HK1186079A - Baby cradle and mounting device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cradle (10) for a chair (1 ), where the chair comprises a chair back (11 ) having at least one element having an upper end or edge (12), characterized in that the cradle comprises at least one hooking means (122) in the rear portion of the cradle which enables the cradle to be hooked over the upper end or edge of the chair back elements(s), said cradle also being capable of standing alone on a base, such as a floor, when it is not hooked onto the chair back and, in both cases, is used as a cradle or a seat for a baby or small child.

Description

Baby cradle and securing device

The present invention relates to a baby cradle or a baby seat for a chair, and a fixing device for fixing the cradle or seat to the chair. The baby bassinet is particularly adapted for use on a floor and for mounting on a chair, wherein the chair has a back rest element having generally horizontal upper and lower edges.

Background

Currently, there is a need to be able to place an infant in a seat or cradle that is compatible with the height of the table so that a person can attend to the infant while sitting at the table (e.g., at a dining or work table). To date, there has been no good alternative to this type of infant and child placement.

Infants from 0 to 6 months old cannot sit upright, should preferably lie down, or sit half at an inclined angle, because the back of the child has not yet developed fully to support the entire weight of the child, and may therefore be injured by overstrain. For this reason, the high chairs generally used for young children are not suitable for use by infants and very small children.

In recent years there has also been a trend in many countries and regions to adopt their own safety requirements for devices used by children, such as for high chairs and safety harnesses. These standards are constantly being considered in the development of new child seats, but they may be difficult to accommodate chairs and equipment that have been produced for a long time before such safety requirements become effective. Such adjustments are difficult to make, particularly if no physical changes are made to the chair.

For example, for a child seat TrippThis is the case, and such child seats were developed as early as 1972 and patented in 1976, which remains a very popular child seat in many countries.

The chair is designed to be adjustable to the body size of the child, whereby the chair has a seat plate and a foot plate (foot plate) which can be moved to various height positions by sliding into opposite horizontal grooves at a number of heights on the inside of the side members of the chair and locked in these grooves by tightening and reducing the distance between the side members using cross members between the side members, in this case two bars, one cross rail (cross beam) and one cross backrest comprising two parallel cross members. By pushing the seat plate forward or backward in relation to the seat back before tensioning the side members towards each other to be locked in the correct position by said tensioning, the seat plate can be further adjusted in its depth position, thereby providing the correct seat length under the thighs of the child using the chair.

There is a need for a seat or bassinet for an infant that can be easily mounted on existing chairs, both on ordinary dining tables and chairs and on children's chairs, e.g. TrippThe chair, for example, is mounted on the top, back, rear legs or side members of the chair, preferably without the use of temporary parts, devices or tools.

Prior Art

Hitherto, there are floor-mounted car seats, rocking/baby seats and seats for strollers, which are adapted to be rested in a sitting position, as described above, but which are not adapted or suitable for being placed indoors at the height of a table, except for the height at which some of the baby seats for strollers can be mounted on the frame of the stroller. However, it may be impractical to use a stroller in a room of a residence to bring an infant closer to an adult (e.g., while eating). A rocking chair or infant seat may be practical when an infant grows to the point where it no longer merely wishes to lie down. The child still cannot sit alone, and therefore, it is important to use a chair having a correct angle to the back of the child or adjustable on the back. However, the rocking chair/infant seat should always be placed on the floor so that, for example, when an infant or child makes an unexpected sudden movement, the rocking chair/infant seat does not fall off another piece of furniture and so that other people do not accidentally bump into the infant seat. The disadvantage of placing the rocking chair/infant seat (or car seat) on the floor (e.g. when a family is sitting at a dining table) is that it makes it difficult to care for the infant and the infant cannot see what is around him or herself when he or she would like to understand what is happening. Resting on the floor often results in the infant fighting by being "overlooked" at a different height than the rest of the person present. When eating, it is particularly impractical to place a rocker/baby seat or car seat on a table because it takes up a lot of space and, in addition, as mentioned above, there is a safety risk that the seat may fall off, especially when the attention to the child is diverted for a short time. The same type of safety hazard occurs if such a chair or seat is placed on a common chair (e.g. a dining chair) and is not fixed to the chair, and the possibility of accidents is even greater due to the limited area on the seat.

Car seats are generally not suitable for being left as indoor seats because they fit narrowly and tightly around a child and have a relatively small angle between the seat surface and the back support, i.e., a relatively squat seating position. This design is a result of safety requirements for use in automobiles and limits the freedom of movement of children. Thus, such seats will only be used for a limited time at a time.

From GB 2407489, a holder for holding a vehicle seat is known, so that the vehicle seat can be used in combination with the holder as a high chair. However, this solution has the above-mentioned drawbacks of car seats, in addition to the fact that the bracket cannot be used for other purposes and takes up space when not in use.

From US 2006/0181123, a rocking chair/infant seat is known which can be mounted in a stand for the purpose of positioning the seat at a higher level than the ground. However, there is the same disadvantage as the bracket in the above solution, i.e. it takes up space and has no other function, so if the seat is to be used elsewhere it must be stowed away or taken along.

Object of the Invention

It is an object to provide an attachment for a baby cradle or seat that enables owners of existing chairs to upgrade or extend the functionality of their chairs. It is also an object to avoid physical changes to the chair, such as holes made in some parts, or screws inserted, which leave damage marks on the chair that will be visible when the cradle or seat is no longer in use. Such entity changes also pose such hazards: these are undesirable as the user may be modified in the wrong way, compromising the safety of the chair. It is therefore an object of the invention to secure a bassinet or seat as intuitively and simply as possible while maintaining safety.

It is therefore an object to provide a cradle/seat in which an infant can be placed in a suitable ergonomic posture at table height, using existing chairs, according to the age and development of the infant, in a simple and safe manner, using equipment reasonably requiring space, wherein both can be used otherwise independently of each other, when the chair and cradle are not joined together.

SUMMARY

In order to solve the above problems and challenges, according to the present invention, a bassinet for a chair has been developed, which comprises a fastening and locking device for attaching the bassinet to the chair, wherein the chair has a transverse backrest having at least one horizontal lower edge and one horizontal upper edge. The bassinet includes one or more hooks on its rear edge that hook (grip over) the upper edge of the seat back in combination with one or more locking devices on the bassinet's rear edge that are adjustable to hook the lower edge of the seat back and securely lock the bassinet/seat to the chair. The locking device preferably comprises an automatic locking function which fulfills the requirement of "two independent synchronization actions" for the unlocking of the locking device.

The present invention therefore relates to a cradle for a chair, wherein the chair comprises a back having at least one element with an upper end or edge, characterized in that it comprises at least one hooking device in the rear part of the cradle, which makes it possible to hook the cradle on the upper end, upper part or edge of the back element, said cradle being able to stand independently on a base (for example the floor) also when it is not hooked on the back, and in both cases being used as a cradle or seat for babies or small children.

In one aspect, the invention further relates to a bassinet wherein the seat back element is selected from the group consisting of: one or more cross rails, side members, wall members, rear legs or center bars, and wherein the bassinet may be hooked with a hooking device on an upper end or edge of the one or more seat back elements, preferably on a substantially horizontal upper edge of the seat back elements, more preferably on a substantially horizontal upper edge of the cross rails. In one aspect, the invention relates particularly to a bassinet wherein the hook means is a loop adapted to fit down on the upper end, upper portion or upper edge of the back member, preferably selected from one or more of the following: side members, upper portions of the chair sides, wall portions or rear legs.

The invention also relates to a bassinet, wherein at least one of the back elements comprises a lower edge, wherein the bassinet comprises at least one movable locking device in the rear part of the bassinet, which is configured to pass from an inactive position, in which it does not restrict the movement of the bassinet relative to the chair, into an active position, in which the locking device rests on the at least one lower edge of the back element and locks the bassinet to the chair, preferably on a substantially horizontal lower edge of the back element, more preferably on a substantially horizontal lower edge of the cross rail.

In an alternative, the locking device comprises at least one substantially horizontal element which is slidingly attached to the bassinet and which, when the bassinet is hooked on the seat back, is movable in a direction parallel to the bassinet from the inactive position to rest on the lower horizontal edge of the cross rail in the active position, wherein the element is preferably rod-shaped.

In another alternative, the locking means comprise at least one hook which is pivotally mounted on the bassinet and which, when the bassinet is hooked on the seat back, can rotate from the inactive position to hook around the lower horizontal edge of the cross rail in the active position.

The locking means may also comprise a combination of the above locking means in the form of slidable and pivotable locking means.

The locking device may be spring loaded to move the locking device from the inactive position into the active position to lock the bassinet to the chair. Furthermore, the locking device can be operated with a button or lever, which is preferably accessible on the outside of the bassinet, alternatively integrated in the handle in the form of a recess in the outside of the bassinet. The cradle may also comprise an indicator panel, preferably for each locking device, which indicates whether the cradle is correctly mounted on the chair, preferably by means of a visual panel, which displays a red mark when the locking device is inactive in the unlocked position and a green color when the locking device is in the active locking position.

Furthermore, the locking device can be accommodated in the bassinet when in the inactive position and can be placed in the side members (120), the rear wall member (140) or the hooking means (122) of the bassinet or a combination of these parts, preferably in the lower part of these parts.

In one aspect, the invention relates to a bassinet, wherein the bottom of the bassinet is concave in the longitudinal direction towards the base so that the bassinet can be rocked when standing on the base, preferably the side members have concave edges so that it can be used as a rocker, preferably the underside of the side members comprises a friction coating, such as a partially embedded rubber strip.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a fixing device for attaching a bassinet or seat to a chair having a chair back as described above, wherein the fixing device comprises one or more hook devices and one or more locking devices as described above. The fixing device may be used for attaching a bassinet or a seat to a chair having a chair back with at least one element having an upper end or edge and at least one element having a lower edge, the fixing device being detachably or permanently fixed to the bassinet, wherein the fixing device comprises:

one or more hooking means enabling hooking of a cradle on the upper end, upper portion or upper edge of said back element; and

one or more locking devices configured to pass from an inactive position, in which the locking devices do not restrict movement of the bassinet relative to the chair, to an active position, in which the locking devices rest against at least one lower edge of the seat back element and lock the bassinet to the chair.

The securing device also allows the bassinet to stand independently on a base (e.g., floor) to serve as a stand-alone bassinet or seat for an infant or child when the bassinet is not hooked on the seat back.

Furthermore, when the cradle is not mounted on the chair, the locking device in its active position acts as a leg against the base and, preferably, positions the cradle towards the base at a steeper angle than when the locking device is not active. The bassinet may further comprise one or more support wings (flaps) that can be rotated or slid into and out of the bassinet like feet to provide support against the base when the bassinet is not mounted on the chair and which position the bassinet towards the base at a steeper angle than when the bassinet is standing unsupported on the base, wherein the support wings preferably provide support under the rear of the bassinet during use, and wherein the support wings are preferably received in the bassinet when not in use, e.g., in the rear wall member or on the underside of the bassinet.

A bassinet according to the invention may have a housing structure in the form of a hard shell comprising two parallel side members connected together by a front wall member and a rear wall member, and alternatively, having an underside in the form of a plate. Furthermore, the bassinet may have a seat portion comprising a backrest, preferably with an upper backrest edge, two inner members, preferably with upper side edges, and a seat portion, and preferably a footrest. The seat part may constitute a partially self-supporting seat cover comprising a preferably padded fabric, optionally with integrated stiffening materials or stiffening components. The seat is preferably suspended around the upper edge of the shell by attaching the seat to the outer, upper part of the shell by fastening means (e.g. grooves and/or hooks/buttons) or by means of an elastic material (e.g. a stretch material around substantially the entire circumference of the seat).

The invention relates in particular to a bassinet comprising a downwardly directed hooking means in the upper rear portion thereof and two fastening means in the form of slidable spring-loaded bar elements, and which is particularly suitable for mounting in conventional chairs, child seats and in particular in TrippOn a chair.

Thus, the cradle according to the invention has the advantage that it can be used on existing chairs, for example, TrippOn a chair or other chair, without requiring physical changes to any of the chair components. Therefore, the temperature of the molten metal is controlled,it is not necessary to use fastening means (e.g., screws, or elastic bands) that may be easily lost when moving and storing the bassinet, or a strap mounted on the chair, which detracts from the appearance of the chair when the bassinet is not in use. The cradle can be locked firmly by means of only integrated parts and can be easily removed after use or can be moved to another similar chair when it is no longer needed. The cradle is not affected by any possible vertical or horizontal adjustment (e.g., height adjustment or depth adjustment) of the chair's foot pedals and/or seat plate, and therefore does not interfere with any function of the chair. Thus, when the bassinet is separated from the chair, the purpose of the chair is adapted to a plurality of different users in a simple and flexible way.

The flexible bassinet/seat according to the invention enables the use of both chair-mounted bassinets and free-standing bassinets on their own, without the need for temporary parts or racks that have to be stored or taken care of. Furthermore, the bassinet can be easily used on other similar chairs, since no physical changes to the chair or parts are required to mount the bassinet on another chair, so that the child seat or baby bassinet can be easily used elsewhere, for example, on the chair of another person's home, together with a friend or family, or in a restaurant. The bassinet is also well suited for use in the baby room of a daycare center or institution as well as in hospitals where demand may vary according to the age group and the continuous variation in child development.

The invention will be described in more detail below by means of embodiment examples with reference to the attached drawings, which are not intended to limit the scope of the invention but serve as examples of embodiment forms of the invention.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a bassinet according to the present invention mounted on a chair, as viewed from above.

Fig. 2 is a front perspective view of the bassinet of fig. 1 as viewed from above.

Fig. 3 is a front perspective view of the bassinet of fig. 1 as viewed from below.

Fig. 4 is a view of the bassinet of fig. 1 as seen from below.

Fig. 5 is a view of the bassinet of fig. 1 from above.

Fig. 6A is a side view of a bassinet according to the present invention with the locking device deployed.

Fig. 6B is a rear view of the bassinet in fig. 6A.

Fig. 6C is a front view of the bassinet in fig. 6A.

FIG. 7A is a side view of the bassinet of FIG. 6A with the locking device retracted.

Fig. 7B is a rear view of the bassinet of fig. 7A.

Fig. 7C is a front view of the bassinet of fig. 7A.

Fig. 8A is a side view of the bassinet of fig. 6A with the support flaps deployed.

Fig. 8B is a rear view of the bassinet in fig. 8A.

Fig. 8C is a front view of the bassinet of fig. 8A.

Fig. 9A is a rear view of the bassinet and chair of fig. 1.

Fig. 9B is a side view of the bassinet and chair of fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a detailed view of the locking device of fig. 6A, 6B and 9A, 9B.

Fig. 11 shows the bassinet of fig. 6A and the locking device of fig. 10 in a deployed state.

Fig. 12 shows the bassinet of fig. 11 with the locking device retracted.

Fig. 13 is a rear perspective view of a bassinet according to the present invention mounted on a chair.

Fig. 14A is a rear perspective view of a bassinet according to the present invention mounted on a chair.

Fig. 14B is a side view of the bassinet of fig. 14A with the support flaps deployed.

Fig. 14C is a rear view of the bassinet of fig. 14A with the support flaps deployed.

FIG. 15 is a diagram of a Tripp installationA rear perspective view of one embodiment of a bassinet according to the invention on a child seat of the type.

Fig. 16A is a side view of a bassinet according to the present invention mounted on a chair.

Fig. 16B is a rear view of the bassinet of fig. 16A with the support flaps deployed.

Fig. 16C is a side view of the bassinet of fig. 16A with the support flaps deployed.

Fig. 17A is a rear perspective view of a bassinet according to the present invention mounted on a chair.

Fig. 17B is a front perspective view of the bassinet of fig. 17A.

Fig. 18 is a side view of a bassinet according to the present invention mounted on a general chair.

Fig. 19 is a rear perspective view of a bassinet according to the present invention mounted on a chair.

Fig. 20A is a side view of a bassinet according to the present invention mounted on a chair.

Fig. 20B is a rear view of the bassinet in fig. 20A.

Detailed Description

In the following description, the following words and expressions should be understood as follows:

"at the front", "front side", "from the front", "forward", "in front" and similar expressions of … refer to a horizontal direction towards which the face and chest of a child sitting in the chair turns in the usual manner.

"rear", "rearward" or "behind …" means the relative horizontal direction, i.e. the direction toward which a child seated in the chair turns in the usual manner.

The "lateral" side or direction refers to the horizontal direction perpendicular to the plane of symmetry through the bassinet.

"length", "depth" or "longitudinal direction" means the horizontal direction in the plane of symmetry of the bassinet.

"cradle" means a recumbent seat for an infant or child, the back rest having an angle relative to the seat pan that is somewhere between a horizontal lying position and a vertical seating position, optionally including a vertical seating position.

"seat back" or "seat back" means a component or an assembly of components of a chair or seat that extends from the upper side of the seating surface or seat plate of the chair or seat, particularly the back.

By "backrest" is meant a part or element of the chair back for supporting the back of a chair or a user of the chair, which may include one or more of the following: side members, side plates, cross rails, center bar, rear legs, rear, etc.

"edge" means a physical terminus or end of an element (e.g., a plate or rail). "upper edge" means an edge on the upper side of an element, and "lower edge" means an edge on the lower side of an element.

Fig. 1 shows the chair 1 (in this example, Tripp) installedType of child seat) according to the inventionA light cradle 10. As can be seen, the bassinet is secured to the back of the chair and suspended therefrom. This positions the infant seated or lying in the cradle at a height relative to, for example, the table, which enables the infant to see what is happening, for example, during a meal. When mounted on a chair, the height and angle of the bassinet also allows an adult to easily feed an infant while sitting in a common chair (e.g., a dining table or chair). Thus, in contrast to alternative rocker/baby seats, children can be raised from the floor and adults do not have to sit on the floor or bend over to interact with the baby, for example while feeding. In this way, it is avoided to place the rocking chair/infant seat or car seat on a table (e.g. a dining table or coffee table), which is a very common thing that adults now do in order to attend to children, but this involves the risk of the rocking chair/infant seat or car seat falling off the table and, in addition, it takes up a lot of space on the table.

The bassinet 10 basically includes two side members 20 that are substantially parallel in the longitudinal direction with a seat 30 and a backrest 40 therebetween, the seat 30 and backrest 40 being connected to each other at connected lateral ends at a set seating angle. The angle between the seat 30 and the backrest 40 should be adapted to the age of the child to which the bassinet will be used so that the child can be extended, but still sit more upright than in a fully horizontal position.

Alternatively, it is possible to construct the cradle such that the angle between the seat and the backrest can be adjusted.

The bassinet 10 may be manufactured in various ways and from different materials or combinations of materials. In this embodiment, as shown in more detail in fig. 2, the bassinet 10 is comprised of a shell 100 and a seat portion 200 (wherein the seat portion is patterned for illustrative purposes).

The housing 100 is made of a first material (e.g., a rigid plastic) and constitutes a structural frame of the seat 200.

The seat 200 is made of a different (additional) material, which may be softer than the first material, e.g., a composite of one or more semi-rigid and soft materials, and may form a partially self-supporting seat cover.

Fig. 3-5 show the bassinet 10 in more detail. The housing 100 comprises two substantially parallel side members 120 connected to each other by a front wall member 130 and a rear wall member 140 (see fig. 3 and 4). Both side members 120 preferably include handles 121 or edges, for example, in the form of grooves or edges in the side members 120, which may be used to lift the transfer bassinet.

To secure the bassinet to the chair, the housing includes one or more hook devices 122 in the rear portion of the bassinet (e.g., in the side members 120 and/or outside of the rear wall member 140). In this embodiment the hooking means 122 are configured as one or more parallel downwardly oriented hooks or hooks and these are formed in this embodiment as extensions of the upper rear corners of the side members 120 and/or extensions of the upper rear corners of the rear wall members 140. To ensure that the bassinet 10 is locked to the chair 1 such that the bassinet does not accidentally fall (e.g., by exerting an upward force on the bassinet), the bassinet of this embodiment includes one or more adjustable locking devices 300 on the rear portion of the bassinet (e.g., in the rear portion of the side member 120 and/or in the exterior of the rear wall member 140 below the hook device 122).

In this embodiment, the locking device 300 is configured as two parallel upwardly oriented hooks or catches in extension of the lower rear corner of the side member 120 and/or the lower outer corner of the rear wall member 140 in its deployed or open state. However, both the hooking means 122 and the locking means 300 can be positioned on the cradle in a practical manner with respect to the type of chair and the shape of the backrest to which it is attached. The locking device 300 is rotatable in a plane substantially parallel to the symmetry plane of the bassinet or in a plane substantially perpendicular to the back rest portion of the chair 1 where it is hooked around the lower edge of the lower horizontal back rest edge on the chair. In this embodiment, the rotation of the locking means is initiated by a button 130 located in a recess of the handle 121.

The locking device 300 may be spring-loaded to be tensioned towards an active deployment position, in which it hooks around the lower edge of the seat back 11 on the chair, as shown in fig. 1, and the button 130 must be manipulated, for example by pressing inwardly, rearwardly, forwardly or upwardly, for example upwardly in this case, to rotate the locking device against the tension spring to an open/retracted or inactive position that allows the bassinet 10 to be removed from the installed chair 1.

For safety reasons, there should be two buttons 130 that function independently of each other, wherein in order to release the cradle from the installed chair, the two buttons must be operated so that accidental or unintentional activation of one button does not unlock the cradle. This would also be desirable if, for example, only one locking device was used (e.g., one wide locking hook positioned centrally (such as shown in fig. 14A and 19), which is also contemplated in the present invention).

The seat 200 may comprise a fabric, preferably padded, optionally with integrated stiffening material or stiffening parts in all or part of the seat 200 to give the seat its own shape. In this embodiment, the seat 200 is hung on the upper edge of the housing 100 by fastening means attaching the seat 200 to the upper part outside the housing, as shown in fig. 2. The seat 200 includes: a backrest 240 having an upper backrest edge 241, two inner sides 220 having upper outer edges 221, a seat 230 and a leg rest 231, as shown in fig. 2.

As can be seen from fig. 3 and 5, in addition to the upper outer portions of these elements, the upper backrest edge 241 and the two upper side edges 221 of the seat portion 200 also cover the upper edges of the rear wall member 140 and the side members 220, respectively. In this embodiment, the seat is also secured to the exterior of the shell 100 by attaching the back edge 241 to a securing point 141 in the outer upper region of the rear wall member 140 (e.g., by securing a loop around, for example, a hook, a button, etc.), and, wherein,the side edges 221 comprise extensions of the thickness of the end edges, such as sewn-in guy wires or plastic slats in the edges, which are inserted into the upper exterior of the side member 120 along most of the length of the side member 120. The seat 230, or the point of engagement between the seat 230 and the backrest 240, may also be fixed (e.g. by a strap) to a fixing point 131 in the housing 100, which in this embodiment is in the form of a hole with an integrated cross bar, allowing the strap to be threaded around the cross bar in the lower part of the front wall member 130. In this way, by being fixed to the outside of at least three upper edges of the housing, and preferably being anchored in an elastic manner to the lower part of the housing and preferably on the inside of the front wall member 130, for example, byThe seat is securely taped to the shell by a closure, or by including a bag designed to be pulled over the upper edge of the front wall member. The leg support 231 need not be attached to the housing, but may alternatively be secured to the upper edge of the front wall member 130, for example, by opposing legs on each of the above elementsA belt.

In fig. 6A to 6C, the bassinet 10 is shown with the locking device 300 opened or deployed, wherein the bassinet is at about the same angle as it would have when mounted on the chair. This angle may be about equal to or close to the angle when the bassinet is placed on the base (e.g., on the floor), with the locking device 300 deployed, which may serve as a support leg. As can be seen from the figures, the locking device 300 can be used as a lower rear leg to support the bassinet in a position in which the infant is seated in a slightly raised support position, such as approximately when the bassinet is mounted on a chair or in a slightly lowered position.

In fig. 7A to 7B, the bassinet 10 is shown with the locking device 300 retracted or recessed, and the bassinet is more inclined than the state in which the locking device 300 is deployed. This places the seat in a position that is approximately flat for the child in the bassinet. As can be seen in fig. 7A, the side members 120 may have lower edges 125 that project against the base, e.g., in the form of rockers, toward the base while allowing the bassinet to tilt or rock back and forth due to the smaller vertical downward extensions of the front and rear wall members 130, 140, which may be fun for the child or help it fall asleep. As can be seen from fig. 7B and 7C, the lower edge 126 of the rear wall member 140 and the lower edge 127 of the front wall member 130, respectively, are concavely curved towards the floor or plane and are positioned slightly higher than the lowest point of the side members, so that the front and rear wall members will not come into contact with the base in the starting position as shown, while at the same time minor irregularities in the base between the side members will be allowed, as a result of which the bassinet will not become unstable or tip over. Preferably, each underside of the projecting side members or rocker bar includes a friction coating, e.g., a partially embedded rubber strip (not shown), to prevent the bassinet from sliding on a substrate (e.g., floor) on which it is disposed and to ensure that rocking does not cause the bassinet to move from its starting point on the floor or substrate.

Alternatively, the front wall member 130 and the rear wall member 140 may each project toward the base and have a larger vertical downward extension than the side members so that the bassinet can be rocked sideways, not shown.

In an alternative embodiment, the possibility is also foreseen to equip the underside of the side members with a double-curved underside, which bulges towards the base, so as to enable the cradle to be rocked in several directions or to be gently rotated around on a flat base.

In fig. 8A to 8C, a bassinet is shown with the support flap 150 opened or unfolded, the support flap having a larger vertical extension than the locking device 300. The support wings 150 can be rotated out to the deployed position shown, as indicated by arrow a in fig. 8A, and into the housing to the retracted, recessed position, as shown in fig. 6 and 7. With the support wings 150 deployed, the cradle has a steeper angle when resting on a flat base (e.g., floor). This position gives the child a more upright posture, for example, the child often prefers to sit so that it can know what is happening around them. As can be seen from fig. 8A and 8B, the locking device 300 can be deployed in this position, but it can also be retracted, which has no effect on the angle of the bassinet.

Fig. 9A and 9B show in more detail how the cradle 10 is mounted in the chair 1 (in this case, the Tripp)Type of child seat). However, the invention is not limited to this type of chair, but may be attached (and is particularly adapted to be attached) to any chair having a chair back with at least one upper edge, in this embodiment in the form of one or more cross rails 3, 4 extending between two side members 2 or side pieces forming a conventional chair back with at least one substantially horizontal lower edge and one substantially horizontal upper edge.

In this embodiment, the backrest in the child seat 1 has two horizontal transverse rails in the form of upper and lower rails 3, 4 extending between the side members 2. To install the bassinet 10, the locking device 300 is rotated to a recessed or nearly recessed position, such as by pressing the button 131 upward (optionally against the action of a tension spring). Then, the hooking means 122 of the cradle is pulled down on the top rail 3 so as to hang the cradle on the chair.

To ensure that the bassinet cannot be released from the seat back by, for example, an unexpected upwardly directed force, the locking devices 300 on the right and left sides are rotated out of the housing, snapping under on the lower edge of the middle rail 4, as shown, optionally by releasing the button 131 when the tension spring rotates the locking device 300 to the locked position.

As can be seen from fig. 9B, the bassinet 10 is not supported on the seat plate 5 of the chair. In said chair, the seat plate 5 can optionally be pushed back so as not to come into contact with the cradle and affect the locking, but it should also be pointed out that in this chair the seat plate 5 is shown in its uppermost position with a small forward extension, starting from a child with short thighs adapted to the seat plate, which child can sit and reach the table. It is possible to adjust the seat plate 5 to a certain height by sliding it into the above-mentioned groove 7 on the inner side of the side member 2, which groove 7 constitutes a track for the height of the seat plate and the footboard 6. In a conventional dining chair, the seat pan is typically located at a greater distance from the upper edge of the top rail 3 so that the bassinet will not interfere therewith, as shown in figure 18.

Fig. 10 shows the locking device 300 according to the invention in more detail. As can be seen from the figures, the locking device comprises a lever 309 having a pivot point 302 in its upper end, in which case the pivot point 302 may be a hole. In this embodiment the locking means is designed to be fixed to a bolt or an axle, but alternatively the locking means 300 may also comprise the actual bolt or axle as part of the structure. As mentioned before, in this embodiment the locking means further comprises a button 301 which protrudes into the handle 121 in the side member 120, so that the button is operated in a simple manner while preventing unintentional activation by positioning it in a recess in the handle 121. In this embodiment, the button 301 is arranged at the corner edge in front of the pivot point 302 in the upper front part of the lever 309.

In this embodiment, the locking device 300 comprises a stem 309 having a hook in its lower end, the hook being constituted by an upwardly directed locking pin (catch pin) 303, the locking pin 303 having an upper edge 304 and a recess 305. The recess 305 is preferably adapted to the lower edge of the associated backrest on the chair (in this case, the lower edge of the middle rail 4). In the deployed position of the locking device 300, the upper edge 304 may advantageously be inclined slightly downwardly and rearwardly. The purpose of this is that when the bassinet 10 is hooked on the upper edge of the seat back, the hook will automatically rotate slightly forward and, when the edge 304 is in contact with and pressed forward by the seat back, the lower rear portion of the bassinet pivots towards the seat back, so that the locking device gives room for the lower edge of the seat back to catch and lock the bassinet around the lower edge. Optionally, the locking means may also comprise a guide channel 306, which in this embodiment is constituted by a transverse horizontal groove in the rear edge of the bar 309 of the guide channel 306 when in the deployed position, which hooks onto the lower part of the rear wall member 140, the rear wall member 140 being bent inwards in the end of the substantially horizontal edge. The bottom end of the locking device 300 in the deployed state may vary and is preferably approximately flat to provide good contact with the substrate. Optionally, it may have a sloping edge 307 which increases the vertical depth towards the rear and ensures that when the bassinet is standing on the floor, the locking device in the deployed position is pressed backwards by the weight of the bassinet to ensure that the locking device does not accidentally rotate inwards into the bassinet. Furthermore, the bar 309 may additionally have a front approximately vertical edge 308 in the deployed position, which in this embodiment is a blocking surface against the handle 121 on the inside of the side member 120 when the locking device is retracted.

In fig. 11, the bassinet is shown positioned on the base with the locking device 300 in the deployed position. The locking device is drawn in phantom to indicate its placement and positioning within the housing 100. As can be seen, the button 301 protrudes into the handle 121 and, by activating the button 301 by pressing it upwards, the locking device will be caused to rotate forward as indicated by arrow B and into the bassinet, as shown in fig. 12. As can be seen, the handle 121 prevents further rotation of the locking device 300, the handle 121 being a groove in the side member 120 where the front edge 308 of the bar 309 will rest on the lower surface of the groove of the handle. It is also important to note that if the locking device 300 is spring-loaded to rotate in the opposite direction, i.e., backwards, then the locking device as shown in fig. 12 will rotate so far forwards that it is held by the substrate in a hidden recessed position, which is tensioned towards the substrate. However, if the bassinet is raised upwardly from the floor, or if it is lifted at the rear edge, the locking means will automatically rotate back and out into the deployed position, unless it comprises locking means for locking it in the retracted position, which is also a feature of foreseeable alternatives. However, the automatic deployment of the locking device can be an advantageous safety function, which results in the hook 303 being automatically let out, ready to receive the edge of the backrest, thus locking the cradle, without the person hooking the cradle to the chair back having to perform any special mounting function.

Fig. 13 shows an alternative embodiment of the bassinet 10, wherein the rear hooking means 122 consists of one hook, here a wide hook, covering approximately the entire upper edge of the top rail 3 on the seat back of the chair. As can be seen from the figures, in this embodiment the cross rail in the backrest consists of one single element, and the bassinet according to the invention can also be used on this type of backrest and all other structures having an upper edge and a lower edge, on which the hooking means and the locking means can be hooked, respectively, to fasten the bassinet in a safe and secure manner.

In fig. 14A, a further alternative is shown, wherein the bassinet comprises one single central locking device 300, which in this example is a wide catch clamped to the middle part of the lower edge of the top rail 3 of the backrest.

In fig. 14B and 14C, the cradle of fig. 14A is shown with an alternative embodiment of the support wings 150, in this example the support wings 150 comprise two support wings, mounted on each side of one centering locking device 300. As shown in broken lines in fig. 14B, it is also foreseen that, instead of being mounted in the cradle in a rotating manner, it is also conceivable that the support wing 150 is extractable by means of a sliding displacement and can be pushed in and out of the cradle, for example into the rear wall member 140 when not in use. Preferably, such a push/slide solution comprises locking means or safety stops to prevent the support flaps from being inadvertently pushed during use.

Of course, the embodiments shown in fig. 13 and 14A to 14C may be combined. The width of the hook device 122 and the locking device 300 may be varied to accommodate seat back or other considerations, and/or to prevent the elements from interfering with each other. Embodiments having more than two hooks 122 and/or locking devices 300 and/or support wings 150 are also contemplated, for example, to adapt the bassinet to a particular chair. Alternatively, the elements may be removable and interchangeable in whole or in part, so that the bassinet is adaptable to various types of chairs by using adjustment elements for each type of chair. For example, it is possible to supply such components as different kits for different chair types.

Fig. 15 shows another embodiment of the bassinet 10, wherein, in addition to the hook means 122 and the hook-shaped locking means 300, the bassinet is provided with two additional locking means 310, which project rearwardly and substantially horizontally outwardly from the rear part of the side members 120 and/or the outer part of the rear wall member 140, in this case at the lower edge of the top chair rail 3 in the seat back 11. The locking device 310 may extend beyond the rear of the bassinet in the active locked position beyond its outer surface as described and, when in the inactive unlocked position, may retract flush with the outer surface and into the bassinet.

The bar-shaped locking device 310 provides additional stability and safety to the bassinet by preventing the bassinet from moving away from the seat back. The locking device 310 may be used to function only in place of the hook-shaped locking device 300, or in combination with these, as described above. For example, at the same time as the hook-shaped locking means 300 are activated, the locking means 310 may be operated by its own button (not shown) or by the above-mentioned button 301, if these are also present. Alternatively, the locking device 310 may be spring-loaded, so that when the bassinet is hung down on the seat back, it may be pushed into the side members 120 and/or the rear wall member 140, and when the bassinet is brought into the correct position on the seat back (in particular the correct position perpendicular with respect to the seat back), they will be let out.

In an alternative embodiment, it is also contemplated that the rear portion of the side members 120 and/or the exterior of the rear wall member 140 can include other locking devices that lock the bassinet to the seat back. For example, it is contemplated that a screw mechanism may be used that is tensioned from the rear side of the seat back and rests on the lower edges of the elements in the seat back, e.g., the lower edges of the cross rails 3, 4, particularly through the opening between the cross rails 3, 4 in the seat back. An example of such a screw mechanism is shown in dashed lines in fig. 15, where it comprises a screw and a handle element 401 comprising a screw member screwed into the cradle and a disc/stopper element 400 that cannot pass through an opening in the back support, allowing the tensioning of the locking device from the rear side of the chair back and the secure locking of the cradle to the chair back.

Fig. 16A to 16C show an alternative embodiment of the present invention. In fig. 16A, the bassinet 10 is mounted on the top rail 3 of the seat back in the child seat 1, and the bassinet has a slightly different shape than shown in the previous figures. As can be seen from the figure, the bassinet has different upper outer edges 221 along the entire side member 120 of the bassinet, wherein it is also possible to use the lower edges as handles 121 for carrying and moving the bassinet. In addition, the bassinet has a single large hook device 122 on its rear portion, which is adapted to be hooked on the transverse top rail 3 of the chair. In this embodiment, the bassinet 10 has only two bar-shaped locking devices 310 that project generally horizontally rearward from the rear of the side member 120 and/or the exterior of the rear wall member 140. The locking means 310 can be operated by a button 301 in the side member 120, which in this embodiment is spring loaded, as shown in dashed lines in fig. 16C. For example, spring loading may be achieved by a spring box 360 and a coil spring 361, for example, such that the coil spring is pulled tight between the wall of the spring box and the locking device 310, such that the locking device is pulled tight towards the deployed, active position, as shown in fig. 16C. As can be seen in fig. 16C, in this embodiment the locking means 310 has a curved lower outer edge, or a slightly inclined edge, wherein the element has a slightly larger horizontal extension in the rear upper edge than in the rear lower edge. Such a sloping or curved portion of the rear edge of the locking device is adapted to cause the element to rest on the front side of the front upper edge of the top rail 3 of the chair back, so that when the bassinet is lowered onto the chair, the element is pushed into the bassinet against the force of the tension spring and then, when the bassinet has been lowered into its correct position, it is let out under the edge of the cross rail. An indicator panel 311 indicates whether the bassinet has been properly installed, wherein a red mark indicates that the locking device is fully or partially pushed into the bassinet and a green mark indicates that the locking device is in the fully deployed position. The marking may be a color on the locking device itself that appears in a hole or opening in the side member 120 of the bassinet. Preferably, the two locking devices 310 are independent of each other, and each locking device 310 is operated by its own button 301 on its respective side member 120.

The bassinet 10 in fig. 16A-16B also has support flaps 150 similar to the previous embodiment. As can be seen in fig. 16B, the support flap in this embodiment comprises one single central wide flap having a lower support leg approximately corresponding to the width of the footprint of the bassinet resting on the base. In this embodiment, the support flap 150 can be pivoted inwardly toward the lower side of the bassinet, as indicated by arrow a in fig. 16C, wherein the cavity in the lower side panel of the bassinet 10 fitted thereto receives and locks the support flap, e.g., by friction points/reliefs in the cavity. Thus, the bassinet 10 can be placed on the base in two positions: a free lying horizontal position and a raised inclined position. In the horizontal position, the support flap 150 will be located within the extension of the side member 120 so that the bassinet can be rocked in the longitudinal direction, assuming that the side member has a curved shape similar to the shape shown in fig. 16.

Fig. 17A and 17B show the bassinet of fig. 16 mounted on a seat back with a center pole, and in particular, the bassinet is suspended from a top rail 503 on the upper portion of the seat back. In contrast to the side members, such chairs are based on a central rod 502, said central rod 502 being anchored in a frame or bottom 507 (dashed line), e.g. a plate or a crossed base. The seat of the chair is constituted by a seat plate 505 fixed to the bar portion 502, wherein the bar also serves as part of the seat back, while supporting the upper horizontal back 503, to which the bassinet 10 is attached. In fig. 17A, it can be seen how the locking means 310 protrudes on the underside of the lower edge of the crosspiece 503. Optionally, the chair may further include a foot pedal 506, which foot pedal 506 may be used by a child sitting on the seat plate 505 when the cradle is not mounted on the chair.

In such an embodiment, it may be advantageous for the horizontal placement of the locking device 310 to be as close as possible to the pole portion 502 in order to additionally limit or lock the horizontal movement of the bassinet on the seat back (e.g., on the ledge 503).

Fig. 18 shows a bassinet according to the invention mounted on a conventional chair, wherein the side members and the backrest comprise rear legs 22. All reference numerals correspond to parts represented on other figures. The hanger device 122 of the bassinet is lowered on the upper edge of the seat back (e.g., the upper edge of the top rail 3) and the locking device 310 rests on the lower edge of the same cross rail. Alternatively, a locking device such as the previously described hook may also be used, which preferably can be turned to be held on the bottom edge of the intermediate rail 4.

Fig. 19 shows a bassinet according to the invention mounted on a child seat, wherein the hooking means is a loop 323 located in the outer upper rear corner of the bassinet and adapted to hook onto the upper edge of the side member 2 of the seat back, the upper part of the side of the chair, the side member or the rear leg. As can be seen from the figures, the hooking means have an opening with a certain depth for the head rail 3, determining the plane of the cradle with respect to the chair. In this embodiment, the bassinet may also include one or more locking devices 310, here shown as a bar-shaped central locking device, which is preferably spring-loaded. It is not necessary to release the locking device with a button, since it can also be designed to be pushed easily from the rear side of the chair against the action of the spring load in order to lift the cradle from the chair. Preferably, two such locking devices are positioned near the side members of the chair, so that the cradle can be lifted when the locking devices are pressed inwards. All reference numerals correspond to parts represented in other figures.

In another alternative embodiment, the locking device 300 or the locking device 310 may be supported by bearings in the hook device 122, as shown in fig. 20A and 20B, particularly if the hook device is expensive. Thus, the hook device 122 may comprise, for example, one or more hook-shaped locking devices 309 which may be rotated from the rear side of the chair back to a position below the lower edge of the transverse rail 3 in the chair back 11, or said locking devices 309 may be pushed from the rear side below the lower edge of one or more chair elements. Alternatively, a combination of pushing and rotation of the locking device 309 is used, e.g. from the stowed position in fig. 20B (where it is integrated in the hook device 122), then pushed downwards as shown by the arrow, then rotated backwards during installation as shown by the dashed line in fig. 20A, then rotated below the cross rail 3 in the seat back 11. The upper edge of the hook-shaped end of the locking device 309 may have a friction coating and/or be precisely adapted to the cross rail so that it must be clamped in place under the cross rail 3 so that it cannot be easily released. Alternatively, the locking device 309 may comprise a button or lever to release the locking action, as in the previously discussed variants.

The cradle's shell structure makes it lightweight and easy to move around. The housing structure also makes it possible to recess/stow the locking device and the support device in the seat so that they do not get in the way when they are not in use.

The bassinet 10 according to the present invention is simple and easy to mount on a common chair or child seat by: it is hooked on the horizontal portion of the backrest and locked firmly to the back of the chair by extending the locking device to rest against the lower edge of a portion of the backrest. By activating the button on the side member, the locking device can be retracted, or partially retracted, into the bassinet, so that the bassinet can be easily removed from the chair on which it is mounted and used in a free standing position on the floor or in an inclined position on the floor by means of the support wings 150, while the chair can be used for its general purpose. Thus, no additional components (e.g., brackets) are required to alternate between placing the bassinet in a high position (e.g., at a table) or on the floor or another base. No mounting devices or other temporary parts or screws are required that must be stored when the bassinet is not attached to the chair, and installation and removal can be accomplished without the use of tools.

Claims (22)

1. A cradle (10) for a chair (1), wherein the chair comprises a chair back (11), the chair back having at least one element with an upper end or upper edge (12), characterized in that the cradle comprises at least one hooking device (122) located on the rear of the cradle, the hooking device enabling the cradle to be hooked on the upper end, upper portion or upper edge of the chair back element, when not hooked on the chair back, the cradle being also able to stand independently on a base, such as a floor, and, in both cases, the cradle being used as a cradle or seat for babies or young children.

2. The bassinet for a chair of claim 1, wherein the seat back element is selected from the group consisting of: one or more transverse rails (3, 4, 503), side members (2), chair members, rear legs (22) or a central bar (502), and wherein the cradle can be hooked by means of a hooking device (122) on the upper end or edge (12) of one or more of the back elements, preferably on the substantially horizontal upper edge thereof, more preferably on the substantially horizontal upper edge of a transverse rail (3, 4, 503).

3. A bassinet for a chair according to claim 2, wherein the hooking means (122) is a collar (323) adapted to fit down on the upper end, upper portion or upper edge of the back element, preferably selected from one or more of the following: side members (2), upper parts of the chair sides, wall parts or rear legs (22).

4. Cradle (10) for a chair (1) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the back elements comprises a lower edge, and wherein the cradle comprises at least one movable locking device (300, 309, 310) in the rear portion of the cradle, configured to pass from an inactive position, in which it does not limit the movement of the cradle with respect to the chair, into an active position, in which it rests on at least one lower edge of the back element and locks the cradle to the chair, preferably on a substantially horizontal lower edge of the back element, more preferably on a substantially horizontal lower edge of a transverse rail (3, 4, 503).

5. A cradle according to claim 4, wherein the locking device (300) comprises at least one substantially horizontal element, which is slidingly attached to the cradle and which, when the cradle is hooked to the chair back, is movable from an inactive position to rest in an active position against the lower horizontal edge of the cross rails (3, 4), wherein the element is preferably bar-shaped.

6. The bassinet of claim 4, wherein the generally horizontal element is movable in a direction parallel to the bassinet.

7. A cradle according to claim 4, wherein the locking device (300) comprises at least one hook pivotally mounted on the cradle and rotatable from an inactive position to hook around the lower horizontal edge of the cross rail (3, 4) in an active position when the cradle is hooked on the chair back.

8. A cradle according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the locking means comprises a combination of locking means in the form of slidable and pivotable locking means.

9. A cradle according to any one of claims 4-8, wherein the locking device (300) is spring-loaded to bring the locking device from an inactive position into an active position to lock the cradle to a chair, alternatively or additionally wherein the locking device is operable by a button or lever, preferably accessible on the outside of the cradle, or alternatively integrated in a handle on the outside of the cradle, alternatively integrated in the handle in the form of a recess in the outside of the cradle.

10. A cradle according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein the cradle comprises an indication panel, preferably for each locking device, which shows whether the cradle is correctly mounted on the chair, preferably by means of a visual panel which displays a red mark when the locking device is in the inactive condition in the unlocked position and a green color when the locking device is in the active locking position.

11. A bassinet according to any of claims 4 to 10, wherein the locking device is receivable in the bassinet when in the inactive position.

12. Cradle according to any one of claims 4-11, wherein the locking device is positioned in the side members (120), the rear wall member (140) or the hooking means (122) of the cradle or a combination of these parts, preferably in the lower part of these parts.

13. Cradle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottom of the cradle is concave in the longitudinal direction towards the base, such that the cradle can be rocked when standing on the base, preferably by the side member (120) of a concave edge (125) which enables the side member to function as a rocker, preferably by the underside of the side member comprising a friction coating, such as a partially embedded rubber strip.

14. A cradle according to any one of claims 4-13, wherein the locking device (300) in its active position acts as a leg against the base when the cradle is not mounted on a chair, and preferably the cradle is positioned towards the base at a steeper angle than when the locking device is not active.

15. Cradle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cradle comprises one or more support wings (150) which are rotatable or slidable in and out of the cradle like a foot to provide support relative to a base when the cradle is not mounted on a chair, and which position the cradle towards the base at a steeper angle than when the cradle stands unsupported on the base, wherein the support wings provide support, preferably under the rear part of the cradle during use, and wherein the support wings are preferably received in the cradle, for example in a rear wall member (140) or underside of the cradle, when not in use.

16. Cradle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cradle has a shell structure in the form of a hard shell (100) comprising two parallel side members (120) connected together by a front wall member (130) and a rear wall member (140), or the cradle has an underside in the form of a plate.

17. Cradle according to claim 16, wherein it has a seat part (200) comprising a backrest (240), preferably with an upper backrest edge (241), two inner members (220), preferably with an upper side edge (221), and a seat part (230), preferably a leg support (231).

18. Cradle according to claim 17, wherein the seat part (200) constitutes a partially self-supporting seat cover comprising a fabric, preferably padded, optionally with integrated stiffening material or stiffening components.

19. Cradle according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the seat (200) is suspended around the upper edge of the housing (100) by attachment to the outer upper part of the housing, preferably by fastening means, such as grooves (123) and/or hooks/buttons (141), or by elastic material, such as stretched material around substantially the entire circumference of the seat.

20. A cradle according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising in its upper rear part one downwardly directed hooking means (122) and two fixing means (310) in the form of slidable spring-loaded elements, preferably rod-shaped elements.

21. Cradle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cradle is adapted to be mounted on a common chair, a child seat, in particular a TrippA chair is provided.

22. A fixture for attaching a bassinet or seat to a chair having a seat back with at least one element having an upper end or edge and at least one element having a lower edge, the fixture being removably or permanently secured to the bassinet and wherein the fixture comprises:

one or more hooking means enabling the bassinet to be hooked on the upper end, upper portion or upper edge of the seat back element; and

one or more locking devices configured to pass from an inactive position, in which they do not restrict the movement of the cradle relative to the chair, into an active position, in which they rest against at least one lower edge of the back element and lock the cradle to the chair.