U.S. patent application number 10/739898 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-29 for seat core of child-care instrument.
Invention is credited to Kassai, Kenzou, Ohnishi, Ichiro.
Application Number | 20040145224 10/739898 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32652832 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040145224 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kassai, Kenzou ; et
al. |
July 29, 2004 |
Seat core of child-care instrument
Abstract
A seat core continuously comprises a backrest surface portion
supporting a back of a child from behind, a seating surface portion
supporting buttocks of the child from beneath, a leg-supporting
surface portion supporting legs of the child in a state of bed, a
first hinge portion positioned between the backrest surface portion
and the seating surface portion, and a second hinge portion
positioned between the seating surface portion and the
leg-supporting surface portion.
Inventors: |
Kassai, Kenzou; (Osaka-shi,
JP) ; Ohnishi, Ichiro; (Nara-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FASSE PATENT ATTORNEYS, P.A.
P.O. BOX 726
HAMPDEN
ME
04444-0726
US
|
Family ID: |
32652832 |
Appl. No.: |
10/739898 |
Filed: |
December 17, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/219.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62B 9/106 20130101;
B62B 9/104 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/219.12 |
International
Class: |
A47C 031/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 28, 2003 |
JP |
2003-018217 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A seat core of a child-care instrument provided separately from
a body of the child-care instrument and mounted on the child-care
instrument which can be switched between a state of chair and a
state of bed, to form a seat, continuously comprising: a backrest
surface portion supporting a back of a child from behind; a seating
surface portion supporting buttocks of the child from beneath; a
leg-supporting surface portion supporting legs of the child from
beneath in said state of bed; a first hinge portion positioned
between said backrest surface portion and said seating surface
portion in order to enable a slanting operation of said backrest
surface portion; and a second hinge portion positioned between said
seating surface portion and said leg-supporting surface portion in
order to enable said leg-supporting surface portion to be bent from
said seating surface portion.
2. The seat core of a child-care instrument according to claim 1,
wherein said backrest surface portion, said seating surface
portion, said leg-supporting surface portion, said first hinge
portion and said second hinge portion are integrally formed of a
common member.
3. The seat core of a child-care instrument according to claim 2,
wherein said first and second hinge portions are formed by reducing
thicknesses of the relevant cores.
4. The seat core of a child-care instrument according to claim 1,
wherein said first hinge portion includes a first hinge tape
attached onto an abutting portion between said backrest surface
portion and said seating surface portion, and said second hinge
portion includes a second hinge tape attached onto an abutting
portion between said seating surface portion and said
leg-supporting surface portion.
5. The seat core of a child-care instrument according to claim 1,
continuously comprising: a head guard surface portion rising from
an upper edge of said backrest surface portion in said state of
bed; and a third hinge portion positioned between said backrest
surface portion and said head guard surface portion in order to
enable a rising operation of said head guard surface portion.
6. The seat core of a child-care instrument according to claim 1,
continuously comprising: a pair of upper side surface portions
rising from both side edges of said backrest surface portion in
said state of bed; and a fourth hinge portion positioned between
said backrest surface portion and said each upper side surface
portion in order to enable a rising operation of said upper side
surface portion.
7. The seat core of a child-care instrument according to claim 1,
wherein said seating surface portion continuously comprises: a
center seating surface portion; a pair of side seating surface
portions connected to both side edges of said center seating
surface portion; and a fifth hinge portion positioned between said
center seating surface portion and said each side seating surface
portion, in order to enable a bending operation of said each side
seating surface portion from said center seating surface
portion.
8. The seat core of a child-care instrument according to claim 1,
wherein said leg-supporting surface portion continuously comprises:
a center leg-supporting surface portion; a pair of side
leg-supporting surface portions connected to both side edges of
said center leg-supporting surface portion; and a sixth hinge
portion positioned between said center leg-supporting surface
portion and said each side leg-supporting surface portion, in order
to enable a bending operation of said each side leg-supporting
surface portion from said center leg-supporting surface
portion.
9. The seat core of a child-care instrument according to claim 1,
wherein the relevant seat core is mounted on a baby carriage.
10. The seat core of a child-care instrument according to claim 9,
wherein the relevant seat core is put in a seat hammock of the baby
carriage.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a seat core mounted on a
child-care instrument such as a baby carriage, a child safety seat,
a baby bed/chair or the like, to form a seat and more particularly,
it relates to a seat core mounted on a child-care instrument which
can be switched between a state of chair and a state of bed.
[0003] 2. Description of the Background Art
[0004] FIGS. 1 and 2 show baby carriages disclosed in Japanese
Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-175395. The baby carriage 1
comprises a body 2 and a seat hammock 3 mounted on the body 2 to
form a seat.
[0005] The baby carriage 1 is constituted so as to be switched
between a state of chair shown in FIG. 1 and a state of bed shown
in FIG. 2. Although it is not shown in the drawings, the baby
carriage 1 is constituted such that front and rear wheels come
close and side wheels come close such that a width dimension is
reduced when it is folded.
[0006] FIG. 3 shows the general seat hammock 3 which has been
conventionally used. The seat hammock 3 comprises a backrest
surface portion 4 supporting a back of a child from behind, a
seating surface portion 5 supporting buttocks of the child from
beneath, a head guard surface portion 8 rising from an upper edge
of the backrest surface portion 4 in the state of bed, and a pair
of upper side surface portions 7 rising from both side edges of the
backrest surface portion 4 in the state of bed especially.
[0007] As can be clear from comparison between FIGS. 1 and 2, the
baby carriage 1 is constituted such that the seating surface can be
extended when it becomes in the state of bed. Legs of the child can
be supported by the seating surface extension portion from beneath.
The seat hammock 3 has a leg-supporting surface portion 6 forming
this seating surface extension portion. In the state of chair shown
in FIG. 1, the leg-supporting surface portion 6 of the seat hammock
3 which formed the seating surface extension portion hangs
downward.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3.
As shown in FIG. 4, a head guard surface core 8a, a backrest
surface core 4a and a seating surface core 5a are contained in the
head guard surface portion 8, the backrest surface portion 4 and
the seating surface portion 5 of the seat hammock 3, respectively.
Meanwhile, there is no core in the leg-supporting surface portion 6
of the seat hammock 3 and only a sewed cloth exists there. Hinge
portions 9 and 10 formed of a sewed cloth are formed between the
seating surface portion 5 and the backrest surface portion 4, and
between the backrest surface portion 4 and the head guard surface
portion 8, respectively.
[0009] The body 2 of the baby carriage 1 has a seating surface
extension member which can be drawn frontward from a seating
surface supporting member, in order to extend the seating surface
frontward in the state of bed. One example of the seating surface
extension member is in the shape a flat plate formed of a resin.
Since a rib or recess is formed in the seating surface extension
member in the shape of the resin flat plate, a concave and convex
configuration is provided on its surface.
[0010] Another example of the seating surface extension member
comprises a pair of side pulling rods pulled frontward from both
sides of the seating surface supporting member, and a flexible belt
provided between the pair of side pulling rods.
[0011] When the baby carriage 1 is switched to the state of bed,
the leg-supporting surface portion 6 of the seat hammock 3 is
spread on the seating surface extension member. Since the
leg-supporting surface portion 6 is formed of the sewed cloth,
touch of the concave and convex configuration in the seating
surface extension member in the shape of the flat plate of resin is
felt under feet or legs of the child. In addition, according to the
one which supports the leg-supporting surface portion 6 from
beneath by the flexible belt, since there is a downward drop, the
feet or legs of the child cannot be stably supported.
[0012] Furthermore, as can be clear from FIG. 4, there is formed a
stepped portion between the seating surface portion 5 having the
seating surface core 5a and the leg-supporting surface portion 6
formed only the sewed cloth because of the thickness of the core.
This stepped portion gives the child a feeling of discomfort.
Similarly, since the hinge portion 9 formed of only the sewed cloth
provides a relatively large concave portion, this also gives the
child a feeling of discomfort.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] It is an object of the present invention to provide a seat
core which can form a smooth plane for the whole of a bed surface
when a child-care instrument is in a state of bed.
[0014] A seat core of a child-care instrument according to the
present invention is mounted on the child-care instrument which can
be switched between a state of chair and a state of bed, to form a
seat, and provided separately from the child-care instrument
itself. The seat core continuously comprises a backrest surface
portion supporting a back of a child from behind, a seating surface
portion supporting buttocks of the child from beneath, a
leg-supporting surface portion supporting legs of the child from
beneath in the state of bed, a first hinge portion positioned
between the backrest surface portion and the seating surface
portion in order to enable a slanting operation of the backrest
surface portion, and a second hinge portion positioned between the
seating surface portion and the leg-supporting surface portion in
order to enable the leg-supporting surface portion to be bent from
the seating surface portion.
[0015] According to the above constitution, since the seat core has
the leg-supporting surface portion continued from the seating
surface portion, there is no stepped portion between the seating
surface portion and the leg-supporting surface portion. In
addition, since the leg-supporting surface portion has the core,
even when a seating surface extension member has a concave and
convex configuration or it is formed of a belt, touch of the
concave and convex configuration is not felt under the child and
there is no drop in the leg-supporting surface portion. Still
further, since the core of the backrest surface portion and the
core of the seating surface portion are continuously formed, there
is no large concave portion between them.
[0016] According to one embodiment, the backrest surface portion,
the seating surface portion, the leg-supporting surface portion,
the first hinge portion and the second hinge portion are integrally
formed of a common member. In this case, the first and second hinge
portions are formed by reducing thicknesses of the relevant cores,
for example. The seat core is in the shape of a sheet of a plate
formed of a synthetic resin, for example. Thus, there can be
provided a comfortable bed surface for the child with very simple
constitution.
[0017] As another embodiment, the first hinge portion includes a
first hinge tape attached onto an abutting portion between the
backrest surface portion and the seating surface portion, and the
second hinge portion includes a second hinge tape attached onto an
abutting portion between the seating surface portion and the
leg-supporting surface portion. In this case also, since the core
forming the backrest surface portion, the core forming the seating
surface portion and the core forming the leg-supporting surface
portion are continuously formed, the smooth bed surface can be
provided.
[0018] As a preferable embodiment, the seat core continuously
comprises a head guard surface portion rising from an upper edge of
the backrest surface portion in the state of bed and a third hinge
portion positioned between the backrest surface portion and the
head guard surface portion in order to enable a rising operation of
the head guard surface portion. According to this constitution,
since the core of the head guard surface portion continued from the
backrest surface portion protects the top of head of the child, it
is preferable in respect of safety.
[0019] As a further preferable embodiment, the seat core further
continuously comprising a pair of upper side surface portions
rising from both side edges of the backrest surface portion in the
state of bed and a fourth hinge portion positioned between the
backrest surface portion and each upper side surface portion in
order to enable a rising operation of the upper side surface
portion. According to this constitution, since the core of the
upper side surface portion continued from the backrest surface
portion protects the sides of head of the child, it is preferable
in respect of safety.
[0020] In a case of the child-care instrument which reduces its
dimension in the width direction to be folded, in order to be able
to be shrunk in the width direction, preferably, the seating
surface portion continuously comprises a center seating surface
portion, a pair of side seating surface portions connected to both
side edges of the center seating surface portion and a fifth hinge
portion positioned between the center seating surface portion and
each side seating surface portion in order to enable a bending
operation of each side seating surface portion from the center
seating surface portion. According to this constitution, a size in
the width direction can be reduced when folded, while a large area
of the seating surface portion is provided when used.
[0021] From the similar point of view, according to one embodiment,
the leg-supporting surface portion continuously comprises a center
leg-supporting surface portion, a pair of side leg-supporting
surface portions connected to both side edges of the center
leg-supporting surface portion and a sixth hinge portion positioned
between the center leg-supporting surface portion and each side
leg-supporting surface portion, in order to enable a bending
operation of each leg-supporting surface portion from the center
leg-supporting surface portion. According to this constitution, a
size in the width direction can be reduced when folded, while a
large area of the seating surface portion is provided when
used.
[0022] As the child-care instrument, there are a baby carriage, a
child safety seat, a baby bed/chair and the like. According to one
embodiment, the seat core is mounted on a baby carriage. In this
case, the seat core is put in a seat hammock of the baby carriage,
for example. As another embodiment, the seat core may be mounted on
a body of the baby carriage and the seat hammock is provided on the
seat core.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a baby carriage
disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
8-175395;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state of bed of the
baby carriage shown in FIG. 1;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a conventional seat
hammock;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG.
3;
[0027] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0028] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG.
5;
[0029] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a seat core in a state
of chair; and
[0030] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the seat core in the
state of bed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] One embodiment of the present invention is described with
reference to FIGS. 5 to 8. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a seat
core 20, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5,
FIG. 7 is a view showing a used state as a chair, and FIG. 8 is a
view showing a used state as a bed.
[0032] The illustrated seat core 20 is a core which can be put in a
seat hammock of a baby carriage, for example. As another usage, it
may be mounted on a body of a baby carriage and a seat hammock is
put thereon.
[0033] The baby carriage can be switched between a state of chair
and a state of bed. The core 20 is provided separately from the
body of the baby carriage and put in the seat hammock or mounted on
the body to form a seat.
[0034] The seat core 20 is a sheet of flat plate formed of a
synthetic resin, and continuously comprises a backrest surface
portion 21, a seating surface portion 22, a leg-supporting surface
portion 23, a first hinge portion 24, a second hinge portion 25, a
head guard surface portion 26, a third hinge portion 27, a pair of
upper side surface portions 28, and a fourth hinge portion 29.
[0035] The backrest surface portion 21 forms a part supporting a
back of a child from behind, and the seating surface portion 22
forms a part supporting buttocks of the child from beneath. The
backrest surface portion 21 is connected to the seating surface
portion 22 through the first hinge portion 24 which is thinned by
reducing a thickness of the resin, for example. Therefore, as shown
in FIG. 7, when the backrest surface portion 21 is used in the
state of chair, it rises from a rear edge of the seating surface
portion 22, and the backrest surface portion 21 and the seating
surface portion 22 are extended almost horizontally when used in
the state of bed as shown in FIG. 8.
[0036] The leg-supporting surface portion 23 forms a part
supporting legs of the child from beneath when used in the state of
bed as shown in FIG. 8. Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 7, when it is
used in the state of chair, it is bent downward from a front edge
of the seating surface portion 22. The second hinge portion 25
enables a bending operation of the leg-supporting surface portion
23 and it is thinned by reducing a thickness of the resin, for
example.
[0037] The head guard surface portion 26 forms a plane continuously
extending upward from the backrest surface portion 21 when used in
the state of chair as shown in FIG. 7, and rises upward from an
upper edge of the backrest surface portion 21 to protect a top of
head of the child when used in the state of bed shown in FIG. 8.
The third hinge portion 27 enables a rising operation of the head
guard surface portion 26 and it is thinned by reducing a thickness
of the resin, for example.
[0038] The pair of upper side surface portions 28 rises upward from
both side edges of the backrest surface portion 21 to protect sides
of head of the child when used in the state of bed especially. The
fourth hinge portion 29 enables a rising operation of the upper
side surface portion 28 and it is thinned by reducing a thickness
of the resin, for example.
[0039] The illustrated seat core 20 is applied to the baby carriage
which is folded so that a dimension is reduced in the width
direction, for example. In order to enable reduction in the width
direction, the seating surface portion 22 comprises a center
seating surface portion 22a and a pair of side seating surface
portions 22b connected to both side edges of the center seating
surface portion 22a through a fifth hinge portion 30. The fifth
hinge portion 30 enables a bending operation of each side seating
surface portion 22b from the center seating surface portion 22a
when the baby carriage is folded and it is thinned by reducing a
thickness of the resin, for example.
[0040] Similarly, the leg-supporting surface portion 23 comprises a
center leg-supporting surface portion 23a and a pair of side
leg-supporting surface portions 23b connected to both side edges of
the center leg-supporting surface portion 23a through a sixth hinge
portion 31 in order to enable the reduction in the width direction.
The sixth hinge portion 31 enables a bending operation of each side
leg-supporting surface portion 23b from the center leg-supporting
surface portion 23a when the baby carriage is folded and it is
thinned by reducing a thickness of the resin, for example.
[0041] According to the illustrated embodiment, the first to sixth
hinge portions are all formed of thinned parts of the resin. In
this case, in order to implement a desired bending direction,
preferably, the first hinge portion 24 and the third hinge portion
27 are cut in from the back surface of the seat core 20 and the
second hinge portion 25 is cut in from the front surface thereof as
shown in FIG. 6. Although it is not shown in the drawing, the
fourth hinge portion 29 is preferably cut in from the back surface
of the seat core 20. Regarding the fifth and sixth hinge portions
30 and 31, their cut-in positions depend on which folding mechanism
is employed. For example, when the side seating surface portion 22b
and the side leg-supporting surface portion 23b are bent backward
when folded, they are cut in from the front surface of the seat
core.
[0042] As described above, and according to the illustrated seat
core, since the core forming the backrest surface portion, the core
forming the seating surface portion, and the core forming the
leg-supporting surface portion are integrally and continuously
extended when used in the state of bed, there can be provided a
smooth plane for the whole of a bed surface. In other words, there
can be provided the comfortable bed surface for the child.
[0043] In addition, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 are
illustrative. Therefore, various kinds of modifications and
variations can be applied to the illustrated embodiment within the
same or equivalent range of the present invention. Some of them are
illustratively listed and described hereinafter.
[0044] (1) The seat core may be put in the seat hammock of the baby
carriage or may be directly mounted on the body of the baby
carriage. In the latter case, the seat hammock is put on the seat
core, for example.
[0045] (2) According to the illustrated embodiment, the seat core
was formed of a sheet of the flat plate. As another embodiment, a
plurality of cores may be used and a hinge tape is attached onto an
abutting portion of the cores. More specifically, an end face of
the core forming the backrest surface portion butts against an end
face of the core forming the seating surface portion, and a first
hinge tape is attached onto the abutting portion. Furthermore, an
end face of the core forming the seating surface portion butts
against an end face of the core forming the leg-supporting surface
portion and a second hinge tape is attached onto the abutting
portion. Even in this constitution, there can be provided a smooth
plane for the whole of the bed surface.
[0046] (3) There is a case where the seat core is not provided with
the head guard surface portion 26 and the pair of upper side
surface portions 28.
[0047] (4) In a case where the baby carriage does not shrink in the
width direction when folded, the hinge portions 30 and 31 of the
seating surface portion and the leg-supporting surface portion can
be omitted.
[0048] (5) The child-care instrument to which the seat core of the
present invention is applied is not limited to the baby carriage,
and a child safety seat or a baby bed/chair may be included. In
other words, the present invention can be widely applied to the
child-care instrument which can be switched between the sate of
chair and the sate of bed.
* * * * *