United States Patent 1191
1111
3,736,®23
[451 May 29, 1973
Lyons
[s41
PORTABLE FOOTSTOOL AND
2,896,695
1/1959
Ashworth ........................... ..297/l18
LOUNGE CHAIR COMBINATION
3,001,822
9/1961
Pagliaro
3,469,882
9/1969
Larsen ...... ..
....297/ll8
3,555,581
1/1971
Friant . . . . . .
. . . . . . ..5/352
Drive, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613
3,672,720
6/1972
Wilson ................................... ..5/357
Feb' 2’ 1972
Primary Examiner-y-Francis K. Zugel
_
[76]
[22]
Inventor:
Flled: I 3
,
Wllllam
.
L~
Lyons,
618
Melmse
[21] Appl. No.: 222,804
Attorney-Haven
E.
Simmons
....297/440
and James
C.
Nemmers
[52] US. Cl. ..................... ..297/1l8, 5/357, 297/423
[51]
............ ..A47c 13/00
[581 Field of Search ........................ ..5/352, 345, 357;
297/118, 17, 440, 423
[56]
References Cited
[57]
ABSTRACT
A portable footstool and lounge chair combination is
formed from a plurality of cushions of non-rigid
material. Certain of the cushions are hinged to each
other so that when folded up, in which state its overall
shape is that of a compact, rectangular prism, it pro
UNITED STATES PATENTS
’ vides a footstool or hassock. When unfolded the com
bination of cushions provides an extensive lounge hav
433,905
8/1890
Muller .................................... ..5/357 -
2,589,579
3/1952
Slayen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
’ 2,631,699
3/1953
Schultz ................................. ..297/l7
. . . 1 ..5/357
ing a seat, a pair of arm rests, a back rest, a head rest,
and an elevated leg rest.
6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures
Patented May 29, 1973
3,736,023
2 Sheets-Sheet l
3,736,023
’ Patented May 29, 1973
2 Sheets-Sheet 2
1
3,736,023
PORTABLE FOOTSTOOL AND LOUNGE CHAIR
COMBINATION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Chairs and lounges, especially those designed for
eye-level viewing of television, should be light in weight
and readily movable from place to place since they
‘must often be moved aside or stored. At the same time,
they should be extensive enough to provide adequate
comfort for the viewer, who is usually rather stretched
out horizontally on them, and yet not occupy an exces
sive or inconvenient amount of space when not in use.
These characteristics havenot, so far as is known, been
very well provided by chairs, lounges and the like cur
rently used for this purpose. Rather the latter tend to
be somewhat heavy and complex, are not readily porta
ble, and when not in use occupy an unnecessary or in
convenient amount of space. Indeed, most of them
when not in use as a chair or lounge are otherwise rela
tively useless. Hence the primary object of the present
invention is a chair or lounge, especially for eye-level
television viewing, which provides certain advantages
not enjoyed by those currently in use.
2
merous ways in which such cushions can be so made
and since the manner of their covering forms no part
‘ of the present invention, this aspect of their construc
tion is not further set forth, as it will be apparent to
those skilled in the art.
The cushions A and B are identical in size, each being
of rectangular prismatic shape, and are stacked hori
zontally one on top of the other as indicated in FIGS.
18 — 1D. The adjacent beaded edges 12 along the front
10 faces of cushions A and B are sewn to each other, or
otherwise joined by suitable strips of the cover fabric
11, to form hinges 13 so that the cushion A can be piv
oted about the hinges 13, as indicated by the arrow
“A” in FIG. 1C, to the position shown in FIG. 2A. The
cushions C and D are also identical in size and of rect
angular prismatic shape, being disposed upright along
and ?ush with the respective side faces of cushion B,
their rear faces also being flush with the rear faces of
cushions A and B. Between the opposed inner faces of
20 the cushions C and D are located two cushions E and
F which together also form a rectangular prism, the
rear face of cushion E being flush with the rear faces
of cushions A and B and the top face of cushion B being
?ush with the top faces of cushions C and D. The op
25 posed inner faces of the cushions C and D abut the re
Each of the cushions making up the portable lounge
spective side faces of the cushions E and F, while the
chair and footstool of the present invention is formed
front face of the cushion F is spaced rearwardly of the
wholly of a foamed plastic or rubber core simply cov
front faces of the cushions C and D. The cushions E
ered with suitable fabric. No steel, wood or other ‘rigid
and F are ‘separated in a rearwardly inclined plane E’
material is employed or needed which consequently re 30 — F’ normal to the side faces of cushions C and D,
duces both weight and cost since only sewing is needed
which plane intersects the top and bottom faces of
for assembly. The several cushions of the unit are ?rst
cushions E and Fmidway between their front and rear
separately made up in appropriate shapes, hereafter de
faces. The lower face'of cushion E is suitably attached
scribed in more detail, and selected ones are then
to the upper face of cushion B, or if desired, cushions
joined by additional fabric and sewing so as to form 35 B ‘and E can be made integrally as one cushion. The
hinged joints therebetween. The latter are located in
upper side edges of cushion E are hinged at 14 in the
such a manner as to permit the whole unit to ‘be readily
foregoing manner to the top inner side edges of cush
unfolded out into a complete lounge chair and just as
ions C and D, and the adjacent edges of cushions E and
readily to be refolded into a compact, easily movable
F at their top faces are also similarly hinged at 15 so
assembly which is useful as a footstool, all as shown in
that cushion F can be pivoted about'the hinges 15, as
the drawings and described in the more detailed de
indicated by the arrow “F” in FIG. 1C, to the position
scription which follows.
shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.
The cushions G and H also form a rectangular prism
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
disposed
on top of cushion, B at its forward end. The
FIG. 1A is a top plan view of the portable footstool 45 'frontand side faces of cushions G and H are ?ush with
and lounge chair combinationof the present invention
the front and side faces of cushions A and B and the top
shown folded up when it is to 'be stored or 'usedas a
face of cushion G is flush with the top faces of the cush
footstool or hassock.
ions C, D, E and F, while the rear faces of cushions G
FIGS. 1B, 1C and ID are respectively, rear, side'and
and 1H abut the front'faces of cushions C and D, all as
front elevation views of FIG. 1A.
shown in FIGS. 1A, 1C and 1D. The cushions G and H
FIG. 2A is a side elevational view of the footstool and
are also separated in a rearwardly inclined plane G'— H ’
loungechair of FIG. 1A, but shown fully unfolded
normal to ‘the side faces of cushions A and B, which
when it is to be'used as a chair or lounge, while FIG.
plane intersects the lower front edge of cushions G and
2B is a rearelevational view of the latter.
H at the upper front edge of cushion B and the rear
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view similar'to'FIG. ‘1C 55 faces of cushions G and H between their top and bot
- but illustrating a slightly modi?ed version.
tom faces, whereby cushion G lies above cushion H.
The lower edge of the front face of cushion G is also
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
hinged in'the foregoing manner at 16 .to the upper front
EMBODIMENT
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As shown in FIGS. 1A - 1D and 2A ~ 28, the porta
ble footstool and lounge chair combination of the pres
ent invention consists of a total of nine individual cush
ions A, B, C, D, E, F, G, Hand]. Each of these is made
up from a suitable plastic foam or foam rubber'block
10 and is encased in typical fashion in a fabric cover 11
sewn thereabout and provided with beaded edges 12,
all as indicated in FIGS. 1A - 1D. Since there are nu
edge of the cushion B so that cushion G can pivot, as
indicated by the arrow “G” ‘in FIG. 1C, to the position
shown in FIG. 2A. Finally, the cushion I, also of rectan
gular prismatic shape, is-disposed in the space between
the opposed inner faces of cushions C and D at their
forward ends and the front and rear faces respectively
of cushion F and cushions G and H, as shown in FIGS.
1A and 1C. A strip of fabric 17 is hinged at one end at
18lto the lower edge of the front face of cushion l and
3
3,736,023
4
at the other end at 19 to the lower edge of the front
face of cushion F (see FIG. 2A) so that it can be
?opped over onto the inclined face of cushion F when
the latter is in the position shown in FIG. 2A.
the bottom and top faces of the ?fth and sixth cushions
intermediate the front and rear faces thereof, said
plane also, inclining upwardly and rearwardly toward
said overall rear face, the ?fth cushion being secured
to the top face'of the second cushion and having a rear
face forming the remainder of said overall rear face,
the third and fourth cushions being attached to the fifth
cushion at least at the two respective pairs of the imme
Accordingly, as shown in its fully folded position in
FIGS. 1A — 1D, the combination is a compact assembly
of overall, rectangular prismatic shape which is readily
portable and useful as a footstool when turned upside
down so that cushion A is uppermost. When unfolded
diately adjacent concurrent edges of the third and
for use as a chair or lounge, the cushion A is swung 10 fourth cushions and the ?fth cushion at said overall top
about its hinges l3 and the cushion G about its hinges
16 to the positions shown in FIG. 2A, whereupon the
face, the immediately adjacent concurrent edges of the
fifth and sixth cushions at said overall top face being
cushion H can then be removed and placed as indicated
hinged to each other e?'ective so that the sixth cushion
can pivot thereabout to a position in which the top
faces of the ?fth and sixth cushions are in abutting face
in that Figure. Finally, the cushion F is swung about its
hinges 15 and the cushion I ?opped over onto the in
clined face of cushion F, all as shown in FIG. 2A.
Hence, the cushions A and B form an elongated base
to-face relation; and seventh and eighth cushions to
gether forming a rectangular prism disposed on the top
of the second cushion forward of the third and fourth
or seat, the cushions C and D providing arm rests and
cushions and having respective side faces forming the
the cushions E and F an inclined back rest with the
remainder of said overall side faces, the rear faces of
cushion I acting as a neck rest and the cushions G and 20 the seventh and eighth cushions abutting the front faces
F as an elevated leg rest. In the alternate embodiment
of the third and fourth cushions, the seventh cushion
shown in FIG. 3 the cushion I is simply omitted and the
having a front face forming the remainder of said over
front face of cushion F therefore abuts the rear faces
all front face and a top face forming a further portion
of cushions G and H.
of said overall top face, the seventh and eighth cushions
Though the invention has been described in terms of 25 being separated in a plane normal to said overall side
two particular embodiments, being the best modes
faces, said plane also inclining upwardly and rear
known of carrying out the invention, it is not limited to
wardly from the lower edge of the front face of the sev
enth cushion and through the rear faces of the seventh
and eighth cushions intermediate bottom and top faces
those embodiments alone. Instead, the following claims
are to be read as encompassing all modi?cations and
adaptations of the invention falling within its spirit and
scope.
I claim:
30
thereof, whereby the seventh cushion is disposed above
the eighth cushion, the seventh cushion being hinged to
the second cushion along the immediately adjacent
concurrent edges thereof at said overall front face ef
1. A portable and foldable footstool and lounge chair
fective so that the seventh cushion can be pivoted
which in its fully folded state comprises a combination
of discreet cushions, said combination having an over 35 thereabout to a position in which the front face of the
seventh cushion and the bottom face of the ?rst cush
all rectangular prismatic shape de?ned by front, bot
ion are in abutting face-to-face relation when the ?rst
tom, rear, top and opposite side faces, said cushions in
cushion has been pivoted relative to the second cushion
cluding ?rst and second cushions each of rectangular
prismatic shape horizontally disposed in stacked face
as aforesaid.
having top faces forming portions of said overall top
shape disposed therebetween, the ninth cushion having
2. The combination of claim 1 in which the second
to-face relation with the second cushion disposed
and fifth cushions are integrally formed as a single
above the ?rst, the corresponding vertical faces of the
cushion.
two cushions de?ning respective portions of said over
3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said attach
all front, opposite side and rear faces, the lower face of
ment of the third and fourth cushions to the ?fth cush
the ?rst cushion forming said overall bottom face, and
ion comprises a hinged connection.
the immediately adjacent concurrent edges of the two 45 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the front
cushions at said overall front face being hinged to each
faces of said third, fourth and sixth cushions are copla
other effective to permit the second cushion to be piv
nar and abut the rear faces of the seventh and eighth
oted thereabout to an unfolded position in which said
cushions.
front vertical faces thereof are disposed in abutting
5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the front face
face-to-face relation; spaced third and fourth cushions 50 of the sixth cushion is disposed rearwardly of the front
each of rectangular prismatic shape disposed upright
faces of the third and fourth cushions in spaced relation
from the second cushion along the respective ones of
to the rear faces of the seventh and eighth cushions,
and including a ninth cushion of rectangular prismatic
said overall side faces, the third and fourth cushions
face, a pair of rear faces forming additional portions of 55 front and rear faces abutting respectively the rear faces
of the seventh and eighth cushions and the front face
said overall rear face, a pair of outer side faces forming
of the sixth cushion and side faces abutting said op
additional portions of said overall side faces, a pair of
posed inner faces of the third and fourth cushions.
opposed inner faces in spaced relation to each other
6. The combination of claim 5 wherein the lower
and a pair of front faces disposed rearwardly of said
overall front face; ?fth and sixth cushions together 60 edge of the front face of the ninth cushion is attached
to a lower portion of the sixth cushion so that after the
forming a rectangular prism disposed on the top of the "
sixth cushion has been pivoted relative to the ?fth cush
second cushion between the third and fourth cushions
ion as aforesaid, the ninth cushion can then be pivoted ,
and having top faces forming a further portion of said
relative to the sixth cushion to a position in which the
overall top face and side faces abutting respective ones
of said opposed inner faces of the third and fourth 65 front face of the ninth cushion lies in abutting face-to
face relation upon the face of the sixth cushion formed
cushions, the fifth and sixth cushions being separated
by said plane separating the ?fth and sixth cushions.
in a plane nonnal to said overall side faces and through