Patent Publication Number: US-11389002-B2

Title: Chair with temperature control

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application is based upon and claims the right of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 371 to International Application No. PCT/AU2018/000101 filed on Jun. 22, 2018, which claims the benefit of AU Application Serial No. 2017902504 filed Jun. 28, 2017. Applicant claims priority to and the benefit of each of such applications and incorporates all such applications herein by reference in their entirety. 
     FIELD 
     The invention relates to a chair and in particular relates to either a folding camping style chair and/or a fixed chair having a temperature control system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Chairs are used in daily life and are very common. Folding chairs are also common and particularly advantageous for use where space is minimal; the chair needs to be carried in a vehicle or to various locations away from a house or the like. For example, folding chairs are particularly popular at sporting events, camping, outdoor recreation, barbecues or the like. 
     Most outdoor folding chairs typically include a frame, feet and seat and back portions. In many folding chairs, the seat and back portion are a single piece of fabric held by the frame. 
     In an earlier invention by the Applicant the back portion included a lumbar support in the form of a belt extending around a rear of the fabric back portion and terminating at either of the front poles of the frame. The lumbar support being adjustable to provide support to a user when sitting in the chair and providing a better posture for a user. 
     Outdoor and/or folding chairs have also come with a range of add-ons such as cup-holders, phone holders, tables, feet rests and the like. 
     It has been noted that as a consequence of climate change with the increase of global warming it can now be excessively hot or cold when being outdoors. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to include some sort of temperature control and/or heating and cooling system in cooperation with either an outdoor or foldable chair. 
     However, due to outdoor or foldable chairs being light weight, in many cases collapsible and as small as possible, any such heating or cooling system must be minimal in size and weight. Also, due to the locations where portable chairs are typically taken, there is likely no power available to be used to heat or cool the chair. Therefore, a heating or cooling system requiring power is not convenient. 
     Existing active heating systems (for example resistant coil heating elements) rely on batteries for power and/or direct connection to a power supply. These types of active heating systems relying on a power supply are inefficient, produce little heat or cooling and the operating time is short. They also take a considerable amount of time to recharge if using a battery and are expensive to run, are heavy, bulky and are just not convenient, practical or pleasant to view. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for an outdoor and/or collapsible chair that uses a passive (exothermic chemical reaction) system to provide heating and/or cooling in a small space without adversely effecting the size, weight, collapsibility and aesthetic looks of a collapsible chair. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to at least provide a useful alternative. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     There is disclosed herein an outdoor and/or collapsible chair, said chair having: 
     a frame, the frame having a pair of elongate front members spaced apart by at least one cross member; a pair of elongate rear members spaced apart by at least one cross member; at least one side member extending between each of said front and rear members; 
     a flexible seat, adapted in use to be supported by said frame between said side members, said seat having a bottom portion and a back portion, said portions having a front surface and a back surface; 
     at least one temperature controlling pocket located adjacent said bottom portion and/or said back portion to provide in use temperature control to a region of a user when sitting in said chair. 
     Preferably, said pocket is formed into said bottom portion and/or said back portion. 
     Preferably, said pocket includes fastening means to close a pocket opening. 
     Preferably, said pocket is adapted to receive a temperature controlling device. 
     Preferably, said pocket includes a temperature controlling lining. 
     Preferably, said lining includes heat reflective material. 
     Preferably, said chair includes a cushioned portion, said pocket located substantially within said cushion. 
     Preferably, said temperature controlling device is exothermic. 
     Preferably, said temperature controlling device includes sodium acetate. 
     Preferably, said chair includes a plurality of pockets providing in use heating and/or cooling to a user. 
     Preferably, said chair includes a lumbar support. 
     Preferably, said lumbar support is integrally formed with said temperature controlling device to direct heating or cooling to a targeted area of a user. 
     Preferably, said pocket is releasably attachable to said chair. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective rear view of an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective front view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     There is disclosed herein an outdoor and/or collapsible chair  1  having a frame  2 . The frame  2  having a pair of elongate front members  4  in the form of poles, struts or the like spaced apart by at least one cross-member  5  also in the form of poles, struts or the like and as best seen in  FIG. 2 . The cross-members  5  could cross in front of each other (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) or be in other configurations. The frame  2  further includes a pair of elongate rear members  7  also in the form of poles or the like spaced apart by at least one cross-member  8  in the form of poles, struts or the like and as best seen in  FIG. 1 . The cross-members  8  can cross each other (as shown in the figures) or be in any configuration. The cross-members  5  and  8  could be connected together or be attached to the front and rear members  4  and  7  by connectors  9  or the like. As shown in the drawings, the rear members  7  are longer than the front members  4  to provide space for a back or head rest. At least one side member  10  (as best seen in  FIG. 2 ) extends between the front members  4  and rear members  7 . The side member  10  could be at an end of the front and rear members  4  and  7  to form arm rests  11  which could be padded (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) or could be in the form of structural braces  12 . A seat  15  is adapted in use to be supported by the frame  2  between the side members  10 . The seat  15  could be of any material, such as canvas, plastics, hessian, cotton or other suitable products. The seat  15  could be rigid or flexible. The seat  15  (as best seen in  FIG. 2 ) includes a bottom portion  17  and a back portion  18 . The portions  17  and  18  having a front surface  20  and a back surface  21 . The back portion  18  could be attached to the rear members  7  by various fastening means however in  FIG. 1  is shown utilising fabric pockets  23  within which an end of the rear member  7  slides into. The bottom portion  17  could be attached to the frame  2  by way of fastening straps  25  as best seen in  FIG. 1 . These straps  25  include a hollow portion  26  which is adapted to slide over the members  4 ,  7  as shown. It should however be noted that various different fastening mechanisms could be utilised to secure the seat  15  within the frame  2 . At least one temperature controlling pocket or pouch  30  is located adjacent the bottom portion  17  and/or back portion  18  to provide in use temperature control to a region of the user when sitting in the chair  1 . 
     In the preferred form, the pocket or pouch  30  is formed into the bottom portion  17  or back portion  18 . The pocket  30  can include a fastening means such as a zip, hook and loop fastener, or the like  32  to close off a pocket opening  33 . The pocket  30  is adapted in use to receive a temperature controlling device (not shown). The pocket  30  could also include a temperature controlling lining such as a heat or cooling reflective material. The pocket or pouch  30  could be releasably attachable to the seat  15  so that it can be used by a user away from the chair  1  or placed in boiling water, ice, or the like to assist with temperature regulation. 
     In the preferred form, the temperature controlling device is exothermic and includes sodium acetate. The temperature controlling device preferably would be removable from the chair  1  and replaceable depending upon the needs of the consumer. The temperature controlling device could also be placed in various different locations in various different pockets  30  about the chair  1  as required. The temperature controlling device would require no power supply and would be fitted ergonomically into the chair  1  such as below a cushioned portion or the like. The chair  1  could also include a lumbar support device  50 , the lumbar support device  50  could be integrally formed with the temperature controlling device to direct heating and cooling to a targeted area of a user. 
     Advantageously, the present invention provides passive (exothermic chemical reaction) to provide heating or cooling in a chair  1  by way of the insulated pockets  30  with heat reflective material to radiate heating or cooling generated by the insertable temperature controlling pouches directly through the seat  15 . The advantages are greater heating or cooling, longer operating time (for example up to one hour), easily reset as you simply put the pouch in a saucepan, boiling water or the like on a camp fire or such, multiple use of the pouches having a considerable life span, no energy lost when stored, ready for use at any time or day. Further, the present invention provides no cables, no batteries, is non-toxic, is fast, reusable, reliable, effective, convenient and safe. 
     Advantageously, the present invention provides passive (exothermic chemical reactions) to provide heating or cooling not only for outdoor and/or foldable chairs or the like but additionally the thermal pouch can be placed in sleeping bags, swags, bunkers, mattresses, therapeutic body straps, or even chair adaptor belts for furniture not fitted with insulated pockets. 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.