Patent Publication Number: US-2016242552-A1

Title: Seating device with storage

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit thereof from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/119,553 filed on Feb. 23, 2015, titled “Seat On Storage Trunk,” the entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates generally to a seating device for outdoor and/or recreational activities, and more specifically it relates to a seating device having a storage space. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Seating devices are used in outdoor/recreational activities, such as, for example, ice fishing, open water fishing, hunting, and the like. Similar to conventional chairs, those devices include a horizontal panel combined with a frame or legs to position the horizontal panel to a comfortable seating height. Those seating devices, however, are not equipped with many useful functionalities for outdoor activities, except for a few basic features such as foldability. Accordingly, there exists an unfulfilled need for a seating device that may provide various useful features for outdoor/recreational activities. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     One aspect of the present disclosure provides a seat storage assembly including a seating unit to support a user. The seat storage assembly includes a storage unit including a storage space, and a rail system that mounts to the storage unit. The rail system includes a first rail having a first sliding slot, and a second rail having a second sliding slot and extending in parallel with the first rail. 
     The storage unit may include a main body surrounding the storage space and have an opening exposing the storage space, and a lid covering the opening of the main body. The rail system may be affixed to an upper surface of the lid. 
     The seat storage assembly may further include a base that engages the rail system and supports the seating unit. The base may include a lower panel movable along the first sliding slot and the second sliding slot, an upper panel affixed to the seating unit; and a neck coupled between the lower panel and the upper panel. The neck may allow the upper panel to rotate independently from an orientation of the lower panel. 
     Each of the first rail and the second rail may include a bottom plate that attaches to the storage unit, a center frame having a head portion and a leg portion extending laterally from a sidewall of the head portion, and a top plate that attaches to the bottom plate with the leg portion of the center frame sandwiched therebetween. The bottom plate and the top plate may be wider than the leg portion of the center frame and in contact with the sidewall of the head portion. 
     Each of the first sliding slot and the second sliding slot may be located laterally adjacent to the leg portion of the center frame and between the bottom plate and the top plate. 
     The seating unit may include a horizontal portion mounted on the upper panel of the base and vertically supporting a user in a seating position, and a vertical portion connected to the horizontal portion and laterally supporting a back of the user in the seating position. 
     The seating unit may further include a reinforcement pattern formed on a bottom surface of the horizontal portion. The upper panel of the base may attach to the reinforcement pattern. 
     The seating unit may be foldable. The seating unit may include a pivot joint coupled between the horizontal portion and the vertical portion. The base may be height-adjustable. 
     According to another aspect of the disclosure, a seat storage assembly includes a storage unit including a storage space for holding an item, a rail system that attaches to the storage unit, and a seating unit that attaches to the rail system. 
     The seat storage assembly may further include a base that attaches to the rail system. The base may include a lower panel coupled to the rail system, an upper panel coupled to the seating unit, and a neck coupled between the lower panel and the upper panel. The neck may allow the upper panel to move independently from an orientation of the lower panel. 
     The rail system may include a first rail having a first sliding slot, and a second rail having a second sliding slot and extending in parallel with the first rail. 
     The seating unit may be foldable. The base may be height-adjustable. 
     According to yet another aspect of the disclosure, a seat storage assembly includes a storage unit that has a storage space and a lid, a rail system that attaches to the lid of the storage unit and includes a rail having a sliding slot, and a base that engages the rail system. 
     The rail may attach to the lid along a longitudinal direction of the storage unit. 
     The seat storage assembly may further include a seating unit that attaches to the base. The seating unit may include a first portion that supports the user in a first direction in the seating position, and a second portion that supports a back of the user in a second direction in the seating position. 
     The base may be height-adjustable. The rail system may include another rail that engages the base. 
     Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the disclosure may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the disclosure and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the disclosure as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the detailed description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. No attempt is made to show structural details of the disclosure in more detail than may be necessary for a fundamental understanding of the disclosure and the various ways in which it may be practiced. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an example of a seat storage assembly, which is constructed according to the principles of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  shows another perspective view of the seat storage assembly without a seating unit. 
         FIG. 3  shows a partial cross-sectional view of an example of a rail of the seat storage assembly. 
         FIG. 4A  shows an exploded side perspective view of a storage unit and a rail system of the seat storage assembly. 
         FIG. 4B  shows an enlarged exploded side perspective view of a portion of the storage unit and rail system shown in  FIG. 4A , indicated by circle A. 
         FIG. 5  shows a partial cross-sectional view of the rail and a swivel base of the seat storage assembly. 
         FIG. 6A  shows a bottom perspective view of a seating unit and the swivel base of the seat storage assembly. 
         FIG. 6B  shows an enlarged bottom perspective view of a portion of the seat storage assembly shown in  FIG. 6A , indicated by circle B. 
         FIG. 7A  shows a side perspective view of the storage unit and the seating unit of the seat storage assembly. 
         FIG. 7B  shows an enlarged side perspective view of a portion of the seat storage assembly shown in  FIG. 7A , indicated by circle C. 
         FIG. 8A  shows a side view of the swivel base adjusted to have a minimum height. 
         FIG. 8B  shows another side view of the swivel base adjusted to have a maximum height. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The disclosure and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with other embodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments of the disclosure. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the disclosure may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     The terms “including,” “comprising” and variations thereof, as used in this disclosure, mean “including, but not limited to,” unless expressly specified otherwise. 
     The terms “a,” “an,” and “the,” as used in this disclosure, means “one or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise. 
     Devices that are in communication with each other need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices that are in communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries. 
     Although process steps, method steps, or the like, may be described in a sequential order, such processes and methods may be configured to work in alternate orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be described does not necessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of the processes or methods described herein may be performed in any order practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously. 
     When a single device or article is described herein, it will be readily apparent that more than one device or article may be used in place of a single device or article. Similarly, where more than one device or article is described herein, it will be readily apparent that a single device or article may be used in place of the more than one device or article. The functionality or the features of a device may be alternatively embodied by one or more other devices which are not explicitly described as having such functionality or features. 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an example of a seat storage assembly  10 , which is constructed according to the principles of the disclosure. The assembly  10  may include a seating unit  100 , a storage unit  200 , and the like. The seating unit  100  may be slidingly movable and rotatable with respect to the storage unit  200 . The seating unit  100  may be configured to pivot with respect to the storage unit  200 . Also, the assembly  10  may be configured such that a height of the seating unit  100  may be adjusted. 
     The seating unit  100  may include a first seat portion  110 , a second seat portion  120 , and the like. The first seat portion  110  may be substantially horizontal and constructed to vertically support a user in a seating position. The second seat portion  120  may be substantially vertical and constructed to horizontally support a back of the user in the seating position. The seating unit  110  may support the user in an orthopnea position, in a fowler position, or the like. 
     The seating unit  100  may be foldable, which may be useful especially when being transported or stored. For example, the first seat portion  110  and the second seat portion  120  may be connected via pivot joints  140 A,  140 B. When pushed from behind (or pulled from the front), the second portion  120  may pivotally move in a direction shown by arrow X and may rest over the first seating portion  110 . Optionally, the seating unit  100  may include a spring mechanism (not shown) that may be biased to fold the second seat portion  120  atop the first seat portion  110 , or to unfold the second seat portion  120  into a seating configuration as seen in  FIG. 1 . 
     The seating unit  100  may include a plurality of openings for ventilation, draining liquid, and the like. For example, a large opening  130  may be formed between the first seat portion  110  and the second seat portion  120  to cool the user&#39;s lower back. The first seat portion  110  may include a plurality of openings  116  to cool the user&#39;s lower body. 
     The storage unit  200  may include a main body  210 , a lid  220  and the like. The main body  210  may have a bottom wall and a plurality of sidewalls that form an inner storage space for holding one or more items. An opening exposing the inner storage space may be formed at an upper portion of the main body  210 , which may be covered by the lid  220 . The lid  220  may be removably attached to the main body  210 . The lid  220  may be pivotally or slidingly attached to the main body  210 , so as to allow access to the inner storage by sliding or pivoting the lid  220  with respect to the main body  210 . The main body  210  may include one or more fasteners  230  to keep the storage unit  200  closed. 
       FIG. 2  shows the assembly  10  without the seating unit  100 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the assembly  10  may include a rail system  300 , a swivel base  400 , and the like, which may allow the seating unit  100  to slidingly move and swivel over the storage unit  200 . The rail system  300  may include a pair of rails  300 A,  300 B, which may be formed on or attached to an upper surface of the lid  220  and extend in parallel along a longitudinal (or transverse) direction of the storage unit  200 . The rail system  300  may include a single rail (not shown) such as, for example, an I-beam shaped rail (not shown). The rail system  300  may include three or more rails (not shown). The swivel base  400  may slidingly engage the rail system  300 . The swivel base  400  may also be connected to and support the seating unit  100 , which may allow the seating unit  100  to swivel. In addition, the swivel base  400  may be height-adjustable. 
     The storage unit  200  and rail system  300  may be used with one or more accessories instead of or in addition to the seating unit  100 . For instance, a rod holder (not shown) for holding surf-fishing rods may be coupled to the rail system  300 . The rod holder (not shown) may be coupled simultaneously with the seating unit  100 , or by itself. 
       FIG. 3  shows a cross sectional view of the rail  300 A. The rail  300 A may include a base plate  310 , a center frame  320 , a top plate  330 , and/or the like. The base plate  310 , center frame  320  and top plate  330  may be assembled and affixed to each other to form the rail  300 A. Alternatively, the base plate  310 , center frame  320  and top plate  330  may be formed as a single structure to form the rail  300 A. The base plate  310 , center frame  320  and top plate  330  may include materials that provide optimal strength, weight, and friction properties. For instance, the base plate  310  may include a material such as, for example, a durable lightweight polymer, or the like, that provides minimal friction along the surface while simultaneously; the center frame  320  may include a material such as, for example, steel, aluminum, or the like, that provides optimal strength and durability; and, the top plate  330  may include a material similar to that provided in the base plate  310  and/or the center frame  320 , or a material that is different, as understood by those skilled in the art. 
     The center frame  320  may have a head portion  322  and a neck portion  324 . The neck portion  324  may extend horizontally from a middle portion of a sidewall  326  of the head portion  322 . The head portion  322  may have a substantially rectangular shape, as seen in  FIG. 3 . The head portion  322  may have any other shape, such as, for example, a circle, an ellipse, a semi-circle, or the like. 
     The rail  300 A may be formed by, for example, placing the base plate  310  on the upper surface of the lid  220 , placing the center frame  320  on the upper surface of the lid  220  and the upper surface of the base plate  310 , and placing the top plate  330  on the upper surface of the center frame  320 . In this regard, a surface of the head portion  322  may be placed atop of the lid  220  and a surface of the neck portion  324  may be placed on the base plate  310 . The top plate  330  may be placed on the neck portion  324  such that the neck portion  324  of the center frame  320  is sandwiched between the base plate  310  and top plate  330  to form a sliding slot  305 . 
     The base plate  310 , the center frame  320  and the top plate  330  may have substantially the same length, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The base plate  310  and the top plate  330  may, however, be wider than the neck portion  324  of the center frame  320 . The base plate  310  and top plate  330  may be in contact with the sidewall  326  of the head portion  322 . The smaller width of the neck portion  324  may create the sliding slot  305  between the base plate  310  and the top plate  330 . The base plate  310 , neck portion  324  and top plate  330  may include a plurality of openings that may be aligned and are configured to receive a plurality of corresponding fasteners to fasten and secure the rail  300 A to the lid  220 . The rail  300 B may be constructed in a similar but symmetrical manner on the lid  220 . 
       FIG. 4A  shows an exploded perspective view of the storage unit  200  and the rail system  300 .  FIG. 4B  shows an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the storage unit  200  and the rail system  300  shown in  FIG. 4A , indicated by a circle A. The rail  300 A may be affixed to the lid  220  using fasteners such as, for example, bolts  340 , washers  342 , nuts  344 , and/or the like. As noted earlier, the base plate  310  may include a plurality of openings  312 . The lid  220  may also include a plurality of openings  222 , which may be formed to correspond to the openings  312  of the base plate  310 . Similarly, the center frame  320  and the top plate  330  may also include a plurality of openings (not shown), which may be formed to correspond to the openings  222  and openings  312 . The base plate  310  may be affixed to the lid  220  using fasteners such as, for example, screws  314  or the like, such that the openings  312  are aligned with the openings  222  of the lid  220 . The center frame  320  and the top plate  330  may then be mounted on the base plate  310 , and the bolts  340 , the washers  342 , the nuts  344 , and/or the like, may be used to affix the entire assembly of the rail  300 A to the lid  220 , as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . The rail  300 B may also be affixed to the lid  220  in a similar manner. 
       FIG. 5  shows a partial cross sectional view of the swivel base  400  in a slidingly engaged position with respect to the rail  300 A. The swivel base  400  may include a bottom panel  410 , a top panel  420 , and a swivel neck  430 . The swivel neck  430  may include a bottom interface layer  432  and a top interface layer  434 . 
     The bottom interface layer  432  may be affixed to the bottom panel  410 , and the top interface layer  434  may be affixed to the top panel  420 . The bottom panel  410  may slidingly engage the rails  300 A,  300 B. For example, an edge portion  415  of the bottom panel  410  may be slidingly placed in the sliding slot  305 . The edge portion  415  may be mounted on the base plate  310  such that the swivel base  400  does not contact the lid  220 . The top plate  330  may cover the edge portion  415  to prevent the swivel base  400  from departing from the rail  300 A. The neck portion  324  of the center frame  320  may be slightly thicker than the edge portion  415  of the bottom panel  410 , which may provide a clearance for the bottom panel  410  to slidingly move along the sliding slot  305 . The bottom panel  410  and the rail  300 B may also be engaged in a similar manner. 
     The top panel  420  may be affixed to a bottom surface of the first seat portion  110  of the seating unit  100 . The swivel neck  430  may allow the top panel  420  to freely swivel regardless of an orientation of the bottom panel  410 . The swivel neck  430  may be configured to pivot, thereby allowing the top panel  420  to pivot with respect to the bottom panel  410 . Hence, the user sitting on the assembly  10  may slidingly move the seating unit  100  along the rail system  300  while rotating the seating unit  100  to face any direction. 
       FIG. 6A  shows a bottom perspective view of the seating unit  100  and the swivel base  400 .  FIG. 6B  shows an enlarged bottom perspective view of a portion of the seating unit  100  and the swivel base  400  shown in  FIG. 6A , indicated by circle B. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6A and 6B  concurrently, the top panel  420  of the swivel base  400  may include a plurality of openings  422 , which may be formed at corners of the top panel  420 . The bottom panel  410  may also have a plurality of openings  412  at corners thereof. The top panel  420  and bottom panel  410  may be configured to be interchangeable. The seating unit  100  may include a reinforcement pattern  112 , which may be formed on the first seat portion  110 , such as, for example, on a bottom surface. The reinforcement pattern  112  may include a plurality of receivers  114 , which may be located corresponding to the openings  422  of the top panel  420 , respectively. The top panel  420  of the swivel base  400  may be affixed to the bottom surface of the first seat portion  110  using fasteners such as, for example, bolts  116 , washers  118 , and/or the like. The receivers  114  may be configured receive the fasteners so as to secure the top panel  420  to the first seat portion  110 . 
       FIG. 7A  shows a perspective view of the assembly  10 ; and  FIG. 7B  shows an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the assembly  10  shown in  FIG. 7A , indicated by circle C. Referring to  FIGS. 7A, 7B  concurrently, the seating unit  100  may be separated from the storage unit  200  for easier transportation and storage. As noted above with reference to  FIG. 1 , the seating unit  100  may be configured to fold. The seating unit  100  may be attached to the storage unit  200  by pushing the bottom panel  410  of the swivel base  400  into the sliding slots  305  (shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 ) of the rails  300 A,  300 B. The sliding slots  305  maybe lubricated. Alternatively or additionally, rolling bearings (not shown), such as, for example, balls, shafts, rods, or the like, may be formed in the sliding slots  305  to reduce a coefficient of kinetic (and/or static) friction between the bottom panel  410  slide and the surface of the base plate  310  (or top plate  330 ). The assembly  10  may include one or more stops (not shown), which may engage ends of the rails  300 A,  300 B to prevent the swivel base  400  from escaping from the rail system  300 . The assembly  10  may include a position locking mechanism (not shown) that may be configured to lock the swivel base  400  with respect to the rail system  300 . 
     The locking mechanism may include, for example, a pin (not shown) that may be placed through one or more openings in the top plate  330  into the sliding slot  305  in corresponding one or more predetermined locations. The pin may be configured to engage a corresponding opening (not shown) on the portion of the swivel base  400  in the sliding slot  305 , thereby securing the swivel base  400  in one or more predetermined locations in the rail system  300 . The locking mechanism may include other known methodologies for securing an article such as a portion of the bottom plate  410  in guide channels similar to the sliding slot  305 . 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  show side views of the swivel base  400  in different heights. As mentioned above, the swivel base  400  may be height-adjustable. More specifically, the swivel base  400  may be constructed with conventional screw and nut mechanism (not shown), which may allow the seating unit  100  to be raised by rotating the seating unit  100  in a counter-clockwise direction and to be lowered by rotating the seating unit  100  in a clockwise direction. Alternatively, the swivel base  400  may include a hydraulic pump (not shown), which may be actuated by pushing a lever, a foot pedal or the like.  FIG. 8A  shows the swivel neck  430  adjusted to have a minimum height.  FIG. 8B  shows the swivel neck  430  adjusted to have a maximum height. As such, the swivel base  400  may allow the user to raise or lower a height of the seating unit  100  for a more comfortable seating position. 
     While the disclosure has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure can be practiced with modifications in the spirit and scope of the appended claim, drawings and attachment. The examples provided herein are merely illustrative and are not meant to be an exhaustive list of all possible designs, embodiments, applications or modifications of the disclosure.