GB2370985A

GB2370985A - A seat and tray support combination

Info

Publication number: GB2370985A
Application number: GB0130775A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Thomas Mascull
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-01-15
Filing date: 2001-12-21
Publication date: 2002-07-17
Anticipated expiration: 2021-12-21
Also published as: GB2370985B; AU780962B2; AU1003802A; NZ509336A; GB0130775D0

Abstract

A seat, having a support arm 4, locking means, and a tray or a tray support 3, the support arm having a first edge 5 and a second edge 6 wherein there is a first series of recesses 7 at the first edge and a second series of recesses 8 at the second edge, each series of recesses facing outwardly of the support arm 4, the seat being formed such that when it is in use the support arm 4 can be moved to set the tray or tray support 3 in various positions with respect to the rest of the seat, and wherein when the tray or tray support 3 is set in a predetermined position part of the locking means passes into or through a recess from the first series of recesses 7 of the support arm and a further part of the locking means passes into or through a recess 8 from the second series of recesses of the support arm to lock the support arm 4 and the tray or tray support 3 in the predetermined position.

Description

A SEAT

FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to a seat. In particular, a preferred form of the invention relates to a seat having a tray or tray support.

BACKGROUND ART It is desirable for seats for people with a disability to have a tray which can be positioned in front of a seated person. The tray can be used for supporting foodstuffs, reading material, playthings, etc. It is also desirable that such trays can be adjusted with respect to the rest of the seat to accommodate people of different sizes who may use the seat.

In interpreting this specification, including the associated claims, the term "comprising"or"comprises"or"comprise", if and where appearing, should be taken to be non-exclusive-ie should be taken to mean"consisting of or including".

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a seat, having a support arm, locking means, and a tray or a tray support, the support arm having a first edge and a second edge wherein there is a first series of recesses (eg rebates) at the first edge and a second series of recesses (eg rebates) at the second edge, each series of recesses facing outwardly of the support arm, the seat being formed such that when it is in use the support arm can be moved to set the tray or tray support in various positions with respect to the rest of the seat, and wherein when the tray or tray support is set in a predetermined

position part of the locking means passes into or through a recess from the first series of recesses of the support arm and a further part of the locking means passes Into or through a recess from the second series of recesses of the support arm to lock the support arm and the tray or tray support in the predetermined position.

Preferably the first and second series of recesses face in opposite directions.

Preferably the locking means comprises a locking member having a pair of spaced protrusions for extending into or through a recess from the first series of recesses and into or through a recess from the second series of recesses respectively.

Preferably the seat has a second support arm, formed as described above for the first mentioned support arm, wherein when the seat is in use the two support arms can be arranged adjacent opposite sides of the rest of the seat such that the tray or tray support extends between and is held by the two support arms.

Preferably the locking means comprises a second locking member, formed as described above for the first mentioned locking member.

Preferably the seat has a base for receiving the posterior of a person when seated, and a back rest for supporting the back of the person when seated.

Preferably the back rest can be moved forwards or backwards with respect to the base to reduce or increase the amount of the base available for receiving the posterior of the person, and hence regulate the depth of the seat.

Preferably there is a series of apertures in a first side of the base and a second series of apertures in a second side of the base, the first and second sides of the base being opposite one another, the protrusions of the first mentioned locking member passing or being adapted to pass through apertures of the first mentioned series of apertures and the protrusions of the second locking member passing or being adapted to pass through apertures of the second series of apertures such that the back rest is locked in place with respect to the base.

Preferably the tray or the tray support can pivot between the first and second support arms such that the tray or tray support can be angle adjusted with respect to the horizontal.

Preferably the tray or the tray support has a pivot point about which the tray or the tray support can pivot, and the seat has a locking pin, the locking pin being spaced from the pivot point and being capable of locking the tray or the tray support against pivoting. The locking pin may or may not be spring biased, or may simply be in the form of a screw or bolt.

Preferably the tray or the tray support has a second pivot point about which the tray or the tray support can pivot, and the seat has a second locking pin, the second locking pin being spaced from the second pivot point and being capable of locking the tray or the tray support against pivoting. The second locking pin

may or may not be spring biased, or may simply be in the form of a screw or bolt. Some preferred forms of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a seat, and FIGURES 2,3 & 4 show various parts of the seat of figure 1.

With reference to figure 1, there is shown a seat designed for people with a disability, and particularly for infants who have a disability. The seat is of-course not limited to use with only those types of people. The seat has a base 1 for receiving the posterior of a person when seated, and a back rest 2 for supporting that person's back. The back rest 2 can be moved forwards or backwards with respect to the base 1 to adjust the depth of the seat, and so adapt the seat for use with people of various sizes. A tray or a tray support 3 is held in front of the back rest 2 by a pair of support arms 4.

Each support arm 4 has a first edge 5 and a second edge 6. More particularly, each first edge 5 has a first series of outwardly facing recesses 7, and each second edge 6 has a second series of outwardly facing recesses 8.

Additionally the sides 9 of the base 1 each have a series of apertures 10. The support arms 4 can be locked in place by way of two elongate locking members 11, only one of which is apparent from figure 1. Each locking member 11 has a pair of spaced protrusions 12. For each locking member 11, the protrusions 12 pass through respective ones of the recesses 7 and 8 and two of the

apertures from the series of apertures 10 in a respective one of the sides of the base. More specifically, for each locking member 11 one of the protrusions passes through a recess from one of the first series of recesses, and the other protrusion passes through one of the recesses of the second series of recesses of the same support arm. The protrusions 12 may be pins, screws, bolts, etc, and the support arms can be removed from the locking members by tilting the support arms until the recesses 7 and 8 are clear of the protrusions. The support arms 4 can then be moved forward or backwards so that others of the recesses 7 and 8 engage with the protrusions 12, thus providing forward or backwards adjustment of the tray or tray support 3.

With further reference to figure 1, the protrusions 12 also pass through sides 13 of the back rest 2 so that the back rest is locked in place with respect to the base 1. By removing the protrusions from the back rest 2 the back rest can be moved to adjust the depth of the seat, and then locked in place again by way of the protrusions.

With further reference to figure 1, each support arm 4 has a forward part 14 for engaging the tray or tray support 3. The tray or tray support 3 can pivot about the forward parts 14 at pivot points 15, one of which is evident from figure 1. Pivoting of the tray or tray support enables adjustment of this with respect to the horizontal. When the tray or tray support is in the desired orientation it can be locked in place by way of locking pins 16. More particularly, the tray or tray support has sides 17 each of which has an arcuate series of apertures for receiving a respect one of the locking pins 16.

With further reference to figure 1, the base 1 has pins 18 for engaging a support frame. The engagement with the support frame may be such that the seat can be set in various reclined positions. The support frame may or may not form part of an infant's stroller.

The forward part 14 of one of the support arms 4 is shown In plan view at figure 2. Figure 3 shows In plan view a rear portion 4a of the support arm to which the forward part 14 is adjustably secured. The forward part 14 can be secured at different positions on the rear portion 4a to facilitate height adjustment of the tray or tray support. Figure 4 shows one of the locking members 11 in plan view.

In some forms of the invention there may only be one support arm 4 and locking member 11. In such embodiments the tray or tray support may be only supported from one side, or may have alternative support at the side of the seat opposite the support arm.

While some preferred forms of the invention have been described by way of example it should be appreciated the modifications and improvements can occur without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A seat, having a support arm, locking means, and a tray or a tray support, the support arm having a first edge and a second edge wherein there is a first series of recesses at the first edge and a second series of recesses at the second edge, each series of recesses facing outwardly of the support arm, the seat being formed such that when It is In use the support arm can be moved to set the tray or tray support in various positions with respect to the rest of the seat, and wherein when the tray or tray support is set in a predetermined position part of the locking means passes into or through a recess from the first series of recesses of the support arm and a further part of the locking means passes into or through a recess from the second series of recesses of the support arm to lock the support arm and the tray or tray support in the predetermined position.

2. A seat according to claim 1, wherein the first and second series of recesses face in opposite directions.

3. A seat according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking means comprises a locking member having a pair of spaced protrusions for extending into or through a recess from the first series of recesses and into or through a recess from the second series of recesses respectively.

4. A seat according to claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the seat has a second support arm formed as per the first mentioned support arm, wherein when the seat is in use the two support arms can be arranged adjacent opposite sides of

the rest of the seat such that the tray or tray support extends between and is held by the two support arms.

5. A seat according to claim 3, or claim 4 when read as dependent on claim 3, wherein the locking means comprises a second locking member formed as per the first mentioned locking member.

6. A seat according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the seat has a base for receiving the posterior of a person when seated, and a back rest for supporting the back of the person when seated.

7. A seat according to claim 6, wherein the back rest can be moved forwards or backwards with respect to the base to reduce or increase the amount of the base available for receiving the posterior of the person, and hence regulate the depth of the seat.

8. A seat according to claim 4, wherein the tray or the tray support can pivot between the first and second support arms such that the tray or tray support can be angle adjusted with respect to the horizontal.

9. A seat according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tray or the tray support has a pivot point about which the tray or the tray support can pivot, and the seat has a locking pin, the locking pin being spaced from the pivot point and being capable of locking the tray or the tray support against pivoting.

10. A seat according to claim 9, wherein the tray or the tray support has a second pivot point about which the tray or the tray support can pivot, and the seat has a second locking pin, the second locking pin being spaced from the second pivot point and being capable of locking the tray or the tray support against pivoting.

11. A seat, having a first support arm and a second support arm, a first locking member for the first support arm, and a second locking member for the second support arm, each locking member having a pair of protrusions, a tray or a tray support, each support arm having a first edge and a second edge wherein there is a first series of recesses at each first edge and a second series of recesses at each second edge, each first series of recesses facing in an opposite direction to each second series of recesses, each of the first and second series of recesses facing outwardly of the support arm, the seat having a base for receiving the posterior of a person and a back rest for supporting the back of the person when the seat is in use, a first series of apertures in a first side of the base and a second series of apertures in a second opposite side of the base, the protrusions of the first locking member passing or being adapted to pass through apertures of the first series of apertures and the protrusions of the second locking member passing or being adapted to pass through apertures of the second series of apertures such that the back rest is locked in place with respect to the base, the seat being formed such that when it is in use the support arms can be moved to set the tray or tray support in various positions with respect to the rest of the seat, and wherein when the tray or tray support is set in a predetermined position for each locking member one of its protrusions passes through a recess from one of the first series of recesses of a respective one of the support arms and one of its protrusions passes through a recess from one of the second series of recesses of that same support arm to

lock that same support arm and the tray or tray support in the predetermined position.

12. A seat substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.