Modular Outdoor Furniture

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/567,603 filed on Mar. 20, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety.

The present disclosure relates to a modular pool chair system and, more particularly, a pool chair for use in shallow water.

Many existing pool chair designs require extensive setup and breakdown. In addition, those pool chairs that are modular are often ill-suited for convenient and comfortable use in the water. For chairs adapted to be used in shallow water, many require the user to fill an internal cavity with water to stabilize the chair from the effects of buoyancy. These chairs often use plugs which are not aesthetically pleasing and, moreover, may become heavy and awkward to move as they fill with water. As such, there remains a need for improvement in outdoor furniture.

Presently disclosed are embodiments of a modular pool chair system. In some embodiments, the system includes a molded back portion having a first internal cavity and a first connector; and a molded leg portion having a second internal cavity and a second connector. The first connector and the second connector are configured to interlock without the use of tools to secure the molded back portion to the molded leg portion. Each of the first internal cavity and the second internal cavity have an open inlet and an open outlet, wherein the outlet is at a higher elevation than the corresponding inlet, such that as the pool chair is at least partially submerged, each outlet is configured to release air as water enters a corresponding cavity through the inlet.

In some embodiments, the first connector and the second connector form a dovetail joint. In some embodiments, the first connector include alternating pins and tails and the second connector includes alternating pins and tails complementary to the first connector. In some embodiments, at least one of the first connector and the second connector is recessed relative to a top surface of the molded back portion. In some embodiments, the molded leg portion extends over the first connector to abut the molded back portion.

In some embodiments, each inlet and each outlet is a hole through a surface of the molded back portion or molded leg portion. In some embodiments, each inlet and each outlet is always open. In some embodiments, each of the molded back portion and the molded leg portion are separately fillable with water through their respective inlets.

In some embodiments, the molded back portion and the molded leg portion are configured to be separated without the use of tools.

In some embodiments, the inlet of the first internal cavity is located in a foot of the molded back portion. In some embodiments, the inlet of the second internal cavity is located in a foot of the molded leg portion. In some embodiments, the outlet of the first internal cavity is located at a top of a back surface of the molded back portion. In some embodiments, the outlet of the second internal cavity is located on a bottom surface of the molded leg portion at a peak of a knee bend.

In some embodiments, the molded back portion and the molded leg portion define a first foot, wherein the molded leg portion defines a second foot, and wherein a plane extends through a bottom surface of the first foot and a bottom surface of the second foot.

Also disclosed are embodiments of a modular pool chair component. In some embodiments, each inlet and each outlet is always open. the module pool chair component includes a molded chair portion having a first interior cavity and a first connector, with the first connector configured to interlock with a second connector of a second modular pool chair component without the use of tools to secure the molded chair portion to the second modular pool chair component. In some embodiments, the first interior cavity has an open inlet and an open outlet at a higher elevation than the inlet, such that as the molded chair portion is at least partially submerged, the outlet is configured to release air as water enters the first cavity through the inlet. In some embodiments, each inlet and each outlet is always open. the molded chair portion is a chair back. In some embodiments, each inlet and each outlet is always open. the molded chair component is a leg rest.

Also disclosed are embodiments of a modular pool chair. In some embodiments, the modular pool chair includes a molded back portion having a first interior cavity and a first connector, and a molded leg portion having a second interior cavity and a second connector, with the first connector and the second connector configured to interlock without the use of tools to secure the molded back portion to the molded leg portion. In some embodiments, each of the first interior cavity and the second interior cavity have an always open first port and an always open second port, with the second port of each cavity at a higher elevation than the first port of such cavity, such that as the pool chair is at least partially submerged, each second port is configured to release air allowing water to enter through the first port of such cavity.

Referring to, embodiments of modular outdoor furniture according to the present disclosure as illustrated. The modular outdoor furniture is configured to be manufacturable, and to provide a comfortable seat for the user that is also aesthetically pleasing. The modular nature allows the furniture to be disassembled for easy storage and transportation, and for convenient display in a retail sales environment. The modular nature also allows the furniture to be easily assembled without the use of tools or other components often required for modular furniture.

illustrate a modular pool chair, including a molded back portionand a molded leg portion. In embodiments, the modular outdoor furniture can be roto-molded and provided as a two (or more) piece modular design of interlocking components. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that roto-molding may advantageously be used to produce hollow or substantially hollow parts or pieces at a low cost. In at least one embodiment, the back portionand the leg portionare hollow. In embodiments, extra material may be added to parts of the modular pool chairto increase the corner thickness, thereby improving the strength of the chair and reducing the risk of failure in stress-concentration corners.

The back portionand the leg portionmay be separably connected. When connected, the pool chairdefines a contourgenerally matching the shape of a user's body while reclined, allowing the user to sit comfortably. The contourmay define an aesthetically pleasing and robust curvature, which may not be to scale. In embodiments, the sides of the contour may be non-parallel, such that the width of the contour is variable along its length, as shown at least in.

As best shown in, the back portionand the leg portioninterlock to define a seat. The seatmay generally define the bottom of the U-shaped region of the contour. Underneath the seat, the back portionand the leg portioncooperate to define a base. More specifically, the back portionincludes a first or “back” base portion, and the leg portionincludes a second or “leg” base portion. When assembled, the base portionscooperate to define the base.

The basemay extend from underneath the contourto contact the ground or floor and may support a majority of the user's weight. The basemay lift the seatabout 9″ (nine inches) off of the ground, but may lift the seat more or less than 9″. As shown in, the basemay extend laterally between the sides of the seat, but may have a width less than the width of the seat. The basemay define one or more transition surfaces extending between the baseand the contour, such as a first transition surfacesloping between the back base portionand the back of the back portion, as shown in, and a second transition surfacesloping between the leg base portionand the bottom of the leg portion, as best shown in. The transition surfacesmay supply extra material to the pool chairto help to support the weight of the user and/or to facilitate the molding process.

With reference to, the leg portionextends upwards from the seatbefore arching downwards towards a foot. As shown, the leg portiondefines a raised portionadapted for a user's knees, allowing a user to comfortably recline against the contour. The footmay include a heelextending rearwards from the foot. The footincluding the heeldefines the second ground contact point of the pool chair.

Referring to, embodiments of a modular pool chair component are shown. Each modular pool chair component includes a molded chair portion. As explained further below, each molded chair portion has a first interior cavity and a first connector. The connector is configured to interlock with a second connector of a second modular pool chair component without the use of tools to secure the molded chair portion to the second modular pool chair component. The first interior cavity has an open inlet and an open outlet at a higher elevation than the inlet, such that the molded chair portion is at least partially submerged, the outlet is configured to release air as water enters the first cavity through the inlet.

Referring generally to, the back portionand the leg portionmay include interlocking features or connectorsto separably or releasably connect the back and leg portions,. As shown, the back portionincludes a first or “female” connector(), and the leg portionincludes a second or “male” connector(). In at least one embodiment, the connectors may include a lap-jointprovided by the back portionadapted to receive a dovetail protrusionprovided by the leg portion. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the back portion may alternatively include the male connector, and the leg portionmay include the female connector, without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In other embodiments, other connections may be used to separably attach the back and legs portions,. For example, the first and second connectorsmay include complementary mating features, such as alternating pins and tails provided on the first connectorand complementary pins and tails provided on the second connector

shows the female connectorextending from the back portion, andshows the male connectorextending from the leg portion. Together, the interlocking connectorsdefine the base(). As shown in, the connectorsare recessed such that they sit below the contour, with the leg portiondefining an overhanging featureextending overtop the male connector. With brief reference to, the recessed interlocking connectorsmay allow a smooth transition between the back portion and the leg portion, which a user may view as almost seamless. Referring again to, the female connectorincludes two hooksextending from back portionand protruding inwards from the sides. The hooksmay define a recess or “lap”for receiving the male connector or “dovetail”. The female connectormay include ribsalong the lap-facing surfaces of the female connectorto help grip and hold the male connectorin place. In some embodiments, the male connectormay include complementary ribs or features compatible with ribs.

To secure the back portionand the leg portiontogether, the bottom of the male connectormay be guided into the lap. The overhanging featurewill contact the tops of the hooksto prevent the male connector from sliding through the lapand separating. The connectorsmay secure the back portionand the leg portiontogether without the use of tools. The back portion and the leg portion may similarly be separated without the use of tools by lifting the leg portion relative to the back portion and allowing the connectorsto separate.

The pool chairmay rest on dry land or in shallow water. With reference to, the back portionincludes a first internal cavity(obscured from view), and the leg portionincludes a second internal cavity(obscured from view). Each internal cavity is formed by the interior of the corresponding portion. As illustrated in, the first internal cavity is accessible through a first inletdefined in back base portion. Similarly, the second internal cavity is accessible through second inletdefined in the heel. The inletsmay be defined in the bottom-facing surfaces of the baseand the foot, respectively. The back portionalso includes a first outlet, defined at the top of the back portion in, and the leg portionincludes a second outlet, defined in the contouradjacent the foot(). When the pool chairis placed in shallow water, water may enter through the inlets, forcing air trapped inside the internal cavitiesout through the outlets. The internal cavitiesmay fill, or partially fill, with water, allowing the baseand the footto rest squarely against the bottom of a shallow pool. In embodiments, the inletsand the outletsare holes and are always open eliminating the need for plugs. The internal cavitiesmay be self-filling and self-draining due to the inletsbeing always open.

Moreover, the baseand the footmay have each have bottoms with non-uniform profiles. More specifically and as shown in, the baseincludes a peripheral surfacearound the outside of the bottom of the base and a recessed inner surface, shown in dashed lines. The footsimilarly includes a peripheral surfacearound the outside of the foot and a recessed inner surface, shown in dashed lines. The peripheral surfacesmay provide the ground contact point and may lie in a single plane such that the peripheral surfacesare each parallel to the ground.show the back and leg portions,in isolation. In at least one embodiment, the back base portiondefines a peripheral surfaceand a recessed surface, and the leg base portiondefines a peripheral surfaceand a recessed surface, all of which define the bottom surface of the base. In other embodiments, both the back base portionand the leg base portionshare a peripheral surfaceand a recessed internal surfacewhen assembled.

The remainingshow different views of the modular pool chair, including views of the back portionand views of the leg portion.

While the modular furniture is illustrated in form a lounge chair, other modular furniture is contemplated that incorporates the same or similar interlocking dovetail and lap-joint configuration. Moreover, various components of modular furniture may be interchanged based upon a customers preference. For example, the illustrated seat portion may be used in combination with other back portions. Alternatively, the illustrated back portion may be used in combination with other seat portions. Embodiments with more than two portions are also contemplated. Shapes and/or dimensions shown in the figures are for example, and other shapes and/or dimensions may be used and remain within the scope of the present disclosure, unless specified otherwise.

As used herein, the term “coupled” or “coupled to” or “connected” or “connected to” or “attached” or “attached to” may indicate establishing either a direct or indirect connection, and is not limited to either unless expressly referenced as such. Wherever possible, like or identical reference numerals are used in the figures to identify common or the same elements. The figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features and certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale for purposes of clarification.

It is to be further understood that like or similar numerals in the drawings represent like or similar elements through the several figures, and that not all components or steps described and illustrated with reference to the figures are required for all embodiments or arrangements.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “contains”, “containing”, “includes”, “including,” “comprises”, and/or “comprising,” and variations thereof, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Terms of orientation are used herein merely for purposes of convention and referencing and are not to be construed as limiting. However, it is recognized these terms could be used with reference to an operator or user. Accordingly, no limitations are implied or to be inferred. In addition, the use of ordinal numbers (e.g., first, second, third) is for distinction and not counting. For example, the use of “third” does not imply there is a corresponding “first” or “second.” Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

While the disclosure has described several exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes can be made, and equivalents can be substituted for elements thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications will be appreciated by those skilled in the art to adapt a particular instrument, situation, or material to embodiments of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, or to the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.