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US 12,745,847 B2Granted
Deployable chair
OwnerDean Verhoeveninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of the disclosure provide deployable seating systems. In the context of a chair, the chair includes a plurality of links pivotably connected to one another in a sequence, wherein each link comprises a central portion extending between opposing ends of the link, wherein the plurality of links are configured to at least partially unroll in a first direction to transition the apparatus from an undeployed orientation to a deployed orientation; and the pivotable connection between respective links embodying at least one pivot limiting element configured to limit the unrolling of the apparatus in the first direction.
Claims13
An apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of links pivotably connected to one another in a sequence, wherein each link comprises a central portion extending between opposing ends of the link, wherein the plurality of links are configured to at least partially unroll in a first direction to transition the apparatus from an undeployed orientation to a deployed orientation;
- and
- the pivotable connection between respective links embodying at least one pivot limiting element configured to limit the unrolling of the apparatus in the first direction,
- wherein:
- the opposing ends of each of the plurality of links define, respectively, a first portion and a second portion that are positioned in parallel planes relative to one another, the parallel planes spaced apart relative to one another by a distance equal to a length of the central portion,
- the at least one pivot limiting element comprises:
- a first set of tension elements secured at at least opposing ends of the first portion;
- and a second set of tension elements secured at at least opposing ends of the second portion,
- the first and second set of tension elements maintain a maximum separation distance between the respective opposing ends of the first portion and the second portion, and
- the first and second set of tension elements each comprise a plurality of cords secured between the opposing ends, wherein each of the plurality of cords of each tension element is separated from one another by a separation distance.
7 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a first portion having a first length defining opposing ends of the first portion;
- a second portion having a second length equal to the first length, the second length defining opposing ends of the second portion;
- and
- a plurality of central portions operatively connected to the first portion and the second portion along the first and the second lengths thereof respectively, such that the first portion and the second portion are positioned in parallel planes relative to one another, the parallel planes spaced apart relative to one another by a distance equal to a length of each of the plurality of central portions,
- wherein:
- each of the first portion and the second portion comprises:
- a plurality of segments between the opposing ends;
- and
- a plurality of sets of tension elements;
- and
- a respective set of the plurality of sets of tension elements is secured between adjacent segments of the plurality of segments, the respective set of tension elements being oppositely biased relative to one another;
- the first portion and the second portion are configured to at least partially unroll in a first direction to transition the apparatus from an undeployed orientation to a deployed orientation;
- in the deployed orientation the opposite biasing of the respective sets of tension elements opposes free unrolling of the corresponding portion in the first direction;
- and
- the plurality of sets of tension elements each comprise a plurality of cords secured between the opposing ends, wherein each of the plurality of cords of each tension element is separated from one another by a separation distance.
12 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a first portion having a first length defining opposing ends of the first portion;
- a second portion having a second length equal to the first length, the second length defining opposing ends of the second portion;
- and
- a plurality of central portions operatively connected to the first portion and the second portion along the first and the second lengths thereof respectively, such that the first portion and the second portion are positioned in parallel planes relative to one another, the parallel planes spaced apart relative to one another by a distance equal to a length of each of the plurality of central portions,
- wherein:
- each of the first portion and the second portion comprises:
- a plurality of segments between the opposing ends;
- and
- a plurality of sets of tension elements;
- and
- a respective set of the plurality of sets of tension elements is secured between adjacent segments of the plurality of segments, the respective set of tension elements being oppositely biased relative to one another;
- the first portion and the second portion are configured to at least partially unroll in a first direction to transition the apparatus from an undeployed orientation to a deployed orientation;
- and
- in the deployed orientation the opposite biasing of the respective sets of tension elements opposes free unrolling of the corresponding portion in the first direction;
- the plurality of segments of the first portion comprises a first plurality of interlocking links that extend along the first length between the opposing ends of the first portion;
- the plurality of segments of the second portion comprises a second plurality of interlocking links that extend along the second length between the opposing ends of the second portion;
- each of the plurality of central portions is operatively connected to a respective pair of links from the first and the second plurality of interlocking links;
- each of the plurality of central portions embodies a rod;
- and
- the rod embodies a multi-layer cylinder comprising:
- a structural layer;
- and a cushioning layer surrounding the structural layer.
19 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.