U.S. patent application number 11/643003 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-28 for juvenile high chair.
Invention is credited to Todd Ventrola.
Application Number | 20070145790 11/643003 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38182758 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070145790 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ventrola; Todd |
June 28, 2007 |
Juvenile high chair
Abstract
A juvenile chair having convenience features including a folding
mechanism, an adjustable tray mechanism and a tray insert having
decorative indicia thereon.
Inventors: |
Ventrola; Todd; (Liberty
Township, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TAFT, STETTINIUS & HOLLISTER LLP
SUITE 1800
425 WALNUT STREET
CINCINNATI
OH
45202-3957
US
|
Family ID: |
38182758 |
Appl. No.: |
11/643003 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60751799 |
Dec 20, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
297/151 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47D 1/0085 20170501;
A47D 1/0081 20170501; A47D 1/004 20130101; A47D 1/023 20170501 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/151 |
International
Class: |
A47B 39/00 20060101
A47B039/00 |
Claims
1. A juvenile high chair comprising: a support frame including
front legs and rear legs; a seat including a back, a seating
surface, and armrests, wherein the seat is attached to and
supported by the frame; a tray detachably connectable to the seat,
the tray including a front latch handle, at least one side latch
handle having a portion shaped to detachably engage a portion of
said seat, and a sled slidably attached to an underside of the
tray, the sled including a front latch handle attached thereto; at
least one rigid pivot arm pivotably connected to the underside of
the tray and being operatively connected to the sled and the side
latch handle such that sliding movement of the front latch handle
pivots the rigid pivot arm causing the side latch handle portion to
disengage the seat portion.
2. The juvenile high chair of claim 1 wherein the seat portion
comprises recesses formed on the armrests and the side latch handle
portion includes nubs formed thereon for detachably engaging said
recesses.
3. The juvenile high chair of claim 1 wherein the center sled
includes a spring housing formed therein for receiving a spring,
said spring biasing the side latch handle portions into engagement
with the seat portions.
4. The juvenile high chair of claim 1 wherein the sled includes a
pivot arm connection recess having an incline portion and a
shoulder portion, wherein the connection recess is shaped to
receive a first end of the pivot arm such that when the sled is
moved the pivot arm pivots in the direction the sled is moved.
5. The juvenile high chair of claim 1 wherein the side latch handle
includes a rib formed thereon shaped to engage a ramp portion on an
end of the pivot arm such that pivoting of the pivot arm away from
the side latch handle biases the side latch handle portion to
disengage the seat portion.
6. The juvenile high chair of claim 5 wherein the side latch handle
is pivotably coupled to the underside of the tray.
7. The juvenile high chair of claim 6 wherein said side latch
handle is resiliently biased such that the side latch handle
portion normally engages the seat portion.
8. A juvenile high chair comprising: a support frame including
front legs and rear legs; a seat including a back, a seating
surface, and armrests, wherein the seat is attached to and
supported by the frame; a tray detachably connectable to the seat,
a support frame including front legs and rear legs; a seat
including a back, a seating surface, and armrests, wherein the seat
is attached to and supported by the frame; a tray detachably
connectable to the seat, the tray including a front latch handle,
at least one side latch handle pivotably attached to the underside
of the tray having a nub shaped to detachably engage a recess
located on said armrests, and a sled slidably attached to an
underside of the tray, the sled including a front latch handle
attached thereto; at least one rigid pivot arm pivotably connected
to the underside of the tray and being operatively connected to the
sled and the side latch handle such that sliding movement of the
front latch handle pivots the rigid pivot arm causing the side
latch handle portion to disengage the seat portion.
9. The juvenile tray of claim 8 wherein the side latch handles and
center sled are resiliently biased.
10. The juvenile tray of claim 8 wherein the side latch handles
include gripping portions thereon to facilitate disengagement of
the side latch handles.
11. A juvenile high chair comprising: a support frame including
front legs and rear legs, said front and rear legs being connected
together by a connector and wherein at least one of said front and
rear legs are pivotably attached to the connector; a seat including
a back, a seating surface, and armrests, wherein the seat is
attached to and supported by the frame; wherein the pivotably
attached legs include at least one sliding collar thereon shaped to
slide up and down on said leg and engage a portion of said
connector such that when said collar is engaged with said connector
pivoting movement of said legs is locked and when said collar is
disengaged from said connector, pivoting movement of said legs is
facilitated.
12. The juvenile high chair of claim 11 wherein said sliding collar
includes a spring attached thereto for resiliently biasing said
collar into the engaged position.
13. The juvenile high chair of claim 11 wherein the collar includes
a shoulder that is shaped to be received in a corresponding notch
provided in the connector such that when the collar is engaged with
the connector the top and/or sides of the shoulder engage the
corresponding portions of the notch preventing motion of the
legs.
14. The juvenile high chair of claim 11 further comprising gripping
rings on the collar to facilitate gripping and movement
thereof.
15. The juvenile high chair of claim 11 wherein when said collar is
pulled downwardly said shoulder is disengaged from said notch
allowing pivoting movement of said legs.
16. A juvenile high chair comprising: a support frame including
front legs and rear legs; a seat including a back, a seating
surface, and armrests, wherein the seat is attached to and
supported by the frame; a tray detachably connectable to the seat;
a tray insert sized and shaped to be received in said tray, said
tray insert including decorative indicia in the bottom thereof.
17. The juvenile high chair of claim 16 wherein said decorative
indicia is etched in the bottom of the insert.
18. The juvenile high chair of 17 wherein the decorative indicia is
chemically etched into the bottom of the insert.
19. The juvenile high chair of 17 wherein the decorative indicia is
mechanically etched into the bottom of the insert.
20. A juvenile high chair comprising: a support frame including
front legs and rear legs; a seat including a back, a seating
surface, and armrests, wherein the seat is attached to and
supported by the frame; a tray detachably connectable to the seat,
the tray including a front latch handle, at least one side latch
handle having a portion shaped to detachably engage a portion of
said seat, and a sled slidably attached to an underside of the
tray, the sled including a front latch handle attached thereto; at
least one rigid pivot arm pivotably connected to the underside of
the tray and being operatively connected to the sled and the side
latch handle such that sliding movement of the front latch handle
pivots the rigid pivot arm causing the side latch handle portion to
disengage the seat portion; and a tray insert having decorative
indicia on the bottom thereof.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of and claims priority
under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120 from U.S. Provisional Application No.
60/751,799, filed Dec. 20, 2005, the disclosure of which is herein
incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to juvenile chairs, and
particularly to convenience features associated therewith. More
specifically, the invention relates to folding mechanisms,
adjustable tray assemblies, and tray inserts for use in connection
with juvenile high chairs.
[0003] Juvenile high chair trays having convenience features are
known. Specifically, juvenile high chairs having adjustable trays
are known. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,932 to Kain et al.
and U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,615 to Haut, et al. Generally, it is
considered desirable for such adjustable trays to not only to be
easily adjustable into several positions horizontally, but which
also may be simply and easily removed by a caregiver, preferably
with one hand.
[0004] Additionally, juvenile high chairs incorporating a folding
mechanism that allows the legs of the high chair to be folded are
also known. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,643 to Kain et
al., et al. Generally it is considered desirable for such folding
mechanisms to be simply and easily operable by a caregiver so that
the high chair may be folded for easy storage.
[0005] Also, tray inserts for use in connection with juvenile high
chairs are also known. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,920,831 to
Asbach et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,851,375 to Guard et al., U.S. Pat.
No. 6,497,452 to Catelli, et al. Generally it is considered
desirable for such trays to not only be dishwasher safer, but also
to be visually stimulating for a child using the high chair.
[0006] According to the present invention, a juvenile high chair is
provided which meets these desired conditions. In particular, a
juvenile high chair having improved features according to the
present invention includes a tray adjustment mechanism which may be
operated with one hand, a leg folding mechanism that is
structurally sound and easy to operate, and a tray insert which is
dishwasher safe and visually stimulating for an infant seated in
the chair.
[0007] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of
the following detailed description of preferred embodiments
exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as
presently perceived. The drawings are only to serve for reference
and illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope
of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The detailed description particularly refers to the
accompanying Figures in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a juvenile high chair
in accordance with the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a tray for use in
connection with the high chair of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a partial front perspective view of the high chair
of FIG. 1 with the tray removed;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a underside perspective view of the tray of FIG. 2
showing a tray adjustment mechanism in accordance with the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the tray adjustment
mechanism as shown in FIG. 4;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of a connection member
of the tray adjustment mechanism shown in FIG. 5;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a stopping rib of
the tray adjustment mechanism shown in FIG. 5;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of a leg folding mechanism
for use with a juvenile high chair in accordance with the present
invention showing the leg in an unfolded, use position;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the folding mechanism of
FIG. 7 showing the leg as it is being moved to a folded
position;
[0018] FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the folding mechanism
of FIG. 8 showing the leg as it is being moved to a folded
position; and
[0019] FIG. 11 is a tray insert for use in connection with a
juvenile tray having decorative indicia etched and molded therein
in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] As shown best in the appended drawings as described above,
the present invention is comprised of a juvenile high chair 10.
Juvenile chair 10 preferably includes a frame 12 and a seat 14. The
seat 14 is preferably mounted to frame 12 and includes a seat back
16, a seating surface 18, a center post 19, and armrests 20, 22
positioned to lie on either side of the seating surface 18. The
frame 12 preferably includes front legs 24 and rear legs 26 which
are connected together by a connector 28. Preferably the high chair
10 includes a tray assembly 30 comprised of a main tray 32 and a
tray insert 34. The main tray 32 preferably includes side latch
handles 36, 38, a front latch handle 40 and a tray adjustment
mechanism 42 attached to the underside thereof. Tray 32 is
preferably shaped to be coupled to and extend across the armrests
20, 22 of seat 24 of the juvenile chair 10. The side latch handles
36, 38 preferably include nubs 44 positioned thereon which are
shaped to engage corresponding recesses 46 positioned on the top
portions of the armrests 20, 22 to keep the tray 32 latched to the
armrests 20, 22. Preferably multiple recesses 46 are provided so
that the tray 32 may be adjusted to several different horizontal
positions as may be desired.
[0021] Preferably, the tray 32 includes tray adjustment mechanism
42 attached to an underside thereof which is comprised of a center
sled 50, two rigid pivot arms 52, 54, and two side latches 36, 38.
The front latch handle 40 is preferably attached to center sled 50
which is preferably slidingly attached to the underside of tray 32
in any of many operable manners as is known to those of ordinary
skill in the art. The center sled 50 preferably includes a spring
housing 56 formed therein for receiving a spring 58 to bias the
tray adjustment mechanism 42 into the latched position. The spring
housing 56 includes slots 60, 62 therein for slidingly receiving a
rib 64 formed on the underside of tray 32. The rib 64 acts as stop
that prevents forward movement of the spring 58 when the sled 50 is
pulled forward by the front latch handle 40 thereby resiliently
biasing the tray adjustment mechanism 42 into the latched position.
The sled 50 preferably includes slots 70 positioned therein for
receiving sliding posts 72. The slots 70 may include a shoulder
portion 74 shaped to slidingly receive the head portion of screws
76 which retain the sled 50 on the underside of the tray 32 while
allowing the sled 50 to slide about the sliding posts 72. The
sliding posts 72 are preferably threaded to receive the screws
76.
[0022] The sled 50 preferably includes pivot arm connection
recesses 80 each having an incline portion 82 and a shoulder
portion 84. The pivot arm connection recesses 80 are shaped to
receive first ends 86 of the pivot arms 52, 54 and the incline
portions 82 and shoulder portions 84 are correspondingly positioned
such that when the sled 50 is pulled horizontally outward using the
front latch handle 40, the pivot arms 52, 54 are forced to pivot in
the direction the handle 40 is being pulled. The pivot arms 52, 54
include pivot holes 90 therein that are shaped to pivotally receive
and retain a rivet head 92 extending from the underside of the tray
32. While rivet heads 92 are shown in the drawings, any pivoting
connection as known in the art, such as a screw, which retains the
arms 52, 54 to the bottom of the tray 32 would be operable and is
considered within the scope of the invention. The pivot arms 52, 54
include second ends 96 each having a ramp portion 98 and a
retention portion 100. The ramp portions 98 are shaped to engage a
rib 102 positioned on the bottom portion of the side latch handles
36, 38. The latch handles 36, 38 are pivotally and resiliently
biased to the underside of the tray 32 to a latched position.
Pivotal attachment is achieved by the use of nubs 110 which are
shaped to be pivotally received in corresponding holes 112 in the
side latch handle housings 114 extending from the bottom of the
tray 32. Resilient biasing is achieved through the use of springs
116 which are positioned on seats 118 formed on the inside of the
side latch handles 36, 38. The ramp portions 98 of the second ends
96 of the pivot arms 52, 54 are shaped and positioned such that
horizontal pivoting movement of the pivot arms 52, 54 pulls the
ramp portions 98 against the ribs 102 producing vertical pivoting
movement in the side latch handles 36, 38 against the biasing
action of the springs 116. Accordingly, horizontal adjustment of
the tray 32 may be accomplished using the tray adjustment mechanism
42 by the caregiver using either one hand or two. One hand
horizontal adjustment may be accomplished by pulling front latch
handle 40 horizontally outward while sliding the tray 32 to the
desired location. Two hand horizontal adjustment may be
accomplished by grasping and pushing in both side latch handles 36,
38 vertically while sliding the tray 32 to the desired horizontal
location. In either instance, the vertical pivoting of the side
latch handles 36, 38 disengages the nubs 44 from the recesses 46
allowing the tray 32 to be slid horizontally. Further, it is noted
that one hand disengagement of the tray 32 from the armrests 20, 22
may be accomplished by depressing either of the side latch handles
36, 38 and tilting the side of the tray 32 on which the latch
handle 36, 38 upward or by pulling outward on the front latch
handle 40 and pulling the entire tray 32 upward.
[0023] Preferably the front legs 24 and the rear legs 26 are
mounted to the connector 28 such that at least one pair of legs is
attached in a pivotal manner that allows selective folding of the
legs 24, 26 so that the chair 10 may be simply and easily folded
for easy storage and transportation but which prevents undesired
folding when the chair 10 is in use. Preferably front legs 24 are
non-movably connected to the connector 28 using at least two rivet
pins 130 that are spaced apart and extend through both the
connector 28 and a top portion 132 and a lower portion 133 of the
front legs 24. Preferably, rear legs 26 are pivotally connected to
the connectors 28 using a single rivet pin 134. Each leg 26 also
preferably includes a sliding collar 138 that is slidingly attached
to the rear legs 26 by a sliding pin 140 that is protrudes through
and is attached to the collar 138 and which simultaneously extends
through a slot 142 positioned in a lower portion 144 of the rear
legs 26. A spring 146 is provided to resiliently bias the collar
138 into a normally locked position and is attached at one end 148
to the top portion 136 of the leg 26 and at the opposite end 150 to
the sliding pin 140. The collar 138 includes a shoulder 152 that is
shaped to be received in a corresponding notch 158 provided in the
connector 28 such that when the collar 138 is resiliently biased
upward in the locked position, the top and sides of the shoulder
152 engage the corresponding portions of the notch 158 preventing
forward motion of the legs 26. However, when a downward force is
applied to the collar 138 to unlock the legs 26 for folding, the
shoulder 152 disengages the notch 158 allowing rearward pivoting
movement and folding of the chair 10. Preferably, gripping rings
160 are provided on the collar 138 to facilitate gripping and
downward movement thereof.
[0024] Preferably, the tray insert 34 is made of a clear or opaque
plastic material and decorative indicia 200 is provided on a bottom
thereof to entertain a user of the chair 10. The decorative indicia
is preferably etched in the bottom of the insert 34 following
molding of the insert 34 using chemical or mechanical means as is
known to those of ordinary skill in the art, but may be molded, or
both.
[0025] While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been set
forth above for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the
disclosed embodiment of the invention as well as other embodiments
thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the
appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not
depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *