GB2507530A - A collapsible infant chair - Google Patents

Abstract

A collapsible infant chair comprising first and second parts connected by a hinge 4 wherein the parts are moved between a collapsed arrangement wherein the parts are substantially parallel and an operative arrangement in which the hinge 4 maintains the first part at an acute angle to the second part such that a harness 5 to support an infant can be provided on the first part. The parts may have joints 3 to allow them to be individually folded. A bag may be provided to carry the chair when it is collapsed. An elastic fabric seat 1 with a harness 5 may be provided attached to the frame. The parts may be arranged in a number of different supporting positions. The two parts may be generally rectangular with rounded corners.

Description

A COLLAPSIBLE INFANT CHAIR

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a collapsible infant chair, more particularly but not exclusively a foldable, collapsible and portable infant chair that does not require assembly of parts for use

Background

When travelling away from home with young children it is often necessary to use a pram to ensure the child has somewhere to sit and sleep. If the child is being carried by the parent or is held in for example a sling there may be no requirement for a pram, however the parent may need to sit the child down when they reach their destination of if the child requires feeding for example.

Portable high chairs are available in public places such as café's and restaurant's although they may not be available at aU times. Alternatively a person may carry their own carry chair or highchair although these are often bulky and heavy therefore not suitable for carrying long distances.

The present invention arose to overcome the problems associated with carrying children's chairs by providing a collapsible portably chair that maybe filled and carried in a bag.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following: United States patent application US 2011 148 155 (CHAPMAN et al) discloses an infant support structure, comprising: a frame assembly including: a first frame member, and a second frame member pivotally coupled to the first frame member, each of the first frame member and the second frame member including a footer configured to rock on a support surface; and a infant support portion coupled to the frame, the support portion defining a receptacle in which an infant may be placed, the support portion comprising a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, a first side, and a second side opposite to the first side, the first side being coupled to the first frame portion, the second side being coupled to the second frame portion, the support portion having a lowermost point, the lowermost point being located closer to the second end than to the first end.

Chinese utility model CN 2 757 688 (CHEN et al) relates to a foldable babies' rocking chair, which has an unfolding state that can be used by babies and a furling state that can be folded to reduce an occupied volume so as to be favourable for storage, wherein the babies' rocking chair is composed of an upper framework, a lower framework and a seat frame. The upper framework, the lower framework and the seat frame are pivoted with each other through a connecting seat. The upper framework, the lower framework, and the seat frame can be unfolded with each other to form the babies' rocking chair for babies to use, or are rotated to a furling position respectively so as to reduce the occupied volume to be convenient for storage.

Granted United States patent GB 2 400 551 (CHRISTENSEN et al) discloses a foldable infant seat comprising: a base configured to support the seat on a surface, each side of the base including a first frame member and a second frame member pivotally connected together; an upper frame, each side of the upper frame including a third frame member and a fourth frame member pivotally connected together, the first frame member of the base and the third frame member of the upper frame on each side of the seat being pivotally connected together; a link on each side of the seat that is pivotally connected to the base and to an intermediate portion of the upper frame, wherein the base, the upper frame, and the link are moveable between an in use position and a folded position, and a length of the base is greater in the in use position than in the folded position.

In contrast the present invention provides a highly portable seating solution for an infant and convenience for a user.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aápect of the present invention there is provided a collapsible infant chair comprising: first and second parts connected together by at least one hinge, wherein the parts are moveable between a collapsed arrangement in which the first and second parts are arranged to be substantially parallel for transport and storage, and an operative arrangement in which the at least one hinge maintains the first part at an acute angle to the second part, and said arrangement permits support of an infant in a harness provided on the first part.

Typically therefore this invention provides a foldable infant chair comprising: a frame, a flexible seat fitted to the frame, and a harness integrated with the seat to support an infant or child.

Preferably the first part comprises a frame that in use supports a flexible seat and the harness, wherein the seat is formed from a resiliently deformable fabric, ideally an elasticated fabric that will flex to accept the child allowing them to sink into the seat.

Advantageously the seat may be formed with a predefined projection so as to encompass the child and tilt the chair balance backwards muse.

Advantageously the seat envelopes the frame so as not to have gaps between the seat and the frame through which the infant may get arms or legs caught or damaged.

Typically the harness is integrated with the seat, such as being stitched to the seat.

Preferably the seat is for infants or children from newborn up to one year old, therefore ideally the harness includes leg and waist support.

In some embodiments the frame is foldable with the seat and harness in situ so as to allow the infant chair to be collapsed without requirement to remove or dissemble any parts. In preferred embodiments the seat may be removed and the frame may be collapsed so as to be arranged substantially parallel for transport and storage.

Ideally the frame comprises two generally elongate rectangular sections that are hingeably attached at a substantially mid-point and may be displaced from one another to a predetermined point wherein the first part forms a base and the second part forms a back housing the seat.

In use the two parts form an L-shape wherein the base is parallel to the ground and the back is typically set at predetermined angles between 60-80 degrees in respect of the base, so as to hold the infant in a generally upright position.

In preferred embodiments the hinge is lockable at predetermined points. Typically the chair may have a plurality fixed positions wherein the back may be displaced from the base to fixed positions to provide a stable chair or bed for the infant.

Ideally the base may include a plurality of resiliently deformable feet so as to reduce movement when the infant is sat in the chair According to a second aspect of the present invention the chair may fold plural times so as to collapse the chair for storage or transport in a bag. Said chair ideally subsequently folds to fit within a bag wherein the seat is removed and the frame includes a plurality of hinges permitting said frame to be collapsed.

Preferably the base and back are folded parallel to one another and the frame is then folded in half a further two times.

Accordingly the frame may include secondary hinges to allow vertical and horizontal folds to be made to the frame and ideally the hinges include cuffs in order so that the hinges do not snag or rub the seat or a user folding the chair, or when in use.

Ideally the frame includes rounded corners to as limit the seat material rubbing and potentially wearing.

Advantageously the bag may be adapted or arranged to fit in the chair when collapsed.

When fully folded or collapsed for transport or storage the chair is rectangular and advantageously when fully folded two joining sides are rigid due to the frame and the other two sides are flexible with no frame only the seat thereby allowing the flexible sides to be compressed so that the chair may be fitted into one triangular section.

Preferably the bag is generally rectangular and includes at least one strap for carrying the bag and ideally the bag includes a divider which separates the bag into compartments.

Typically the divider is mounted diagonally within the bag so as to form two triangular compartments. Preferably the chair is accepted into one of these compartments.

Ideally the compartment not used for the chair may be used to carry other items such as nappies and baby wipes. Preferably each compartment has independent openings so as to allow the compartments to be accessed via separate openings on the bag so that for example the chair may be removed without have to empty other items first.

Typically the openings may be closable so as to prevent items falling out of the bag when being carried. Ideally the openings include closeable flaps that are secured by means of clips, buckles, or hook and loop means such as Velcro (Trade Mark) In some embodiments the openings may be zipped to prevent loss of the items.

Advantageously the chair may be fully removed from the bag's bottom enabling the compartment to be accessed by the user when carrying the bag without having to put the bag down. For example baby wipes can be accessed from the compartment on the bag top leaving the chair securely stowed in the bag bottom.

In some embodiments the bag may be separated into more than two compartments so as to provide separate storage areas for different items.

Advantageously the divider may be removable so that the bag is not split into different compartments and moveable so that compartment shape and size may be altered. Alternatively in some embodiments the divider may be fixed in position, for example being stitched into place.

Brief Description of Ficiures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the collapsible infant chair readied for use; Figure 2 shows a side view of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figures 4 show an isometric view of the frame of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, and an isometric view of the frame collapsed; Figures 5 show views of the frame shown in Figures 4; Figures 6 show views of a preferred embodiment of a bag for carrying the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 7 shows an isometric exploded view of the embodiment of the bag shown in Figures 6; And Figure 8 shows a side view of a seat as used in the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the figures, a fabric seat 1, is held on and stretched over a frame 2, which frame 2 is able to be collapsed at multiple joints 3 or articulations, and allowing the seat ito be braced in use at hinges 4. The infant is held in place by a harness 5.

The joints 3 may be preferably articulated in only one direction or be in other ways limited, in order to prevent adverse movements of the frame.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention