US20040026976A1

US20040026976A1 - Multi-function highchair

Info

Publication number: US20040026976A1
Application number: US10/215,560
Authority: US
Inventors: Shun-Min Chen; Mei-Lin Lee
Original assignee: WONDERLAND NURSERYGOODS CO Ltd
Current assignee: WONDERLAND NURSERYGOODS CO Ltd
Priority date: 2002-08-10
Filing date: 2002-08-10
Publication date: 2004-02-12
Also published as: GB2391801A; GB0218741D0; DE20218013U1

Abstract

A completely foldable multi-function highchair is provided with the functions of adjusting the position of the tray, the height of the seat and the inclination of the seat. The multi-function highchair comprises: front legs and rear legs, connected to the folding mechanisms with folding and expanding functions; a height-adjusting mount, provided on the front legs for adjusting the height of the seat; a back of the seat, provided with seat inclination adjusting device for adjusting the inclination of the seat; armrests, pivotally connected to the back and adapted to be rotated upwards during the folding operation; a seat support, pivotally connected to the back and adapted to be rotated upwards to the upright position during the folding operation; and a footrest, pivotally connected to the seat support and adapted to be rotated upwards during the folding operation.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a multi-function highchair. More particularly, the present invention relates to a multi-function highchair configured to be completely folded for carrying and storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Highchair is a popular apparatus for seating babies or children owing to its safe and convenient characteristics.

In order to enhance the practicability of highchairs, many manufacturers have endeavored to design the foldable-type highchairs. So far, the designs of foldable highchairs may be found in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,550, U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,104, U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,414, U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,898, etc.. However, the highchairs disclosed in the above documents still occupied large space, due to, for example, the extruded tray, seat and footrest. Furthermore, the prior highchairs were usually provided with limited functions, for example, the height-adjustable chair, the inclination-adjustable chair, the adjustable tray, etc.; while none of those highchairs integrated all of the various functions into one single unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above drawbacks, one of the purposes of the present invention is to provide a multi-function highchair with various adjustment functions, so that the most convenient highchair is achieved. Further, another purpose of the present invention is to provide a completely foldable highchair, so that the problems of prior highchairs, for example, difficult to carry or store, are solved.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a multi-function highchair comprises: front legs and rear legs, connected to the folding mechanisms with folding and expanding functions; height-adjusting mount, provided on the front legs for adjusting the height of the seat; a back of the seat, provided with seat inclination adjusting device for adjusting the inclination of the seat; armrests, pivotally connected to the back and provided with an adjustable tray, wherein the tray is detached from the armrests and then the armrests are rotated upwards, during the folding operation; a seat support, pivotally connected to the back and adapted to be rotated upwards to the upright position during the folding operation; and a footrest, pivotally connected to the seat support and adapted to be rotated upwards during the folding operation.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a multi-function highchair comprises: front legs and rear legs, connected to the folding mechanisms with folding and expanding functions; height-adjusting mount, provided on the front legs for adjusting the height of the seat; a back of the seat, provided with seat inclination adjusting device for adjusting the inclination of the seat; armrests, pivotally connected to the back and provided with an adjustable tray, wherein the tray and the armrests are rotated upwards together, during the folding operation; a seat support, pivotally connected to the back and adapted to be rotated upwards to the upright position during the folding operation; and a footrest, pivotally connected to the seat support and adapted to be rotated upwards during the folding operation.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the expanded status of the multi-function highchair according to the present invention; [0008]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the completely folded status of the multi-function highchair according to the present invention; [0009]
FIG. 3 is a diagram of the height-adjusting mount according to the present invention; [0010]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the seat inclination adjusting device according to the present invention; [0011]
FIGS. 5A and 5B are the perspective views of the adjustable tray according to the present invention; and [0012]
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the partly folded status of the multi-function highchair according to the present invention.[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Refer firstly to FIG. 1, which illustrates the expanded status of the [0014] multi-function highchair 1 according to the present invention. The multi-function highchair 1 mainly comprises: the front legs 11, the rear legs 12, a height-adjusting mount 21, the armrests 31, a back 41 of the seat, a seat support 42, a footrest 44, a crotch pillar 46, a tray 51 and the decorative covers 71. The folded status of the multi-function highchair 1 is shown in FIG. 2.
The [0015] front legs 11 and rear legs 12, referring to FIG. 3, are fixed to the expanded status (as shown in FIG. 1) or the folded status (as shown in FIG. 2) by means of the folding mechanisms (not shown) inside of the decorative covers 71. The front legs 11 are further provided with a plurality of notches 112. FIG. 3 shows that the height-adjusting mount 21 includes a height-adjusting unit 212, which is attached through a pivot 214 to the height-adjusting mount 21. In adjusting the height of the seat, the height-adjusting unit 212 is pressed in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 3, thereby separating a stick 216 on the height-adjusting unit 212 from the notch 112 and causing the height-adjusting unit 212 to move up and down freely along the front legs 11. When the proper height of the seat is determined, the height-adjusting unit 212 is released so that the stick 216 is, by the resilience of the spring provided inside of the height-adjusting unit 212, lodged in the proper notch 112 to fasten the height-adjusting mount 21.
FIG. 4 illustrates the components of a seat [0016] inclination adjusting device 61 and the operation thereof. The seat inclination adjusting device 61 comprises a pull bar 612, an adjustment piece 614, a compression spring 615, a circular plate 616, and a plurality of recessions 618 provided on the circular plate 616. In adjusting the inclination of the seat, the pull bar 612, which is exposed to the outside of upper part of the back 41, is pulled in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 4 and held. One corner of the adjustment piece 614 is then driven by the pull bar 612, thereby causing the adjustment piece 614 to turn with point A as an axis and to come off the recessions 618 (as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 4). Next, the back 41 is rotated with point B as an axis to the proper inclination angle. Finally, the pull bar 612 is released and returned to its original position by the effect of the compression spring 615, so that the adjustment piece 614 turns (again with point A as an axis) until it engages with one of the recessions 618. Thus the proper inclination of the seat is obtained.
Refer now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, which show the perspectives of the reverse and lateral sides of the [0017] tray 51, respectively. The tray adjustment means comprises: a recession 510 provided on the reverse surface of the tray 51, a handle 512 attached to a connecting rod 514, two adjustment blocks 518 with fingers 519, and a plurality of notches 312 provided on the reverse surface of the armrests 31. In adjusting the position of the tray 51, the handle 512 is pressed and held in the direction of the arrow Y (as shown in both FIGS. 5A and 5B), thereby moving the connecting rod 514 in the same direction. Both ends of the connecting rod 514 have triangular protrusions for acting on the knobs 516 of the adjustment blocks 518. As the connecting rod 514 is moved, the knobs 516 are pressed by the protrusions of the connecting rod 514, thereby causing the adjustment blocks 518 to move in the directions of x and x′ of FIG. 5A, respectively, so that the fingers 519 are disengaged from the notches 312 on the armrests 31 (as shown in the dotted line in FIG. 5A). At this time, the springs 515 provided inside of the adjustment blocks 518 are compressed. Since the fingers 519 are disengaged from the notches 312, the tray 51 is allowed to move forwards or backwards along the armrests 31 freely. When a desired position of the tray 51 is determined, the handle 512 is released. Without the pressure from the protrusions of the connecting rod 514, the adjustment blocks 518 are then returned to their original positions by the resilience of the springs 515. Thus the fingers 519 are engaged again with the proper notches 312 to lock the tray 51 in position.
The other feature of the present invention is that the [0018] armrests 31, the seat support 42 and the footrest 44 are all adapted to be rotated upwards to facilitate the complete folding of the multi-function highchair 1. Referring again to FIG. 1, the folding operation of the multi-function highchair I is further described as follows. Firstly, the tray 51 is detached from the armrests 31 by the above-mentioned tray adjustment means. Then, the armrests 31, the seat support 42 and the footrest 44 are easily rotated upwards since they are pivotally fixed through a pivot 32, a pivot 47 and a pivot 48, respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 6. Next, the seat is lowered to a suitable height for folding by means of the height-adjusting mount 21. Finally, the front legs 11 and rear legs 12 are folded by means of the folding mechanisms, as the completely folded status illustrated in FIG. 2.
Another embodiment of the present invention discloses that, by downsizing the [0019] tray 51, the tray 51 is rotated upwards together with the armrests 31 without being detaching during the folding operation.
While the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. [0020]

Claims

1. A multi-function highchair comprising:

the front legs (11) and the rear legs (12), connected to the folding mechanisms with folding and expanding functions;

a height-adjusting mount (21), provided on said front legs (11) for adjusting the height of the seat;

a back (41) of the seat, provided with a seat inclination adjusting device (61) for adjusting the inclination of the seat;

the armrests (31), pivotally connected to said back (41) and provided with an adjustable tray (51), wherein said tray (51) is detached from said armrests (31) and then said armrests (31) are rotated upwards, during the folding operation;

a seat support (42), pivotally connected to said back (41) and adapted to be rotated upwards to the upright position during the folding operation; and

a footrest (44), pivotally connected to said seat support (42) and adapted to be rotated upwards during the folding operation.

2. The multi-function highchair (1) according to claim 1, wherein said seat inclination adjusting device (61) comprises: a pull bar (612), an adjustment piece (614), a compression spring (615), a circular plate (616), and a plurality of recessions (618) provided on said circular plate (616).

3. The multi-function highchair (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said seat support (42) is provided with a crotch pillar (46) for preventing the seated child from falling down.

4. A multi-function highchair comprising:

the armrests (31), pivotally connected to said back (41) and provided with an adjustable tray (51), wherein said tray (51) is rotated upwards together with said armrests (31) during the folding operation;

5. The multi-function highchair (1) according to claim 4, wherein said seat inclination adjusting device (61) comprises: a pull bar (612), an adjustment piece (614), a compression spring (615), a circular plate (616), and a plurality of recessions (618) provided on said circular plate (616).

6. The multi-function highchair (1) according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein said seat support (42) is provided with a crotch pillar (46) for preventing the seated child from falling down.