US3632163A

US3632163A - Adjustable swinging tray for high chairs

Info

Publication number: US3632163A
Application number: US73096A
Authority: US
Inventors: Benjamin K Burnham
Original assignee: THAYER Inc
Current assignee: THAYER Inc
Priority date: 1970-09-17
Filing date: 1970-09-17
Publication date: 1972-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 1989-01-04

Abstract

In combination with the arms of a high chair, a tray having a detachable snap connection with respect to one arm and a removable and adjustable swinging bracket connecting the tray to the other arm so that the tray is swingable in a compound manner on arcs having axes generally parallel to the arm to which it is secured and also on an axis at right angles thereto.

Description

United States Patent Beniamin K. Burnham Gardner, Mass. 73,096

Sept. 17,1970

Jan. 4, 1972 Thayer, Inc.

Gardner, Mas.

Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee ADJUSTABLE SWINGING TRAY FOR HIGH CHAIRS 6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 297/ 155, 297/153, 297/162 Int. Cl A47c 7/68 Field of Search 297/ l 50,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,468,683 4/1949 Michal 297/155 X 2,799,324 7/1957 Anderson 297/150 325,178 8/1885 Knowlton... 297/155 2,728,378 12/1955 Hamilton 297/151 2,979,118 4/1961 Gelman 297/150 3,547,488 12/1970 Barnes 297/154 Primary Examiner-James T. McCall Attorney-Charles R. Fay

ABSTRACT: In combination with the arms of a high chair, a tray having a detachable snap connection with respect to one arm and a removable and adjustable swinging bracket connecting the tray to the other arm so that the tray is swingable in a compound manner on arcs having axes generally parallel to the arm to which it is secured and also on an axis at right angles thereto.

PATENTED JAN 41912 SHEET 2 [IF 2 ADJUSTABLE SWINGING TRAY FOR HIGH CHAIRS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There have been many proposals in the prior art providing high chair trays which are adapted to swing both in a plane transverse to the arm of the high chair and parallel with respect thereto for the reason that it is desireable to be able to swing the tray out of the way from its operative position in front of the infant to a position where it hangs down from the arm in a completely out of the way position without the necessity for swinging the tray to a full 270 are from its horizontal position in use to its vertical position depending from the arm. This allows the mother to lift the infant in and out of the chair with a great deal of ease compared to the old fashioned swinging tray. Also it would be advantageous to provide a onehanded operation so that the mother can move the tray from its operative position to a safe depending position while she is holding the infant in the arm not being used for manipulating the tray.

General objections in the past have been too complicated in structure for the purpose described; not being able to completely remove the tray when desired; and not being able to adjust the tray forward or backwardly with a maximum amount of ease and minimum amount of handling. It is therefore the general purpose of the present invention to provide a very simple construction for one-handed operation so that a tray may be securely latched across the arms of a high chair in adjusted position but may be unlatched and swung around and down to essentially a position 270 with respect thereto while the mother is still busy with the other hand minding the infant, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In combination with the two generally parallel arms of a high chair, a bracket, said bracket being mounted for limited rotational motion on one of said arms, said bracket including a supplemental plate pivotally mounted thereon to swing in a direction at right angles to the motion of the bracket simultaneously therewith, said bracket having a fore-and-aft adjustment with respect to the arm on which it is mounted; together with an easy finger operated latch to latch the tray to the other arm in generally fixed position relative thereto for disposition when the tray is in use and for easy detachment therefrom, wherein said bracket has a portion extending partially about the arm on which it is mounted and having means for adjusting it fore and aft as well as completely removing it from the high chair.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a plan view with parts broken away illustrating the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation looking in the direction of arrow 2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in front elevation showing the tray in dependent vertical position;

FIG. 4 is a view on an enlarged scale showing the bracket and tray in horizontal position, looking in the direction of arrow 4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view on an enlarged scale looking in the direction of arrow 5 in FIG. 3, with the tray removed;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a bracket modified for use with a wooden arm; and

FIG. 7 is a view in elevation looking in the direction of arrow 7 in FIG. 6, with the tray horizontal.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION In FIGS. 1 and 2 the arms of a high chair are indicated at I and 12. Conveniently these arms are in the form of a U-shaped metallic tubular member having a closed end 14 and this may be secured in horizontal relationship to the high chair in any way desired, e.g., at the back. Each of .the arms is provided side aspects thereof. For example, in arm 12 these apertures are for thereception of a spring pressed finger-retractable latch button 16 mounted on a U-shaped bracket 18 the latter being connected at the closed end thereof 20, see FIGS. 2 and 3, with respect to the underside of tray 22. This bracket is therefore latched in adjustable position longitudinally with respect to arm 12 and is permanently connected with respect to the underside of tray 22, so that the tray is thus adjustable along arm 12.

At the opposite side of the tray there is a flat plate generally indicated at 24 which is secured with respect to the tray 22 at an edge thereof opposite the bracket 18. This plate has a swivel 26 at the underside thereof swivelly connecting the same with respect to a plate 28, plate 28 having a rounded or arc-shaped edge portion 30 which is adapted to be received about the arm 10, concentrically thereon.

The arcuate portion 30 of plate 28 is provided with a plurality of slots 32 spaced longitudinally of arm 10 and selectively receiving a spring-pressed button 34 mounted in the arm 10 and protruding to a limited extent therefrom. By pressing the button 34 out of the area of the rounded portion 30 of plate 28 the latter may be adjustably positioned longitudinally of arm 10in accordance with the adjustment of the bracket 18. These adjustments are easily accomplished simultaneously to adjust the tray. However, the tray is attached to arm 10 even though the button 34 is pressed, but upon retracting button 16, bracket 18 is free of arm 12.

Assuming that the tray is in operative position which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and it is desired to move the tray out of the way of

arms

10 and 12, but not to detach it from the high chair, the button 16 is pulled to release the same from the arm 12 whereupon the tray 22 may be swung upwardly about arm 10 as an axis and at the same time swung forwardly on swivel 26 to come down to the vertical depending position in FIG. 3. If it is desired to do so the tray may be swung up to an upright vertical position 90 from that shown in FIG. 2 and then down a further l80 into the FIG. 3 position; but the construction recited allows the action to be made in the compound manner, with the two swivel actions simultaneous, and this is very quick and easy to accomplish.

If it is then desired to remove the tray completely from the high chair it is only necessary to retract button 16 and press button 34 'out of the way of the arcuate portion 30 of plate 28, and slide the entire device from the arms whereupon the tray is completely divorced from the high chair. It is just as easy to return the tray to position on arms 10 and I2 either by first placing it by sliding it onto arm 10 to the desired adjustment and then swinging the tray in a clockwise position in FIG. 2 so that the bracket 18 then becomes latches to am 12; or button 34 may be pushed in and button 16 pulled out and the tray can be applied to both arms simultaneously if this should be desired.

The foregoing has illustrated the invention as applied to a metallic tubular high chair in which the

arms

10 and 12 are both hollow tubes, but the invention is also applicable to a high chair having wooden arms, see FIGS. 6 and 7. In this case the tray is the same as before, and the latch to the right-hand arm 12 may be the same as before described or any other adjustable latch may be used also. However, as shown in FIG. 6 the reference numeral 40 indicates a wooden arm at the lefthand side of the high chair, in place of arm 10, and a pair of facing angle brackets 42-42 are mounted thereon, joumaling between them a bar 44 having intumed ears 4646 pivoted with respect to brackets 42. This bar is provided with a series of apertures for the reception of a spring pressed manually operated member 48 on a plate 50 forming a flange at a right angle to a plate 52, the latter having a swivel 54 connected to a plate 56 which is attached to the tray 22. Thus with a righthand arm latch as in FIG. I and the parts as shown in FIG. 7, the tray 22' is held in horizontal position. To release it, it is necessary to release the right-hand arm as before, then swing the tray up and around towards the user so it will depend as with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures at the outshown in FIG. 3, see FIG. 6. The axes are the pins 60 that connect brackets 42 with ears 46 and bar 44, and the swivel 54 which is the equivalent of swivel 26.

To completely remove tray 22' from the high chair, button 48 is retracted to clear bar 44, and the tray and

members

54, 56 and plate 50 as well as button 48, may be slid off the bar, which stays in place on arm 40 unless

brackets

42, 42, should be removed.

I claim:

1. In combination with the arms of a high chair, a tray, a swivel bracket on said tray comprising a member attached to the tray, a swivel on the member, said swivel having an axis normal to the general plane of the tray, a second member attached to the swivel for swiveling relative to the first member, and means on the second member to swivel on one of the arms of the tray,

manually operated means for longitudinally adjusting the tray relative to the arm,

means for detachably and longitudinally adjustably connecting the opposite end of the tray with respect to the other arm of the high chair, wherein said second member has a portion thereof disposed about the arm of the high chair, the arm of the high chair being rounded and the portion disposed about it also being rounded, a plurality of a rcuate slots in said rounded portion, and a spring finger mounted in said arm and selectively extending through one of said slots.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the second member includes a bar, and the swivel means thereon comprises a pair of spaced ears on the bar swiveled to a pair of brackets on the said one arm.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the second member includes an elongated element and the swivel means thereon has an axis parallel thereto.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the second member includes an elongated element and the swivel means thereon has an axis parallel thereto, and a detachable connection between the first and second members.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the second member includes an elongated element and the swivel means thereon has an axis parallel thereto, and a detachable connection between the first and second members, said detachable connection being adapted to secure the first member in longitudinally adjusted relation to the elongated element.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the second member includes a bar, and the swivel means thereon comprises a pair of spaced ears on the bar swiveled to a pair of brackets on the said one arm, said brackets being fastened to the one arm.

Claims

1. In combination with the arms of a high chair, a tray, a swivel bracket on said tray comprising a member attached to the tray, a swivel on the member, said swivel having an axis normal to the general plane of the tray, a second member attached to the swivel for swiveling relative to the first member, and means on the second member to swivel on one of the arms of the tray, manually operated means for longitudinally adjusting the tray relative to the arm, means for detachably and longitudinally adjustably connecting the opposite end of the tray with respect to the other arm of the high chair, wherein said second member has a portion thereof disposed about the arm of the high chair, the arm of the high chair being rounded and the portion disposed about it also being rounded, a plurality of arcuate slots in said rounded portion, and a spring finger mounted in said arm and selectively extending through one of said slots.