Chair hold down device

Abstract

A portable hold down device removably connectable to a portable object, such as a portable folding chair, for maintaining the portable object in a substantially stable condition is provided. The portable hold down device is provided with a portable hold down assembly, a first connector assembly and a second connector assembly. The hold down assembly has a weight sufficient to maintain the object in the substantially stable condition when the hold down assembly is connected to the portable object. The first connector assembly is fastened to the hold down member. The first connector assembly is removably connectable to the portable object whereby when the first connector assembly is connected to the portable object, the portable object is maintained in the substantially stable condition. The second connector assembly is supported by at least one of the hold down assembly and the first connector assembly so as to be extendable outwardly therefrom. The second connector assembly is removably connectable to at least a portion of the portable object having a different orientation than the portion of the portable object to which the first connector assembly is removably connectable.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A portable hold down device removably connectable to a portable object for maintaining the portable object in a substantially stable condition, comprising: 
 a portable hold down assembly having a weight sufficient to maintain the object in the substantially stable condition when the hold down assembly is connected to the portable object; and    a first connector assembly fastened to the hold down member, the first connector assembly being removably connectable to the portable object whereby when the first connector assembly is connected to the portable object, the portable object is maintained in the substantially stable condition.    
     
     
         2 . A portable hold down device, as defined in    claim 1   , wherein the first connector assembly includes a flexible flap member capable of developing a chamber sized to receive at least a portion of the portable object, the flexible flap member being wrappable about at least a portion of the portable object to substantially encompass at least the portion of the object.  
     
     
         3 . A portable hold down device, as defined in    claim 2   , wherein the first connector assembly further comprises: 
 a first mating portion secured to at least a portion of the flexible flap member; and    a second mating portion positioned for matingly engaging the first mating portion when the flexible flap member is wrapped about at least a portion of the portable object so as to maintain the flexible flap member in the wrapped condition and thereby secure the hold down assembly to the portable object.    
     
     
         4 . A portable hold down device as defined in    claim 2   , wherein the hold down assembly has a first end, an opposed second end and a first side extending between the first end and the second end, and the flexible flap member extends a distance outwardly from the first side of the hold down assembly.  
     
     
         5 . A portable hold down device as defined in    claim 4   , wherein the flexible flap member extends across substantially the entire first side of the hold down assembly.  
     
     
         6 . A portable hold down device as defined in    claim 3   , wherein the second mating portion is connected to the hold down assembly.  
     
     
         7 . A portable hold down device as defined in    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 a second connector assembly supported by at least one of the hold down assembly and the first connector assembly so as to be extendable outwardly therefrom, the second connector assembly being removably connectable to at least a portion of the portable object having a different orientation than the portion of the portable object to which the first connector assembly is removably connectable.    
     
     
         8 . A portable hold down device as defined in    claim 7   , wherein the hold down assembly has a first end, an opposed second end, and wherein the second connector assembly includes a first flexible strap extending outwardly from the first end of the hold down assembly, and a second flexible strap extending outwardly from the second end of the hold down assembly, the first and second straps being selectively disposable about separate, respective portions of the portable object.  
     
     
         9 . A portable hold down device as defined in    claim 8   , wherein the first and second flexible straps are removably connectable to at least a portion of the first connector assembly.  
     
     
         10 . A portable hold down device removably connectable to a portable chair for maintaining the portable chair in a substantially stable condition, comprising: 
 a portable hold down assembly having a weight sufficient to maintain the portable chair in the substantially stable condition when the hold down assembly is connected to the portable chair; and    a first connector assembly fastened to the hold down member, the first connector assembly being removably connectable to the portable chair whereby when the first connector assembly is connected to the portable chair, the portable chair is maintained in the substantially stable condition.    
     
     
         11 . A portable hold down device, as defined in    claim 10   , wherein the first connector assembly includes a flexible flap member capable of developing a chamber sized to receive at least a portion of the portable chair, the flexible flap member being wrappable about at least a portion of the portable chair to substantially encompass at least the portion of the chair.  
     
     
         12 . A portable hold down device, as defined in    claim 11   , wherein the first connector assembly further comprises: 
 a first mating portion secured to at least a portion of the flexible flap member; and    a second mating portion positioned for matingly engaging the first mating portion when the flexible flap member is wrapped about at least a portion of the portable chair so as to maintain the flexible flap member in the wrapped condition and thereby secure the hold down assembly to the portable chair.    
     
     
         13 . A portable hold down device as defined in    claim 11   , wherein the hold down assembly has a first end, an opposed second end and a first side extending between the first end and the second end, and the flexible flap member extends a distance outwardly from the first side of the hold down assembly.  
     
     
         14 . A portable hold down device as defined in    claim 13   , wherein the flexible flap member extends across substantially the entire first side of the hold down assembly.  
     
     
         15 . A portable hold down device as defined in    claim 12   , wherein the second mating portion is connected to the hold down assembly.  
     
     
         16 . A portable hold down device as defined in    claim 10   , further comprising: 
 a second connector assembly supported by at least one of the hold down assembly and the first connector assembly so as to be extendable outwardly therefrom, the second connector assembly being removably connectable to at least a portion of the portable chair having a different orientation than the portion of the portable chair to which the first connector assembly is removably connectable.    
     
     
         17 . A portable hold down device as defined in    claim 16   , wherein the hold down assembly has a first end, an opposed second end, and wherein the second connector assembly includes a first flexible strap extending outwardly from the first end of the hold down assembly, and a second flexible strap extending outwardly from the second end of the hold down assembly, the first and second straps being selectively disposable about separate, respective portions of the portable chair.  
     
     
         18 . A portable hold down device as defined in    claim 17   , wherein the first and second flexible straps are removably connectable to at least a portion of the first connector assembly.  
     
     
         19 . A method for stabilizing a portable object, comprising the steps of: 
 wrapping at least a portion of a portable hold down device to a lower portion of the portable object, the portable hold down device including a hold down assembly having a weight sufficient to maintain the object in the substantially stable condition when the hold down assembly is connected to the portable object; and    securing, removably, the portion of the portable hold down device in the wrapped position to stabilize the portable object.    
     
     
         20 . A method as defined in    claim 19   , wherein the portable object is a portable folding chair.