US20050017550A1

US20050017550A1 - Outdoor lounge

Info

Publication number: US20050017550A1
Application number: US10/608,615
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert Vanderminden
Original assignee: Telescope Casual Furniture Inc
Current assignee: Andrei Iancu Under Secretary Of Commerce For Intellectual Property And Director Of United States Patent And Trademark Office; Ashley Moody Florida Office Of Attorney General; Farm Credit Of Florida Aca; Farm Credit Services Of America Incorporated Flca; Jeanette Nunez Lieutenant Governor Of Florida; Laurel M Lee Florida Secretary Of State; Lovett Pamela H; Lovett William H; Steven Mnuchin United States Secretary Of Treasury And Successors Thereto; Telescope Casual Furniture Inc
Priority date: 2003-06-27
Filing date: 2003-06-27
Publication date: 2005-01-27

Abstract

The lounge is constructed of a frame and a fabric panel that is stretched across the frame. The frame includes a pair of leg assembles that are pivotal between an extended position and a collapsed position in which the leg assemblies are in folded-over relation to each other. The frame is made of a lightweight construction to be readily carried by one person.

Description

This invention relates to an outdoor lounge.
As is known, various types of structures have been employed for outdoor lounging and sunbathing. One popular version of a lounge has a rigid support frame with legs to support the lounge on a support surface, deck or ground. In addition, a seat frame has been secured to and across the support frame to receive a lower part of a reclining person and an adjustable backrest frame has been pivotally mounted on the support frame to support the back of the reclining person. Generally, the backrest frome is adjustable into different positions from an upright position to a fully reclined position.
In the past, the outdoor lounges have been made of open-type construction with transverse slats or straps and the like to provide a support surface while also providing openings through which rain may pass. Such open-type constructions are, however, bothersome to a user, particularly in a fully reclined position. In such cases, the slats or straps provide pressure points on the user's body. In order to overcome these problems, cushions have been provided for use on the lounges. However, over time, the cushions receive a build up of oils and the like from sun-tanning lotions and can become unsightly. In other cases, the users have placed a beach towel or the like over the slats in order to provide a smoother surface for reclining purposes.
Lounges have also been known in which a fabric strip has been stretched across the backrest and seat frame in order to provide a smooth surface for reclining.
Due to the rigidity bulk of the support frames, portability and storage of the lounges has been cumbersome.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an outdoor lounge that is easily portable and storable.
It is another object of the invention to provide a collapsible outdoor lounge that is made of a collapsible construction for storage purposes.
It is another object of the invention to provide an outdoor lounge that provides a smooth reclining surface for a user.
Briefly, the invention provides an outdoor lounge that has a frame adapted to receive a fabric panel and, particularly, a fabric panel presenting a smooth surface for reclining purposes.
The frame is constructed of a pair of leg assemblies that are disposed in parallel relation to each other longitudinally of the lounge and a pair of stretcher bars disposed in parallel relation to each other transversely of the lounge for receiving the fabric panel therebetween.
In addition, each leg assembly is pivotally mounted on a respective stretcher bar for movement between an extended position to support the stretcher bars on a support surface and a retracted position with the leg assemblies disposed in folded over relation to each other. Each leg assembly includes an elongated bar and a pair of legs, each of which is fixedly secured to the elongated bar at a respective end.
The stretcher bars are constructed to receive the ends of the fabric panel and to hold the fabric panel in a stretched taut manner.
In addition, the frame includes a plurality of struts, each of which is pivotally secured at one end to either the leg or a stretcher bar while being removably connected at the opposite end to the other of the leg and stretcher bar. When connected between the leg assemblies and the stretcher bars, the struts serve to rigidify the lounge in a position for use by a reclining person. When disconnected, the struts allow the lounge frame to be collapsed. That is, the leg assemblies are free to be folded under the fabric panel.
The frame is constructed so that the two leg assemblies may be pivoted outwardly from a folded-over position so that a fabric panel disposed between the stretcher bars provides a smooth, horizontal support surface to receive a user in a reclined position. For this purpose, the free end of each strut is secured in place to rigidify the frame.
In order to collapse the lounge for storage purposes, the struts are unlocked from the leg assemblies so that the leg assemblies are free to pivot into a folded-over condition under the stretcher bars and fabric panel. In this condition, the opposite legs of the leg assemblies are folded over each other. In this regard, the legs are of a length less than the distance between the two points at which the legs are pivotally mounted on a stretcher bar.
Once folded flat, the lounge may be readily transported and stored in a compact space.
The lounge may have any suitable length and is particularly constructed to receive an adult in a reclining position.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a lounge constructed in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the lounge of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section view similar to FIG. 3 with the lounge in a collapsed state.
Referring to FIG. 1, the lounge 10 is constructed of a frame 11 and a fabric panel 12.
Referring to FIG. 2, the frame 11 includes a pair of leg assemblies 13 disposed in parallel relation to each other longitudinally of the lounge 10 and a pair of stretcher bars 14 disposed in parallel relation to each other transversly of the lounge 10.
Each leg assembly 13 includes an elongated bar 15 that is horizontally disposed, as viewed, and a pair of legs 16. The bar 15 is typically of hollow construction and may be of rectangular cross-section or circular cross-section. Each leg 16 is of similar construction to the bar 15, that is, each leg 16 is of hollow construction of either a rectangular cross-section or circular cross-section. In addition, each leg 16 is fixedly secured at an intermediate point to an end of the bar 15. Where the bar 15 and legs 16 are made of aluminum, the bar 15 and legs 16 may be welded together.
Each bar 15 and leg 16 is made of metal, such as aluminum. However, the bars 15 and legs 16 may be made of solid construction of other materials, such as wood or cast material.
Each stretcher bar 14 is of similar construction to the bars 15 and legs 16. That is, each stretcher bar 14 is of hollow construction with a rectangular or circular cross-sectional shape.
Each leg 16 is pivotally mounted on a respective stretcher bar 14 by means of a rivet 17 or pin. This allows each leg assembly 13 to be pivoted between an extended position, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, to support the lounge 10 on a support surface and a retracted position, as shown in FIG. 4, with the leg assemblies 13 disposed in folded-over relation to each other under the fabric panel 12. Each leg 16 also carries a plastic cap 16′ as a foot in a conventional manner.
A plurality of struts or straps 18 are provided to secure the legs 16 in the extended position. As indicated, each strut 18 is pivotally connected to a stretcher bar 14 at one end via a pin 19 while being removably connected at the opposite end to a leg 16 via a thumb screw 20. Upon removal of the thumb screw 20, the struts 18 fall away from the legs 16 to permit the leg assemblies 13 to be moved manually into the folded-over position of FIG. 4.
Each spreader bar 14 is also provided with an elongated longitudinal slot 21 to receive an end of the fabric panel 12 in a conventional manner. In this respect, one end of the spreader bar 14 is provided with a removable cap 22, for example, of plastic. Upon removal of the cap 22, access may be had to the slot 21 so that the end of the fabric panel 12 may be slid into place. After the fabric panel 12 has been inserted into the respective spreader bars 14, the caps 22 are replaced to seal the exposed opening into the bars 14.
The fabric panel 12 is of any suitable material, such as cloth, cotton, or a polymer. In addition, each end of the fabric panel 12 is provided with a loop 23 for sliding into the slot 21 of a spreader bar 14. A reinforcing rod (not shown) may also be inserted within the loop for stiffening purposes.
The fabric panel 12 is disposed in a stretched or taut manner to provide a smooth firm surface for lounging.
In order to assemble the lounge 10, the two leg assemblies 13, otherwise denoted “H frames”, are positioned in a holding frame and the fabric panel 12 is separately mounted in the two stretcher bars 14 as described above.
One of the stretcher bars 14 is then mounted to and across the leg assemblies 13 via the rivet or pins 17. The other stretcher bar 14 is then pulled to stretch the fabric panel 12 and is mounted on the opposite ends of the leg assemblies 13 via the rivet or pins 17. The struts (straps) 18 are then mounted in place between the leg assemblies 13 and the stretcher bars 14.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, in order to collapse the lounge 10, the thumb screws 20 are removed to allow the struts (straps) 18 to fall away from the leg 16. The thumb screws 20 are then replaced in their respective legs 16 for storage purposes while the struts 18 hang free. The leg assemblies 13 are then pivoted into the collapsed, folded-over position, as illustrated in FIG. 4. As illustrated, each leg 16 is of a length less than the distance between the pivot points at which the legs 16 are pivoted to the spreader bar 14. Thus, the legs 16 of each leg frame 13 are disposed one over the other.
Referring to FIG. 1, when a user reclines on the lounge 10, the weight of the user is transferred through the stretcher bars 14 into the legs 16 through the rivets 17. The struts 18 serve to prevent the legs 16 from splaying outwardly under the weight of the occupant.
The invention thus provides a lounge that is easily stored in a collapsed state and easily transported from place to place.
Further, the invention provides an outdoor lounge that can be readily set up to receive an occupant in a reclined position.
Further, the invention provides a lounge that is made of lightweight construction so as to be readily manipulated and handled by one person.

Claims

1. An outdoor lounge comprising

a pair of leg assemblies disposed in parallel relation to each other longitudinally of the lounge, each said leg assembly including an elongated bar and a pair of legs, each said leg being secured to said elongated bar at a respective end thereof;

a pair of stretcher bars disposed in parallel relation to each other transversely of the lounge and said leg assemblies, each said stretcher bar having one of said legs of each of said leg assemblies pivotally mounted thereon for movement between an extended position to support said stretcher bars on a horizontal support surface and a retracted position with said leg assemblies disposed in folded over relation to each other; and

a fabric panel secured to and between said stretcher bars in parallel relation to said leg assemblies.

2. An outdoor lounge as set forth in claim 1 wherein each stretcher bar has a longitudinally disposed slot receiving a respective end of said fabric panel therein in secured relation.

3. An outdoor lounge as set forth in claim 2 wherein said fabric panel has a loop of material at each end thereof slidably mounted in said slot of a respective stretcher bar.

4. An outdoor lounge as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises a plurality of struts, each said strut being pivotally secured at one end to a respective one of said legs and one of said stretcher bars and being removably connected to the other of said one of said legs and one of said stretcher bars, each said strut being disposed to maintain said leg assemblies in said extended positions.

5. An outdoor lounge comprising

a pair of leg assemblies disposed in parallel relation to each other longitudinally of the lounge, each said leg assembly including an elongated bar and a pair of legs, each said leg being secured at an intermediate point threof to said elongated bar at a respective end thereof;

a pair of stretcher bars disposed in parallel relation to each other transversely of the lounge and said leg assemblies, each said stretcher bar having one of said legs of each of said leg assemblies mounted thereon at spaced apart predetermined points for movement between an extended position to support said stretcher bars on a horizontal support surface and a retracted position with said leg assemblies disposed in folded over relation to each other; and

6. An outdoor lounge as set forth in claim 5 wherein each leg of each leg assembly is of a length less than the distance between said predetermined points.

7. A frame for an outdoor lounge comprising

a pair of leg assemblies disposed in parallel relation to each other, each said leg assembly including an elongated bar and a pair of legs, each said leg being secured at an intermediate point thereof to said elongated bar at a respective end thereof; and

a pair of stretcher bars disposed in parallel relation to each other and transversely of said leg assemblies for receiving a fabric panel therebetween, each said stretcher bar having one of said legs of each of said leg assemblies pivotally mounted thereon for movement between an extended position to support said stretcher bars on a horizontal support surface and a retracted position with said leg assemblies disposed in folded over relation to each other.