Chair Companion

A Chair Companion is a small table which is useful to keep items handy while seated, such as a remote control or a drink. This Chair companion is low cost, light weight and easy to make.

The simple version of the chair companion is made here using 4 balloons. A larger one can also be made using 12 balloons, with each tetrahedral group of balloons supporting a corner of the table top.

Cardboard

4 balloons

Invisible tape

PVA glue

To make a table top for the Chair Companion:

• Measure a triangle on a piece of cardboard by making a couple of 30 centimeter arcs with a ruler and pen
• Draw the triangle
• Cut using a craft knife
• Make two triangles for added strength

• Glue the two triangles together, one on top of the other using PVA glue
• Have the corrugations cross each other for added strength

The base is made from four partially inflated balloons:

• Blow up a balloon to about 15 centimeters in diameter
• Blow up another 3 balloons to the same size as the first one
• Attach the balloons together to form a small tetrahedral using invisible tape

The cardboard table top is attached to the base using invisible tape:

• Lay 3 strips of invisible tape across the cardboard, so about 20 centimeters of tape extends free
• Position the balloon base on top so the apex of the tetrahedral is touching the cardboard
• Attached the free pieces of invisible tape to the balloons - use a little tension
• Wrap a piece of invisible tape around the balloon base to keep everything together

The Chair Companion can now be used to keep useful items close at hand while sitting in a chair.