GB1592566A - Chair apparatus for infants - Google Patents

Abstract

The child's high-chair can be used in a high or low position by tilting through 90 DEG , the seat also being adjustable into two positions. In order that the chair can be stored and transported in a space-saving manner, the two table tops (2a, 2b) can be detached from the tubular supports (1a, 1b) or can be connected easily and quickly by mechanical connections (8, 9, 10, 11, 15). <IMAGE>

Description

(54) CHAIR APPARATUS FOR INFANTS (71) We, STORCHENMÜHLE KINDERAUS sTATTuNGs-GmbH & Co. KG a German Company, of Guttenbergstrasse 10, D-8654 Marktleugast, Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a chair apparatus for infants, more commonly referred to as a convertible high chair.

Known convertible high chairs which are sold ready-made, are very bulky, and thus take up considerable space at the place of manufacture, during storage, and in transport. The large storage and transportation space, and the correspondingly large packing means increase the price payable for the product unnecessarily.

According to the present invention there is provided a chair apparatus for infants which can be orientated through 90G to be disposed for use in either of two positions, wherein the apparatus comprises a tubular frame having two substantially corresponding tubular supports each of substantially planar configuration and means for connecting the tubular supports in a spaced apart relation, the connecting means comprising a seat which is adjustable for use in either of said two positions, and a pair of members defining table and working surfaces in the respective positions, said seat and said members being removably mounted on the tubular supports.

Preferably each of said members is mounted on the tubular supports by means of connections each comprising a slidable arrangement and a securing device.

Preferably also the seat is detachably mounted on the tubular frame by means of a pair of lugs in each of a seating cushion and a back rest of the seat engageable in swivel bearings on inwardly facing locations of the tubular frame.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a high chair apparatus for infants assembled in one position, and Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of part of the apparatus of Fig. 1.

Refering to Fig. 1, a high chair for infants is constructed from a tubular frame 1, two panel members 2a and 2b which serve as table and working surfaces respectively, and a seat 3 which comprises a seating cushion 3a and a back rest 3b. When oriented through an angle of 90" the high chair may be converted in a known manner into a low-level working unit for infants. For this purpose the seat 3 is hinged on the frame 1 and is of conventional construction to enable adjustment for use with either the high chair or the low-level working unit.

As viewed in Fig. 1, the tubular frame 1 comprises two substantially planar Zshaped tubular supporting elements la and lb which are identical. The back rest 3b is hinged to the frame 1 by means of a pair of pins or lugs 4 detachably engaging with swivel bearings 5 provided on inwardly facing surfaces of the respective tubular supports la and lb, and the seating cushion 3a is hinged by means of a pair of lugs detachably engaging with swivel bearings 6 on cross-ties 7. The latter connect the upper tubular sections lc of the Z-shaped frame elements la; ib with the respective diagonal sections. The tubular supports may be disposed in use in parallel planes or in planes which are angled relative to one another so as to form a wedge shape.

The two panel members 2a and 2b are equipped with pairs of quickly and easily assembled and detachable connections and/or damping arrangements. A combined slidein and screw connection is shown on the underside of the panel member 2b. A lug 8, welded to the free end of each of the lower sections id of the frame elements la and ib, comprises an elongate hole or slot 8b with a wider bore 8a towards the free end of the lug. A screw 9 is inserted through the member 2b from its underside so that the screw head, inserted through the bore 8a may engage with the slot 8b and thus firmly anchor the member 2b with the lower sections Id of the elements la and lb.Another lug 10 is welded near the upper bend of the diagonal section in each of the Z-shaped elements la, lb so that the frame may be fixed to the other side of the member 2b with the aid of a screw 11.

The table member 2a is fixed correspondingly to the upper horizontal sections lc of the tubular frame elements la and ib, firmly anchoring all three adjacent components against each other.

In order to increase the resistance to overturning of this high chair for infants a crosstie 12, slightly projecting beyond the tubular frame on either side, may be removably fitted to the elements la and lb with the aid of bolts 13 to the outwardly facing surface of the carrier areas of the frame which define its tipping edge in the respective positions of the chair. The cross-tie 12 moreover increases the stability of the tubular frame 1.

Fig. 2 shows the table member 2a together with one of the upper sections lc of the supporting elements partly in section, on an enlarged scale. In this case, the two parts are assembled with the aid of a combined slide-in and screwed connection, consisting of an angled finger 14, projecting from the under-side of the table member 2a, which engages in an open end of the section lc, and a countersunk screw 15. This screw 15 is dropped through a vertical bore in the section ic and is tightened by means of a cap nut 16. The lugs 4 may be welded on or into the frame 3c of the back rest 3b and, being bent at right angles, they have the form of hooks. For assembly, the back rest 3b is hooked with the aid of the lugs 4 into bores in the swivel bearings 5 securing the assembly in the axial direction.The tubular supporting elements la and lb cannot therefore be prised apart at the position of the bearings 5 and consequently the back rest 3b cannot accidentally slip out of the bearings 5.

A high chair for infants as described above consists basically of the following five parts: the Z-shaped tubular supporting elements la and lb, the two panel members 2a and 2b, and the hinged seat 3. When packed flat, e.g. in a cardboard box, these parts take up little space during storage or transport. The packages are less bulky than a packed readymade chair, and carriage is therefore correspondingly cheaper. The combination of a slip-in connection with a screwed or clamped connection enables the parts to be assembled quickly and without difficulty even by a person who is not a skilled handyman. Since this high chair for infants may be dismantled quickly it may be carried easily on a removal trip or on a journey when it will fit without trouble into the boot of a car.The necessary connecting elements, a simple tool, and illustrated instructions are preferably enclosed with the components.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A chair apparatus for infants which can be orientated through 90" to be disposed for use in either of two positions, wherein the apparatus comprises a tubular frame having two substantially corresponding tubular supports each of substantially planar configuration, and means for connecting the tubular supports in a spaced apart relation, the connecting means comprising a seat which is adjustable for use in either of said two positions, and a pair of members defining table and working surfaces in the respective positions, said seat and said members being removably mounted on the tubular supports.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein each of said members is mounted on the tubular support by means of connections each comprising a slidable arrangement and a securing device.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the seat is detachably mounted on the tubular frame by means of a pair of lugs in each of a seating cushion and a back rest of the seat engageable in swivel bearings on inwardly facing locations of the tubular frame.

4. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the tubular supports are each of Z-shaped configuration in one of said two positions of the apparatus, i.e. a "high" position, said member defining the table surface being mounted, in said one position, on the upper pair of horizontal sections of the tubular supports, and said member defining the working surface being mounted between the free ends of the lower pair of horizontal sections of the tubular supports.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, when dependent on Claim 3, wherein a cross tie connects each of the diagonal sections of the tubular supports with the respective upper horizontal section, and mounts the swivel bearing for the seating cushion.

6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein an edge of the tubular frame is defined by a removably mounted cross tie which is secured to the tubular supports at outwardly facing locations thereof so as to increase the resistance to overturning, the removably mounted cross

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. 2b with the lower sections Id of the elements la and lb. Another lug 10 is welded near the upper bend of the diagonal section in each of the Z-shaped elements la, lb so that the frame may be fixed to the other side of the member 2b with the aid of a screw 11. The table member 2a is fixed correspondingly to the upper horizontal sections lc of the tubular frame elements la and ib, firmly anchoring all three adjacent components against each other. In order to increase the resistance to overturning of this high chair for infants a crosstie 12, slightly projecting beyond the tubular frame on either side, may be removably fitted to the elements la and lb with the aid of bolts 13 to the outwardly facing surface of the carrier areas of the frame which define its tipping edge in the respective positions of the chair. The cross-tie 12 moreover increases the stability of the tubular frame 1. Fig. 2 shows the table member 2a together with one of the upper sections lc of the supporting elements partly in section, on an enlarged scale. In this case, the two parts are assembled with the aid of a combined slide-in and screwed connection, consisting of an angled finger 14, projecting from the under-side of the table member 2a, which engages in an open end of the section lc, and a countersunk screw 15. This screw 15 is dropped through a vertical bore in the section ic and is tightened by means of a cap nut 16. The lugs 4 may be welded on or into the frame 3c of the back rest 3b and, being bent at right angles, they have the form of hooks. For assembly, the back rest 3b is hooked with the aid of the lugs 4 into bores in the swivel bearings 5 securing the assembly in the axial direction.The tubular supporting elements la and lb cannot therefore be prised apart at the position of the bearings 5 and consequently the back rest 3b cannot accidentally slip out of the bearings 5. A high chair for infants as described above consists basically of the following five parts: the Z-shaped tubular supporting elements la and lb, the two panel members 2a and 2b, and the hinged seat 3. When packed flat, e.g. in a cardboard box, these parts take up little space during storage or transport. The packages are less bulky than a packed readymade chair, and carriage is therefore correspondingly cheaper. The combination of a slip-in connection with a screwed or clamped connection enables the parts to be assembled quickly and without difficulty even by a person who is not a skilled handyman. Since this high chair for infants may be dismantled quickly it may be carried easily on a removal trip or on a journey when it will fit without trouble into the boot of a car.The necessary connecting elements, a simple tool, and illustrated instructions are preferably enclosed with the components. Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A chair apparatus for infants which can be orientated through 90" to be disposed for use in either of two positions, wherein the apparatus comprises a tubular frame having two substantially corresponding tubular supports each of substantially planar configuration, and means for connecting the tubular supports in a spaced apart relation, the connecting means comprising a seat which is adjustable for use in either of said two positions, and a pair of members defining table and working surfaces in the respective positions, said seat and said members being removably mounted on the tubular supports.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein each of said members is mounted on the tubular support by means of connections each comprising a slidable arrangement and a securing device.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the seat is detachably mounted on the tubular frame by means of a pair of lugs in each of a seating cushion and a back rest of the seat engageable in swivel bearings on inwardly facing locations of the tubular frame.

4. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the tubular supports are each of Z-shaped configuration in one of said two positions of the apparatus, i.e. a "high" position, said member defining the table surface being mounted, in said one position, on the upper pair of horizontal sections of the tubular supports, and said member defining the working surface being mounted between the free ends of the lower pair of horizontal sections of the tubular supports.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, when dependent on Claim 3, wherein a cross tie connects each of the diagonal sections of the tubular supports with the respective upper horizontal section, and mounts the swivel bearing for the seating cushion.

6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein an edge of the tubular frame is defined by a removably mounted cross tie which is secured to the tubular supports at outwardly facing locations thereof so as to increase the resistance to overturning, the removably mounted cross

tie extending outwardly beyond each of the tubular supports.

7. A chair apparatus for infants substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.