Systems and methods for portable furniture

Abstract

The present invention relates to lightweight collapsible portable rests and chairs. In one embodiment, a portable meadow rest accommodates a user in a semi-reclined position. The rest frame includes two pairs of collapsible bars and a pair of joints. The pair of joints are coupled to the collapsible bars. The pair of joints are further configured to contact a ground surface. A center bar is configured to securely couple the pair of joints to each other. The rest mat includes frame interfaces for coupling the rest mat to the rest frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable meadow rest frame useful in association with a mat for accommodating a user in a semi-reclined position, the rest frame comprising:
 a first pair of collapsible bars, each of the first pair of collapsible bars having a first end and a second end;   a second pair of collapsible bars, each of the second pair of collapsible bars having a first end and a second end;   a pair of joints, each of the pair of joints configured to be coupled to the corresponding first end of each of the first pair of collapsible bars and also to be coupled to the corresponding first end of each of the second pair of collapsible bars, and wherein the pair of joints are further configured to contact a ground surface; and   a center bar configured to securely couple the pair of joints to each other.   
     
     
         2 . The portable rest frame of  claim 1  wherein the second ends of the first pair and the second pair of collapsible bars are further configured to support corresponding frame interfaces of a mat for accommodating a user in a semi-reclined position. 
     
     
         3 . The portable rest frame of  claim 1  further comprising an elastic cord configured to pass through at least one of the first pair and the second pair of collapsible bars. 
     
     
         4 . The portable rest frame of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first pair and the second pair of collapsible bars comprises a first hollow bar and a second hollow bar, wherein the first hollow bar includes a first section of a first outer diameter and a second section of a second outer diameter less than the first diameter, and wherein the second section of the first hollow bar is configured to slide into a recess on one end of the second hollow bar, wherein the recess of the second hollow bar has an inner diameter slightly larger than the second outer diameter of the second section of the first hollow bar. 
     
     
         5 . A portable meadow rest for accommodating a user in a semi-reclined position, the portable meadow rest comprising:
 a first pair of collapsible bars, each of the first pair of collapsible bars having a first end and a second end;   a second pair of collapsible bars, each of the second pair of collapsible bars having a first end and a second end;   a pair of joints, each of the pair of joints configured to be coupled to the corresponding first end of each of the first pair of collapsible bars and also to be coupled to the corresponding first end of each of the second pair of collapsible bars, and wherein the pair of joints are further configured to contact a ground surface;   a center bar configured to securely couple the pair of joints to each other; and   a mat for accommodating a user in a semi-reclined position, wherein the mat includes a first pair of frame interfaces configured to be coupled to the corresponding second end of each of the first pair of collapsible bars, and wherein the mat also includes a second pair of frame interfaces configured to be coupled to the corresponding second end of each of the second pair of collapsible bars.   
     
     
         6 . The portable meadow rest of  claim 5  further comprising an elastic cord configured to pass through at least one of the first pair and the second pair of collapsible bars. 
     
     
         7 . The portable meadow rest of  claim 5  wherein at least one of the first pair and the second pair of collapsible bars comprises a first hollow bar and a second hollow bar, wherein the first hollow bar includes a first section of a first outer diameter and a second section of a second outer diameter less than the first diameter, and wherein the second section of the first hollow bar is configured to slide into a recess on one end of the second hollow bar, wherein the recess of the second hollow bar has an inner diameter slightly larger than the second outer diameter of the second section of the first hollow bar. 
     
     
         8 . A portable chair frame useful in association with a sling for accommodating a user in a seated position, the portable chair frame comprising:
 a front pair of bars, each of the front pair of bars having a first end and a second end;   a back pair of collapsible bars, each of the back pair of collapsible bars having a first end and a second end;   a pair of joints, each of the pair of joints configured to be coupled to the corresponding first end of each of the front pair of bars and also to be coupled to the corresponding first end of the back pair of collapsible bars;   a center bar configured to securely couple the pair of joints to each other;   a first set of lower bars, each of the first set of lower bars having a first end and a second end;   a second set of lower bars, each of the second set of lower bars having a first end and a second end;   wherein each of the pair of joints is further configured to couple a corresponding first end of the first set of lower bars and a corresponding first end of the second set of lower bars;   a plurality of sand feet, each of the sand feet configured to be coupled to each of the second end of each of the lower bars, and wherein bottom surfaces of the sand feet are configured to provide points of contact with a ground surface; and   wherein the second end of each of the front pair of bars are configured to support corresponding front corners of a sling for accommodating a user in a seated position, and wherein the second end of each of the back pair of bars are configured to support corresponding back corners of the sling.   
     
     
         9 . The portable chair frame of  claim 8  further comprising an elastic cord configured to pass through at least one of the first pair of collapsible bars. 
     
     
         10 . The portable chair frame of  claim 8  wherein at least one of the back pair of collapsible bars comprises a first hollow bar and a second hollow bar, wherein the first hollow bar includes a first section of a first outer diameter and a second section of a second outer diameter less than the first diameter, and wherein the second section of the first hollow bar is configured to slide into a recess on one end of the second hollow bar, wherein the recess of the second hollow bar has an inner diameter slightly larger than the second outer diameter of the second section of the first hollow bar. 
     
     
         11 . A portable chair for accommodating a user in a seated position, the portable chair comprising:
 a front pair of bars, each of the front pair of bars having a first end and a second end;   a back pair of collapsible bars, each of the back pair of collapsible bars having a first end and a second end;   a pair of joints, each of the pair of joints configured to be coupled to the corresponding first end of each of the front pair of bars and also to be coupled to the corresponding first end of the back pair of collapsible bars;   a center bar configured to securely couple the pair of back joints to each other;   a first set of lower bars, each of the first set of lower bars having a first end and a second end;   a second set of lower bars, each of the second set of lower bars having a first end and a second end;   wherein each of the pair of joints is further configured to couple a corresponding first end of the first set of lower bars and a corresponding first end of the second set of lower bars;   a plurality of sand feet, each of the sand feet configured to be coupled to each of the second end of each of the lower bars, and wherein bottom surfaces of the sand feet are configured to provide points of contact with a ground surface; and   a sling for accommodating a user in a seated position, wherein the sling includes a pair of front frame interfaces configured to be coupled to the corresponding second end of each of the front pair of bars, and wherein the sling also includes a pair of back frame interfaces configured to be coupled to the corresponding second end of the back pair of collapsible bars.   
     
     
         12 . The portable chair of  claim 11  further comprising an elastic cord configured to pass through at least one of the first pair of collapsible bars. 
     
     
         13 . The portable chair of  claim 11  wherein at least one of the back pair of collapsible bars comprises a first hollow bar and a second hollow bar, wherein the first hollow bar includes a first section of a first outer diameter and a second section of a second outer diameter less than the first diameter, and wherein the second section of the first hollow bar is configured to slide into a recess on one end of the second hollow bar, wherein the recess of the second hollow bar has an inner diameter slightly larger than the second outer diameter of the second section of the first hollow bar.