Abstract:
The present invention features a fastening system for fastening a pole, e.g. and umbrella pole or a fishing pole, to a sport chair. The system comprises a tubular member, at least one securing member to secure the tubular member to a leg of the sport chair, at least one gripping member to prevent the securing member from sliding on the leg of the chair; and at least one fastening member to pin down the sport chair; and a tightening member to hold in place the umbrella pole or the fishing pole that is inserted in the tubular member.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed to a chair fastening system that includes a tubular member, at least one securing member, at least one fastening member, and at least one gripping member to enable a person to attach an outdoor chair to a pole, e.g., an umbrella pole or a fishing pole, while securing the outdoor chair and the pole, e.g., an umbrella pole or a fishing pole, to the ground. The present invention may also be used to secure a fishing pole to a chair and the ground. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Persons sitting in an outdoor chair often wish to sit under the shade of an umbrella. They also may wish to have the outdoor chair secured to the ground while simultaneously having the outdoor chair secured to the umbrella. However, a person desiring to sit in the outdoor chair under the shade of an umbrella finds the outdoor chair often is not stable due to uneven ground, and no such fastening system exists to allow the outdoor chair to be secured to the ground while simultaneously having the outdoor chair secured to the umbrella. 
         [0003]    Therefore, there is a need for an improved chair fastening system, where a person may secure the outdoor chair to the ground while simultaneously securing the outdoor chair to the umbrella. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention features a fastening system for fastening an umbrella or fishing pole to a sport chair. The system comprises a tubular member (which is hollow on the inside), at least one securing member to secure the tubular member to a leg of the sport chair, at least one gripping member to prevent the securing member from sliding on the leg of the chair, and at least one fastening member to pin down the sport chair; and a tightening member to hold in place the umbrella pole or fishing pole that is inserted in the tubular member. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of the chair fastening system as used on an outdoor chair and outdoor umbrella including a tubular member, at least one securing member, at least one gripping member, and at least one fastening member. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a top view illustration of a cross-section of the chair fastening system according to the invention, including a tubular member, at least one securing member, and at least one gripping member. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of the chair fastening system according to the invention, including a tubular member, at least one securing member, at least one gripping member, and at least one fastening member. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0008]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , fastening system  100  comprises tubular member  110  (which is hollow on the inside) for holding an umbrella pole  182 , securing member  120  for securing the tubular member  110  to a leg of a chair, gripping member  130  for preventing the securing member from sliding on the leg of a chair, fastening member  140  for fastening an outdoor chair  160  to the ground.  FIG. 1  also shows an umbrella pole  182  holding up and umbrella  180 , but as used herein, an umbrella pole is interchangeable with a fishing pole). In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , tubular member  110  comprises tightening device  112 , for tightening the pole  182  to the tubular member  110 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , securing member  120  comprises first securing member  122  and second securing member  124 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , gripping member  130  comprises first gripping member  132  and second gripping member  134 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , fastening member  140  comprises first fastening member  142  and second fastening member  144 . 
         [0009]    Umbrella pole  182  is threaded through tubular member  110 . In certain embodiments, umbrella pole  182  is forced into the ground to secure the umbrella  180 . In other embodiments, umbrella pole  182  sits within tubular member  110 . Tightening device  112  is turned in a first direction to secure tubular member  110  to umbrella pole  182 . To loosen umbrella pole  182  from tubular member  110 , tightening device  112  is turned in a second and opposite direction. A user of the fastening system  100  will thread at least one leg of outdoor chair  160  through first gripping member  132  and second gripping member  134 . First gripping member  132  and second gripping member  134  keep first securing member  122  and second securing member  124  from sliding on the leg of outdoor chair  160 . The user may then wrap first securing member  122  and second securing member  124  around tubular member  110  to secure the outdoor chair  160  to umbrella pole  182 . 
         [0010]    First securing member  122  comprises first end  310 , second end  312 , and releasable lock  314  (see  FIG. 3 ). To lock first securing member  122 , the user will wrap first securing member  122  into a circular shape where first end  310  meets second end  312 . First end  310  will then be pushed into releasable lock  314  and pulled tight to secure the loop. Second securing member  124  comprises first end  320 , second end  322 , and releasable lock  324  (see  FIG. 3 ). To lock second securing member  124 , the user will wrap second securing member  124  into a circular shape where first end  320  meets second end  322 . First end  320  will then be pushed into releasable lock  324  and pulled tight to secure the loop. Releasable lock  314  and releasable lock  324  comprise mechanisms that allow the user to loosen first end  310  and first end  320  from within the releasable lock  314  and releasable lock  324 , respectively, so the fastening system may be removed from outdoor chair  160  and umbrella pole  182 . 
         [0011]    The user may then position the legs of outdoor chair  160  in a desired position and fasten the legs using first fastening member  142  and second fastening member  144 . First fastening member  142  and second fastening member  144  may be secured to the ground using a downward force from a blunt object known to one skilled in the art. In certain embodiments, fastening system  100  comprises one securing member. In other embodiments, fastening system  100  comprises more than one securing member. In certain embodiments, fastening system  100  comprises one gripping member. In other embodiments, fastening system  100  comprises more than one gripping member. In certain embodiments, fastening system  100  comprises one fastening member. In other embodiments, fastening system  100  comprises more than one fastening member. 
         [0012]    In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , tubular member  110  comprises a rigid material selected from the group consisting of metal, an engineering plastic, wood, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, tubular member  110  comprises a tubular member having an outside diameter between about ½ inch and about 2½ inches, and an inside diameter between about ⅜ inch and about 2⅜ inches. In certain embodiments, tubular member  110  comprises a tubular member having a length between about 4 inches and about 16 inches. 
         [0013]    In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , first securing member  122  comprises a semi-rigid material selected from the group consisting of plastic, rubber, steel, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, first securing member  122  comprises a length between about 3 inches and about 11 inches. In certain embodiments, first securing member  122  comprises a thickness between about 1/32 inch and about ¼ inch. In certain embodiments, first securing member  122  comprises a width between about ⅛ inch and about 2 inches. 
         [0014]    In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , second securing member  124  comprises a semi-rigid material selected from the group consisting of plastic, rubber, steel, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, second securing member  124  comprises a length between about 3 inches and about 11 inches. In certain embodiments, second securing member  124  comprises a thickness between about 1/32 inch and about ¼ inch. In certain embodiments, second securing member  124  comprises a width between about ⅛ inch and about 2 inches. 
         [0015]    In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , first gripping member  132  comprises a semi-rigid material selected from the group consisting of plastic, rubber, Neoprene, foam, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, first gripping member  132  comprises a tubular member having an outside diameter between about ½ inch and about 2 inches. In certain embodiments, first gripping member  132  comprises a tubular member having a length between about ½ inch and about 2 inches. 
         [0016]    In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , second gripping member  134  comprises a semi-rigid material selected from the group consisting of plastic, rubber, Neoprene, foam, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, second gripping member  134  comprises a tubular member having an outside diameter between about ½ inch and about 2 inches. In certain embodiments, second gripping member  134  comprises tubular member having a length between about ½ inch and about 2 inches. 
         [0017]    In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , first fastening member  142  comprises a rigid material selected from the group consisting of metal, an engineering plastic, wood, or combinations thereof. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , first fastening member  142  comprises a standard nail known by one skilled in the art. In some embodiments, the nail has a hook on the end. 5 inches and about 12 inches in length. 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a top cross-sectional view of fastening system  100  is shown comprising tubular member  110 , first securing member  122 , first gripping member  132 , umbrella pole  182 , and outdoor chair leg  210 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , umbrella pole  182  is threaded through tubular member  110 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , outdoor chair leg  210  is threaded through first gripping member  132 . First securing member  122  is wrapped around tubular member  110  and first gripping member  132  to secure umbrella pole  182  to outdoor chair leg  210 . Umbrella pole  182  is secured to outdoor chair leg  210  by first securing member  122  as described above. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , fastening system  100  is shown as individual pieces comprising tubular member  110 , first securing member  122 , second securing member  124 , first gripping member  132 , second gripping member  134 , first fastening member  142 , and second fastening member  144 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 3 , first tubular member  110  comprises tightening device  112 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 3 , first securing member  122  comprises first end  310 , second end  312 , and releasable lock  314 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 3 , second securing member  124  comprises first end  320 , second end  322 , and releasable lock  324 . Fastening system  100  is used to secure outdoor chair  160  to the ground as described above (see  FIG. 1 ). Fastening system  100  is used to secure outdoor chair  160  to umbrella pole  182  as described above (see  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0020]    Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
         [0021]    Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims.