Portable rain seat enclosure

Abstract

A portable, free-standing, pop-up seat enclosure for protecting its occupant includes: (a) a seat assembly including a seat back and a seat bottom; (b) at least two matching, flexible, lightweight, looped frame members attached to two opposite sides of he seat assembly and extending in an upward direction from the seat bottom; and (c) a flexible, water-resistant fabric sheet supported by the frame members, the frame members being attached to or inserted in the fabric sheet, the fabric sheet comprising at least two side panels, a rear panel, and a front flap. A method for folding a portable, free-standing, pop-up seat enclosure is also included herein.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A portable, free-standing, pop-up seat enclosure for protecting its occupant, the enclosure comprising: 
 (a) a seat assembly comprised of a seat back and a seat bottom;    (b) at least two matching, flexible, lightweight, looped frame members attached to two opposite sides of the seat assembly and extending in an upward direction from the seat bottom; and    (c) a flexible water-resistant fabric sheet supported by the frame members, the frame members being attached to or inserted in the fabric sheet, the fabric sheet comprising at least two side panels, a rear panel, and a front flap.    
     
     
         2 . A seat enclosure according to  claim 1 , wherein the front flap is coupled to the side panels by means of twin zippers on the opposite long side edges of the front flap.  
     
     
         3 . A seat enclosure according to  claim 2 , wherein the seat bottom and seat back are square and are identical to one another.  
     
     
         4 . A seat enclosure according to  claim 1 , wherein the fabric sheet is a polyvinyl chloride coated nylon blend fabric.  
     
     
         5 . A seat enclosure according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame members are Fiberglass or graphite rods.  
     
     
         6 . A seat enclosure according to  claim 4 , wherein a front edge of the seat bottom, and the seat back, hold carry straps.  
     
     
         7 . A seat enclosure according to  claim 1 , in the form of a carry bag for transportation and storage.  
     
     
         8 . A method of folding a free standing, pop-up rain seat enclosure, the enclosure comprising seat bottom connected at one end to a seat back, two opposite, vertically extending side panels, and a rear panel connecting the side panels and attached to the seat assembly, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) folding the side panels in over the front of the rear panel, with one side panel over the other;    (b) twisting the top and bottom portion of this folded enclosure in opposite directions into a FIG. 8 configuration;    (c) folding the top portion of the folded enclosure down over the bottom portion, forming interleaved circular loops;    (d) closing the seat bottom and seat back to meet one another; and    (e) fastening the seat bottom to the seat back.    
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein step (c) further comprises tucking in extra fabric after folding the top portion over the bottom portion.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the seat bottom is fastened to the seat back by means of corresponding strips of hook and loop along the front edges of the seat bottom and seat back.