Abstract:
A chair or chaise capable of emitting a misting spray over a user of the chair is disclosed. The hollow, tubular frame of the chair acts as a conduit for water, while a plurality of apertures along the frame emits a spray. A quick connect fitting facilitates easy connection to a standard garden hose, for portability. A flow diverter diverts water from the tubular frame to a flexible hose connected to a hand held spray head for selective spraying of the user. A seat cushion provides a comfortable, continuous seating surface over the frame. The chair may be pre-assembled or in a user assembled/disassembled kit form with error free construction assembly means incorporated into the system.

Description:
[0001]    This application is related to Disclosure Document number 509,336, filed on Apr. 3, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to furniture for environments such as patio, lawn or pool. More particularly, the invention comprises a chair incorporating a misting system for cooling an occupant of the chair.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    The desire to cool off during hot weather has lead to a variety of different misting apparatus.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,617, issued to Richard D. Schafer on Oct. 20, 1998, presents a MISTING CHAIR in which a plurality of misting heads are situated around the perimeter of the chair such that an occupant of the chair is sprayed by a mist. Unlike the present invention, in which the hollow tube frame of the chair acts as a conduit for water and a plurality of apertures in the frame discharge a mist, Schafer uses small diameter flexible plastic tubing threaded through the hollow frame of the chair delivering water to the mister heads.  
           [0007]    A MIST-EMITTING LOUNGE CHAIR is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,596, issued to Gregory A Dome on Mar. 3, 1998. The chair of Gregory is formed of two plies of sheet plastic with a network of copper tubes leading to a plurality of misting heads mounted in the chair. By contrast, the water distribution channels of the present invention are formed directly by the hollow tubular framework of the chair.  
           [0008]    Don Aspinall discloses a SUN BATHING CHAIR APPARATUS EMPLOYING WATER MIST DEVICES in U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,731, issued on Mar. 25, 1997. Like Schafer and Dome, Aspinall distributes water to misting heads through flexible tubing attached to the frame of the chair, while the present invention utilizes the hollow tubular frame of the chair to channel water, and a plurality of apertures in the tubular frame to dispense a mist.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,525, issued to Ted A. Manning on Jul. 11, 1989, discloses a SPRAY SYSTEM FOR SUN TANNING, in which a flexible tube attached to the frame of a conventional lounge chair is attached to a bladder which may be filled with a suntan lotion. A sunbather may activate a pump to force suntan lotion through the tubing for spray discharge from a plurality of spray head situated along the length of the chair. By contrast, the present invention utilizes the hollow tubular frame of a chair to distribute water to misting apertures in the frame for cooling of the user.  
           [0010]    A WATER SPRAY ATTACHMENT FOR LOUNGE CHAIR is disclosed by Robert C. Boyle, Jr., in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 297,991, issued on Oct. 11, 1988. Boyle removably attaches a tubular system having a plurality of spray heads around the perimeter of a lounge chair, as opposed to the present invention, which utilizes the hollow tubular frame of the chair as a water conduit.  
           [0011]    None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    The present invention discloses a chair for leisure use, which may cool a user by spraying a mist of water through misting apertures formed in the frame of the chair. The chair has a hollow, tubular frame which acts as a conduit for water, distributing it around the perimeter of the chair for a relatively even discharge over a users body. A diverter valve and hand held sprayer may, optionally, be included whereby a user may direct a spray to selected parts of the body. The chair of the present invention can be embodied as a recliner, an upright chair, a rocking chair, or a swing, with equal effectiveness. It would be evident that additional embodiments may be utilized without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the chair of the present invention can be provided as a preassembled unit or in a user friendly kit form with error free assembly/disassembly means incorporated into the system.  
           [0013]    Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a leisure chair which incorporates a system for cooling an occupant with a fine spray of water.  
           [0014]    It is another object of the invention to provide a misting leisure chair wherein the hollow, tubular frame of the chair forms the conduit for distribution of water to pre-determined sections of the chair by use of a flow diverter.  
           [0015]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a misting leisure chair in which water may be diverted to a hand held sprayer for user application to specific areas of the body.  
           [0016]    An additional object of the invention is to provide a misting leisure chair which may be provided as a pre-assembled unit.  
           [0017]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a misting leisure chair which may be provided in an error free user friendly kit for assembly/disassembly.  
           [0018]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a misting leisure chair which is of light weight and easily assembled/disassembled pipe construction that is portable for use indoors or out.  
           [0019]    It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.  
           [0020]    These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.  
         BRIEF DESCRIPTION CIF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0021]    Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:  
           [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 is side perspective view of a chaise embodiment of the misting chair of the present invention, with a seat cushion installed.  
           [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a chaise embodiment of the misting chair of the present invention, with the seat cushion removed, showing one embodiment of the design.  
           [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is a partial front perspective view of a chaise embodiment of the misting chair of the present invention, detailing back construction and water emission.  
           [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 is a depiction of the various elements of a kit form of the misting chair of the present invention.  
           [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 depicts a typical assemblage of the various kit elements of FIG. 4 in a chaise embodiment of the misting chair.  
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]    This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of the Constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Law “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).  
         [0028]    In general, the present invention relates to a chair or recliner which emits a mist of water for cooling an occupant thereof. In its preferred embodiment, the chair is provided as a user assembled/disassembled kit, which will be described in its individual elements, but it would be readily evident that the chair could also be produced as an assembled unit, as well. Initially, the assembled chair will be described, with the component parts of the user assembled kit described thereafter.  
         [0029]    Referring first to FIGS.  1  thru  3 , the chair  1  of the present invention is formed with a hollow, tubular frame  10  which provides form and support to the chair while further providing channeling for water to misting ports along the upper surfaces of the chair. Frame  10  consists of an upper frame  12  having a right and a left side rail  14  extending from the front of the chair to the rear of the chair, and at least a front transverse rail  16  and a rear transverse rail  18  connecting the front ends of the side rails  14  and the rear ends of the side rails  14 , respectively. Front transverse rail  18  typically joins right and left side rails  14  at the extreme front end of right and left side rails  14 , thereby forming a right angle, at each front corner of chair  1 . Rear transverse rail  16  typically joins right and left side rails  14  at a distance forward of the rear end of right and left side rails  14 , thereby forming a “T” joint with right and left side rails  14 , although the joint may be at the extreme, rear end of right and left side rails  14 , thereby forming a 90° joint. At least one intermediate transverse rail  20  typically connects right and left side rails  14  at a point(s) intermediate front transverse rail  16  and rear transverse rail  18  in order to provide support to a seat cushion (to be detailed hereinafter). Likewise, an intermediate rail  15  may be situated between right and left side rails  14  in order to provide even further support.  
         [0030]    Upper frame  12  is supported by a plurality of legs  22 . At a minimum, in a chair embodiment of chair  1 , a leg  22  is situated at each end of right and left side rail  14 . In a chaise embodiment of chair  1 , at least one pair of intermediate legs  22 , would typically provide support along the length of right and left side rails  14 . Intermediate legs  22  may also be included in a chair embodiment of chair  1 . Legs  22  may terminate at their lower end or be connected by a lower frame  24 , having lower right and left side rails  26  and/or lower transverse rails  28 .  
         [0031]    A back and arm rest assembly  30  extends upwardly from the rear portion of upper frame  12 . The rearmost right and left of legs  22  and the rearmost right and left of intermediate legs  22  extend upwardly beyond right and left side rails  14 , the uppermost end of the extensions respective right and left legs  22  being joined by right and left arm rests  32 , respectively. It would be evident to one skilled in the art that for a chair embodiment, the front legs  22  would extend upwardly to connect with the arm rests  32 . A back support  34  is formed between arm rests  32 , joined to arm rests  32  at the sides and rear transverse rail  18  at it lower limit. For the comfort of a user, the frame of back support  34  would preferably rise above the height of arm rests  32 .  
         [0032]    To reiterate, tubular frame  10  is formed of hollow tubing, preferably of a material such as, but not necessarily limited to, PVC. This hollow construction allows for water flow through at least portions of frame  10 . A hose connector, typically, although not necessarily, having a quick connect adapter is formed as a part of frame  10  such that water may be delivered to frame  10  via a detachable water source, such as a garden hose. A plurality of apertures  36  along portions of frame  10 , such as, but not necessarily limited to the arm rests  32 , seat back support  34  and right and left side rails  14  of upper frame  12  allow water to be emitted from frame  10  as a mist, thereby cooling an occupant of the chair  1  by the mist. Optionally, a flow diverter  38  may be included to divert water flow from frame  10  to a flexible hose  40  connected to a hand held misting head  42  so an occupant of the chair  1  may direct the mist to desired area of his body, as opposed to the general misting received from frame  10 .  
         [0033]    In order to drain frame  10  for storage, at least one drain outlet  44  is formed in a lower portion of frame  10 , typically in the rear legs  22 . Drain outlets  44  are sealed by threaded plugs  45 . It would be evident to one skilled in the art that portions of frame  10  could be plugged internally to prevent water from flowing into portions of frame  10  from which misting is not desired.  
         [0034]    A seat cushion  48  rests upon upper frame  12  and back rest assembly  30 , thereby providing a comfortable resting surface for a user. It would be evident to one skilled in the art that back rest assembly  30  and upper frame  12  could be wrapped with webbing or vinyl tubing material, as is commonly known in the art, in lieu of a seat cushion  48 , providing such wrapping does not hinder flow of water from the misting apertures  36 .  
         [0035]    Now referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the kit  100  of the preferred embodiment, the chair  1  consists of the following PVC components:  
         [0036]    a plurality of straight pipe sections  102 ,  
         [0037]    at least one straight connector  104  with a female slip fitting at one end and female threaded fitting at the second end,  
         [0038]    a plurality of “T” connectors  106  with slip fittings at each fitting,  
         [0039]    at least one “T” connector  108  with slip fittings at each end and female threaded fitting at the “T” fitting,  
         [0040]    at least one treaded plug  110 ,  
         [0041]    a plurality of cross connectors  112  with female slip fittings at each fitting,  
         [0042]    a plurality of 90° elbow connectors  114  with female slip fittings at each fitting,  
         [0043]    at least one pipe nipple  116 ,  
         [0044]    at least one male adaptor  118 ,  
         [0045]    at least one quick connector  120 ,  
         [0046]    at least one diverter valve  122 ,  
         [0047]    at least one hand held spray head  124 ,  
         [0048]    plumber&#39;s Teflon® tape  125  or equivilent,  
         [0049]    a pvc solvent/glue kit  126 , and  
         [0050]    an inflatable seat cushion  48 .  
         [0051]    Threaded plug  110  may be a standard plug which must be removed to drain frame  10 , although an automatic plug  10  which opens whenever water pressure is released is preferrable.  
         [0052]    While a chaise embodiment present invention is presented, it would be evident to one skilled in the art that the chair could be embodied as a straight chair, a swing, or any other embodiment of seats commonly known.  
         [0053]    In as much as one particular configuration is illustrated, showing a finite number of each of the parts for construction, it is to be appreciated that a larger quantity or lesser quantity of the individual parts to construct alternate embodiments.  
         [0054]    It would be evident to one skilled in the art that the various elements of the kit could be coded for coupling in a variety of ways, including, but certainly not limited to color coding, alpha/numeric coding, a tactile or braille type code, and unique channeling and keying of mating elements, with easy to assemble/disassemble with error free assembly means incorporated into the system.  
         [0055]    It would be evident to one skilled in the art that while threaded or slip joint fitting combinations are specified herein, other combinations of fittings could work with equal effectiveness.  
         [0056]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.