U.S. patent number 3,648,307 [Application Number 05/002,994] was granted by the patent office on 1972-03-14 for child's article of furniture.
Invention is credited to James R. Meade.
United States Patent |
3,648,307 |
Meade |
March 14, 1972 |
CHILD'S ARTICLE OF FURNITURE
Abstract
A child's article of furniture of the swinging type convertible
to a number of different items, according to the use desired,
including a base frame having opposite ends rigidly supported
vertically, a cradle member comprising a child-supporting unit and
a base unit detachably connected and arranged to be pivotally
supported by a pair of U-shaped torsion bars supported at the upper
ends adjacent the opposite sides of the end members of said base
frame and the legs of the torsion bars being tensioned in a manner
tending to move the upper ends toward each other, whereby the lower
horizontal portions of said torsion bars substantially resist
longitudinal movement of the bars axially of themselves, the
child's supporting member unit having front and rear side members
extending between the ends thereof, one of said side members being
removable to permit the mounting of a horizontal tray member and
the rear side member being selectively positionable in a number of
different positions spaced inwardly from the outer edges of said
end members of the child-supporting unit and thereby provide
adjustable seating of a child in said supporting unit, and the base
unit attached to said child's supporting unit being arranged to be
detached from said torsion bars for use either as a stationary
cradle or settee, or bassinet and car bed.
Inventors: |
Meade; James R. (Hatboro,
PA) |
Family
ID: |
43216458 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/002,994 |
Filed: |
January 15, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/108; 5/127;
5/93.1; 472/118 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47D
1/00 (20130101); B60N 2/2854 (20130101); A47D
9/00 (20130101); A47D 9/02 (20130101); A47D
11/005 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47D
9/02 (20060101); A47D 9/00 (20060101); A47D
11/00 (20060101); B60N 2/28 (20060101); B60N
2/26 (20060101); A47d 009/02 (); A47d 007/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;5/2,93,100,104,108,109,124,127 ;272/85,86 ;248/124,317,370
;297/118,280,377,378 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Nunberg; Casmir A.
Claims
I claim:
1. A child's article of furniture of the swinging type comprising
in combination, a base frame comprising a pair of vertical head
members rigidly connected in spaced parallel relationship and the
lower portions being adapted to rest on a floor surface, a
child-supporting unit positioned between said head members above
the lower portions thereof, a pair of similar rectangular U-shaped
torsion members extending between and pivotally connected at the
ends of the legs thereof to transversely spaced locations on the
upper portions of said head members and said torsion members
depending substantially perpendicularly downwardly from said
pivotal connections, the upper ends of said legs when not connected
to said head members extending toward each other a greater distance
than when connected to said head members and thereby being
supported in tensioned condition at all times tending to urge said
ends toward each other, whereby said legs resist movement of the
horizontal lower positions of said torsion members longitudinally
of themselves, means to connect said child's supporting unit to
said horizontal lower portions of said torsion members for
horizontal swinging movement thereby, and power means connected to
said child's supporting unit and operable to oscillate it to effect
said horizontal swinging movement automatically.
2. The article of furniture according to claim 1 in which said
child-supporting unit is provided with a bottom and upright ends
extending upwardly from the opposite ends of said bottom, and said
article of furniture also including means interconnecting said
bottom of said supporting unit to the horizontal lower portions of
said torsion members adjacent the lower ends of said legs
thereof.
3. The article of furniture according to claim 2 further including
antifriction rollers supported on the inner surfaces of said head
members and operable to engage the upright ends of said supporting
unit if during use the tensioned forces of said torsion members is
exceeded beyond a predetermined amount.
4. The article of furniture according to claim 2 further including
antifriction means spaced longitudinally along the horizontal lower
portions of said torsion bars and engaging said means which
interconnect the bottom of said child-supporting unit to said
torsion bars.
5. The article of furniture according to claim 4 in which said
means interconnecting the bottom of said child-supporting unit to
said torsion bars comprises a base for said supporting unit.
6. The article of furniture according to claim 5 in which said base
for said child-supporting unit is provided with notches in the
lower surfaces thereof operable to detachably receive said torsion
bars for separation thereof from the torsion bars to permit the
connected supporting unit and base to serve as a crib or
settee.
7. The article of furniture according to claim 6 in which said
child-supporting unit has a bottom member which also is detachable
from said base therefor to permit said supporting unit to serve as
a car bed and similar purposes.
8. The article of furniture according to claim 2 further including
front and rear side members extending between the opposite side
edges of said upright ends of said child-supporting unit to
comprise a crib structure.
9. The article of furniture according to claim 8 further including
slot means on said upright ends of said child-supporting unit
operable to removably support the opposite ends of said front side
member to permit removal thereof so that said supporting unit may
be used as a settee.
10. The article of furniture according to claim 9 further including
a horizontal tray member, and means on said upright ends of said
child-supporting unit operable to receive and support the opposite
ends of said horizontal tray member, said tray member being
insertable into said support means from the open side of said
child-supporting unit when serving as a settee.
11. The article of furniture according to claim 10 in which said
means interconnecting said child-supporting unit and torsion bars
is a base for said supporting unit extending between the bottom of
said supporting unit extending between the bottom of said
supporting unit and said torsion bars, and said base having means
thereon to receive said tray member to store it in a concealed
manner and locked in balanced position within said base when not in
use.
12. The article of furniture according to claim 9 in which said
child-supporting unit includes means operable to permit adjustable
positioning of said rear side member at selected distances
rearwardly from the front of said supporting unit when said front
side member is removed therefrom to serve as a settee.
13. A child's article of furniture comprising in combination, a
supporting unit for a child including a bottom member arranged
horizontally in use and a pair of substantially vertical end
members fixed at the lower ends thereof respectively to opposite
ends of said bottom member, a base unit having lower terminal
portions engageable with supporting means, means separably
positioning the bottom member of said supporting unit upon the
upper portion of said base unit, latch means detachably locking
said units together for use, front and rear side members extending
between said end members of said child-supporting unit to comprise
a crib, said front side member being movable to permit the
assembled units to serve as a settee and said rear side member
being adjustably positionable selectively at a plurality of
positions spaced different distances from the front side of said
supporting unit to serve as a back rest.
14. The article of furniture according to claim 13 in which said
end members of said child-supporting unit respectively are provided
with complementary sets of substantially parallel grooves spaced
different distances inward from the rear edges of said end members
of said supporting unit to comprise an adjustable positioning means
to slidably receive the ends of said rear side member.
15. The article of furniture according to claim 13 in which said
end members are also each provided with a similar slot adjacent and
substantially parallel to the front edge of said end members of
said child-supporting unit to slidably receive respectively the
opposite ends of said front side member to permit removal thereof
when it is desired to have the supporting unit serve as a
settee.
16. The article of furniture according to claim 15 in which said
end members of said child-supporting unit are additionally provided
with horizontal slots spaced above the bottom member of said
supporting unit and extending inward from the front edges thereof,
and said supporting unit further including an elongated tray member
adapted to have the opposite ends thereof slidably received in said
horizontal slots in said end members to permit said tray member to
be disposed in operative position when said child-supporting unit
is serving as a settee but said tray member being removable from
said horizontal slots when desired.
17. The article of furniture according to claim 13 in which said
base unit is provided with one side member adjacent the front of
said child-supporting unit, said side member sloping downwardly and
outwardly and provided with a foot ledge projecting substantially
perpendicularly outwardly from said side member of said base
unit.
18. The article of furniture according to claim 13 in which said
base unit is provided with end members and said means which
detachably position said base unit and supporting unit relative to
each other comprising a plurality of pins extending from the end
members of one of said units into complementary holes provided in
the end members of the other unit.
19. The article of furniture according to claim 13 in which said
end members of said child-supporting unit are provided with
horizontal slots extending inward from the front edges thereof
along the inner faces of said end members, and said
child-supporting unit further including an elongated tray member
adapted to have the opposite ends thereof slidably received within
said horizontal slots when the front side member of said supporting
unit has been removed, and said base unit being provided with a
space in the upper portion thereof complementary to said tray
member and adapted to receive and store the same when desired.
20. The article of furniture according to claim 19 further
including latch means on the opposite ends of said tray member
engageable with the vertical end members of said child-supporting
unit to detachably secure the opposite ends of said tray member in
a desired operative position between said vertical end members.
21. The article of furniture according to claim 1 in which said
vertical head members and at least the portions of said
child-supporting unit which are connected to said torsion members
are formed from wood to sustain loads in compression and said
torsion members are formed from metal to sustain loads in tension,
whereby said respective elements provide maximum efficiency when
sustaining a load.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
Certain scientific and physical principles utilized in the present
invention also are present in applicant's copending application,
Ser. No. 287,998, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,459,423.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Mechanically operated cradles have been devised previously in which
a cradle-like receptacle for a child is supported between pairs of
links respectively pivotally supported from the upper portions of
end members of a base, similar to so-called gliders for adult use.
One such example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,860,727 in the name of
DiPasqua, dated Nov. 18, 1958. Notwithstanding the fact that the
cradle shown in said prior patent is provided with power means to
oscillate the cradle while supported from pairs of suspension
members adjacent opposite ends thereof, it is possible for the
cradle-like receptacle of said structure to sway longitudinally
toward and from the opposite ends of the supporting base and thus
interfere with and impede the operation of the power means to
oscillate the cradle-like receptacle. Thus, the DiPasqua patent in
effect, utilizes only the basic supporting principles employed in
gliders of a divan-type structure which have been in existence for
many years.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The principal object of the present invention is to provide a
child's article of furniture comprising a child's supporting unit
capable, interchangeably, of serving as a cradle, car bed, or
settee and is detachably connected to a base unit, the lower end of
which is detachably connectable to the horizontal lower portions of
a pair of spaced U-shaped torsion bars, the upper ends of the legs
of said torsion bars respectively being supported in transversely
spaced relationship by a pair of rigid end members upstanding
vertically from a base frame and the upper ends of the legs of said
torsion bars being tensioned in a manner tending to move the same
toward each other, whereby the lower horizontal portions of the
torsion bars resist longitudinal, horizontal movement, whereby
power means provided with an oscillating actuating arm engaging one
end of the child-supporting unit is operable to oscillate the same
substantially within a vertical plane transverse to the axis of
said bars, as controlled by the aforesaid tensioned condition of
the torsion bars.
A further object of the invention is to provide a series of slots
in the inner faces of the end members of said child-supporting unit
which are spaced different distances inward from the rear edges
thereof to accommodate adjustably the rear side member for
selective adjustable positioning of the same with respect to the
child-supporting member when it is serving as a settee, either
oscillatably supported by the torsion bars or disposed upon a
stationary supporting surface.
A further object of the invention is to provide said opposite end
members of the child-supporting unit adjacent the front side
thereof with complementary horizontal slots formed in the inner
faces thereof in spaced relationship to the bottom member of said
child-supporting unit to detachably receive a tray member extending
between said ends of the supporting unit and arranged to be
detachably secured to said end members to restrain a child from
moving from said supporting unit when said tray member is secured
in operative position.
Still another object of the invention is to detachably connect the
aforesaid child-supporting unit and base unit therefor by
positioning means comprising pins and complementary sockets formed
preferably in the end members of said units and also provide
quickly operable latch means to releasably secure said units in
connected position.
A still further object of the invention is to provide antifriction
means between the lower horizontal portions of the U-shaped torsion
bars and the lower portions of said base unit connected to said
child-supporting unit and additionally provide the vertical end
members of the supporting base for the entire structure with
antifriction means that normally are idle but are arranged to be
engaged by opposite ends of the child-supporting unit if the
tension forces existing in the legs of the tension bars are
exceeded sufficiently to cause the ends of the child-supporting
unit to engage the antifriction means.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a rigid,
elongated housing in the lower portion of said supporting frame
which is connected at its opposite ends rigidly to the vertical end
members of said supporting frame, said housing enclosing an
elongated, exemplary torsion-type spring motor comprising power
means to oscillate the aforementioned oscillating lever by which
the child-supporting unit is oscillated when support by said
torsion bars for movement substantially within a single vertical
plane in which it is maintained by the tension embodied in the
torsion bar or torsion rod suspension system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the
child's article of furniture comprising the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the article of furniture shown in
FIG. 1 to illustrate details of the various components of said
assembly of various units and elements comprising the entire
article of furniture.
FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the uppermost unit of
the assembly in FIG. 2 and illustrating in exploded manner the
removable nature of the front side member of said unit.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of one end of the
horizontal tray member shown adjacent the uppermost unit in FIG.
2.
FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic front view of portions of the base frame
and torsion bars connected thereto, said view showing in phantom
the exemplary position of the legs of the torsion bars prior to
being connected to said end members.
FIG. 6 is a view similar to the full line illustration portion of
FIG. 5 but additionally showing the base unit comprising the
intermediate item in FIG. 2 and illustrating the manner in which
the same is pivotally connected to the lower portions of the
torsion bars.
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical elevation showing an alternate
form of latch means by which the torsion bars may be connected to
side members of the base unit shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation, foreshortened between the
ends thereof, illustrating certain details of the base frame member
shown otherwise in FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the base frame
member as seen on the lines 9--9 of FIG. 10.
FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the base frame member which supports
the combined child-supporting unit and base unit which are
detachably connected together.
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional elevation of portions
of the supporting base frame located adjacent the left-hand end of
FIG. 10 and also showing a fragmentary portion of one end of the
child-supporting unit to illustrate the oscillating means
therefor.
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary enlarged end view of the connected
child-supporting unit and base unit comprising respectively the
uppermost and intermediate units shown in FIG. 2 and illustrating
certain details thereof.
FIG. 13 is a fragmentary elevational view of one embodiment of
latch means used in conjunction with the combined units illustrated
in FIG. 12 as seen on the line 13--13 thereof.
FIG. 14 is a fragmentary vertical elevation of details of one
embodiment of caster-supporting means for the base frame as seen on
the line 14--14 of FIG. 9.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The child's article of furniture comprising the present invention
essentially includes a base frame 10 best illustrated in FIG. 2 as
the lowermost unit therein. Said frame comprises a pair of similar
vertical head members 12, the lower portions of which are securely
and rigidly fastened to the opposite ends of an elongated housing
14 which, in cross section is preferably rectangular. For purposes
of resisting movement of the upper ends of the head members 12
toward each other, by forces described in detail hereinafter,
preferably metallic tension members 16 extend along the bottom of
the opposite side edges of the housing 14 as best shown in detail
in FIG. 9. Said tension members may be in the nature of strips of
metal of suitable width and thickness and the opposite ends thereof
are downwardly turned to provide connecting ears 18 which are
firmly secured to the inner surfaces of the vertical head members
12.
The base frame 10 also preferably is provided with a set of four
casters 20. These may be of any conventional construction but the
preferred type is shown in detail in FIG. 14 in which it will be
seen that, particularly when the head members 12 are formed from
wood, a U-shaped reinforcing metal strip 22 is employed which
extends across the lower edges of the head members 12, adjacent the
opposite side edges thereof, and a securing rivet 24 extends
between the upper ends of the legs of each of the reinforcing
straps 22 to secure the same in place. The lower portion of each of
the reinforcing straps each have a suitable hole therein to receive
the swivel pin 26 of the caster 20. Other forms of caster mounts
may be used if desired.
Supported by the inner surfaces of the head members 12 are
antifriction rollers 28 which, as best shown in FIG. 11, may be
quite simply mounted upon supporting blocks 30, or other equivalent
brackets, said blocks being suitable affixed to the head members
12. To minimize the amount of space which is to be occupied by the
rollers 28, the inner surfaces of the head members 12 also may be
provided with short recesses 32. Said rollers may be of any
suitable size and are for purposes to be described.
The housing 14 supports a torsion spring motor 34 which is somewhat
diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 9. Said motor is relatively
powerful for purposes of providing power to oscillate the lever 36
for substantial periods of time for purposes to be described. Motor
34 also may be of a type similar to that shown in U.S. Pat. No.
2,860,727, referred to above, but said type of motor is merely
intended to be illustrative of a type which may possibly be used
rather than being restrictive. The length of the housing 14 is
ample to support a torsion spring motor of substantial length
adequate to furnish the required power to oscillate the lever 36 by
appropriate escapement mechanism which also, if desired, may be of
the type illustrated in said aforementioned patent, but not
necessarily so. The essential feature is that the lever 36 shall be
oscillated at a relatively slow speed for appreciable periods of
time. The torsion spring of the motor also may be wound by crank 38
to establish torsion power within the spring.
One of the most essential features of the base frame 10 is a pair
of U-shaped stressed torsion bars 40. The upper ends 42 of the side
legs of the torsion bars extend outward in opposite directions and
are received within appropriate bearings 44, preferably of an
antifriction nature which are recessed from one surface into the
upper portions of the head members 12 adjacent opposite sides
thereof. The exemplary arrangement of the bearings preferably is
similar to that shown in FIG. 11. When the torsion bars 40 are
formed initially, the legs thereof are disposed at an acute angle
to each other as shown in exemplary manner in phantom in FIG. 5.
Said bars 40 also preferably are formed of hard steel whereby, when
the upper ends 42 of the torsion bars 40 are pulled apart relative
to each other to dispose the same respectively within the bearings
44 which are to receive them, and in which position they are held
by suitable nuts 46, torsion-type tension will be imparted to said
legs to preload them and the lower, horizontal intermediate
portions of the torsion bars 40 to cause them to resist any very
substantial amount of force tending to move said lower portions of
the bars longitudinally of themselves.
It also will be seen that such torsion force in the torsion bars 40
tends to move the upper ends of the head members 12 of base frame
10 toward each other but particularly the provision of the
reinforcing tension members 16 along the lower portion of the
elongated housing 14 is fully adequate to resist such tendency for
such movement of the upper end portions of the head members 12. In
use, therefore, as will be seen particularly from FIGS. 5 and 6,
when the upper ends 42 of the torsion bars 40 are mounted in
operative position within the bearings 44, said legs of the torsion
bars will be substantially parallel both to each other and to the
head members 12. Further, the lower portion of the torsion bars 40
also are preferably provided with a pair of antifriction bearings
48, located substantially as illustrated, for purposes to be
described.
The purpose of the torsion bars 40 is to pivotally support the
child's supporting unit 50 for swinging movement to and fro,
substantially in opposite horizontal oscillatory movements, as
actuated by the lever 38 which is energized by torsion spring motor
34. To effect such movements, it is preferred that the lower
portions of the torsion bars 40 depend from the pivotally supported
upper ends 42 thereof substantially in perpendicular depending
manner when they are idle, whereby the torsion bars 40 and the legs
thereof are substantially in planes parallel to each other. Such
exemplary position is illustrated in the base frame 10 shown in the
lower portion of FIG. 2.
The foregoing preferred arrangement will insure substantially
horizontal positioning of the bottom member 52 of the
child-supporting unit 50. Also, the supporting unit 50 is connected
to the lower horizontal portions of the pivotally supported torsion
bars 40 by connecting means comprising a base unit 54, which
comprises the intermediate structure shown in FIG. 2. In such
preferred construction, the base unit 54 preferably comprises
substantially U-shaped end members 56 arranged vertically. Front
and rear skirt portions comprising side members 58 and 60 extend
between said end members. The opposite side portions of the end
members 56 actually comprise legs which are provided with notches
61 that are complementary to and receive the antifriction bearings
48 supported at predetermined locations upon the lower portions of
the torsion bars 40 in a manner to space the opposite ends 56 of
the base unit 54 evenly from the upward extending legs of the
torsion bars 40, as is best illustrated in FIG. 6.
The effect of this construction is that, intrinsically and
inherently, the present invention employs the theories of
mechanical vibration and periodic motions, certain principles of
which are also employed in the swing construction comprising the
subject matter of applicant's prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,459,423, dated
Aug. 5, 1969. In the present invention, the torsion rod principle
is adapted to a swinging cradle and/or glider structure rather than
a swing, such as illustrated in such prior patent.
The total end result in the present invention is to provide and
employ in a cradle or glider structure the principles of mechanical
vibration and pure harmonic motion. In the structure illustrated,
the motor 34 only fulfills the function of a main spring which acts
upon lever 36 to apply the necessary increment of impetus against
the pendulum comprising the load upon the torsion bars 40, which is
necessary to sustain continuous harmonic motion.
Extending substantially perpendicularly outward from the front side
member 58 is a foot ledge or shelf 62 and it will be seen that
particularly for firmly supporting the same, said ledge is mounted
upon forwardly projecting portions 64 of the end members 56 of base
unit 54. It also will be seen that the lower edge of the front side
member 58 abuts the upper surface of the inner edge of the foot
ledge 62, as clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 12, to further resist any
tendency to dislodge said ledge in use. For strength, as well as
aesthetic appearance, a supplementary front finishing strip 66 is
disposed between the projecting portions 64 of end members 56, the
upper edge thereof firmly abutting the foot ledge 62 to resist
bending thereof in use. For additional strength, a reinforcing
strut 68 extends between the front and rear side members 58 and 60
adjacent the upper edges thereof, as shown in FIG. 2.
The child-supporting unit 50 has a plurality of uses which may be
resorted to quickly by rapid conversion. Said unit comprises a pair
of substantially vertical end members 70, the lower edges of which
are firmly fixed to the opposite ends of the bottom member 52. A
front side member 72 and a rear side member 74 of a bar and slat
nature, or otherwise, extend between the end members 70 of unit 50
and are supported in various operative positions for different
purposes to which the unit 50 may be put. To accomplish this, it
will be seen that the front side member 74 extends between and is
received within a pair of grooves 76, best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
Rear side member 74, as also best seen from FIGS. 2 and 3,
selectively is supported within anyone of three exemplary sets of
the grooves 78.
The end members 70 are also additionally provided with
complementary and similar tray board-receiving horizontal grooves
80, which likewise are best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Associated with
the grooves 82 are a series of latch-receiving holes 82, for
purposes to be described.
Referring to FIG. 1, when the front and rear side members 72 and 74
are disposed as illustrated therein, the unit 50 is admirably
suited to serve as a crib in which a small child may be placed to
sleep or rest while the supporting unit 50 either is stationary or
while being oscillated by the motor lever 36 at a desired rate. To
accomplish such oscillation, referring to FIG. 12, it will be seen
that the end member 70 of unit 50 which is nearest the oscillating
motor lever 36 is provided with an actuating pin 84 which is
received within a slot 86 formed in the upper end of lever 36.
When the front side member 72 is removed, as illustrated somewhat
diagrammatically in FIG. 3, the unit 50 readily serves as a settee
for an infant or young child and it may be used for such purpose
while the connected units 50 and 54 are supported by the torsion
bars 40 for oscillation, if desired, or when said connected units
have been removed from the torsion bars and placed stationarily
upon a supporting surface such as a floor. When so used, the foot
ledge 62 may receive the feet of the infant to add comfort to the
use of the settee. Also, particularly if the infant is quite young
so that its legs are relatively short, the rear side member 74 may
be moved forwardly toward the grooves 76 by being disposed in a
pair of the groove 78 closer to the front edge of unit 50, as
desired.
The grooves 80 are for purposes of receiving the opposite ends of
an elongated tray member 88 which is clearly shown in the upper
portion of FIG. 2 in disconnected or extended position relative to
the groove 80. However, the tray member 88 is readily received
within the grooves 80 and may be located in any one of a number of
different positions and secured therein by any of a number of
suitable means such as exemplary simple latches 90, details of
which are best shown in FIG. 4. Preferably, the latches should be
of such type than an infant cannot readily actuate them. When the
infant is seated within the unit 50, when it is arranged with the
rear side member 74 in the pair of slots shown in FIG. 3, it will
be seen that when, for example, the tray member 88 is moved into
one of the innermost positions therefor within the grooves 80, a
child may be quite securely held upon the settee without being
readily able to extricate himself therefrom.
When the tray member 88 is positioned as described above, it may be
used by the child for eating purposes, play of various kinds,
including looking at a picture or coloring book, or otherwise. When
no use of the tray member 88 is desired, it readily may be stored
inconspicuously and safely within the upper portion of the base
unit 54. By reference to the base unit illustrated intermediately
in FIG. 2, it will be seen that the upper edges of the end member
56 of the base unit 54 are provided with a suitable elongated
recesses 92 in which the opposite ends of the tray member, which is
shown fragmentarily, are fitted to position the tray relative to
the base unit so as to maintain the center of gravity of the base
substantially in vertical alignment with the central axis of said
base unit. To assure this, the latches 90 may be inserted into
suitably located positioning holes 91 in the inner faces of ends 56
of unit 54, see FIG. 2.
The child-supporting unit 50 is separably connected to the base
unit 54 by relatively simple positioning means preferably in the
form of pairs of pins 94 and 96. For example, the pins 94 are
firmly mounted within the end members 56 of the base unit 54
adjacent the front side member 58 and slope substantially forwardly
of the upper ends thereof. Pins 96 however are mounted in the same
end members adjacent the rear side member 60 of base unit 54 and
extend perpendicularly from the upper edges of the end members 56.
The projecting upper ends of the pins 94 and 96 are received
respectively within complementary recesses 98 and 100 and are best
shown in FIG. 12. Thus, by first disposing the recesses 98 upon the
sloping pins 94 and then lowering the recesses 100 onto the
projecting ends of pins 96, accurate positioning of the child's
supporting unit 50 upon the base unit 54 is achieved.
To detachably latch the two units together, any one of a number of
different latch mechanisms may be employed, an exemplary latch 102
of suitable kind being shown best in FIG. 12 which includes a
pivoted hooklike member which is coengageable with a securing
detent 104. Said latch mechanism cooperates particularly with the
angularly disposed positioning pins 94 to secure the base unit 54
to the child-supporting unit 50 at least adequately to permit the
connected units to be lifted simultaneously from the torsion bars
40 upon which the same are disposed essentially by gravity with the
bearings 48 thereon received within the notches 62 in the end
members 56 of base unit 54.
For safety and also to prevent accidental jostling or tipping of
the connected units 50 and 54 from the supported position thereof
upon the torsion bars 40, appropriate additional latching mechanism
is provided. One type is shown in FIG. 2 adjacent the lower edge of
the inner surface of rear side member 60 of base unit 54. Such
illustrated latch is in the form of a relatively simple hook 106
over which the intermediate portion of the lower horizontal portion
of the torsion bar 40 may be snapped by limited flexing of the
torsion bar upwardly and inwardly. It will be understood that a
similar latch is provided in a corresponding location upon the
inner surface of the front side member 58 for engagement by the
forward torsion bar 40. However, other forms of latches may be
used, one exemplary showing of an additional type being seen in
FIG. 7 in which a U-shaped configuration 108 may be formed in
torsion bars 40 intermediately of the ends of the lower horizontal
portions thereof for engagement within a suitable retaining hook
110 fastened appropriately to the inner surfaces of the front and
rear side members 58 and 60. Still other types of effective
connecting means may be employed. Also, while the components of
units 50 and 54, head members 12 and housing 14 may be made from
any appropriate material, suitable wood is preferred.
Maximum efficiency of the operation of the torsion spring motor 34
and the actuating lever 36 thereof is assumed by the nature of the
torsion bars 40 due to the legs thereof being placed under
substantial torsion tension as indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 5
in phantom, whereby when the upper ends 42 thereof are secured
within the bearings 44, there is minimum possibility of movement of
the intermediate lower portions of the torsion bars 40 occurring in
directions longitudinally of themselves. Hence, the swinging
movement of the connected units 50 and 54 is substantially
maintained within a single vertical plane parallel to head members
12 of base frame 10. Accordingly, the torsion bars 40 actually
comprise an adjunct to the torsion motor 34 and its lever 36, and
the resulting movement produced thereby is much more efficient than
if the connected units 50 and 54 could move additionally, for
example, toward and from the head members 12 of base frame 10.
By suitable selection of materials, another inherent advantage is
built into the article of furniture comprising the present
invention. This comprises the fact that wood, from which the base
unit 54 preferably is formed and especially the end members 56
thereof, has its greatest strength when in compression. This fact
is also made use of by the vertical head members 12 being formed
from wood with respect to supporting the bearings 44 for the upper
ends 42 of the torsion bars 40. However, the torsion bars 40 are
formed from steel or other suitable metal so as to be subjected to
tension when a load is imposed upon the supporting unit 50 while
the base unit 54 and head members 12 are simultaneously subjected
to compression by the same load. Thus, minimum sizes of these
members, formed respectively from the aforementioned materials, may
be employed for designed purposes and utilized to maximum the
efficiency of both.
Without departing from the spirit of the invention, it is to be
understood that certain arrangements of the various components are
adaptable to adult use simply by increasing the dimensions
appropriately.
While the invention has been described and illustrated in its
several preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the
invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein
illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in
other ways falling within the scope of the invention as illustrated
and described.
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