Patent Publication Number: US-9402481-B2

Title: Sport seating system and method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/456,793, filed Aug. 11, 2014, which claims priority in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/864,254, filed Aug. 9, 2013, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to seating, and in particular to a system and method for providing adjustable, multi-purpose seating for sports and other activities. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Hunters, especially bow hunters, require a place to sit and wait for game. Often this will be a transportable chair or a semi-permanent tree stand. Other sports and outdoor activities in the wilderness require similar seating. 
     Existing hunting stands and hunting chairs either require semi-permanent installation of a tree stand in a tree, which then cannot be moved, or rely on standard portable chairs which are carried out into the wilderness where they are not optimally suited. Most portable chairs are heavy and difficult to carry long distances, or are cheaply made and do not stand up to the rigors of the sport or activity for which they would need to facilitate. Ideal sporting chairs also include the ability to store equipment, such as a hunting bow, when the chair is not in use. Most could not stand on their own when loaded in such a way. 
     What is needed is a versatile, sturdy sporting chair which can be easily transported deep into the wilderness by a single person. Heretofore there has not been available a sporting chair system with the advantages and features of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally provides a sport or hunting chair which can be adapted to various sizes and configurations of seating. The chair system includes numerous detachable elements, such as legs and arms, which can be placed in different configurations for transport or working use. The chair system can stand on an included base or be strapped to a tree, and will provide suitable seating for any sport or outdoor activity. Additionally, this device can provide seating for relatively large individuals. 
     Attachments can accommodate both right-handed and left-handed occupants using archery equipment, firearms, fishing tackle and other devices and equipment. The seating system is both portable and adjustable for use in wilderness areas and for supporting occupants at various heights. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrating various objects and features thereof. 
         FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the frame in an assembled configuration. 
         FIG. 2  is a front isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a seat back being placed on the frame. 
         FIG. 3  is a front isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a seat being placed on the frame. 
         FIG. 4  is a front isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in an assembled, working configuration. 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the various components which make up the frame of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a rear exploded isometric view of two components of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a rear isometric view thereof, showing the components assembled. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded isometric view of the frame of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a front isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention being assembled into a transport configuration. 
         FIG. 10  is a continuation thereof, showing the assembled embodiment in a transport configuration. 
         FIG. 11  is a front isometric view of an alternative arrangement of a preferred embodiment shown in a typical environment. 
         FIG. 12  is a rear exploded isometric of two components of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a rear isometric view thereof, showing the components assembled. 
         FIG. 14  is an isometric view of an element featured in an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is another isometric view thereof, showing an alternative arrangement of the element. 
         FIG. 16  is an isometric view of the alternative embodiment first mentioned in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 17  is an exploded isometric view of another element featured in another alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  is an isometric view thereof. 
         FIG. 19  is an isometric view of the alternative embodiment first mentioned in  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 20  is an isometric view of another element featured in yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 21  is another isometric view thereof, showing an alternative arrangement of the element. 
         FIG. 22  is an isometric view of the alternative embodiment first mentioned in  FIG. 20 . 
         FIG. 23  is an isometric view of yet another alternative arrangement of the present invention. 
         FIG. 24  is an isometric view of yet another alternative arrangement of the present invention, featuring elements of  FIGS. 20-22 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     I. Introduction and Environment 
     As required, detailed aspects of the disclosed subject matter are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
     Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as orientated in the view being referred to. The words, “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning. 
     II. Preferred Embodiment Sporting Chair System  2   
     The sporting chair system  2  frame as shown in  FIG. 1  is formed from many interlocking, interchangeable elements. A center crossbar  4  is bolted to a base  6  via a bolt  30  and wing nut  40 , and is further secured via a mounting pin  34 . A pair of upstanding backrest arms  8  are inserted into the crossbar  4 . Each backrest arm  8  includes a button clip  20  which is received in a button clip receiver located in the crossbar  4 . This allows for the backrest arm  8  to be selectively removed. Each backrest arm  8  also includes a strap receiver loop  16  for receive a strap hook  59  connected to a shoulder strap  55  when the sporting chair system  2  is placed in a transport configuration. The center crossbar  4  also includes a gusset  57  to brace and prevent the center crossbar from bending, specifically when the sporting chair system  2  is mounted to a tree  58 . 
     The center crossbar  4  may include drainage holes (not shown) in its bottom face, preferably located below the backrest arms, for draining water from the frame. This may be necessary since the backrest arms  8  are hollow and open at the top. 
     A pair of seat arms  11 ,  13  are similarly connected to the crossbar  4  and secured via button clips  20 . One seat arm  13  includes a double button clip  20 , having one clip located on the top and another on the bottom of the arm  13 . This arm receives a holder  14  which is used to hold a bow or other item (not shown) when not in use. The holder  14  includes a number of holder pins  24  bolted to a holder base plate  26  connected to a holder elbow  22 . The holder includes a button clip receiver hole  28  on each face of the elbow  22 , which allows the holder  14  to be rotated as the user requires, and allows the system  2  to accommodate right-handed and left-handed hunters. The seat arms  11 ,  13  thus may be placed on either end of the center crossbar  4  as needed. 
     The base includes a number of bolt receivers  32  and pin receivers  36  for receiving the mounting bolt  30  and mounting pin  34  respectively. The base also features a 4-way receiver  7  which allows four legs  12  to be secured to the base  6  using button clips  20 , similar to the arms above. One leg includes a ground stake  64  secured to a ground stake hole  66  via a retaining cable  68 . This spike is used to provide additional security to the leg located opposite the holder  14 , such that when the holder  14  is holding an object, but no one is sitting in the chair, the chair will not tip over. The stake  64  may be temporarily stored within the hollow body of a leg  12 . All legs could potentially have a separate ground stake  64 . The legs  12  may be unclipped from the base  6  and inserted into receivers  18  when the chair is transformed into a transport configuration as shown in  FIGS. 9-10  and discussed in more detail below. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a backrest  42  is placed over the backrest arms  8  when the chair system  2  is in a working configuration. As further shown in  FIG. 3 , a seat  44  is similarly placed over the seat arms  11 ,  13 . The backrest  42  and seat  44  are made of a waterproof, durable material. They are easily removable from the frame so that the chair system frame may be left in the wilderness without worrying about additional weathering of the seat and backrest material.  FIG. 4  shows an entirely assembled sporting chair system  2  in a working position, including both the backrest  42  and the seat  44 . The ground stake  64  is employed to secure the chair to the ground. 
       FIG. 5  shows all of the various elements which make up the frame of the sporting chair system  2 , including a mounting bracket  10  for mounting the chair to a tree  58  or other object, as shown in more detail in  FIG. 11 . Also shown are the backrest arm receiver holes  46  and seat arm receiver holes  48  for connecting the backrest arms  8  and seat arms  11 ,  13  to the central crossbar  4 . 
       FIGS. 6-7  show how the crossbar  4  connects with the base  6  from another view, focusing on the mounting bracket  52  which includes the gusset  57 . A pair of tower guide tabs  50  help to line up the base and keep the center crossbar  4  stable. The mounting pin  34  is threaded through a mounting pin receiver hole  54  in the gusset  57 , through the pin receiver holes  36  in the base  6 , and is pinned with a cotter pin  38  to prevent the mounting pin from being removed accidentally. The mounting bolt  30  is similarly threaded through a bolt hole  56  in the crossbar  4  and through bolt holes  32  in the base  6 . The bolt  30  is secured via a wing nut  40  or other suitable nut. 
       FIG. 8  shows the sporting chair system  2  as the components would be assembled to form a working configuration, or disassembled from a working configuration.  FIG. 9  similarly shows how the components, including the legs  12  and seat arms  11 ,  13  would be reassembled into a transport configuration, shown completely assembled at  FIG. 10 . Note that the base  6  and the crossbar  4  are connected in a more compact configuration by changing which bolt hole receivers on the base are bolted to the crossbar via the mounting bolt  30 .  FIG. 10  further shows how a strap  55  is hooked to the backrest arms  8  via a pair of hooks  59 , each hooked through a receiving loop  16  in the backrest arms  8 . The strap allows a person to simply transport the sporting chair system  2  when in a transport configuration. The chair is designed such that the weight is distributed comfortably in such a configuration. 
       FIG. 11  shows how the sporting chair system  2  can be converted to be anchored to a tree  58 . The mounting bracket  10  is affixed to the crossbar  4  in place of the base  6 , as shown in  FIGS. 12-13 . The bracket is used to hook a pair of ratchet straps hooks  62  to the chair, and then to wrap the ratchet straps  60  around a tree  58 . The straps can then be tightened and the chair becomes anchored to the tree. The connection between the bracket  10  and the crossbar  4  is such that when the ratchet straps  60  are tightened, it pulls the seat upwards, counteracting the weight of the user sitting in the chair. 
     The bracket  10  is mounted to the crossbar  4  via the same mounting pin  34  used to mount the base  6  to the crossbar. This is shown in  FIGS. 12-13 . Note that the bracket  10  does contain several bolt holes which could be used to further bolt the bracket to the crossbar or to store the bracket on the base  6  when the bracket is not in use. These holes can also be used to hold the ratchet strap hooks  62  temporarily while setting the ratchet straps up. For example, the first ratchet strap will not sufficiently grip the inner edge of the bracket as shown in  FIG. 11  until the second strap is sufficiently tightened. The holes through the bracket  10  allow the hooks  62  to be temporarily placed through those holes to hold the seat in place as the second strap is installed. The hooks can then be moved as shown in  FIG. 11 . The preferred manner of gripping the bracket  10  with the hooks  62  is as shown in  FIG. 11 , as this provides the proper torque to the seat to counteract the user&#39;s weight, while ensuring that the bracket  10  is held firmly against the tree  58 . 
     As stated above and documented through the figures, the primary purpose of the sporting chair system  2  is to provide a reliable, sturdy sporting chair which can be transformed from a working configuration to a transport configuration quickly and easily, and which is easily transportable once converted. The chair system  2  must be versatile, strong, and balanced. The present invention can hold the heaviest bow on the market within the holder  14  with no user seated in the chair without tipping over, and that is without using the ground stake  64 . 
     III. Alternative Embodiment Sporting Chair System  102   
       FIGS. 14-16  show a slightly alternative sporting chair system  102  which incorporates a removable bracket  104  which may be used to mount accessory elements to the standard sporting chair  2 . The removable bracket  104  can be removed and mounted to a tree  58  as shown in  FIGS. 23-24 , and which feature will be described in more detail below. While mounted to the standard sporting chair  2 , the removable bracket  104  is capable of mounting accessories as shown in  FIGS. 17-22 , and which features will be described in more detail below. 
     The removable bracket  104  includes two sets of angled mounting ribs  110  which are used to brace against a tree  58  or other surface to prevent the bracket  104  from rotating laterally when the bracket is mounted against the tree or surface. One pair of mounting ribs  110  is welded or otherwise permanently affixed to a first end of the mounting bracket  104  which includes a mounting stem  127  which branches away from the main bracket body  106  of the removable bracket, and which is intended to receive and connect with other accessories. The other pair of mounting ribs  110  is affixed to a slide  108 , which may be slid from one end of the bracket  104  to the other. The slide is confined by a pushbutton clip  120  and the stem  127  and second set of mounting ribs  110 , as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . The main bracket body may be inserted into one or more of the receiver openings in the standard sporting chair  2  as shown in  FIG. 16 , allowing the removable bracket  104  to be stored temporarily when not mounted against a tree or other surface, while also providing a solid position for mounting an accessory. The mounting stem  127  includes pushbutton receivers  128 . 
     IV. Alternative Embodiment Sporting Chair System  152   
       FIGS. 17-19  show another alternative sporting chair system  152  employing the sporting chair  2  and the removable bracket  104 . An accessory mounting system  154  is attached to the mounting stem  127  of the removable bracket  104 . 
     The primary piece of the accessory mounting system  154  is a mounting tree  155 . The mounting tree includes pushbutton clips  120  for connecting with other elements, including the removable bracket  104  mounting stem  127  as shown in  FIG. 19 . The mounting tree  155  includes a number of flanges  162  or racks which may be used for mounting different tools, accessories, bows, or other purposes useful for sporting. 
     The main trunk  156  of the mounting tree  155  includes a pair of upper branches  160  and one lower branch  158  running perpendicular to the main trunk. These branches typically include pushbutton clips  120  for connecting with other elements. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 17-19 , a pivot connector  172  may connect with one of the upper branches  160  via a first connecting stem  174  with pushbutton receivers  128  for receiving the pushbutton clips  120  located on corresponding parts, such as the upper branches  160  of the mounting tree  155 . 
     The pivot connector  172  also includes a second connecting stem  176  which is pivotally connected to the first connecting stem  174  by a pivot screw  178 . The pivot screw as shown in the figures uses a wingnut  180  to help adjust the pivotability of the pivot connector  172 . 
     The second connecting stem  176  has a bolt hole  184  which receives a bolt  182  which is then secured by a nut  186 . This bolt  182  is used to connect accessories to the pivot connector, one example being a bow holder  194  as shown in  FIGS. 17-19 . The bow holder  194  is substantially similar to the bow holder  14  disclosed previously. Here, the bow holder  194  includes prongs  196  for holding a bow or crossbow (not shown), and includes a stem  188  which has a screw  190  for connecting the stem  188  to a round-to-square connector  187 . This connector allows the bow holder  194  to connect to the pivot mount  172 ; however, any feasible means of connecting the bow holder accessory, or any accessory, back to the pivot connector  172  or even directly to the mounting system  154  would be sufficient. 
     Fig. shows how the sporting chair system  152  using the sporting chair  2 , the accessory mounting system  154 , and the removable bracket  104  connects together. 
     V. Alternative Embodiment Sporting Chair System  202   
       FIGS. 20-22  show yet another alternative sporting chair system  202  utilizing the original sporting chair  2 , the removable bracket  104 , the accessory mounting system  154 , and an accessory arm  204  for mounting and suspending accessories  224 , such as cameras, around the chair  2 . Cameras are often used by sportsmen and sportswomen for capturing their feats. Some examples include GoPro® cameras manufactured by GoPro, Inc. of San Mateo, Calif. and other action cameras, including but not limited to the Garmin Virb®, manufactured by Garmin Ltd. of Olathe, Kans., and the iON™ action camera, manufactured by iON America, LLC of Moorestown, N.J. 
     The accessory arm  204  may include preexisting arms, such as a camera arm manufactured by Muddy Outdoors LLC of Albia, Iowa. Alternatively, the accessory arm  204  may be specially fabricated for the sporting chair system  202 . The arm  204  includes a mounting stem  208  for connecting onto the mounting tree  155  of the mounting system  154 . A main body  206  of the arm  204  includes a pivot bolt  212  mounting a primary arm  210  which may be hydraulically raised or lowered using a hydraulic piston and cylinder unit  214 . This allows the arm to become compact or to extend out for use with a camera or other accessory. 
     A pivoting, telescoping arm is connected to the primary arm. The telescoping arm includes a number of arm sections  218  which are connected to each other and to the primary arm via hinge connectors  216 . At the end of the telescoping arm is an accessory base  220  with a mounting bolt  222  for mounting an accessory  224  such as a camera. The telescoping arm can be tilted and extended and locked into place to hold a camera or multiple cameras at different views. 
     VI. Alternative Embodiment Sporting Chair System  252   
       FIGS. 23 and 24  show an alternative sporting chair system  252  embodiment where the removable bracket  104  is strapped to a tree  58  next to the sporting chair  2  using a strap  254  and a connector  256 , such as a hook, to hold the bracket  104  tight against the tree. The mounting ribs  110  face the tree and prevent lateral rotation of the removable bracket  104 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 23 , the mounting system  154  is mounted to the bracket  104  for holding extra bows or other equipment. As shown in  FIG. 24 , the accessory arm  204  is connected to the mounting system  154 , and may be used as described above. 
     This combination allows for multiple cameras to be placed at multiple locations around the sporting chair  2  without compromising the functionality of the sporting chair. The chair may be raised or lowered absent the mounted accessories, and everything may be packed up and clipped together at the end for ease of transport. 
     Not shown in  FIGS. 13-24  is the seat  44  or back  42  of the chair. Nevertheless, it is intended that these features be used when the chair  2  is fully assembled; however, these elements were left out of the figures to help clarify the elements of the invention. 
     It is to be understood that the invention can be embodied in various forms, and is not to be limited to the examples discussed above. The range of components and configurations which can be utilized in the practice of the present invention is virtually unlimited.