Patent Publication Number: US-11653767-B1

Title: Seatback assembly attachable to a wall

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     The present application is based on, and a claim of priority is made under 35 U.S.C. Section 119(e) to a provisional patent application that is currently in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, namely, that having Ser. No. 63/187,091, and a filing date of May 11, 2021, and which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention is directed to seatback assembly attachable to a wall, including newly built or installed walls as well as pre-existing walls, The seatback assembly is structurally configured to facilitate seating of one or more individuals on an exposed portion of the wall on which it is mounted. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     The presence of walls is ubiquitous in domestic environments, such as in walls surrounding or bordering a domestic dwelling. Similarly, the building of various types of wall structures for placement and utilization in public gathering areas such as parks or the like is equally if not more common. While the structural and dimensional parameters of these different types of walls may vary significantly, it is also quite common for the upper or outer exposed level and/or surface being configured to allow or facilitate the support of one or more individuals in a seated orientation. In the outdoor living industry dedicated to the supply of different types of structures for outdoor utilization and use, such wall types may be colloquially referred to as “seat walls”. 
     While such seat walls may not be purposely designed to serve as seats for individuals, their common structural configuration and dimensioning facilitate such activity. However, since the majority of such domestically and publicly available wall structures are not normally structured to purposely serve as seating areas or structures, such available wall structures are absent any type of supplementary support such as a back support, backrest, etc. 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the area of outdoor living to enhance the utilization of such “seat walls” by including a seatback assembly which is structured to be connected and/or mounted in a stabilized manner to pre-existing or newly constructed walls. Such a preferred and proposed seatback assembly, while initially being considered as an accessory, is preferably structured to serve as a permanent fixture on pre-existing or newly constructed walls and enjoy an extended operable life, which may be equal to the operable life of the wall to which such seatback assemblies are mounted. 
     Further, such a preferred and proposed seatback assembly should be securable to a pre-existing or newly constructed wall regardless of the material from which the wall is formed. By way of example a proposed seatback assembly should be capable of being easily installed in walls formed of a stone, brick, cement his material, etc. However, the structural versatility of a preferred and proposed seatback assembly should not be limited to utilization of such material construction. To the contrary, the structural and operative features of a proposed and preferred seatback assembly should be capable of being attached to walls formed of other materials including, but not limited to wood, where in wooden walls are also well known in both domestic and public environments. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a seatback assembly structured for a variety of different applications in the outdoor living industry specifically including, but not limited to, the mounting thereof on a pre-existing or newly constructed wall structurally adapted to allow and/or facilitate one or more individuals to be seated on an exposed, generally horizontal surface of an upper portion or top level of the wall. Such wall structures may be known as “seat walls”. 
     In addition, the structural and operative features of the seatback assembly of the present invention enable it to be operatively attached to a pre-existing or newly constructed wall structure made of stone, brick, concrete blocks or manufactured concrete, or like material commonly found in both domestic and public environments. However, it is emphasized herein that the structural and operative features of the seatback assembly, as explained in greater detail hereinafter, are not limited to the use of the seatback assembly on walls made of stone, brick, manufactured concrete, etc. To the contrary, the structural features of the seatback assembly are such as to efficiently and securely attach and/or mount it to a variety of different wall type structures, capable of supporting one or more individuals in a seated orientation. By way of example such different wall structures may be formed in whole or in part from other materials including wood, plastics, synthetics, etc. 
     In more specific terms, the seatback assembly of the present invention includes a back support having a predetermined length which may vary according to the number of individuals seated on a wall to which the seatback assembly is attached. A connector assembly is attached to the wall in an operative position and is structured to interconnect the back support to the wall in a supporting orientation. When in the supporting orientation the back support is disposed in receiving, confronting relation to generally the rear or back portion of the one or more seated individuals. 
     The supporting orientation of the back support further includes it being disposed in substantially aligned relation to a rear exposed periphery of the wall and more specifically to a rear periphery of an exposed surface of the wall on which the one or more individuals sit. Further, such a substantially aligned relation of the back support may include it being spaced upwardly and/or outwardly from exposed supporting surface in at least minimally spaced relation thereto. To the contrary, the lower longitudinal edge or periphery of the back support itself may be disposed in immediately adjacent and/or in contiguous relation to the noted exterior rear periphery of the supporting surface of the wall to which the back support is attached. 
     In addition, the aforementioned supporting orientation of the back support may include it being disposed at a predetermined outwardly extending angular relation to the supporting surface on which the one or more individuals are positioned. Such predetermined angular orientation may be a substantially perpendicular relation to the supporting surface or perhaps preferably and more practically at an inclined relation to the normally horizontal orientation of the supporting, sitting surface. Such inclined or angular relation may of course vary depending on the overall dimensions of the wall itself as well as other factors. When angularly oriented, the incline may be generally in the range of between 20°-30° from a perpendicular orientation of the back support. 
     As explained in greater detail hereinafter, the aforementioned and described supporting orientation of the back support is accomplished, at least in part due to the structural and operative features of the connecting assembly which interconnects the back support to the wall in an appropriate manner. Accordingly, the connector assembly comprises at least one bracket including a base and a support segment. The support segment is integrally or fixedly connected to the base preferably at one outer end thereof. Accordingly, the cooperative structuring between the base and support segment is such as to dispose the back support in the intended and preferred operative position. As indicated, the operative position includes, but is not limited to, arranging the back support in the aforementioned predetermined angular and/or inclined relation to the individual supporting surface of the wall to which the back support is attached. Therefore, the integrally and or fixedly attached support segment extends outward from the base and or the outer peripheral end thereof at an angle which is predetermined to engage the back support in supporting relation thereto. As a result, the back support will be disposed relative to the supporting surface of the wall at the aforementioned predetermined angle (perpendicular or obtuse). 
     As noted, the seatback assembly of the present invention is specifically, but not exclusively, structured to be mounted on and/or connected to a pre-existing or newly constructed wall of the type described herein. As such, the seatback assembly of the present invention may be initially or somewhat generally considered to be an “accessory” for use in the outdoor living industry. However, it is further emphasized that the seatback assembly is structured to define a permanent component which is intended to have a long operable life, which may correspond to the life of the wall on which it is mounted. Therefore, in order to establish such a fixed, reliable and stabilized supporting attachment of the back support to the wall, the aforementioned connector assembly further includes an anchor preferably in the form of an elongated structural pin. Moreover, the anchor or structural pin is formed of steel, including stainless steel, or other high-strength material having sufficient structural integrity to effectively maintain the intended connection of the back support to the wall for an extended operational life. 
     Such stabilization is accomplished by the structuring and dimensioning of the structural pin to be cooperatively connected to the bracket in a manner which maintains the intended stabilized attachment of the support bracket to the wall in the described operative position. Therefore, the aforementioned operative position of the connector assembly further comprises the anchor being connected to the base of the at least one bracket and extending downwardly therefrom into an interior of the wall. Stabilization is further facilitated by forming the structural pin of the anchor from a high-strength material such as steel, including stainless steel, as set forth above and also sufficiently dimensioning the structural pin to maintain a stabilized supporting orientation of the back support. Therefore, in at least one embodiment to be described in greater detail hereinafter, the structural pin may have a length of generally about 10 inches and a diameter of generally about ½ inch. 
     Also, in one in more embodiments of the present invention the operative position of the connecting assembly may be further defined as the anchor or structural pin being connected generally at one end thereof to the base on the interior of the wall. Therefore, in one or more embodiments, the entirety of the pin as well as at least a majority of the base of the at least one anchor is disposed within the interior of the wall in a nonexposed position. Such interior disposition of the base and the anchor or elongated structural pin not only provides sufficient stability in maintaining the back support in the supporting orientation, as described above but will also eliminate any potentially damaging or uncomfortable protrusions or interruptions in the supporting surface of the wall on which the one or more individuals may set. Disposition, installation and interconnection of the base of the bracket with the anchor or elongated structural pin may be accomplished by core drilling through portions of the wall. In the alternative, other appropriate installation and/or interconnection procedures may be utilized, using a variety of different common tooling. 
     As set forth above depending upon the configuration and dimension of the back support, as well as the intention to at least partially support one individual or a plurality of individuals on a common seating surface of the wall, the connector assembly may include a plurality of brackets. When so utilized, the plurality of brackets are disposed in spaced relation to one another along the length or longitudinal dimension of the back support. In addition, and as indicated the connector assembly of the present invention includes each of the plurality of brackets being operatively associated with and connected to an anchor. In the multi-bracket embodiment, each of a plurality of anchors comprises or is at least partially defined by an elongated structural pin. As described above, each structural pin is connected to the base of a different one of the plurality of brackets on an interior of the wall. Such interior disposition comprises one end or one portion of the pin possibly including a head secured to the base of the corresponding bracket on the interior of the wall. 
     Further, at least the majority of a portion of the base of each of the brackets is disposed on the interior of the wall in connected, stabilizing engagement with corresponding ones of the plurality of anchors or structural pins. Such operative position of the connector assembly is thereby further defined by at least a majority of the base and an entirety of the anchor or structural pin associated therewith, being disposed within the interior of the wall. Further each of the structural pins may be formed of a high-strength material such as, but not limited to steel, including stainless steel, and be sufficiently dimensioned to provide the stability and disposing in maintaining the support back in the supporting orientation relative to the seating surface on which the one or more individuals may be supported. 
     As with the embodiment of the seatback assembly of the present invention comprising the connector assembly comprising a single or at least one bracket, one or more embodiments comprising a plurality of brackets further include each bracket including the aforementioned base and a support segment integrally or fixedly connected thereto and extending outwardly therefrom at a predetermined angular orientation. 
     In order to further increase the attractiveness and thereby enhance commercial demand for the seatback assembly of the present invention other features may be added. Such additional features may include one or more armrests located at opposite ends of the back support or in spaced relation to one another along the length of the back support and overlying communicating relation with the seating surface of the wall. In addition, a canopy or like overhead covering can be operatively connected to the back support, and or other portions of the seatback assembly in order to provide protection against environmental weather conditions such as sun, rain, etc. 
     These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer when the drawings as well as the detailed description are taken into consideration. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of the seatback assembly of the present invention connected in a supporting orientation on a wall of the type structurally configured to facilitate individuals being seated thereon. 
         FIG.  2    is a detailed view in partial cutaway of a connector assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the seatback assembly of the embodiment of  FIG.  1    assembled but not connected to a wall. 
         FIG.  4    is a rear view of the embodiment of  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  5    is a detail side view of a bracket of the connector assembly of the embodiment of  FIGS.  1 - 4   . 
         FIG.  6    is a front view of the bracket of the embodiment of  FIG.  5   . 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
     The present invention is directed to a seatback assembly generally indicated his  10  structured for a variety of different applications in the outdoor living industry specifically including, but not limited to, the mounting thereof on a pre-existing or newly constructed wall  100 . As represented throughout the Figures, the wall  100  is structurally adapted to allow and/or facilitate one or more individuals (not shown) to be seated on an exposed, generally horizontal surface  102  of an upper portion or top level  104  of the wall  100 . In the outdoor living industry, this type or category of wall structure may be known as a “seat wall”. 
     In addition, the structural and operative features of the seatback assembly  10  enable it to be operatively attached to the pre-existing or newly constructed wall structure  100  made of stone, brick, concrete blocks or manufactured concrete, or like material commonly found in both domestic, home environments and/or public gathering areas. However, it is emphasized herein that the structural and operative features of the seatback assembly  10 , as explained in greater detail hereinafter, are not limited to the use of the seatback assembly  10  on walls or “seat walls” made of stone, brick, manufactured concrete, etc. To the contrary, the structural features of the seatback assembly  10  are such as to efficiently and securely attach and/or mount it to a variety of different wall type structures, capable of supporting one or more individuals in a seated orientation. By way of example, such different wall structures may be formed in whole or in part from other materials including wood, plastics, synthetics, etc. 
     It is to be noted that the representation of the wall  100  in  FIGS.  1  and  2    is “transparent”, for purposes of clarity. However, it is recognized that in a real-life application the wall  100  we rarely if ever be formed of a material which is transparent or translucent, but rather a generally stronger and more common material type such as set forth in more detail herein. 
     The seatback assembly  10  of the present invention includes a back support, generally indicated is  12 , having a predetermined length or longitudinal dimension which may vary according to the number of individuals intended to be seated on the wall  100  to which the seatback assembly  10  is mounted. Moreover, a connector assembly, generally indicated is  14 , is attached to the wall  100  in an operative position, as represented in at least  FIGS.  1  and  2   . As represented, the connector assembly  14  is structured to interconnect the back support  12  to the wall  100  in an intended supporting orientation, as represented throughout the Figures. When in the represented supporting orientation, the back support  12  is disposed in receiving, confronting relation to generally the rear or back portion of the one or more seated individuals (not shown for purposes of clarity). 
     As also represented throughout the Figures, the back support  12  is disclosed as having a generally “slatted” construction comprising a plurality of spaced apart, substantially vertically oriented slats  15  extending along the length or longitudinal dimension of the back support  12 . As also represented the plurality of slats  15  are interconnected to substantially horizontally disposed frame member  17  as well as end supports  19 . However, it is emphasized that the structural composition and/or components from which the back support  12  is formed may vary significantly from the represented slatted construction to a solid structure. In addition, the seat back  12  may have an at least partially curved configuration, rather than a substantially planar configuration. Further, a radius of such a curved configuration of the back support  12  may be varied to accommodate any size, shape or orientation of a newly constructed or pre-existing “seat wall” on which it is mounted, regardless of the back support  12  having a slatted or solid construction as discussed above. Therefore, the style of the seatback  12  is not limited to any structural design. Also, the material from which the back support  12  is formed may also vary, wherein such material will include sufficient structural integrity to provide proper support to the one or more individuals seated on the surface  102 . 
     The supporting orientation of the back support  12  further includes it being disposed in substantially aligned relation to a rear exposed periphery  106  of the wall  100 , which may be defined by the rear periphery of the exposed seating surface  102  of the wall  100  on which the one or more individuals may be supported. Further, such a substantially aligned relation of the back support  12  may include the lower longitudinal edge  12 ′ being spaced upwardly and/or outwardly from exposed supporting surface  102 , as clearly represented in  FIG.  1   . To the contrary, the lower longitudinal edge or periphery  12 ′ of the back support  12  may be disposed in immediately adjacent and/or in contiguous relation to the exterior rear periphery  106  of the supporting surface  102  of the wall  100  to which the back support  12  is attached. 
     In addition, the aforementioned supporting orientation of the back support  12  may include it being disposed at a predetermined outwardly extending inclined or angular relation to the supporting surface  102 . However, such predetermined angular orientation may also be a substantially perpendicular to the supporting surface  102  (not shown) or perhaps preferably and more practically at an inclined relation to the normally horizontal orientation of the supporting, sitting surface  102 , as represented in  FIGS.  1  and  3   . Such inclined or angular relation may of course vary depending on the overall dimensions of the wall  100  as well as other factors. When angularly oriented, the represented “rearward” incline may be generally in the range of between 20°-30° from a perpendicular orientation of the back support  12  relative to the supported seating surface  102 . By way of non-limiting example, a preferred rearward incline of the back support  12  may be 110 degrees from horizontal, which would be equivalent to 20 degrees from a perpendicular orientation. 
     As explained in greater detail hereinafter, the aforementioned and described supporting orientation of the back support  12  is accomplished, at least in its part due to the structural and operative features of the connecting assembly  14  which interconnects the back support  12  to the wall  100  in an appropriate manner. Accordingly, the connector assembly  14  comprises at least one bracket  20 , represented in detail in  FIGS.  5  and  6   . The at least one bracket  20  includes at least one portion or base  22  and one other portion or support segment  24 . The support segment  24  is integrally or fixedly connected to the base  22  preferably at a junction  26  disposed at one outer end of the base  20 , as clearly represented in  FIG.  5   . Accordingly, the cooperative structuring between the base  22  and support segment  24  is such as to dispose the back support  12  in the intended and preferred operative position. As indicated, the operative position includes, but is not limited to, disposing the back support  12  in the aforementioned predetermined angular and/or inclined relation to the supporting surface  102  of the wall  100 . Therefore, the integrally and or fixedly attached support segment  24  extends outward from the base  22  at a preferred and/or predetermined angle  28 , as represented in  FIG.  5   . The angle  28  between the base  22  and the support segment  24  is predetermined to dispose the back support  12  in the aforementioned predetermined and preferred angular or inclined orientation relative to support surface  102 . Further, as represented in  FIG.  4    the one other portion or support segment  24  may be attached using at least one or a plurality of connectors, to the rear surface  12 ″ of the back support  12 . As a result, the back support will be disposed relative to the supporting surface of the wall at the aforementioned predetermined, preferably obtuse angle to the support surface  102 . 
     As noted, the seatback assembly  10  of the present invention is specifically, but not exclusively, structured to be mounted on and/or connected to a pre-existing or newly constructed wall  100  of the type described herein. As such, the seatback assembly  10  may be initially or somewhat generally considered to be an “accessory” for use in the outdoor living industry. However, it is further emphasized that the seatback assembly  10  is structured to define a permanent cooperative component with the wall  100  and is intended to have a long operable life, which may correspond to the life of the wall  100  on which it is mounted. Therefore, in order to establish such a fixed, reliable and stabilized supporting attachment of the back support  12  to the wall  100 , the aforementioned connector assembly further includes an anchor, generally indicated as  30 , preferably in the form of an elongated structural pin  32 , as represented in detail in  FIG.  2   . Moreover, the anchor  30  and/or structural pin  32  is preferably formed of steel, including stainless steel, or alternatively of other high-strength material having sufficient structural integrity to effectively maintain the intended connection of the back support  12  to the wall  100  for the aforementioned extended operational life. 
     Such a stabilized connection and/or mounting is at least partially accomplished by the structuring and dimensioning of the structural pin  32  to be cooperatively connected to the bracket  20  in a manner which maintains the intended stabilized attachment of the connector assembly  14  to the wall  100  in the described operative position, as clearly represented in  FIGS.  1  and  2   . Therefore, the aforementioned operative position of the connector assembly  14  further comprises the structural pin  32  being connected to the base  22  of the at least one bracket  20  and extend downwardly therefrom into an interior of the wall  100 . Stabilization is further facilitated by forming the structural pin  32  of the anchor  30  from the aforementioned high-strength material such as steel, including stainless steel, as set forth above. Stabilization is further facilitated by the sufficient dimensioning of the structural pin  32  to further assure maintenance of a stabilized supporting orientation of the back support  12 . Therefore, in at least one embodiment to be described in greater detail hereinafter, the structural pin  32  may have a length of generally about 10 inches and a diameter of generally about ½ inch. 
     While not represented in detail throughout the figures the connector assembly may also include a plurality of appropriately structured connectors such as screws, bolts, etc. capable being applied to hard material including the types of material set forth herein such as stone, brick, cement, etc. Such plurality of connectors may be secured to the base and extend therethrough into attachment with correspondingly disposed interior portions of the wall  100 . Appropriate structuring of the base  22  including one or more openings or apertures for the fitting placement of the plurality of connectors may also be provided. 
     Also, in one in more embodiments of the present invention the operative position of the connecting assembly  14  may be further defined as the anchor  30  or structural pin  32  being connected generally at one end thereof to the base  22  on the interior of the wall  100 . Therefore, in one or more embodiments, the entirety of the pin  32  as well as at least a majority of the base  22  of the at least one anchor  30  is disposed within the interior of the wall in a nonexposed position, again as clearly represented in  FIGS.  1  and  2   . Such interior disposition of the base  22  and the anchor  30  or elongated structural pin  32  not only provides sufficient stability in maintaining the back support  12  in the supporting orientation, as described above, but will also eliminate any potentially damaging or uncomfortable protrusions or interruptions in the supporting surface  102  on which the one or more individuals may sit. Disposition, installation and interconnection of the base  22  of the bracket  20  with the structural pin  32  may be accomplished by core drilling through appropriate portions of the wall  100 . In the alternative, other appropriate installation and/or interconnection procedures may be utilized, using a variety of different common tooling. 
     As set forth above, depending upon the configuration and dimension of the back support  12 , as well as the intention to at least partially support one individual or a plurality of individuals on a common seating surface  102  of the wall  100 , the connector assembly  14  may include a plurality of brackets, each indicated as  20 . When so utilized, each of the plurality of brackets  20  is disposed in spaced relation to one another along the length or longitudinal dimension of the back support  12 . In addition, and as indicated the connector assembly  14  of the present invention includes each of the plurality of brackets  20  being operatively associated with and connected to an anchor  30 . In the multi-bracket embodiment, each of a plurality of anchors  30  comprises or is at least partially defined by an elongated structural pin  32 . As described above, each structural pin  32  is connected to the base  22  of a different one of the plurality of brackets  20  on an interior of the wall  100  is clearly represented in  FIGS.  1  and  2   . Such interior disposition comprises one end or one portion of the pin  32  possibly including a head  33  secured to the base  22  of the corresponding bracket on the interior of the wall  100 . 
     Further, at least the majority of a portion of the base  22  of each of the brackets  20  is disposed on the interior of the wall  100  in connected, stabilizing engagement with corresponding ones of the plurality of anchors  30  and structural pins  32 . Such operative position of the connector assembly  14  is thereby further defined by at least a majority of a portion of the base  22  and an entirety of the structural pin  32  of anchor  30 , being disposed within the interior of the wall. Further each of the structural pins  32  may be formed of a high-strength material such as, but not limited to steel, including stainless steel, and be sufficiently dimensioned to provide the stability of the support back  12  in the supporting orientation relative to the seating surface  102  on which the one or more individuals may be supported. 
     As with the embodiment of the seatback assembly of the present invention comprising the connector assembly  14  comprising a single or at least one bracket  20 , one or more embodiments comprising a plurality of brackets  20  further include each bracket  20  including the aforementioned base  22  and a support segment  24  integrally or fixedly connected thereto and extending outwardly therefrom at a predetermined angular orientation  28  (see  FIG.  5   ). 
     Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiment of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.