US20090212605A1

US20090212605A1 - Bouncey chair

Info

Publication number: US20090212605A1
Application number: US12/070,961
Authority: US
Inventors: Robin D. Buckner
Original assignee: BUCKNER BAILEE
Current assignee: BUCKNER BAILEE
Priority date: 2008-02-22
Filing date: 2008-02-22
Publication date: 2009-08-27

Abstract

An apparatus that can be used as a traditional seat and for providing fun for children. The apparatus comprises an inflatable chair having a predetermined shape and formed of a predetermined material. The predetermined shape includes a rounded bottom, such rounded bottom is used for bouncing the inflatable chair during play time. A pair of integrated handles are integrally formed as part of the inflatable chair for enabling a user to grasp such handles when the inflatable chair is being used as a bouncing chair during play time. There is a base unit having a substantially flat bottom surface and an upper surface that has an arcuate indented center portion for holding the rounded bottom of the inflatable chair when the chair is being used as a traditional chair, the arcuate indented center portion is shaped to be compatible with the rounded bottom of the inflatable chair. Such apparatus also includes a means for inflating and deflating the inflatable chair.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to a child's chair, and, more particularly, the present invention relates to an inflatable child's chair that has a rounded bottom and can be used as a bouncing chair for fun or it can sit in a base member and be used as a regular chair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditional seating can be boring and uncomfortable for many children, especially for those who have a short attention span or are naturally fidgety. There are many chairs on the market designed for use in video game playing and also can be used outside during playtime. However, many of these chairs are not designed to provide comfortable seating during traditional use. These chairs are either primarily designed for fun use or for traditional seating but cannot do both equally well.
Thus, it would be advantageous if there were a child's chair that could provide comfortable seating as a traditional chair and still be used to provide fun for children during play time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus that can be used as a traditional seat and for providing fun for children. The apparatus comprises an inflatable chair having a predetermined shape and formed of a predetermined material. The predetermined shape including a rounded bottom, such rounded bottom is used for bouncing the inflatable chair during play time. A pair of integrated handles are integrally formed as part of the inflatable chair for enabling a user to grasp such handles when the inflatable chair is being used as a bouncing chair during play time. There is a base unit having a substantially flat bottom surface and an upper surface that has an arcuate indented center portion for holding the rounded bottom of the inflatable chair when the chair is being used as a traditional chair, the arcuate indented center portion is shaped to be compatible with the rounded bottom of the inflatable chair. Such apparatus also includes a means for inflating and deflating the inflatable chair.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a child's chair that is a comfortable inflatable chair.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a child's chair that has a rounded bottom than can provide fun for children by being able to bounce on the chair.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a child's chair that a base unit for holding the rounded bottom when the chair is being used as a traditional chair.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a child's chair that is made of inflatable rubber material.
In addition to the various objects and advantages of the invention which have been described in some specific detail above it should be noted that various other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description, particularly when such description is taken in conjunction with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of said apparatus positioned on a base unit when such apparatus is used as a traditional chair according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 wherein the inflatable chair is removed from the base unit.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a valve arrangement disposed on a back portion of the inflatable chair shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the apparatus used as a bouncing chair during play time with a child sitting in such bouncing chair.

FIG. 6 is a back perspective view of the apparatus used as for traditional seating showing a child using the chair in playing an interactive game or watching television.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identical components which have identical functions have been designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings.
In a first aspect, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention provides an apparatus, generally designated 10, that can be used as a traditional seat and for providing a bouncing chair that can be used as fun for children. The apparatus 10 comprises an inflatable chair 2 having a predetermined shape and formed of a predetermined material. The predetermined shape including a rounded bottom 4, such rounded bottom 4 is for bouncing the inflatable chair 2 during play time. A pair of integrated handles 6 are integrally formed as part of the inflatable chair 2 for enabling a user to grasp such handles 6 when the inflatable chair 2 is being used during play time. There is a base unit 8 having a substantially flat bottom surface 12 and an upper surface that has an arcuate indented center portion 14 for holding the rounded bottom 4 of the inflatable chair 2 when the chair 2 is being used as a traditional chair, the arcuate indented center portion 14 is shaped to be compatible with the rounded bottom 4 of the inflatable chair 2. Such apparatus also includes a means 20 for inflating and deflating the inflatable chair 2.
Such means 20 for inflating and deflating the inflatable chair 2 includes a valve means disposed on a back portion of the inflatable chair 2 as is seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.
The inflatable chair can be used in a designated play area for bouncing once the inflatable chair 2 is removed from the base unit 8. This would be play time for the child and as seen in FIG. 5 the child can derive enjoyment out of bouncing the chair in a designated area.
The predetermined material for forming said inflatable chair 2 is selected from one of plastic, natural rubber and synthetic rubber. It is presently preferred that such predetermined material is synthetic rubber. It is within the concept of the invention that such predetermined material is colored and such color could be virtually any of the colors of the rainbow.
It is presently preferred that the seat portion of the inflatable chair 2 is substantially flat while the back portion of the inflatable chair 2 is curved along a horizontal axis so as to provide comfort for a user's back.
Further, according to the present invention when the inflatable chair 2 is disposed in the base unit 8 the chair is positioned to sit upright.
While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, it should be understood that various other adaptations and/or modifications of the invention can be made by those persons who are particularly skilled in the art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus that can be used as a traditional seat and for providing fun for children, said apparatus comprising:

(a) an inflatable chair having a predetermined shape and formed of a predetermined material, said predetermined shape including a seat portion, a back portion extending upward from a rear section of said seat portion and a rounded bottom, said rounded bottom for bouncing said inflatable chair during play time;

(b) a pair of integrated handles integrally formed as part of said inflatable chair for enabling a user to grasp said inflatable chair when used during play time, said integrated handles being formed as an opening in a side portion of said inflatable chair;

(c) a base unit having a substantially flat bottom surface and an upper surface that has an arcuate indented center portion for holding said rounded bottom of said inflatable chair when said chair is being used as a traditional chair, said arcuate indented center portion shaped to be compatible with said rounded bottom of said inflatable chair; and

(d) a means for inflating and deflating said inflatable chair.

2. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said seat portion of said inflatable chair is substantially flat.

3. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said means for inflating and deflating said inflatable chair includes a valve means disposed on said back portion of said inflatable chair.

4. (canceled)

5. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined material for forming said inflatable chair is selected from one of plastic, natural rubber and synthetic rubber.

6. The apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein said predetermined material is synthetic rubber.

7. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined material for forming apparatus is formed in color.

8. The apparatus, according to claim 7, wherein said color is selected from any of the colors of the rainbow.

9. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said back portion of said inflatable chair is curved along a horizontal axis so as to provide comfort for a user's back.

10. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said chair sits upright when disposed in said base unit.