Article with Selectively Deployable Member

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward an article including an assembly with a selectively repositionable shield or seat. The assembly includes at least one guide rail along which the seat or shield moves. With this configuration, the seat is deployable along a predetermined path. Additionally, lateral movement of the seat is restricted, lessening noise and interference with the user. In an embodiment, the article is an accessory such as a back pack. In another embodiment, the article is an apparel item such as a hunting vest (e.g., a turkey vest).

I claim: 
     
         1 . An article adapted to be positioned on a back of a user, the article comprising:
 a harness to support the article on the user; and   a seat assembly including:
 a support member coupled to the harness, the support member including a guide element, and 
 a seat member including a coupling element movably coupled to the guide element on the support member, 
   wherein the guide element and the coupling element cooperate to direct movement of the seat member along a defined, repeatable path between a first seat position and a second seat position.   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the support member defines a longitudinal dimension and a transverse dimension; and   the guide element comprises an elongated rail extending along the longitudinal dimension of the support member.   
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the guide element is a first guide element;   the support member further comprises a second guide element, the second guide element comprising an elongated rail extending along the longitudinal dimension of the support member;   the coupling element is a first coupling element movably coupled to the first guide element;   the seat member further comprises a second coupling element movably coupled to the second guide element.   
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second coupling elements comprise a resilient clip slidingly engaged with the first and second rails of the support member, respectively. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second coupling elements are tethered to the seat member. 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the support member defines an inner, user-facing side and an outer-facing side; and   the article further includes a storage chamber disposed on the outer side of the support surface.   
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the seat member comprises a first spacer element and a second spacer element, the spacer elements being separated by a channel; and   the spacer elements and channel cooperate operable to permit airflow between the user and the seat member.   
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the seat member comprises:
 a plurality of spacer elements protruding from a user-facing side of the seat member, 
 a plurality of plurality of air flow channels; 
   the spacer elements and channels are configured to direct airflow towards a perimeter of the seat member.   
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the support member includes a first capture member laterally spaced from a second capture member such that the capture members are generally aligned;   the seat member includes;
 a first tether member extending longitudinally along the seat member, and 
 a second tether member extending longitudinally along the seat member; 
   the first tether member is movably coupled to the first capture member; and   the second tether member is movably coupled to the second capture member.   
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the support member comprises a venting panel operable to permit the flow of air therethrough; and   the seat member is movable from a first non-venting position, in which the seat member is aligned with the venting panel, to a second, venting position, in which the seat member is misaligned with the venting panel.   
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the venting panel is covered by the seat member when the seat member is disposed on the non-venting position; and   the venting panel is exposed when the seat member is disposed in the venting position.   
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the seat assembly further comprises a retraction cord coupled to the seat member; and   manipulation of the retraction cord moves the seat member between the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         13 . An article including a selectively deployable seat assembly, the seat assembly comprising:
 a support member including at least one elongated guide element; and   a seat member slidingly coupled to the at least one guide element such that the seat member slides along a defined, repeatable path from a first seat position to a second seat position, wherein the seat member is disposed over and substantially aligned with the support member in the first seat position and is substantially misaligned with the support member in the second seat position.   
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 13 , wherein the support member further includes a central panel constructed from a venting fabric. 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the seat member further includes a third seat position, the third seat position being an intermediate position relative to the first seat position and the second seat position;   in the first seat position, the central panel of the support member is covered by the seat member; and   in the third seat position, the seat member is displaced to expose the central panel of the support member.   
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the support member includes a magnet;   the seat member includes a magnet operable to mate with the support member magnet; and   mating of the support member magnet to the seat member magnet retains the seat member in position relative to the support member.   
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 16 , wherein the support member magnet and the seat member magnet are configured to secure the seat member in the first seat position. 
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the seat member comprises:
 a plurality of channels disposed in a user-facing side of the seat member, wherein the seat member is configured to fold along the channels when the seat member is the second seat position.