Patent Publication Number: US-8991914-B2

Title: Pop-up lounge arm room for watercraft

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     None 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates generally to a device for providing a changing room and/or bathroom space on a watercraft. More specifically, a lounge chair is configured to open, with aid of gas or air shocks in certain embodiments, to reveal a changing room and/or bathroom space. On opening, a header bracket is released, in certain embodiments with aid of gas or air shocks, whereby the cover fabric is deployed around the revealed space. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a device for providing a hidden changing room and/or bathroom space on a watercraft. More specifically, a lounge chair is configured to open, with aid of gas or air shocks in certain embodiments, to reveal a changing room and/or bathroom space. On opening, a header bracket is released, in certain embodiments with aid of gas or air shocks, whereby the cover fabric is deployed around the revealed space to provide a privacy screen while the space is occupied. 
     The figures and the detailed description which follow more particularly exemplify these and other embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a cutaway view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a partial perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are as follows. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION, INCLUDING THE BEST MODE 
     While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  provides a perspective view of one embodiment of a lounge arm frame  10  of the present invention comprising a floor  12  a front wall  14 , a rear wall  16 , and a pair of side walls  18 ,  20 , wherein one of the side walls, in the illustrated embodiment side wall  18  further comprising a reduced elevation opening  22  for stepping access into the space. A surface edge E is defined on frame  10  as illustrated. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a substantially rigid seating frame  24 , shown supported by frame&#39;s surface edge E so that the seating frame  24  is stably positioned on lounge arm frame  10 . Seating frame comprises a lower portion  26 , a medial portion  28  and an upper portion  30 . Lower portion  26  may define a cutout  32  therein as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Lower portion  26  is substantially flat, serving to support the majority of the weight of a person seated thereon. Medial portion  28  is disposed at an obtuse angle α from the substantially flat lower portion  26  to facilitate a reclining posture for the person seated and supported thereon. Finally, upper portion  30  is, substantially flat and, therefore, is substantially parallel with the lower portion  26 . As will be discussed further infra, upper portion  30  comprises a hinge, or hinges, or a pin or the equivalent, that allows the seating frame  24  to rotate away from lounge arm frame  10 . 
     With continuing reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 ,  FIG. 3  illustrates in dashed lines a cushion or molded seat  34  secured to seating frame  24 . Thus, the cushion or molded seat  34  will rotate together with seating frame  24  away from lounge chair frame  10  as discussed herein. 
       FIG. 4  thus illustrates a top view of one embodiment of an assembled lounge chair  100  of the present invention. Seat cushion or molded seat  34  is illustrated as covering seating frame  24 . More specifically, lower seat portion  26 ′ is illustrated as covering lower portion  28  of seating frame  26 , medial seat portion  28 ′ is shown as covering medial portion  26  of seating frame  26  and upper seat portion  30 ′ is shown covering at least a portion of upper portion  30  of seating frame  26 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 5 , a cutaway side view showing the seating frame  24  in secured position on edge E of frame  10  in the closed position. Cutout  32  illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3  is in operative communication with utility box  36  defined in seating frame  24  and extending below seating frame into space S. Utility box  36  may be at least partially hollow in order to provide space for storage of items. Further, the outer surface of utility box may comprise a mirror. Space S may further comprise a toilet  38  as is well known in the art. 
     A header bracket  38  is illustrated in dashed lines as stowed in the lower portion  26  of seating frame  24  in the closed position of  FIG. 5 . Header bracket  38  comprises a rotating securement to the lower portion  26  by a pin  40  or other well-known equivalent arrangement to the skilled artisan allowing the header bracket to rotate about the securement point. Header bracket  38  comprises, as will be discussed infra, a substantially opaque, but lightweight and breathable fabric privacy curtain attached around header bracket  38 . Privacy curtain automatically deploys when the user pulls header bracket  38  from its stowed location to its open and deployed position. 
     Another rotational mechanism is provided as, for example, a hinge  42 , or other equivalent structure, that is attached to both the edge E of frame  10  and to the upper portion  30  of seating frame  24 . This hinge  42 , for example, provides a pivot point for rotation of the entire seating frame upwardly from the closed position shown in  FIG. 5  to an open position as will be discussed in connection with  FIG. 6 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , if the user applies sufficient force to overcome the mass of seating frame  24 , seating frame  24  will rotate upward to a point where it will remain open. 
     The assembled lounge chair  100  may be opened by applying generally vertical force at any point along the lower portion  26 , or even the medial portion  28 . The longer the lever arm, the less force is required, so lifting near the header bracket&#39;s  38  connection pin  40  is most efficient as the skilled artisan will readily ascertain. 
     As described above, when the seating frame  24  is opened, stowed header bracket  38  is exposed and the user may manually open and deploy header bracket  38  which carries privacy curtain  43 . Privacy curtain  43  is also connected to the frame  10  at one or more locations. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the device  100  is in a fully deployed position with privacy curtain  43  affixed to both the deployed header bracket  38  and frame  10 . As the skilled artisan will appreciate, this arrangement allows the privacy curtain  43  to be pulled between frame  10  and header bracket  38 , creating temporary walls within space S revealed on opening of the seating frame  24 . Privacy curtain  43  may comprise a privacy curtain access  44  on the side of the reduced elevation access opening  22  to facilitate ease of entry into the now private space S. Privacy curtain access  44  may comprise, for example, a zipper or Velcro, without limitation. 
     The above embodiment contemplates manually deploying the seating frame  24  and the header bracket  38 , with privacy curtain  43 .  FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment with assisted lifting and deployment capabilities. Thus, at least one, preferably two, gas or air shock absorbing elements  50  may be disposed between the medial portion  28  of seating frame  24  and frame  10 . In this embodiment, the shock absorbing element(s) provide a biasing upward force against the medial portion  28  so that when the user begins lifting seating frame  24  by application of force thereto, the shock absorbing element(s)  50  essentially take over, pushing the seating frame  24  upward slowly and smoothly into the open deployed position illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Overcoming the upward bias of the shock absorbing element(s)  50  by pressing downward on the frame  24  with sufficient force results in the seating frame  24  returning to the closed position shown in e.g.,  FIG. 5 . 
     Moreover, other embodiments of device  100  may also include an assist mechanism for deploying the header bracket  38 . Thus, with reference to the previous Figures,  FIG. 6  shows another at least one, preferably two, gas or air shock absorbing elements  52  disposed between header bracket  38  and upper lower portion  26  of seating frame  24  with a biasing force tending to drive the header bracket  38  out of its stowed position. In this embodiment, as the user initiates the opening and deployment of device  100 , initially the shock absorbing element(s)  50 ,  52  both begin to extend. Element(s)  52  applying pressure to the header bracket  38 , moving it out of the stowed position to the open and deployed position of  FIG. 6 . This also deploys the privacy curtain  43 . When the user is finished with the changing and/or restroom space S, he or she simply restows the header bracket  38  by overcoming the biasing force of element(s)  52 , restowing header bracket  38 . Then, as above, pulling downward on seating frame  24  with a force sufficient to overcome the biasing force of element(s)  50  until the seating frame  24  and device achieves the closed position. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates one embodiment of header bracket  38  as a U-bracket, rotatingly attached to lower portion  26  of seating frame as discussed above. Channels  60  align with the header bracket  38  so that when header bracket  38  is stowed, the arms A of header bracket  38  rotate to fit within channels  60  and may be rotated out of channels  60  to deploy, as is illustrated by the double-headed arrows. Shock absorbing elements  52  are also illustrated. 
     Space S may be defined as closed space S when, as in  FIG. 5 , seating frame  24  is in the closed position wherein lower portion  26  of seating frame  24  engages the upper edges E of frame  10 . In this case, space S is defined by the frame  10  and the seating frame  24 . 
     Space S may be further defined as open space S when, as in  FIG. 6 , seating frame  24  is rotated upwardly away from upper edges E of frame  10  to the open and deployed position of  FIG. 6 . In this case, space S is defined by the frame  10 , the opened seating frame  24  and the deployed privacy curtain  43 . 
     Closed space S comprises a volume and open space S also defines a volume. However, open space S comprises a volume that is larger than the volume of closed space S. 
     One of the advantages of the present invention is that it provides a far larger space S for changing and/or using the toilet, etc., than prior pop-up changing rooms. The most preferred size of space S in the deployed, open state of  FIG. 6  comprises a height H of within the range of 75 to 80 inches, with 77 inches being most optimal. The most preferred length L of space S is in the range of 44 to 52 inches, with 48 inches being most optimal. Finally, space S, as is best shown in  FIG. 3 , comprises a most preferred width S in the range of 24 to 32 inches, with 28 inches being most optimal. 
     The present invention should not be considered limited to the particular examples described above, but rather should be understood to cover all aspects of the invention. Various modifications, equivalent processes, as well as numerous structures to which the present invention may be applicable will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art to which the present invention is directed upon review of the present specification.