U.S. patent application number 13/761790 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-08 for cup holder for use with high chair.
The applicant listed for this patent is Scott A. Bergman, David A. Corey. Invention is credited to Scott A. Bergman, David A. Corey.
Application Number | 20130200229 13/761790 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48902075 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130200229 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Corey; David A. ; et
al. |
August 8, 2013 |
CUP HOLDER FOR USE WITH HIGH CHAIR
Abstract
Cup holder assemblies, methods of using cup holder assemblies
and a high chair or tabletop with a cup holder assembly are
disclosed. The cup holder assembly may include a mounting assembly
configured to mount on a high chair or tabletop and a cup holder
which is removably mounted on the mounting assembly so that the
mounting assembly may remain on the high chair or tabletop when the
cup holder is removed. The mounting assembly may be removable from
the high chair or tabletop, and may remain on stackable high chairs
during stacking thereof.
Inventors: |
Corey; David A.; (Lancaster,
OH) ; Bergman; Scott A.; (Groveport, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Corey; David A.
Bergman; Scott A. |
Lancaster
Groveport |
OH
OH |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48902075 |
Appl. No.: |
13/761790 |
Filed: |
February 7, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61596275 |
Feb 8, 2012 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/205.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47D 15/00 20130101;
A47D 1/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/205.1 |
International
Class: |
A47D 15/00 20060101
A47D015/00 |
Claims
1. A cup holder assembly comprising: a mounting assembly adapted to
mount on a high chair or tabletop; and a cup holder having a
secured position in which the cup holder is secured to the mounting
assembly and a separated position in which the cup holder is
separated from the mounting assembly whereby the cup holder
assembly is configured to allow the cup holder to be in the
separated position when the mounting assembly is mounted on the
high chair or tabletop.
2. The cup holder assembly of claim 1 wherein the cup holder
assembly is free of a fastener which extends into the high chair or
tabletop when mounted thereon.
3. The cup holder assembly of claim 1 wherein the cup holder
assembly is free of an adhesive which contacts the high chair or
tabletop when the mounting assembly is mounted thereon.
4. The cup holder assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting assembly
comprises a first connector member; and a further comprising a
second connector member which is secured to the cupholder and
releasably mounted on the first connector member.
5. The cup holder assembly of claim 4 further comprising a snap fit
connection between the first and second connector members.
6. The cup holder assembly of claim 4 wherein the first connector
member comprises a front portion and a back portion; and the
mounting assembly comprises a flexible strap which is sandwiched
between the front and back portions and which is adapted to wrap
around a beam of a high chair.
7. The cup holder assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting assembly
comprises a flexible strap adapted to wrap around an arm of a high
chair.
8. The cup holder assembly of claim 7 further comprising a quick
release fastener comprising first and second strips which are
secured to the strap and which are peelably removable from one
another.
9. The cup holder assembly of claim 8 wherein the quick release
fastener is a hook and loop fastener; the first strip is a hook
portion; and the second strip is a loop portion.
10. The cup holder assembly of claim 7 wherein the mounting
assembly comprises a ring defining an aperture; wherein the strap
is insertable through the aperture.
11. The cup holder assembly of claim 7 further comprising a
connector member back portion which is secured to the strap and has
a rear surface adapted to contact a side surface of the arm of the
high chair.
12. The cup holder assembly of claim 11 in combination with the
high chair; wherein the high chair defines a child receiving
seating space and comprises the arm having the side surface;
wherein the side surface faces away from the seating space; and the
rear surface contacts the side surface when the mounting assembly
is mounted on the arm.
13. The cup holder assembly of claim 12 wherein the arm has a top
and a bottom; and when the mounting assembly is secured to the arm,
at least one of (a) no portion of the back portion extends higher
than the top of the arm and (b) no portion of the back portion
extends lower than the bottom of the arm.
14. The cup holder assembly of claim 1 in combination with the high
chair or tabletop; wherein the mounting assembly is mounted on the
high chair or tabletop.
15. The cup holder assembly of claim 14 wherein the combination
comprises the high chair and is free of an eating tray which is
permanently or removably attached to the high chair.
16. The cup holder assembly of claim 1 in combination with a first
high chair having a top and a second high chair defining a chair
receiving space having a bottom entrance opening; wherein when the
mounting assembly is mounted on the first high chair adjacent the
top thereof and the cup holder is in the separated position, the
top of the first high chair is receivable in the chair receiving
space via the bottom entrance opening to allow stacking of the
second high chair on the first high chair.
17. The cup holder assembly of claim 16 wherein the bottom entrance
opening has a first horizontal width as measured from left to
right; when the mounting assembly is mounted on the first high
chair adjacent the top thereof and the cup holder is in the secured
position, a combination of a top portion of the first high chair
and the cup holder has a second horizontal width as measured from
left to right; and the second horizontal width is equal to or
greater than the first horizontal width.
18. The cup holder assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting
assembly comprises a generally C-shaped spring clip adapted to
mount on an arm of the high chair or an edge of the tabletop.
19. A combination comprising: a high chair; a cup holder; a first
connector member secured to the cup holder; and a second connector
member having a secured position in which the second connector
member is secured to the first connector member so that the cup
holder is mounted on the high chair and a released position in
which the second connector member is separated from the first
connector member so that the cup holder is dismounted from the high
chair.
20. A method comprising the steps of: providing a cup holder
assembly comprising a cup holder and a mounting assembly; securing
the mounting assembly to a high chair or tabletop to mount the cup
holder assembly on the high chair or tabletop; and removing the cup
holder from the mounting assembly while the mounting assembly
remains secured to the high chair or tabletop.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 61/596,275, filed Feb. 8, 2012, the disclosure
of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present invention relates generally to cup holders,
especially those which are mountable on a high chair or table. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a cup holder which
is easily removable from the high chair or table. Specifically, the
present invention includes a cup holder for use with a high chair
in which the cup holder may be removed from the high chair while a
mounting assembly remains on the high chair to allow high chairs in
restaurants to be stacked with the mounting assembly thereon.
[0004] 2. Background Information
[0005] Various types of cup holders have been created for use with
chairs, tables and within cars or other vehicles for example. As
parents know so well, infants and toddlers are apt to knock over
their drinks. Thus, it would be helpful to have an appropriate cup
holder to minimize this possibility while also providing additional
space on a table or tray by placing a glass or cup in a cup holder
mounted beside the tray or table.
[0006] In addition, a particular problem arises when an infant or
toddler is seated in a high chair at a table related to the fact
that the child's head is much lower or closer to the top surface of
the table compared to an adult. As a result, when the cup is
sitting on the table top, a straw sticking out of the cup is too
high (higher than the child's mouth) for the child to use without
tipping the cup. The child tends to tilt the cup too far so that
the liquid in the cup comes out through the straw hole formed in
the lid, leading to messy spills. Especially since most restaurant
straws these days are straight (not the accordion-style flexible
type), parents can often be found trying to teach toddlers to keep
the cup upright while the parent lowers the cup to the side for the
child to drink from the straw. In an attempt to avoid spills,
parents quite often keep the cup out of the child's reach and
present it to the child only when a drink is needed.
[0007] While many restaurants provide high chairs for infants and
toddlers, restaurants often do not provide any type of cup holders
for use by infants and toddlers. Certain types of high chairs are
formed with trays on which various dinnerware such as plates, cups
and silverware may be placed. Some of these trays are formed with
built-in cup holders. Further, some of these trays are configured
to be removed from the chair to make it easier for the child to get
in and out of the high chair. However, the inclusion of such trays
on high chairs may substantially increase the cost of the chair.
Thus, many restaurants currently use high chairs which do not
include such trays and are rather configured to be used with the
standard tables provided within the restaurant. Another advantage
of these high chairs without trays is the ability to stack them on
one another in order to minimize the amount of valuable space
needed to store the high chairs when not in use. Thus, especially
where a restaurant uses high chairs without trays, there is a need
for a convenient cup holder which may be mounted on a high chair or
table top. The present invention addresses the above-noted
problems.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In one aspect, the invention may include a cup holder
assembly comprising a mounting assembly adapted to mount on a high
chair or tabletop; and a cup holder having a secured position in
which the cup holder is secured to the mounting assembly and a
separated position in which the cup holder is separated from the
mounting assembly whereby the cup holder assembly is configured to
allow the cup holder to be in the separated position when the
mounting assembly is mounted on the high chair or tabletop.
[0009] In another aspect, the invention may include a combination
comprising a high chair; a cup holder; a first connector member
secured to the cup holder; and a second connector member having a
secured position in which the second connector member is secured to
the first connector member so that the cup holder is mounted on the
high chair and a released position in which the second connector
member is separated from the first connector member so that the cup
holder is dismounted from the high chair.
[0010] In another aspect, the invention may include a method
comprising the steps of providing a cup holder assembly comprising
a cup holder and a mounting assembly; securing the mounting
assembly to a high chair or tabletop to mount the cup holder
assembly on the high chair or tabletop; and removing the cup holder
from the mounting assembly while the mounting assembly remains
secured to the high chair or tabletop.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Example embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the
best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles,
is set forth in the following description and is shown in the
drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set
forth in the appended claims.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a first example
embodiment of the cup holder assembly of the present invention
mounted on a typical restaurant high chair, which is viewed from
its right side.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1,
which shows the first example embodiment in a left side elevational
view and looks rearwardly on portions of the high chair.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the strap assembly of
the first example embodiment in a substantially flat stretched out
configuration.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the strap assembly
shown in FIG. 3.
[0016] FIG. 5 is an enlarged exploded view showing the upper right
portion of the high chair as viewed from the left side, the strap
assembly in its mounted position as viewed from the front, and the
cup holder and cup as viewed from the rear.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a right side elevational view showing one high
chair stacked atop another high chair wherein the two high chairs
are shown from the right side and strap assemblies of the first
example embodiment are mounted on the high chairs and shown in a
front elevational view.
[0018] FIG. 6A is a front elevational view of the stacked chairs of
FIG. 6 and also shows a cup holder mounted on the top high
chair.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 and shows the
cup holder mounted on a high chair with a second example embodiment
of a mounting assembly of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a right side elevational view of the cup holder
mounted on a tabletop (shown in section) with a third example
embodiment of the mounting assembly of the present invention.
[0021] Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the
drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] A first example embodiment of the cup holder assembly of the
present invention is shown generally at 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2; a
second example embodiment of the cup holder assembly is shown
generally at 1A in FIG. 7; and a third example embodiment is shown
generally at 1B in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 1, assembly 1 is
mounted on a typical restaurant high chair 2 having a top 4, a
bottom 6 seated on the floor, a front 8, a back 10, a right side 12
(FIGS. 2, 6A) and a left side 13 (FIG. 6A). Front 8 and back 10
define therebetween a longitudinal direction. Left and right sides
12 and 13 define therebetween an axial direction. In general, high
chair 2 adjacent top 4 is narrower from front to back than it is
adjacent bottom 6. In addition, high chair 2 is likewise narrower
from left to right adjacent top 4 than it is adjacent bottom 6, as
shown in FIG. 6A. This tapered configuration allows for the well
known stacking of the chairs illustrated in FIG. 6. More
particularly, high chair 2 includes upwardly elongated angled front
right and left uprights 14 and 16 which may be substantially
straight and identical to (or mirror images of) one another,
upwardly elongated angled back right and left uprights 18 and 20
which also may be substantially straight and identical to (or
mirror images of) one another, a substantially flat vertical seat
back 22, a substantially straight horizontal axially elongated
front bar 24, horizontal longitudinally elongated right and left
bottom beams 26 and 28 which may be substantially straight and
identical to (or mirror images of) one another, horizontal
longitudinally elongated right and left intermediate beams 30 and
32 which may be substantially straight and identical to (or mirror
images of) one another, and horizontal longitudinally elongated
right and left top beams 34 and 36 which also may be substantially
straight and identical to (or mirror images of) one another. High
chair 2 may also include horizontal axially elongated front and
back bottom beams 33 and 35 which may be substantially straight and
identical to (or mirror images of) one another.
[0023] Right and left uprights 14 and 16 angle upwardly and
rearwardly from adjacent bottom 6 to adjacent top 4. Right front
upright 14 has a leftward facing inner side surface 15 (FIG. 6A)
which extends from adjacent bottom 6 to adjacent top 4. Left front
upright 16 has a rightward facing inner side surface 17 which
extends from adjacent bottom 6 to adjacent top 4 and faces inner
side surface 15. High chair 2 is typically substantially
bilaterally symmetrical about a vertical longitudinal central plane
extending from front to back. Thus, for instance, front right
upright 14 angles upwardly and to the left from adjacent bottom 6
to adjacent bottom 4, while front left upright 16 similarly angles
upwardly and to the right. Back right and left uprights 18 and 20
angle upwardly and forward from adjacent bottom 6 to adjacent top
4. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6A, back right upright 18 angles
upwardly and to the left from adjacent bottom 6 to adjacent top 4,
while back left upright 20 similarly angles upwardly and to the
right. Right rear upright 18 has a leftward facing inner side
surface 19 which extends from adjacent bottom 6 to adjacent top 4.
Left rear upright 20 has a rightward facing inner side surface 21
which extends from adjacent bottom 6 to adjacent top 4 and faces
inner surface 19.
[0024] Seat back 22 is rigidly secured to and extends between back
right and left uprights 18 and 20 adjacent top 4. Front bar 24
likewise is rigidly secured to and extends between front right and
left uprights 14 and 16 adjacent top 4. Front bottom beam 33 is
rigidly secured to and extends between front right upright 14 and
front left upright 16 adjacent bottom 6. Similarly, back bottom
beam 35 is rigidly secured to and extends between back right
upright 18 and back left upright 20 adjacent bottom 6. Right bottom
beam 26 extends between and is rigidly secured to right uprights 14
and 18 adjacent bottom 6, while left bottom beam 28 likewise
extends between and is rigidly secured to left uprights 16 and 20
adjacent bottom 6. Right bottom beam 26 has a leftward facing inner
surface 27 (FIG. 6A) which extends from adjacent front right
upright 14 to adjacent back right upright 18. Left bottom beam 28
has a rightward facing inner surface 29 which extends from adjacent
front left upright 16 to adjacent back left upright 20 and faces
inner surface 27. Right intermediate beam 30 extends between and is
rigidly secured to right beams 14 and 18 typically in the upper
half of high chair 2 and spaced downwardly from top 4 while left
intermediate beam 32 is at the same height as beam 30 and likewise
is rigidly secured to and extends between the left uprights 16 and
20.
[0025] Right top beam 34 extends between and is rigidly secured to
right uprights 14 and 18 adjacent top 4, while left top beam 36 is
at the same height as beam 34 and likewise extends between and is
rigidly secured to left uprights 16 and 20 adjacent top 4. Each of
top beams 34 and 36 has an upwardly facing top surface or top 43
and a downwardly facing bottom surface or bottom 45. Right top beam
34 has a generally vertical flat leftward facing inner side surface
47A (FIGS. 2, 6A) and an opposed generally parallel and vertical
flat rightward facing outer side surface 49A (FIG. 6A), wherein
side surfaces 47A and 49A extend from adjacent top 43 to adjacent
bottom 45 and from adjacent the front of beam 34 and front right
upright 14 to adjacent the back of beam 34 and rear right upright
18. Left top beam 36 has a generally vertical flat rightward facing
inner side surface 47B (FIG. 6A) and an opposed generally parallel
and vertical flat leftward facing outer side surface 49B, wherein
side surfaces 47B and 49B extend from adjacent top 43 of beam 36 to
adjacent bottom 45 of beam 36 and from adjacent the front of beam
36 and front left upright 16 to adjacent the back of beam 36 and
rear left upright 20. Inner side surfaces 47A and 47B face one
another, while outer side surfaces 49A and 49B face away from one
another. High chair 2 also includes a substantially horizontal flat
seat bottom 38. Seat bottom 38 is rigidly secured to and extends
between right and left intermediate beams 30 and 32, which thus
serve as seat bottom supports. Chair 2 typically also includes a
strap assembly (not shown) to help secure a child when seated on
seat bottom 38.
[0026] High chair 2 defines a lower space 37 which may serve as a
stacking space for receiving an upper portion of another high chair
when stacked thereon. More particularly, space 37 is located
between the four uprights 14, 16, 18 and 20, as well as between the
lower right and left beams 26 and 28, between bottom front and back
beams 33 and 35, and below seat bottom 38. Space 37 has a bottom
entrance opening 39 through which the upper portion of another high
chair may be received. High chair 2 also defines an upper space 41
which serves as a child receiving seating space for an infant or
toddler to sit in. Inner surfaces 47A and 47B of beams or arms 34
and 36 face child receiving seating space 41, while outer surfaces
49A and 49B face away from child receiving seating space 41. High
chair 2 is thus the type of high chair which is configured to be
stacked whereby a restaurant may minimize the required storage
space when not in use, as discussed in the Background section of
the present application. High chair 2 is also free of an eating
tray attached thereto, whether permanently or removably.
[0027] With primary reference to FIG. 2, cup holder assembly 1
includes a rigid cup holder 40 for holding a drinking cup 42
therein and a mounting assembly 44 which may include a strap
assembly 46. Mounting assembly 44 has a mounted or attached
position (FIGS. 2, 5, 6) in which mounting assembly 44 is mounted
or attached to high chair 2 (as detailed further below) and a
dismounted or detached position (FIGS. 3-4) in which mounting
assembly 44 is dismounted or detached from high chair 2 and
separated from high chair 2. Assembly 1 may further include a
connector or buckle 48 which in the example embodiment is a snap
fit connector or buckle. Buckle 48 includes a first connector
member or buckle member 50 and a second connector member or buckle
member 52 which are releasably secured to one another by a snap fit
connection. Connector 48 thus has a secured or connected position
(FIG. 2) in which mounting members 50 and 52 are engaged and
connected or secured to one another, and an unsecured,
disconnected, released or separated position (FIG. 5) in which
members 50 and 52 are separated from one another. More
particularly, cup holder 40 and buckle member 50 are secured as a
unit to buckle member 52 and strap assembly 46 as a unit in the
secured position of FIG. 2 and are separated from one another in
the unsecured position of FIG. 5.
[0028] Cup holder 40 is a rigid structure which is typically formed
of a rigid plastic material and which typically includes a rigid
flat horizontal bottom wall 54 which is typically circular when
viewed from below. Cup holder 40 further includes a tapered annular
side wall 56 which is rigidly secured to and extends upwardly from
the outer perimeter of bottom wall 54. Side wall 56 typically
tapers upwardly and outwardly so that the upper portion is wider
than the lower portion. The side wall of cup holder 40 includes
tapered side wall 56, a rigid annular lip 58 secured to the top of
side wall 56 and extending upwardly and radially outwardly
therefrom, and a cylindrical upper annular side wall or ring 60
which is secured to and extends upwardly from lip 58. In the
example embodiment, bottom wall 54, side wall 56 and lip 58 are
molded as an integral one piece member while ring 50 is formed as a
separate member which is typically rigidly secured to the top of
lip 58 by sonic welding, adhesive or the like. Although cup holder
40 may be molded as a single piece, the use of ring 60 simplifies
manufacturing particularly with the attachment of buckle member 50
thereto. The bottom wall and side wall of cup holder 40 define
there within a cup-receiving cavity 62 having a top entrance
opening 64 for receiving there through cup 42 into cavity 62.
[0029] With primary reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, strap assembly 46
includes a flexible flat strap 66 which is folded over on itself
adjacent one end and secured to itself such as by stitching 68 in
order to form an end loop 70 defining a through passage and serving
as a first end 72 of strap 66 opposite a second end 74 thereof
between which strap 66 is elongated. Strap 66 is typically formed
of a woven fabric although other suitable flexible materials may be
used. Along one side of strap 66 is secured a first strip or
portion of a quick release fastener and a second strip or portion
78 of the quick release fastener. This quick release fastener is
typically in the form of hook and loop fasteners or a similar
structure such that one of its strips is the hook portion and the
other of the strips is the loop portion or the like so that the
first and second strips can easily be secured to one another simply
by manually pressing them together and likewise easily released
from one another by pulling them apart such as by grasping second
portion 78 adjacent end 74 and pulling the second strip 78 away
from first strip 76 to separate the two portions. Assembly 46
further includes a rigid ring 80 such as a D ring or another closed
loop configuration such that ring 80 is secured to the strap with a
portion of ring 80 extending through the through passage defined by
end loop 70 and with end 72 of strap passing through a strap
receiving aperture 82 defined by ring 80. In the example
embodiment, the strap assembly includes only a single strap 66 and
only a single ring 80, which is in keeping with the simplicity of
the configuration and also helps to minimize the cost of
production.
[0030] With continued primary reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, buckle
member 52, which is typically formed of a rigid plastic material,
includes a typically rigid front portion 83 secured to the front
side of strap 66 atop or forward of part of first strip 76, and a
typically rigid component shown here as a flat connector member
back portion or backing plate 85 which is secured to the back of
strap 66 and has a rear surface 87 which is spaced rearwardly of
the back of strap 66 and may be flat. More particularly, front and
back portions 83 and 85 are rigidly secured to one another via
connectors (not shown) which pass through strap 66. Thus, strap 66
is sandwiched or clamped between front and rear portions 83 and 85.
Front portion 83 defines a cavity 84 having a top entrance opening
86 configured to receive there through an insert portion of member
50. Right and left entrance openings 88 and 90 of cavity 84 also
communicate with the outside of front portion 83 along the right
and left thereof respectively. Front portion 83 has a pair of
substantially horizontal downwardly facing keeper ledges or stops
92 at the top of left and right openings 88 and 90.
[0031] With primary reference to FIG. 5, buckle member 50, which is
typically formed of a rigid plastic material, includes a rigid body
94 with left and right connector arms 96 which are rigidly secured
to and cantilevered downwardly from the lower end of body 94. Arms
96 include upwardly facing and generally horizontal catch ledges
98. The lower free ends of arms 96 are respectively movable back
and forth to the left and right as shown at Arrows A in FIG. 5
during flexing pivotal movement about their upper end connections
with body 94. Body 94 is rigidly secured or affixed to the circular
outer surface of side wall or ring 60 by a pair of rivets 100. In
the example embodiment, rivets 100 are formed of aluminum or
another non-rustable material. However, other securing mechanisms
may be used instead of rivets 100. Cup holder 40, buckle member 50
and the securing mechanism in the form of rivets 100 are thus
formed of non-rust materials whereby the unit formed by these
components is well suited to be washed in a dishwasher or by hand
in order to facilitate keeping the cup holders clean at home, in
restaurants or elsewhere.
[0032] In use, strap assembly 66 and buckle member 52 are typically
secured to the horizontal beams or arms of the high chair, such as
arm 34, which typically serves as an armrest of the high chair.
Although strap assembly 46 may be secured to either side of the
high chair, it is represented for purposes of illustration on the
right arm. In order to secure strap assembly 46 on arm 34, the back
of the strap and backing plate 85 are positioned adjacent and in
contact with arm 34 in order that strap 66 may be wrapped around
arm 34 so that end 74 thereof may be inserted through aperture 82
of ring 80 and folded back on itself and pulled to tighten the
strap around arm 34 and so that portion 78 of the strap fastener on
the front side of the strap engages portion 76 on the front side of
the strap to form a releasable connection as shown in FIG. 2. In
the example embodiment, this connection between portions 76 and 78
is primarily along the bottom of arm 34.
[0033] Back portion or backing plate 85 rear surface 87 is in
contact with outer side surface 49A of arm 34 when mounting
assembly 44 is secured to arm 34. Rear surface 87 in this mounted
or attached position of mounting assembly 44 is typically
substantially vertical. The engagement between surfaces 87 and 49A
helps to stabilize strap 66 and lower buckle member 52 when secured
on arm 34. In addition, the contact between surfaces 87 and 49A in
combination with the use of strap 66 extending around arm 34
prevents strap 66 from slipping in a revolving manner about arm 34,
thus helping to ensure that buckle member 52 and that the entire
cup holder assembly 1 remains substantially fixed relative to high
chair 2 when mounted thereon. In the example embodiment, backing
plate 85 is the only rigid structure of cup holder assembly 1 which
contacts high chair 2 with the possible exception of ring 80. Plate
85 typically extends only along one side of arm 34, namely the flat
outer surface 49A which faces away from space 41. Thus, backing
portion 85 typically does not include any structure which extends
along other sides of arm 34, such as along top or top side 43, the
bottom or bottom side 45 or the opposed inner side or surface 47A
which faces space 41. Plate 85 in its entirety thus typically
extends outwardly away from and beyond outer side surface 49A of
arm 34 in a direction away from space 41 when strap assembly 46 is
secured to arm 34. In the example embodiment, no portion of back
portion or plate 85 extends upwardly beyond the top of arm 34 and
likewise no portion of back portion or plate 85 extends downwardly
below the bottom of arm 34. It may also be stated that in the
example embodiment, no portion of back portion or plate 85 extends
higher than the top of arm 34, no portion of back portion or plate
85 extends lower than the bottom of arm 34, no portion of back
portion or plate 85 extends directly above the top of arm 34, and
no portion of back portion or plate 85 extends directly below the
bottom of arm 34. Strap assembly 46 may be quickly removed from
high chair 2 simply by pulling on strap 66 adjacent end 74 to peel
or separate portion 76 from portion 78 of the quick release
fastener. Thus, portion 76 is peelably removable from portion 78.
Once portions 76 and 78 are separated, strap 66 can be simply
pulled back through aperture 82 in order to remove the strap
assembly from arm 34.
[0034] While strap assembly 46 is secured to arm 34, cup holder 40
may be easily mounted on strap assembly 46 by moving cup holder
downwardly (Arrow B in FIG. 2) so that the insert portion of buckle
member 50 including arms 96 is inserted downwardly through entrance
opening 86 into cavity 84. During this downward insertion of arms
96, the lower free ends thereof engage left and right walls of
portion 83 just above ledges 92, which forces the free ends
inwardly toward one another via a flexing pivotal movement of arms
96 until the lower portions of arms 96 enter openings 88 and 90
with catch ledges 98 lower than keeper ledges 92, so that the
resilient or spring nature of arms 96 causes the lower ends to
spring outwardly away from one another into openings 88 and 90
respectively to snap into a secured position such that ledges or
stops 98 engage or are closely adjacent keeper ledges or stops 92
so that connector member 50 is secured to connector member 52 and
cup holder 40 is secured to mounting assembly 44 and high chair 2.
Thus, when an upward force is applied on the mounted cup holder 40,
upward movement of cup holder 40 is limited or prevented by
engagement of surfaces 98 and 92 of the snap fit connection.
However, the user may easily remove cup holder 40 from strap
assembly 46 by pressing inwardly on the tabs or lower ends of arms
96 toward one another until ledges 98 move inwardly to a releasing
position in which ledges 98 are no longer directly below ledges 92.
In the releasing position, the user may remove or separate
connector member 50 from connector member 52 by pulling upwardly on
cup holder 40 to remove the cup holder from mounting assembly 44
and more particularly to remove the insert portion of member 50
from cavity 84 of member 83 via entrance opening 86.
[0035] Thus, cup holder assembly 1 may be easily secured to arm 34
of high chair 2 with cup holder 40 and the snap fit connector 48
positioned to the side of the chair on the opposite side of arm 34
from child receiving space 41. In this secured position, cup holder
40 is well suited to support cup 42, which may be easily inserted
and removed from cavity 62 via top entrance opening 64. One of the
advantages of using a quick release mounting assembly for securing
strap 66 and buckle member 52 to arm 34 is to allow for
adjustability of the position of the mounting assembly and thus the
cup holder as well. More particularly, either during the initial
mounting of strap assembly 46 on the high chair or subsequently,
the strap assembly may be adjusted forward or rearward (Arrow C in
FIG. 5) to any desired position along arm 34 while the strap is
loose or in an unsecured position, and then easily secured at any
desired position along arm 34.
[0036] Although cup holder assembly 1 uses a removable mounting
assembly 44 which may be easily mounted on or attached to high
chair 2 and likewise easily dismounted or detached from high chair
2, it is within the scope of the present invention to provide a
mounting assembly which is permanently fixed to high chair 2. In
one such configuration, the mounting assembly may include, for
instance, a connector member such as connector member 52 which is
permanently secured to high chair 2, for instance by rivets or
other suitable fasteners. Alternately, a high chair may be formed
with a connector member which is integrally formed with the high
chair, for example, where at least some portion of the high chair
(such as an arm similar to arms 34 or 36) is a molded plastic such
that a connector member could be molded therewith. The removable
type of mounting assembly, such as assembly 44, may be desirable in
many circumstances because it allows existing chairs without cup
holders to be easily retrofitted with cup holder assembly 1 or
another removable cup holder assembly. Whether the cup holder
assembly is configured to be removable or permanently fixed to the
high chair, one concept of the present invention is to allow the
cup holder to be removed from the high chair by removing the cup
holder connector member from the connector member secured to the
high chair.
[0037] FIG. 6 illustrates the usefulness of cup holder assembly 1
with respect to the ability to stack high chairs on one another.
More particularly, FIG. 6 shows two substantially identical high
chairs 2A and 2B with the second high chair 2B stacked on top of
the first high chair 2A. An advantageous concept of cup holder
assembly 1 is the ability to easily remove or separate cup holder
40 from the strap assembly 46 or mounting assembly 44 and the
portion of connector 48 (here, connector member 52) which remains
secured to the respective arm 34 of a given high chair 2. This
concept is well suited to restaurants which typically utilize
multiple high chairs in their operations. Typically, a restaurant
employee such as the waiter, waitress or busboy, etc. will remove
cup holder 40 from the mounting assembly which remains on arm 34 of
a given high chair 2 and take it to the appropriate cleaning
location to be washed. The same employee or another person will
wash or clean the cup holder so that the washed or cleaned cup
holder may be used again with the same mounting assembly or another
mounting assembly, which may be one of mounting assemblies 44, one
of mounting assemblies 44A or 44B described further below, or
another such mounting assembly which includes a typically identical
connector member on which the cup holder connector member is
releasably mountable. Thus, for instance, after cup holder
connector member 50 has been removed from a given mounting assembly
connector member 52 to be washed, cleaned or otherwise, the removed
cup holder connector member 50 can then be secured again to the
same mounting assembly connector member 52, or alternately be
secured to the mounting assembly connector member 52 of a given
mounting assembly 44A or mounting assembly connector member 52 of a
given mounting assembly 44B or a mounting assembly connector member
52 of a given otherwise modified mounting assembly.
[0038] With cup holder 40 removed from the chairs and more
particularly removed from a given high chair such as high chair 2A
upon which another high chair such as high chair 2B is to be
stacked, then the second high chair 2B may be stacked on the first
high chair 2A without interference from mounting assembly 44 or any
portion of connector 48 (here, connector member 52) which remains
secured to the lower high chair 2A. More particularly, cup holder
40 is removed from the mounting assembly including strap assembly
66, which remains on arm 34 of first high chair 2A. While the strap
assembly or mounting assembly remains secured to high chair 2A,
second high chair 2B is lifted above first high chair 2A and
lowered (Arrow D) on top of high chair 2A so that top 4 of high
chair 2A is received upwardly through bottom entrance opening 39 of
second high chair 2B into the lower chair receiving or stacking
space 37 of chair 2B. High chair 2B is lowered until it is seated
on high chair 2A such that high chair 2B can be lowered no further.
This may occur, for example, when the bottom of seat bottom 38 of
high chair 2B contacts top 4 of high chair 2A although this may
occur in other ways. When the upper high chair 2B, which is stacked
or seated on the lower high chair 2A, the upper high chair 2B
typically either does not contact the mounting assembly 44 or the
portion 52 of the connector mounted on the lower high chair or
contacts it in such a way that allows the mounting assembly to
remain in its secured position on the lower high chair 2A, so that
the upper high chair does not damage the mounting assembly on the
lower high chair, and so that the mounting assembly does not damage
either high chair.
[0039] As noted above, the removal of cup holder 40 from the
mounting assembly while the mounting assembly remains on the high
chair allows high chair 2B to be stacked on the lower high chair 2A
without interference from the mounting assembly. In contrast, if
cup holder 40 were to remain secured to the mounting assembly and
thus to high chair 2A, then it may be impossible or very difficult
to stack high chair 2B on top of high chair 2A due to the
interference between cup holder 40 and portions of high chair 2B,
such as its bottom beam 26, intermediate beam 30 or seat bottom 38.
Even if it is possible to stack high chair 2B on top of high chair
2A while cup holder 40 is secured to the mounting assembly and high
chair 2A, doing so may be awkward or cause contact between cup
holder assembly 1 and high chair 2B, which may damage cup holder
assembly 1 or high chair 2B. The horizontal normal axial width W1
(FIG. 6A) as measured from left to right (or in the axial
direction) of a combination of a top portion of high chair 2
adjacent top 4 and cup holder 40 when secured thereto may be
greater than the horizontal normal axial width W2 as measured from
left to right (or in the axial direction) of bottom entrance
opening 39. Width W1 may also be equal to or less than width W2
although even when width W1 is less than width W2, the difference
between widths W1 and W2 may be relatively minimal.
[0040] Width W1 of the noted combination is typically measured
horizontally in the axial direction, or from left to right, from
the axially outmost point of cup holder 40 to the axially outmost
part of high chair 2 on the opposite side of high chair 2 from cup
holder 40 at the same or similar height as the axially outmost
point of cup holder 40. The axially outmost part of high chair 2 on
the opposite side of high chair 2 from cup holder 40 is typically
on or adjacent the outer side surface of one of arms 34 or 36. In
the example shown in the Figures, because cup holder 40 is on the
right side of the high chair with mounting assembly 44 secured to
right arm 34, the axially outmost point of cup holder 40 is the
rightmost point of cup holder 40, and the axially outmost part of
high chair 2 on the opposite side of high chair 2 from cup holder
40 is the leftmost point at the same or similar height as the
rightmost point of cup holder 40, and thus this leftmost point is
typically on or adjacent outer surface 49B of left arm 36. However,
when cup holder 40 is on the left side of the high chair with
mounting assembly 44 secured to left arm 36, the axially outmost
point of cup holder 40 is the leftmost point of cup holder 40, and
the axially outmost part of high chair 2 on the opposite side of
high chair 2 from cup holder 40 is the rightmost point at the same
or similar height as the leftmost point of cup holder 40, and thus
this rightmost point is typically on or adjacent outer surface 49A
of left arm 34.
[0041] Width W2 of entrance opening 39 is typically measured
between inner surfaces 27 and 29 of bottom beams 26 and 28 or
between inner surfaces 15 and 17 of front uprights 14 and 16
adjacent bottom 6 or between inner surfaces 19 and 21 of rear
uprights 18 and 20 adjacent bottom 6. An attempt to stack high
chair 2B on top of high chair 2A with the cup holder assembly still
mounted on high chair 2A may result in the above-noted interference
between the cup holder and various portions of high chair 2B,
especially if high chair 2B is lowered vertically without any other
manipulation thereof. Such an interference or other difficulty
might occur even if width W1 is less width W2. When cup holder 40
is removed, that is, when cup holder 40 and connector member 50 are
removed from connector member 52 and mounting assembly 44 and when
mounting assembly 44 is mounted on arm 34 of high chair 2, the
horizontal normal axial or left to right width W3 (FIG. 6A) of the
combination of a top portion of high chair 2 adjacent top 4,
mounting assembly 44 and any portion of connector 48 (here,
connector member 52) mounted on the top portion of high chair 2 is
less than the horizontal axial or left to right width W2 of bottom
entrance opening 39, which thus eliminates the interference or
stacking difficulties which would otherwise exist with cup holder
40 still mounted on high chair 2A.
[0042] Width W3 of the noted combination is typically measured
horizontally in the axial direction, or from left to right, from
the axially outmost point of connector member 52 to the axially
outmost part of high chair 2 on the opposite side of high chair 2
from connector member 52 at the same or similar height as the
axially outmost point of connector member 52. The axially outmost
part of high chair 2 on the opposite side of high chair 2 from
connector member 52 is typically on or adjacent the outer surface
of one of arms 34 or 36. In the example shown in the Figures,
because connector member 52 is on the right side of the high chair
with mounting assembly 44 secured to right arm 34, the axially
outmost point of connector member 52 is the rightmost point of
connector member 52, and the axially outmost part of high chair 2
on the opposite side of high chair 2 from connector member 52 is
the leftmost point at the same or similar height as the rightmost
point of connector member 52, and thus this leftmost point is
typically on or adjacent outer surface 49B of left arm 36. However,
when connector member 52 is on the left side of the high chair with
mounting assembly 44 secured to left arm 36, the axially outmost
point of connector member 52 is the leftmost point of connector
member 52, and the axially outmost part of high chair 2 on the
opposite side of high chair 2 from connector member 52 is the
rightmost point at the same or similar height as the leftmost point
of connector member 52, and thus this rightmost point is typically
on or adjacent outer surface 49A of left arm 34.
[0043] With reference to FIG. 7, the second example embodiment of
the cup holder assembly 1A includes a mounting assembly 44A
comprising a generally C-shaped spring clip 102 configured to mount
on arm 34 (or arm 36) of high chair 2. Clip 102 is formed primarily
of a resilient material such as spring metal or a substantially
rigid plastic which allows for sufficient flexing to mount the clip
on arm 34. Clip 102 includes a flat vertical spine 104, a flat
horizontal top arm 106 connected to and extending rearwardly from
the top of spine 104, and a flat vertical top hook 108 which
extends downwardly from the rear end of arm 106 to a bottom
terminal end 110. Clip 102 further includes a flat horizontal
bottom arm 112 which is rigidly secured to and extends rearwardly
from the bottom of spine 104. Clip 104 further includes a bottom
hook 114 which is rigidly secured to and extends upwardly and
rearwardly from the rear end of bottom arm 112. Hook 114 has an
inverted U-shaped configuration whereby hook 114 includes a front
leg extending upwardly from the rear of arm 112 to an upper curved
portion, and a rear leg which extends downwardly from the rear of
the curved portion. The curved portion defines a top 116 of bottom
hook 114 and the rear leg defines a bottom terminal end 118 of hook
114. Hook 114 defines a chair arm receiving space 120 having a rear
entrance opening 122 defined between terminal end 110 and top
116.
[0044] Clip 102 is easily mounted on arm 34 by maneuvering clip 102
to receive the top of arm 34 through entrance opening 122 such that
the top of arm 34 is adjacent and below top arm 106, at which point
the bottom portion of clip 102 is pushed rearwardly so that bottom
hook 114 pivotally flexes downwardly (Arrow E) to sufficiently
widen entrance opening 122 to allow arm 34 to move into space 120.
The downward movement of hook 114 causes flexing of arm 112 and/or
spine 104 and/or arm 106 in order to sufficiently widen opening
122. Hook 114 may be pushed downwardly manually or may be caused to
move downwardly as the bottom of clip 102 is pushed rearwardly such
that hook 114 slides along the bottom of arm 34. As bottom hook 114
slides past the inner vertical surface of arm 34, hook 114 snaps
upwardly (opposite Arrow E) within space 41 via the spring bias of
the material of which clip 102 is formed to secure clip 102 and
buckle member 52 to arm 34. Clip 102 may be easily removed by
applying a downward force (Arrow E) on bottom hook 114 to widen the
entrance opening 122 sufficiently to pull spring clip 102 off of
arm 34. Cup holder assembly 1A thus provides a different mounting
assembly for securing the cup holder to the high chair. Although
the mounting and dismounting of clip 102 is different from the use
of strap assembly 46 of the first example embodiment, the use of
cup holder assembly 1A is otherwise the same as assembly 1. Thus,
the cup holder 40 may be removed along with buckle member 50 from
buckle member 52 and clip 102 so that cup holder 40 may be washed,
and so that the clip and buckle member 52 remain on the chair
whereby another high chair may be stacked on top as discussed
previously.
[0045] Referring to FIG. 8, cup holder assembly 1B includes a
mounting assembly 44B having a generally C-shaped spring clip 124
which is configured for mounting on an edge 123 of a table or
tabletop 125 which is substantially flat and horizontal. Clip 124
includes a flat vertical spine 126 and a flat horizontal top arm
which is rigidly secured to and extends rearwardly from the top of
spine 126 to a terminal end 129. Clip 124 further includes a
generally S-shaped bottom arm 130 which is rigidly secured to the
bottom of spine 126 and extends rearwardly and upwardly therefrom.
Bottom arm 130 includes a bottom curved segment 132 secured to the
bottom end of spine 126 and curving rearwardly and upwardly
therefrom to an intermediate straight segment 134 which angles
upwardly and rearwardly from the back of curved segment 132. Bottom
arm 130 further includes an intermediate curved segment 136 which
curves rearwardly and upwardly from the upper rear end of straight
segment 134 to transition to a flat horizontal straight end segment
138 which extends rearwardly from the upper rear end of curved
segment 136 to a terminal end 140. The spine and upper and lower
arms of clip 124 define there within a table edge receiving space
142 having a rear entrance opening 144. A rigid finger receiving
handle 146 in the example embodiment has an inverted U-shape, the
parallel vertical legs of which are rigidly secured to the top of
top arm 106 and extend upwardly therefrom to define a finger
receiving space 148 below a horizontal bar of handle 146. Other
handle configurations may be used. An upper flat horizontal pad 150
is secured to the bottom of top arm 106, and a lower flat
horizontal pad 152 is likewise secured to a top of straight end
segment 138 of bottom arm 130 adjacent terminal end 140. In the
exemplary embodiment, pads 150 and 152 are formed of an anti-slip
foam, elastomer or other padding material which is typically
relatively soft and compressible to prevent scratching of finished
surfaces of tabletop 125 and to prevent slippage of clip 124
relative to tabletop 125. Pads 150 and 152 are typically secured to
the respective arms by an adhesive.
[0046] Clip 124 mounts on tabletop 125 in a generally similar
manner as the mounting of clip 102 on arm 134. That is, the upper
and lower arms 128 and 130 are flexibly spread apart from one
another to sufficiently widen entrance opening 144 for receiving
table edge 123 there through into space 142 as clip 124 is moved
rearwardly. This spreading movement may be facilitated by upward
force on the top bar of handle 146 to pivotally flex the upper arm
128 upwardly (Arrow F). Once mounted on tabletop 125, the bottom of
pad 150 engages the top of tabletop 125 while the top of pad 152
engages the bottom of tabletop 125. More particularly, the spring
nature of the clip applies a downward force on the top of the table
via the spring arm 128 and pad 150 as well as an upward force on
the bottom of the table via the bottom spring arm 130 and pad 152.
The configuration of cup holder assembly 1B retains the use of cup
holder 40 and snap fit connector 48 so that cup holder 40 and
buckle member 50 may be removed from buckle member 52 and clip 124
to be washed while the clip assembly remains on the tabletop if
desired. Clip 124 is easy to remove from the tabletop by spreading
the top and bottom arms 128 and 130, which may be facilitated by
the use of handle 146, and moving the clip assembly forward past
edge 123.
[0047] The cup holder assemblies of the present invention thus
provide mounting assemblies which are easy to use and rapidly mount
on a high chair or tabletop. The mounting and dismounting of these
mounting assemblies requires no tools and thus can be done entirely
by manual engagement alone with the mounting assembly. Similarly,
the snap fit connector 48 allows for the quick and easy mounting
and dismounting of cup holder 40 from the mounting assembly of the
given cup holder assembly. This mounting and dismounting of cup
holder 40 likewise may be done without the use of tools and thus
merely by manual engagement with the connector or buckle members.
Thus, cup holder assemblies 1, 1A and 1B may be free of fasteners
which extend into the high chair or tabletop, and may also be free
of an adhesive which contacts the high chair or tabletop to secure
the mounting assembly thereto. Each of the cup holder assemblies
allows for the easy removal of the cup holder to allow it to be
washed easily within a dishwasher. Each of the mounting assemblies
is also configured to allow them to remain on the high chair or
table top when the cup holder is removed therefrom. However, each
of the mounting assemblies may be easily removed when desired. Cup
holder assemblies 1 and 1A likewise allow the stacking of high
chairs when the cup holder is removed from the mounting assembly
without damage to the high chairs or to the mounting assembly which
remains on the high chair during the stacking process.
[0048] As discussed above with respect to mounting assemblies which
may be removable from or permanently attached to a high chair, it
is also within the scope of the present invention to provide a
mounting assembly which is permanently attached or affixed to a
tabletop. For example, a connector member such as connector member
52 may be permanently secured to a tabletop by rivets or other
suitable fasteners, or a tabletop may be formed with a connector
member which is integrally formed therewith, such as by molding or
another method.
[0049] In each example embodiment of the cup holder assembly of the
present invention, the cup when sitting in the mounted cup holder
is positioned so that the bottom of the cup is typically lower than
the table top adjacent the high chair and so that the lid, top of
the cup and top of the straw are lower than a child's mouth. Thus,
the child can either leave the cup in the cup holder while leaning
over to suck the drink through the straw or pick up the cup to
raise the straw to the mouth for a drink. Either option helps to
keep the straw and cup upright and thus greatly reduces the
likelihood of spills.
[0050] Applicants hereby reserve the right to claim additional
aspects or features which are evident from the Figures but which
may not be explicitly described herein in the interest of
brevity.
[0051] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used
for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary
limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of
the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes
and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the description
and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention
is not limited to the exact details shown or described.
* * * * *