Patent Publication Number: US-2018049553-A1

Title: Game platform for folding chair

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This U.S. non-provisional application claims priority under 35 USC § 119 to U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 62/376,212 filed Aug. 17, 2016, and 62/384,637 filed Sep. 7, 2016, the contents of both of which are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     This disclosure relates in general to game platforms that may be applied to folding chairs, and more particularly to a game platform that may be applied to an inverted folding chair. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Folding chairs, e.g., beach chairs, provide portable seating that can be used at the beach, sporting events, tailgating parties, and other gatherings. A conventional folding chair has a collapsible folding frame that supports a seat and a back. Compartments may also be provided to hold drinks, a phone, sunscreen, and other small items. Some folding chairs are very low to the ground and may be reclined to various positions by lifting the arms to preset reclining angles. They are designed to be compact and light weight to make it easier to carry and transport. 
     The frame of a folding chair may be in the form of tubular members fabricated from metal, plastic, and other materials. The tubular members may be connected together using rotatable joints (or other mechanical linkages) that allow some parts of the chair to move and pivot relative to other parts. For example, the legs of the chair may pivot about joints and relative to the seat. It will be appreciated that the frame members can be solid, hollow, or of any design or shape. 
     The seat and the back can be fabricated from numerous and varied materials that are well known in this art to create a functional chair for support and comfort of the user when the frame is unfolded. 
     Folding chairs have been provided with an integrated game platform. For example, the back of the chair may be provided with a hole that serves as a game target for a flying object, such as a bean bag or disc. In some cases, the structure can be articulated between (1) an upright condition in which the back is supported at a steep angle to function as a chair, and (2) a collapsed condition in which the back is reclined toward the ground to function as a playing surface for playing Cornhole, for example. 
     A fabric game platform has also been provided as a separate piece and intended to universally fit different chairs. Here, fasteners such as bungee cords, tie strings, clips, and straps can be used to attach the game platform to the chair. Specifically, one end of the game platform is attached to the top of the back, and the other end of the game platform is attached to the front of the seat. 
     Although conventional game platforms are generally thought to provide acceptable performance, they are not without shortcomings. For example, the integrated game platform is dedicated to a particular chair. As such, it cannot be applied to another chair that might have been previously purchased. And the separately provided game platform attaches to the back and the seat of the chair. This causes the platform to be steeply inclined and elevated, which may present a playing surface that deviates from a more standardized playing surface resulting in inconsistent play and reducing the enjoyment of the experience. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to a non-limiting embodiment, a kit may include a game platform having a playing surface and an opposing back surface. The back surface may support a backing that defines a plurality of receptacles. At least one fastener may be provided having a base and a pair of elastically deflectable arms extending from the base. The base may be removeably insertable into the receptacles. 
     According to another non-limiting embodiment, a gaming structure for a folding chair is provided. The gaming structure may include a game platform having a playing surface and an opposing back surface. The structure may also include means for fastening the game platform to distal ends of legs of the chair. 
     According to another non-limiting embodiment, a combination of a gaming structure applied to a chair may be provided. The combination may include an inverted chair, and a game platform having a playing surface and an opposing back surface. Fasteners may connect the game platform to distal ends of legs of the chair. 
     The above and other features, including various and novel details of construction and combinations of parts will be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that the details of the example embodiments are shown by way of illustration only and not as limitations of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in varied and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting embodiments will become more fully understood from the detailed description below and the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are represented by like reference numerals, which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limiting of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1A  is a side view of a game platform according to a non-limiting embodiment. 
         FIG. 1B  is a bottom view of the game platform of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2A  is a top view of a game platform with a hole for accepting bean bags, according to another non-limiting embodiment. 
         FIG. 2B  is a bottom view of the game platform of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3A  is a top view of a game platform according to another non-limiting embodiment. Game example; Beer Pong. 
         FIG. 3B  is a bottom view of the game platform of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 4A  is a top view of a game platform according to another non-limiting embodiment. Game example; Cans/Washer Toss. 
         FIG. 4B  is a bottom view of the game platform of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a conventional folding chair. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the folding chair of  FIG. 5 , reclined and inverted. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the folding chair of  FIG. 5 , with a game platform attached using fasteners. 
         FIG. 8  is top view of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of an assembly of a game platform attached to a folding chair next to a game platform. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a conventional folding chair. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of another non-limiting embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a bottom perspective view of the game platform of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a fastener according to a non-limiting embodiment. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the game platform of  FIG. 11  being applied to an inverted chair. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the game platform of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 16  is a bottom view of a game platform according to another, non-limiting embodiment. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a fastener according to a non-limiting embodiment. 
         FIG. 18  is another perspective view of the fastener of  FIG. 17 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF NON-LIMITING EMBODIMENTS 
     Throughout this disclosure, terms relating to spatial directions (e.g., upper, top, lower, bottom, front, forward, rear, rearward, proximal, distal, etc.) are used for convenience in describing features or portions thereof, as shown in the figures. These terms do not, however, require that the disclosed structure be maintained in any particular orientation. 
     This disclosure is directed to a game platform for a folding chair. Numerous and varied folding chairs are well known in this art. But the invention is not limited to any particular type of folding chair.  FIG. 10  illustrates one example of a conventional folding chair that includes a seat  4 , a back  5 , a front leg  7 , a rear leg  6 , an adjustable arm  9 , and a back supporting leg  8 . The arm  9  can be lifted to adjust and recline the back  5  to a horizontal position, for example. When reclined, the back supporting leg  8  may contact the ground (or other surface) and support the back  5 . In this condition, the distal ends of the legs  6 ,  7 ,  8  contact the ground. 
     The folding chair may serve as a base for the attachment of a game platform. Here, the chair may be reclined and turned upside down. The game platform may be attached to the tubular members (e.g., the distal ends of the legs  6 ,  7 ) of an inverted folding chair for the purpose of playing a game, such as bean bag toss, Beer Pong, Cans/Washers, and other games to be defined. 
     Example Embodiments—FIGS.  1 - 4   
       FIG. 1A  is a side view of the game platform  12 . The game platform  12  has a playing surface  15  (the upward facing surface) and an opposed, downward facing surface  16 . A plurality of fasteners  10 ,  11 , which extend from the surface  16 , allow the game platform  12  to be mounted and retained on top of the inverted chair. 
     In this example embodiment, the fasteners  10 ,  11  are in the form of clamps having spaced apart arms for receiving the tubular members of the chair. As a clamp is pressed onto a tubular member, the arms of the clamp elastically deflect apart to receive the tubular member and then return toward their initial condition to retain the tubular member. 
       FIG. 1B  is a bottom view of the game platform  12  with the fasteners  10 ,  11  mounted on the game platform  12 . The fasteners  10 ,  11  may be fixed to the surface  16  of the game platform using any conventional means, such as adhesives, staples, rivets, screws, nails, welds, etc. 
     The game platform  12  would attach to the folding chair when the folding chair is inverted. Here, the back surface  16  would face toward the inverted chair, and the playing surface  15  would face away from the chair. The fasteners  11  would connect to the distal end of the upstanding rear leg  6  or back supporting leg  8 , and the fasteners  10  would connect to the distal end of the upstanding front leg  7 . The invention is not limited to any particular number of fasteners. 
     In this example embodiment, the game platform  12  can be fabricated from wood, plastic, metal, or fabric, but the invention is not limited in this regard. 
     The game platform  12  may have several game variations. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 2A-B , the game platform  12  may have a through hole  18  that serves as a game target for a flying object, such as a bean bag for playing Cornhole. As shown in  FIGS. 3A-B , the game platform  12  may have a plurality of through holes  18 . Cups (not shown) may be placed in the through holes  18  for receiving a flying object, such as a ball for playing Beer Pong. As shown in  FIGS. 4A-B , the game platform  12  may have a playing surface  15  that supports a box  19  and a circular target  20  for receiving a flying object, such as a washer for playing Cans/Washer Toss. In the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-4 , the fasteners  10 ,  11  are fixed to the game platform  12 , and extend from the surface  16 , which faces away from the playing surface  15 . 
     Example Embodiments—FIGS.  5 - 9   
       FIG. 5  illustrates a folding chair in an upright position.  FIG. 6  illustrates the folding chair with the back reclined and inverted (turned upside down) to accept the game platform  12 . In these embodiments, the game platform  12  may be fabricated from a pliable material, such as fabric or vinyl for example, and the fasteners (or clamps) may be loosely and separately provided from the game platform  12 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the folding chair with the game platform  12  attached to the front leg  7  and a tubular member spanning across the back of the chair. Here, the game platform  12  spans across rear leg  6 . Also, the back supporting leg  8  is adjusted downward to lie flat against the back of the chair.  FIG. 8  is a top view of the folding chair with the game platform  12  attached to the front leg  7  and the tubular member spanning across the back of the chair. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the game platform  12  may be attached to the front leg  7  and the back supporting leg  8 . Here, the back supporting leg  8  is adjusted to an upright position. The game platform  12  is shown beside the beach chair as an example. 
     The clamps  10 ,  11  depicted in  FIGS. 7-9  may be loosely (and separately) provided from the game platform  12 . Here, the game platform  12  would be positioned around the tubular member, and then the clamp  10 ,  11  would be applied over the game platform  12 , such that the game platform  12  is captured between the clamp and the tubular member (as shown in  FIGS. 7-9 ). By way of example only, the clamps may be c-shaped in cross section, but the invention is not limited in this regard. The clamps may be fabricated from plastic, or numerous and varied alternative materials that are well known in this art. 
     Example Embodiments—FIGS.  11 - 15   
     A non-limiting embodiment may implement a more rigid game platform  12  (similar to the ones depicted in  FIGS. 1-4 ) in combination with separately provided fasteners (similar to the ones depicted in  FIGS. 7-9 ). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the game platform  12  has a playing surface  15  and a back surface  16 . The back surface  16  is provided with a backing  25  in the form of partitions that define receptacles  26 . The receptacles  26  are shaped and sized to receive and retain fasteners  30 .  FIG. 12  illustrates four fasteners  30 , but the invention is not limited to any particular number of fasteners. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that each fastener  30  may be removed from one receptacle  26  and reinserted into another receptacle. In this way, the fasteners  30  may be located on the back surface  16  of the game platform  12  to universally fit different chairs. 
     Turning to  FIG. 13 , the fastener  30  may include a base  32  that supports a clamp  35  having spaced apart arms for receiving the tubular members of the chair. The base  32  has a shape corresponding to the shape of the receptacles  26 . The base  32  may support one or more tabs  33  that can respectively cooperate with one or more recesses in a wall of the receptacle  26 , such that that fastener  30  can be appropriately retained on the game platform  12 . But the invention is not limited in this regard. It will be readily appreciated that numerous and varied mechanisms may be suitably implemented to serve such a retention function, including hook and loop fasteners, clips, snaps, and/or pins, for example. Furthermore, the walls of the base  32  may interact with the walls of the receptacle  26  to provide an interference fit. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the receptacle  26  and the base  32  have a square shape, but the invention is not limited in this regard as any corresponding shapes may be suitably implemented. Furthermore, the receptacle and base may have different shapes so long as the fastener can be retained on the back of the game platform  12 . 
       FIG. 14  illustrates  4  fasteners  30  inserted into corresponding receptacles on the back of the game platform  12 . In the condition shown, the fasteners  30  are aligned with the distal ends of upstanding legs  6 ,  7 ,  8  of an inverted chair. The application of downward pressure to the game platform  12  will cause the arms of the fasteners  30  to elastically deflect apart to receive the legs (or tubular members). Once the legs are received, the arms return toward their initial condition to retain the legs. 
     As shown in  FIG. 15 , the game platform  12  may be divided along its width to facilitate storage and transport. Here, one section of the game platform  12  may be provided with tabs  40 , and the other section may be provided with slots  42 . The tabs  40  may be inserted into corresponding slots  42  to assemble the game platform  12 . In alternative embodiments, the two sections of the game platform  12  may be hinge coupled together, instead of employing tabs and slots. 
     Example Embodiments—FIGS.  16 - 18   
     As shown in  FIG. 16 , the back surface  16  of game platform  12  may be provided with a backing  25  in the form of partitions that define receptacles  26 . The receptacles  26  are shaped and sized to receive and retain fasteners  30 . In this embodiment, the receptacle  26  and the fastener  30  (i.e., the base  32 ) have a hexagonal shape, but the invention is not limited in this regard. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the base  32  of the fastener  30  supports a clamp  35  having spaced apart arms for receiving the tubular members of the chair. As in the previous embodiments, the arms may elastically deflect apart to receive the legs (or tubular members) of the chair. Once the legs are received, the arms return toward their initial condition to retain the legs. 
     The base  32  may also support one or more arms  50 . One end of the arm  50  is provided with a tab  53  that can respectively cooperate with one or more recesses in a wall of the receptacle  26 , such that that fastener  30  can be appropriately retained on the game platform  12 . The other end of the arm  50  is provided with a finger grip  52 . 
     To attach the fastener  30  to the game platform  12 , the base  32  is aligned with and inserted into a receptacle  26 . During insertion, a wall of the receptacle  26  enters into the space between the tab  53  and the base  32  (see arrow a), and elastically deflects the tab  53  outward and away from the base  32 . Upon further insertion of the base  32 , the tab  53  will become aligned with a recess in the wall of the receptacle  26 , such that the tab  53  can elastically return back toward the base  32  to its initial condition, thereby locking the base  32  in the receptacle  26 . 
     To remove the fastener  30 , the finger grip  52  is pressed inward and toward the clamp  35  to rotate the arm  50 , such that tab  53  moves away from the base  32  and out of the recess in the receptacle wall. The fastener  30  can then be withdrawn from the receptacle  26 . It will be appreciated that the rotation of the arm  50  is facilitated by the elastic deformation of the material interconnecting the arm  50  and the base  32 . 
     Although the foregoing description is directed to preferred embodiments of the present teachings, it is noted that other variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and which may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present teachings. For example, the invention is not limited to fasteners in the form of clamps. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous and varied securing mechanisms may be suitably implemented, including hook and loop fasteners, clips, snaps, and/or pins, which are well known in this art. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that game platforms may be designed to have several game variations in addition to those mentioned herein. 
     The foregoing detailed description of the various embodiments of the present teachings has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present teachings to the precise embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the present teachings and their practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the present teachings for various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the present teachings be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.