Abstract:
A sling chair having side rails which connect to a cross member spanning the side rails. Each side rail has an extension bearing a socket which accepts insertion of one end of the cross member. The chair has a fabric seating member retained conventionally to the side rails. The cross member and side rails provide both a structural frame for the sling chair as well as a frame for the fabric seating member. The novel construction reduces the traditional redundant separate chair and sling frames to one frame.

Description:
[0001]    This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/551,833 filed Apr. 18, 2000 entitled Sling Chair which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to sling chairs, and more particularly to a sling chair wherein the side rails are adapted to attach to a cross member spanning both side rails. This eliminates the need for separate chair and web frames.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    Informal outdoor furniture, particularly of the type intended for use on decks and patios, has become quite popular. Manufactures of such furniture are called upon to offer practical, comfortable products to the consumer. Because outdoor furniture is subjected to the weather, it is not feasible to employ cushions to attain desired comfort. Cushions are subject to retaining water from rain and dew, dust, pollen, and other contaminants, and to become malodorous and discolored as a consequence.  
           [0006]    To avoid reliance upon cushions, the prior art has developed furniture such as a chair, on which a supporting web is suspended on a frame which is in turn suspended on a frame of the chair. The sling frame is removable from the chair, which is known as a sling chair. This construction arose since it is easier and less expensive to construct the sling and chair frame separately. Examples of sling chairs are seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,716,101, issued to Richard D. Frinier et al. On Feb. 10, 1998, and 5,911,478, issued to Lloyd Goodman on Jun. 15, 1999. These prior art sling chairs lack a side rail adapted to receive and retain a cross member spanning both side rails, while also retaining a fabric seating member, as seen in the present invention. Other chair designs include those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,234,226, issued to Donald B. Colby on Nov. 18, 1980, and 5,094,507 and 5,224,760, both issued to Terence Gibbs respectively on Mar. 10, 1992. These prior art sling chairs lack side rails adapted to receive and retain a cross member spanning both side rails, while also retaining a fabric seating member, as seen in the present invention.  
           [0007]    Prior art conventional sling chair construction arose since it is easier and less expensive to construct the sling and chair frame separately. However, it is apparent that conventional construction of sling chairs entails costly duplication. There remains a need to simplify construction of sling chairs, in particular, to eliminate duplicative members. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the present invention as claimed.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention sets forth a construction for an outdoor chair of the type known as sling chairs, wherein a fabric seating member is stretched taut between and retained by entrapment within side rails. The novel construction eliminates the need for separate sling frame and chair frame, which redundancy typifies prior art sling chair design. This advance in the art is accomplished by providing side rails adapted to accept cross members which span and space apart the two side rails. The side rails retain the stretched fabric web in conventional manner, but also connect to the cross members, thereby integrating the frame of the fabric seating member and the frame of the chair.  
           [0009]    Each side rail has a conventional keyhole shaped slot extending along the length of the side rail. The seating member is entrapped in the slot by a rod in conventional manner. In a departure from conventional slings, the side rail extends beyond the slot, the extension having sockets for accepting the ends of each cross member. During assembly, the side rails are spread apart until the cross members are inserted into engagement with the side rails. The side rails are released from separation when the cross members are in place. Tension from the fabric then maintains the side rails and cross members in place. The side rails and cross member are thus integral with the frame of the chair. The chair is completed by installation of a front piece connecting the formerly unconnected ends of the side rails, and by attaching legs if desired.  
           [0010]    This construction eliminates the usual duplication of sling and main frames. Fewer parts must be manufactured, held in inventory, and assembled. Costs of manufacturing and consequent cost to the consumer are therefore commensurately reduced.  
           [0011]    Accordingly, it is one object of the invention to eliminate separate sling frame and chair frame in a sling chair.  
           [0012]    Another object of the invention is reduce complexity and cost of manufacture of sling chairs.  
           [0013]    Still another object of the invention is to form a sling chair wherein the side rails form part of the frame of the chair.  
           [0014]    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.  
           [0015]    These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    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:  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a partially exploded, front perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a partially exploded, front perspective detail view of the frame of the embodiment of FIG. 1.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective detail view taken along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 2.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 shows a sling chair  10  fabricated according to the present invention. Chair  10  has a sling frame  12 , a fabric seat and seatback panel  14 , a front leg assembly  16 , and a rear leg assembly  18 . Leg assemblies  16 ,  18  are connected to frame  12  in any suitable way such that the individual legs project downwardly from frame  12 . For example, leg assemblies  16 ,  18  may be bolted to frame  12 .  
         [0021]    Sling frame  12  engages fabric panel  14  by entrapment in the conventional manner of a sling chair. Namely, fabric panel  14  is maintained under tension imposed over its width as it spans side rails  20 ,  22 . Side rails  20 ,  22  thereby engage and support fabric panel  14 , and also extend upwardly beyond fabric panel  14 . Those portions of side rails  20 ,  22  extending beyond fabric panel  14 , which while be termed extensions  24 ,  26 , engage a rigid cross member  28 . Cross member  28  is both ornamental and also performs a structural function. Namely, cross member  28  holds side rails  20 ,  22  in spaced apart relation. Sling frame  12  is supported above a floor or ground by leg assemblies  16 ,  18 . Front leg assembly  16  serves the further function of closing the open ends of side rails  20 ,  22  after fabric panel  14  has been secured to each side rail  20 ,  22 .  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 shows how frame  12  is formed. Each extension  24  or  26  of side rail  20  or  22  has a socket  30  formed in the interiorly facing surface of the respective side rail  20  or  22 . Socket  30  opens to the interior side of its associated side rail  20  or  22 , and is dimensioned and configured to cooperate with one end of cross member  28  to be received in close cooperation by each socket  30 . Cross member  28  has length at least as great in magnitude as the width of fabric seat panel  14 , so that after assembly in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, seat panel  14  is maintained under sufficient tension as to provide a slightly resilient supporting surface for a person seated on chair  10 . Cross member  28  has a first end  32  and a second end  34  dimensioned and configured to be received in close cooperation by sockets  30 . In the embodiment of FIG. 2, socket  30  and ends  32 ,  34  are configured other than as circular, thereby serving as keys opposing rotation of cross member  28  within sockets  30 . However, exact configuration of ends  32 ,  34  and of sockets  30  is not critical provided that frame  12  will maintain the assembled condition shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 shows details of how fabric panel  14  is retained on side rails  20 ,  22 . It will be recalled from FIG. 2 that fabric panel  14  spans side rails  20 ,  22 . The dimension between side rails  20 ,  22  corresponds to the width of fabric panel  14 . Examination of FIG. 3 shows that fabric panel  14  terminates at its left end in a loop  36 . Loop  36  is passed through a keyhole shaped slot  38  forming an open channel in side rail  20 . Slot  38  is keyhole shaped in that when viewed in cross section, as shown in FIG. 3, it includes a relatively wide section  40  and a relatively narrow neck section  42  which passes entirely through the wall of side rail  20 , thereby allowing only relatively thin materials to pass therethrough. The overall visual effect of slot  38  is that of a keyhole. Only neck section  42  is exposed at the exterior of side rail  20 , wide section  40  being entirely contained within side rail  20 . Neck section  42  is in communication with wide section  40  so that loop  36  and an associated rod  44  occupy section  40  while the thin portion of fabric panel  14  has egress from slot  38 .  
         [0024]    Flexible dowel or rod  44  is passed through loop  36  by inserting rod  44  through the open end  46  (see FIG. 1) of side rail  20 . The end of fabric panel  14  including loop  36  is thereby entrapped within side rail  20  because neck section  42  is dimensioned and configured to be too small to pass rod  44 . Slot  38  extends longitudinally along side rail  20  for the length of fabric panel  14 .  
         [0025]    Chair  10  is bilaterally symmetrical, in that fabric panel  14  terminates in loops at opposing sides, there being a loop (not shown in FIG. 3) similar and corresponding to loop  36  at the right side of panel  14 , as depicted in FIG. 2. Therefore, it will be understood that side rail  22  and its associated loop formed in fabric panel  14  are generally a mirror image of corresponding components shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0026]    In the preferred embodiment, side rail  20  has two channels formed therein. One channel is formed by slot  38 . The other channel  48  is provided to reinforce side rail  20  against forces which would act to distort side rail  20  when a person (not shown) sits in chair  10 . Channel  48  has walls which increase area of side rail  20  in two orthogonal directions. The hollow center of channel  48  minimizes weight of side rail  20 .  
         [0027]    The present invention is susceptible to variations and modifications that may be introduced thereto without departing from the inventive concept. For example, slots formed in the side rails could open to sides other than the upwardly exposed side, as depicted herein. The fabric seat and seatback panel could, if desired, comprise a seat only or alternatively, could be provided as separate seat and seatback sections. The invention could be utilized to provide a seatback only in furniture incorporating a conventional seat. Alternatively stated, sling construction may be mixed with conventional constructions, wherein either the seat or seatback utilizes the novel integral sling frame while the other member of the seat or seatback is conventional in its construction, having a conventionally suspended cushion (not shown), for example. In further examples, the legs may be modified from the embodiment depicted. The legs could even be omitted if desired. For example, side rails  20 ,  22  could incorporate downwardly oriented projections serving in place of separate legs. In this embodiment, the seat would be supported above but in close proximity to the ground.  
         [0028]    It will further be appreciated that designation of furniture as fitting into categories such as chairs, lounges, and other separate and distinct varieties may be inadequate in that, particularly with informal furniture styles such as “patio” furniture, furniture designs may show no clear delineation separating these categories. As an example, it will be seen that in the embodiments shown herein, side rails  20 ,  22  of frame  12  are configured to form a seat back  50  (see FIG. 2) disposed at an obtuse angle to seat section  52  (see FIG. 2). However, other configurations may enjoy the benefits of the invention. If the frame were modified such that the side rails were straight, for example, then the resulting furniture could be regarded as a cot or bed as well as a chair, lounge, sofa, or the like.  
         [0029]    Therefore, the present invention will be understood to encompass chairs, lounges, and all manner of furniture having a seat, with or without a seatback, wherein the user is supported above the ground or a floor. Illustration of the invention as incorporating elements such as separate legs and a seat back is exemplary only and is not intended in a limiting sense. The novel furniture could incorporate elements not specifically shown, such as armrests, trays, footrests, and others.  
         [0030]    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.