WO1998042233A1

WO1998042233A1 - Highchair stroller

Info

Publication number: WO1998042233A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/005178
Authority: WO
Inventors: Louis Shamie
Original assignee: Louis Shamie
Priority date: 1997-03-26
Filing date: 1998-03-14
Publication date: 1998-10-01
Also published as: AU6469098A

Abstract

A stroller (10) has a seat (32) which can be easily be moved from a lower position to a raised position in which the stroller (10) can be used for feeding a child at a standard height table. In the raised position, the seat (32), which is supported by a linkage (66, 68, 70, 72), may be locked in the raised position in a secure manner. When the seat (32) is in the lower position, the highchair stroller (10) can be used as a conventional stroller and the linkage (66, 68, 70, 72) which raises and lowers the seat (32) is completely out of the way.

Description

HIGHCHAIR STROLLER

This Application is a Continuation-In-Part of my Application for a Highchair Stroller, Serial Number 08/667,048, filed on June 20, 1996.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of children's strollers and more particularly to a highchair stroller which incorporates a seat which can be raised and lowered.

There remains a continuing need for a stroller for young children which includes a seat which can be easily raised for the purpose of feeding the child at a standard height table. At present, this requirement is met by removing the child from the stroller and placing the child in a special highchair or on a special booster seat. Neither of these solutions is completely satisfactory. In a restaurant setting there is a need to first make sure that a highchair or a booster seat is available. Then there is a need to move the child to an unfamiliar seat followed by a need to store the unused stroller in a safe and unobtrusive location. Likewise, for use at home, there is, typically, a need ro purchase and store both a conventional highchair and a conventional stroller resulting in both cost and inconvenience.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a highchair stroller having a seat which can be easily raised or lowered.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a highchair stroller having a seat which can be raised cr lowered and which can also be reclined.

.Another object of the present invention is to provide a highchair stroller having a seat which can be raised or lowered and which operates in a safe and reliable manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a highchair stroller having a seat which can be raised sufficiently to facilitate use as a highchair.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a highchair stroller having a seat which can be raised sufficiently to facilitate use as a highchair which comprises a relatively small number of component parts which can be manufactured economically in volume resulting in a relatively low overall cost .

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly hereinafter. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided highchair stroller having a seat which is supported by link members. The seat can be easily swung or moved from a lower position to a raised position in which the stroller can be used as a highchair for feeding or for other purposes. In the raised position, the seat can be placed next to a table in order to feed a child in a convenient manner. The seat may be locked in the raised position in a secure manner. When the seat is in the lower position, the highchair stroller can be used as a conventional stroller. The link members which raise and lower the seat are completely out of the way both in the raised position and in the lowered position of the seat. The highchair stroller also incorporates a seat back which can be reclined. In the first embodiment of the invention the link members which support the seat are disposed in a generally vertical orientation when the seat is in an upper position and disposed in a generally horizontal position when the seat is in a lower position. In a second embodiment of the invention the link members which support the seat are disposed in a generally horizontal orientation when the seat is in a lower position and disposed in a generally vertical position when the seat is in an upper position. A third embodiment of the invention incorporates a locking link which is connected to an upper support member and which locks a support link. A fourth embodiment of the invention incorporates a locking link which is connected to a support link and which locks a lower support member. A fifth embodiment of the invention incorporates a locking link which is connected to a rear support link and which locks a lower support member. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an overall perspective view of highchair stroller made according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view, similar to Fig. 1, drawn to a enlarged scale, and with portions shown broken away to illustrate details of construction; Fig. 3 is a partial side elevation view of the highchair stroller of Fig. 1 showing the seat in the lower position;

Fig. 4 is a partial side elevation view of the highchair stroller of Fig. 1, similar to Fig. 3, showing the seat in an intermediate position; Fig. 5 is a partial side elevation view of the highchair stroller of Fig. 1, similar to Fig. 3, showing the seat in the upper position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view, taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 1 and drawn to a larger scale, showing the relative position of the various components when the seat is in the upper position;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view, taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 1 similar to Fig. 6, showing the relative position of the various components when the seat is in the lower position, and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view cf the height position lock member of the highchair stroller cf Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is an overall perspective view of a highchair stroller made according to a second embodiment of the present invention with the seat shown in a lower position;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation view of the highchair stroller of Fig. 9 taken along the line 10-10 of Fig. 9, showing the seat in the lower position; Fig. 11 is an overall perspective view of the highchair stroller similar to Fig. 9, showing the seat in an upper position;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation view of the highchair stroller of Fig. 9 taken along the line 12-12 of Fig. 11, showing the seat in the upper position;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of the highchair stroller of Fig. 9 drawn to an enlarged scale showing the seat in an upper position; Fig. 14 is a side elevation view, generally similar to Fig. 12, showing a highchair stroller, made according to a third embodiment of the present invention, with the seat shown in an upper position; Fig. 15 is a side elevation view, generally similar to Fig. 12, showing a highchair stroller, made according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, with the seat shown in an upper position, and

Fig. 16 is a side elevation view, generally similar to Fig. 12, showing a highchair stroller, made according to a fiftn embodiment of the present invention, with the seat shown in an upper position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to the drawings, in which like reference numbers designate like or corresponding parts throughout, there is shown in Fig. 1 a highchair stroller, generally designated by reference number 10, made in accordance with the oresent invention, which includes a frame assembly 12. The frame assembly 12 includes a handle member 14, portions 16,18 of which are attached to connectors 20,22 which are attached to a pair of rear legs 24,26 and to a pair of front legs 28,30. The frame assembly 12 also includes a seat assembly 32. The seat assembly 32 includes a seat back member 34, a seat support member 36 and a bar 38 which connects portions 40,42 of the seat support member 36. The seat back member 34 and the seat support member 36 each have the general configuration of a capital letter "U" as is best shown in Fig. 1.

When the seat assembly 32 is in the lower position 44, as is shown in broken lines in Fig. 1, the front portion 46 of the seat support member 36 is supported by a transverse seat rest member 48 the ends 50, 52 of which are connected to the front legs 28,30. The seat assembly 32 is supported by a seat support assembly 54 which forms a key feature of the present invention. As will be presently described, the seat support assembly 54 is capable of moving the seat assembly 32 from the lower position 44, shown in Fig. 1, to the upper position 56, shown in solid lines in Fig. 1.

The seat support assembly 54 includes a first pair of support members 58,60 and a second pair of support members 62,64. The support members 58, 60 are connected by a pair of links 66, 68 and the support members 62,64 are connected by a pair of links 70,72.

Figs. 3-8 show details of construction of the left hand portion 74 of the seat support assembly 54. It should be understood that the details of construction of the right hand portion 76 of the seat support assembly 54 are identical to the portion 74 as shown but of opposite hand.

As is best shown in Fig. 4, the support member 64 has an upper end 78 pivotally connected t the handle member 14 by pivot 80 and a lower end 82 pivotally connected to the bar 84 by pivot 86. The end 88 of the bar 84 is connected tc the front leg 30 by pivot 90. The intermediate portion 92 of the support member 64 is connected to the rear leg 26 by the pivot 96. The intermediate portions 98,100 of the support member 64 are connected to the links 70,72 by the pivots 104,106. The ends 108,110 of the links 70,72 are pivotally connected to intermediate portions 112,114 cf the seat support member 62 by pivots 116,118

As is best shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the pivot 118 which connects the link 72 and the support member 62 also support a height position lock member 120. The height position lock member 120 which is best shown in Fig. 8 includes an intermediate portion 122 which has a hole 124 through which the pivot 118 passes, a first end portion 126 which includes an aperture 128 and a second end portion 130 which includes a tab 132. A spring 134 is provided, which has a central torsion coil 136 and a first end 138 which engages a hole 140 formed in the height position lock member 120 below the tab 132 and a second end 142 which engages a hole 144 formed in the support member 62. As is shown in Fig. 8, the end 146 of the height position lock member 120 includes a curved surface 148. When the seat assembly 32 is in the upper position 56, the aperture 128 engages the pivot post 150 which is part of the pivot 106. The spring 134 causes the height position lock member 120 to bear against the pivot post 150 thereby holding the seat assembly 32 in a secure manner.

When it is desired to lower the seat assembly 32, the tab 132 is pressed in the direction shown by the arrow 152 n Fig. 6 thereby lifting the aperture 128 away from and out of engagement with the pivot post 150. The seat assembly 32 can then be lowered to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 in a safe manner. When the seat assembly 32 is raised from the lower position 48 to the upper position 56, the curved surface 148 of the height position lock member 120 rides over the pivot post 150 and allows the aperture 128 to engage the pivot post 150. The support members 60,62 each have a hook 154 which is mounted on pivot 116. The hook 154 has an integrally formed resilient spring portion 158, the end 160 of which is attached to the support members 60,62. The spring portion 158 maintains the hook 154 in the position shown in Fig. 5 with the end 162 of the hook 154 engaging a pin 164 on the seat back member 34. When it is desired to recline the seat back member 34, the handle portion 166 of the hook 154 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow 168 in Fig. 5. This causes the spring portion 158 to bend and the hook 154 releases the pin 164 allowing the seat oack memoer 34 to recline in the direction shown by the arrow 169. When the seat back member 34 is returned to the vertical position, the pin 164 rides over the curved portion 170 of the hook 158 and the hook 158 again engages the pin 164. The frame assembly 12 includes brace members 172,174 which connect support members 60,62 and the seat support member 36. The frame assembly 12 also includes brace members 176,178,180 and wheels 182,184,186,188 which are conventional in nature and therefore have not been described in detail. Figs. 9-13 show a second emoodiment of the invention, generally designated by reference number 200, which includes a frame assembly 212 having a handle member 214, portions 216,218 of which are attached to connectors 220,222 which are attached to a pair of rear legs 224,226 and to a pair of front legs 228,230. The frame assembly 212 also includes a seat assembly 232. The seat assembly 232 includes a seat back member 234 which has the general configuration of a capital letter "U" as is best shown in Fig. 9.

As is shown in Fig. 11, the seat assembly 232 also includes a first pair of support members 258,260 and a second pair of support members 262,264. The support members 258, 260 are connected by a pair of links 266, 268 and the support members 262,264 are connected by a pair of links 270,272. As will be presently described, the seat assembly 232 is capable of moving from a lower position 244, shown in Figs. 9 and 10, to an upper position 256, shown in Figs. 10-13.

Figs. 10 and 12 show details of construction of the left hand portion 273 of the seat assembly 232. It should be understood that the details of construction of the right hand portion 276 of the seat assembly 232 are identical to the portion 274 as shown but of opposite hand.

As is best shown in Fig. 13 the links 266,268,270,272 are connected to the support members 258,260,262,264 by pivots

274,275,276,277,278,279,280,281. When the seat assembly 232 is in the upper position 256, shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the ends 298,300 of a pair of locking links 302,304 reversibly lock the intermediate portions 306,308 of links 266,270 thereby forming a rigid structure which safely holds the support members 258,260,262,264 in a secure manner.

The ends 310,312 of the locking links 302,304 are pivotally connected to a bar 314 which passes through the locking links 302,304 and the support members 558,262 as is best shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 13 typically shows a pin 316 mounted on link 270 which engages a notch 318 formed in locking link 304. This type of lock has been shown by way of example only with the understanding that other types of locks capable of reversibly locking the ends 298,300 of locking links 302,304 to links 266,270 may be utilized. The support members 258,264 support a conventional seat which has not been shown for purposes of clarity of illustration. The portions 320,322 of support members 258,262 are connected by a transverse member 324 and the portions 326,328 of support members 260,264 are connected by a transverse member 330.

When the seat assembly 232 is in the lower position 244 shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the ends of locking links 302,304 are unlocked from links 266,270 and the support members 258, 262 rest on the support members 260,264.

The intermediate portions 282 of the support members 260,264 are connected to frame members 284, 286 by pivots as illustrated typically by the pivot 288 in Fig. 12. The intermediate portions 286 of the support members 260,264 are connected to link members 290,292 by pivots 275,280 and the link members 290,292 are connected to the frame members 332,334 by pivots 296.

Figs. 14-16 show three additional embodiments of the invention 400,500,600 each of which is generally similar to the embodiment 200 shown in Fig. 12. The reference numbers shown in Fig. 12 have been retained in Figs. 14-16 for similar components. The embodiments 400, 500, 600 feature additional locking concepts for locking the support members 258,262 in the upper position 256. Fig. 14 shows the third embodiment of the invention 400, in which the end 402, of the locking link 404, is pivotally connected to an intermediate portion 406 of the support member 262 by the pivot 408. The end 410 of the locking link 404 removably locks the support members 262,264 in the upper position 256 by engaging the pin 412 which is mounted on the lin 272 in a slot 414.

Fig. 15 shows the fourth embodiment of the invention 500, in which the end 502, of the locking link 504, is pivotally connected to an intermediate portion 506 of the link 270 by the pivot 508. The end 510 of the locking link 504 removably IOCKS the support members 262,264 in the upper position 256 by engaging the pin 512 which is mounted on the support member 264 in a slot 514. Fig. 16 shows the fifth embodiment of the invention 600, in which the end 602, of the locking link 604, is pivotally connected to an intermediate portion 606 of the link 270 oy the pivot 608. The end 610 of the locking link 604 removably locks the support members 262,264 in the upper position 256 by engaging the pin 612 which is mounted on the support member 264 in a slot 614.

Tne support members 262,264, which are part of the left hand portions of the embodiments 400,500,600 have been shown in Figs. 14-16 by way of example. It is understood that locking links similar to the locking links 404,504,604 are incorporated on the previously described support members 258,260 on the right hand portion of each of the embodiments 400,500,600.

The foregoing specific embodiment of the present invention as set forth in the specification herein is for illustrative purposes only. Various deviations and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention without departing from the main theme thereof.

Claims

I CLAIM :

1. A highchair stroller comprising: frame means; seat means; seat support means for mounting said seat means on said frame means with said seat support means comprising: a first support member with said first support member connected to said frame means; a second support member with said second support member connected to said seat means; a plurality of link means with said link means pivotally connecting said first support member and said second support member and with said link means capable of moving said seat means from a relatively lower position to a relatively higher position, and locking means for releaseably locking said seat means in said relatively higher position.

2. A highchair stroller comprising: frame means; seat means; seat support means for mounting said seat^' means on said frame means with said seat support means comprising: a first support member with said first support member connected to said frame means; a second support member with said second support member connected to said seat means; a plurality of link means with said link means pivotally connecting said first support member and said second support member and with said link means capable of moving said seat means from a relatively lower position to a relatively higher position, and locking means mounted on said second support member for releaseably locking said seat means in said relatively higher position.

3. A highchair stroller comprising: frame means; seat means; seat support means for mounting said seat means on said frame means with said seat support means comprising: a first support member with said first support member connected to said frame means; a second support member with said second support member connected to said seat means; a plurality of link means with said link means pivotally connecting said first support member and said second support member and with said link means capable of moving said seat means from a relatively lower position to a relatively higher position, and locking means mounted on said first support member for releaseably locking said seat means in said relatively higher position.

4. A highchair stroller comprising: frame means; seat means; seat support means for mounting said seat means on said frame means with said seat support means comprising: a first support member with said first support member connected to said frame means; a second support member with said second support member connected to said seat means; a plurality of link means with said link means pivotally connecting said first support member and said second support member and with said link means capable of moving said seat means from a relatively lower position to a relatively higher position, and locking means mounted on selected link means of said plurality of link means for releaseably locking said seat means in said relatively higher position.

5. A highchair stroller according to Claim 1 in which said plurality of link means comprises a plurality of link members.

6. A highchair stroller according to Claim 5 in which each of said link members comprises: a first end; first pivot means disposed on said first ends of each of said link members; a second end; second pivot means disposed on said second ends of each of said link members; with said first ends of each of said link members pivotally connected to said first support member and with said second ends of each of said link members pivotally connected to said second support member.

7. A highchair stroller according to Claim 1 further comprising a plurality of pivot pin means with said pivot pin means pivotally connecting said link means and said support members.

8. A highchair stroller according to Claim 1 in which said seat means comprises reclining seat means.

9. A highchair stroller according to Claim 1 in which said lock means comprises a lock member with said lock member pivotally mounted on said second support member.

10. A highchair stroller according to Claim 9 in which said lock means further comprises hook means formed on said lock member with said hook means disposed to removably engage said first support member when said seat means are in said relatively higher position.

11. A highchair stroller according to Claim 6 in which said lock means further comprises hook means formed on said lock member with said hook means disposed to removably engage said first pivot means when said seat means are in said relatively higher position.

12. A highchair stroller according to Claim 1 in which said locking means further comprises: spring means, with said spring means having a first end and a second end with said first end of said spring means disposed bearing on said locking member and with said second end of said spring means disposed bearing on said second support member and with said spring means disposed to urge said locking member into locking engagement of said hook means with said first pivot means when said seat means are in said relatively higher position.

13. A highchair stroller according to Claim 6 further comprising tab means, with said tab means formed on said locking member for pivoting of said locking member for release of said hook means from said first pivot means thereby unlocking said seat means from said relatively higher position.

14. A highchair stroller according to Claim 1 in which said link means comprise: a lower link member and an upper link member.

15. A highchair stroller according to Claim 11 in which said lock means are pivotally mounted on said second pivot means and said lock means are disposed to engage said first pivot means on said upper link member.

16. A highchair stroller according to Claim 6 in which said spring means comprises: a first end; a second end and a central portion, with said central portion mounted on said second pivot means on said lower link member.

17. A highchair stroller according to Claim 1 in which said seat means are suspended from said link means when said seat means are in said relatively lower position.

18. A highchair stroller according to Claim 1 in which said link means are generally parallel.

19. A highchair stroller according to Claim 6 in which said second pivot means on said upper link is disposed generally above said first pivot means on said upper link when said seat means are in said relatively higher position.