Patent Publication Number: US-8534753-B1

Title: Entertainment chair system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a lounge chair system, more particularly to a system equipped with a television that can be positioned in front of the user&#39;s face while he/she is reclined. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many individuals find themselves waiting for extended periods of time, for example at airports, train stations, hospitals, on trains, on airplanes, buses, etc. The present invention features an entertainment chair system for providing a comfortable means of resting and being entertained. For example, the chair system provides a comfortable reclining seat equipped with a television that can be positioned in front of the user&#39;s face while he/she is reclined. 
     Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention features an entertainment chair system. In some embodiments, the system comprises a first half platform and a second half platform pivotally connected via a pivot point, the first half platform and the second half platform together form a reclining seat, the first half platform functions to support a user&#39;s back, neck, and head, and the second half platform functions to support a user&#39;s buttocks and legs, the first half platform is adapted to be reclined or elevated; a base having an inner compartment, the first half platform and the second half platform are mounted atop the base; a door disposed in the base, the door can move between at least an open position and a closed position respectively allowing and preventing access to the inner compartment of the base; a mounting system comprising a first arm pivotally attached to a first side of the first half platform and a second arm pivotally attached to a second side of the first half platform, both the first arm and the second arm support a television, the mounting system functions to position the television parallel to a top surface of the first half platform at or near the top end of the first half platform; and a dispensing system, the base is mounted atop the dispensing system, the dispensing system comprises items and a means of dispensing such items, wherein at least a button is operatively connected to the dispensing system wherein when the button is pressed the dispensing means is activated to dispense an item via a dispensing slot disposed in the dispensing system. 
     In some embodiments, a pad or a mattress is disposed on the first half platform, the second half platform, a portion thereof, or a combination thereof for comfort. In some embodiments, the door is positioned on a side of the base. In some embodiments, a door cavity is disposed in the second half platform, the door slides within the door cavity disposed between at least an open position and a closed position. In some embodiments, the entertainment chair system further comprises a handle disposed on the door for allowing a user to easily move the door between positions. In some embodiments, the handle is stored in a recess or slot disposed in the door such that the handle is flush with the door or second half platform when not in use. 
     In some embodiments, the mounting system is constructed from a material sufficiently flexible and rigid so as to allow for bending and positioning of the mounting system yet the mounting system remains in a fixed position after bending and positioning is completed. In some embodiments, the items include a pillow, a blanket, a towel, or food items. In some embodiments, the entertainment chair system further comprises a credit card reader system operatively connected to the television or to the door. In some embodiments, the credit card reader system comprises a timer/alarm system for alerting a user when time has expired. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the entertainment chair system of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the entertainment chair system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the entertainment chair system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed view of the credit card reader system entertainment chair system of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side cross sectional view of the entertainment chair system of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-5 , the present invention features an entertainment chair system  100  for providing a comfortable means of resting and being entertained. For example, the chair system  100  provides a comfortable reclining seat equipped with a television that can be positioned in front of the user&#39;s face while he/she is reclined. The system  100  can be set up so that users pay for use of the chair (for a certain length of time, for example). 
     The system  100  of the present invention comprises a first half platform  110  and a second half platform  120  pivotally connected (e.g., via a pivot point  130 , such as a hinge, etc.). Together the platforms  110 ,  120  form a reclining seat like a lounge chair. The platforms  110 ,  120  are padded for comfort. In some embodiments, a mattress  140  is mounted atop the platforms  110 ,  120  or a portion thereof. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the first half platform  110  functions to support a user&#39;s back, neck, and head, and the second half platform  120  functions to support a user&#39;s buttocks and legs. The first half platform  110  can be adjusted for a user&#39;s comfort. For example, the user can recline or elevate the first half platform  110  to an upright or fully recline position (or a position in between, etc.). 
     The platforms are mounted atop a base  150 . In some embodiments, the base comprises an inner compartment  152 , which may be used for storage purposes (e.g., for luggage  154 , etc.). For example a door  158  may be disposed in the base  150  that can move between multiple positions including but not limited to an open position and a closed position respectively allowing and preventing access to the inner compartment of the base  150 . The door  158  may be positioned in the second half platform  120  or on a side of the base  150 . For example, the door  158  may slide within a door cavity  156  in the second half platform  120  between an open position and a closed position (and/or other positions). The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned door placements. A handle  159  may be disposed on the door for allowing a user to easily move the door between the open and closed positions (see  FIG. 2 ). In some embodiments, the handle  159  can be stored in a recess or slot in the door  158  such that the handle  159  is flush with the door or second half platform  120  when not in use (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     The system  100  of the present invention further comprises a television  210  mounted on a mounting system  220 . The mounting system  220  functions to position the television  210  parallel to the first half platform  110  at the top end of the first half platform  110  such that the television  210  is directly in front of the user&#39;s face when he/she lies on the platforms  110 ,  120 . The mounting system  220  is pivotally attached to the first half platform via a second pivot point  260  (see  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ). As shown in  FIG. 2 , the mounting system  220  comprises a first arm pivotally attached to a first side of the first half platform  110  and a second arm pivotally attached to a second side of the first half platform  120 . Both arms support the television  210 . In some embodiments, the mounting system  220  is constructed from materials sufficiently flexible and rigid so as to allow for the bending and positioning of the mounting system  220  while remaining in a fixed position after then bending process is completed. Such materials are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     In some embodiments, the base  150  is mounted atop a dispensing system  280 , which functions to dispense items of interest to a user including but not limited to a pillow  282 , a blanket, a towel, food items (e.g., food items found in vending machines) etc. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the dispensing system  280  stores such items inside and when a particular button is pressed based on the user&#39;s choice, the dispensing system  280  dispenses the item out of a dispensing slot. 
     In some embodiments, the system  100  of the present invention is set up such that a user can pay to use the system  100  for a certain length of time. In some embodiments, the system  100  of the present invention further comprises a credit card reader system  310  for allowing a user to pay for use for a certain length of time. Credit card reader systems are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In some embodiments, the credit card reader system  310  comprises a timer/alarm system  320  for alerting a user when his/her time has expired. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the system  100  of the present invention comprises a power source for providing power to components of the system  100  including but not limited to the television  210 , the dispensing system  280 , and the credit card reader system  310 /alarm component  320 . The power source may include a battery  290  or an electrical outlet (e.g., via a power cord). In some embodiments, the power source (e.g., battery  290 ) is stored in the base  150  or the dispensing system  280 . 
     In some embodiments, the door  158  is designed to close only when a user has paid for a certain length of time. 
     The disclosures of the following U.S. patents are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein: U.S. Pat. No. 3,553,911; U.S. Pat. No. 3,556,088; U.S. Pat. No. 5,086,755; U.S. Pat. No. 3,923,134; U.S. Pat. No. 4,594,817; U.S. Pat. No. D336,999. 
     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. 
     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.