Belt-attached seat - Patent Review 4588224

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to seating pads and, more particularly, to a foldable seating pad for suspension from the belt or other means on the rear of the outer garment worn by the user of the pad.

In a number of instances, principally connected with outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, boating, sporting events, etc. it is desirable to have a padded cushion, or the like, for temporary seating. It is also often desirable under such circumstances that the seating pad provide some insulating and waterproofing qualities. However, it is sometimes impractical or inconvenient to carry such seating means and/or to retrieve it from a pack, bag, or the like.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a comfortable and convenient seating pad which may be transported by attachment to a portion of the user's wearing apparel.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved seating pad which is transported by the user in a position ready for immediate use, and which may be quickly and easily moved between positions of transport and use.

A further object is to provide a seating pad, intended primarily for outdoor use, which is conveniently transportable, and which provides insulation against loss of body heat and waterproofing.

Still another object is to provide a portable seating pad, carried exteriorly in a position easily adjustable as desired by the user.

A still further object is to provide a seating pad which may be used for other functions such as temporary storage and protection of other items, and a visual safety means for hunters.

Other objects will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the foregoing objects, the invention contemplates a seating pad including an inner layer of resilient foam material enclosed by a layer of waterproof material such as a suitably treated cloth fabric, vinyl, or the like. The foam is stitched across the center to provide a fold line, the covering material being stitched around the edges and smoothly covering the fold line in the foam. On one of the edges parallel to the fold line, a pair of elongated strips are attached. These strips may be passed around the back of the user's belt, folded back upon themselves and releasably attached to form closed loops, thereby suspending the seating pad in a position ready for use.

A pair of shorter strips are attached to the edge of the pad opposite that to which the first pair are attached. The second pair of strips are releasably attachable to portions of the first adjacent the attachment thereof to the pad on either surface of both pairs of strips. The releasable attachment means is provided by hook and pile surfaces on the strips, the first strips being of one type for a first portion of their length on one surface and the other type on the same surface over a second portion ending at the free ends. Both outer surfaces of the second pair of strips also are of the type opposite that of the first portions of the first strips, thus being releasably attachable thereto. Thus, the size of the loops formed by the first strips, and therefore the distance below the user's belt at which the pad is positioned, is easily adjustable, and the seating pad may be quickly and easily moved between a folded position for walking, when the second strips are adhered to the first, and an unfolded position for sitting. Movement of the pad between the two positions is conveniently effected without removing the seating pad from the user's belt. The covering material is preferably of different colors and/or patterns on opposite sides to permit selection of which side is exposed when in the folded position depending upon the direction in which the pad is folded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the seating pad of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view in section on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the seating pad shown attached to a belt worn by the user of the pad, shown in the two Figures in folded and unfolded positions, respectively.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE

Referring now to the drawing, the seating pad of the invention is denoted generally by reference numeral 10 and comprises an inner layer of foam material 12 enclosed by layers of material 14 and 16. In the preferred construction, foam material 12 is a PVC closed cell foam pad, or equivalent, about 1/2 inch in thickness, whereby the pad will float if inadvertently dropped into the water. Layers of material 14 and 16 are a cloth material such as nylon, cotton or a cotton-polyester blend, with a conventional coating rendering the material essentially water-proof, or, alternatively, vinyl or other such flexible, waterproof material.

Foam material 12 is stitched across the center between the two side edges to provide seam 18 (FIG. 2) along which the material is then freely foldable in either direction. Material 12 is stitched prior to being covered on both sides by material layers 14 and 16, which are then stitched together around a continuous border seam 20, but not across the center. As the border seam is formed, a first pair of elongated strips 22 and 24 of flexible material are affixed to pad 10 along one edge 26, parallel to seam 18, and a second pair of strips 28 and 30 are similarly affixed along the opposite edge 32.

Strips 22 and 24 are each formed in two portions 34 and 36 attached along seams 38, portions 34 extending from attachment to edge 26 and seam 38 and portions 36 extending to the free ends of the strips. Strips 22, 24, 28 and 30 include surfaces of the familiar hook and pile material known as Velcro. Surfaces 35 of portions 34 are continuously of one type of Velcro, from edge 26 to seam 38, and surfaces 37 of portions 36 are of the opposite type, as are both surfaces of strips 28 and 30. In addition, surfaces 39 of portions 34 are of the first type in the area adjacent edge 26. Thus, strips 22 and 24 may be bent back upon themselves as illustrated to form closed loops and, with slight pressure, the facing surfaces 35 and 37 of portions 34 and 36, respectively, will adhere to one another, being likewise easily pulled apart when desired. In the same manner, the surfaces of strips 28 and 30 will releasably adhere to facing portions of surfaces 35 or 39 of portions 34 of strips 22 and 24 when pad 10 is folded upon itself along center seam 18.

Pad 10 is shown in its intended manner of use in FIGS. 3 and 4. It is assumed that the user of the seating pad will be wearing a belt, such as indicated by reference numeral 40, or other means at the rear portion of the outer garments in the area of the waist to permit suspension of the seating pad in the manner illustrated. That is, strips 22 and 24 are passed around the belt and formed in loops by releasable attachment of the facing surfaces of portions 34 and 36. Seating pad 10 may then be folded upon itself and retained in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 3 by releasably attaching strips 28 and 30 to the facing portions of surfaces 35 of strips 22 and 24, respectively. Alternatively, pad 10 may be folded in the opposite direction, to the dotted line position of FIG. 3 and releasably retained by attachment of the facing portions of strips 28 and 30 with surfaces 39 of strips 22 and 24. This is the position in which the seating pad will normally be carried when the user is walking or, in any case, not seated. When the user wishes to sit down upon any available surface, which in outdoor situations may be cold and/or wet, strips 28 and 30 are simply pulled away from strips 22 and 24 and the pad will fall open to the FIG. 4 position, being thus placed between the user and the seating surface without further positioning.

It will be noted that material layer 16 (or half of such layer) will be exposed when the pad is in the solid line folded position of FIG. 3, while the opposite layer 14 is exposed when the pad is in the dotted line folded position. It is preferred that material layers 14 and 16 be provided in two different colors or patterns. For example, when the pad is utilized by hunters, layer 16 may be of a highly visible color such as "safety orage" to promote ease of visibility of the user by other hunters, whereas layer 14 may be of a green and brown camouflage pattern, or other dark color, thus allowing the user to choose between high or low visibility surfaces.

From the foregoing, it may be seen that the invention provides a seating pad particularly advantageous in outdoor situations which is always available for use and transported while leaving the user's hands free. It is of extremely light weight, e.g., on the order of 6 ounces, and of low bulk while providing the desired insulating and waterproofing qualities. The loops by which it is suspended from the user's belt are adjustable in length to accommodate different sized users, and movement between folded and unfolded positions is easily accomplished without removing it from the user's belt, including movement between two alternative folded positions.

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