Portable seating device

Abstract

A portable seating device ( 100 ′) is disclosed that has a seat ( 104 ′) with one or more internal storage compartments ( 224/230 ). The seat ( 104 ′) includes an upper seat section ( 108 ′) that may be pivoted away from a platform ( 112 ′) to access one or more storage compartments ( 224 ) on a lower surface of the upper seat section ( 108 ′) and to access one or more storage compartments ( 230 ) on an upper surface of the platform ( 112 ′). The platform ( 112 ′) is rotatably interconnected with a base ( 152 ). A backrest assembly ( 127 ) is appropriately interconnected with the seat ( 104 ′), and a stand ( 172 ) is detachably interconnected with the base ( 152 ) to accommodate multiple configurations for the portable seating device ( 100 ′). Preferably, the backrest assembly ( 127 ) is movable between stowed and deployed positions, and includes one or more adjustment features when in its deployed position.

1 . A portable seating device, comprising:
 a seat comprising an upper seat section and a lower seat section, wherein said upper seat section is disposable over said lower seat section, wherein said upper seat section is movable at least generally away from said lower seat section, wherein at least one of a lower surface of said upper seat section and an upper surface of said lower seat section comprises at least one storage compartment, and wherein said lower surface of said upper seat section and said upper surface of said lower seat section face each other when said upper seat section is disposed over said lower seat section;   a base, wherein said seat is rotatably interconnected with said base; and   a first backrest that is at least interconnectable with said seat.   
   
   
       2 . The portable seating device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a hinge between said upper seat section and said lower seat section.   
   
   
       3 . The portable seating device  claim 1 , wherein said first backrest is detachably connectable with said seat so as to be usable separate from said seat. 
   
   
       4 . The portable seating device of  claim 1 , wherein said lower surface of said upper seat section comprises said at least one storage compartment. 
   
   
       5 . The portable seating device of  claim 1 , wherein said upper surface of said lower seat section comprises said at least one storage compartment. 
   
   
       6 . The portable seating device of  claim 1 , wherein said lower surface of said upper seat section comprises a first storage compartment, wherein said upper surface of said lower seat section comprises a second storage compartment, wherein said first and second storage compartments are vertically aligned when said upper seat section is disposed over said lower seat section, and wherein said at least one storage compartment comprises said first and second storage compartments. 
   
   
       7 . The portable seating device of  claim 1 , wherein said first backrest is movable from a stowed position to a deployed position, wherein said first backrest faces said upper seat section when in said stowed position. 
   
   
       8 . The portable seating device of  claim 1 , wherein a vertical position of said first backrest is adjustable. 
   
   
       9 . The portable seating device of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a second backrest disposed within a perimeter of said first backrest, disposed between said first backrest and a user when sitting on said seat, and selectively movable relative to said first backrest, wherein said first backrest and said second backrest may be collectively moved relative to said seat to change a vertical position of said first and second backrests relative to said seat, and wherein said second backrest further may be moved relative to said first backrest to change a vertical position of said second backrest relative to said seat and without changing a vertical position of said first backrest relative to said seat.   
   
   
       10 . The portable seating device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a lower frame section disposable in a fixed position relative to and mounted to said seat;   an upper frame section movably interconnected with said lower frame section, wherein a position of said upper frame section relative to said lower frame section may be changed while said lower frame section is disposed in said fixed position relative to said seat, wherein said first backrest is interconnected with said upper frame section.   
   
   
       11 . The portable seating device of  claim 10 , wherein:
 said lower frame section comprises a pair of first sections and a pair of second sections, wherein each said first section is retained in a fixed position relative to said seat, wherein each said second section is pivotally interconnected with its corresponding said first section and is disposable in a fixed position relative to its corresponding said first section after being pivoted into a deployed position, and wherein said upper frame section is movably interconnected with said pair of second sections.   
   
   
       12 . The portable seating device of  claim 10 , wherein said upper frame section is completely removable from said lower frame section, wherein said first backrest may be used independently of said portable seating device. 
   
   
       13 . The portable seating device of  claim 10 , wherein said upper frame section telescopingly engages with said lower frame section. 
   
   
       14 . The portable seating device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second backrest disposed within a perimeter of said first backrest, disposed between said first backrest and a user when sitting on said seat, and selectively movable relative to said first backrest.   
   
   
       15 . The portable seating device of  claim 1 , wherein a vertical position of said first backrest is adjustable, and wherein said portable seating device further comprises:
 a second backrest disposed within a perimeter of said first backrest, disposed between said first backrest and a user when sitting on said seat, and selectively movable relative to said first backrest, wherein said first backrest and said second backrest may be collectively moved relative to said seat to change a vertical position of said first and second backrests, and wherein said second backrest further may be moved relative to said first backrest to change a vertical position of said second backrest without changing a vertical position of said first backrest.   
   
   
       16 . The portable seating device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a detachable stand, wherein said stand may be attached to and detached from said seat by hand, and wherein when in an attached configuration, said stand interfaces with a support surface and disposes said base in spaced relation to the support surface, and when in a detached configuration, said base interfaces directly with the support surface.   
   
   
       17 . The portable seating device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pivotal connection between a rear portion of said upper seat section and a rear portion of said lower seat section. 
   
   
       18 . A portable seating device, comprising:
 a seat comprising an upper seat section and a lower seat section, wherein said upper seat section is disposable over said lower seat section, wherein said upper seat section is movable at least generally away from said lower seat section, wherein an underside of said upper seat section is hollow and comprises a plurality of reinforcement ribs that extend inwardly from a perimeter of said upper seat section, wherein said underside of said upper seat section comprises a first storage compartment, wherein an upside of said lower seat section is hollow and comprises a plurality of reinforcement ribs that extend inwardly from a perimeter of said lower seat section, wherein said upside of said lower seat section comprises a second storage compartment, and wherein said first and second storage compartments cooperate to collectively define an autonomous storage compartment formed when said upper seat section is disposed over said lower seat section;   a base, wherein said seat is rotatably interconnected with said base; and   a first backrest that is at least interconnectable with said seat.   
   
   
       19 . The portable seating device of  claim 18 , further comprising at least one removable partition disposed within said autonomous storage compartment such that said at least one removable partition subdivides said autonomous storage compartment into at least two subcompartments. 
   
   
       20 . A portable seating device, comprising:
 a seat comprising an upper seat section and a lower seat section that are pirvotally interconnected, wherein said upper seat section is disposable over said lower seat section, wherein said upper seat section is pivotable at least generally away from said lower seat section, wherein at least one of a lower surface of said upper seat section and an upper surface of said lower seat section comprises at least one storage compartment, and wherein said lower surface of said upper seat section and said upper surface of said lower seat section face each other when said upper seat section is disposed over said lower seat section;   a base, wherein said seat is rotatably interconnected with said base, and wherein said base comprises first and second mounting configurations to allow said portable seating device to be used for two different applications; and   a first backrest that is at least interconnectable with said seat.