Abstract:
A cushioning and protection apparatus for a chair armrest includes a cushion body having a central cavity and an opening leading thereto. The opening is defined by a pair of jaw projections that are resiliently deformable to enlarge the opening to enable an armrest to be inserted into the central cavity. An attachment device secures the cushioning and protection device to the armrest. The device can easily be installed on and removed from a chair armrest with little effort. The cushioning apparatus is lightweight, easily transportable, and particularly suitable for use in outdoor seating environments.

Description:
CONTINUITY 
     This is a continuation of U.S. Continuation patent application Ser. No. 08/724,934, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,053 filed Oct. 2, 1996, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/330,295, filed Oct. 27, 1994, now abandoned. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to cushioning devices for chairs, and more particularly, to cushioning and protection devices for chair armrests. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Devices for protecting and cushioning portions of chairs, such as chair seats, back rests, and armrests, have long been recognized. Various types of paddings and cushions have been attached to chairs to provide comfort and protection to persons seated in the chairs. 
     Chair pads and cushions are most commonly installed on indoor chairs, rather than outdoor chairs, because indoor chairs are protected from the environment. Significant problems are encountered when installing padding and cushioning on chairs intended for outdoor use. Adverse weather conditions, such as extreme heat, cold, sunlight, and moisture, serve to destroy such cushioning and padding devices in a short period of time. 
     A particularly significant problem is presented by permanently constructed outdoor seating for places such as outdoor sports stadiums and the like. Chairs for such stadiums must be solidly constructed to withstand the various types of punishment and hard use caused by people sitting in the chairs. Such outdoor seating must also be permanently mounted inside the arena and therefore must be designed to withstand all ranges of temperatures and all weather conditions, from freezing temperatures in the winter to extreme heat and sunlight in the summer. Accordingly, mounting permanent padding or cushions to outdoor seats is impractical because the padding will break down and be destroyed over time under adverse weather conditions. 
     One particular problem associated with the above-described outdoor chairs is that portions of the chairs, including the seat, backrest, and armrests, become extremely hot from exposure to the sun during the summertime. A person&#39;s shirt and pants may protect portions of the person&#39;s body from a hot seat and backrest. With respect to the armrests, however, the person sitting in the chair will most likely be wearing a short sleeve shirt. Thus, there is a significant risk that the person&#39;s arms will directly contact the sun-heated armrests. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a cushioning and protection apparatus for a chair armrest. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable cushioning and protection apparatus for a chair armrest. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cushioning and protection apparatus for a chair armrest that can easily be installed on and removed from the chair armrest. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a portable cushioning and protection apparatus that is lightweight. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a cushioning and protection apparatus for a chair armrest that is portable, installable on, and removable from a chair armrest in an outdoor arena. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a cushioning and protection apparatus that includes a replaceable cover. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cushioning and protection apparatus for a chair armrest that thermally insulates the arm of a person sitting in the chair from the armrest structure. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a cushioning and protection apparatus for a chair armrest that is installable on and removable from a chair armrest without the need of any tools or technical training. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a cushioning and protection apparatus for a chair armrest that forms around and secures itself to the chair armrest. 
     The foregoing objects are achieved by a cushioning and protection apparatus for a chair armrest including a cushion body having a central cavity and an opening for accessing to the central cavity. The central cavity is sized to receive a portion of a chair armrest. The cushion body is made of a resilient, deformable material. The opening can be enlarged by resiliently deforming the material for insertion of the chair armrest into the central cavity. Thereafter, the memory of the resilient material causes the material to close around the chair armrest to hold the protection and cushioning apparatus in place about the armrest. A removable cover may be placed over the resilient material. The cover may include indicia, such as a team name, logo, or the like. 
    
    
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the application will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described below. 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a chair including a pair of cushioning and protection apparatuses according to the present invention installed on the chair armrests; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged isometric view of one cushioning and protection apparatus shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of a cushioning and protection apparatus for a chair armrest according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the cushioning and protection apparatus of FIG. 3 with a cover installed thereon; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional side elevation view of the cushioning and protection apparatus, taken along the line  5 — 5  of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional side elevation view of the cushioning and protection apparatus, taken along the line  6 — 6  of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1,  2 , and  6  show generally a cushioning and protection apparatus  10  for use in connection with a seat or chair  12 . The cushioning and protection apparatuses according to the present invention are intended to be installed on armrests  14  of all types of chairs, particularly outdoor chairs, such as patio chairs, lawn chairs, beach chairs, stadium chairs, and the like. The cushioning and protection apparatus  10  generally includes a main cushion body  16  having an exterior facing surface  15  and an interior facing surface  17 . The cushion body is preferably made of closed-cell foam, which may further include a skin layer on one or both of the exterior and interior facing surfaces  15 ,  17 . 
     The cushion body  16  includes opposed ends, a length, and a longitudinal axis. The cushion body is substantially cylindrical in shape and defines a central cavity  18  aligned along the longitudinal axis. The central cavity is preferably sized to receive an armrest of a chair. The central cavity provides a continuous, uninterrupted passageway from one end of the cushion body to the opposite end. 
     The cushion body further defines a pair of opposed jaw projections  22  which extend from an apex, which has an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis, of the cushion body. The jaw projections  22  form an opening in the form of a slot  20  along one side of the cushion body  16 . The jaw projections  22  are resiliently deformable and moldable around a chair armrest. Thus, the armrest can be of any cross-sectional shape. When installing the cushion body  16  onto a chair armrest, the jaw projections  22  are forcibly separated to expand the opening or slot  20 . Thereafter, the armrest is inserted through the slot  20  and into the central cavity  18 . Typically the foregoing in achieved by aligning the slot  20  with the armrest, forcing open the jaw projections  22 , and forcing the cushion body over the armrest so that the cushion body surrounds the armrest. The memory of the resilient material then causes the jaw projections to close and hold the cushion body onto the armrest. 
     The cushioning body preferably is made of a resilient, formable material such as closed-cell foam. Alternatively, the cushioning body may be made of any other suitable material that can be formed about the armrest to provide protection and cushioning, and that can be secured in place about the armrest by an attachment device. Although the armrest and cushioning apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are shown to be cylinder in shape, it is to be understood that the cushioning apparatus could specifically be made to correspond with any cross-sectional shape of armrest. As mentioned above, because of the resiliency of the material, the jaw projections  22  will form around virtually any cross-sectional shape of armrest. 
     The cushioning and protection apparatus  10  further includes a fastening device in the form of an attachment assembly  24 . The attachment assembly preferably comprises a main portion  26  which includes a plurality of loops. The main portion is secured to the cushion body  16  by means of a conventional fastener  27 . The attachment assembly also includes a base portion  28  comprising a plurality of hooks. The base portion is secured to the cushion body by means of a conventional fastener  29 . The hooks and loops of the base and main portions, respectively, form a releasable attachment devise in the form of a Velcro-type fastener. It is to be understood that other types of fastening devices could be used to maintain the protection and cushioning apparatus in operative position around the armrest. 
     The cushioning and protection apparatus  10  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 still further comprises a tether or carrying strap  30  for transporting the device. The carrying strap is attached to one end of the cushioning body  16  by means of a conventional fastener  32 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the carrying strap is in the form of a large loop, which may be used for securing the cushioning and protection device to a person&#39;s belt. Because the cushioning apparatus is extremely lightweight, it is easy to carry and use. No special tools, skills, or technical training are required to install or remove the cushioning and protection apparatus on a chair armrest. Most suitably, the cushioning apparatus  10  can be taken to any outdoor event stadium and installed on a chair armrest. The cushioning and protection apparatus will cushion the user&#39;s arms and insulate the user&#39;s arms from the temperature of the armrest (such as heat from sunlight or cold from low temperatures). 
     FIGS. 3-5 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention. A main cushion body  16 , similar to the cushion body  16  of FIGS. 1,  2 , and  6 , is shown. Specifically, the cushion body  16  shown in FIGS. 3-5 has the same properties as discussed in connection with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, including a central cavity  18  and a slot  20  formed by jaw projections  22  of the main cushion body  16 . 
     The embodiment of FIGS. 3-5 further comprises a cover  34  disposed over the main cushion body  16 . The cover includes a pair of pockets  36  for receiving the jaw projections  22  of the cushion body  16 . The concept of using a cover over the cushion body  16  enables a user to install and remove various covers. The covers to be cleaned between uses. In addition, the covers can be advantageously used in marketing or promoting a particular team. Various types of indicia  46  can be placed on the covers. The indicia may comprise, for example, a particular team name, logo, or the like. Further, the cover may be made to suit a particular team color. Although the indicia  46  is shown on the cover  34 , it is to be understood that the indicia could similarly be placed directly on the outer surface  15  of the cushion body  16  shown in FIGS. 1,  2 , and  6 . 
     Referring still to FIGS. 3-5, an attachment assembly  38  comprising a base portion  40  and a main portion  42  is coupled to the cover  34  to allow the protection and cushioning apparatus to be secured about a chair armrest. The base portion  40  includes a plurality of hooks and for attaching to a plurality of loops on the main portion  42 . The base  40  and the attachment strap  42  are secured to the cover by any conventional means, such as by sewing. 
     The embodiment of FIGS. 3-5 further includes a tether or carrying strap  44  attached to one end of the cover. The carrying strap provides an area by which the entire cover and cushion body can be held and carried with relative ease. 
     In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.