US3542419A - Child's convertible chair - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent I Priority Ercole Spinola Milan, Italy Dec. 3, 1968 Nov. 24, 1970 Giuseppe Perego Arcone Milano, Italy a corporation Jan. 12, 1968 Italy Nos. 11472A/68 and 212l6A/68 lnventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee CHILD S CONVERTIBLE CHAIR 10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 297/130,

297/152, 297/254, 297/345, 297/429 Int. Cl A47c 13/00 Field of Search... 297/130, 194, 254, 255, 345, 346, 230,152,118

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1912 Hinsky 1/1953 Johnson Primary Examiner-Reinaldo P. Machado Attorney-McGlew and Toren ABSTRACT: A childs high chair is constructed of disengage- I able components, and includes a chair-stabilizing base framework and a supporting framework extending upwardly from the base framework. A slide is adjustably mounted on the supporting framework, and a relatively small armchair is provided with first means for engaging the slide to support the armchair on the supporting framework and with second hook means engageable with the back of a car seat. The armchair includes a back, a pair of sides, a seat support frame and a seat, and the seat is mounted on its support frame for adjustment longitudinally of the latter. A foot rest support is disengageably secured to the armchair and mounted on the sides thereof for adjustment longitudinally of the sides. The foot rest may be vertically adjustably mounted on its support, and the armchair may be provided with rear support leg means whereby the armchair may be set on the floor in supported relation above the floor.

Patented Nov. 24, 1970 3,542,419

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CHILDS CONVERTIBLE cnxm It is the object of the present invention to provide a childs high chair with a small armchair which is detachable and is adjustable in height from the floor, with the seat of the armchair being adjustable in depth and with a tray and a footrest removably mounted on the armchair and adjustable relative to the latter.

The invention is illustrated, by way of example and without limitation, in the accompanying drawings where two preferred embodiments are shown. and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the high chair according to the invention fully assembled:

FIG. 2 is an exploded view olsuid high chair with its various detachable parts, disassembled from one another,

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the small armchair connected to the device for the adjustment ofthe height from the floor;

FIG. 4 is a side, partially sectioned view of the small armchair, showing the devices for the adjustment in depth of the seat and the footrest;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the high chair ofthe invention, showing the high chair fully assembled;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view ofthe high chair shown in FIG. 5, with the various component parts disassembled from 'one another;

FIG. 7 shows the detail of the supporting board or tray of FIGS. 5 and 6, seen from the bottom;

FIG. 8 is a partial side view, part-sectioned, of the high chair of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is a partial rear view of the highchair of FIG. 5, with certain parts disassembled and others assembled.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS relative to the seat Ea of the armchair by virtue of supports Ga in which legs of support Fa are engaged. Two brackets Ma are fixed to armchair Ba and carry hooks by means of which the armchair may either be disengageably mounted on the slide Zq or on the back ofa car seat. The high chair further includes a tray Ta on a frame Fa, and this tray may be disengageably secured to the back of the small armchair Da. The tray may also be inverted. v

From the foregoing briefdescription, it will be clear that the essential features of the high chair embodying the invention are that, in addition to the small armchair being usable either on a fixed framework or on the seat of the car, and being completely detachable, the high chair is suitable for children ofdifferent ages and sizes, for example up to 4 or 5 years old. The small armchair of the high chair thus has the following features:

I. its height from the floor is adjustable;

2. the depth of its seat may be adjusted with respect to the back; and

3. both the height as well as the depth of the footrest are adjustablc.

Referring more in detail to FIGS. 1 through 4, the chair-stabilizing base framework Aa comprises a pair of side members each comprising pa i ts l and 1' and each having a tubular sleeve 2 extending upwardly therefrom and provided with a setscrew or the like 3. The side members of base framework Aa are mounted on casters 4, and are interconnected by crossrods 5 which are secured in position by screws 6 inserted through holes 6 in the side members and threaded into the ends ofthe rods 5.,Screws 6 also secure to each side member a bumper 7 having apertured brackets 7' through which screws 6 extend, bumper 7 including reentrant flexible ends 7". These reentrant portions 7" may comprise rubber gaskets.

The upright rear supporting framework Ba comprises a pair of elongated rods 8 each inserted into a respective sleeve 2 and secured therein by the associated screw 3. Near their upper ends, rods 8 are interconnected by a crossrod 9 which is welded thereto, and handhold knobs 10 are provided on the upper ends ofthe rods 8.

The slide Ca is mounted on rods 8 for adjustment longitudinally thereof and, for. this purpose, comprises a pair of sleeves lll interconnected by crossmembers l2, 12. Slide Ca is secured in adjusted position on upright supporting framework Ba by means of setscrews l3, 13. Slide Ca disengageably sup ports the small armchair Da.

Armchair Da includes a bottom sent support 14 having on its upper surface a pair of longitudinally extending guides IS. A pair of arms 16 are secured to opposite sides of seat support 14 and to the back of the armchair, which latter is supported with its bottom edge spaced somewhat above the guides I5, as will be clear from FIG. 4. Seat Ea is provided, on its under surface, with a pair of guides 17; 17 which are complementary to the guides 15 and provide for longitudinal adjustment of seat Ea with respect to seat support M. Guides 17 are provided with respective stops or abutments I7, and guides 15 are provided with abutments 15', the abutments l5 and 17' limiting the magnitude of the relative adjustment of seat Ea longitudinally relative to seat support 14. It will be understood that guides 15 and 17 may be replaced by other similar guide means, such as pads, rollers, or the like.

Support Fa for footrest Ha comprises a tube 24 which is bent into-a rectangular U-shape, each of the opposite legs being bent at a point somewhat spaced from the bight to provide generally horizontal leg portions and generally downwardly extending leg portions. Notches 24' are provided in spaced relation along each generally horizontally extending leg portion, and apertures 24" are formed in each downwardly extending leg portion. Notches 24' are formed in the undersides of the horizontally extending leg portions, for a purpose to be described.

Device Ga, for the displacement in depth of support Fa of the footrest, comprises two L-shaped or angle side plates 20, fixed to the armrests 16 of the small airmchair and having tubes or sleeves 21 welded to their horizontal legs.

Tubes 21 slidably receive the ends'of tube 24, and the latter may be fixed in several adjusted positions by small hairpin springs 23 secured on seat support 14 and having legs acting through slots 22 oftube 21 against notches 24 oftube 24.

Frame la supporting footrest Ha comprises a generally rectangular U-shaped rod 25 with substantially vertically extending legs and with a bight portion bent to extend horizontally. Rod 25 has hook-shaped ends and is provided with pro jecting pins 25'. The bight portion of rod 25 is provided with aper ured brackets 26 welded thereto and brackets 26 are arranged to have footrest Ha disengageably secured thereto, as by SI rews or the like. The hook-shaped portions 25 and 25 are engageable in the apertures 24" of support Fa, for vertical adjustment of footrest I-Ia relative to small armchair Da.

The devices Ma are in the form of two L-shaped or angle plates, fixed to the back of the small armchair, and having vertically extending tubes welded thereto. These tubes receive the vertical legs ofa pair of hooks l8 and 19, these legs being welded together in such a way that books 18 and 19 extend at right angles to each other. The books 18 serve to support the small armchair on the upper crossmember 12 of slide Ca, with the back of the small armchair engaging the lower crossmember 12. When the small armchair is removed from slide Ca, the double books may be turned so that hooks 19 extend rearwardly for mounting the small armchair on the back of a car seat.

Finally, the tubular frame Sa supporting board or tray Ta is disengageably connected to the small armchair so that tray Ta may be turned over or inverted with respect to the latter.

A further improved embodiment of the high chair forming the subject matter of the invention is shown in FIGS. 5 through 9, and has the following features:

a. the base framework and the rear support one are made in one piece preferably of metal, shaped so that the high chair is perfectly balanced and cannot be turned over by the child;

. the frame has-fixed thereto and detachable therefrom the supporting board or tray, which can no longer be inverted but is connected to the small armchair for longitudinal adjustment and is removable therefrom;

. the vertically adjustable sliding device has the upper horizontal tube outwardly bent so as to permit a better arrangement of the small armchairm, once it is removed from the supporting framework, against the back of the car seat;

d. the seat of the small armchair has fixed underneath it, in the rest position, a tubular U-shaped support outwardly rotatable so as to permit placing of the small armchair, once removed, even on the floor;

e. the footrest is in one piece with its frame, it may be ad justed longitudinally and it is removable the same as the frame supporting the board or tray; and

f. the seat is provided with a front extension which serves as a cover for the footrest.

As may be seen from FIGS. 5 to 9, the high chair comprises a base framework A movable on four wheels A, and in one piece with a rear supporting framework B, on which are provided suitable handles L to lift it or displace it.

A slide comprising two horizontal tubes G connected to two vertical sleeves C, is vertically slidable, together with the small armchair disengageably mounted thereon, along the posts of support B, since sleeves C surround these posts and may be fixed thereto in any position desired by means of suitable setscrews.

The upper horizontal tube G is outwardly bent so as to facilitate,as mentioned, its location at the back ofthe car seat.

The small armchair itself comprises a back D and two side ortions D,, D,, as well. as a seat E preferably made of plastic material which is flexible and washable.

The seat E is provided with a front extension E which serves as a cover for the footrest.

Parts D, D, and D are fixed respectively to plates Q, R, P of molded, rigid, plastic material, which are arranged on the outer surfaces ofthese parts.

These plates are provided with axially spaced hinging sleeves Q,,, R, and P which are arranged to receive hinge pintles M which are also so formed so as to constitute the elements for mounting the small armchair on the vertically adjustable slide or on the back of a car seat. Plates R and P are formed, additionally, with horizontally extending sleeves R and P,,, respectively, on their inner surfaces adjacent their upper edges. These sleeves receive the arms of a substantially rectangular U-shaped frame S supporting tray T. These arms are secured in adjusted position in their respective sleeves R and P,, by means of setscrews V threaded through apertures in the respective sleeves. Thus, tray T may be adjusted longitudinally of the small armchair or may be completely removed therefrom.

On their lower edges, slide plates R and P are formed with suitable means for receiving the hook ends F, ofa frame F for supporting seat E. The lower edges of these plates R and P are further formed with respective sleeves R and l for receiving the arms H of a substantially rectangular U-shaped footrest H. Arms H may be secured in adjusted position in their respective sleeves by means of setscrews V" threaded into the sleevesyand the footrest is completely disengageable from the plates R and P. Handles Z are provided on the outer surfaces ofthe plates R and P.

Frame F for supporting seat E includes a longitudinal frame member which is formed with an elongated slot F whicl slidably receives a threaded pin on the underside of seat E, thi pin being provided with a suitable nut whereby seat E may bt secured in adjusted position on frame F or may be completely removed therefrom.

The frame S supports a plate 8, also made of metal, for the child to play, and is adapted to support also a tray T of plastic material which may be connected thereto (see FIG. 7) by means of projections T The underside of tray T, adjacent its forward edge, is provided with formations cooperable with the bight of frame S, and, adjacent the rear edge of its under surface, tray T is provided with a slotted bracket T, or a strap or the like which may also extend through a slot in the extension E ofseat E (See H08. 5 and 7).

A U-shaped tube U is pivoted to brackets on frame F and normally rests against the under surface of seat E. When the small armchair is removed from the slide C-G, the chair may be supported on the floor or the like by swinging the bracket U downwardly so that this bracket, in cooperation with the footrest H supports the small armchair.

The elements M, as best seen in FIGS. 6 and 9, have relatively elongated rectilinear legs which extend through the hinge portions on the back plate Q and the side plates R and P to pivotally interconnect .these portions. However, such pivoting is prevented by engagement of the hook ends F, of frame F with the side plates. The elements M are retained in position by means of cooperating setscrews and nuts V', as best seen in FIGS. 6 and 8. The upper ends of these elements M are bent to form relatively large hooks M, which may be used to support the small armchair on the back ofa car seat. Intermediate its ends, each element M is provided with a smaller hook M in the form of an apertured angle plate, and these hooks M engage over the upper crosspiece G of the vertically adjustable slide to releasably support the small armchair on the upright framework B. The elements M are rotatable so that either the hook M, or the hook M, may project rearwardly from the small armchair. When the elements M are swung to a position wherein the hooks M project rearwardly, the hooks M, rest in grooves or recesses Q ofthe plate 0.

lclaim:

l. A childs high chair, of discngageable components, comprising, in combination, a chair stabilizing base framework; an upright supporting framework extending upwardly from said base framework; a slide mounted on said supporting framework for adjustment therealong; a relatively small armchair including a back, a pair of sides, a seat support member extending between said sides, and a seat; means mounting said seat on said seat support member for adjustment longitudinally of said seat support member; a footrest support disengageably securable to said armchair; means mounting said footrest support on said sides for adjustment longitudinally of said sides; first hook means on said back engageable with said slide to support said armchair on said supporting framework; second hook means on said back engageable with the back of a car seat to support said armchair on the car seat; a tray frame disengageably connectable to said armchair; and a tray on said tray frame.

2. A childs high chair, as claimed in claim 1, in which said upright supporting frame comprises a pair of laterally spaced upright rods; said slide comprising a pair of spaced sleeves each engageable with one of said upright rods, said spaced sleeves being interconnected by vertically spaced transverse tubes; said first means being engageable with the upper one of said transverse tubes; said base framework including a pair of upwardlyextending sleeves each receiving the lower end of one of said rods.

3. A childs high chair, as claimed in claim 1, in which the lower edge of said armchair back is spaced above said seat support member to provide for such longitudinal adjustment of said seat.

4. A childs high chair, as claimed in claim 3, including first elongated guides on the upper surface of said seat support member and second elongated guides on the under surface of said seat and engageable with said first elongated guides; and cooperating means on said guides for fixing the position of said seat with respect to said back.

5. A child's high chair, as claimed in claim 1, in which said footrest support includes a pair of tubular legs each including a first substantially horizontally extending leg portion engageable adjustably with said mounting means and a second downwardly extending leg portion formed with a series of apertures spaced longitudinally thereof; and a second frame carrying a footrest and including a pair of upwardly extending legs each formed with a pair of longitudinally spaced projections engageable in a pair of adjacent apertures in a respective one of said second leg portions, whereby said footrest is adjustable upwardly and downwardly relative to said armchair.

6. A childs high chair, as claimed in claim 1, in which said mounting means includes a pair of angle brackets each secured to a respective side of said armchair; a pair of generally horizontal longitudinally extending sleeves, each secured to a respective bracket and each being formed with a transverse slot; said footrest support including a frame having a pair of generally horizontally extending laterally spaced legs each engageable in one of said sleeves; each leg being formed with notches spaced longitudinally therealong and facing toward the associated transverse slot; and a pair of springs each secured to the under surface of said seat support member and having a leg biased to enter a respective slot, said springs releasably locking the frame legs in adjusted positions along the associated sleeves.

7. A childs high chair, as claimed in claim 1, including a pair of angle plates each connecting one of the armchair sides to the armchair back, each angle plate being integral with an upwardly extending sleeve; each of said hook means comprising a bent rod including a vertical leg and a horizontal leg; the vertical legs being integral with each other and the horizontal legs extending at right angles to each other; each pair of integrally united vertical legs being secured in a respective sleeve against movement longitudinally thereof while providing for rotation thereof.

8. A child's high chair, as claimed in claim 1, in which said upright supporting framework is integral with said stabilizing base framework.

9. A child's high chair, as claimed in claim 8. in which each of said sides includes a molded rigid plastic plate having substantially parallel upper and lower edges, with each edge having a respective sleeve extending therealong and parallel thereto; said tray frame comprising a substantially rectangular U-shaped rodlike member including a. pair of legs each ad justably insertable into a respective sleeve extending along the upper edge of an associated side plate; first setscrew means operatively associated with the upper sleeves and engagenble with a tray frame leg inserted therein to lock said tray frame in adjusted position; said footrest support including a support frame having a pair of laterally spaced legs each including a substantially horizontal portion insertable into a respective sleeve extending along the lower edge of an associated side frame plate; and second setscrew means operatively associated with the lower sleeves and engageable with support frame legs inserted therein to lock said support frame in km gitudinally adjusted position relative to said armchair.

10. A childs high chair, as claimed in claim 8, including a substantially rectangular U-shaped bracket having a pair of legs-pivotally connected at their free ends to said seat support; said bracket being swingable from a position engaging the bot tom surface of said seat to a position extended downwardly from said seat whereby said armchair may be supported on a supporting surface by said footrest support and said bracket.

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