United States Patent [19]
`Clark
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`_|. 6 7 [
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`n O t n e v n I
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`[54] ROCKER A'ITACHMENT
`“a Y
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`G2. .1 Ir VA
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`PL.
`[21] Appl. NO.: 103,994
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`0.2
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`x 0 B
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`[22] Filed:
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`Dec. 17, 1979
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`[56]
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`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1/1908
`875,903
`2,662,581 12/1953
`Flemming Gottfried 3,114,572 12/1963 Hopkins
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`X 3 3 l / 7 9 2
`3 3 .1 / 7 9 2
`'297/133 x
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`[11]
`[45]
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`‘ 4,285,543
`Aug. 25, 1981
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`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`Pr'imary Examiner-James T. McCall
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Herbert E. Haynes, Jr.
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`Rocker attachments for converting a stationary folding
`lawn chair into a rocking chair including a spaced pair
`of arcuate tubular rocking elements which are trans
`versely interconnected by beam structures which are
`demountably attachable to the chair. The beam struc~
`tures are demountably connected to the rocker elements
`for storage and shipping purposes and are movable on
`the rocker elements to accommodate various sizes of
`lawn chairs.
`
`9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures
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`J Squared, Inc. – Ex. 1004
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`US. Patent Aug. 25, 1981
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`U.S. Patent Aug. 25, 1981
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`ROCKER ATI‘ACHMENT
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`This invention relates to rocker assemblies for attach
`ment to stationary chairs and more particularly to a
`simple low-cost rocker assembly for use on folding
`chairs of the type commonly referred to as “lawn
`chairs”.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`Many attempts have been made over the years to
`develop a simple low-cost rocker assembly for convert
`ing a stationary chair into a rocker. Early developments
`in this art are exempli?ed by U.S. Pat. No. 1,231,151
`issued to W. H. Gerrard, Jr. on June 26, 1917, and U.S.
`Pat. No. 1,295,382 issued on Feb. 25, 1919 to M. J.
`Stelzer. In these two prior art patents, the bottom ends
`of four depending legs of conventional chairs are re
`ceived in especially con?gured socket-like ?xtures that
`are carried on a spaced pair of arcuately shaped rockers.
`US. Pat. No. 2,662,581 issued to L. Gottfried on Dec.
`15, 1953 shows several rocker attachment con?gura
`tions for use on various types of chairs. Of particular
`interest is the embodiment which is adapted to attach to
`a folding lawn chair of the type having U-shaped front
`and rear ground engaging members. The rocker attach
`ment includes a spaced pair of arcuate rockers which
`are interconnected by a pair of spaced U-shaped in cross
`section channel members ?xedly carried on the top of
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`the rockers. The channel members are laid on their sides
`so as to be open on the sides which face each other. The
`bottom segments of the chair’s ground engaging mem
`bers are inserted into the channels of the rocker attach
`ment during unfolding of the chairs, and are secured
`therein by spring bolts.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,991 issued on Mar. 21, 1978 to
`Harris discloses an especially con?gured pair of arcuate
`rocker devices which may be attached to either conven
`tional chairs or to those referred to as folding lawn
`40
`chairs. In the case of the lawn chairs, the U-shaped
`ground engaging members may either be tied to the
`arcuate rockers or may be snapped into special grooves
`formed transversely in the rockers.
`In general, all the above discussed prior art devices
`are relatively complex and expensive to fabricate and
`this alone has contributed signi?cantly to the lack of
`widespread commercial acceptance. More speci?cally,
`the structure disclosed in the Gottfried Patent cannot be
`adapted for use on different size chairs due to the ?xed
`attachment of the channels on the rockers, and also
`attachment of the lawn chair can be an awkward task.
`The Harris Patent requires that the special rockers be
`fabricated of ?exible and compressible materials such as
`plastic, and the cost of fabricating such special rockers
`is prohibitive in all but extremely high production.
`Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved
`rocker attachment for converting a stationary folding
`lawn chair into a rocker, with this attachment being
`simple to use, inexpensive to manufacture, and other
`wise overcoming some of the drawbacks and shortcom
`ings of the prior art.
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`2
`present invention includes a pair of tubular rocker ele
`ments which are bowed into the desired arcuate con?g
`uration and are interconnected by a pair of transverse
`beam means which are adapted. to demountably receive
`the ground engaging segments of the folding lawn
`chair. The beam means are movably mounted on the
`tubular rockers so as to be adjustably spaced to accom
`modate various sizes of chairs.
`In a ?rst embodiment, the beam means includes struc
`tural angle members which transversely interconnect
`and are slidably mounted on the tubular rockers and
`have upwardly opening spring clips for demountable
`connection to the transverse bars of the U~shaped
`ground engaging members of the folding lawn chair.
`In a second embodiment, the beam means includes
`U-shaped in cross sectional channel members which
`transversely interconnect the tubular rockers. The
`channel members are disposed so as to open upwardly
`for demountably receiving the transverse bars of the
`U-shaped ground engaging members of the folding
`lawn chair, and the channels are demountable and ad
`justably connected to the tubular rockers by spring
`clips.
`In a third embodiment, the beam means includes the
`same upwardly opening U-shaped channels for de
`mountably receiving the transverse bars of the folding
`chair, and the channels are demountably and slidably
`connected to the tubular rockers by depending tabs
`having apertures formed therethrough. Once the proper
`spacing of the channels has been determined for a par
`ticular chair size, the channels can be ?xed on the tubu
`lar rockers such as by screw fasteners.
`The various embodiments brie?y discussed above are
`inexpensive to manufacture in that all of the materials
`used are commercially available items which eliminates
`all special moldings, castings, fabrication and the like as
`required by prior art structures. These rocker attach
`ments are adaptable for use on any size of folding lawn
`chair due to the adjustable mounting of the beam means
`and the rocker attachments are of the knock-down type
`for convenient shipping and storage due to the de
`mountable connection of the beam means on the tubular
`rocker elements. Further, the rocker attachments of the
`present invention are simple to use in that once adjusted
`for the proper size, all that is required is for the chair to
`be placed atop the rocker attachment so that the trans
`verse bar segments of the chair are in engagement with
`the beam means.
`‘
`Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention
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`7 to provide new and improved rocker attachments for
`converting a folding lawn chair‘ into a rocking chair.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide
`new and improved rocker attachments for converting a
`folding lawn chair into a rocking chair with the rocker
`attachment being inexpensive to manufacture and sim
`ple to use.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide
`new and improved rocker attachments which are ad
`justable for use in converting variously sized folding
`lawn chairs into rocking chairs.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide
`new and improved rocker attachments of the above
`described type which include a pair of tubular rocker
`elements of arcuate‘ con?guration.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide
`new and improved rocker attachments of the above
`described character in which the tubular rocker ele
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`In accordance with the present invention, new and
`improved rocker attachments of various con?gurations
`are disclosed for converting a stationary folding lawn
`chair into a rocking chair. Each embodiment of the
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`ments are demountably interconnectable by a pair of
`beam means which are adapted to demountably receive
`the transverse bar portions of the folding lawn chair,
`with the beam means being adjustably movable to adapt
`to chairs of various sizes.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide
`new and improved rocker attachments of the above
`described character in which the beam means comprises
`a pair of angle members demountable and slidably mov
`able on the tubular rockers and having spring clips for
`attachment to the lawn chair.
`Still another object of the present invention is to
`provide new and improved rocker attachments of the
`above described type in which the beam means com
`prises a pair of U-shaped in cross section channels
`which are demountably adjustably connected to the
`tubular rocker element by spring clips and which are
`disposed to open upwardly to demountably receive the
`transverse bars of the folding lawn chair.
`Yet another object of the present invention is to pro
`vide new and improved rocker attachments of the
`above described character in which the beam means
`comprises a pair of U-shaped in cross section channels
`which are demountable and slidably movable on the
`tubular rocker elements by depending apertured tabs
`and‘ are oriented so as to open upwardly for demount
`ably receiving the transverse bar segments of the fold
`ing lawn chair.
`The foregoing and other objects of the present inven
`tion, as well as the invention itself, may be more fully
`understood from the following description when read in
`conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a folding lawn chair
`having the ?rst embodiment of the rocker attachment of
`the present invention illustrated in exploded relation
`ship therewith.
`FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the
`rocker attachment of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
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`' FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view
`of that portion of the rocker attachment which is indi
`cated in the dashed line circle identi?ed as 3 in FIG. 1.
`FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the rocker at
`tachment of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
`FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment
`of the rocker attachment of the present invention with
`portions thereof being shown in exploded relationship
`to illustrate the various features thereof.
`FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational
`view of the structure shown in FIG. 5 and which is
`partially broken away to illustrate the various features
`thereof.
`FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a
`third embodiment of the rocker attachment of the pres
`ent invention with portions thereof broken away to
`show the various features.
`FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along
`the line 8—8 of FIG. 7.
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`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1
`illustrates a typical type of folding chair of the type
`commonly referred to as a folding lawn chair, with the
`chair being indicated generally by the reference nu
`meral 10. In FIG. 1, the folding lawn chair 10 is shown
`in exploded relationship with respect to a ?rst embodi
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`ment of the rocker attachment of the present invention,
`with this con?guration of the rocker attachment being
`indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 12.
`As shown, the folding lawn chair 10 includes the
`usual seat portion 14, back rest 16 and foldable tubular
`frame structure 18. The frame 18 includes front legs 20
`having the depending ends thereof interconnected by an
`integral transverse bar 22, and the rear legs 24 (one
`shown) which are similarly interconnected by a trans
`verse bar 26.
`The rocker attachment 12, as shown in FIGS. 14,
`includes a pair of rocker elements 30 and 32 which are
`elongated hollow tubular members of circular cross
`section that are bent or bowed along their lengths into
`the desired arcuate con?guration. The opposite ends of
`each of the rocker elements 30 and 32 are closed by
`suitable plugs 34. The tubular rocker members 30 and 32
`are in spaced parallel relationship with respect to each
`other and are transversely interconnected adjacent their
`aligned front ends by a front beam means 38, and are
`similarly interconnected adjacent their aligned rear
`ends by an identical rear beam means 40.
`Since the front and rear beam means 38 and 40 are
`identical, it will be understood that the following de
`scription of the front beam means 38 also applies to the
`rear beam means 40.
`The front beam means 38 includes an elongated angle
`beam of right angle cross section which de?nes an elon
`gated upper ?ange or leg 43 and a depending ?ange or
`leg 44. The depending leg 44 has a pair of apertures 45
`and 46 formed therethrough with each aperture formed
`adjacent a different opposite end thereof. The front end
`of the rocker element 30 passes through the aperture 45
`of the depending leg 44 and the front end of the rocker
`element 32 passes through the other aperture 46 thereof.
`The apertures 45 and 46 formed through the depending
`leg 44 are sized to frictionally grip the rocker elements
`30 and 32 and yet allow the rockers to be slidably
`mounted therein for reasons which will hereinafter be
`described in detail. The upper ?ange or leg 43 has fas
`tener means in the form of a pair of spring clips 48 and
`49 mounted on the upwardly facing surface thereof and
`disposed so as to open upwardly. The spring clip 48 is
`?xedly mounted adjacent one end of the upper leg 43
`and the spring clip 49 is similarly mounted adjacent the
`opposite end of the upper leg.
`The hereinbefore described slidably movable feature
`of the beam means 38 and 40 on the rocker members 30
`and 32 allows the rocker attachment 12 to be disassem~
`bled for shipping and storage purposes and also allows
`the spacing between the beam means to be varied so
`that the rocker attachment 12 may be employed with
`folding lawn chairs having various dimensions between
`the front and rear legs thereof.
`With the rocker attachment 12 assembled and ad
`justed to match the spacing between the transverse bars
`22 and 26 of the folding lawn chair 10, the chair is de
`mountably mounted on the rocker attachment by sim
`ply snapping the front transverse bar 22 into the spring
`clips 48 and 49 of the front beam means 38 and similarly
`snapping the chair’s rear transverse bar 26 into the
`spring clips 48 and 49 of the rear beam means 40.
`Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 wherein a second
`embodiment of the rocker attachment of the present
`invention is shown, with this second embodiment being
`indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 50.
`The rocker attachment 50 includes the hereinbefore
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`described pair- of ‘tubular ‘rocker elements ‘30 and 32‘and
`an idcnticalrpair of beam means52and ‘54; :>
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`Since the beam means 52>and .54 of the vrocker attach
`ment 50 are identical, the following description of the
`beam means 52 will be known to also apply-to‘ the other
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`regard to the‘ rocker attachment 12. Alternately, the
`apertures 82 and 83 may be a‘ relatively loose ?t with the
`beam means being secured in‘ the desired locations by
`sheet metal screws 86 after the proper spacing has been
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`determined. ’
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`The beam means 52 includes an elongated. channel
`beam 56 of U-shaped cross section which is disposedto
`open upwardlyn'A pair. of fastenenmeans" in the pre
`ferred form of springilclips58 and 59=are af?xed; such as
`b'y'scréws 60', so as to depend from the bottom'surface‘
`of the channel beam "56.“The spring clips 58 and 59 are
`each positioned adjacent a different opposite end of the
`channel beam 56 and are disposed to open downwardly.
`The beam means 52 and 54 are transversely and de
`mountably mounted on the rocker elements 30 and 32
`by simply snapping the aligned ends of the rocker mem
`bers 30 and 32 into the spring clips 58 and 59 of the
`beam means 52 and similarly connecting the opposite
`ends of the rocker elements into the spring clips 58 and
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`59 of the beam means 54. This type of assembly, of
`course, allows the rocker attachment 50 to be disassem
`bled for shipment and storage purposes, and allows the
`spacing between the beam means‘ 52 and 54 to be ad
`justed to accommodate‘ variously sized folding lawn
`chairs as hereinbefore described.
`The folding lawn chair 10 (FIG. 1) is demountably
`carried on the rocker attachment 50 by nestingly plac
`ing the transverse bars 22 and 26 of the chair in the
`channel beams 56 of the beam means 52 and 54. Suitable
`friction pads 62 such as of foam rubber are ?xedly
`mounted in the channel beams 56 to prevent lateral
`slippage of ‘the chair 10 relative to the rocker attach
`ment 50.
`Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8 wherein a third
`embodiment of the rocker attachment of the present
`invention is illustrated, with this third embodiment
`being indicated generally by the reference numeral 70.
`The rocker attachment 70 includes the hereinbefore
`described pair of tubular rocker elements 30 and 32 and
`an identical pair of beam means 72 and 74.'
`I
`In that the beam means 72 and 74 are identical, it will
`be understood that the following description of the
`beam means 72 also applies to the other beam means 74. ‘
`The beam means 72 includes an elongated channel
`beam 76 of U-shaped cross section which is disposed to
`open upwardly. A pair of tabs 78 and 79 are af?xed,
`such as by welding, to one of the upstanding legs 80 of
`the channel beam 76 and are oriented thereon’ so that
`the lowermost portions of the tabs depend below the
`bottom of the channel. The tabs 78 and 79 are each
`positioned adjacent a different opposite end of the chan
`nel beam 76 and the depending lower ends of the tabs
`have apertures 82 and 83 respectively, formed there
`through.
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`The beam means 72 and 74 transversely interconnect
`and are demountably mounted on the rocker elements
`30 and 32 by slidingly inserting aligned ends of the
`rocker elements 30 and 32 through the apertured tabs 78
`and 79 of the beam means 72, and similarly inserting the
`aligned opposite ends of the rocker elements in the
`apertured tabs 78 and 79 of the other beam means 74.
`The apertures 82 and 83 of the tabs 78 and 79 are sized
`to allow sliding movement of the beam means 72 and 74
`on the rocker elements 30 and 32 for disassembly and
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`adjustment purposes as hereinbefore described. The
`apertures 82 and 83 may be sized to frictionally grip the
`rocker elements 30 and 32 in the manner described in
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`1-As 'was the case in the‘ previously described rocker
`attachment 50, the folding lawn chair 10 (FIG. 1) is
`‘demountably supported on the rocker attachment 70 by
`'nestinglylplacing the transverse bars 22 and 26 of the
`chair in the upwardly opening channel beams 76 of the
`beam means 72 and 74. Suitable friction pads 88, such as
`of foam-rubber, are ?xedly mounted within the channel
`beams 56 to prevent lateral slippage of the chair relative
`to the rocker attachment 70.
`While the principles of the invention have now been
`made clear in illustrated embodiments, there will be
`immediately obvious to those skilled in the art, many
`modi?cations of structure, arrangements, proportions,
`the elements, materials, and components used in the
`practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are
`particularly adapted for speci?c environments and op
`eration requirements without departing from those prin
`ciples. The appended claims are therefore intended to
`cover and embrace any such modi?cations within the
`limits only of the true spirit and scope of the invention.
`What I claim is:
`1. A rocker attachment for mounting on a folding
`lawn chair of the type having a pair of front legs inte
`grally interconnected at the bottom ends by a ?rst trans
`verse bar and a second pair of legs integrally intercon
`nected at the bottom ends by a second transverse bar,
`said rocker attachment comprising:
`(a) a pair of rocker elements in spaced apart parallel
`relationship, each of said rocker elements formed
`of an elongated tubular member which is bowed
`along its length into an arcuate con?guration;
`(b) a spaced apart pair of beam means transversely
`interconnecting said pair of rocker elements for
`demountably receiving the ?rst and second trans
`- verse barsof the folding lawn chair; and i
`(c) said pair of beams are movably mounted on said
`pair of rocker elements for varying the spaced
`relationship of said pair of beam means.
`2. A rocker attachment as claimed in claim 1 wherein
`said pair of beam means are demountably connected to
`said pair of rocking elements.
`3. A rocker attachment as claimed in claim 1 wherein
`each of said pair of beam means comprises:
`(a) an angle member having a ?rst upwardly facing
`leg and a second leg depending normally there
`from, the second leg having a pair of apertures
`formed therethrough with each aperture formed
`adjacent a different one of the opposite ends
`thereof and each having a different one of said pair
`of rocker elements extending therethrough; and
`(b) fastener means mounted on the upwardly facing
`surface of the ?rst leg of said angle member for
`demountably receiving one of the transverse bars
`of the folding lawn chair.
`4. A rocker attachment as claimed in claim 3 wherein
`the apertures formed in the second leg of said angle
`member are sized to frictionally and slidably grip said
`pair of rocker elements.
`5. A rocker attachment as claimed in claim 3 wherein
`said fastener means‘ comprises a spaced apart pair of
`upwardly opening spring clips.
`6. A rocker attachment as claimed in claim 1 wherein
`each of said pair of beam means comprises:
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`mounted on one of the upstanding legs of said channel
`(a) a channel beam of U-shaped cross section which is
`disposed to open upwardly for nestingly receiving
`beam, said pair of tabs each having its lower end de
`pending below said channel beam and each having an
`one of the transverse bars of the folding lawn chair;
`aperture formed through its lower end through which
`and
`one of said pair of rocker elements extends.
`(b) fastener means dependingly mounted on said
`channel beam for demountable and movable at
`9. A rocker attachment as claimed in claim 6 and
`tachment to said pair of rocker elements.
`further comprising at least one friction pad mounted in
`said channel beam for frictionally engaging the one of
`7. A rocker attachment as claimed in claim 6 wherein
`said fastener means comprises a spaced apart pair of
`the transverse bars of the lawn chair upon nest'able
`upwardly opening spring clips.
`placement thereof within said channel beam to prevent
`lateral slippage thereof.
`8. A rocker attachment as claimed in claim 6 wherein
`said fastener means comprises a spaced apart pair of tabs
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