Abstract:
The present invention relates to a chair apparatus for facilitating sexual intimacy between a person and his or her sexual partner. The apparatus consists of a cushioned support surface connected to a base through resilient leaf spring legs. Alternately, the support surface can be designed to function as a resilient leaf spring itself, by material choice and fabrication techniques, and be directly coupled to the base or through rigid legs. The rebounding effect produced by the leaf springs reduces the effort needed for intimate activity creating a more pleasurable experience for the couple with less fatigue.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates generally to sexual aids, and more particularly to a chair apparatus that appears to be an ordinary chair, but is also capable of enhancing sexual activity between two people by reducing the amount of effort required by the participants. 
         [0004]    2. Background of the Invention 
         [0005]    The United States population is living longer but with more mobility diminishing ailments. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging, the percentage of people 65+ years of age in the US in 2013 was 14.1% and is expected to grow to 21.7% by 2040. Women are projected to make up 55.2% of those over the age of 65 in 2040. For one of the most common mobility diminishing ailments, arthritis, almost 1 out of every 5 US adults has been doctor diagnosed with the condition, two-thirds being younger than 65 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2015 data. Arthritis is also more common among women (26%) than men (19%) under the age of 65. 
         [0006]    Ever since “Sexual dysfunction in the United States: prevalence and predictors”, the first population-based assessment of sexual dysfunction in the half-century since Kinsey et al. was published in The Journal of American Medical Association on Feb. 10, 1999, there have been a myriad of related studies on the subject. The results of many of these studies are reviewed, statistically analyzed, and compared in the Journal of Sexual Medicine article “Original Research-Epidemiology: What can Prevalence Studies Tell Us about Female Sexual Difficulty and Dysfunction?” (Journal of Sexual Medicine, 3: 589-595). 
         [0007]    Among the results presented, more women experience sexual dysfunction than men, 43% compared to 31%. Consistent patterns in the published data also emerged. Among women with any sexual difficulty, on average, 64% (range 16-75%) experienced desire difficulty, 35% (range 16-48%) experienced orgasm difficulty, 31% (range 12-64%) experienced arousal difficulty, and 26% (range 7-58%) experienced sexual pain. Two studies presented also investigated distress caused by sexual dysfunction. The proportion of women with sexual difficulty who were distressed averaged out to 44% (range 21-67%). 
         [0008]    For two of the major dysfunction categories for women, experienced orgasm difficulty and experienced sexual pain, a highly recommended position for sexual activity is for the woman to be on top of the man. This position allows the woman more control over all aspects of the experience thereby increasing her chance at both achieving orgasm and sexual intercourse without pain. For the two remaining dysfunction categories, desire difficulty and arousal difficulty, often times a woman on top position where both partners are seated is recommended because of the extra intimacy and sensation the closeness and eye-contact can create. 
         [0009]    In a population-based survey of sexual activity, sexual problems, and associated help-seeking behavior patterns in mature adults in the United States of America (International Journal if Impotence Research 2009;21), Laumann et al. found that 79.7% of women sought no help from a medical professional and 43.9% took no action concerning their sexual dysfunction. Among the reasons cited by women for not seeking help or advice was embarrassment about their dysfunction. This same study also found that “middle-aged and elderly men and women continue to show sexual interest and activity, in spite of the high prevalence of several sexual dysfunctions”. 
         [0010]    Given that more women than men suffer from sexual dysfunction, have mobility limiting ailments such as arthritis, comprise a larger percent of the population, and that the most recommended position for sexually dysfunctional women is woman on top, there is a void in the current art of sexual aids and apparatus, when it comes to a female dominant (woman on top) sex chair. Furthermore, the apparatus needs to minimize the effort required by the participants, such as the energy returning/rebounding properties of a spring, thereby permitting the participants to engage in sexual activity for a much longer duration than normally possible with their motion limiting ailment and/or level of stamina. Since embarrassment can influence whether a woman seeks help for her dysfunction, the third requirement is that the apparatus needs to be aesthetically pleasing as well as not appear to be a sexual apparatus to the unknowing eye. 
         [0011]    3. Examples of Prior Art 
         [0012]    There are many examples of prior art for apparatus to facilitate sexual activity amongst two people. None combine the three attributes as follow: designed for the woman on top position, energy return, and stealth. 
         [0013]    Several examples of prior art designed for the woman on top position are Wolfe et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,222), Kundson, Jr. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,855), Craft et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,011), Yu (U.S. Pat. No. 7,018,329), Albritton (U.S. Pat. No. 7,887,127), and Vitaro [manufacturer claim from sales information—www.tantrachair.com] (U.S. Pat. No. D530,933). Wolfe, Kundson, Craft, Albritton, and Vitaro do not possess any form of energy return. Yu does posses energy return in the form of resilient belts and attempts stealth in it&#39;s compact form, but the diminutive stature of the apparatus limits functionality. 
         [0014]    In addition to Yu mentioned above, Bisyak (U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,243), Fuhrman et al. (U.S. Pat. 5,875,779), Maschke (U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,480), and Fessler (U.S. Pat. No. 6,640,808 &amp; 6,745,774) all feature energy return. Bisyak and Maschke use either an elastic strap or a metal coil spring in extension respectively but are limited in their stealth abilities because they must be hung from the ceiling or a separate stand. Fuhrman et al. specifies energy return via flexible bands or cords and alternately by other resilient means, but no attempt at stealth is made. Fessler utilizes metal coil springs in compression to provide energy return but the short length of the springs limit stoke length and no attempt at stealth was made. 
         [0015]    Three examples of a sexual apparatus designed for stealth are Sinohui, Jr. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,344), Harris et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,431), and Zwezdaryk (U.S. Pat. No. 7,770,965). Shinohui and Zwezdaryk are not advantageous to woman on top position and lack any form of energy return. Harris can conceivably be used for woman on top position but lacks energy return and it&#39;s stealth relies on being hidden behind a specially built couch as illustrated in  FIG. 2  of the patent. 
         [0016]    No prior art of apparatus to facilitate sexual activity amongst two people is known to exist containing either of the following: 
         [0017]    1: Energy return in the form of a leaf spring (a simple beam or stack of beams of metal or composite exhibiting an elastic property such as a bow or automobile suspension) in any form. 
         [0018]    2: Energy return in the form of the actual structure or frame of the apparatus being composed of an elastic material and designed in such a way as to exploit that property. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    The present invention provides a chair apparatus for facilitating sexual intimacy between a person and his or her sexual partner. The chair apparatus closely resemble a common form of seating furniture (e.g. chaise, chair, or bench), and will function as such for a solitary occupant. The width of the seat area will be narrow enough to allow a woman to place one leg on either side while still being wide enough to comfortably support her partner seated underneath her. The chair apparatus will reduce the amount of effort required for intimate activity by rebounding or returning energy initially provided by the participants back to the activity through the use of a leaf spring. The leaf springs will be integrated into any number of supporting legs, support surface, or both by methods and materials consistent with the current state of the art of bow-making and/or vehicle suspension. 
         [0020]    The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below: 
         [0021]    The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a chair apparatus having advantages not taught by the prior art. This was accomplished by achieving two secondary objectives. The first, utilizing a form of spring previously not taught in the art of sexual aids and apparatus. The second, to provide a chair apparatus that resembles and functions as an ordinary piece of furniture, thereby allowing it to be left in plain view without causing the owner embarrassment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0022]    The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view thereof; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a right side view thereof; the left side being a mirror image; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a front view thereof; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a rear view thereof; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is a top view thereof; 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view thereof; 
           [0030]      FIG. 8  is a side view thereof showing a man and woman using the chair apparatus in one possible position; 
           [0031]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the second possible embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the third possible embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view thereof; 
           [0034]      FIG. 12  is a side view of the fourth possible embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 13  is a side view of an alternate configuration for the fourth possible embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 14  is a side view of the fifth possible embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 15  is a top view of two possible base configurations for the fifth possible embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0038]    The above described drawing figures one through eight illustrate the preferred embodiment of the current invention, a chair apparatus  70  for facilitating sexual intimacy between a person  99  and a sexual partner  41 . The chair apparatus  70  consists of three major components: a support surface  1 , rear leaf spring legs  69 , and a base  2 . 
         [0039]    The support surface  1  begins its construction from two mirror image side rails  10 . In the preferred embodiment, the side rails  10  are constructed of a wood with sufficient strength and elastic properties (i.e. ash, locust, walnut, goncalo alves) that has been sliced into strips thin enough to bend to the desired radius without breaking. A number of strips sufficient to support the maximum weight of the end users (greater than 136 kg or 300 lbs.) yet still flex with use, are laminated together with an appropriate adhesive, into the shape illustrated for the side rail  10 . Alternately, the side rails  10  can be of any steam-bent solid wood, solid or tubular metal, or composite construction that provides sufficient strength for the desired purpose. 
         [0040]    The side rails  10  are joined together by four crossbars  11 - 14  and a front base bar  16 , both constructed of solid wood. The front base bar  16  is located at the front end of the side rails  10 . The front crossbar  11  is located where the upholstered cushion  20  begins. The second crossbar  12  is located near the first convex/concave inflection and the third crossbar  13  is located near the second inflection. The fourth crossbar  14  is located at the rear of the rails where the upholstered cushion  20  terminates. The crossbars  11 - 14  and front base bar  16  are attached to the rails by any suitable joining method such as mortise and tenon, dowel, screw, nut and bolt, etc. Alternately, the crossbars  11 - 14  or front base bar  16  can be composed of metal or composite material, in which case, welding or adhesives could also be acceptable joining methods. The three gaps between the crossbars  15  are filled with thin wood slats running parallel to the crossbars  11 - 14 , the ends of the slats are captured in a groove on the inside edge of each side rail  10 , this provides a solid surface in which to mount the upholstered cushion  20 . Alternately the three spaces between the crossbars  11 - 14  can also be filled by metal or composite slats or a unitized sheet of wood, metal, or composite material. It is important to note that if the side rails  10  are intended to function elastically, the choice of filler material either needs to be non-interfering with the elasticity of the side rail  10 , such as slats or bars aligned parallel to the crossbars  11 - 14 , or its influence factored into and accounted for in the design of the side rails  10 . Alternately, the side rails  10 , along with any combination of crossbars  11 - 14 , gaps between the crossbars  15 , or front base bar  16 , can be of a monocoque design utilizing composite materials. 
         [0041]    The chair apparatus  70  provides for user comfort by utilizing an upholstered cushion  20  and an adjustable pillow  21 . Both the upholstered cushion  20  and the pillow  21  are fabricated in a method consistent with the current art of furniture upholstery and clad in a material appropriate for the stated use. The upholstered cushion  20  is securely attached to the chair apparatus  70  by either permanent or removable means. This can include, but is not limited to adhesive, rivet, snap, or “hook and loop” type fasteners. The adjustable pillow  21  can be retained in the desired position by the pillow straps  22  or removed entirely. The structure created in the previous paragraph combined with the upholstered cushion  20  from this paragraph completes the support surface  1 . 
         [0042]    In the preferred embodiment, the rear leaf spring legs  69  are composed of several layers of thin wood sandwiched between two carbon fiber composite layers in a manner consistent with the current art of bow-making. The layers are adhered to one another in a way that will yield the arc shape illustrated in the figures for the rear leaf spring legs  69  when at rest. Using the current state of the art of composite leaf spring technology, the carbon fiber layers can be customized for how they react to torsion. By altering the angle of the carbon fibers relative to the long axis of the leaf spring, various responses to torque applied by the users can be created. Generally, the higher the percentage of fibers running parallel to the long axis of the spring, the less resistance to torque. Both the width and the thickness of the rear leaf spring legs  69  affect the ultimate strength and spring rate. Prior to construction, the end users specify the preferred spring rate and torque resistance for the rear leaf spring legs  69  for the chair apparatus  70 . Alternately, the rear leaf spring legs  69  can be composed of a fiberglass/wood composite, solid fiberglass and/or carbon fiber composite, or a metal with elastic properties. Alternately, the cross-section of the leaf spring can be altered. The preferred embodiment rear leaf spring legs  69  possess a wide and thin rectangular cross-section but a square, oval, round or other cross-section is conceivable and each different cross-section would possess unique motion characteristics imparted to the chair apparatus  70 . 
         [0043]    The rear leaf spring legs  69  are joined to the back base bar  17  to form the leaf spring unit  18  in a manner that will solidly secure them from the forces they will see in use. In the preferred embodiment, the bottom ends of the rear leaf spring legs  69  are inserted into slightly oversized mortises in the back base bar  17  with and epoxy adhesive filling the voids and bonding the parts together. Alternately, the rear leaf spring legs  69  can be joined to the back base bar  17  by screws, bolts and nuts, dowels, or an alternative adhesive compound. 
         [0044]    In the preferred embodiment, the leaf spring unit  18  is joined to the side rails  10  with four machine screws, two per leaf spring. The screws mate with commercially available steel inserts, which possess a machine thread on the interior and knife threads on the exterior to bite into the wood of the side rails  10 . The use of such inserts allow for a strong, and removable union between the rear leaf spring legs  69  and the side rails  10 , the advantage of this being that the end user can easily swap out leaf spring units  18  if a different response to torque or spring rate is desired. Alternately, a different removable or permanent attachment method can be used to join the leaf spring unit  18  to the side rails  10 . 
         [0045]    The leaf spring unit is connected to the font base bar  16  with durable webbing  30 . In the preferred embodiment, nylon webbing is used, but any webbing that can withstand the expected loads is acceptable. A piece of durable webbing  30  is rigidly affixed to the underside of the front base bar  16  and another piece affixed to the back base bar  17 . Tension is created between the front base bar  16  and leaf spring unit  18  with an adjustable buckle  31  located somewhere along the length of webbing. The buckle  31  can be of any design that is capable of resisting the loads expected. Minimally, there should be just enough tension on the durable webbing  30  so that the font base bar  16  and rear base bar  17  do not spread apart from one another when a load is applied to the chair, but the end user can add more tension at their preference. The more tension that is applied the stiffer the chair will appear to the end user. The front base bar  16  and the rear base bar  17 , when coupled with the durable webbing  30  and buckle  31 , constitute the base  2 . 
         [0046]    The above described drawing figure nine illustrates the second embodiment of the current invention, a chair apparatus  49  for facilitating sexual intimacy between a person  99  and a sexual partner  41 . 
         [0047]    In the second possible embodiment, the chair apparatus  49  is shaped in a way to resemble a bench that is commonly found at the foot of a bed or similar location. The chair frame  52  is constructed in a similar manner as the preferred embodiment of the current invention. The chair frame  52  consists of two side rails  57  and several crossbars that are not shown. A crossbar is located at each end of the upholstered cushion  55 , with one additional crossbar located in the center of the frames length. The two voids between the crossbars are filled by slats or a similar material as listed in the preferred embodiment. The chair frame  52  is covered with the upholstery cushion  55  and two removable bolster pillows  56 . Two leg units  58  are joined to the frame, each composed of two leaf springs  50  and a base bar  51 . The leaf springs  50  are constructed in the same manner as for the preferred embodiment and then joined to the base bar  51 . Between the two leg units  58 , a length of durable webbing  53  is secured with a buckle  54 , this both keeps the base bars  51  from spreading apart during use and allows the end user to adjust how responsive the chair is. 
         [0048]    The above described drawing figures ten and eleven illustrate the third possible embodiment of the current invention, a chair apparatus  67  for facilitating sexual intimacy between a person  99  and a sexual partner  41 . 
         [0049]    In the third possible embodiment, the chair apparatus  67  is shaped in a way to resemble a bench that is commonly found at the foot of a bed or similar location. The chair apparatus  67  consists of an upholstered cushion  65  attached to a seat  59 . The underside of the seat has four leaf springs  60 , as shown in  FIG. 11 , with a base bar  61  attached to the opposite end of each pair of leaf springs  60 . The leaf springs  60  are oriented in such a way as to not impede the others movement. The leaf springs  60  can be of any cross-sectional profile as described in the preferred embodiment of the current invention. If the cross-section chosen provides for torque resistance, such as a wide thin rectangle, the base bars  61  are joined together with two lengths of durable webbing  63  and buckles  64 . With all other cross-section possibilities, the base bars  61  will need to be joined to each other in a way that keeps them parallel to each other during use, such as two rigid bars of some sort in place of the two lengths of webbing  63  and buckles  64 . 
         [0050]    The above described drawing figures twelve and thirteen illustrate the fourth possible embodiment of the current invention, a chair apparatus  77  for facilitating sexual intimacy between a person  99  and a sexual partner  41 . 
         [0051]    In the fourth possible embodiment, the chair apparatus  77  is shaped and constructed similarly to the preferred embodiment. The chair apparatus  77  is composed of an upholstered cushion  76 , two side rails  71 , four crossbars (not shown), a rear base bar  73 , a front base bar  72 , a length of durable webbing  74 , and a buckle  75 . The major difference in this embodiment is the design of the side rail  71 . The side rail continues to curve down to meet the rear base bar  73 . Either the front end or the back end, or both ends of the side rails  71  can taper to form a leaf spring. Alternately, the leaf spring portions  79  can be separate pieces, as indicated by the dashed lines in figures twelve and thirteen, that are joined to the ends of the body portion of the side rail  78  to allow the end user the ability to change out springs as they choose. In this configuration, the spring portion of the side rail  79  would join the body portion of the side rail  78  in a manner that would rigidly couple the pieces together yet allow the end user to remove the spring portion of the side rail  79  and attach a different one. 
         [0052]    The above described drawing figures fourteen and fifteen illustrate the fifth possible embodiment of the current invention, a chair apparatus  97  for facilitating sexual intimacy between a person  99  and a sexual partner  41 . 
         [0053]    In the fifth possible embodiment, the chair apparatus  97  is shaped and constructed similarly to the preferred embodiment, however the alignment and position of the front  93  and rear  94  leaf springs provides a range of motion unique to this embodiment. By placing the leaf springs in a vertical orientation, the up-down bounce possessed by the other embodiments is greatly reduced. The back-forth and side-side motions are predominant, which some end users may prefer. 
         [0054]    Two major differences exist between the preferred embodiment and this design. The first being that the side rails  95  are shorted in the front so that they do not make contact with the ground and are subsequently supported by the front leaf springs  93 . The second being two unique ways to utilize front  93  and rear  94  leaf springs in the chair apparatus  97 . The chair apparatus  97  can be configured to accept either one or both leaf spring base designs  89  illustrated in figure fifteen. The first leaf spring base design  89   a  consists of two front leaf springs  93 , two rear leaf springs  94 , two long base bars  92 , one tie bar  90 , and one short base bar  91 . The second leaf spring base design  89   b  consists of a single front leaf spring  93 , a single rear leaf spring  94 , a long base bar  92 , and a short base bar  91 . If the chair apparatus  97  is intended to be used with the second leaf spring base design  89   b,  two crossbars, that are not shown, need to be located so that load from the two side rails  95  is transferred to the front  93  and rear  94  leaf springs. 
         [0055]    The above described embodiments are example of the present invention. It should be clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications, additions, and subtractions can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention defined by the enclosed claims. Additional embodiments are within the following claims: