US2429498A - Appliance for chairs and the like - Google Patents

Description

v Oct. 21,1947. M. w. WELLS I APPLIANCE FOR CHAIRS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 2:2,v 1944 Patented Oct. 21, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPLIANCE FQR CHAIRS AND THE LIKE Maynard W. Wells, Elkhart, Ind. Application January 22, 1944, Serial No. 519,274.

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in appliances for chairs and the like and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One of the objects of the present invention isto provide a low table-like appliance for use in connection with certain type of chairs or the like used by adults, so that a baby may be safely held in a seated position thereon, and at the same time be provided with a convenient support for its toys, feeding dishes and the like.

Another object of the invention isto provide an appliance or this kind which while simple in construction, is of pleasing appearance, is light in weight, strong and durable, readily handled in applying it to and removing the same from a chair or the like and which may be made from materials abundantly available.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as well as others, together with the advantages thereof, will more fully appear as the specification proceeds.

In the drawing: a

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the appliance when applied to an adults easy chair for holding a baby in a sitting position on said chair.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the appliance.

Fig. 3 is a vertical detail sectional view through a part of the appliance, on an enlarged scale, as taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal detail sectional, view through certain parts shown in and on the scale of Fig. 3' as taken on the line i.--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of one of the legs embodied in the appliance.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 and shows the use of screws for detachably securing the legs in place to the panel-like top, whereby the legs may be placed fiatwise upon the underside of the top to make a flat package for wrapping and h pp The appliance, in general, is in the form of a relatively low table that includes a rectangular panel-like top, wider from side to side than it is deep from front to rear. In the rear part of the top is a recess of such size and shape as to comfortably receive the torso of a typical baby. At each corner of and depending from the top is an upright leg of such a height as. to space the top in a position above the seat of; a chair or the like, to which it is applied, comfortably to accommodate the babys legs thereunder while affording support for the elbows and. forearms of the baby. Preferably the panel-like top is made of relatively thin sheet material such as plywood, composite board or the like and to strengthen the same, a rail is fixed to the bottom surface of each side and end and these rails meet at the corners of the top. Each leg has its opposite edges bevelled, at 45 angles and each leg is positioned, diagonally of the associated corner with its bevelled edges engaged with and secured to parts of the rails at the associated corner. Preferably, but not necessarily so, a moulding strip follows about the edge of the top to form anv upstanding. rounded, top flange extending above the top surface of the top so that articles placed on said surface may not be readily displaced therefrom.

If desired, a piece of tape or webbing having some flexibility may be used to open or close the open rear end of the recess. When said tape or webbing is in the position closing said open end of said recess, it will engage the back of thebaby using the appliance and will prevent the baby from pushing the appliance forwardly and away from, itself, as the baby may sometimes .try to do.

Referring now in detail. to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, the improved appliance includes a rectangular panellike top I 0' wider from side to side than it is deep fromv front to rear. Preferably the top is made from a piece of relatively thin plywood or the like and it, may have dimensions on the order of 16 x 20". Centrally in the rear part of the panel is a rounded recess 5!, which is about 9%." wide and deep.

On the underside of said panel-like top, there is secured to eachside margin thereof a rail strip I2l2. At the front margin and at the rear margin of the top, at each side of the recess I! there are secured rail strips [3 and ill respectively. These rail strips meet the rail strips l2r-el2 at the respective corners of the top. Wooden rail strips x of proper length well. serve, the purpose.

Followin about the entire edge of the top is a moulding strip l5 which overhangs a part of g each rail strip and provides a rounded top edge I6 disposed in a plane above the upper surface of the top, as best appears in. Fig. 3. Preferably the, upper portion of saidmoulding strip overlaps the marginal top surface of the top as also appears insaidFig. 3.

Associated with each corner of the top and depending therefrom is a leg il, one of which appears in perspective in Fig.5. A leg about 6" high andmade of wood thick well serves the purpose. Preferably the sides of each leg are bevelled off at 45 angles in opposite directions as indicated at l8.

In applying the legs, each one is disposed diagonally of its own corner so that its bevelled sides will engage snugly with the inner surfaces of the rail parts l2l3 and lZ-M respectively which meet at the corner for the associated leg. Suitable nails are then driven through said rails from the outer surface thereof into the bevelled sides of the leg engaged therewith, as best appears in Fig. 4. With the legs arranged in this manner the bevelled surfaces of the legs are parallel with the edges of the top and provide relative sharp edges l9 that face away from each corner.

Along the inside of the rail associated with the front margin of the top, I provide a bevelled filler strip 20 the purpose of which will soon appear. This strip appears in Figs. 2 and 3.

2| indicates a flexible member such as a piece of webbing or a piece of strap which is attached at one end to the rear edge of the top at one side of the open end of the recess II. The other end of said member is provided with a loop 22 or the like which is adapted to be detachably engaged with a headed screw 23 or the like fixed in the rear edge of the top at the other side of the open end of the recess. When said loop is engaged with the screw 23, the member 2| acts as a barrier or obstruction extending across the open rear end of the recess as best appears in Figs. 1 and 2. When the loop 22 is disengaged from the screw 23, the open rear end of the recess is unobstructed.

In Fig, 1, I have shown the appliance when applied to an adults so-called easy chair that includes an upholstered seat 24, an upholstered back 25 and upholstered side arm rests 26.

In the use of the appliance, for its intended purpose, in connection with the above mentioned chair, the baby is seated centrally upon the seat 24 up against the back 25. The appliance is then slid into place on the chair, rear margin first, so that the recess ll encompasses the torso of the baby. The loop 22 of the member 2! is then engaged with the screw 23 so that said-member closes the open end of the recess I l and approximately engages the babys back.

With the legs I 1 of the appliance of the height mentioned, they space the top H] above the seat so that the babys legs are accommodated thereunder. The top also provides a convenient support for the elbows and forearms of the baby. Thus the baby may lean on that part of the top adjacent the recess. Also, with the depth of the top, from front to rear, as shown herein, the babys toes are spaced inwardly from the front edge of the top. However, should the baby squirm in such manner as to engage its toes on the front rail bevel strip 20, its toe cannot be used in pushing the appliance as a whole forwardly because they will readily slip off said strip. Furthermore, should the baby push the top forwardly, the member 2! will engage the babys back and limit movement of the top away from the baby to a minimum. Thus, the baby cannot dislodge the appliance from the chair with which the appliance is used.

With the legs made as described, the sharp corners formed by the lower edges thereof, facing in two different directions, provide a good grip for the legs on the upholstery cover of the seat so that the appliance cannot be readily shifted laterally or forwardly thereon and displaced out of position by the baby.

With the appliance in the position mentioned,

its top provides a convenient surface for baby toys and feeding dishes and the like.

To remove the appliance from the chair, it is only necessary to detach the loop 22 from the screw 23 and lift the appliance slightly upwardly to raise the bottom end of the legs from the seat and then the appliance may be pulled forwardly from and off the seat.

In Fig. 6, I have illustrated a modified way of fastening the legs I! in place. As shown therein, screws 2'! are inserted through the lateral margins of the legs from the inside thereof, to enter the associated rail portions l2 and I3. With thi arrangement, the legs need not be applied at the factory, but may be placed fiatwise upon the underside of the top for shipping purposes. This makes a neat flat package of the appliance. As the screws 21 and the holes in the legs and rails are provided at the factory, the ultimate purchaser may readily apply said legs to the top.

The improved appliance is light in weight and easy to handle in applying it to and removing it from an adults upholstered chair. When applied to such a chair it makes the same take the place of a conventional babys "high chair. It assists in teaching a baby to sit up and it safely holds the baby in position upon said chair so that it cannot fall therefrom. Also, it provides a convenient tray in front of the baby to receive its playthings and its toys as well as to receive dishes. bottles, etc. used in feeding the baby.

While in describing the invention I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the parts involved, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense so 'that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A table for use by an infant with his legs horizontal while occupying the seat of an adult's chair provided with a back, the table comprising a panel-like top having a relatively wide and relatively deep recess extending inwardly from its margin to accommodate the body of the infant therein, and to provide a rear edge portion on each side of the recess whereby said rear edge portions engage the back of the chair while the body of the infant is fully accommodated in said recess, and leg means depending from the panellike top to rest on the seat of the chair located to maintain the panel-like top approximately parallel to said seat, said leg means being relatively short and so proportioned relatively to the panel-like top and of such a length as to accommodate the approximately horizontal legs of the infant beneath the panel-like top while enabling the latter to form a rest for the forearms of the infant.

2. A table for use by an infant according to claim 1 having a barrier member disposed across the said recess at the said rear edge portions.

3. A table for use by an infant according to claim 1 having a flexible barrier member spanning the rear of said recess, and means to separably connect one terminal of the flexible barrier member to said table.

4. A table for use by an infant according to claim 1 having frame means provided with a surface extending downwardly and forwardly from the under surface of the top in order to deflect the feet of the infant in contacting the same.

MAYNARD W. WELLS.

(References on following page) REFERENCES CITED Number The following references are of record in the file of thls patent: 126:213 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,255,654 Number Name Date 2039922 1,134,720

128,739 Mahan July 9, 1872 6 Name Date Neal May 2, 1916 Boughton Feb. 11, 1896 Ireland Apr. 30, 1872 Davis et a1 Sept. 9, 1941 Neats et a1 May 5, 1936 Bradley Apr. 6, 1915

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