U.S. patent application number 14/407980 was filed with the patent office on 2015-05-21 for highchair.
The applicant listed for this patent is MIMA International Holdings Limited. Invention is credited to David Kho, Hiroshi Ono.
Application Number | 20150137565 14/407980 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48626027 |
Filed Date | 2015-05-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150137565 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kho; David ; et al. |
May 21, 2015 |
Highchair
Abstract
The present invention relates to a highchair for babies or small
children, comprising a lower base part (11) and an approximately
bowl-shaped seat (12), which is attached in the upper area of the
base part and which comprises an outer seat bowl (20) that is
somewhat larger in holding volume and an inner seat bowl (21) that
is somewhat smaller in holding volume and that can be fit into the
outer seat bowl. The inner seat bowl can be fastened to the outer
seat bowl so that also larger children can sit in the highchair
after the inner seat bowl has been removed. Furthermore, an
inclined position of the seat in relation to the base part is
preferably provided, for which purpose the seat is moved along a
brace attached to the rear of the seat or a bow (15) that defines a
circular path and during said movement the brace is guided in or on
a guiding device (14) connected to the base part. By means of the
inclination adjustment, the seat can be moved from a position in
which the child is sitting into a position in which the child is
lying. Preferably, the height of the seat can also be adjusted.
Inventors: |
Kho; David; (La Pobla de
Vallbona, ES) ; Ono; Hiroshi; (MI Novate Milanese,
IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MIMA International Holdings Limited |
Road Town, Tortola |
|
VG |
|
|
Family ID: |
48626027 |
Appl. No.: |
14/407980 |
Filed: |
June 12, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
June 12, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2013/062114 |
371 Date: |
December 15, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/135 ;
297/325; 297/423.4; 297/440.1; 297/445.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47D 1/002 20130101;
A47D 1/004 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/135 ;
297/445.1; 297/440.1; 297/325; 297/423.4 |
International
Class: |
A47D 1/00 20060101
A47D001/00; A47B 83/02 20060101 A47B083/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 13, 2012 |
DE |
10 2012 105 130.5 |
Claims
1. A highchair comprising a lower base part and an approximately
bowl-shaped seat, which is attached in an upper area of the base
part, characterized in that the bowl-shaped seat (12) comprises an
outer seat bowl (20), which is somewhat larger in holding volume as
well as an inner seat bowl (21), which is somewhat smaller in
holding volume and which can be fit into the outer seat bowl, and
which can be fixed to the outer seat bowl.
2. The highchair according to claim 1, characterized in that
provision is made at the one bowl for fixing elements, which can
snap into recesses of the respective other bowl, for fastening the
inner seat bowl (21) to the outer seat bowl (20).
3. The highchair according to claim 1, characterized in that the
outer seat bowl (20) has a larger inner width and/or a larger inner
height and/or a larger inner depth, approximately at a right-angled
expansion to the inner height, and/or a lower height of the seating
area relative to the ground, on which the base part (11) stands, as
compared to the inner seat bowl (21).
4. A highchair comprising a lower base part and an approximately
bowl-shaped seat, which is attached in an upper area of the base
part, characterized in that the inclination of the seat can be
adjusted and that, for this purpose, at least one brace or a bow
(15), which defines a circular path, along which the seat is moved
in response to the inclination adjustment and is thereby guided in
or at a guide device, which is connected to the base part, is
attached to the rear side of the seat (12).
5. The highchair according to claim 4, characterized in that the
guide device (14) can be height-adjusted in relation to the base
part (11).
6. The highchair according to claim 4, characterized in that the
guide device (14) can be height-adjusted linearly in relation to
the base part (11) along a track, which is inclined to the
vertical.
7. The highchair according to claim 4, characterized in that the
latter encompasses a height adjustment of the seat (12), which is
telescopic, comprising an outer column (13), which is attached to
the base part (11) and which is inclined to the vertical and from
which an at least one inner bar (18) can be extended
telescopically, to which the guide device (14) is attached or a bar
attached to the base part, in relation to which an outer column
(13), to which the guide device is attached (14), can be moved in
height.
8. The highchair according to claim 7, characterized in that the
column (13) or bar (18) of the telescopic height adjustment is
attached eccentrically to the base part (11).
9. The highchair according to claim 1, characterized in that a foot
rest element (17) for the child sitting in the seat, which can be
removably attached to the seat, is embodied as having the contour
of an approximately U-shaped bow, wherein in the fastened state,
the bow runs partially at a distance to the lower edge of the
seat.
10. The highchair according to claim 1, characterized in that a
brace-like holder (19) can be removably attached to the seat bowl
at at least two, preferably at three points, wherein a storage
table (16) for the seat can in turn can be removably fastened to
this holder.
11. The highchair according to claim 4, characterized in that,
viewed in the side view of the highchair, the brace or the bow (15)
describes a reference circle and the guide device (14) comprises a
tubular accommodation, which describes a short circular-arc
section, through which the brace or the bow (15) can be slid in
response to the inclination adjustment of the seat (12).
12. The highchair according to claim 4, characterized in that,
viewed in the side view of the highchair, the brace or the bow (15)
encompasses the contour of the bowl-shaped seat (12) at a varying
distance, if applicable, and/or the seat is fastened in the
respective end areas of the brace or of the bow, at least at two
areas of its edge, which are located diametrically opposite in the
front view.
13. The highchair according to claim 1, characterized in that the
inclination of the seat can be adjusted and that, for this purpose,
at least one brace or a bow (15), which defines a circular path,
along which the seat is moved in response to the inclination
adjustment and is thereby guided in or at a guide device, which is
connected to the base part, is attached to the rear side of the
seat (12).
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is the U.S. national stage of International
Application No. PCT/EP2013/062114 filed on Jun. 12, 2013, and
claims the benefit thereof. The international application claims
the benefit under 35 USC 119 of German Application No. DE 10 2012
105 130.5 filed on Jun. 13, 2012; all applications are incorporated
by reference herein in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The instant invention relates to a highchair comprising a
lower base part and an approximately bowl-shaped seat, which is
attached in an upper area of the base part.
[0003] The typical highchairs of this type are provided for babies,
who are not yet able to sit independently in a common chair. The
highchair offers a safe place to sit, because the baby can on
principle be buckled in said chair. Most of the time, a table is
also present, onto which dishes can be placed, when the baby has a
meal, or onto which toys or other objects, for example, can be
placed. On principle, such highchairs also have an option to adjust
the inclined position of the seat in relation to the seat, so that,
from a position, in which the baby assumes a sitting position, the
inclination of the base part can be adjusted such that the baby is
then in a largely lying position and can thus also sleep in the
highchair and is thereby secured against falling out.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 7,905,549 B2 describes a highchair, for
example, in the case of which the inclination adjustment of the
approximately bowl-shaped seat is made such that the seat is held
between two support arms, which, viewed in frontal view, are
embodied in an approximately U-shaped manner as a whole, so as to
be pivotable about a horizontal axis, which runs in transverse
direction. The inclination adjustment of the seat takes place via
joints comprising fixing mechanisms, which are attached to both
sides in the area of the pivot axis, wherein these fixing
mechanisms are operated via ties and the joints are unlocked in
this manner, wherein the operating element, which acts on the ties,
is located approximately in the upper end area of the seat below.
In the case of such a highchair, the child can be moved from an
approximately upright sitting position into a lying position by
inclining the seat bowl.
[0005] US 2010/0052387 A1 describes a device for accommodating a
small child, which is similar to a couch, in the case of which the
small child lies on a lying surface of a textile material, which is
fastened to a plurality of braces via zippers or hook-and-loop
fasteners. A complex drive mechanism, which allows for different
movement patterns for rocking the child back and forth or up and
down, is accommodated in a base frame. In the case of this known
device, a brace can also be adjusted along a circular path in
relation to the base frame, in response to which the brace is moved
in a guide along the circular path. This known couch, however,
cannot be compared to a common highchair, because it does not
provide for a sitting position for the child, in which the child
consumes food, for example, plays with objects on a tray, looks
through a book or the like. Instead, this known device only serves
to calm down the child or to put it to sleep by means of rocking
movements or to amuse the child by means of cradling movements. Due
to the complex drive, the construction of this device is very
extensive and expensive.
[0006] When using a rigid inherently stable seat bowl, as in the
case of the highchair according to above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No.
7,905,549 B2, a disadvantage of the known highchairs of this type
is that the usage time is limited, because, due to its size, the
stiff seat bowl can only accommodate a child up to a certain size.
When the child has reached a certain age, it then no longer fits
into the seat bowl, so that the usage time of such a highchair is
limited to babies. Even though an exploded view of the mentioned
U.S. document shows that a seat bowl, which is identified as
backrest therein, represents a separate component, the seat bowl is
obviously removed only in response to the disassembly of the
highchair or possibly for cleaning purposes. After removing this
backrest, the highchair is present in a non-operational dismantled
state and a use of the highchair in this unfinished state without
backrest is not described.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0007] It is the task of the invention to provide an alternative
highchair of the above-mentioned type, the seating area of which is
variable, so that a larger child can also sit in the highchair
after a conversion and so that said highchair thus has a longer
useful life.
[0008] A highchair of the above-mentioned type comprising the
characterizing features of claim 1 provides the solution for this
task.
[0009] According to the invention, provision is made for the
bowl-shaped seat to comprise an outer seat bowl, which is somewhat
larger in holding volume as well as an inner seat bowl, which is
somewhat smaller in holding volume and which can be fixed to the
outer seat bowl. This alternative makes it possible to remove the
inner seat bowl from the outer seat bowl and to thus create a seat
comprising a larger holding volume, whereby a larger child can be
placed into the chair. This results in a use of the highchair for a
longer period of time, because the seat can quasi be adapted to the
size of the child.
[0010] A preferred further development of the invention provides
for fixing elements at the bowl, which can snap into recesses or
corresponding fixing elements of the respective other bowl for
fastening the inner seat bowl to the outer seat bowl.
[0011] To create a larger holding volume after removing the inner
seat bowl, the outer seat bowl preferably has a larger inner width
and/or a larger inner height and/or a larger inner depth,
approximately at a right-angled expansion to the inner height,
and/or a lower height of the seating area relative to the ground,
on which the base part stands, as compared to the inner seat
bowl.
[0012] A novel design solution alternative for the inclination
adjustment of a highchair of the above-mentioned type is also the
subject matter of the instant invention. For this purpose,
provision is made according to the invention for at least one brace
or a bow to be attached to the rear side of the seat and which
defines a circular path, along which the seat is moved in response
to the inclination adjustment and is thereby guided in or at a
guide device, which is connected to the base part. This type of
inclination adjustment can also be provided in the context of a
preferred further development of the invention and can be combined
with the exchangeable inner seat bowl. In particular when wanting
to put a baby to sleep, it is advantageous, if the possibility
exists to bring the seat bowl into an approximately horizontal
lying position.
[0013] The mentioned solution according to the invention results in
a novel motion sequence of the seat in response to adjusting the
inclined position. While the bowl-shaped seat pivots about a fixed
axis, which goes through the seat in the state of the art according
to U.S. Pat. No. 7,905,549 B2, the center of the circular path is
located outside of the contour of the seat, that is, the movement
follows a larger pivot radius and the base area of the seat bowl
quasi moves further away from the guide device, which forms a fixed
point, in response to adjustment into a flatter inclined position
in the case of the solution according to the invention.
[0014] According to a further development of the invention,
provision is preferably made for the guide device to be capable of
being height-adjusted in relation to the base part. Regardless of
the inclination adjustment, the entire seat is also
height-adjustable in this case. This can be a telescoping height
adjustment, for example. Preferably, provision is made according to
a further development of the invention for the guide device to be
capable of being height-adjusted linearly in relation to the base
part along a track, which is inclined to the vertical. In contrast
to the state of the art, the height adjustment thus does not take
place in exactly vertical direction, but along a linear guide at an
angle, which differs from the vertical by several angular degrees,
for example. When the seat is pivoted into a flatter position, the
center of gravity moves forward in the case of the highchair
according to the invention. When the inclination of the height
adjustment is towards the rear side, the center of gravity is moved
slightly backwards again in response to raising, so that a certain
compensation results here.
[0015] Preferably, provision is made according to a further
development of the invention for the height adjustment to be
telescopic, comprising an outer column, which is attached to the
base part and which is inclined to the vertical and from which an
at least one inner bar can be extended telescopically, to which the
guide device is attached, or a bar attached to the base part, in
relation to which an outer column, to which the guide device is
attached, can be moved in height.
[0016] Provision is preferably made according to a further
development of the invention for the column or bar of the
telescopic height adjustment to be attached eccentrically to the
base part, for example in the rear area of the base part, when the
seat is arranged upstream of the bar and the guide device. The
stability is increased through this and a forward tilting is
avoided.
[0017] Preferably, provision is made for a foot rest element, which
can be removably attached to the seat, for the child sitting in the
seat. This foot rest element is embodied as having the contour of
an approximately U-shaped bow, wherein in the fastened state, the
bow runs partially at a distance to the lower edge of the seat, so
that the child can place the feet onto the foot rest element below
the seat bowl.
[0018] According to a further preferred further development of the
solution of the task according to the invention, a brace-like
holder can be removably attached to the seat bowl at at least two,
preferably at three points, wherein a storage table for the seat
can in turn can be removably fastened to this holder. In contrast
to the state of the art, the holder is thus fastened to the seat
bowl itself. Storage table and the holder thereof can be removed
separately from the seat. If necessary, the storage table can be
removed, in particular, if one wants to remove the inner seat bowl
from the seat so as to make room for a larger child.
[0019] Viewed in the side view of the highchair, the brace or the
bow preferably describes a reference circle and the guide device
comprises a tubular accommodation, which describes a short
circular-arc section, through which the brace or the bow can be
slid in response to the inclination adjustment of the seat. In the
respective inclination adjustment, the brace and/or the bow can be
locked in place in the guide device.
[0020] According to a further development of the invention, the
brace or the bow, viewed in the side view of the highchair,
preferably encompasses the contour of the bowl-shaped seat at a
varying distance, if applicable, and/or the seat is fastened in the
respective end areas of the brace or of the bow, at least at two
points of its edge, which are located diametrically opposite in the
front view. In opposite edge areas, the seat bowl is thus held at
the circular arc-shaped brace, so that the pivot travel of the seat
bowl is quasi maximized in response to the inclination adjustment
and the seat bowl can be pivoted in both directions until the edge
area in each case strikes against the guide device.
[0021] The features mentioned in the subclaims relate to preferred
further developments of the solution of the task according to the
invention. Further advantages of the invention follow from the
detail description below.
[0022] The instant invention will be described in more detail below
by means of exemplary embodiments by referring to the enclosed
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] In the figures:
[0024] FIG. 1 shows a perspective front view of an exemplary
highchair according to the invention;
[0025] FIG. 2 shows a perspective side view of the high chair of
FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a highchair according to an
alternative version of the invention;
[0027] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the highchair of FIG. 3, in the
case of which the seat was brought into a flatter inclination
position;
[0028] FIG. 5 shows a perspective exploded view of the highchair
according to the alternative of FIG. 3;
[0029] FIG. 6 shows a further view of the highchair of FIG. 5, in a
perspective view from the front, after removing the inner seat
bowl;
[0030] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a highchair according to
the invention, viewed from the rear side.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] Reference will initially be made below to FIGS. 1 and 2. The
highchair 10 according to the invention comprises a base part 11,
with which the highchair stands on the ground, and a bowl-like seat
12. A height-adjustable column 13 extends upwards from the base
part 11, wherein the column does not run upwards vertically from
the base part 11, but at an angle of a few degrees to the vertical,
and wherein a guide device 14 is arranged at the upper end of the
column. This guide device 14 is hollow on the inside, is tubular
and curved in an arch-shaped manner and accommodates a bow 15,
which is curved in a partially circular arc-shaped manner, which
can be inserted through the guide device. This bow 15, in turn,
serves to fasten the bowl-shaped seat 12, which, as can be seen
from FIG. 2, is fastened to the bow in two areas, namely once at
the upper end of the bow and once at the lower end of the bow.
Across its length, the bow 15 describes slightly less than a
semi-circular arch. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the seta 12 has an
oval contour and the bow 15 is attached to the seat of the rear
side of the seat bowl in two areas of the seat bowl located
diametrically opposite one another. When the inclination of the
seat is adjusted, the bow (or the brace) 15 is pushed through the
guide device 14, thus resulting in different inclination positions,
as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, which correspond to a more sitting
or to a more lying position of the child located in the seat. The
end points of the pivot travel of the bow 15 through the guide
device 14 are defined by the fastening area of the bow at the seat
bowl.
[0032] The base part 11 is embodied such that an increased
stability of the highchair results. The base part can thereby
either comprise an outer approximately U-shaped brace 11a as well
as an approximately V-shaped area 11b, from which the holder for
the column 13 projects to the top, or, as in the alternative of
FIG. 3, the base part comprises an outer ring 11c and also an
approximately V-shaped area, from which the column, on which the
seat rests, extends upwards. This column can thereby be arranged
more or less eccentrically relative to the center point of the base
part 11, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 3. The column 13, has
a slight inclination towards the vertical of the rear side of the
seat, because the seat 12 extends forward from the bow 15 and from
the guide device 14, so that the center of gravity of the highchair
is compensated through this and is located approximately above the
center of the base part 11.
[0033] The highchair 10 furthermore comprises a storage table 16
for the small child, which can be removed from the highchair and
which has a foot rest element 17, which is ring-shaped, has an
approximately U-shaped contour and, as can be seen from FIG. 1,
runs at a slight distance below the lower edge of the seat bowl 12,
which also runs in an arc-shaped manner, so that the small child
can comfortably place the feet onto the foot rest element.
Preferably, the foot rest element 17 can also be removed from the
seat, as will be explained below.
[0034] Two alternatives for height-adjusting the seat are shown in
FIGS. 2 and 4. In the case of the first alternative according to
FIG. 2, the guide device 14 is attached to the column 13 and the
outer column 13 is extended upwards by means of the guide device
14, for example via a pneumatic spring mechanism, which comprises
an inner bar (can only be seen in outlines in FIG. 1). In the case
of the second alternative according to FIGS. 3 and 4, an outer
column 13 is fixedly attached to the base part 11 and an inner bar
18 is extended telescopically from the outer column 13 when moving
the seat 12 upwards. In this case, the guide device 14 is located
at the upper end of the bar 18 and thus moves upwards with the bar.
Guide device 14 and outer column 13 are thus separated in the case
of FIG. 4, while guide device 14 and outer column are connected to
one another and move up together in the case of the alternative
according to FIG. 2. FIG. 3 shows a lower height position of the
seat 12 and FIG. 4 shows a position, which is moved up slightly,
whereby the bow 15 was simultaneously moved by means of the guide
device 14 and the seat 12 was thus pivoted into a flatter position,
which largely corresponds to a lying position of the child.
[0035] As compared to FIG. 3, FIG. 4 shows that, due to the
pivoting of the seat due to the fact that the center point of the
circle, about which the seat bowl pivots, is located slightly above
the seat bowl 12, based on the steeper position according to FIG.
3, the front base area of the seat bowl 12 is pushed forward into
the flatter position according to FIG. 4. The pivot radius, which
is defined by a circle, which goes through the bow 15, is thus
comparatively large, contrary to the cases according to the state
of the art, where a narrow pivot radius is created in that a joint
axis goes centrally through the seat itself.
[0036] In addition to the height position and the inclination
position of the seat 12, the illustration of FIG. 4 also differs in
that the storage table 16 and the foot rest element 17 in FIG. 14
were removed from the seat.
[0037] Further details of the setup of the seat 12 of the highchair
10 follow from the exploded drawing according to FIG. 5. The
removed storage table 16, which is removed from the seat bowl, can
be seen. It can furthermore be seen that an inner seat bowl 21,
which can be removed from an outer seat bowl 20 of the seat 12, is
present, which encompasses an approximately smaller holding volume
and which, except for an edge area 21a, can be inserted completely
into the outer seat bowl 20, wherein the edge area 21a overlaps the
edge of the outer seat bowl 20, as can also be seen in FIG. 3. To
fasten the inner seat bowl 21 to the outer seat bowl 20, provision
is made for example for fixing elements at the one bowl, which can
snap into recesses of the other bowl. These fastening elements are
not illustrated in FIG. 5. A brace-like holder 19 for fastening the
storage table 16 is removably fastened to the inner seat bowl 21,
to which, in turn, the storage table 16 can be removably attached.
The brace-like holder 19 can consist, for example, of a middle
brace, which rises vertically, which supports the storage table,
and of an approximately U-shaped brace, which runs horizontally and
which is connected to the vertically rising brace, approximately in
the center in the front. With its ends, which are directed inwards
toward the inner seat bowl 21, the U-shaped brace, which runs
horizontally, is fastened to said inner seat bowl, while the
vertical brace is fastened to the seat bowl by means of its lower
end. With its bottom side, the storage table 1 bears on the
horizontal U-shaped brace.
[0038] As furthermore follows from FIG. 5, the U-shaped foot rest
element 17 (see also FIG. 3) can be removed from the seat 12 of the
highchair. For this purpose, the foot rest element 17 can be
attached from the bottom, for example, onto the outer seat bowl 20
such that it clasps the edge of the outer seat bowl 20 in the lower
area in a clamping manner by means of its two U-journals, wherein,
however, a distance remains between the U-arch of the foot rest
element 17 and the lower edge of the seat bowl, which runs in a
similar U-shaped arch as can be seen in FIG. 1, so that the child
can comfortably place the feet thereon.
[0039] The purpose for removing the smaller inner seat bowl 21 from
the larger outer seat bowl 20, which is shown in FIG. 5, is that
the holding volume of the seat bowl can be increased therewith and
that the highchair, which is suitable for babies with the inner
seat bowl 21, can be converted into a highchair, in which larger
children can sit as well, with comparatively little effort. FIG. 6
once again illustrates a perspective view of the highchair of FIG.
5 with removed inner seat bowl in a view from the front at an
angle, so that, as compared to FIG. 1, it can be seen in FIG. 6
that the outer seat bowl 20 now offers more space, because the seat
plane is now located lower than in the case of an assembled inner
seat bowl and because the holding volume of the outer seat bowl 20
as a whole is larger than that of the inner seat bowl, that is, the
outer seat bowl 20 preferably has a larger inner width, larger
inner height, a larger inner depth, in approximately right-angled
expansion to the inner height, and/or a lower height of the seat
surface relative to the ground, on which the base part stands, as
compared to the inner seat bowl 21.
[0040] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a highchair according to
the invention, similar to the alternative according to FIGS. 1 and
2, viewed from the rear side. From this view, it can be seen that
the bow 15, which is guided through the guide device 14, can have a
flat oval cross section, for example, and does not necessarily need
to have a circular cross section. It can furthermore be seen in
FIG. 7 that a locking lever 22, which is supported in a hinged
manner on the rear side of the guide device, is located at the
latter. When this locking lever 22, which encompasses an eccentric
for clamping, for example, is pivoted upwards, the bow 15 in the
guide device is loosened through this and can now be moved therein,
while the bow 15 is fixed in the guide device 14 and in the lower
position of the locking lever 22 and can thus not moved, so that
the seat is then locked in place in the corresponding inclined
position.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0041] 10 highchair [0042] 11 base part [0043] 11a U-shaped brace
[0044] 11b V-shaped area [0045] 11c outer ring [0046] 12 seat
[0047] 13 column [0048] 14 guide device [0049] 15 partially
circular arc-shaped bow [0050] 16 storage table [0051] 17 foot rest
element [0052] 18 bar [0053] 19 brace-like holder [0054] 20 outer
seat bowl [0055] 21 inner seat bowl [0056] 21a edge area [0057] 22
locking lever
* * * * *