Chair conversion device for a backpack

Abstract

A chair conversion kit for an H-frame backpack includes left and right chair leg members that connect to the H-frame at left and right hinges. A seat member connects to the leg members and also connects to the H-frame such that, when the leg members are pivoted to a seating position, the seat member extends between the leg member and the H-frame to provide a seating platform. In other embodiments, a shelter fabric and a shelter frame member interact with the backpack and chair conversion kit to provide a shelter.

1 . A chair conversion device for a backpack of the type having an H-frame with left and right pack frame members, a shoulder strap crossbar, and left and right shoulder straps, the H-frame defining a strap side and a pack side, said shoulder straps extending on the strap side, the chair conversion device comprising: 
 a left chair leg member pivotally connected to the left pack frame member at a left hinge, said left chair leg member having a left seat extension portion extending above said left hinge and a left leg extension member extending below said left hinge;    a right chair leg member pivotally connected to the right pack frame member at a right hinge, said right chair leg member having a right seat extension portion extending above said right hinge and a right leg extension member extending below said right hinge; and    a seat member connected at a front edge thereof to said left and right seat extension members and secured at a rear edge thereof to the H-frame, wherein said left and right chair leg members can pivot to a mobile position, whereat said seat member and said left and right chair leg members are folded against the H-frame so that the pack may be carried by the shoulder straps, and a seat position, whereat said left and right seat extension members are moved away from the strap side of the backpack to create a seating platform from said seat member, and said left and right leg extension members are moved away from the pack side of the backpack to create rear legs for said seat member.    
   
   
       2 . The chair conversion device of  claim 1 , wherein the left and right pack frame members of the H-frame form front legs for said seat member.  
   
   
       3 . The chair conversion device of  claim 1 , wherein said seat member is at least partially secured to the shoulder strap crossbar of the H-frame at said back edge of said seat member.  
   
   
       4 . The chair conversion device of  claim 3 , wherein said seat member is secured to the shoulder strap crossbar through an adjustable seat strap extending transversely from said back edge to the shoulder strap crossbar.  
   
   
       5 . The chair conversion device of  claim 1 , wherein said seat member is secured to the H-frame by left and right seat adjustment straps connecting to respective left and right sides of said seat member at said back edge thereof and extending respectively around the left and right pack frame members to adjustably connect to one another at the pack side of the H-frame.  
   
   
       6 . The chair conversion device of  claim 5 , wherein said left and right seat adjustment straps connect to one another through a buckle having one connector thereof carried by said left seat adjustment strap and a mating connector thereof carried by said right seat adjustment strap.  
   
   
       7 . The chair conversion device of  claim 1 , wherein said seat member is secured to the shoulder strap crossbar through an adjustable seat strap extending transversely from said back edge to the shoulder strap crossbar, and further secured to the H-frame by left and right seat adjustment straps connecting to respective left and right sides of said seat member at said back edge thereof and extending respectively around the left and right pack frame members to connect to one another at the pack side of the H-frame.  
   
   
       8 . The chair conversion device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a seat crossbar connecting said left and right seat extension portions of said left and right chair leg members.    
   
   
       9 . The chair conversion device of  claim 8 , wherein said seat crossbar is a generally U-shaped bar and is integral with both said left and right chair leg members.  
   
   
       10 . The chair conversion device of  claim 9 , wherein said seat member is connected at said front edge thereof to said left and right seat extension members by forming a sleeve about said U-shaped bar.  
   
   
       11 . The chair conversion device of  claim 1 , wherein the degree to which said right and left chair leg members pivot from said mobile position to said seat position is dictated by the connection of said seat member at said front edge to said right and left chair leg members and at said back edge to the H-frame, the pivoting from said mobile position to said seat position being stopped when said seat member is pulled taut between said front edge and back edge.  
   
   
       12 . A shelter comprising: 
 a chair having a seat member and a backrest, said backrest having left and right frame members;    a left roof support extending from a connection to said left frame member;    a right roof support extending from a connection to said right frame member, said left and right roof supports extending to a height above said seat member; and    a shelter fabric supported by said left and right roof support members and extending downwardly therefrom to a shelter support surface.    
   
   
       13 . The shelter of  claim 12 , wherein said left and right roof supports extend over said seat member and said shelter fabric encloses said chair.  
   
   
       14 . The shelter of  claim 12 , wherein said left and right roof support members are pivotally connected to respective said left and right frame members.  
   
   
       15 . The shelter of  claim 14 , wherein said left roof support member is pivotally connected to a left telescoping extension that is secured to and telescopes relative to said left frame member, and said right roof support member is pivotally connected to a right telescoping extension that is secured to and telescopes relative to said right frame member.  
   
   
       16 . The shelter of  claim 12 , wherein said chair rests on a surface and said shelter fabric extends downwardly to said surface and is staked thereto to enclose said chair.  
   
   
       17 . The shelter of  claim 12 , wherein said shelter fabric has a zippered front portion facing the same direction as said seat member extends from said backrest, such that one sitting in said chair would face said zippered front.  
   
   
       18 . The shelter of  claim 17 , wherein said shelter fabric has a hood opening above said zippered front portion, said hood opening including a draw cord for adjusting the size of said hood opening.  
   
   
       19 . The shelter of  claim 17 , further comprising a shelter extension that secures to zipper members of said zippered front portion to enclose a greater volume.  
   
   
       20 . The shelter of  claim 12 , wherein said left roof support telescopes and said right roof support telescopes such that the degree to which said left and right roof supports extend over said seat member is adjustable.  
   
   
       21 . The shelter of  claim 12 , wherein said chair is a backpack converted to a chair.  
   
   
       22 . The shelter of  claim 19 , wherein said backpack comprises: 
 an H-frame providing said left and right frame members;    a shoulder strap cross bar;    left and right shoulder straps, said H-frame defining a strap side and a pack side, said shoulder straps extending on the strap side;    a left chair leg member pivotally connected to the left frame member at a left hinge, said left chair leg member having a left seat extension portion extending above said left hinge and a left leg extension member extending below said left hinge;    a right chair leg member pivotally connected to the right frame member at a right hinge, said right chair leg member having a right seat extension portion extending above said right hinge and a right leg extension member extending below said right hinge; and    a seat member connected at a front edge thereof to said left and right seat extension members and secured at a rear edge thereof to the H-frame, wherein said left and right chair leg members are in a seat position, whereat said left and right seat extension members are moved away from the strap side of said backpack to create a seating platform from said seat member, and said left and right leg extension members are moved away from the pack side of said backpack to create rear legs for said seat member.    
   
   
       23 . A shelter comprising: 
 a backpack converted to a chair, said backpack including: 
 an H-frame providing left and right frame members;  
 a shoulder strap cross bar;  
 left and right shoulder straps, said H-frame defining a strap side and a pack side, said shoulder straps extending on the strap side;  
 a left chair leg member pivotally connected to the left frame member at a left hinge, said left chair leg member having a left seat extension portion extending above said left hinge and a left leg extension member extending below said left hinge;  
 a right chair leg member pivotally connected to the right frame member at a right hinge, said right chair leg member having a right seat extension portion extending above said right hinge and a right leg extension member extending below said right hinge; and  
 a seat member connected at a front edge thereof to said left and right seat extension members and secured at a rear edge thereof to said H-frame, wherein said left and right chair leg members are in a seat position, whereat said left and right seat extension members are moved away from said strap side of said backpack to create a seating platform from said seat member, and said left and right leg extension members are moved away from said pack side of said backpack to create rear legs for said seat member;  
   a left roof support extending from a connection to said left frame member;    a right roof support extending from a connection to said right frame member, said left and right roof supports extending over said seat member; and    a shelter fabric supported by said left and right roof support members and extending downwardly therefrom to enclose said chair.