US20020185895A1

US20020185895A1 - Collapsible infant's chair

Info

Publication number: US20020185895A1
Application number: US10/166,365
Authority: US
Inventors: Lawrence Marshall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-06-11
Filing date: 2002-06-11
Publication date: 2002-12-12
Also published as: CA2390003A1; CA2349931A1

Abstract

The chair is adapted to be attached to a table top and has a frame made up of a pair of spaced lateral members. Each member has a pair of pads which contact the lower and upper faces of the table top such that the chair is held to the table by its own weight. A cross-member extends between the lateral members and is composed of two interconnected sections. The sections are pivotal from an open state in which the sections are aligned with one another to a collapsed state in which the sections are adjacent to one another. Cushions which support an infant in the chair are attached to each section.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a collapsible infant's chair and more particularly to an infant's chair that attaches to a table top by its own weight and collapses to a small space when it is not in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

I have invented an infant's chair which is portable and collapses to a relatively small size when it is not in use. When the chair is open for use it attaches firmly to a table top without damaging the table.

Briefly the infant's table of my invention is adapted to be attached to a table top and comprises a frame having a pair of spaced lateral members each having upper and lower segments. The lower segment has a lower pad adapted to contact an underside of the table top and the upper segment has an upper pad adapted to contact an upper side of the table top such that the chair is held to the table top by its own weight. A cross-member extends between the lateral members and is composed of interconnected sections. The sections are pivotal from an open state in which the sections are aligned to a collapsed state in which the sections are adjacent to one another. Supporting means extends between the lateral members for supporting an infant in the chair when the sections are in an open state.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The collapsible infant's chair of the invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [0004]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the chair open for use; [0005]
FIG. 2 is a view of the chair from the bottom; [0006]
FIG. 3 is a somewhat simplified perspective view of the chair when collapsed for storage; [0007]
FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the chair attached to a table top; [0008]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the chair showing the manner in which it is closed or collapsed; and [0009]
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the chair showing the manner in which it is opened; [0010]
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the chair; [0011]
FIG. 8 is a side view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7; and [0012]
FIG. 9 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 7.[0013]
Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the description of the drawings. [0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1, the infant's chair, generally [0015] 10, has a frame composed of a pair of spaced lateral members 12, 14, a lower seat 16 made up of two cushions 18, 20 disposed side by side and a back rest 22 also made up of two side-by- side cushions 24, 26.
The lateral members have the same construction and only one, [0016] lateral member 12, will be described. With reference to FIG. 4, member 12 has upper and a lower segments 30, 32 interconnected by an intermediate segment 34. The lower segment has a rear portion 36 and a forward portion 38. The forward portion extends forward and upwardly and terminates at a lower pad 40. The upper segment of the lateral member has a forward portion 42 which extends downward and terminates at an upper pad 44.
With reference to FIG. 1, a [0017] first strap 46 extends between the forward portions of the lateral members and a second strap 48 extends between the rear portions. A third strap 50 extends between the first two straps.
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of spaced [0018] lower cross-members 52, 54 extend between the rear portions of the lateral members 12, 14. Cross-member 52 is composed of two side-by-side sections 56, 5 8. The two sections are pivotally interconnected at the ends where they meet each other. At their other ends, they are pivotally connected at 60, 62 to the lower segments. Cushions 18, 20 are connected to the upper walls of the sections 56, 58 respectively. The cushions serve as supporting means for supporting an infant in the chair when the sections are open as illustrated in FIG. 1.
Cross-member [0019] 54 has the same constructions as cross-member 52.
An [0020] intermediate cross-member 70 interconnects the intermediate segments of the lateral members. That cross-member, like the two lower cross-members, is composed of two pivotally interconnected sections 72, 74 and the cross-member is pivotally connected to the intermediate segments. Cushions 24, 26 are connected to the inner walls of the sections.
The sections of the three cross-members are pivotal from the open state illustrated in FIG. 1 in which the two sections of each cross-member are aligned to the collapsed state illustrated in FIG. 3 in which the sections of each cross-member are adjacent to one another. In the collapsed state, the two lateral members are adjacent to one another and the infant's chair is ready for storage. [0021]
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the cushions are spaced apart from the lateral members sufficiently that when the sections are in a collapsed state, the cushions are out of contact with the lateral members. [0022]
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, there is a [0023] coil spring 80 which is connected to the two segments of the intermediate cross-member. The spring resiliently urges the two segments to the aligned state. There are like coil springs 82, 84 which bias the lower cross-members to the aligned state as illustrated in FIG. 2.
With reference to FIG. 4, the infant's chair of the invention is shown attached to a table top [0024] 90. As illustrated, lower pads 40 contact the lower surface of the table top while the upper pad 44 contacts the upper surface. When the chair is so attached, it will safely accommodate a child.
With reference to FIGS. [0025] 5 the chair, in operation, is opened by placing the hands on each intermediate segment and pulling the segments apart in the direction of the arrows. With reference to FIG. 6, the chair is closed by placing the hands on the intermediate segments and pushing the two sections of the upper cross-member inward. A knee is then placed against the cross member that supports the lower cushions and is raised in the direction of the arrow to cause their sections to pivot upward.
With reference to FIGS. [0026] 7 to 9, the chair has the same construction as the chair of the previous Figures except that each lateral member 100, has a stop 102 adjacent to the lower pad 104. The stop, like the lower pad, contacts the underside of a table top and serves to prevent or to hinder the pad from sliding toward the side edge of the table top, indicated 106 in FIG. 4. Such movement could be caused by an infant if he were jumping up or down in the chair or swaying from side to side.
Preferably, the stop is pivotally connected to the [0027] lower segment 108 of the lateral member and swings in the arc indicated by arrow 110 from a position in which it is adjacent to the lower segment to a position in which it contacts the underside of the table top when the chair is attached to a table. The stop is in the latter position in FIGS. 7 and 8. A boss 112 on the lower segment prevents the stop from swinging past the latter position.
The stop being pivotal can be folded down upon the lower segment and be out of the way when the chair is folded for storage. [0028]
The lateral members of the chair is reinforced by a pair of reinforcing rods [0029] 1 14, 116 which extends between the upper and lower segments 118, 108. The rods are offset from the segments, being outside the space between the two segments, so that they do not contact the cushions of the seat when the chair is collapsed or closed.
The upper segment is enclosed by a [0030] tube 120 of flexible, relatively soft material to lessen the possibility of injury to an infant seated in the chair. A second tube 122 of like material encloses a portion of the intermediate segment for the same purpose.
It will be understood, of course, that modifications can be made in the embodiment of the infant's chair described and illustrated herein without departing from the scope and purview of the invention as defined in the appended claims. [0031]

Claims

I claim:

1. A collapsible infant's chair adapted to be attached to a table top, said chair comprising: a frame having a pair of spaced lateral members each having upper and lower segments, said lower segment having a lower pad adapted to contact an underside of said table top, said upper segment having an upper pad adapted to contact an upper side of said table top such that said chair is held to said table top by its own weight; a cross-member which extends between said lateral members and which is composed of interconnected sections, said sections being pivotal from an open state in which said sections are aligned to a collapsed state in which said sections are adjacent to one another; and supporting means which extend between said lateral members for supporting an infant in said chair when said sections are in an open state.

2. The collapsible infant's chair as claimed in claim 1 further including resilient means for biasing the sections of said cross-member to an aligned state.

3. The infant's chair as claimed in claim 2 wherein said resilient means is a coil spring.

4. The infant's chair as claimed in claim I wherein said cross-member is pivotally connected to said lateral members.

5. The infant's chair as claimed in claim 1 wherein said supporting means is attached to said cross-member.

6. The collapsible infant's chair as claimed in claim 1 further including: a first strap extending between said forward portions of said lateral members; and a second strap extending from said lower cross-member to said first strap.

7. The chair as claimed in claim 1 further including a stop which is disposed adjacent to said lower pad which is adapted to contact the underside of said table top to prevent or to hinder said pad from sliding on the underside.

8. The chair as claimed in claim I further including a stop which is pivotally connected to said lower segment and which pivots from a position in which it lies adjacent to said lower segment to a position in which it is adapted to contact the underside of said table top to prevent or to hinder said pad from sliding on said underside.

9. A collapsible infant's chair adapted to be attached to a table top, said chair comprising: a frame having a pair of spaced lateral members each having upper and lower segments interconnected by an intermediate segment, said lower segment having rear and forward portions, said forward portion extending upwardly and terminating at a lower pad adapted to contact an underside of said table top, said upper segment having a forward portion which extends downward and terminates at an upper pad adapted to contact an upper side of said table top such that said chair is held to said table top by its own weight; lower and intermediate cross-members pivotally connected to and extending between the rear portions and the intermediate segments, respectively, of said lateral members, said crossmembers each being composed of two interconnected sections, said sections being pivotal from an open state in which said sections are aligned to a collapsed state in which said sections are adjacent to one another; and a cushion attached to each said section upon which is adapted to rest an infant seated in said chair.

10. The collapsible infant's chair as claimed in claim 9 further including resilient means for biasing the sections of each said cross-member to an aligned state.

11. The infant's chair as claimed in claim 10 wherein said resilient means is a coil spring.

12. The infant's chair as claimed in claim 9 wherein said cushions are spaced apart from said lateral members sufficiently that when said sections are in a collapsed state, said cushions are out of contact with said lateral members.

13. The collapsible infant's chair as claimed in claim 9 further including: a first strap extending between said forward portions of said lateral members; and a second strap extending from said lower cross-member to said first strap.

14. The chair as claimed in claim 9 further including a stop which is disposed adjacent to said lower pad which is adapted to contact the underside of said table top to prevent or to hinder said pad from sliding on the underside.

15. The chair as claimed in claim 9 further including a stop which is pivotally connected to said lower segment and which pivots from a position in which it lies adjacent to said lower segment to a position in which it is adapted to contact the underside of said table top to prevent or to hinder said pad from sliding on said underside.