The present invention relates to an improved seat which comprising a pliable portion which supports a person in the manner of a beanbag.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seat comprising a pliable portion for supporting a person in the manner of a beanbag, the seat having a base which supports the pliable portion clear of the ground. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seat comprising a pliable portion for supporting a person in the manner of a beanbag, wherein the pliable portion includes a stiffened region arranged for receipt of the person thereagainst. The seat may be defined in its entirety by the pliable portion or may be a seat according to the first aspect. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the seat comprises a cover and a filling contained within the cover, the cover and filling defining the pliable portion.

Preferably, the cover is reinforced whereby the stiffened region is defined. Preferably, the seat includes reinforcement attached to the cover to define the stiffened region. Preferably, the reinforcement is internal.

Preferably, the stiffened region comprises a seat section. Generally speaking, the seat section will be generally upwardly facing for receipt of the person's backside, and preferably also upper parts of the person's legs, including the quadriceps area, thereagainst. Preferably, the seat includes at least one panel affording the seat section stiffness. Preferably, the at least one panel comprises a forwardly widening panel. Preferably, the forwardly widening panel is in the form of a triangle having a base which is forward-most and a vertex which is rearward- most. Preferably, the stiffened region comprises a back section, which is preferably forwardly divergent. Preferably, the seat includes at least one panel affording the back section stiffness. Generally speaking, the back section will be more or less upright for receipt of the person's back thereagainst but preferably that section is rearwardly inclined to an extent to provide support to the person in a partially reclined orientation. Preferably, the seat includes a forwardly divergent pair of side-by-side panels affording the back section stiffness.

Preferably, the back section is upwardly convergent.

Preferably, the stiffened region comprises both the seat section and the back section.

Preferably, the or each panel is internal. Preferably, the or each panel is soft and pliable. In one embodiment of the invention, the or each panel is formed from soft foam. Alternatively, the or each panel may be in the form of a thin, inflatable cushion.

Preferably, the or each panel is attached to the cover.

Preferably, the or each panel is internal.

Preferably, the or each panel is attached to an inside of the cover. The base may, for example, be rigid or semi-rigid.

Preferably, the base is resiliently compressible; the base may thus then provide a degree of cushioning support when a person sits on/in the seat. Preferably, the base comprises an insert within the cover.

Preferably, the insert is anchored to the cover. Preferably, the cover is tightly received around or over the insert to anchor the insert thereto. Preferably, the insert and cover are separable.

The insert may be formed from foam, such as expanded polystyrene, or rubber. Preferably, the base comprises a pad or slab which supports the pliable portion. Preferably, the base is rearwardly narrowing or convergent. Preferably, the filling comprises loose-fill material.

In one embodiment of the invention, the loose-fill material comprises beans or beads. The loose-fill material may granular and/or may be in the form of crumbs.

Preferably, the loose-fill material is resiliently compressible. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the loose-fill material is expanded plastics foam. Preferably, the foam comprises expanded polystyrene. In an alternative embodiment, the loose fill material comprises pieces of memory foam.

Alternatively, the pliable filling may comprise a fibrous material, such as, for example, polyester fibre, or may comprise fabric pieces or wool.

The seat may have a size and dimensions generally consistent with those of beanbag.

Preferably, the base or insert has height of between about 10cm and about 30cm. More preferably, the base or insert has a height of between about 15cm and about 25cm. Most preferably, the base or insert has a height of approximately 20cm. Preferably, the seat includes a pliable bag disposed within the cover and containing the filling.

Preferably, the cover is openable to permit removal of the bag or filling therefrom. The cover · may be provided with a closure, such as, for example, a zipper, which when opened permits removal of the bag or filling, and preferably also the insert.

Preferably, the cover is provided in the form of a closed bag.

Preferably, the cover is emptiable. The cover may, when emptied, be washable. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seat comprising a pliable portion for supporting a person in the manner of a beanbag, the seat further comprising a receptacle which hangs from the pliable portion to be able to hold at least one item.

Preferably, the seat comprises, spaced from said receptacle, a further receptacle which hangs from the pliable portion to be able to hold at least one item. Preferably, the receptacles are positioned adjacent opposite side sections of the pliable portion. Preferably, the or each receptacle comprises a pouch.

Preferably, the or each receptacle is positioned to be accessible by a person sitting in the seat.

Preferably, the or each receptacle is provided with at least one cord via which it attaches to the pliable portion. Preferably, the or each receptacle is provided with a pair or cords extending from opposed top end portions thereof, via which it attaches to the pliable portion. Preferably, the or each cord is elastic.

Preferably, the or each receptacle is removably coupled to the pliable portion. In one embodiment of the invention, the or each cord is formed with a loop which is removably retained by a button provided on the pliable portion.

Preferably, the or each cord is elastic. Preferably, the seat accords with the first and/or second aspect of the invention.

The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation view of a seat according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation view of the seat of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the seat of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a front three-quarter view of the seat of Figure 1 ; Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the seat of Figure 1;

Figure 6 shows a base insert of the seat of Figure 1 ;

Figure 7 shows a loose-fill material-containing internal bag of the seat of Figure 1 ;

Figure 8 is a rear perspective view showing a cover and the bag of the seat of Figure 1 partially opened;

Figure 9 shows a panel arrangement of the seat, which attaches to the cover to define a stiffened region of a pliable portion of the seat, and the approximate position of that arrangement relative to the base insert;

Figure 10 a removable pouch of the seat of Figure 1 and indicates the manner in which it attaches to the cover; and

Figure 1 1 shows the seat of Figure 1 in use.

With reference in particular to Figures 1 to 4, 10 and 1 1 , a beanbag-type seat 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an exterior cover 3 in the form of a pliable bag, the cover 3 including a closure, which comprises a zipper 5 (see Figures 2 and 8), by means of which the cover 3 can be opened and closed. The cover 3 takes the general form of a typical beanbag cover and may be formed from any of a number of materials, including but not limited to fabric, which may be a woven fabric, cloth material, virtyl and PVC. The cover material may be selected according to the conditions to which the seat 1 will be subjected and/or aesthetic considerations. The seat 1 may, in particular, be adapted for indoor and/or outdoor use depending on the choice of cover material, which, in the latter case, may be water-resistant or waterproof.

Referring to Figures 1 and 3, the seat 1 has a height H, a width W and a length L each of which is approximately 1.0 to 1.5m, and preferably about 1.25m. These dimensions may vary considerably, whereby the size and proportions of the seat are variable, without departure from the invention.

With reference to Figures 7 and 8, the seat 1 further includes, within the cover 3, a filling of loose-fill material, comprising expanded foam beans or beads 6, consistent with conventional beanbags, and a bag 7 which holds the beans beads 6. The bag 7 also includes a closure, in the form of a zipper 10, whereby it can be opened to be filled with or emptied of filling. The bag 7, at least when not filled with the filling, is removable from the cover 3 through the opening created in the latter when opened via the zipper 5.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the bag 7 may be omitted and the filling contained solely by the cover 3.

Referring in particular to Figures 6 and 9, the seat 1 further comprises a base support, in the form of an insert 9, which is retained in the cover 3 and underlies the bean/bead-containing bag 7 so as to support it clear of the ground or floor surface on which the seat 1 sits. The bottom of the cover 3 is dimensioned for retained receipt of the insert 9, whereby the cover 3 tightly wraps around the periphery of the insert 9 to anchor it thereto, even though the cover 3 and insert 9 are not joined together. The insert 9 in this embodiment comprises a pad which underlies the bag 7 and is sufficiently rigid to define a sturdy base 4 of the seat 1 but has a degree of resilient compressibility to provide some cushioning to a person sitting in the seat 1. The insert 9 may, for example, be formed of a semi-rigid expanded plastics foam, such as expanded polystyrene. The insert 9 has a thickness/depth D of approximately 20cm. In the present embodiment, the insert 9 is configured in the form of a triangle with rounded corners and sides which are curved slightly outwardly. As will be clear from Figures 5 and 6, the base 4 is orientated such that one of the corners is positioned at the rear of the seat 1 and the other two other corners are positioned at the front of the seat 1. The insert 9 may serve, advantageously, to weigh the seat 1 down. Other insert configurations are possible, including generally trapezoidal shapes, though preferably , the insert will be generally convergent in the rearward direction. Moreover, in other embodiments of the invention the base support/insert may instead comprise an inflated cushion, which may be selectively deflatable and re- inflatable, whereby the seat may be lighter in weight.

In other embodiments of the invention, the base support may be exterior to the cover and underlie it.

The insert 9 can be removed through the opening, created in the rear of the cover 3 when the zipper 5 is opened, with the bag 7 first removed from the cover 3. In other embodiments, the insert and cover could be joined together.

The cover 3 and filling define a pliable portion 2 of the seat 1 , which portion supports, in the manner of a beanbag, someone sitting in the seat 1. Owing to the inclusion of the base 4, the pliable portion 2 is supported clear of the ground/floor surface, as will be discussed in further detail later. The cover 3 is provided at a front section thereof with reinforcement defining a stiffened region 10 of the pliable portion 2, against which parts of the person sitting in the seat 1 are directly received. The stiffened region 10, in turn, defines a forwardly divergent and forwardly opening cavity or recess 13 in which the seated person is held seat 1. The reinforcement comprises soft, pliable panels 23, preferably in the form of sheets of furniture foam having a thickness of approximately 5cm, which are joined, via stitching 14 or other means, preferably around their perimeters, to the inside of the cover 3 and which consist of a triangular lower/bottom panel 23 A, which is arranged in a more or less level or horizontal plane, to support the backside and quadriceps area of the person when seated in the seat, thereby defining a seat section of the stiffened region, and side-by-side triangular upper panels 23B, 23C, which are more or less upright though inclined rearwardly to an extent, to support the back, whereby it defines a back section of the stiffened region 10, and additionally the shoulders and arms of the seated person, the recess 13 thus being configured such that the person is supported by the seat 1 in a somewhat contained or cradled manner. The sections 23B, 23C are symmetrically disposed about a central upright plane through the seat 1 and are forwardly divergent, whereby the recess 13 generally conforms to a tetrahedron or triangular pyramid.

The panels are not directly joined together but in other embodiments of the invention could be joined together.

In another embodiment of the invention, the seat could comprise a single back section panel instead of panels 23B, 23C, which panel will preferably be forwardly divergent, e.g. by being bent or folded, and may have a configuration similar to that of the pair of panels 23B, 23C. In another embodiment of the invention, the whole stiffened region could comprise a single panel, instead of panels 23A, 23B and 23C, defining the appropriate cavity or recess, which could have a configuration similar to that of the panels 23A, 23B and 23C or be conical or frusto-conical. Referring to Figures 4 and 10, the cover 3 is formed with respective seams 16 extending adjacent to and in alignment with the three pairs of adjacent edges of the panels 23. In the present embodiment, the lower panel 23A is spaced approximately 20 to 30cm above the insert 9, with part of the filling occupying the space between that panel and the insert 9, whereby the bottom of the recess 10 is spaced approximately 40 to 50cm above the floor/ground surface. In other words, the spacing between the lower panel and insert is approximately 1 to 1.5 times the thickness/depth of the insert.

The panels 23 are sufficiently soft and pliable to be comfortable and generally form-fitting against the parts of the seated person which they support though can distribute the loads applied by the person sitting in the seat 1 so as to influence the displacement of the filling in a manner such that the seat 1, unlike a conventional beanbag, holds its general shape when sat in. Improved shape retention can be attributed also to a resistance that each of panels 23A, 23B and 23C affords the cover 3 against buckling when subjected to a compressive load in the plane of that panel.

The base insert 9 serves as a spacer which holds the stiffened region 10 and parts of the seated person supported thereagainst further from the floor/ground surface than they would be if the bottom of the cover 3 were occupied by the filling material instead of the insert 9. Moreover, the stiffened region 10 limits the degree to which the person sinks rearwardly and downwardly into the pliable portion 2. Accordingly, the person, whose feet will ordinarily rest on the floor/ground surface when he or she sits normally on the seat 1, as shown in Figure 1 1, may be supported in a comparatively upright orientation by the seat 1 and can, because his or her backside is spaced further than usual from the floor/ground surface, get up from the seat, to resume a standing position, more easily than if the seat were a conventional beanbag of the same general size. The person also has an ability to push against the stiffened section 10 (and more particularly against opposed lateral sides of panel 23A and/or panels 23B, 23C), which contributes to the ease with which he or she may get up from the seat, the stiffened section 10/panels 23 remaining relatively stable as the person does so.

As will be clear from Figure 1 1, the seat 1 is configured such that displacement of the filling when the person sits on/in the seat 1 may cause the pliable portion 2 to bulge laterally outwardly, beyond the side faces of the base 4, creating a "muffin-top" effect, though the seat 1 holds its shape sufficiently that the pliable portion 2 remains spaced above the ground/floor surface when the person is seated.

In another embodiment of the invention, the panels 23B, 23C may be omitted, whereby the stiffened region is defined solely by the lower panel 23A and thus comprises only the seat section. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the lower panel 23A may be omitted, whereby the stiffened region is defined solely by the panels 23B and 23C and thus comprises only the back section.

The seat 1 further comprises a loop 30 which is fixed to an upper part of the cover 3 and sufficiently large to receive a person's hand therethrough whereby the person may lift and carry the seat 1. The loop 30 may also be used to retain a headphones unit of a personal audio player, such as an MP3 player, owned by the person.

The seat 1 further comprises a pair of pouches 40 arranged at opposite lateral sides of the seat 1 and positioned adjacent the base 4. The pouches 40 are separately formed from the cover 3 and each is provided with a pair of elastic cords 42 extending from opposed top end portions thereof, via which it hangs from the cover 3. With reference in particular to Figure 10, each cord 42 is formed at a free end thereof with a loop 44, which is received over and behind a respective button 12 attached to the cover 3 whereby the cords 42 are removably attached to the cover 3: Advantageously, because neither of the pouches 40 is directly fixed to the cover 3 at the two positions of attachment to the pliable portion 2, each pouch rather hanging from those positions via the cords 42, the pouches are not appreciably stretched or otherwise deformed when the cover 3 stretches and the pliable portion 2 outwardly bulges when the seat 1 is sat in. Any change in the spacing between the buttons 12 in each button pair as a result of loads exerted by the person in the seat 1 is accommodated by a variation in length in the cords 42 owing to their elasticity. The pouches 40 may be used for storage of articles such as, for example, books and electronic items.

Each of the insert 9 and panels 23A, 23B and 23C influences the manner in which the filling is displaced and contributes to the retention of the chair-like form of the seat 1 when in use. While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in ' form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.