the fourth ramp  414  and is seated in fourth receptacle  424 . 
         [0054]    First ramp  411  and second ramp  412  are positioned a certain distance from center edge  225  and center border  235 , respectively, such that first ramp  411  and second ramp  412  do not interfere with one another when first bottom surface  222  and second bottom surface  232  substantially abut one another in the folded state. 
         [0055]    Third ramp  413  and fourth ramp  414  are positioned a certain distance from center edge  225  a center border  235 , respectively, such that third ramp  413  and fourth ramp  414  do not interfere with one another when first bottom surface  222  and second bottom surface  232  substantially abut one another in the folded state. 
         [0056]    Although numerous configurations are contemplated, in a preferred embodiment the height, shown by “H” in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , defined by the top platform  110  from the surface  15  on which the apparatus  10  is positioned measures anywhere between about and including 13 inches to about and including 16½ inches, with a preferred height of 15 inches. 
         [0057]    In order to collapse the seat apparatus  10  of the present invention from the erected state to a folded state as shown in  FIG. 10 . A user simply grabs grasping elements  500 , here elliptical cutouts  510 , to lift the top platform  110  such that the first plate hinge  340  and second plate hinge  350  fold toward one another. In the completely folded state, the following surfaces substantially abut one another: first bottom surface  222  of first platform portion  220  and second bottom surface  232  of second platform portion  230 , first external surface  241  of first plate portion  240  and second external surface  251  of second plate portion  250 , first internal surface  242  of first plate potion  240  and first interior surface  122  of wall  120 , second internal surface  252  of second plate portion  250  and second interior surface  132  of wall  130 , first outside surface  261  of third plate portion  260  and second outside surface  271  of fourth plate portion  270 , first inside surface  262  of third plate portion  260  and first interior surface  122  of wall  120 , second inside surface  272  of fourth plate portion  270  and second interior surface  132  of wall  130 . 
         [0058]    It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention, which have been described, are illustrative of some of the applications of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.