US2691411A - Adjustable high chair - Google Patents

Description

R. H. THATCHER ADJUSTABLE HIGH CHAIR Oct. 12, 1954 2 Sheds-Sheet 1 Filed March 10, 1951 Fill 17/ Ph HAIL TIIJTC/IER /NVNTOR 6x674 ATTORNEY Oct. 12, 1954 R. H. THATCHER ADJUSTABLE HIGH CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 10, 1951 Patented Oct. 12, 1954 UNI T ED S TAT'ES PATENT TQF'FFI CE ADJUSTABLE HIGH "CHAIR Ralph Thatcher, Sacramento, Calif.

Application March 10, 1951,.SerialINO. 214,867

2'0 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in adjustable high chairs.

More particularly, 'the'invention relates to. high chairs provided with a rigid frame and a seat mounted on said frame, with the foctrest, back rest and arm rests being adjustably interrelated so as to accommodate-the growth of infants over a period .of time and also to .accommodate infants of various .sizes, as in a restaurant. The adjustment of .the movable members is made simultaneously and by asingle means.

The construction of the high .chair which is thesu'bj-ec't of the .presentinvention is such'that by a single, simple adjustment, the elevation of the'footrest, the distancebetween the front edge .of the seat and theiback rest, and the elevation of the arm rests above the level of the seat are all simultaneously adjusted in a definite relament will not be'hindered by a sense of physical discomfort or instability. LI'hus the use of cushions and books which have frequently been employed to adapt conventional chairs to children of different sizes are eliminated, therebyelimimating thedanger or d i'splacementof such com- :pen'sating devices and removing the feeling of discomfort and instability which accompany the use thereof.

It is an important object of the present invention to prov-idean adjustable chair employing a singlemeans for simultaneously adjusting the position of th'e back rest, *the foot rest, and the arm rests 'of the chair in such manner as to quickly, safely and comfortably accommodate an occupant through a wide range of ages and sizes.

It .is also an object of the invention :to provide a highchair wherein'all adjustments required 5 to seat anyone of a number of children of different sizes properly and-comfortably are provided in a single adjustingmeans.

It is a further object of the invention to'pro- "vi-dean adjustablehigh chair for children which can easily :be cleaned and which can be readily constructed and formed :of 'comparatively :inexpensive amaterials, :such as tubular parts.

It is another object of the instant inventionto provide "an adjustable chair of modern,

streamlined appearance, attractive, artistic design, and light weight tubular metal construction, which also incorporates a simplified adjusting mechanism to automatically make all chair adjustments'required to correctly seat occupants of diiferen't sizes.

It is also an .object of the present invention to provide an "adjustable high chair "for rapidly growing children which does. not require the use of pillows or'other compensating devices to accommodate the growth of the child andto make the occupant comfortable and secure to the extent required to encourage a "general psychological improvement in'the attitude of the child toward meals.

'It is another .object of this invention to .pro-

'vide an adjustable highchair for children which is particularly suitedto' the requirements of public restaurants.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention will'become apparent from reading ofthe following description of the invention and reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the .high chair which is the subject of this invention illustrating vthe maximum and minimum adjustment positions, the solidlines showing the position of the componentp-arts in position for the'largest child andthedottedllines showing the position-of such parts for the smallest child;

leg portion H and I2, respectively, and a crown shaped, upper, 'arcuate portion l3 therebetween.

Said members "IO are maintained in predetermined and spaced relationship by upper transverse rods M and i5 which-extend through holes drilled in the upper arcuate portion I3-of "memibers IO, andby' lower transverse rods l6 and I! which extend through similar holes drilled in :the respective front andrear leg portions H and [2. The ends I!) of said rods are secured by cap screws, bolts or other convenient means to frame members Ill.

Upper rods M and I5 support seat Hi thereupon at a convenient height above floor level which will enable the chair to be used alongside tables of conventional height. It will be understood, however, that a chair of different height may be employed. Seat I8 is made of any suitable material and may be made of canvas or other fabric looped around rods I l and IE. If desired, the lower ends of frame It may be supported on casters for convenient movement. It will further be understood that the ends of the frame members flare outwardly to make the chair stable and resist tendency to tip over.

Pivotally supported on rear rod l? for free turning movement about a horizontal axis are two parallel spaced levers 2 I, each having a free arm adapted to swing through a predetermined arcuate section 2'! of the front leg portion 1 i of the frame. Affixed to and carried by the free arm 22 of each lever 25 is a footrest 23 having a bottom 2% of sumcient width and depth to comfortably accommodate the feet of the occupant. The top of the footrest may be arcuate in cross-section so as to provide a firm rest for the feet in any position of adjustment. Side portions 25 are secured extending upwardly to arm 22 by suitable screws. Also secured to levers 2| in a position behind foot rest 23 and at a shorter radius than the footrest from the axis of rod H is a horizontally disposed adjusting rod or bar 26 which functions as an actuating means for simultaneously making all chair adjustments in a manner hereinafter more fully described.

A pair of aligned and spaced horizontal rods 23 is supported by and beneath footrest 23 for free sliding lateral movement. Each has an outer end 3! which is adapted to project through a hole 32 drilled in the free end of each lever 21. Thus, the free end 3! of each rod 28 is adapted to be slidably supported by lever 2i in such a manner as to effect a selective locking engagement with the plurality of cooperating holes 33 disposed at convenient intervals along the arcuate adjustment section 2! of each frame member It, the holes 33 being equidistantly spaced and disposed along an are which has the rod H as its center. The inner ends 3% of rod 28 are slidably supported by spaced bracket members 34 which are secured to the bottom of footrest 23. Brackets 34 and holes 32 form inner and outer bearing surfaces for sliding rods 28. Actuating handles 35 are secured to each of the inner ends 39 of rods 28 and extend downwardly therefrom. Between brackets 34 and a washer 50 secured to rods 23 is compression spring 35 supported laterally on each of the rods concentric with the axis thereof. One end of spring 36 is maintained in pressing engagement with coacting bracket 34 and the other end 39 presses against washer 5i to exert a pressure tending to extend each rod 23 outwardly. It will be observed that theouter ends 3! are continuously urged in looking engagement with cooperating holes 33 formed in adjustmentsection 21. It is, of course, understood that various conventional arrangements for adjustably clamping and securing arms 22 of levers 2! to the frame members it may be employed without departing from the scope of the instant invention.

Adjustably supported above the seat i8 is a pair arm rests 31, each of which has front and rear pivotal connections 38 and 48, respectively. A vertically disposed and suitably formed back rest 4! is supported on and between rests 31 at the rear end thereof and adjacent the rear pivotal connection 45. Between the spaced frame members H3 and in a vertical plane substantially at right angles thereto, is a U-shaped rear tubular member 42 which is supported by rear rod 15 for free pivotal movement about the horizontal axis of said rod. This tubular member 42 has an arcuate central portion 4% extending downwardly from horizontal rod l5 and also has oppositely disposed side portions 43 extending upwardly therefrom, the latter being adapted to provide pivotal support for the back and arm rests at 40, the points of connection therewith. In similar manner, a U-shaped front tubular member t5, supported for pivotal movement about horizontal rod Hi as an axis, has an arcuate central portion 'll of greater depth than the central portion 46 of the member 52, and also has upwardly projecting side portions 45 which are pivotally attached at the upper connections 38 to the forward ends of arm rests 3?. The arcuate central portion 4? of the front tubular member 45 extends downwardly below the level of the spacing rod or bar 26 carried by levers 2|, and the arcuate portion has a pair of oppositely placed elongated slots 48 formed therein to receive and permit limited slidable engagement with spac ing rod 26, the slots 58 being of sufficient length to permit free sliding movement of rod 26 throughout the normal range of adjustment of the chair. Spacing rod 26 slidably engages with oblong slots 48 of front tubular member 45 in such manner as to impart a predetermined angular displacement of member 45 in accordance with the relative adjustment of footrest 23 with respect to the floor level.

It will thus be seen that each arm rest 37, each side portion 43, each end portion it of the U- shaped pivoted lever or linkage member 55 and each upper arcuate portion is of the frame IQ comprises a parallel linkage arrangement which is adapted to automatically adjust the position of the back and arm rest in a manner which is directly related to the position of footrest 23 with respect to seat it. All of the adjustable parts are interrelated in such manner that the adjustments follow the normal growth development of a child.

Operation In operation, adjusting handles 35 of the chair are first moved inwardly to the position illustrated in Fig. 4., by imparting a manual squeezing action thereto so as to compress springs 36, thereby disengaging the outer end portion 3! of rods 28 from locking engagement with holes 33 formed in front legs H of frame Hi. The position of footrest 23 is then raised or lowered with respect to seat It to the position desired for correct posture and comfort for the occupant. Adjustment in the position of the footrest 23 effects a predetermined relative angular displacement of levers 2i and the spacing rod 26 carried thereby. Thus, the footrest 23 and rod 25 follow an arcuate path with rod H as its axis. After the adjusting movement of footrest 23 has been completed, handles 35 are released so that the laterally outward resilient pressure exerted by coiled springs 36 will move end portions 31 of rods 28 into locking engagement with a new set of horizontally aligned holes 33 disposed along the inner faces of front legs of frames Iii. Since spacing rod 28 carried by lever 21 extends through shownin solid lines to that shown in broken lines. Simultaneously and automatically, the back rest 99 and arms I will be moved forwardly and backwardly to provide a seat of convenient depth in relation to the level of the footrest. When proper adjustment has been made, the pins 83 will be released to engage the selected holes 84 and latch the footrest, back and arms in selected position.

It will therefore be apparent to those skilled in the art that there has been provided a high chair of artistic design and simplified tubular construction wherein a quick and easily performed adjustment of the position of the footrest automatically imparts a predetermined adjustment of the back and arm rests to correctly and comfortably seat any one of a number of occupants'of different ages and sizes. It will also be apparent that there has been produced an adjustable high chair which can be easily cleaned and which employs a simplified adjusting mechanism which is particularly adapted to simultaneously and automatically make all adjustments of the chair components required to correctly and comfortably accommodate occupants of different sizes. There has also been provided an adjustable chair which does not require the use of pillows or other auxiliary devices to comfortably and safely seat a growing child throughout the period of most rapid growth. The relationship between the position of the footrest, the height of the arms above the seat, and the position of the backrest, at any adjusted position is carefully balanced and calculated to give correct posture and maximum comfort. This relationship may be varied in the first instance by changing the distance between the rods l4 and IS in the structure of Figs. 1 to 4, and by making similar adjustments in the structures of Figs. 5 and 6.

Although the foregoing invention has been illustrated and described in considerable detail and in several modifications, it will be understood that changes may be made in the structure without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable high chair comprising, a rigid frame, a seat fixed to said frame, supporting means for the back and arms of the occupant, at least four levers each pivotally connected to said supporting means and to said frame providing for movement of said supporting means forwardly and rearwardly with respect to said seat and adjusting the distance of the back support from the forward edge of said seat, the two forwardmost of said levers being formed with downwardly extending projections, a footrest, second means articulately connecting said footrest with the lower ends of the projections of said two forwardmost levers on opposite sides of the chair so that raising of said footrest moves said supporting means forwardly, and third means selectively adjusting the position of said footrest relative to said frame.

2. An adjustable high chair comprising, a rigid frame, a seat fixed to said frame, supporting means for the back and arms of the occupant, second means mounting said supporting means on said frame above said seat and providing for movement of said supporting means forwardly and rearwardly with respect to said seat, said second means having a first point of pivotal connection with said frame adjacent the upper end of said frame, a footrest, third means mounting said footrest on said frame for raising and lowering movement, said third means having a second point of connection with said footrest, and fourth means operatively connecting said supporting means and footrest for moving said supporting means forwardly when said footrest is raised and moving said supporting means rearwardly when said footrest is lowered, said fourth means being operative to decrease the distance between said first point and said second point as said footrest is raised.

3. A chair according to claim 2 in which said supporting means comprises a substantially vertical back and a pair of substantially horizontal arm rests on opposite sides of said chair, said back and arm rests being operatively connected so that as said back is moved rearwardly said arm rests are simultaneously elevated.

4. A chair according to claim 2 in which said third means comprises a pair of first levers each pivoted to said frame at the back thereof and fixed to said footrest at the front of said chair and in which said fourth means comprises second levers each having a connection with one of said first levers and pivotally connected to said supporting means and to said frame.

5. A chair according to claim 2 in which said third means comprises sleeves slidable on said frame in a fixed path, in which said fourth means comprises a pair of levers on opposite sides of said chair fixed on one end to said footrest and pivotally connected at their opposite ends to said frame.

6. A chair of the character described comprising a frame for supporting the chair, a seat fixed to the upper end of said frame, a back rest, a footrest, parallelogram means pivotally mounting the back rest on the upper end of said frame for forward and rearward movement to adjust the effective depth of said seat, and linkage means pivotally connecting said footrest with said back rest, said linkage means being operable, when said footrest is raised or lowered, to move said back rest forwardly or rearwardly, respectively, said linkage means being arranged to shorten the distance between the point of pivotal connection of said parallelogram means to said frame and the point of pivotal connection of said linkage means and said footrest as said footrest is raised.

'7. In an adjustable chair, the combination which comprises, a frame forming the four legs of said chair, a seat supported on said frame, a footrest, means pivotally mounted on the rear legs of said frame and articulately connected to said footrest and adapted to move said footrest in an arcuate path, means for adjustably securing said footrest to the front legs of said frame at predetermined positions, below the seat of said chair, a back and arm rest adjustably supported above the seat of said chair by a parallel linkage arrangement, and means for automatically adjusting said parallel linkage arrangement in accordance with the position of said footrest with respect to said seat of said chair.

8. In an adjustable chair, the combination which comprises, a frame forming the four legs of said chair, a footrest and locking means therefor, means pivotally mounted on the rear legs of said frame and articulately connected to said footrest and adapted to move said footrest in a vertical plane along a predetermined circular arc, means for adjustably locking said footrest to the front legs of said frame at predetermined positions along said circular are, a seat supported by said frame, back and arm supporting means iadiustably supported above said seat by a parallel linking arran ement, and linka e means :resnem sire to {the position of .said footrest along said rarer-or actuating the said parallel linka e -;ar a'angement.

:9. In an adjustable chair, a frame forming the four legs of said chair, a foot supporting jmeans .adiustably supported below the seat of said chair and pivotally mounted on the rear legs of said frame for movement along an arcuate path, means for securing said foot supporting means to the vfront legs .of said frame at a plurality .of positions along said arcuate .path, a seat :supported .by .said frame, a .pair .of adjustable arm rests and a back rest therebetween supported :above said .seat :by .a parallel :linkage arrange- .ment, and linkage means for actuating-said parallel linkage arrangement in such a manner that said back and-arm .rests haveat .all times .a predetermined relationship to :the position .of said footrest along said arcuate path. I 1:0..In an adjustable chair, the combination which comprises, a frame forming the tour legs .of said chair, a footrest, an adj-ustablesupporting means pivotally mounted on :the back legs .of said frame adapted to move said footrest along anarcua-te path and in juxtaposition with a predetermined portion of the front legs of said frame, means for adjustably securing the-said :footrest to said frame :at a plurality of positions along said -arcuate path, a seat supported by said frame, a pair of spaced arm rests and-a back rest therebetween adjustably supported above said seat by a parallel linkage arrangement,and .a slotted linkage mechanism adapted to automatically impart an adjusting movement to said parallel linkage arrangement having at all times a predetermined relationship to the position of said footrest with respect to said seat.

11. In an;adjustable highchair having a seat and a single footrest adjusting means adapted to automatically readjust the position of the arm and back rests in relation to said seat, the combination which comprises, a 'footrest, a pair of parallel and spaced levers pivotally supported on the frame of said chair and adapted to 'ad justably support said footrest for movement in an arcuate path and contiguous with a predetermined portion of the frame of said chair, a means for adjustably securing said footrest to said frame at predetermined intervals along said arcuate path, a pair of horizontally disposed arm rests and a back rest therebetween adjustably supported above said seat by a parallel linkage arrangement, and a slotted linkage mechanism adapted to impart and adjusting movement to said linkage arrangement having at all times a predetermined relationship to the position of said footrest along said arcuate path.

12. In an adjustable chair having tubular front and rear leg members and a seat supported thereby, the combination which comprises, a footrest, means pivotally mounted on the rear legs of said chair and articulately connected to said footrest, readily releasable means adapted to secure said footrest in locking engagement with said front leg members at predetermined positions on said front legs, a pair of spaced apart arm rests and a back rest therebetween adjustably supported above said seat of said chair by a parallel linkage arrangement, and a slotted linkage mechanism adapted to automatically impart an adjustable movement to said parallel linkage arrangement having at all times a pre- -1i) determined relationship to .the position -,of said footrest.

,13,. high chair of the character described, comprising, legs for supporting said chair, ,a .seat sfi-xed to the :upper .ends of said legs, a vback rest, parallelogram means mounting said back rest -.0n the upper-ends of said legs for movement for- Wardly and rearwardly, said parallelogram means including parallel links pivotally connecting .said ebackrestrwi-th the legs at the rear of said chair, and ,parallellevers each pivotally connected to said back rest and fulcrummed on the frame structure at the front of said chair and extendingbel-ow thezupper end of said legs, a footrest, and parallel operating levers fixed at their outer ends to zopposite ends to the rear legs of said chair. and articulateli connectedyiminediate their ends of ,said footrest :and at their inner ends to the lower ends of :said first-mentioned j levers.

.14.- A hi h chair of the chara ter described, comprising, legs for supporting said chair, :a seat fixed .to the upper ends of said legs, a back rest, parallelogram means mounting said back rest ion :the upper ends of jSaid .legs for movement forwardlyiand rearwardly, said parallelo am means including parallel links pivotally connectin :Said back rest with said legs at the rear of said chair, andaparallellevers each pivotally connected to said :back rest and fulcrummed on the leg structure at the front of said chair and extending :below the, upper end of said legs, a footrestand parallel operating levers pivotally connected at their outer ends to opposite ends .of .said 'footrest, sand toggle means-connecting .the inner ends .of said operating "levers .to the lower ends :of said zfirst-mentioned levers.

:15. A :high :chair .of-the character described, comprising, a :pair of parallel, spaced, tubular frame members in the form of inverted .Uis providing front and rear legs and a pair 10f spaced, parallel, horizontal members at .the upper .ends ,cf said legs, a fixed seatmounted ion and extending between said horizontal members, a back .rest and forwardly extending arm rests on opposite sides thereof, .a footrest, spaced parallel links pivotally :connedtingsaid back rest and arm irests to the rear legs of said chair, spaced parallel levers pivotally connected at their upper end to the foreward portions of said arm rests, means pivotally mounting said levers on said horizontal members to provide fulcrums for said lovers, the lower ends of said levers extending below said fulcrums, a pair of spaced parallel operating levers fixed to opposite ends of said footrest, said operating levers curving upwardly and inwardly from said footrest, and toggle connections between the inner ends of said operating levers and the lower ends of said first-mentioned levers.

16. A high chair of the character described, comprising, spaced, parallel tubular members in the form of inverted Us providing front and rear legs and spaced, horizontal members, at the upper ends of said legs, a fixed seat mounted on and extending between said horizontal members, a back rest and arm rests, a footrest, parallel links pivotally connecting said back rest with said horizontal members at the rear of said chair, parallel levers fulcrummed on said horizontal members forwardly of said links, extending therebelow and thereabove, and pivotally connected at their upper ends to said arm rests,'and parallel operating levers fulcrummed at their inner ends on the rear legs of said chair, pivotally and slidably connected at their mid-portions to the lower ends of said first-mentioned levers and fixed to their outer ends to opposite ends of said footrest.

17. A high chair of the character described, comprising, a continuous length of tubing bent to form spaced, parallel, inverted Us to provide front and rear legs for the chair and horizontal members at the upper ends of said legs, a fixed seat mounted on and extending between said horizontal members, a back rest and arm rests, a footrest, parallel links pivotally connecting said back rest with said horizontal members at the rear of said chair, parallel levers fulcrummed on said horizontal members forwardly of said links, extending therebelow and thereabove, and pivotally connected at their upper ends to the arm rests, and parallel operating levers fulcrummed at their inner ends on the rear legs of said chair, pivotally and slidably connected at their midportions to the lower ends of said first-mentioned levers and fixed at their outer ends to opposite ends of said footrest.

18. An adjustable chair of the character described, comprising a rigid frame supporting said chair, a generally horizontal seat mounted on said frame, a back rest, first means mounting said back rest on said frame for substantially hori zontal movement above the level of said seat, said first means having a first point of pivotal connection with said frame adjacent the upper end of said frame, a footrest, second means mounting said footrest on said frame for substantially vertical movement relative to said frame, said second means having a second point of connection with said footrest, and third means for operatively connecting said first means and said second means below said first point to move said backrest and footrest in unison, said third means being operative to decrease the distance between said first point and second point as said footrest is raised so that said footrest moves upwardly as said backrest moves forwardly and said footrest moves downwardly as said backrest moves rearwardly.

19. An adjustable high chair comprising, a rigid frame, a seat fixed to said frame, supporting first means for the back of the occupant, at

least three links each pivotally connected to said supporting means and to said frame providing for movement of said first means forwardly and rearwardly and adjusting the distance of the back support from the forward edge of said seat, two of said links being positioned in an opposed pair, one on each side of said chair, each link of said opposed pair having a downward extension, a footrest, and second means articulately connecting said footrest with said downward extensions, said second means including connections with said footrest, said second means being connected to said downward extensions and said footrest to shorten the distance between the points of connection of said second means with said footrest and the points of connection of said opposed links with said frame as said footrest is raised and to move said downward extensions rearwardly and said first means forwardly as said footrest is raised.

20. In an adjustable chair, the combination which comprises, a frame forming the legs of said chair, a seat supported on said frame, a footrest, means mounted on said frame and connected to said footrest and adapted to move said footrest in a path of varying elevation relative to said frame, means for adjustably securing said footrest to said frame at a plurality of positions relative to said seat of said chair, a backrest supported substantially vertically above said seat of said chair, said seat and backrest being adjustable relative to each other in a substantially horizontal direction, and means for automatically adjusting said backrest and seat relative to one another in a horizontal direction in accordance with the position of said footrest with respect to said seat of said chair.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 116,784 Wilson July 4, 1871 155,366 Curry Sept. 29, 1874 579,499 Shapira Mar. 23, 1897 1,156,725 Turner Oct. 12, 1915

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