FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to portable stools or cushions and, more particularly, to a portable stool for use during prayer, mediation, and mindfulness practices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Adherents of various religions, e.g., Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam, routinely participate in prayer as part of their religious worship. For some religions, prayer may be conducted on a daily basis or even multiple times a day. The physical prayer position for many adherents requires them to kneel, placing all of their weight on their knees. Where this is done on a hard and/or cold surface with no cushioning, the user can quickly begin to experience pain, discomfort, and even bruising on the knees, especially where prayer is conducted multiple times a day. As such, adherents of various religions benefit from having a cushioned, comfortable, and raised surface on which they can position their knees during prayer for improved comfort and ease.

There are some known prayer stools that incorporate a multiple cushions, including cushion(s) for a user’s buttocks, but these device prevent or inhibit some users from engaging in all prayer positions, particularly those that require the users to drop their buttocks toward the feet of the user. Other known prayer stools that provide a cushion for a user do not efficiently or effectively permit the user to clean and maintain the stool, namely the cushion thereon. Additionally, most known prayer stools also routinely have cushion(s) that move around or become dislodged during use, which can be unsafe and inconvenient for many users. Furthermore, many known prayer stools also do not provide a sufficient guard to protect against the user’s knees or legs falling off of the device when the user is engaged in multiple different prayer positions. Lastly, many other known prayer stools are cumbersome and difficult or impractical for users to transport when not in use, which many users find problematic.

Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective and partially exploded view of a portable prayer stool assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the portable prayer stool assembly in FIG. 1 with the cushion member disposed within the housing of the portable prayer stool assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an elevational rear view of the portable prayer stool assembly in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevational side view of the portable prayer stool assembly in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the portable prayer stool assembly in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the portable prayer stool assembly in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the cushion member of the portable prayer stool assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

We present a portable prayer stool assembly that enables repeated, safe, comfortable, and effective use when compared to other known stools. Although the stool is intended for prayer, it shall not be so limited and applies to mediation and mindfulness practices as well.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a portable prayer stool assembly that includes a housing with a rear end, a front end opposing the rear end, two opposing side ends each interposing the rear end and front end, a bottom wall, a sidewall of a substantially rigid material, surrounding tire bottom wall in an erect orientation relative to an upper surface of the bottom wall to define a height of the sidewall, and with sidewall disposed at each of the two opposing side ends tapering in height as the sidewall spans from the rear end toward the front end of the housing, and defining, with the bottom wall and the sidewall, a cushion receiving cavity. The assembly also includes a cushion member of a deformable material, selectively removably coupled to the housing, disposed within the cushion receiving cavity, and retained by the sidewall.

In accordance with a further feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes the upper surface of the bottom wall having an upper surface area defined and enclosed by the side wall, wherein the upper surface of the bottom wall is substantially planar at least 75% of the upper surface area.

In accordance with yet another feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes the sidewall having a sidewall upper surface spanning around the sidewall, forming the height of the sidewall relative to the bottom wall, and forming a curved shape spanning from the rear end toward the front end of the housing.

In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the sidewall upper surface is formed into a rounded edge.

In accordance with an exemplary feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes a plurality of feet members coupled to housing and defining a planar support plane, thereby generating a level surface for the housing.

In accordance with a further feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes the sidewall continuously surrounding the bottom wall.

In accordance with yet another feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes the sidewall having an outer surface, an inner surface opposing the outer surface of the sidewall, and a plurality of flange members extending from the inner surface of the sidewall, into tire cushion receiving cavity, and configured to vertically retain the cushion member.

In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the plurality of flange members are located proximal to the rear end of the housing and proximal to a sidewall upper surface spanning around the sidewall.

In accordance with an additional feature of the present invention, the sidewall is disposed at the front end of the housing is a height less than a height of the sidewall disposed at the rear end of the housing. In accordance with an exemplary feature of the present invention, the sidewall disposed at the front end of the housing is of a uniform height separating the two opposing side ends of the housing.

In accordance with an additional feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes the cushion member having an upper layer of a foam material having an upper layer hardness, a lower layer of a foam material coupled to the upper layer and having a lower layer hardness less than the upper layer hardness, and a cover encapsulating the upper and lower layers.

In accordance with yet another feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes the sidewall having an outer surface, an inner surface opposing the outer surface of the sidewall, and a plurality of flange members extending from the inner surface of the sidewall, into the cushion receiving cavity, and vertically retaining the upper layer of the cushion member.

Also in accordance with the present invention, a portable prayer stool assembly is disclosed that includes a housing having a rear end, a front end opposing the rear end, and two opposing side ends each interposing the rear end and front end, having a bottom wall, having a sidewall of a substantially rigid material and surrounding the bottom wall in an erect orientation relative to an upper surface of the bottom wall to define a height of the sidewall, and defining, with the bottom wall and the sidewall, a cushion receiving cavity. The assembly also includes a cushion member having an upper layer of a deformable foam material having an upper layer hardness, a lower layer of a deformable foam material coupled to the upper layer and having a lower layer hardness less than the upper layer hardness, and a cover encapsulating the upper and lower layers, wherein the cushion member is selectively removably coupled to the housing, disposed within the cushion receiving cavity, and retained by the sidewall.

Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. The figures of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “providing” is defined herein in its broadest sense, e.g., bringing/coming into physical existence, making available, and/or supplying to someone or something, in whole or in multiple parts at once or over a period of time. Also, for purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof relate to the invention as oriented in the figures and is not to be construed as limiting any feature to be a particular orientation, as said orientation may be changed based on the user’s perspective of the device. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. As used herein, the term “wall” is intended broadly to encompass continuous structures, as well as, separate structures that are coupled together so as to form a substantially continuous external surface.

As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately” apply to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. In this document, the term “longitudinal” should be understood to mean in a direction corresponding to an elongated direction of the housing or to-and-from the front end and rear end of the housing. The term “vertical” should be understood to mean in a direction from the bottom wall to the upper end or surface of the sidewall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION The invention described herein provides a portable prayer stool assembly that overcomes known disadvantages of those known devices and methods of this general type and that significantly improves the ease and convenience of prayer as part of users’ religious worship. The present invention comprises a slightly raised and cushioned surface that curtails the weight, pain, and/or pressure imposed on a user’s knees during prayer. Beneficially, this improves the ease and convenience of prayer, particularly where it is conducted with great frequency. Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a portable prayer stool, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-2, the present invention is a cushioned and portable prayer stool assembly (referred to herein as “stool 100” for brevity) comprising a cushion member 108 disposed within and coupled to a housing 102 (which is structural body shape, sized, and configured to retain the cushion member 108). The housing 102 is specially configured to retain the cushion member 108 in a manner that permits the user to safely and repeatedly utilize the stool with the user comfortably and effectively. The housing 102 includes a rear end 116, a front end 118 opposing the rear end 116, two opposing side ends 120, 122 each interposing the rear end 116 and front end 118, and a bottom wall 104. The housing 102 is preferably of a substantially rigid, yet durable and slightly flexible material, such as polymeric material, e.g., ABS, polystyrene, high-density polyethylene (“HDPE”), etc. or a wood or metal material. Said another way, the housing 102 will not elastically bend when the user applies weight through the cushion member 108 onto the housing 102. Preferably, the material composition of the housing 102 should be lightweight to make portability and transportation much easier and convenient. The length and width of the housing 104 must be sufficient to accommodate, at a minimum, a user’s knees and upper shins. The length and width of the cushion member 108 is proportionately sized and shaped to fit within the housing 102.

The housing 102 includes a sidewall 106 that surrounds the bottom wall 104 in an erect orientation relative to an upper surface 110 of the bottom wall 104 to define a height of the sidewall 106. The sidewall 106 can be seen be seen beneficially disposed at each of the two opposing side ends 120, 122 tapering in height as the sidewall 106 spans from the rear end 116 toward the front end 118 of the housing 102, thereby providing a structurally conducive assembly reducing the likelihood of impacting the user’s legs while in prayer and preventing free movement of the cushion member 102 during use. The housing 102, namely the sidewall 106 and bottom wall 104, define a cushion receiving cavity 114 for the cushion member 108. The sidewall 106, although sloping or tapering in height, is high enough to exceed the height of the cushion member 108 when disposed within the cavity 114. In one embodiment, however, the cushion member 108 is exceeds the height of the sidewall 106 at and near (within approximately 2in or 51mm) the front end 118 of the housing 102 (as best seen in FIG. 4), thereby providing cushion for the user’s legs when extending over the front end 118 of the housing 102. The cavity 114 is preferably of a shape corresponding to the shape of the cushion member 108, namely a lower layer 702 of the cushion member 108. In one embodiment, the cavity 114 is sized to be slightly less than a size of the lower layer 702, thereby enabling a compressively retained configuration with the housing 102.

In one embodiment, the sidewall 106 is disposed at the front end 118 of the housing 102 is a height less than a height of the sidewall 106 disposed at the rear end 116 of the housing 102, thereby providing one end that prevents the cushion member 108 from inadvertently becoming dislodged from the housing 102 and another end that provides a safe and comfortable access and resting point for the user’s legs. Additionally, the sidewall 106 disposed at the front end 118 of the housing 102 can be seen of a uniform height separating the two opposing side ends 120, 122 of the housing 102, also providing a safe and comfortable access and resting point for the user’s legs.

The upper surface 110 of the bottom wall 104 includes an upper surface area defined and enclosed by the sidewall 106, wherein the upper surface 110 of the bottom wall 104 is substantially planar at least 75% of the upper surface area. Said another way, the entire upper surface 110 is substantially planar (without any raises surfaces that would cause the cushion member 108 to be angled and not level when coupled to the housing 102), with the exception retention protrusions 130a-n formed in housing 102, wherein “n” represents any number greater than one. The cushion member 108 can also be seen having preformed cutouts or shapes and sizes corresponding to the shape and size of the retention protrusions 130a-n. With reference to FIG. 1, FIGS. 3-4, and FIG. 6, the assembly 100 also includes a plurality of feet members 300a-n coupled to housing 102 and defining a planar support plane 302, thereby also generating a level surface for the housing 102 and the cushion member 108. The plurality of feet members 300a-n are preferably spaced on opposing sides of the housing 102 and is included at four comers of the housing 102. The plurality of feet members 300a-n may be coupled to the housing 102 with one or more fasteners or adhesive. The plurality of feet members 300a-n may have a high viscosity double-sided adhesive tape adhered to a vulcanizate material composition. The plurality of feet members 300a-n are a non-slip feature which substantially reduces or prevents the housing 102 from slipping or sliding during use.

With reference to FIGS. 1-2 and FIG. 4, the sidewall 106 includes a sidewall upper surface 112 spanning around the sidewall 106, forming the height of the sidewall 106 relative to the bottom wall 104, and can also be seen forming a curved shape proximal to the front end 118 and spanning from the rear end 116 toward the front end 118 of the housing 102, wherein “proximal” is defined (unless otherwise indicated) aa being at or near (e.g., within approximately 75mm) a referencing structure or surface. The sidewall upper surface 112 is preferably formed into a rounded edge that also inhibits increased pressure applied to the user’s legs or shins when resting on the assembly 100 and cushion 108. The sidewall 106 preferably and continuously surrounds the bottom wall 104, but in other embodiments, the sidewall 106 may be formed with slots or other holes, but still forms a “wall” for each side of the cushion member 108. The shape of the sidewall 106 may also be curvilinear.

The sidewall 106 also includes an outer surface 124, an inner surface 126 opposing the outer surface 124 of the sidewall 106, and a plurality of flange members 128a-n extending from the inner surface 126 of the sidewall 106, into the cushion receiving cavity 114, and configured to vertically retain the cushion member 108 while placed inside the cavity 114. The plurality of flange members 128a-n project approximately 6- 10mm from the inner surface 126 or otherwise a length that extends slightly over tire cushion member 108 while inside of the cavity 114. The plurality of flange members 128a-n are preferably of a uniform radial length. The plurality of flange members 128a-n are preferably located proximal to the rear end 116 of the housing 102 and proximal to a sidewall upper surface 112 spanning around the sidewall 106.

The cushion member 108 is of a deformable material, is selectively removably coupled to the housing 102, disposed within the cushion receiving cavity 114, and is retained by the sidewall 106. With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 7, the cushion member 102 is preferably formed with an upper layer 700 of a foam material having an upper layer hardness, a lower layer 702 of a foam material coupled to the upper layer 700 and having a lower layer hardness less than the upper layer hardness, and a cover 704 encapsulating the upper and lower layers 700, 702. The upper layer 700 is indirectly and vertically retained (when a cover 704 is utilized) by the plurality of flange members 128a-n, thereby inhibiting dislodging of the cushion member 108. In preferred embodiments, only the lower layer 702 has the preformed cutouts or shapes for the retention protrusions 130a-n. One of the retention protrusions, namely protrusion 130n, is formed from a handle member 600 (best seen in FIG. 6).

The cover 704 is preferably of a fabric material composition, e.g., cotton, linen, nylon, polyester, canvas, faux silk, velvet, wool, etc. Preferably, the cover 704 is soft enough to not irritate a user’s skin, i.e., the skin on a user’s knees during use. The cover 704 may also house a cushioning deformable material providing support and cushioning to a user’s knees during use. In preferred embodiments, the stuffing may consist of wool, hair, feathers, polyurethane foam (medium density and/or high density), polyester staple fiber, non-woven material, dry fast open cell foam, closed cell foam, fabric backed sew foam, or even paper tom into fragments. The upper layer 700 is of foam material, e.g., polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate, or polymeric foam material having a density of 25-300 kg/m ³ and a hardness range of approximately 15-70 shore C. The upper layer 700 may have dimensions of approximately 452x350x30 mm in size and is also of a foam material the same or similar to the lower layer 702. When foam is utilized, which is preferred due to its resiliency and support properties, the foam material may also be a closed-cell foam. The lower layer 702 may have dimensions of approximately 452x350x20 mm in size (i.e., slightly larger in thickness than the upper layer 700) and having a density of 100 kg/m ³ and a hardness range of approximately 38 shore C. The cushion member 102 is operably configured to be disposed within the housing 104 such that the cushion member 102 does not slide, dislodge, or come out of place when a user’s weight is placed on it during use.

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, another feature of the stool assembly 100 is its stackable configuration. In one embodiment, the sidewall 108 has a receiving port, e.g., ports 200, 202, formed on comers of the housing 102, particularly disposed on an upper edge of the sidewall 108 where the side wall and rear wall 116 intersect. The stackable configuration enables multiple portable prayer stool assemblies to be stackable with respect to one another. The receiving port(s) are designed to receive a support member, e.g., support member 300, disposed on the bottom surface 302 of the bottom wall 104 of the housing 102. In this way, the support member of an upper stool assembly is operably configured to fit into, in a snug configuration, and be received by, the receiving port of the lower stool assembly. Beneficially, this feature conserves space and provides for improved convenience and ease of use. Said another way, the housing 102 may define at least one receiving port and at least one support member operably configured to be mated together in a coupling configuration (e.g., male-female coupling configuration), thereby enabling a plurality of housings to be stacked on top of one another. The stool assembly 100 is also operably configured to be used in conjunction with a carrying case. The carrying case is of a size and dimension proportional to that of the stool 100 to beneficially enable the stool 100 to snugly fit within the carrying case. In an exemplary embodiment, the dimensions of the carrying case are 500x390x120mm. Preferably, the carrying case is of a material composition capable of withstanding daily wear and tear and capable of sustaining the weight of the stool 100 during transport, storage, and/or use. In a preferred embodiment, the carrying case is of an Oxford cloth material composition, i.e., a cotton, weave structure fabric. The carrying case is operably configured to improve the user’s ease and convenience of carrying, storing, and/or transporting the carrying case.

Although a specific order of executing the process steps has been discussed above and claimed, the order of executing the steps may be changed relative to the order shown in certain embodiments. Also, two or more steps or blocks shown or described as occurring in succession may be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence in some embodiments. Certain steps may also be omitted for the sake of brevity. In some embodiments, some or all of the process steps can be combined into a single process.

Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed above without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, while the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this disclosure also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of tire above -described features.