Patent Publication Number: US-11375815-B1

Title: Shampoo chair for use with sink

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to chairs, and more particularly, is concerned with a foldable chair which is used for shampooing the hair of a user in conjunction with a sink. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Devices relevant to the present invention have been described in the related art; however, none of the related art devices disclose the unique features of the present invention. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 3,674,306 dated Jul. 4, 1972, Botney disclosed a compact folding chair. In U.S. Pat. No. Des. 134,863 dated Jan. 26, 1943, Nordmark disclosed a folding chair. In U.S. Pat. No. Des. 171,240 dated Dec. 29, 1953, Wiegel disclosed a folding chair. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,255,344 dated Jun. 7, 1966, Suuronen disclosed a multiple use chair. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,550 dated May 21, 2002, Paredes, Jr., et al., disclosed a personal hygiene seat assembly. In U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0229492 dated Sep. 25, 2008, Jamieson disclosed a reclining, foldable shampoo chair for a bath. In U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0096636 dated Apr. 26, 2012, Gillespie disclosed a portable shampoo bowl and chair. 
     While these devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as hereinafter described. As will be shown by way of explanation and drawings, the present invention works in a novel manner and differently from the related art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses a shampoo chair which reclines and is foldable having an adjustable water catch at the upper end of its back portion for use with a sink while shampooing or dying the hair of a user. The present invention has a seat portion upon which the user can sit comfortably wherein the back portion is hingedly attached to the seat portion. Legs are provided and attached to the seat portion and are also foldable, along with left and right arm rests so that the user can sit comfortably in the chair portion of the present invention. The upper end of the back portion is also provided with a U-shaped cutout for receiving the neck of the user wherein the water catch has a mating U-shaped cutout so that when the user reclines in the chair portion of the present invention the neck of the user is comfortable and the water catch has an upstanding flange on the upper edge of the U-shaped portion which catches all the water and directs it into the sink. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a portable shampoo chair for use with a sink. A further object of the present invention is to provide a shampoo chair for use with a sink so that all of the water placed on the hair of the user is directed into the sink. A further object of the present invention is to provide a shampoo chair which can be folded for easy storage. A further object of the present invention is to provide a shampoo chair which has a U-shaped cutout at the upper end of its back portion so that the user can recline comfortable in the chair portion of the present invention. A further object of the present invention is to provide a shampoo chair which can be easily operated by a user. A further object of the present invention is to provide a shampoo chair which can be relatively easily and inexpensively manufactured. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the present invention shown in operative connection with a sink. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the present invention in the folded position. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the present invention in the folded position. 
         FIG. 5  is a rear view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     With regard to reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the drawings.
           10  present invention     12  sink     14  user     16  hair     18  assistant     20  frame     22  front leg frame     24  rear leg frame     26  floor     28  pivot     30  seat portion     32  seat frame support member     34  brace for arm rests     36  back portion     38  left arm rest     40  right arm rest     42  back pivot connection     44  pivot connection     46  back frame portion     48  adjustable bracket     50  notches     52  water catch     54  pivot connection     56  countertop     58  left flange     60  right flange     62  U-shaped cutout     64  U-shaped cutout     66  flange of U-shaped cutout     68  faucet/showerhead apparatus     70  faucet/shower hose     72  first end of faucet/shower hose     74  second end of faucet/shower hose     78  water     80  drain     82  edge of sink drainage bowl     84  pivot connection     86  pivot connection     88  cross member     90  sliding bracket     92  planar portion     94  space       

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail at least one embodiment of the present invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the present invention to the particular embodiments described herein since practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For a definition of the complete scope of the invention the reader is directed to the appended claims.  FIGS. 1 through 6  illustrate the present invention wherein a shampoo chair for use with a sink is disclosed and which is generally indicated by reference number  10 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 1-6 , therein is shown the present invention  10  for use with a sink generally shown at  12  wherein a user  14  can shampoo or dye her hair  16  in the comfort of one&#39;s own home, e.g., a kitchen. It is understood that an assistant  18  could be available, such as a helper, for giving the user  14  a shampoo or hair dye using the present invention  10 .  FIG. 1  shows the assistant  18  standing at the head of the user  14  but the assistant could also stand to either side of the user. Also, it should be clear that the present invention  10  is foldable for easy storage as will be illustrated in the drawings as we proceed through the disclosure of this specification. 
     The present invention  10  includes a support frame  20  which are legs upon which the present invention rests which includes a front leg frame section  22  and a rear leg frame section  24  so that the lower ends of the front and rear frame sections can rest on a supporting surface such as a floor  26  wherein the upper ends of the front and rear leg frame sections are pivotally connected at  28  to the lower sides of the seat portion  30  on the front and rear edges of the seat frame support member  32 . A back portion is shown at  36  upon which the back of the user  14  rests along with left and right arm rests  38 ,  40  which are pivotally joined to the back at  42  and to the seat portion at  44  wherein the pivoted connections are provided so that the chair can be easily folded. A brace  34  for the arm rests is also shown. The back portion  36  is attached to an underlying support frame portion  46  which supports the back portion and which back frame portion is pivotally joined at bracket  48  to a rear edge of the seat portion  30  so that the back portion  36  can be easily adjusted angularly as it moves from a first position to a second position and to other positions wherein the adjustable bracket  48  is provided with multiple stops so that the chair back portion  36  can be frictionally held in its various angular positions relative to the seat portion  30 . The adjustable pivoting bracket member  48  is provided with a plurality of notches which frictionally hold the back frame portion  46  in place as it is angularly adjusted. Also shown is a cross member  88  for securing the upper end of legs  24  to the bottom of seat portion  30  along with a sliding bracket  90  with space  94  which surrounds and contains the upper end of legs  24  therein so the leg  24  can slide therein. Also shown is a water catch  52  which is disposed at the upper end of the back portion  36  which water catch is pivotally connected at  54  so that water placed on the hair  16  of the user  14  can be directed into the sink  12  of the countertop  56  of the bathroom or kitchen cabinet or other suitable area that the user  14  chooses to use. The water catch  52  also includes left and right upstanding flange members on its left and right edges  58 ,  60  which capture and direct all water runoff into the sink  12 . Also shown is a U-shaped cutout  62  on the upper end of the back portion  36  wherein the water catch  52  has a mating U-shaped cutout  64  built into its mating edge which also includes an upwardly standing flange  66  which prevents water from escaping and directs the water into the sink  12  as the user or assistant  18  sprays water onto the hair  16  of the user. The assistant  18  is shown holding a faucet/shower head apparatus  68  which includes a flexible conduit or hose  70  which has a first end  72  and a second end  74  which would be connected to a water faucet or like water source (not shown) of the sink  12  as would be done in the standard manner by one skilled in the art. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 3-4 , therein is shown the present invention  10  in the folded position. Previously disclosed elements are also shown. Also shown in  FIG. 3  are the U-shaped cutout  62  of the back portion  36  along with its mating U-shaped cutout  64  of the water catch  52  along with the flange  66  of the U-shaped cutout on the water catch. 
     Turning to  FIG. 5 , therein is shown the rear side view of the present invention  10 . Previously disclosed elements are also shown including the back frame portion  46  upon which the back portion  36  is mounted. Also shown are the U-shaped cutout  62  of the back portion  36  along with its mating U-shaped cutout  64  of the water catch  52 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 6 , therein is shown a bottom view of the present invention  10  showing the bottom of the seat portion  30  having a cross member  88  for securing the upper end of legs  24  to the bottom of seat portion  30  along with a sliding bracket  90  with space  94  surrounds and contains the upper end of legs  24  therein thereby allowing the upper end of legs  24  to slid therein to the front and rear so that the legs can be easily moved into and out of the folded position as shown in  FIGS. 3-4 . 
     In operation, the user  14  would place the present invention  10  in the user&#39;s kitchen, bathroom or other suitable area in close proximity to a sink  12  so that the user  14  or assistant  18  could shampoo the hair  16  of the user  14  as the hair is placed into the sink  12  wherein water  78  from the faucet/shower head apparatus  68  would be directed onto the hair  16  of the user  14  and then onto the water catch  52  and thereafter into the drain  80  of the sink  12  so that the water  78  is hygienically and safely removed down the drain  80  of the sink  12  as would be done in the standard manner. The user  14  could adjust the present invention  10  so that the back portion  36  was at a comfortable angle relative to the sink  12  and the neck of the user  14  could rest comfortably in the U-shaped cutout  62  of the chair and the U-shaped cutout  66  of the water catch  52  so that the neck of the user  14  would be comfortable during the shampooing experience. 
     Left and right side designations regarding the present invention  10  as shown in  FIG. 1  are interpreted from the view of one seated in the seat portion  30  and facing in the direction of the front of the chair, i.e., toward his/her feet; the rear of the present invention  10  would be in the direction of the back  36 . Also, lines with arrowheads are sometimes placed on drawings to indicate potential motion or direction of movement of an item illustrated in the drawing. 
     In way of summary and by reference to  FIGS. 1-6 , the present invention shows a shampoo chair  10  for use with a sink  12  for shampooing hair  16  of a user  14 , including a seat member  30  upon which the user can sit with a back member  36  joined to a rear end of the seat member and extending upwardly therefrom for supporting a back of the user; a plurality of legs  22 ,  24  for supporting the seat member with a water catch  52  pivotally connected to an upper end of the back member, the water catch having a planar portion  92  having left  58  and right  60  upwardly extending flanges thereon, wherein the left flange is disposed on a left edge of the water catch and the right flange is disposed on a right edge of the water catch for channeling water into the sink; a first U-shaped cutout  62  disposed on the upper end of the back member for receiving a neck of the user; a second U-shaped cutout  64  disposed in the planar portion of the water catch for receiving the neck of the user, wherein the second U-shaped cutout is proximate to the first U-shaped cutout, wherein the second U-shaped cutout is pivotal at  54  along with the water catch relative to the first U-shaped cutout, providing a third upwardly extending flange  66  disposed along the second U-shaped cutout for channeling water into the sink; and wherein the first and second U-shaped cutout each have an open end, wherein each open end faces each other for receiving the neck of the user therein. 
     Also shown is a left and a right seat frame support member  32 , wherein the seat member is joined to the left and right seat frame support member, wherein the seat member is fixedly connected to the left and right seat frame support member with a back frame member  46 , wherein the back member is attached to the back frame member, wherein the back frame member is pivotally joined at  48  to the rear end of the seat member wherein the back frame member is angularly adjustable at  50  in a range of about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane with a front leg member  22  having an upper end pivotally connected to the seat frame support member and a lower end for resting upon a support surface and a rear leg member  24  having an upper end movably connected to a lower surface of the seat member and a lower end for resting upon a support surface; further, a left and a right arm rest  38 ,  40  wherein a rear end of each left and right arm rests are pivotally joined to the back frame member, further comprising a brace  34  for each of the left and right arm rest pivotally connected to the seat frame support member.