Patent Publication Number: US-4548357-A

Title: Sprinkler device for a lawn chair

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to use of a lawn chair or recliner for sunbathing purposes and more particularly to a sprinkling device to enhance the tanning effect of the solar rays while maintaining a comfortably cool body temperature. 
     It is generally believed that the combination of sunlight and water on the bare human body beneficially accelerates the rate of tanning and has other desirable theraputic effects while keeping the body temperature comfortably cool. Previous combination sunbathing and sprinkling apparatus had several disadvantages so limiting their use that they never became generally available. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,770,812 discloses a body supporting and bathing device in which sprinkler openings directed toward the sunbather are provided in the supporting framework of the device itself, this has the drawback of being limited for all practical purposes to a flat, horizontal frame and is not readily adaptable to conventional lawn chairs and recliners having tiltably adjustable head and foot sections. Another example of the prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 3,625,434, discloses a lawn chair in which the tubular supporting framework comprises conduits and mounting means for a series of water nozzles directed toward the sunbather; this has the drawback of requiring special fittings into the frame and special watertight joints between sections and is limited to use on only a few special types of lawn chairs where these adaptations are possible. 
     Instead of using the lawn chair framework as tubular conduit means, it is far preferable to have the water in a separate conduit, such as a sprinkler hose fastened along opposite sides. Where the chair is of the type having head and foot end sections which are vertically adjustable relative to an intermediate section, it is important that the hose be flexible so it can bend at the joints between the frame sections. However, in a hose having such flexibility, the crossover portion will twist, bend, and distort outwardly if internal water pressure is applied without the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a general object of the present invention to provide a sprinkler device which is simple, inexpensive, effective, and which can be fitted quickly onto any of a wide variety of lawn chairs and recliners without altering the basic construction, by a person having limited mechanical ability, and without special tools. 
     Another object of the present invention is to fasten a flexible, apertured sprinkler hose along opposite sides of a rectangular lawn chair or recliner frame with an interconnecting crossover hose portion at one end of the frame. 
     An important part of the present invention is to provide 90° elbow guide fittings engaging the flexible hose at the corners of the frame to guide the crossover portion flat and straight across the end of the frame, thereby avoiding the above-mentioned twisting, bending, and distorting when water pressure is applied. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lawn chair of the &#34;chaise lounge&#34; type employing a sprinkler device illustrating the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top, plan view of the lawn chair of FIG. 1 showing the head section lowered for use as a horizontal recliner; 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 taken along line 5--5; 
     FIG. 6 is a view of a plastic tie used to fasten the sprinkler device to the lawn chair; and 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the improved sprinkler device itself. 
    
    
     Like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout the figures of the drawing. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now more specifically to the drawing, a conventional lawn chair 20 is fitted with one form of the improved sprinkler device generally designated 22. 
     The lawn chair 20 is adjustable, having a generally rectangular frame means including side frame members 24 and head and foot cross-frame members 26. The chair has head and foot sections 28 and 30 pivoted in the usual way for up and down adjustment relative to an intermediate seat section 32. In the example shown, the chair has a plurality of webbed areas 34 and smooth plastic or cushioned head and foot panels 36 and 38 at extreme opposite ends. Alternatively, the sprinkler device may be used on a recliner of the type in which the head, foot, and seat sections are unitary without vertical adjustability at either or both ends. 
     The sprinkler device 22 comprises a flexible hose 40 closed at one end by a plug 42 and having an on-off control valve 44 at the opposite end connected to a source of water under pressure through a supply hose 46. It is of sufficient length to extend in a &#34;U&#34;-configuration having side legs 48 and 50 extending along the chair side frame members 24,24, and having a crossover leg 52 interconnecting the side legs across the foot end section 30 of the chair frame means. 
     A pair of 90° elbow guide fittings 54 embrace the hose at the corners of the chair where the ends of the crossover leg join the side legs. These positively constrain the hose to a right angle configuration at each corner and enable the crossover leg 52 to remain straight across the end of the chair as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, without the necessity of tying the crossover leg to the chair end portion by any positive means. The elbow fittings 54 may be made of any suitable material. In the present case, each comprises a pair of half-sections 54a, 54b of plastic material which are molded, adhered or otherwise attached to one another about the hose in any suitable manner. 
     Each hose side leg 48 and 50 is provided with a series of water-emitting sprinkler apertures 55 directed toward the center of the frame means to keep a sunbather continuously wet while on the chair, thereby enhancing the tanning effects of the solar rays while maintaining the body comfortably cool. The side legs are fastened to the chair side frames 24 by plastic ties 56 (FIG. 6) extending through openings in the webbed areas 34. Normally, sprinkler apertures are unnecessary in the crossover leg 52 and are not shown. However, they may be used if desired. 
     In the lawn chair example shown, as in many chairs of this type, the foot end panel section 30 is solid, nonwebbed, and it would be objectionable to many people to make holes in it for the ties 56. By making the elbow fittings 54 as shown, with wide, flat contours resting on the foot section 30, the crossover leg 52 will remain perfectly straight and stable by gravity alone without using any of the ties 56 to hold the crossover leg in place. Further, the 90° constraint imposed on the corners of the hose by the elbow guide fittings will completely eliminate any tendency for the crossover leg 52 to twist, bend, or distort when internal water pressure is applied. By contrast, without the elbow fittings 54, the crossover leg 52 would bow forwardly as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. 
     Because the hose 40 is flexible, it will readily bend if the head section 28 or foot section 30 is vertically adjusted, so a sunbather may have the option of using the apparatus in a completely prone or supine position, or in a choice of sitting positions. 
     Use and operation are believed to be apparent from the above description. Preferably, the hose will be assembled along the sides of the lawn chair is such a way that the sprinkler-containing side legs 48 and 50 will extend to or beyond the sunbather&#39;s shoulders, and the on-off control valve 44 will preferably be positioned so the sunbather can reach it from the chair. 
     The embodiment described and shown to illustrate the present invention has been necessarily specific for purposes of illustration. Alterations, extensions, and modifications would be apparent to those skilled in the art.