Abstract:
A chair with storage and/or charging capabilities is provided. In accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the chair comprises: a chair base portion having a space that has been formed in the chair base portion; a chair back portion connected to the chair base portion; one or more arms that extend between the chair base portion and the chair back portion; an adjustable solar panel comprising one or more solar modules that is rotatably connected to an end of the chair back portion by a hinge joint; a safe positioned within the space formed in the chair base portion; and one or more electrical connectors connecting the one or more solar modules to the power storage unit, wherein the one or more electrical connectors are routed through at least a portion of the chair back portion and the one or more arms.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/014,073, filed Jun. 18, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosed subject matter relates to a chair with storage and/or charging capabilities. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many people carry personal belongings, such as a wallet, keys, a passport, and/or one or more mobile devices when going to the beach and they often want a safe and convenient location to store these personal belongings. However, it can be difficult to find storage for these personal belongings that is both convenient and secure. 
     Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a new chair with storage and/or charging capabilities. 
     SUMMARY 
     A chair with storage and/or charging capabilities is provided. In accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, a chair with storage and/or charging capabilities is provided, the chair comprising: a chair base portion having a space that has been formed in the chair base portion; a chair back portion connected to the chair base portion; one or more arms that extend between the chair base portion and the chair back portion; an adjustable solar panel comprising one or more solar modules that is rotatably connected to an end of the chair back portion by a hinge joint; a safe positioned within the space formed in the chair base portion, wherein the safe further comprises: a safe body having a compartment; a safe door connected to the safe body that permits access to the compartment; a fingerprint sensor unit connected to the safe door that stores at least one reference fingerprint based on a first fingerprint being applied to the fingerprint sensor unit and causes the safe door to open in response to determining that a second fingerprint that has been applied to the fingerprint sensor unit matches the at least one reference fingerprint; a power source connected to the safe body that stores electrical energy received from the solar panel and provides the electrical energy to the fingerprint sensor unit; and one or more charging units connected to the power source that charge a mobile device placed within the compartment of the safe body; and one or more electrical connectors connecting the one or more solar modules to the power storage unit, wherein the one or more electrical connectors are routed through at least a portion of the chair back portion and the one or more arms. 
     In some embodiments, the back portion is adjusted to one of a plurality of sitting positions. 
     In some embodiments, the back portion is adjusted to a flat position and the adjustable solar panel is adjusted to a position using the hinge joint such that an additional chair is stacked onto the chair. 
     In some embodiments, the space in the chair base portion is formed based on size information corresponding to the safe. 
     In some embodiments, the chair further comprises a moveable panel that is connected to the chair base portion over the space formed in the chair base portion, wherein the moveable panel conceals the safe. In some embodiments, the chair further comprises a slider that connects the moveable panel to the chair base portion, wherein the slider allows the moveable panel to slide the moveable panel to reveal the safe. In some embodiments, the chair further comprises a hinge that connects the moveable panel to the chair base portion, wherein the hinge allows the moveable panel to rotatably lift away from the safe to reveal the safe. 
     In some embodiments, the safe is integrated into the space formed within the chair base portion. 
     In some embodiments, the safe is selected based on a number of mobile devices allowed for placement within the safe. In some embodiments, the safe is selected based on a dimension that accommodates a particular number of personal items for placement within the safe. 
     In some embodiments, the fingerprint sensor unit connected to the safe door stores a plurality of reference fingerprints that have been applied to the fingerprint sensor unit and causes the safe door to open in response to determining that a fingerprint matching one of the plurality of reference fingerprints has been applied to the fingerprint sensor unit. 
     In some embodiments, the chair further comprises a converter that converts solar energy received from the one or more solar modules to electrical energy that is stored in the power source. 
     In some embodiments, the power source receives the electrical energy from one or more batteries, wherein the power source provides the electrical energy to the fingerprint sensor unit and the safe door. 
     In some embodiments, the one or more electrical connectors are routed through the chair back portion, the chair base portion, and the one or more arms. 
     In some embodiments, the one or more electrical connectors are placed within channels formed in the chair back portion, the chair base portion, and the one or more arms. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various objects, features, and advantages of the disclosed subject matter can be more fully appreciated with reference to the following detailed description of the disclosed subject matter when considered in connection with the following drawing, in which like reference numerals identify like elements. 
         FIG. 1  shows an illustrative example of a chair with an integrated safe in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. 
         FIG. 2  shows an illustrative example of a chair with a door that can cover an integrated safe in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A chair with storage and/or charging capabilities is provided. 
     In some embodiments, the mechanisms described herein can facilitate storing items in a safe that is integrated within a chair (e.g., a beach chair, a lounge chair, and/or any other suitable type of chair). In some embodiments, the safe can be inserted into a space formed in a base of the chair. In some embodiments, the safe can be a biometric safe that can store one or more reference fingerprints (e.g., those corresponding to a customer who rents the chair), and can be opened in response to determining that a fingerprint applied to a fingerprint sensor connected to the safe matches one of the stored reference fingerprints. 
     In some embodiments, the safe can be powered by a solar panel connected to a back of the chair. In some such embodiments, the solar panel can additionally power one or more charging units positioned within the safe, thereby allowing one or more mobile devices to be charged while the devices are stored in the safe. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the safe can be powered by one or more batteries. 
       FIG. 1  shows an example of a chair with an integrated safe in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. In some embodiments, a safe  104  can be incorporated into a chair  102 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     In some embodiments, chair  102  can be made of any suitable material (e.g., plastic, wood, metal, fabric, and/or any other suitable material) and/or any suitable combination of materials. In some embodiments, any portion of chair  102  can be covered with any suitable cushion. In some embodiments, chair  102  can include a base portion  108 , a back portion  110 , and/or arms  120  and  122 . In some embodiments, back portion  110  can be adjusted to any suitable angle with respect to base portion  108 . For example, in some embodiments, back portion  110  can be adjusted to an angle that corresponds to a sitting position for a user sitting in chair  102 . As another example, in some embodiments, back portion  110  can be adjusted to an angle that corresponds to a reclining and/or lying down position for a user. As still another example, in some embodiments, back portion  110  can be adjusted to an angle suitable for allowing multiple chairs to be stacked (e.g., by adjusting back portion  110  to be parallel to the ground, and/or any other suitable angle). 
     In some embodiments, safe  104  can be integrated in base portion  108  of chair  102  within a space  106 . In some embodiments, space  106  can be created by milling out a suitable portion of base portion  108 . In some embodiments, dimensions of space  106  can be based on the dimensions of safe  104 . For example, in some embodiments, space  106  can have a length, width, and depth that are similar (e.g., the same measurements, 0.1 inch larger, 1 inch larger, and/or any other suitable dimensions) to a length, width, and depth of safe  104 . In some embodiments, space  106  can have a depth that is smaller than a corresponding depth of safe  104  such that safe  104  protrudes from the underside of base portion  108  when safe  108  is inserted in space  106 . In some embodiments, safe  104  can be attached to base portion  108  within space  106  using any suitable fastener (e.g., one or more bolts, screws, rivets, and/or any other suitable fasteners). 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in some embodiments, safe  104  can be concealed by a moveable panel  202  connected to base portion  108  that covers safe  104 . In some such embodiments, safe  104  can be accessed when panel  202  is moved, e.g., by sliding the panel away from safe  104 . In some embodiments, panel  202  can be attached to base portion  108  with one or more hinges, thereby allowing panel  202  to be rotatably lifted away from safe  104 . 
     In some embodiments, one or more dimensions of safe  104  can be based on a number and/or type of items to be stored in safe  104 . For example, in some embodiments, safe  104  can be a size that allows a minimum number of items to be stored in safe  104  (e.g., at least one mobile phone, wallet, tablet computer, and watch, and/or any other suitable number and type of items). As another example, in some embodiments, safe  104  can be a size that allows a maximum number of items to be stored in safe  104  (e.g., no more than two mobile phones, and/or any other suitable number and type of items). As a specific example, in some embodiments, the dimensions of safe  104  can be 10.5 in×8.07 in×2.5 in. 
     In some embodiments, when safe  104  is in an opened configuration, a safe door (e.g., a top panel of safe  104 ) can be moved to reveal the compartment inside safe  104 . For example, in some embodiments, the safe door can be lifted, slid, and/or moved in any other suitable manner. 
     In some embodiments, safe  104  can be a biometric safe. For example, in some embodiments, safe  104  can require correct entry of a fingerprint and/or any other suitable biometric data to open. In some embodiments, safe  104  can include a fingerprint sensor unit  124 . In some embodiments, fingerprint sensor unit  124  can be used to both set a reference fingerprint (e.g., before safe  104  is first used) as well as to receive a test fingerprint in order to open safe  104 . Fingerprint sensor unit  124  can incorporate any suitable fingerprint sensing technology (e.g., optical sensing, ultrasonic sensing, capacitive sensing, and/or any other suitable technique). 
     In some embodiments, safe  104  can store any suitable number (e.g., one, two, three, four, and/or any other suitable number) of reference fingerprints which can be compared to test fingerprints applied to open safe  104  after safe  104  has been locked. In some embodiments, the number of reference fingerprints stored by safe  104  can be limited to a predetermined number, thereby limiting a number of users who can store belongings in safe  104 . In some embodiments, a reference fingerprint can include fingerprints from any suitable digits (e.g., thumb, index finger, and/or any other suitable finger) and/or parts of a hand (e.g., a palm). In some embodiments, any stored reference fingerprints can be deleted in any suitable manner, for example, when a particular button (not shown) is pressed. 
     In some embodiments, safe  104  can be powered through a power source connected to the body of safe  104  that stores electrical energy received from a solar panel  112  connected to back portion  110  of chair  102 . As a more particular example, in some embodiments, the electrical energy received from solar panel  112  can be used to power fingerprint sensor unit  124 . In some embodiments, solar panel  112  can additionally power one or more charging units contained in safe  104 , thereby allowing one or more mobile devices (e.g., a mobile phone, a tablet computer, and/or any other suitable user device) to be charged while the mobile devices are stored in safe  104 . In some embodiments, solar panel  112  can include solar modules, such as solar module  114 . Any suitable number (e.g., one, two, five, ten, and/or any other suitable number) of solar modules can be included in solar panel  112 . In some embodiments, solar panel  112  and solar module  114  can each be of any suitable dimensions. In some embodiments, solar panel  112  can include a converter (not shown) suitable for converting direct current (DC) electricity to alternating current (AC) electricity. 
     In some embodiments, power from solar panel  112  can be transmitted from solar panel  112  to the power source connected to safe  104  (as well as any charging units in safe  104 ) via one or more electrical connectors (e.g., wires, cables, and/or any other suitable type of electrical connectors). In some embodiments, the electrical connectors can be routed through any suitable portion of chair  102 , thereby allowing the electrical connectors to be hidden and protected from damage. For example, in some embodiments, the electrical connectors can be routed through any of back portion  110 , base portion  108 , and/or arms  120  and  122 . 
     In some embodiments, solar panel  112  can be adjusted to any suitable angle via hinges  116  and  118 . For example, in some embodiments, solar panel  112  can be rotated to be flush with back portion  110 . As another example, in some embodiments, solar panel  112  can be rotated to be at an angle suitable for receiving sun exposure during operation. In some embodiments, hinges  116  and/or  118  can be made from any suitable material and can be connected to back portion  110  using any suitable fasteners (e.g., bolts, rivets, screws, and/or any other suitable fastener) and/or any suitable adhesive (e.g., glue, epoxy, and/or any other suitable adhesive). In some embodiments, hinges  116  and/or  118  can be any suitable type of hinges, such as rotary hinges. 
     In some embodiments, safe  104  can be powered through one or more batteries. In some embodiments, any suitable number (e.g., one, two, four, and/or any other suitable number) and any suitable type of batteries can be used. 
     Although the invention has been described and illustrated in the foregoing illustrative embodiments, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example, and that numerous changes in the details of implementation of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is limited only by the claims that follow. Features of the disclosed embodiments can be combined and rearranged in various ways.