US20050067865A1

US20050067865A1 - Chair combined with audiovisual devices

Info

Publication number: US20050067865A1
Application number: US10/675,707
Authority: US
Inventors: Zu-Sheng Yu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-09-30
Filing date: 2003-09-30
Publication date: 2005-03-31

Abstract

A chair is provided comprising: a frame including a seat base, armrests, a footrest, a backrest, and a plurality of wheels, wherein the armrests or the backrest include compartments for housing a plurality of audiovisual devices.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a chair, and more particularly, to a reclining chair combined with audiovisual devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Chairs are used for sitting and relaxing and while a person is being entertained by audio and/or visual programs, such as to watch a movie, listen to music, write, eat, or perform other activities.
Various types of armchairs are known in the art. These include a typical reclining chair, a revolving armchair used in a barber shop, a folding armchair used in educational institutions, and a tray table armchair with the table inserted in the armrests of airline seats. Generally, these chairs have a supporting back, two armrests, and a footrest movable from a retracted position to an extended position. Although the typical reclining chair is comparatively of comfort while seated, it is inconvenient for a user to read or write in the chair since the reclining chair usually is not well arranged with sufficient light. Also, should someone need to write or spread-out several documents before her in a chair, a flat surface such as a board is needed.
In space limited areas wherein entertainment accessories cannot be placed far away from a chair, such as in the cabin of an airplane, various arrangements for seats having entertaining accessories have been used. For example, small screen TV monitors and audio/video playback controls are mounted to seats. However, the audio and/or video players are usually disposed in a central area away from the seat. For the audio system, earphones are used so that other passengers are not affected by the audio program.
A need, therefore, exists for a chair having a combination of comfort and entertainment features disposed within reach of the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A chair is provided comprising: a frame including a seat base, armrests, a footrest, a backrest, and a plurality of wheels, wherein the armrests or the backrest include compartments for housing a plurality of audiovisual devices.
Preferably, the audiovisual devices comprise at least two of a CD/DVD player, a radio, a TV, and speakers.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a chair is provided comprising: a frame including a seat base, a backrest, and a plurality of compartments accessible by a person sitting on the chair for housing a plurality of entertainment accessories including a video player for playing a video program, a display for displaying the video program, and a plurality of speakers mounted on or within the chair.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other and further aspects of the present invention will be apparent from a description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a reclining chair according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a reclining chair when a lamp, a board, and a TV are in use according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a top view of a reclining chair in accordance with the present invention; and
FIG. 4 is a side view of a reclining seat in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.
The reclining chair according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, there is illustrated a reclining chair according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a reclining chair according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is another perspective view of a reclining chair when a lamp 7, headrest 10, a board 8, and a TV 2 are in use according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The reclining chair 100 comprises a frame including a seat base 40, a backrest 12, armrests 13, a footrest 11, a bottom rotating plate 9, and a plurality of bottom plate glide wheels 17. The frame of the reclining chair 100 can be made of suitable rigid materials including wood, steel, or plastic. The frame can be covered with soft materials including leathers or fabrics to provide comfort to a user.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a headrest 10 has extensible rods 24 movable from a retracted position to an extended position. When the backrest 12 is made to recline in the usual fashion, the footrest 11 extends outwardly and upwardly at the front of the chair 100 to support the feet of a user reclining in the chair 100. A footrest board 19 supportably holds up the footrest 11 when the footrest 11 is extended. The backrest 10 includes speakers 4 and a backboard 14. The backboard 14 is supportedly positioned behind the backrest 12. Excess backward movement of the backrest is prevented by the backboard 14.
Within reach of the user of the chair while the user is seated are a plurality of compartments for housing a plurality of built-in audiovisual devices such as a radio 6, a CD/DVD player 1, and a TV 2. These compartments are shown as installed in the armrests 13 but they can be installed in any convenient location of the chair accessible or within reach of the user while she is seated. The armrests 13 further include speakers 4 and 5. The speakers 4 and 5 are plugged into the audiovisual devices. When electrically connected, the audiovisual devices function as an entertaining system. Alternatively, the chair 100 includes mounting mechanism (not shown) for mounting the speakers proximal to the chair, for example, adjacent to the top left and right corners of the backrest 12.
The armrests 13 further include a board assembly comprising a board 8 and a screw 23. The board 8 is suitable for placing books, foods, and more. In accordance with the invention, the board 8 can be pivoted on a plane horizontal to the armrest (shown at FIG. 2 with a dotted line). When the board 8 is so positioned, a user may easily be afforded ingress and egress to the seat 40 without disturbing the articles resting on the board 8.
A flexible lamp 7 is retractably installed in one of the armrests 13, but it can be installed in any convenient location of the chair accessible or within reach of the user while she is seated, to provide light for reading, writing and more. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the lamp 7 has a flexible gooseneck design. The lamp 7 can be extended when in use and flexibly moves as a user desires.
A magazine rack 18 and a CD/DVD rack 3 are retractably formed on the side of the armrests 13. Thus, a user can pick up a magazine or a CD while seated. The racks are maintained in a retracted position when the racks are not in use as in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a bottom rotating plate 9 is adapted to stand on the floor. A plurality of bottom plate glide wheels 17 are positioned on the bottom rotating plate 9. Thus, a user can rotate the chair 100 by providing minimum amount of force while seated because the wheels 17 make the rotation easier. According an embodiment of the present invention, the bottom rotating plate 9 is axially rotatable by a center rod 16 extended from the bottom rotating plate 9 and loosely inserted into the seat base 40.
While the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and substitutions can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A chair for housing a plurality of audiovisual devices comprising:

a frame including a seat base, armrests, a footrest, a backrest, and a plurality of wheels, wherein the plurality of audiovisual devices are enclosed in compartments of the armrests or the backrest.

2. The chair as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of audiovisual devices comprise at least two of a CD/DVD player, a radio, a TV, and speakers.

3. The chair as in claim 2, wherein the speakers are disposed within the backrest.

4. The chair as in claim 1, wherein one of the armrests further comprises a board assembly that can be pivoted on a plane horizontal to the armrest.

5. The chair as in claim 1, wherein one of the armrests further comprises a lamp.

6. The chair as in claim 1, wherein one of the armrests further comprises a CD/DVD rack and a magazine rack.

7. The chair as in claim 1, wherein a headrest is retractably connected on the backrest using extensible rods.

8. The chair as in claim 1, further including a footrest which extends forward when the chair is in a recline position.

9. A chair for housing a plurality of entertainment accessories comprising:

a frame including a seat base, a backrest, and a plurality of compartments accessible by a person sitting on the chair,

wherein the plurality of entertainment accessories including a video player for playing a video program and a display for displaying the video program are enclosed in the plurality of compartments, and a plurality of speakers mounted on or within the chair.

10. The chair as in claim 9, further comprises a seat rotating plate disposed below the frame and the seat rotating plate is axially rotatable with a plurality of wheels.

11. The chair as in claim 9, further comprises a footrest extending outwardly and upwardly.

12. The chair as in claim 9, further comprises an armrest comprising a board assembly that can be pivoted on a plane horizontal to the armrest.

13. The chair as in claim 12, wherein the armrest further comprises an extensible lamp.

14. The chair as in claim 12, wherein the armrest further comprises a CD/DVD rack and a magazine rack.

15. The chair as in claim 9, wherein a headrest is retractably connected on the backrest using expansion rods.

16. The chair as in claim 9, further including a footrest which extends forward when the chair is in a recline position.