GB2568671A

GB2568671A - Removable module and tray

Info

Publication number: GB2568671A
Application number: GB1719098.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gill Dominic
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-11-17
Filing date: 2017-11-17
Publication date: 2019-05-29
Also published as: GB201719098D0; WO2019097260A1

Abstract

The tray set 100 for a chair has a tray 102 with a first engagement formation and a removable module 104 having a complimentary second engagement formation. The first engagement formation may be a cutaway section 108. The module 104 may have, or solely consist of, a receptacle 106 for containing foodstuffs. The receptacle 106 may be a bowl with a lower portion extending below a surface of the tray 102 such that the bowl is detachably connected to the tray 102. The module 104 may have a planar section where the second engagement formation is a part thereof. The planar section may conform with an outer rim of the tray 102 or extend beyond the outer rim. The upper surface of the tray 102 may be level with the upper surface of the tray 102 in use. The tray set 100 may be part of a chair or child’s highchair. Also disclosed is a tray for use with the tray set and a module for use with the tray set.

Description

REMOVABLE MODULE AND TRAY

Field [0001] The present invention relates to a removable module for a tray for a chair. In particular, but not exclusively, an embodiment in accordance with the present invention relates to a tray set for a highchair.

Background [0002] Highchairs may be used to secure an infant child in a chair to allow a carer to attend to other tasks including, for example, feeding the infant. Typically, a highchair comprises a chair with two arms, a feeding tray extending away from the chair and attached to the arms to form an enclosure, and a seat belt arrangement to secure the infant in place. Domestic highchairs may be raised to a height such that a person of average adult height can spoon feed and otherwise attend to the needs of an infant in the chair. Commercial highchairs such as those used in children’s day nurseries are often lower and at a similar height to children’s seating chairs. This enables a carer to sit on the floor or a low chair while feeding an infant.

[0003] When an infant begins to use a highchair, during a meal, a carer will likely directly feed the infant by placing a feeding bowl on the tray and spoon feeding the infant. As the infant becomes older the food bowl will be left on the tray and the utensil given to the infant, who may be encouraged to begin to feed themselves. During this time as the infant learns to eat ‘solid food’ and feed themselves it is often a messy experience because the child may place their fingers inside the bowl and may then throw the food or the bowl over the side of the tray. In addition, as the infant begins to feed themselves, the infant may initially struggle to use the bowl. For example, their hand-eye coordination is insufficiently developed. This may result in the infant moving the bowl uncontrollably around the tray, causing the infant to become frustrated and distressed.

[0004] Notwithstanding the potential for mess this creates, carers are encouraged to allow infants to leam to feed themselves so as to develop the fine motor skills and independence for appropriate development. Thus, an infant may learn to hold and use utensils such as a spoon.

[0005] Aspects and embodiments in accordance with the present invention have been devised with the foregoing in mind.

Summary' of the invention [0006] Viewed from a first aspect there is provided a tray set for a chair comprising a tray comprising a first engagement formation; and a module comprising a second engagement formation complementary to the first engagement formation to removeably engage the module with the first engagement formation. Such an arrangement may allow a user to easily remove insert a bowl or other module into a high chair tray to assist in cleaning it for example.

[0007] The first engagement formation may comprise a cutaway section to removeably engage the module and the module further comprises a receptacle for containing foodstuffs. Such an arrangement may allow a user to secure a receptacle for foodstuffs into the cutaway section.

[0008] The receptacle may form a bowl shape a lower portion of which extends to below a surface of the tray. This may provide a way to secure a recessed bowl to the highchair tray for easy use for a child seated in the highchair, [0009] In one or more embodiments the receptacle comprises the module; the receptacle is removeably engageable with the first formation and the receptacle is integrally formed in the module. This may reduce the movement of the receptacle when engaged with the tray.

X.

[0010] The module may comprise a planar section configured to be conformable with an outer rim of the tray comprising the second engagement portion to engage with the first engagement formation.

[0011] The planar section may also be configured to extend beyond an outer rim of the tray of configured such that an upper surface thereof is in the same plane as the upper surface of the tray when the module is engaged with the tray. Such an arrangement may assist in providing a receptacle for foodstuffs that is out of reach of the child and allow the adult or carer to feed the child by hand.

[00121 Viewed from a second aspect there is provided a chair, for example a child’s highchair, comprising a tray set such as described above and which may assist a carer to train the infant who is seated in the chair to eat and allows easy cleaning of the receptacle upon removal.

[0013 [ Viewed from a third aspect there is provided a tray for a tray set such as described above.

[0014] Viewed from a fourth aspect there is provided a module for a tray set such as described above.

[0015] Viewed from a fifth aspect there is provided a tray for a chair. The tray comprising a first engagement formation arranged to receive a second engagement formation complementary to the first engagement formation to removeably engage a module comprising the second formation with the first formation. This may assist in cleaning and inserting a removeable module into a dishwasher.

[0016] In such a trav the first engagement formation comprising a cutaway section to removeably engage the module. Such an arrangement may allow' a removeable module to fit in the cutaway.

[0017] Viewed from a sixth aspect the present invention provideds a module for a tray set for a chair, the module comprising a second engagement formation complementary to a first engagement formation of a tray to removeably engage the module with the first formation. Such a removeable module may allow a person to replace and clean said module with ease.

[0018] Such a module may further comprises a receptacle for containing foodstuffs and the receptacle may form a bowl shape, a lower portion of which extends to below a surface of the tray.

[0019] The receptacle may be integrally formed in the module. Such an integrally formed module provides a receptacle for foodstuffs and the like which can be secured to the tray.

[0020] The module may also comprise a planar section comprising the second engagement portion and is configured to be conformable with an outer rim of a tray. Such an arrangement may provide a way to secure said module with the outer rim of the tray.

[0021] The planar section of the module may be configured to extend beyond an outer rim of a tray which allows the provision of a recepticale for foodstuffs and the like to be out of reach of a child.

[0022] Moreover, the planar section may be configured such that an upper surface thereof is in the same plane as the upper surface of a tray when inserted into the tray, This may form a continuous surface at the interface between the removable module arid tray.

Brief description of the figures [0023] One or more embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0024] F ig 1 A: is an illustration of a high chair tray with a removeably engageable module removed from the high chair tray in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0025] Fig IB: is an illustration of a high chair tray with a removeably engageable module attached to the high chair tray in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure:

[0026] Fig 2A: is an illustration of a high chair tray with a removeably engageable module removed from the high chair tray in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0027] Fig 2B: is an illustration of a high chair tray with a removeably engageable module attached to the high chair tray in accordance with the another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0028] Fig 2C: is an illustration of a high chair tray with a removeably engageable module attached to the high chair tray in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] Fig 3A: is an illustration of a removeably engagaeable module in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] Fig 3B: is an illustration of a view through a cross-section YY of the removeably engageable module illustrated in Fig. 3A.

[0031] Fig 3C: is an illustration of a view through a cross-section-XX of the removeably engageable module illustrated in Fig. 3A.

[0032] Fig 3D: is an illustration of a side view of the removeably engageable module illustrated in Fig. 3 A.

[0033] Fig 4A: is an illustration of a view through a cross-section of a removeably engageable module in accordance with a further embodiment in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and [0034] Fig 4B: is an illustration of a view through a cross-section of a removeably engageable module in accordance with a yet further embodiment in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Description

FIG. 1A is an illustrative schematic drawing of a tray set 100 for a chair in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The tray set 100 comprises tray 102 and removable module 104, module 104 shown not engaged with the tray 102. The removable module 104 comprises an integrated recessed receptacle 106, suitable for containing foodstuffs, such as a recessed bowl or recessed plate and below the top surface of the removable module. The tray 102 includes a cutaway section 108 comprising a first engagement formation to removeably receive the module 104 and a region 105 which will typically enclose an infant seated at the tray 102. Removable module 104 is shaped such that it may engage with the first engagement formation of the cutaway section 108 of tray 102. In this manner removable module 104 is secured to the tray 102 and therefore so is the receptacle for the foodstuffs. This may allow an infant seated at the tray 102 to reach the bowl 106 and take foodstuffs without pushing or otherwise moving the bowl 106 around the tray 102, which may cause difficulty to the infant in feeding itself. The tray set 100 is manufactured from a plastics material which may be moulded to provide engagement formations and can be “wipe-clean”.

[0035] FIG. IB illustrates the module 104 of figure IB engaged with tray 102. While an infant is sat at the tray 102 in region 105 it will be able to reach the food receptacle 106 and feed itself without the risk of moving the food receptacle 106 around the tray, This may assist in self-feeding being easier for an infant and when it has finished its meal the removable module 104 can be disengaged from tray 102 to be cleaned and stored.

[0036] FIG. 2A illustrates a tray set 100 for a chair according to another embodiment of the present invention, The tray set comprises tray 102 and removable module 110 and is illustrated in figure 2A with the module 110 disengaged from the tray 102. Removable module 110 comprises an integrated recessed receptacle 106 suitable for containing foodstuffs such as a recessed bowl or recessed plate which may extend below the top surface of the removable module 110. In the embodiment illustrated in figure 2 A and figure 2B, receptacle 106 is disposed to an end of the removable module 110. Such an embodiment may be useful for occasions when an infant is unable to feed itself or the carer does not wish the food receptacle 106 to be within reach of the infant when the infant is seated at the tray 102. Having an increase in the length of the removable module may place the recessed food receptacle out of reach of the infant. This may allow the carer to feed the infant and attend to other tasks knowing that the infant cannot reach the food receptacle 106.

[0037] FIG. 2B is and illustrative schematic drawing of a tray set 100 for a chair showing the removable module 110 engaged with the chair tray 102. When an infant is seated in position 105 it may be unable to reach the integrated recessed food receptacle 106 and therefore allow the adult to attend to other tasks knowing the child will not be able to throw the food receptacle or food. Removal of module 110 facilitates cleaning and storage of the module 110.

[0038] FIG. 2C is an illustrative schematic drawing of the tray set 100 for a chair according to another embodiment of the present invention showing removable module 112 engaged with the tray 102. Removable module Ί12 comprises an integrated recessed receptacle 106 suitable for containing foodstuffs such as a recessed bowl or recessed plate which may extend below the top surface of the removable module.

[0039] FIG. 3A illustrates a plan view of the removable module 104 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3B illustrates a view through a cross-section along the line Y-Y of the removable receptacle 104 of FIG. 3 A. The figure shows the recessed food receptacle 106 extending the surface of the removable module 104 and in the form of a bowl 106.

[0040} FIG. 3C shows a view through a cross section along line X-X of FIG. 3A. The recessed food receptacle 106 may be seen to extend below the surface of the removable module 104.

[0041 ] FIG. 3D shows a side view of the removable module of FIG. 3A.

There may be situations where a plate instead of a bowl is desired to be used as the food receptacle and such an arrangement is shown in FIG. 4A and FIG 4B. Both figures show a cross section of the removable module 104. However, in this instance, the integrated food receptacle is a plate. Once an infant has finished a meal or at least eating the module may be disengaged and placed into a dishwasher to be cleaned.

[0042] As used herein any reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or the phrase “in an embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily ail referring to the same embodiment.

[0043] As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover anon-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present ) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

[0044] in addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components of the invention. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the invention. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.

[00451 In view of the foregoing description it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, the components of the tray set 100 need not be manufactured from a plastics material but suitable material such as wood, metal, ceramic or the like. The respective components may be made of different materia! from each other and may comprise different materials themselves. Although embodiments have been described with a receptacle integrated with a removable module, the module may solely comprise the receptacle and the receptacle itself engage with the tray.

[0046] Various modifications may be made within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the removable modules 104, 110 and 112 may be secured to the tray 102 by a push/snap fitting; tongue and groove; tapered tongue and groove; mortise and tenon arrangement; dowel joint; or similar engagement mechanism. Other engagement mechanisms may be used.

[0047] The scope of the present disclosure includes any novel feature or combination of features disclosed therein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalisation thereof irrespective of whether or not it relates to the claimed invention or mitigate against any or all of the problems addressed by the present invention. The applicant hereby gives notice that new claims may be formulated to such features during prosecution of this application or of any such further application derived therefrom. In particular, with reference to the appended claims, features from dependent claims may be combined with those of the independent claims and features from respective independent claims may be combined in any appropriate manner and not merely in specific combinations enumerated in the claims.

Claims

1. A tray set for a chair comprising:

a tray comprising a first engagement formation; and a module comprising a second engagement formation complementary to the first engagement formation to removeably engage the module with the first engagement formation.

2. A tray set according to claim 2, the first engagement formation comprising a cutaway section to removeably engage the module.

3. A tray set according to claim 1 or claim 2, the module further comprising a receptacle for containing foodstuffs,

4. A tray set according to claim 3 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the receptacle forms a bowl shape a lower portion of which extends to below a surface of the tray.

5. A tray set according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the receptacle comprises the module and the receptacle is removeably engageable with the first formation.

6. zA tray set according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the receptacle is integrally formed in the module.

7. A tray set according to claim 6, wherein the module comprises a planar section comprising the second engagement portion to engage with the first engagement formation.

8. A tray set according to claim 7, wherein the planar section is configured to be conformable with an outer rim of the tray.

9. A tray set according to claim 7 or ciaim 8, wherein the planar section is configured to extend beyond an. outer rim of the tray.

10. A tray set according to any of claim 7 to claim 9, wherein the planar section is configured such that an upper surface thereof is in the same plane as the upper surface of the tray when the module is engaged with the tray.

11. A chair comprising a tray set according to any preceding claim.

12. A child’s high chair comprising a tray set according to any of claim 1 to claim 10.

13. A tray for a tray set according to any of claim I to claim 10.

14. A module for a tray set according to any of claim 1 to claim 10.

15. A tray for a chair, the trav comprising a first engagement formation arranged to receive a second engagement formation complementary to the first engagement formation to removeably engage a module comprising the second formation with the first formation.

16. .A tray according to claim 15, the first engagement formation comprising a cutaway section to removeably engage the module.

17. A module for a tray set for a chair, the module comprising a second engagement formation complementary to a first engagement formation of a tray to removeably engage the module with the first formation.

18. A module according to claim 17, the module further comprising a receptacle for containing foodstuffs.

19. A module according to claim 18, wherein the receptacle forms a bowl shape a lower portion of which extends to below' a. surface of the tray,

20. A module according to claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the module comprises the receptacle.

21. A module according to claim 18 or claim 2, wherein the receptacle is integrally formed in the module.

22. A module according to claim 21, wherein the module comprises a planar section comprising the second engagement portion.

23. A module according to claim 22, wherein the planar section is configured to be conformable with an outer rim of a tray.

24. A module according to claim 22 or claim 23, wherein the planar section is configured to extend beyond an outer rim of a tray.

25. A module according to any of claim 22 to claim 24, wherein the planar section is configured such that an upper surface thereof is in the same plane as the upper surface of a tray when inserted into the tray.