GB2391465A

GB2391465A - Adjustable children's high chair

Info

Publication number: GB2391465A
Application number: GB0227794A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Susan Raiser
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-08-06
Filing date: 2002-11-29
Publication date: 2004-02-11
Also published as: GB0227794D0; GB0218175D0

Abstract

An adjustable children's high chair consisting of a frame 11 comprising two bilateral first and second frame members, 11a, 11b, and a seating receptacle 19 whose position is adjustable with respect to the frame. The chair is height adjustable and the seat may be reclined. The receptacle is constrained within guides comprising channels 31. The channels constrain the receptacle 19 for up and down displacement whilst permitting angular displacement of the receptacle. Clamping means may be provided to secure the receptacle. The chair may comprise counter-balancing means including a spring and may also include retractable wheels. The chair may also comprise an occupant back support and an occupant foot receptacle that is also adjustable in height. The chair is intended for use in assisting in the medical examination of young children.

Description

239 1 465

-1- CHAIRS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a children's high chair, designed, primarily, for assisting in the medical examination of young children aged between, say, 3 and 6 years. The chair may be used with able-bodied children and children with minor disabilities. In additional to medical environments, the chair may be used in homes, schools, restaurants and other public places. BACKGROUND

A chair was required to support young children during external medical examinations in paediatric units in hospitals.

These typically require the child to sit in an upright or slightly reclined position for periods of between 15 minutes and two hours. The examinations may include: tests for respiratory illness, such, for example, as cystic fibrosis, neurophysiological examination (EEG testing), cardiology (ECG testing), ophthalmology, and audiology.

Specific requirements for the chair include: easy method of height adjustment to suit different environments, e.g. different working heights of doctors, table heights, etc.; a facility to recline the chair seat, to allow the child to sit at a range of angles; a safe and stable design, such that the chair will not topple in use, and where the child is safely restrained within the chair; a robust construction, which is able to survive continuous

-2- use within an hospital or other public environment; a means of moving the chair across the floor, together with means enabling the chair to be readily locked, at any time, against movement; adjustability of the seat platform and foot-rest, to accommodate a wide range of child sizes and physical conditions; hygienic, easy to clean components; and, provision of a tray to enable the child to eat, read or play whilst seated in the chair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, a chair has the features set forth in the claims contained in the claims schedule hereof, the wording employed in said claims, being, notionally, set out here, mutatis mutandis, also.

Without prejudice to the foregoing, a high chair in accordance with the invention comprises a pair of external side frame members, with a pair of brackets running in opposed slots machined in the frame members, and an occupant receptacle supported being suspended from the tops of said side frame members by a pair of spring balance devices.

The chair occupant receptacle is in one hereinafter described variant design, attached to the brackets and is free to pivot about a transverse axis extending between the brackets. The spring balance devices are set to exert a force on the receptacle which is slightly in excess of its empty weight

-3- In a second variant chair design, a pneumatic spring arrangement is employed in supporting unladen weight of the receptacle. The height of the receptacle may be adjusted by applying a gentle downwards pressure to the receptacle, overcoming the pull of the spring whether spring balance or pneumatic spring devices. With the receptacle at a desired elevation, it may be locked to the side frames by tightening a pair of hand wheels respectively associated with the brackets.

The angle of the padded seating platform portion of the receptacle may be set by pushing down on the padded back-rest receptacle portion, allowing it to pivot about the aforesaid transverse axis. As with the height adjustment, the receptacle can be locked with its seating platform at a chosen angle by operation of a second pair of hand-wheels.

In addition to the seating platform and back-rest portions, the receptacle has two padded side portions and a height-

adjustable foot-rest portion. The seating platform portion is, moreover, adjustable in position in the fore and aft direction of the chair, these adjustments enabling the seat to accommodate occupants of different leg length. As before, further appropriately positioned hand-wheels serve to lock the foot-rest portion and the seating platform in the desired configuration. The receptacle also includes means for detachable fitting of a pair of upholstered side pads to the inwards-facing surfaces, respectively, of the side members of the receptacle. Pads of different sizes may be fitted to give good lateral support, as

-4- dictated by the size of the occupant. Pads may be fitted to the upper part of the side frames in order protect the child against injury at any sharp edges.

In one variant chair design, the chair has a carriage arrangement which may be disabled enabling the side frame members to come to contact with the floor, or to be enabled, permitting the side frame members to be raised from contact with the floor and the chair to be manoeuvred on four wheels, two of which are cantered wheels pivotal about vertical axes and assisting in the ready manoeuvring of the chair.

Attached to the front of the receptacle there is a removable tray for the child's use. Other features of the chair include the provision of a seat belt to prevent the child from getting up in the chair.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The aforementined first and second design variants for a chair in accordance with the invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig.1 is a pictorial view of the said first variant design; Fig.2 is a pictorial view of the chair of Fig.1, showing a tray, a lap belt, and side cushions in place; Fig.3a is an exploded view, in greater detail, of a portion of Fig.l, certain parts being shown in ghost outline; Fig.3b shows certain features of Fig.3a in yet greater detail; Fig.4a is a sectional side view showing the receptacle portion of the chair in a lowered position;

-5- Fig.4b is a corresponding side view showing the receptacle portion in a raised position; Fig.5 is a pictorial representation of a carriage for the chair; Figs.6a and 6b are diagrams of the carriage shown in Fig.5 and illustrating the action of a cam arrangement forming part of the carriage; Fig.7 is a pictorial view, corresponding to Fig.1 of the said second variant design; Fig.8 is a pictorial view corresponding to Fig.2 of the chair of Fig.7; Fig.9 is an exploded view, corresponding to Fig.3a, of a portion of Fig.7; and, Fig.10 is another pictorial view of the second variant design chair of Fig.7, but with certain parts portrayed in ghost for the purpose of visual clarity.

Throughout the ensuing description, corresponding parts of

the two variant chair designs are where substantially identical given the same reference numeral. Only as regards features in respect of which the designs differ are different reference numerals employed.

The chair C, in both variants, has a rigid frame 11 having bilateral first and second frame side members lla, lib, respectively, being frame members from which the chair is adapted to be set upstanding from the floor. The frame members lla, lib, are cross-coupled by a handle 13 and cross-bracing members 15a, 15b, respectively, the latter member having the form of a plate which bridges the space between the frame

-6 members lla, lib, to unite with said frame members at corresponding positions respectively adjacent to their bottom edges 17a, 17b.

Between the bilateral frame members lla, lib, there is a chair occupant receptacle 19 having a padded seating platform portion 21, side members 23a, 23b, respectively, a padded back portion 25, and a foot-rest 27.

Guide means serves to constrain said receptacle 19 for translational up and down displacement thereof with respect to the frame members lla, lib, whilst permitting angular displacement of the receptacle 19 about a transverse axis X---X fixed in the receptacle and extending transversely with respect to the frame members lla, lib.

Coupling the frame and the receptacle 19, there is provided spring means, as 29, arranged, adapted, and constructed such as to exert a counterbalance support force on the receptacle 19.

Clamping means, to be described hereinafter, are provided, being operable to secure the receptacle 19 against unwanted displacement of the receptacle 19 along the guide means, both translational and pivotal, such as to set the receptacle 19 at any desired position and orientation with respect to the chair frame. In both variants, the guide means previously referred to comprises: first and second rectilinear channels 31 correspondingly located with respect to said first and second frame members lla, lib, respectively; first and second members, as 33b, secured, respectively, to the receptacle 19 at opposite sides thereof, and having a running fit within said first and

-7- second rectilinear channels 31, respectively. The first and second runnable members 33b are constituted as blocks composed of a low friction plastic, such for example, as acetyl, having each a freely slideable fit within respective ones of the rectilinear channels 31.

Spacers 34a, 34b, are fixed to bottom marginal portions of blocks 33a, 33b, respectively, and act normally to the frame seating receptacle side members 23a, 23b, respectively, oposing any tendency of the receptacle to twist during up and down translational displacement of the receptacle with respect to the frame members lla, lib.

As may be seen, the frame members lla, lib, are each of a flat sheet material, a heavy multi-ply ply-wood, for example, and the rectilinear channels 31 are constituted as elongate recesses respectively of rectangular cross-section, formed, as by a milling cutter, in the sheet frame members lla, lib. The outer walls of the channels 31 are each formed with a longitudinally extensive slot, as 35.

Threaded pin elements in the form of screws 37a, 37b, respectively, extend through passages, as 39, through the side members 23a, 23b, of the receptacle 19, though holes, as 37, in plates, 41a, 41b, respectively, and through holes, as 43, in the blocks 33a, 33b.

The plates 41a, 41b, and respective ones of the blocks 33a, 33b, are secured together by screws, as 45. The threaded pin elements 37a, 37b, project through the slots 35, and hand wheels, as 47, each incorporating a central nut t not shown) serve, when screwed along the associated pin element 37a, 37b,

-8- as the case may be, to clamp the blocks 33a 33b, and their associated plates 41a, 41b, to respective ones of the side frame members lla, lib.

The spring means 29 of the first variant chair design comprises first and second take-up spiral spring devices, as 49, associated, respectively, with the first and second frame members lla, lib, the spiral springs of the devices being anchored, each, at one end, to its associated frame member lla or lib, as the case may be, and at the other to the slideable block 33a, 33b, with which the spiral spring concerned is associated, the spring devices 4g being secured to the frame members lla, lib, towards the top of the frame members, the receptacle 19 being suspended from the frame members by the spring devices.

The chair of the first variant design has carriage means 51 which comprises: a carriage means platform member 53; dependent from the latter member 53, at the forward end thereof, there are laterally spaced first and second axially aligned wheels 55a, 55b, respectively; at the rearward end of the platform member 53, there are laterally spaced third and fourth cantered wheels 57a, 57b, respectively, being angularly displaceable about vertical axes fixed in said carriage platform member 53; and, interconnecting the chair frame and the platform member 53 there is provided spring means 59 serving to bias the platform member 53 in an upwards direction.

Under the action of the spring means 59, the wheels, both cantered and uncastered, carried thereby are unable to impede

- 9 - contact between the bottoms 17a, 17b, of said frame members and the floor.

The first variand chair design incorporates a jacking arrangement 61 such and coupled to the frame members lla, lib, in such manner as by displacement of said platform member 53 against the bias of said spring means 59 to cause the frame members to lift from the floor under the reaction between the four said wheels and the floor.

In the depicted embodiment, the spring means 59 comprises a spring arrangement disposed between the cross-member 15b and the platform member 53.

More specifically, the spring means 59 between the cross-

member 15b and the platform member 53 comprises first and second laterally spaced helical springs 59a, 59b; and the jacking arrangement 61 comprises four cams 63a to 63d, respectively. Two cams 63a, 63b, broached with square cross-

section passages therethrough, are fitted, laterally spaced, to a first shaft 65a, of square cross-section, being a shaft rotatable in journal bearings with respect to the frame members lla, lib, about a first transverse shaft axis. The two other cams 63c, 63d, are, correspondingly fixed spaced apart along a second transverse square-section shaft 65b located in journal bearings in the frame members lla, lib, at a location spaced from the first beam 65a in the fore and aft direction of the chair. A tie rod 69 has a pivotal connection with levers 71a, 71b, respectively, integral with the cams 63a, 63b, respectively.

-10- The several cams 63a to 63d are correspondingly orientated, such as, upon rotation of the lever arm 71 in one sense, the several said cams bear down, in unison, upon the carriage platform member 53. Consequent downwards displacement of the platform member 53 against the bias of the helical springs 59a, 59b, causes the frame members lla, lib, to rise under reaction between the now exposed wheels 55a, 55b; 57a, 57b, and the floor. With the wheels exposed for the purpose of moving the chair, rotation of the lever arm 71, and consequent rotation of the cams, in the opposite sense enables the platform member 53 to retract under the spring bias acting thereon, the wheels following the platform member and the chair being then stably supported under contact between the frame members lla, lib, at their bottoms 17a, 17b, and the floor.

As previously mentioned, the chair occupant receptacle 19 may be rocked through a range of angles at the discretion of a person attending the occupant. In the embodiment depicted, the plates 41a, 41b, are pierced with arcuate slots 73a, 73b, respectively, being slots centred on the axis X---X extending transversely between the blocks 33a, 33b. Two threaded pin elements, as 75, extend from the side members 23a, 23b, respectively, of the receptacle 19 to pass through the slots 73a, 73b, to engage, at their free extremities, with central nut portions of two further clamping hand-wheels 77a, 77b, respectively. The range of angles through which the receptacle 19 may be rocked is, of course, determined by the angle through which the arcuate slots extend about the axis X--X.

-11- Another feature of the chair is the provision of channels, as 79, with longitudinal slots 81 formed in the side members 23a, 23b, of the receptacle 19, together with blocks, as 83, fixed upstanding with respect to the foot-rest 27 at the sides thereof, and threaded pin elements, as 85, which project from the blocks 83 through the longitudinal slots 81 to engage with further hand-wheels, as 87, serving to clamp the foot-rest 27 at any chosen position along the channels 79.

Yet another hand-wheel 89 is operable to secure the slideable seating platform at any desired fore and aft position. Another feature, previously referred to, is the presence of a readily removable tray 91 having first and second laterally spaced lugs, as 93, fixed to underside of the tray, being lugs adapted to be received within first and second sets of three pins, as 95, projecting from the side members of the receptacle l9. A restraining three-point seat belt 97 is also shown.

In the second variant chair design, the dual support springs 49 are dispensed with and, in their stead, a gas spring device 99 may be employed, as shown in Figs.7, 9 and 10, where the opposite ends of the device 99 are pivotally connected, one lOla to the underside of the seating platform 21 of the receptacle 19, the other lOlb to a rigid crossmember, suitably a rigid sheet body 103, secured to and bridging the side frame members lla, lib, of the chair.

In the second variant chair design, the carriage 51 is dispensed with, also, two laterally disposed axially aligned ground-engaging wheels 103a, 103b, being suspended from the

-12 side frame members lla, lib, at their forward ends. The rear ends of the frame members lla, llb may, as shown, each be shaped such as to constitute skids 105a, lO5b, respectively, the combination of wheels and skids providing the chair, in the manner of a wheelbarrow, with stability when stationary, whilst enabling the chair to be propelled across the floor, when this is called for. To enhance stability of the chair, a weight 107 is attached to the sheet body 103 at its rear end.

In yet another variant design (not illustrated), instead of a pneumatic spring device 99, a lockable oleo-pneumatic spring strut is employed, the lockable strut being connected, as with the pneumatic spring device 99, between the cross-member 103 and the seating platform 21. With such an arrangement, since the strut and, hence, the seating platform 21 may be locked at any desired position with respect to the side frame members lla, lib, by means of the lockable spring strut, the clamping wheels 47 are dispensed with.

Claims

-13 CLAIMS

1. A chair which comprises: a rigid frame having bilateral first and second frame members, being frame members from which the chair is adapted to be set upstanding from the floor; between said bilateral frame members, a chair occupant receptacle having a seating platform; guide means such as to constrain said receptacle for translational up and down displacement thereof with respect to said frame members; coupling said frame and said receptacle; and, means operable to secure said receptacle against unwanted displacement along said guide means, both translational and pivotal, such as to set said receptacle at any desired position thereof with respect to said frame. 2. A chair as claimed in claim 1 in which: said guide means is such as to constrain said receptacle for angular displacement, also, of said receptacle about an axis fixed in the receptacle and extending transversely with respect to said frame members. 3. A chair as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which: said guide means comprises: first and second rectilinear channels correspondingly located with respect to said first and second frame

-14- members, respectively; and, first and second members secured, respectively, to said receptacle at opposite sides thereof, and having a running fit within said first and second channels, respectively. 4. A chair as claimed in claim 3 in which: said first and second runnable members are constituted as blocks having each a freely slideable fit within respective ones of said rectilinear channels.

5. A chair as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 in which: said frame members are each of a flat sheet material; and, said rectilinear channels are constituted as elongate recesses respectively formed in said sheet frame members; 6. A chair as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 and which comprises: spring means arranged, adapted, and constructed such as to exert a counter-balance support force on said receptacle. 7. A chair as claimed in claim 6 in which: said spring means comprises: first and second take-up spiral spring mechanisms associated, respectively, with said first and second frame members, the spiral springs of said mechanisms

-15- being anchored, each, at one end to its associated frame member, and at the other to the runnable member disposed within the channel of the first or second frame member, as the case may be, with which said spiral spring is associated, the arrangement being such that said receptacle is suspended from said frame by said first and second spring mechanisms.

B. A chair as claimed in claim 6 in which said spring means comprises: at least one pneumatic spring strut having the ends thereof pivotally secured, the one with respect to said frame members, the other with respect to said receptacle.

9. A chair as claimed in claim 6 in which said spring means comprises: at least one lockable oleo-pneumatic spring strut having the ends thereof pivotally secured, the one with respect to said frame members, the other with respect to said receptacle, said at least one oleo-pneumatic spring strut serving also as said means operable to secure said receptacle against unwanted displacement along said guide means. 10. A chair as claimed in any preceding claim in which: said receptacle has: an occupant back support; an occupant foot-rest for the occupant, said foot-rest

-16 being adjustable in position with respect to said seating platform; said seating platform is adjustable in position in the fore and aft direction of the seat.

11. A chair as claimed in any preceding claim and which has: at least first and second axially aligned wheels respectively associated with said frame members being wheels adapted to facilitate propulsion of the chair.

12. A chair as claimed in claim 11 and which comprises: carriage means having: a carriage means platform member; dependent from said carriage platform member: at the forward end thereof, laterally spaced first and second axially aligned wheels; at the rearward end thereof, laterally spaced third and fourth cantered wheels, angularly displaceable about vertical axes fixed in said carriage platform member; and, interconnecting said frame and said carriage platform member: spring means serving to bias said platform member in an upwards direction such that said wheels carried thereby are unable to impede contact between the bottoms of said frame members and the floor; and, a jacking arrangement such and coupled to said frame in such manner as by displacement of said carriage

-17- platform member against the bias of said spring means to cause said frame members, under reaction, to lift from the floor on the four said wheels.

A chair as claimed in claim 11 in which: said spring means comprises spring means between said cross-member and said carriage platform.

14. A chair as claimed in claim 11 in which: said spring means comprises helical spring means.

15. A chair as claimed in claim 11, 12, or 13 in which: said jacking arrangement comprises: cam means rotatable with respect to said frame members to bear down upon said carriage platform.

16. A chair as claimed in claim 11 when appendant to claim 8 or 9 which has: first and second wheels located at or adjacent to the forward ends of said first and second frame members, respectively. 17. A chair as claimed in claim 17 and which has first and second skid parts located at or adjacent the rear ends respectively, of said first and second frame members.

18. A chair substantially as described with reference t, Figs.1 to 6b of the accompanying drawings.

-18 19. A chair substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to Figs. 7 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A chair which comprises: a rigid frame having bilateral first and second frame members, being frame members from which the chair is adapted to be set upstanding from the floor; between said bilateral frame members, a chair occupant receptacle having a seating platform; guide means such as to constrain said receptacle for translational up and down displacement thereof with respect to said frame members; coupling said frame and said receptacle; spring means arranged, adapted, and constructed such as to exert a counter-balance support force on said receptacle; and, means operable to secure said receptacle against unwanted displacement along said guide means, both translational and pivotal, such as to set said receptacle at any desired position and orientation thereof with respect to said frame.

2. A chair as claimed in claim 1 in which: said guide means is such as to constrain said receptacle for angular displacement, also, of said receptacle about an axis fixed in the receptacle and extending transversely with respect to said frame members.

so 3. A chair as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which: said guide means comprises: first and second rectilinear channels correspondingly located with respect to said first and second frame members, respectively; and, first and second members secured, respectively, to said receptacle at opposite sides thereof, and having a running fit within said first and second channels, respectively. 4. A chair as claimed in claim 3 in which: said first and second runnable members are constituted as blocks having each a freely slideable fit within respective ones of said rectilinear channels.

5. A chair as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 in which: said frame members are each of a flat sheet material; and, said rectilinear channels are constituted as elongate recesses respectively formed in said sheet frame members; 6. A chair as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 in which: said spring means comprises: first and second take-up spiral spring mechanisms associated, respectively, with said first and second frame members, the spiral springs of said mechanisms being anchored, each, at one end to its associated frame member, and at the other to the runnable member disposed

A\ within the channel of the first or second frame member, as the case may be, with which said spiral spring is associated, the arrangement being such that said receptacle is suspended from said frame by said first and second spring mechanisms.

7. A chair as claimed in claim 6 in which said spring means comprises: at least one pneumatic spring strut having the ends thereof pivotally secured, the one with respect to said frame members, the other with respect to said receptacle.

8. A chair as claimed in any preceding claim in which: said receptacle has: an occupant back support; an occupant foot-rest for the occupant, said foot-rest being adjustable in position with respect to said seating platform; said seating platform is adjustable in position in 'che fore and aft direction of the seat.

9. A chair as claimed in any preceding claim and which has: at least first and second axially aligned wheels respectively associated with said frame members being wheels adapted to facilitate propulsion of the chair.

10. A chair as claimed in claim 9 and which comprises: carriage means having:

AL a carriage means platform member; dependent from said carriage platform member: at the forward end thereof, laterally spaced first and second axially aligned wheels; at the rearward end thereof, laterally spaced third and fourth cantered wheels, angularly displaceable about vertical axes fixed in said carriage platform member; and, interconnecting said frame and said carriage platform member: spring means serving to bias said platform member in an upwards direction such that said wheels carried thereby are unable to impede contact between the bottoms of said frame members and the floor; and, a jacking arrangement such and coupled to said frame in such manner as by displacement of said carriage platform member against the bias of said spring means to cause said frame members, under reaction, to lift from the floor on the four said wheels.

11. A chair as claimed in claim 10 in which: said spring means comprises spring means between said cross-member and said carriage platform.

12. A chair as claimed in claim 11 in which: said spring means comprises helical spring means.

13. A chair as claimed in claim 10, 11, or 12 in which: said jacking arrangement comprises: cam means rotatable with respect to said frame members to bear down upon said carriage platform.

14. A chair as claimed in claim 9 when appendant to claim 7 which has: first and second wheels located at or adjacent to the forward ends of said first and second frame members, respectively. 15. A chair as claimed in claim 14 and which has first and second skid parts located at or adjacent the rear ends, respectively, of said first and second frame members.

16. A chair substantially as described with reference to Figs.1 to 6b of the accompanying drawings.

17. A chair substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to Figs. 7 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.