U.S. Pat. No. 12,201,224

A seat1, particularly for playing video games, comprises a tubular frame2and a cloth3tensioned thereover and forming a seat surface4and a backrest5of seat1(FIG.1-4). Frame2has two lower frame parts6L,6R extending in longitudinal direction of the seat, so in forward direction from backrest5. Each of the lower frame parts6L,6R has a curved progression which is convex in downward direction so that seat1in fact forms a rocking chair. Each lower frame part6L,6R has a front outer end7L,7R and a rear outer end8L,8R. A front transverse frame part9connects the two lower frame parts6L,6R at their front outer ends7L,7R, while a rear transverse frame part10connects the lower frame parts6L,6R at their rear outer end8L,8R.

The front and rear transverse frame parts9,10extend substantially transversely upward from the lower frame parts6L,6R and in the shown embodiment each have a curved progression which is convex in upward direction. The rear transverse frame part10here protrudes further above lower frame parts6L,6R than the front transverse frame part9, so that rear transverse frame part10is able to support the upper side of backrest5. Rear transverse frame part10here first has on either side a lower segment11L,11R which connects to the lower frame part6L,6R and which extends substantially parallel to the front transverse frame part9. An upper segment12then connects to the two lower segments11L,11R, which upper segment extends rearward, so in opposite direction to the front transverse frame part9. The backrest5of the seat is hereby as it were shifted forward relative to the lower frame parts6L,6R, whereby a player is prevented from falling backward when he or she leans against backrest5.

In side view (FIG.4) frame2thus has a substantially U-shaped cross-section, wherein one of the legs is longer than the other, while in front or rear view (FIG.3) the transverse frame parts9,10each have a reverse U-shape. The transitions between the lower frame parts6L,6R and the transverse frame parts9,10otherwise also each have a curved progression so that frame2as a whole takes the form of a loop bent upward on the front and rear side (FIG.9).

As stated, the cloth is tensioned over frame2in order to form the seat surface4and the backrest5. Cloth3is for this purpose provided close to its front side and rear side with folded-over end parts13,14in which the upper ends of the front and rear transverse frame parts9,10can be received. Cloth3is thus tensioned on frame2in longitudinal direction of seat1. In addition, cloth3is tensioned in transverse direction of seat1toward the two lower frame parts6L,6R. For this purpose cloth3is provided on either side with two tensioning members15,16which extend toward front and rear points of attachment17,18on lower frame parts6L,6R. These points of attachment17,18here take the form of brackets which are arranged on top of the lower frame parts6L,6R and around which free outer ends of the tensioning members15,16can be folded. In this way cloth3, when tensioned in frame2, forms a double-curved surface. A player can sit on seat1with his or her feet on either side of the lower frame parts6L,6R and here find a suitable sitting posture, upright (FIG.4), leaning forward (FIG.5) or leaning back (FIG.6), irrespective of the game and the stage of the game. The point CP where seat1makes contact with the ground surface G shifts forward or rearward here.

In the shown embodiment cloth3is further provided on a side with a pocket19for receiving a player's mobile phone, while cloth3has on the rear side a pocket20for receiving a control unit for a video game.

In another embodiment of the seat101according to the invention (FIG.7,8) cloth103is provided with two tensioning members115which are attached to the points of attachment118close to the rear outer ends108L,108R of lower frame parts106L,106R. In addition, cloth103has a single tensioning member116which is tensioned behind the rear transverse frame part110. In this case frame102thus has only two points of attachment118, and thereby has a slightly simpler construction than the frame2discussed above. In this embodiment cloth3is otherwise provided on the front side with a pocket120for receiving a controller and/or a mobile phone.

FIG.11shows a frame202for a seat201, the cloth203of which is provided with only two tensioning members215which are attached to the points of attachment218close to the rear outer ends208L,208R of the lower frame parts206L,206R. In order to prevent cloth203from shifting, the front transverse frame part209is in this embodiment provided with means235for fixing the corresponding folded-over end part213. In the shown embodiment these fixation means235comprise two protruding pins238to which the front folded-over end part213can be attached. For this purpose this front folded-over end part213is here provided with a transverse stiffener239which is received therein and has at its ends two openings240. Transverse stiffener239can be manufactured from a metal or a stiff plastic. A transverse rod236is here further arranged between the legs of the reverse U-shaped rear frame part210, which rod co-acts with a strengthening profile237which is folded over the upper side of the rear transverse frame part210. This strengthening profile simultaneously functions to support a pillow (not shown here) which can be integrated with the cloth203.

In order to enable simple storage of seat1the frame2can be collapsible. For this purpose each of the transverse frame parts9,10has a hinge22,23placed in a central longitudinal plane of frame2. Frame2can thus be collapsed round an axis running in longitudinal direction. This is the case for both shown embodiments of the seat1,101.

In order to enable seat1to be transported and displayed in a shop in a relatively small packaging the frame2can be further divisible. For this purpose the transverse frame parts9,10are each connected releasably to the lower frame parts6L,6R at the position of separations24,25(FIG.9,10). The lower frame parts6L,6R are moreover each composed of two sections26,27which are connected releasably to each other, while the rear transverse frame part10is composed of a pivoting section28and two bent sections29. Frame2can thus be received in a packaging in eight separate parts, wherein the cloth3can be packaged in folded state together with frame2. Seat1can thus be put out and sold in a shop in relatively small packaging, besides other accessories for video games, such as steering wheels, pedals, control units (controllers) and so on.

The frame can otherwise also be divisible when it is not collapsible, such as frame202. Separations224and225then serve on the one hand to enable frame202to be packaged smaller than a frame in one piece, but in addition also to simplify the tensioning of cloth203on frame202. When the transverse frame parts209,210are first connected with some clearance to lower frame parts206L,206R, frame202still has some flexibility. In that situation the folded-over end parts213,214can be pulled over the front and rear transverse frame parts209,210and the front folded-over end part213can be secured using the fixation means235. By then making the connection between the transverse frame parts209,210and the lower frame parts206L,206R clearance-free the cloth203is tensioned tightly on frame202.

In order to enable the tension of cloth3,103,203to be varied the tensioning members15,16;115,116;215can firstly be length-adjustable. As stated, these tensioning members15,16;115,116;215have a free outer end which is folded round the relevant bracket17,18;118;218and can then be attached to the rest of the tensioning member at different positions. For this purpose the tensioning members can for instance be provided with Velcro tape.

In the shown embodiment the cloth203is in addition provided with internal means241for controlling the tension thereof. These internal tension control means241here comprise two length-adjustable elements242which extend from the upper side of the front folded-over end part213to a point in the vicinity of the upper side of the rear folded-over end part214, and are guided from there back to an adjusting zone243. The length-adjustable elements242here each take the form of a cord, an end of which is attached close to the front folded-over end part213to cloth203, and which is run through a hem244of cloth203. Arranged close to rear folded-over end part214are two eyes245through which each of the cords242are run. Each cord242is provided at its free end with a Velcro strip246which co-acts with a Velcro strip247which is attached in the adjusting zone243to the inner side of cloth203. Tightening the outer ends of both cords242reduces the distance between eyes245and the front folded-over end part213, whereby cloth203is tensioned. On the other hand, the cloth can be slackened by paying out cords242. This latter can be important to be able to pull cloth203over frame202.

As stated, frame2can be tubular, so be constructed from for instance metal or plastic tubes. When the frame is constructed from steel tubes, it can be manufactured at relatively low cost and is relatively strong and stiff. Cloth3can be a woven material, a knitted material or a non-woven material. Different materials can be applied here, such as synthetic fibres or natural fibres. Cloth3could even be formed from leather.

Although the invention has been elucidated above on the basis of a number of embodiments, it will be apparent that it is not limited thereto but can be varied in many ways. In particular, the seat can also be used simply as a piece of furniture, particularly as a modern variant of the rocking chair, and not exclusively for playing video games. The scope of the invention is therefore defined solely by the following claims.