Abstract:
A transformable sporting chair system which can be transformed from a working seat for use in the outdoors, to a transportable configuration for carrying the chair to or from an outdoor location. The chair features a frame which can be nearly entirely disassembled and reassembled into the working or transport configuration. The chair includes a holding element for holding tools or equipment, such as a hunting bow. The chair may also be strapped to a tree using ratchet straps.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/864,254, filed Aug. 9, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to seating, and in particular to a system and method for providing adjustable, multi-purpose seating for sports and other activities. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Hunters, especially bow hunters, require a place to sit and wait for game. Often this will be a transportable chair or a semi-permanent tree stand. Other sports and outdoor activities in the wilderness require similar seating. 
         [0006]    Existing hunting stands and hunting chairs either require semi-permanent installation of a tree stand in a tree, which then cannot be moved, or rely on standard portable chairs which are carried out into the wilderness where they are not optimally suited. Most portable chairs are heavy and difficult to carry long distances, or are cheaply made and do not stand up to the rigors of the sport or activity for which they would need to facilitate. Ideal sporting chairs also include the ability to store equipment, such as a hunting bow, when the chair is not in use. Most could not stand on their own when loaded in such a way. 
         [0007]    What is needed is a versatile, sturdy sporting chair which can be easily transported deep into the wilderness by a single person. Heretofore there has not been available a sporting chair system with the advantages and features of the present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention generally provides a sport or hunting chair which can be adapted to various sizes and configurations of seating. The chair system includes numerous detachable elements, such as legs and arms, which can be placed in different configurations for transport or working use. The chair system can stand on an included base or be strapped to a tree, and will provide suitable seating for any sport or outdoor activity. Additionally, this device can provide seating for relatively large individuals. 
         [0009]    Attachments can accommodate both right-handed and left-handed occupants using archery equipment, firearms, fishing tackle and other devices and equipment. The seating system is both portable and adjustable for use in wilderness areas and for supporting occupants at various heights. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrating various objects and features thereof. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the frame in an assembled configuration. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a front isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a seat back being placed on the frame. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a front isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a seat being placed on the frame. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a front isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in an assembled, working configuration. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the various components which make up the frame of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a rear exploded isometric view of two components of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a rear isometric view thereof, showing the components assembled. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is an exploded isometric view of the frame of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a front isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention being assembled into a transport configuration. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a continuation thereof, showing the assembled embodiment in a transport configuration. 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a front isometric view of an alternative arrangement of a preferred embodiment shown in a typical environment. 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a rear exploded isometric of two components of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a rear isometric view thereof, showing the components assembled. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     I. Introduction and Environment 
       [0024]    As required, detailed aspects of the disclosed subject matter are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
         [0025]    Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as orientated in the view being referred to. The words, “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning 
       II. Preferred Embodiment Sporting Chair System  2   
       [0026]    The sporting chair system  2  frame as shown in  FIG. 1  is formed from many interlocking, interchangeable elements. A center crossbar  4  is bolted to a base  6  via a bolt  30  and wing nut  40 , and is further secured via a mounting pin  34 . A pair of upstanding backrest arms  8  are inserted into the crossbar  4 . Each backrest arm  8  includes a button clip  20  which is received in a button clip receiver located in the crossbar  4 . This allows for the backrest arm  8  to be selectively removed. Each backrest arm  8  also includes a strap receiver loop  16  for receive a strap hook  59  connected to a shoulder strap  55  when the sporting chair system  2  is placed in a transport configuration. The center crossbar  4  also includes a gusset  57  to brace and prevent the center crossbar from bending, specifically when the sporting chair system  2  is mounted to a tree  58 . 
         [0027]    The center crossbar  4  may include drainage holes (not shown) in its bottom face, preferably located below the backrest arms, for draining water from the frame. This may be necessary since the backrest arms  8  are hollow and open at the top. 
         [0028]    A pair of seat arms  11 ,  13  are similarly connected to the crossbar  4  and secured via button clips  20 . One seat arm  13  includes a double button clip  20 , having one clip located on the top and another on the bottom of the arm  13 . This arm receives a holder  14  which is used to hold a bow or other item (not shown) when not in use. The holder  14  includes a number of holder pins  24  bolted to a holder base plate  26  connected to a holder elbow  22 . The holder includes a button clip receiver hole  28  on each face of the elbow  22 , which allows the holder  14  to be rotated as the user requires, and allows the system  2  to accommodate right-handed and left-handed hunters. The seat arms  11 ,  13  thus may be placed on either end of the center crossbar  4  as needed. 
         [0029]    The base includes a number of bolt receivers  32  and pin receivers  36  for receiving the mounting bolt  30  and mounting pin  34  respectively. The base also features a 4-way receiver  7  which allows four legs  12  to be secured to the base  6  using button clips  20 , similar to the arms above. One leg includes a ground stake  64  secured to a ground stake hole  66  via a retaining cable  68 . This spike is used to provide additional security to the leg located opposite the holder  14 , such that when the holder  14  is holding an object, but no one is sitting in the chair, the chair will not tip over. The stake  64  may be temporarily stored within the hollow body of a leg  12 . All legs could potentially have a separate ground stake  64 . The legs  12  may be unclipped from the base  6  and inserted into receivers  18  when the chair is transformed into a transport configuration as shown in  FIGS. 9-10  and discussed in more detail below. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , a backrest  42  is placed over the backrest arms  8  when the chair system  2  is in a working configuration. As further shown in  FIG. 3 , a seat  44  is similarly placed over the seat arms  11 ,  13 . The backrest  42  and seat  44  are made of a waterproof, durable material. They are easily removable from the frame so that the chair system frame may be left in the wilderness without worrying about additional weathering of the seat and backrest material.  FIG. 4  shows an entirely assembled sporting chair system  2  in a working position, including both the backrest  42  and the seat  44 . The ground stake  64  is employed to secure the chair to the ground. 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  shows all of the various elements which make up the frame of the sporting chair system  2 , including a mounting bracket  10  for mounting the chair to a tree  58  or other object, as shown in more detail in  FIG. 11 . Also shown are the backrest arm receiver holes  46  and seat arm receiver holes  48  for connecting the backrest arms  8  and seat arms  11 ,  13  to the central crossbar  4 . 
         [0032]      FIGS. 6-7  show how the crossbar  4  connects with the base  6  from another view, focusing on the mounting bracket  52  which includes the gusset  57 . A pair of tower guide tabs  50  help to line up the base and keep the center crossbar  4  stable. The mounting pin  34  is threaded through a mounting pin receiver hole  54  in the gusset  57 , through the pin receiver holes  36  in the base  6 , and is pinned with a cotter pin  38  to prevent the mounting pin from being removed accidentally. The mounting bolt  30  is similarly threaded through a bolt hole  56  in the crossbar  4  and through bolt holes  32  in the base  6 . The bolt  30  is secured via a wing nut  40  or other suitable nut. 
         [0033]      FIG. 8  shows the sporting chair system  2  as the components would be assembled to form a working configuration, or disassembled from a working configuration.  FIG. 9  similarly shows how the components, including the legs  12  and seat arms  11 ,  13  would be reassembled into a transport configuration, shown completely assembled at  FIG. 10 . Note that the base  6  and the crossbar  4  are connected in a more compact configuration by changing which bolt hole receivers on the base are bolted to the crossbar via the mounting bolt  30 .  FIG. 10  further shows how a strap  55  is hooked to the backrest arms  8  via a pair of hooks  59 , each hooked through a receiving loop  16  in the backrest arms  8 . The strap allows a person to simply transport the sporting chair system  2  when in a transport configuration. The chair is designed such that the weight is distributed comfortably in such a configuration. 
         [0034]      FIG. 11  shows how the sporting chair system  2  can be converted to be anchored to a tree  58 . The mounting bracket  10  is affixed to the crossbar  4  in place of the base  6 , as shown in  FIGS. 12-13 . The bracket is used to hook a pair of ratchet straps hooks  62  to the chair, and then to wrap the ratchet straps  60  around a tree  58 . The straps can then be tightened and the chair becomes anchored to the tree. The connection between the bracket  10  and the crossbar  4  is such that when the ratchet straps  60  are tightened, it pulls the seat upwards, counteracting the weight of the user sitting in the chair. 
         [0035]    The bracket  10  is mounted to the crossbar  4  via the same mounting pin  34  used to mount the base  6  to the crossbar. This is shown in  FIGS. 12-13 . Note that the bracket  10  does contain several bolt holes which could be used to further bolt the bracket to the crossbar or to store the bracket on the base  6  when the bracket is not in use. These holes can also be used to hold the ratchet strap hooks  62  temporarily while setting the ratchet straps up. For example, the first ratchet strap will not sufficiently grip the inner edge of the bracket as shown in  FIG. 11  until the second strap is sufficiently tightened. The holes through the bracket  10  allow the hooks  62  to be temporarily placed through those holes to hold the seat in place as the second strap is installed. The hooks can then be moved as shown in  FIG. 11 . The preferred manner of gripping the bracket  10  with the hooks  62  is as shown in  FIG. 11 , as this provides the proper torque to the seat to counteract the user&#39;s weight, while ensuring that the bracket  10  is held firmly against the tree  58 . 
         [0036]    As stated above and documented through the figures, the primary purpose of the sporting chair system  2  is to provide a reliable, sturdy sporting chair which can be transformed from a working configuration to a transport configuration quickly and easily, and which is easily transportable once converted. The chair system  2  must be versatile, strong, and balanced. The present invention can hold the heaviest bow on the market within the holder  14  with no user seated in the chair without tipping over, and that is without using the ground stake  64 . 
         [0037]    It is to be understood that the invention can be embodied in various forms, and is not to be limited to the examples discussed above. The range of components and configurations which can be utilized in the practice of the present invention is virtually unlimited.