WO2008044009A1

WO2008044009A1 - A multifunctional high chair

Info

Publication number: WO2008044009A1
Application number: PCT/GB2007/003838
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nick Paxton; Philip Taylor
Original assignee: Silver Cross Holdings Limited
Priority date: 2006-10-10
Filing date: 2007-10-10
Publication date: 2008-04-17
Also published as: GB0620020D0; CN101557735A; EP2073670A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a high chair and in particular to a multifunctional high chair adapted to be converted into a separate table and chair. The multifunctional high chair has a chair section (1) with a seat body (5) and a plurality of chair legs (6) extending downwardly from the seat body and a table section (2) with a table top (7) and a plurality of table legs (8) extending downwardly from the table top. The end of the seat legs and the table section are adapted to be releasably engaged with each other.

Description

A MULTIFUNCTIONAL HIGH CHATR

The present invention relates to a high chair and in particular to a multifunctional high chair adapted to be converted into a separate table and chair.

It is known to provide specially designed furniture for the use of babies and small children. In particular, it is known to provide a high chair, which is a chair in which the seat body is reduced in size to meet the requirements of babies and small children, having extended legs such that a seated child is raised up to an equivalent height compared with an adult seated at a conventional chair. While convenient for situations in which it is required that a child is seated at an equivalent height compared to an adult sat in a conventional chair, known high chairs suffer from the disadvantage of being a highly specialised piece of furniture which may only be used infrequently, and for a limited period of time during a child's early years, and thus can represent a significant item of expense for parents, for which there is limited use.

In the prior art there have been various attempts to modify the classic high chair arrangement to provide a more adaptable, flexible and useable piece of furniture. Various examples of such modified arrangements are described in United States Patent No. 2, 529, 687, United States Patent No. 2,968,338, United States Patent No. 3,078,101, United States Patent No. 5,806,922, GB1039857, GB1077198 and ES2024289. Each of the arrangements described in these prior art documents have their limitations as to ease of use, flexibility of use, safety and reliability in use.

Thus there is a continuing need for multifunctional high chair arrangements, which are easy and safe to operate and are reliable in use.

According to the present invention there is provided a multifunctional high chair comprising: a chair section, which comprises a seat body and a plurality of chair legs extending downwardly from the seat body; and a table section, which comprises a table top and a plurality of table legs extending downwardly from the table top, wherein the end of at least one seat leg remote from the seat body is releasably engaged with the table section.

By multifunctional high chair is meant a high chair which has at least two configurations; in the first configuration, the chair section is releasably attached on top of the table section forming a high chair and, in a second configuration, the chair section is detached from the table section such that the chair and table sections are separately usable.

In a preferred embodiment the end of each seat leg is releasably engaged with the table section.

Preferably, at least one chair leg of the seat body comprises an engaging means proximate to the supporting surface of the chair leg, which releasably engages within a receiving means proximate to the top surface of the table section.

In a preferred embodiment any receiving means is located proximate to a leg of the table section. In one preferred embodiment any receiving means is integral with a leg of the table section. In a further embodiment the receiving means is integral with the table section and adapted to securely receive a leg for the table section. In a preferred embodiment each table leg is associated with a receiving means.

Preferably, the chair section comprises four chair legs each comprising an engaging means and the table section comprises four table legs and four receiving means one for each leg of the table section. In a preferred embodiment the legs of the chair section and the legs of the table section are arranged in each section such that when the seat section is engaged with the table section corresponding legs of the seat and table section are aligned with each other to cooperate to form extended high chair legs.

The tabletop may be of any suitable shape e.g. circular, triangular, square, pentagon, hexagonal. When the tabletop shape defines angled corners the receiving means are typically located at each corner of the table. When the tabletop is circular or non-angular in shape the receiving means are preferably located equidistant from each other.

Preferably, the engaging means comprises a slot towards the end of each chair leg remote from the seat body. Preferably, the receiving means comprises a locking part arranged to releasably engage with a corresponding slot when the high chair is in the first configuration. The receiving means may further comprise a recess arranged to receive an end of a chair leg, the locking part being arranged to slide within the recess so as to engage a corresponding slot. The locking part may be biased within the recess to a position in which it engages a corresponding slot. In one embodiment the chair leg slot may be a continuous slot around the circumference of the chair leg. In a further embodiment when the chair leg is, for example, non-circular in cross- section e.g. square in cross-section, the slot may be located at only one of the chair leg surfaces. In a further embodiment when the chair leg is circular in cross-section the slot may not be a continuous slot around the leg circumference but may be a non-continuous slot. In a preferred embodiment the slot of the chair leg and the locking part of the table top engage with each other along an axis generally parallel to the surface of the table-top and running from the receiving means towards the centre point of the table top. In one embodiment the chair leg slot is located towards the chair leg surface remote from and facing outwards from the chair and table centre. In this embodiment during operation the locking part moves along the indicated axis away from the table centre to enable the chair leg to be received into the receiving means. In an alternative less preferred arrangement the chair leg slot is located slot a preferred embodiment the chair leg slot is located towards the chair leg surface proximate too and facing towards the chair and table centre. In this embodiment during operation the locking part moves along the indicated axis towards the table centre to enable the chair leg to be received into the receiving means. The chair leg slot and table locking part are arranged with a suitable bias being applied to the movable locking part, such that when the end of the chair leg is pushed into the receiving means of the table the end of the leg is automatically locked into position within the tables receiving means. This is an extremely useful feature for the user as it enables the rapid and secure engagement of the chair section with the table section to form the high chair arrangement.

The locking mechanism described herein is releasable. Each movable locking part, when in the locked position and engaged with the slot, may be moved against the bias to disengage the locking part from the chair leg slot, thus enabling the end of the chair leg to be removed from the receiving means and for the chair section to be separated from the table section.

In a preferred embodiment the table section comprises; a tabletop portion, table legs and a receiving means sub-assembly. The sub-assembly comprises; a receiving means, a locking part, means for securely attaching a table leg to the sub-assembly and means for securely attaching the sub-assembly to the table-top portion.

The seat body may further comprise a harness arranged to secure a person seated within the seat body. The high chair may further comprise a tray section adapted to be releasably attached to the seat body when the high chair is in the first configuration. The tray section may comprise a leg bar extending downwardly towards the seat body so as to secure a person seated within the seat body. The table section may further comprise a recessed storage basket arranged to be sealable with a basket lid.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a high chair in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention when in a first configuration;

Figure 2 schematically illustrates the high chair of figure 1 when in a second configuration;

Figure 3 schematically illustrates in cross section part of the high chair of figure 1, showing in greater detail the engaging means and receiving means during insertion of the engaging means into the receiving means;

Figure 4 schematically illustrates in cross section part of the high chair of figure 1, showing in greater detail the engaging means and receiving means when the engaging means is fully inserted into the receiving means;

Figure 5 schematically illustrates in cross section part of the high chair of figure 1 , showing in greater detail the engaging means and receiving means when the receiving means is released and the engaging means is being retracted from the receiving means; and

Figure 6 schematically illustrates the high chair of figure 1 , incorporating an additional tray section.

Referring to figure 1, this schematically illustrates a high chair in accordance with the present invention, when assembled in a first configuration for use as a high chair. The high chair comprises a chair section 1 and a table section 2. It can be seen that the chair section is positioned such that it is attached to the table section 2, such that the chair section 1 is raised up off the ground. In combination the chair section 1 and the table section 2 function in a similar manner to a conventional high chair. As will be described in greater detail with reference to figures 3, 4 and 5, the chair section 1 and the table section 2 comprise respective engaging means 3 and receiving means 4 for joining the sections 1, 2 together to form a high chair. The engaging means 3 and the receiving means 4 are releasable such that the chair section 1 can be detached from the table section 2 in order that they may be separately usable.

The chair section 1 comprises a seat body 5 and four chair legs 6. Similarly, the table section comprises a tabletop 7 and four table legs 8. When in the first configuration, the chair legs 6 and the table legs 8 are arranged such that the pairs of chair and table legs cooperate to form extended high chair legs 9, extending from the seat body 5 to the ground.

In accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention, the table top 7 further comprises a recessed storage basket 10 set into the centre of the table top, which may be used for storing items such as children's toys. The recessed storage basket may be closed by a basket lid 11, such as is shown in figure 1.

Referring now to figure 2, this schematically illustrates the high chair of figure 1 , in which the chair section 1 has been detached from the table section 2 by manipulating the engaging means 3 and receiving means 4 (as will be described in greater detail in relation to figures 3, 4 and 5).

As will be readily appreciated, the second configuration of the present invention as shown in figure 2 provides for the chair section 1 and the table section 2 to be separately usable as a conventional table and chair, with the chair section 1 and the table section 2 being appropriately dimensioned for use by small children. It is envisaged that typically a high chair in accordance with the present invention may be used in the first configuration as shown in figure 1 during an early stage of a child's development, and then later when the child is older, the chair section 1 and the table section 2 may be separated such that they are separately usable.

Figure 2 shows in greater detail, the recessed storage basket 10 and the basket lid 11. The basket lid 11 may be a simple push fit arrangement closing off the orifice of the recessed storage basket 10, or alternatively other known attachment means may be provided, such as a screw fit. Referring now to figure 3, this shows in a cross sectional view an enlarged part of the table section 2, illustrating in greater detail the receiving means 4, during insertion of the engaging means 3. As can be seen in figure 3, the receiving means 4 is positioned at the top of a table leg 8 at the junction between the table leg 8 and the table top 7. The receiving means 4 comprises a recess 12 arranged to receive the engaging means 3 at the bottom end of a chair leg 6. Within the recess 12, there is provided a locking part 13. The locking part 13 is arranged such that when fully inserted into recess 12, the locking part engages a slot 15, forming the engaging means 3 at a lower end of a chair leg 6. The slot 15 is proximate to the supporting surface 28.

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the locking part 13 is biased by a spring 20 towards a position in which locking part 13 is fully inserted into recess 12. Spring 20 is located within the locking part 13 and acts against the body of receiving means 4. Figure 3 depicts an intermediate stage during the insertion of engaging means 3 into receiving means 4 at which stage the lower end of chair leg 6 is being inserted into recess 12 in the direction of arrow 23. Sloping rearward face 14 of locking part 13 is displaced by a bottom edge 21 of engaging means 3, such that locking part 13 is displaced out of recess 12 in the direction of arrow 22 against the action of spring 20.

Referring now to figure 4 this illustrates in a cross sectional view the engaging means 3 and receiving means 4 of figure 3 once the engaging means 3 has been fully inserted into receiving means 4. As engaging means 3 is fully inserted into receiving means 4 beyond the position shown in Figure 3, bottom edge 21 of engaging means 3 passes beyond sloping rearward face 14 of locking part 13. Slot 15 then lines up with rearward protrusion 24 of locking part 13. Spring 20 biases locking part 13 such that it is fully retracted into recess 12, as the retraction of locking part 13 is no longer impeded by bottom edge 21 of engaging means 3. Consequently, rearward projection 24 engages slot 15 and locks engaging means 3 into receiving means 4, thus releasably attaching chair section 1 onto table section 2 in the first configuration of the high chair.

Referring now to figure 5, this illustrates in cross sectional view engaging means 3 during removal from receiving means 4. In order to release protrusion 24 from slot 15, thus allowing chair leg 6 to be extracted from recess 12 along the direction of arrow 25, locking part 13 is manipulated by a user pressing rearward face 26 along the direction of arrow 27 against the action of spring 20. Consequently, locking part 13 moves out of recess 12, thus freeing slot 15 and allowing chair leg 6 to be extracted.

Referring now to figure 6, this illustrates a high chair in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The high chair is as shown in figure 1, except that it further comprises a tray 16 which is attached to arm portions 17 of seat body 5 tray 16 is arranged such that when the high chair is in the first configuration shown in figure 1. Tray 16 may be releasably attached to arm portion 17 in order to provide a tray on which, for instance, food may be placed for the use of a child seated in seat body 5.

Figure 6 further illustrates a leg bar 18 depending from tray 16 and extending downwards towards seat body 5. The purpose of leg bar 18 is to prevent a child seated in seat body 5 from sliding underneath tray 16, and thus preventing a child from falling from the high chair.

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a harness (not illustrated) may be provided within the seat body 5 in order to secure a child sitting in seat body 5, and thus prevent the child from falling off the seat body 5. Such a harness may be entirely conventional, and as such will not be described in further detail here.

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, seat body 5, table top 7, engaging means 3 and receiving means 4 may be constructed from a plastics material such as is known for use in the construction of conventional high chairs and other items of furniture designed for small children. As is illustrated in certain of the figures, seat body 5 may comprise a lining 19 formed from a material designed to improve the comfort of a child sitting within seat body 5. In certain embodiments the lining on the seat and backrest of the seat body are made from a soft EVA material. In certain embodiments the lining is arranged to have a wipe clean surface. In certain embodiments the lining is detachable for easy cleaning. Chair legs 6 and table legs 8 may be formed from a metal such as aluminium, or. they may also be formed from a plastics material.

Chair legs 6, table top 7 and table legs 8 are chosen to be an appropriate size for the intended users (babies and small children). As is clear from figures 1 and 6, when in the first configuration, the chair and table sections 1, 2 are arranged to interact such that the relative alignment of chair leg 6 and table legs 8 match allowing receiving means 4 to receive engaging means 3.

Further advantages and applications of the present invention will be readily apparent to the appropriately skilled person from the teaching herein, without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A multifunctional high chair comprising: a chair section, which comprises a seat body and a plurality of chair legs extending downwardly from the seat body; and a table section, which comprises a table top and a plurality of table legs extending downwardly from the table top, wherein the end of at least one seat leg remote from the seat body is releasably engaged with the table section.

2. A high chair according to claim 1, wherein the end of each chair leg remote from the seat body is releasable engaged with the table section.

3. A high chair according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein an end of each chair leg remote from the seat body comprises an engaging means.

4. A high chair according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the table section comprises at least one receiving means arranged to receive the engaging means of a chair leg.

5. A high chair according to claim 4, wherein the receiving means is proximate to the top surface of the table section.

6. A high chair according to claim 4, wherein each receiving means is proximate to a leg of the table section.

7. A high chair according to claim 4, wherein each receiving means is integral with a leg of the table section.

8. A high chair as claimed in claim 4 wherein the receiving means is integral with the table section and adapted to securely receive a leg for the table section.

9. A high chair as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a receiving means sub-assembly, the sub-assembly comprising; a receiving means, a locking part, means for securely attaching a table leg to the sub-assembly and means for securely attaching the sub-assembly to the table-top portion.

10. A high chair according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the chair section comprises four chair legs and the table section comprises four table legs, arranged such that when in the first configuration pairs of chair and table legs cooperate to form extended high chair legs.

11. A high chair according to claim 3, wherein the engaging means comprises a slot towards the end of each chair leg remote from the seat body.

12. A high chair as claimed in claim 4, wherein the receiving means comprises a locking part arranged to releasably engage a corresponding slot when the high chair is in the first configuration.

13. A high chair according to claim 12, wherein the receiving means further comprises a recess arranged to receive an end of a chair leg, the locking part being arranged to slide within the recess so as to engage a corresponding slot.

14. A high chair according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the locking part is biased to a position in which it engages a corresponding slot.

15. A high chair according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a tray section adapted to be releasably attached to the seat body when the high chair is in the first configuration.

16. A high chair according to claim 15, wherein the tray section comprises a leg bar extending downwardly towards the seat body so as to secure a person seated within the seat body.

17. A high chair according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the table section further comprises a recessed storage basket arranged to be sealable with a basket lid.

18. A high chair, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.