Folding lawn chair with tray-supporting arms and arms therefor

Abstract

A folding chair having a frame constructed to allow a generally planar seat part and a generally planar back part to fold from a working position in which they are generally at right angles to each other to a stored position in which the seat part and the back part are generally parallel, the folding chair having arms, and arm extensions attached to the chair arms, the chair extensions being constructed to support a tray between them at a tray position at least substantially forward of the chair arms, the arm extensions being moveable to a position at which they do not extend substantially beyond the chair arms.

1 . A combination comprising,
 a folding lawn chair having a frame constructed to allow a generally planar seat part and a generally planar back part to fold from a working position in which the generally planar seat part and the generally planar back part are generally at right angles to each other to a stored position in which the generally planar seat part and the generally planar back part are generally parallel to each other, the folding lawn chair having chair arms, the chair arms being generally parallel to each other, the folding lawn chair having no ground-engaging wheels,   a tray, table, or desk, and   supplemental arms held to the chair arms by quick-connect connectors which render the supplemental arms removable and attachable by a user by hand without the use of tools,   arm extensions attached to the supplemental arms, the arm extensions being constructed to support the tray, table, or desk between the arm extensions at a tray, table, or desk position at least substantially forward of the chair arms, the arm extensions being moveable independent of the tray, table, or desk from an extended position in which the arm extensions extend forward of the seat part to a retracted position in which the arm extensions do not extend beyond the seat part, the arm extensions moving in paths substantially parallel to the chair arms, the arm extensions being constructed and arranged to allow a user to:
 sit down in the folding lawn chair while the arm extensions are in said retracted position and also while the arm extensions are in said extended position, 
 while seated in the folding lawn chair extend the arm extensions from said retracted position to said extended position, 
 while seated in the folding lawn chair place the tray, table, or desk on the arm extensions, and 
 while seated in the folding lawn chair access an item on the tray, table, or desk, all without external aid; 
   the arm extensions being constructed and arranged to allow the tray, table, or desk to be lifted vertically off the arm extensions without obstruction.   
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the arm extensions are telescoped into the supplemental arms. 
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the arm extensions are slidably mounted for movement to said extended position and to said retracted position. 
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the arm extensions are telescoped into housings. 
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the chair arms are immovable with respect to the generally planar seat part of the folding lawn chair while the folding lawn chair is in an unfolded use position and wherein upper surfaces of the arm extensions are generally coplanar with upper surfaces of the chair arms while the arm extensions are in said extended position forward of the seat part. 
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the arm extensions are hinged to the supplemental arms. 
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 6  wherein the arm extensions are U-shaped in cross section, the arm extensions having sides connected by a web, the sides embracing the arms or supplemental arms while the arm extensions are in said retracted position. 
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 7  further comprising a support constructed and arranged to hold each arm extension while the arm extension is extended. 
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the arm extensions comprise a protrusion on each arm extension, the protrusions being sized to engage the tray and prevent the tray from sliding forward on the arm extensions. 
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 1  further comprising a supplemental tray support, the supplemental tray support being positionable to hold the tray, table, or desk in a position to be accessed by the user while the user is sitting in the folding lawn chair, and to allow the user to move the tray, table, or desk from the supplemental tray support to the arm extensions while the arm extensions are in said extended position while the user is sitting in the folding lawn chair. 
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 1  further comprising secondary housings attached between legs of the folding lawn chair and extending generally parallel to the generally planar back part of the folding lawn chair, each secondary housing telescopically holding a secondary arm extension, the secondary arm extensions being extendible to a side of the folding lawn chair to hold a side tray, table, or desk between the secondary arm extensions. 
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 1  further comprising a back pack attached to an upper end of the generally planar back part of the folding lawn chair, the back pack extending behind the generally planar back part, the back pack being sized to hold the tray, table, or desk. 
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 1  further comprising a lock mechanism which locks each extendible arm in a fixed position while the arm extensions are in said extended position. 
     
     
         14 . A folding lawn chair having a frame constructed to allow a generally planar seat part and a generally planar back part to fold from a working position in which the generally planar seat part and the generally planar back part are generally at right angles to each other to a stored position in which the generally planar seat part and the generally planar back part are generally parallel to each other, the folding lawn chair having chair arms, the chair arms being generally parallel to each other, the folding lawn chair further comprising:
 supplemental arms, the supplemental arms being held to upper faces of the chair arms by quick connect connectors which render the supplemental arms removable and attachable by a user by hand without the use of tools, and   arm extensions held by the supplemental arms for movement in paths substantially parallel to the chair arms from an extended position in which the arm extensions extend substantially forward of the chair arms to a retracted position in which the arm extensions do not extend substantially beyond the chair arms.   
     
     
         15 . The folding lawn chair of  claim 14  wherein the quick connect connectors comprise straps attached to the supplemental arms. 
     
     
         16 . An arm extension assembly for use with a chair having arms, the arm extension assembly comprising a generally rectangular supplemental arm rest formed of wood or plastic, straps attached to the supplemental arm rest, the straps being constructed to loop around one of the chair arms to hold the supplemental arm rest against the chair arm, and an arm extension moveably attached to the supplemental arm rest, the arm extension being either slidably mounted with respect to the supplemental arm rest or hinged to a forward end of the supplemental arm. 
     
     
         17 . The arm extension assembly of  claim 16  wherein the arm extension is slidably mounted in the supplemental arm rest. 
     
     
         18 . The arm extension assembly of  claim 16  wherein the straps comprise hook-and-loop fasteners.