EP1449464A1

EP1449464A1 - Highchair equipped with a sliding mechanism

Info

Publication number: EP1449464A1
Application number: EP04075461A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Johannes Albertus Weerdenburg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-02-18
Filing date: 2004-02-16
Publication date: 2004-08-25
Also published as: NL1022731C1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a highchair (fig. 4) with a sliding mechanism (2) which makes it possible for a child to mount and descend the chair independently or with help. Besides, the child can slide himself forwards and draw up to, for example, a table, wherein the highchair is provided with a sliding mechanism (2), which is located between the seating part (1) and the lower frame (3) and due to the fact that the seating part (1) is slideable, the child can, with the seat positioned in the back position, mount easier and then slide himself forwards. While descending, the child can simply push himself backwards and leave the highchair.

Description

The present invention relates to a highchair with a sliding mechanism. Also, the invention provides a simple method for a child to mount a highchair and draw himself up to a table by means of a highchair with sliding mechanism. The present invention will be explained hereafter, specifically for this use.
In the field of highchairs many variations are known. Varying from totally non adjustable chairs to complete adjustable ones. All known highchairs have the disadvantage that adjustment must be done by the parent. The chair is adjusted in such a way that the child can use the highchair efficiently for a certain time. Especially the seating height is of importance. With some of the known highchairs it is possible for the child to mount the highchair independently to take a seat. In all these cases it is not possible that the child positions himself well in relation to, for example, the table. The parent must always give a helping hand in order to position the child properly at the table.
It is the aim of the present invention to provide a highchair in which the child can easily take a seat independently on one hand and on the other hand can position himself correctly at, for example, the table.
According to the invention the aims are achieved with the sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 1.
An important benefit of the highchair with sliding mechanism according to the invention is the simplicity with which the child can independently be seated at the table. Due to the fact that, while mounting, the seat is positioned backwards so the child has room for mounting safely. By means of holding a solid object such as, for example, a table the child can pull himself towards the table by means of the sliding mechanism. On the other hand, the child can also slide himself forward towards the solid part by pushing off with his feet on the fixed part of the highchair. When descending the chair, the child can slide himself backwards through which the seat reaches a position in which the child can safely step down from the highchair.
In a more detailed development of the invention, the sliding mechanism mainly consists of a seating part that can slide forward and backward over the lower frame by means of a sliding mechanism. The lower frame also serves as a mounting facility for the child. Occasionally a possible vertical adjustment can be done by a parent, which is already known from other highchairs, which can be included in the lower frame. In a more detailed development, the chair can also be used without the mounting platform. With this construction the parent puts the child into the seating part after which the child is simply drawn up towards a table or solid object.
The preferred construction of the invention will be described by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawing.
In which:

Fig. 1: shows a schematic longitudinal section of the highchair with sliding mechanism in the neutral position according to the invention;
Fig. 2: shows a schematic longitudinal section of the highchair with sliding mechanism in the front position according to the invention;
Fig. 3: illustrates the work method according to the invention for simply mounting and drawing up of the child on the highchair with the sliding mechanism; and
Fig. 4: shows a schematic view of the highchair in perspective.

Figure 1 schematically shows a longitudinal section of the embodiment of the highchair with sliding mechanism according to the present invention, in which many aspects of the present invention are implemented. The seating part, generally indicated with reference number 1, consists of a seat, whether or not provided with a back support, generally indicated with reference number 7, and/or arm rests, generally indicated with reference number 8, in which the child can take a seat. The sliding mechanism, generally indicated with reference number 2, is situated between the seating part 1 and the lower frame, which is generally indicated with reference number 3 and consists of, for example, a slide bearing, sliding rail, wheels or such. A mounting platform, generally indicated with reference number 5 and foot rest, generally indicated with reference number 6 are attached to the lower frame 3. The seating part 1 is fixed in or between the two end positions by means of a clamping device, generally indicated with reference number 4.
Figure 2 schematically shows a longitudinal section of the embodiment of the highchair with sliding mechanism according to the present invention, in which the total seating part 1 is slided in the front position. This position, as well as the positions in between, make it possible for the child to position himself correctly in relation to, for example, a table.
Figure 3 illustrates the work method according to the invention of the highchair with the sliding mechanism. The work method according to the invention consists successively of the steps:

The child climbs onto the seating part 1 of the highchair via the lower frame 3 and sits down. The seating part 1 is at that moment positioned in the neutral position as indicated in figure 1;
the child pulls himself forward on, for example, a table or pushes himself off with his feet against the lower frame 3 and/or foot rests 6 of the highchair (fig. 3A) through which the sliding mechanism 2 comes out of its clamping device 4 and slides forward and comes in one of the intermediate positions or the end position and fixates himself again in the clamping device 4 as indicated in figure 2. This way the child is positioned correctly at the solid object such as, for example, a table 10 (fig. 3B);
the child pushes himself off against the solid object such as, for example, a table or the lower frame 3 and/or the foot rest 6, through which the sliding mechanism comes out of its clamping device 4 and slides backwards and in this way comes in the neutral position and again fixates himself in the clamping device 4, as indicated in figure 1. The child is now in the opportunity to descend the highchair in a safe way.

Figure 4 shows the highchair in a perspective view.
Finally it has to be emphasized, that the above description constitutes preferred embodiments of the invention and work method and that further modifications are possible without departing the scope of this patent document.

Claims

Highchair equipped with a seating part (1) and a lower frame (3), characterized in that, the chair is equipped with a sliding mechanism (2) with which the seating part (1) can be moved forwards and backwards in relation to the lower frame (3).
Highchair as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, the seating part (1) can be fixed in relation to the lower frame (3) by means of a clamping device (5).
Highchair as claimed in claims 1 and 2, characterized in that, the lower frame (3) is equipped with a mounting platform (5).
Highchair as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that, the mounting platform (5) is adjustable.
Highchair as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, the mounting platform (5) can be attached to the lower frame on two sides (left and right).
Highchair as claimed in claims 1 - 5, characterized in that, the lower frame (3) is provided with a height adjustable foot rest (6).
Highchair as claimed in claims 1 - 6, characterized in that, the seat is provided with arm rests (8) and a seating platform (9), in which the arm rests (8) are mutually positioned in height to a seating platform adjusted to a child's height.
Work method, characterized in that, a person seated on the seating part (1) of a highchair can draw oneself up independently, in relation to the lower frame (3), of a solid object, such as a table, by means of a sliding mechanism (2) of the highchair.
The use of a highchair, characterized in that, the seating part (1), has a sliding mechanism (2) and a lower frame (3) for independently drawing up a child seated on the chair to a solid object such as, for example, a table (10).
Work method, characterized in that, a person seated on the seating part (1) of the highchair is drawn up, in relation to the lower frame (3), to a solid object such as, for example, a table or an eating surface (11) attached to the lower frame (3).