Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47D—FURNITURE SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CHILDREN
  • A47D1/00—Children's chairs
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47D—FURNITURE SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CHILDREN
  • A47D15/00—Accessories for children's furniture, e.g. safety belts or baby-bottle holders
  • A47D15/005—Restraining devices, e.g. safety belts, contoured cushions or side bumpers
  • A47D15/006—Restraining devices, e.g. safety belts, contoured cushions or side bumpers in chairs

Definitions

• This invention relates to a baby supporting chair and, more particularly, to a baby supporting chair that is aimed at supporting an infant that has reached the stage of holding its own head up but has not yet reached a stage at which it can support itself in a stable sitting position.
• P2566PC00 PCT 8ABY SUPPORTING CHAIR A competitive product in the market place is a moulded expanded polypropylene two-part baby supporting chair having a seat part and a tray part that fit together for storage or use; in the latter instance the two parts are assembled with a baby inside the seat.
• the difficulty with such a seat is that the material is rather rigid and a baby together with its apparel must yield to conform to the shape of the chair.
• Such baby supporting chairs are sold under the trade name "Cushi Tush".
• Applicant has, in consequence, developed an baby supporting chair that provides a good level of support and is comfortable whilst alleviating or avoiding one or more difficulties experienced with prior art baby supporting chairs of which applicant is aware.
• a baby supporting chair comprising a generally rigid outer support shell of generally dome shape with a lower periphery for supporting the chair, directly or indirectly, on a generally horizontal surface and wherein the outer support shell has, in plan view, a baby receiving zone in a central region of the outer support shell for receiving at least a lower trunk of a baby, in use, and at least one channel extending from the central region for receiving, in use, the legs of a baby projecting outwards, optionally beyond an outer extremity of the outer support shell, with a baby restraining member associated with the chair for inhibiting a baby from sliding into the at least one channel, and a relatively flexible inner baby support member attached to the outer support member to provide a relatively flexible seat portion, a backrest portion, and sidewall portions to the baby receiving zone that communicates with the at least one channel.
• P2566PC00 PCT 8ABY SUPPORTING CHAIR Further features of the invention provide for there to be a pair of channels extending from the central region for receiving, in use, the legs of a baby with the baby restraining member being in the form of a pillar formation separating the two channels; for the generally rigid outer support shell to be made of an injection moulded thermoplastic material such as a suitable polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, or polyvinyl chloride; for the plastics material of the outer support shell to have a wall thickness of from 1 .5 to 5 mm, preferably from 2 to 3 mm; for the inner relatively flexible baby support member to be made of an injection moulded elastomer such as a suitable thermoplastic polyurethane, ethylene propylene diene monomer, or silicone rubber; and for the plastics material of the inner baby support member to have a shore hardness (A-
• the inner baby support member to have an edge region that is over-moulded onto the outer support shell to form a bi-material assembly extending around the periphery of the baby receiving zone with a bond between the two plastic materials being formed as a laminar mechanical bond that may have its origins at least partially in a thermal differential between the temperature of the over- moulded material during its moulding, and/or a mechanical bond that includes keying formations such as perforations, protrusions or recesses on the outer support shell, a bond that includes at least some chemical bonding to the outer support shell, an adhesive bond and any combination of the foresaid; for the outer support member to have an inwardly lipped periphery to selected regions of the baby receiving zone in order to provide a continuous attachment surface surrounding the baby receiving zone onto which the over-moulded material is moulded; and for the flange to merge with sidewalls to the channels and the bottom of the pillar to form the substantially
• the lower periphery of the outer support shell to be generally circular; for the lower periphery to be provided with a circumferential enlarged rib or a series of formations extending around the periphery and cooperating with co-operating formations on a stiffening ring configured to maintain a substantially fixed circular shape to the lower periphery of the outer support shell, or both; for the under surface of the channels of the outer support shell to have optionally integral legs extending downwards so as to form additional support for the outer support shell in the region of the channels; and for the legs to have suction cups or the like permanently or removably attached thereto.
• the pillar formation to have formations in an upper region thereof for releasably receiving co-operating formations on a removable tray that spans gaps between the pillar and adjacent upper ends of the two channels; for the formations on the pillar and tray to cooperate in a clipping relationship with the clip being releasable only from a front of the tray, preferably by a release mechanism substantially inoperable by a baby occupying the baby seat; for the formations on the pillar to be adapted to cooperate with co-operating formations on a selection of different activity items that can be selected according to a user's desires or requirements from items such as movable handles, a steering wheel, an electronic gadget that could resemble a computer, an electronic game of some sort or a music playing device; and for the outer support shell together with the inner baby support member to be stackable (generally with any tray removed from the pillar formation) for transport, storage and display purposes.
• the outer support shell has handles or cut-outs in the lower periphery that serve as handles whereby the baby supporting chair can be
• the diameter of the lower periphery of the outer support shell is selected to provide required stability of the baby supporting chair, in use.
• the inner baby support member may be configured such that the seat bottoms out onto a supporting surface if a baby weighs more than a particular amount.
• a bean bag type of "cushion" may be provided on the underside of the seat so that the seat can deform according to the shape of a baby sitting in the baby seat.
• the inner baby support member is preferably configured so that it flexes according to the shape and size of a baby supported by it.
• Figure 1 is a front elevation of one embodiment of baby supporting chair according to the invention
• Figure 2 is a rear elevation thereof
• Figure 3 is a side elevation thereof
• Figure 4 is a plan view thereof
• Figure 5 is a three-dimensional view taken from the top toward one side of the baby supporting chair
• Figure 6 is a three-dimensional view taken from the bottom toward one side of the baby supporting chair with the removable tray and stiffening ring removed;
• Figure 7 is a sectioned three-dimensional view taken from the top toward one side of the baby supporting chair along line VII - VII in Figure 4;
• Figure 8 is a cross-section taken along line VIII - VIII in Figure 4.
• Figure 9 is a three-dimensional view taken from underneath and the rear of one variation of the baby supporting chair fitted with suction cups suitable for enabling the chair to be used as a bathing chair;
• Figure 10 is a three-dimensional view of a suction cup on its own.
• a baby supporting chair (1 ) comprises a generally rigid outer support shell (2) of generally dome shape with a circular lower periphery (3) for supporting the chair on a generally horizontal surface.
• the circular lower periphery has a diameter selected to provide suitable stability to the baby supporting chair and in this instance the diameter is about 400mm.
• a baby receiving zone is provided for receiving at least a lower trunk of a baby in a central region of the outer support shell, in use, and a pair of deep channels (5) extends from the central baby receiving zone for accommodating or receiving, in use, outwardly projecting legs of a baby.
• the legs, especially the feet, would typically extend beyond the outer extremity of the outer support shell.
• a pillar formation (6) separates the two channels and
• P2566PC00 PCT 8ABY SUPPORTING CHAIR forms a baby restraining member as defined above.
• a relatively flexible inner baby support member (7) is attached to a peripheral region of the outer support member that encircles the baby receiving zone to provide a flexible seat (1 1 ), a backrest (12) and sidewalls (13).
• a major portion of the backrest is flexible with an upper portion being rigid where the flexible material of the baby support member overlaps the relatively rigid material of the outer support member.
• the sidewalls (13) are flexible apart from upper and forward regions where the flexible material of the baby support member overlaps the relatively rigid material of the outer support member.
• the flexible inner baby support member (7) also communicates with, and overlaps, a portion of the deep channels where it is likewise rigid.
• the generally rigid outer support shell is made of an injection moulded thermoplastic material that in this instance is a suitable polypropylene material having a thickness of about 2-3 mm.
• the generally rigid outer support is shaped to provide armrest formations (14) on each side of the central baby receiving zone.
• the lower periphery of the outer support shell is generally circular and has a circumferentially extending enlarged rib (15) that cooperates with cooperating clipping formations (16) on a floor engaging stiffening ring (17) configured to maintain a substantially fixed circular shape to the lower periphery of the outer support shell.
• the stiffening ring resists buckling of the dome in case a baby kicks or moves quickly with a jerky movement.
• Two diametrically opposite cut-outs (18) in the lower edge of the sides of the outer support shell serve as handles whereby the baby supporting seat can be lifted with a baby in it.
• the outer support member has, in the region of the backrest and sidewalls, an inwardly lipped periphery (20) to the
• P2566PC00 PCT 8ABY SUPPORTING CHAIR baby receiving zone where the flexible material of the baby support member overlaps the relatively rigid material of the outer support member by being over-moulded onto it. This is arranged to provide a substantially continuous attachment surface surrounding the baby receiving zone and merging with the inner ends of the bottom and sidewalls (22) of the channels (5) and the lower part (23) of the pillar (6).
• the overlap of the two materials in the backrest region passes over the entire area of the inwardly and downwardly directed lip (20) and onto the outer surface of the backrest.
• the over-moulded edge region extends up the downwardly directed lip (20), over the armrests and a short distance onto the outer surface of the outer support member.
• the overlap continues down the height of the sidewalls to the channels and extends into the inner end regions of the channels and up the lower region of the pillar formation.
• the extent of the overlap may therefore vary around the periphery of the baby receiving zone with the overlap being sufficient to ensure satisfactory robustness and strength of the assembly.
• the width of the inwardly lipped periphery (20) as well as the width of the other attachment areas such as between the flexible baby support member and relatively rigid outer support member in the region of the lower part of the pillar formation and the inner end regions of the pair of channels, may depend on the characteristics of the attachment of the material of the relatively flexible baby support member to the relatively rigid outer support member. At the present time the width of the overlap is preferably within the range of 20 to 50 mm. If required, the attachment may be assisted by one or more mechanical formations such as a large squat central protrusion that constitutes a keying formation (24) on the outside of the upper region of the backrest (see Figures 2 to 4).
• the inner relatively flexible baby support member is an injection moulded elastomer material such as a suitable thermoplastic polyurethane that is
• the bond in this instance is primarily a laminar mechanical bond that may have at least a part of its origins in the thermal differential during moulding of the material of the flexible baby support member onto the previously moulded outer support member.
• the plastics material of the inner baby support member has a thickness of about 0.75 to 2 mm; a shore hardness of about 35; and a tensile strength of about 1300.
• the inner support member is sufficiently flexible so that it can flex to accommodate different shapes and sizes of baby rather than the baby or its apparel having to adjust to a fixed size and shape of baby support member.
• the pillar formation (6) has catches (26) in on a top thereof for releasably receiving co-operating formations in the form of latches (27) on the underside of a removable tray (28) that, in its installed position, spans gaps between the upper region of the pillar and the adjacent upper edges (29) of the two channels in a forward region of the armrests.
• the catches on the pillar and the latches on the tray cooperate in a clipping relationship with the catches being releasable only from the front of the tray by a push type of release mechanism (31 ) that is substantially inoperable by a baby occupying the baby supporting seat.
• the presence of the tray prevents, or at least inhibits, a baby from climbing out of the baby supporting chair.
• the formations on the pillar are suitable for cooperation, in the alternative, with substantially identical latches on a cover (32) (see Figure 5) that is adapted to simply cover the upper end of the pillar formation if the tray is not required for use.
• the formations on the pillar are also suitable for cooperation with cooperating formations on a selection of different activity items (not illustrated) that can be manufactured according to desires or requirements.
• activity items may include movable handles, a steering wheel, an electronic gadget that could resemble a computer, an electronic game of some sort or a music playing device.
• the pillar itself is not essential to the invention and it may be replaced by any other suitable baby restraining member such as a transverse bar bridging a single channel or a suitable harness for restraining a baby within the baby receiving zone.
• a pair of integral legs (33) may extend downwards from the under surface of the channels of the outer support shell (see especially Figure 6) so as to form additional support for the outer support shell in the region of the channels.
• the legs are dimensioned so that they approximately touch a supporting surface on which the baby chair is located.
• such legs could serve as additional support in the event that the outer support member is not sufficiently rigid to prevent the channels (5) from flexing downwards to an undesirable extent during use.
• such legs could be used as attachments for suction cups (34) that can serve as a securing mechanism for holding the baby supporting chair on the bottom of a bath, for example, so that the baby supporting chair can serve also as a bathing chair.
• the suction cups may each have an integral axially extending socket (35) that can engage a leg appropriately.
• the outer support shell together with the inner baby support member is stackable for transport and storage purposes with the tray or other activity item removed from the pillar
• the inner baby support member may be configured such that the seat bottoms out onto a supporting surface if a baby weighs more than a particular amount.
• a bean bag type of "cushion” may be provided on the underside of the seat so that the seat can deform according to the shape of a baby sitting in the baby seat.
• the outer support member, tray and stiffening ring can all be made in a one step moulding.
• the outer support member can then be inserted into a second mould for the over moulding of the elastomer of the inner baby support member onto the outer support member.
• the stiffening ring can be installed on the lower periphery of the outer support member and, if required, the tray can be installed in its operative position.
• the baby supporting chair according to this invention therefore has enhanced stability consequent on the relatively rigid outer shell and its generally rigid lower support periphery, whether or not it has associated with it a separate stiffening ring.
• the inner flexible baby support member that adapts more readily to the shape and size of a particular baby receives a baby more comfortably than a more rigid construction.
• the ability of the inner flexible baby support member to bottom out onto a supporting surface further enhances the performance of the baby supporting chair.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Pediatric Medicine (AREA)
• Carriages For Children, Sleds, And Other Hand-Operated Vehicles (AREA)
• Chair Legs, Seat Parts, And Backrests (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=50070608

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Families Citing this family (6)

Family Cites Families (16)

• 2013
  • 2013-11-22 AU AU2013373697A patent/AU2013373697A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2013-11-22 EP EP13828812.1A patent/EP2945512A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2013-11-22 US US14/760,840 patent/US20150351558A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2013-11-22 CN CN201380070828.8A patent/CN105101847A/zh active Pending
  • 2013-11-22 MX MX2015009177A patent/MX2015009177A/es unknown
  • 2013-11-22 WO PCT/IB2013/060336 patent/WO2014111762A1/en active Application Filing
• 2015
  • 2015-07-14 ZA ZA2015/05034A patent/ZA201505034B/en unknown
• 2016
  • 2016-05-13 HK HK16105505.9A patent/HK1217620A1/zh unknown

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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