US2968338A - Child's convertible furniture article - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 17, 1961' F. P. REESE cuno's CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE ARTICLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 3, 1959 INVENTOR. FI2AMK P. REE-s5 ATTORNEYS Jan. 17, 1961 F. P. REESE 2,968,338

CHILD'S CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE ARTICLE Filed April 3, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VENTOR.

FQANK P. REESE BY ATTOQN E s Jan. 17, 1961 F. P. REESE CHILD'S CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE ARTICLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 3, 1959 INVENTOR. TQAHK P. REESE yzW We. *rQ M ATTOQNEYS United tates Patent CHILDS CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE ARTICLE Frank P. Reese, Hampton, Va. (4040 S. State St., Salt Lake City 15, Utah) Filed Apr. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 803,966

Claims. (Cl. 155-43) The present invention relates generally to a childs furniture article of manufacture and specifically to a childs chair convertible to a bed, a high chair, or a stroller.

An object of the present invention is to provide a childs furniture article which lends itself to ready conversion to a bed, a high chair, or a stroller, with a mini mum of effort and requiring no tools.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a childs furniture article consisting in a chair and table with means to mount the chair on the table to form a high chair.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a childs furniture article consisting in a ch ir which is easily and quickly attached to and detached from a wheelsupported base for converting the chair to a stroller.

- A still further object of the present invention is to provide a childs furniture article which is of simple construction, one sturdy in construction, and one economicallv feasible.

These and other obi'ects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the annexed .drawings, in which: v

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a component part of the article of manufacture according to the present invention, showing in dotted lines a platform or bed supported 1 thereon;

Figure 2 is an isometric exploded view in which the component parts shown in Figure 1 is reduced in length and used with other component parts of the invention to form a childs chair and attached tray;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the assembled childs chair and attached tray;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a section l view, on an enlarged scale, taken .on the line 66 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is an isometric view of a table constituting .another component part of the present invention;

Figure 8 is an elevational view of the childs chair and :attached tray of Figures 3 and 4 secured to the table of Figure 7 to form a high chair;

Figure 9 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 99 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is an isometric view of a wheel-supported base, constituting further component part of the present invention;

Figure 11 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the chair of Figures 3 and 4 secured to the base of Figure 10 to form a stroller;

Figure 12 is a sectional view, on an enlarged, scale, taken on the line 1212 of Figure 10; and

Figure 13 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 13-13 of Figure 11.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings in which like 2,968,338 Patented Jan. 17, 1961 ICC numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the 'childs convertible furniture article according to the present invention consists in a basic support element designated generally by the reference numeral 10 in Figures 1 and 2 and comprising a pair of upstanding leg members 12 and 14 arranged in lateral spaced relation. Each of the leg members 12 and 14 has a horizontal top portion 16, as shown in Figure l, with reference to the leg member 12, a front 18 sloping downwardly and outwardly from the forward end of the top portion 16, a rear portion 20 sloping downwardly and outwardly from the rear end of the top portion 16, and concavely curved portions 22 and 24 each having one end merging with the lower end of the front and rear portions 18 and 20, respectively.

The other end of the curved portions 22 and 24 extend toward and are spaced from each other. Perpendicularly arranged with respect to each of the curved portions 22 and 24 are horizontal portions 26 and 28, respectively, each having one end merging into the end of the respective curved portion 22 or 24 remote from the end which is secured to the lower end of the front or rear portion 18 or 28. The leg members 12 and 14 are arranged with respect to each other so that the front horizontal portions 26 are in alignment and the rear horizontal portions 28 are in alignment and the front and rear portions 18 and 20 of one leg member 12 are parallel and spaced from the front and rear portions 18 and 20 of the other leg member 14.

Means is provided detachably connecting each of the adjacent perpendicular front and rear horizontal portions of the leg members 12 and 14 together and consist in a tubular member 30 having an outwardly spring-biased button 32 (Fig. 4) receivable in one of two holes formed in each of the perpendicular portions 26 and 28, such holes being designated by the reference numeral 34 in Figure 1.

Carried by and extending from the front portion 18 to the rear portion 20 of each of the leg members 12 and 14 between the top portion 16 and the associated horizontal portions 26 and 28 is an angle member 36 having a web 38 horizontally disposed and constituting a ledge fixed to the leg members 12 and 14. An upwardly extending flange 40 extending along one side edge of the web 38 constitutes the means by which the angle member 36 is securely fixed to the front and rear portions 18 and 20 of each leg member 12 and 14, as shown in Figure 2, with reference to the leg member 14. The ledges formed by the webs 38 face toward each other and constitute a means for supporting a platform member positioned between the leg members 12 and 14 with the underface of the platform member resting upon the ledges of webs 38. Such a platform member may be either a bed 42, shown in dotted lines in Figure l, or may be a chair seat 44, shown in Figure 2. Each angle member 36 is provided with a downwardly depending flange 46 having holes 48 therein. At each end of the platform members, constituting the bed 42 or the chair seat 44, is a complementally arranged angle member 50, 58 having similarly arranged holes 52 for receiving therethrough bolts (not shown) for securing such platform member to the ledge of the leg members 12 and 14 for holding such platform member in position on the ledges. The flanges 50, 58, together with the flanges 46 and the bolts constitute releasable cooperating fastening elements for holding the bed or chair seat in position between the leg members 12 and 14 and securely fixed to the angle members 36.

A back 54 is positioned between the leg members 12 and 14 so that it extends in an upright direction toward the rear portions 20 of the leg members 12 and 14 and detachable cooperating securing elements are carried on the back 54 and on the .angle members 36 for retaining the back in the upright direction position. Specifically, these securing elements, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, comprise a main pivot pin 56 projecting horizontally from the side of a support bracket 58 which is positioned on each side of and secured to the lower end portion of the back 54, as shown in Figure 2. Each support bracket 58 is provided with a vertical groove receiving the vertical leg 60 of an L-shaped brace member 62 which has its other leg 64 horizontally disposed and arranged in side by side abutting relation with respect to the adjacent flange 46 of each angle member 36, as shown in full lines in Figure 5. A horizontally disposed abutment member 66 is carried upon the free end of each leg 64 and normally underlies the lower end of the associated flange 46 preventing the tilting backward movement of the back 54.

A U-shaped latch element 68 has a free end of each of its legs 70 pivotally connected to the brace member 62 at the juncture of its legs 60 and 64 has its bight received in a spring clip 72 (Fig. for holding the brace member 62 in the position in which the abutment member 66 engages the lower end of the flange 46. When it is desired to shift the upright back 54 to a reclining position shown in dotted lines in Figure 5, the bight of the latch element 68 is disengaged from the spring clip 72 and both of the brace members 62 are moved from the full line position in Figure 5 to the dotted line position in which another pin 74 projecting from each of the flanges 46 is received in adjacent ones of a pair of bayonet slots 76 provided in the legs 60 of the brace members 62, in which position the back 54 is supported with the other legs 64 free of the adjacent flanges 46.

A tray 78 is positioned adjacent the forward portion of the leg members 12 and 14 and carries releasable attaching means engaging the top portion 16 of each leg member 12 and 14 for holding the tray 78 in position on the leg members 12 and 14. This releasable attaching means is shown most clearly in Figure 6 and consists in a saddle member 80 conformably shaped to fit over the top portion 16 of each leg member 12 and 14 and provided on each end with a tab portion 82 secured by conventional means such as a wood screw 84 to the underside of the tray 78. Pivotally connected to the tab portions 82 is a handle member 86 having a positioning element 88 on one end thereof insertable through and withdrawable from a slot 90 provided in the saddle member 80. The positioning element 88 is provided on its free end with a plurality of slots 92 one of which is selectively engageable with a depending pin 94 carried on the underside of each of the top portions 16 of the legs 12 and 14. When it is desired to either remove the tray 78 from the legs 12 and 14 or to reposition the same, the handle member 86 is swung from the full line position in Figure 6 to the dotted line position in which the positioning element 88 is free of the underside of the top portion 16 and free of the engagement with the pin 94.

When the chair seat 44 and back 54 are positioned between the leg members 12 and 14 and the tray 78 is attached to the top portion 16, the chair seat and attached tray may be used as a unit to support a child for feeding or for play as desired. When it is desired to form a high chair with the chair seat 44 and back 54 supported in the leg members 12 and 14, it is only necessary to elevate the assembly and support it upon a table member, shown in Figures 7 and 8, such table member being designated generally by the reference numeral 96. The table member 96 comprises a pair of inverted U-shaped frame elements 98 and 100 arranged in lateral spaced relation with a pair of opposed shelves 102 extending between the frame elements 98 and 100 and carried by the latter. A table top 104 extends over the upper ends of the frame elements 98 and 100 and is secured to the uppermost flange 106 of an angle member 108, the lower flange of which constitutes the shelf 102. When the chair and attached tray is assembled on the table member 96, the perpendicular horizontal portions 26 and 28 of the leg members 12 and 14 rest upon the shelves 102 and the lower ends of the frame elements 98 and 'are supported upon a ground surface.

Means is provided for detachably securing the chair and attached tray to the table member 96 and consists in, as shown most clearly in Figure 9, a latch element 110 pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the forward legs of the frame elements 98 and 100 and having one end overlying the horizontal portion 26 of the leg members 12 and 14. The other end of the latch element 110 is provided with a notch as at 112 which receives the end portion of the shelf 102 when the latch element 110 is slid rearwardly the length of the slot 114 provided therein with the latch element 110 disengaged from the portion 26. As shown in Figure 8, the latch element 110 is of U-shaped configuration and has the free ends of its legs engaging the horizontal portion 26 when the chair is in the superimposed position with respect to the table member 96.

Another component of the present invention consists in a foot rest 116 consisting in an angle plate 118 adjustably supported upon a pair of spaced bar members 120. A rod 122 connects the upper ends of the bar members together and is received in opposed notches 124 (Fig. 2) provided in the flanges 46 of the angle members 36. Each flange 46 also has a hole 126 arranged in spaced relation with respect to the notch 124 for receiving a spring biased peg 127 carried by each of the bar members 120. There are two pegs 127 permitting selective adjustment of the bars 120 from a downwardly sloping position, as shown in Figure ll, to a substantially horizontal position.

The chair seat 44 and back 54 may also be mounted between the leg members 12 and 14 and the latter supported upon other frame elements designated generally by the reference numeral 128, in Figure 11. The frame elements 128 are also of inverted U-shaped configuration and carry on the free ends of their legs axles 130 supporting rotatable ground-engaging wheels 132. In Figure 10 will be seen a horizontally disposed open frame platform 134 having at each end thereof upwardly extending inverted U-shaped frames 136 which form abutments for the horizontal portions 26 and 28 of the leg members 12 and 14 when the latter rest upon the adjacent portions of the platform 134. The normally closed spring-biased latch element 138 is carried by the platform 134 and is engageable with the horizontal leg member portion 26 when the chair is seated upon the shelf portions of the platform 134, as shown in Figure 11. Springs 140 support each axle 130, such springs being within the adjacent lower end portion of the legs of the frame elements 128. An elongated inverted U-shaped handle 142 is telescopingly arranged with respect to a pair of sleeves 144 which have their adjacent ends pivotally connected to an upstanding bracket 146 carried by the bight portion of each of the frame elements 128. The handle 142 is shiftable from the nested position shown in Figure 10 to an extended position shown in Figure 11 rearwardly of the seat back 54. Slidably mounted upon each of the sleeves 144 is another sleeve 148 carrying a latch element 150 in one of two notches 152 provided on each of the flanges 40 of the angle members 36. A tang 154 is carried upon the free end of each of the latch elements 150 and is receivably in a slot 156 provided in the web 38 inwardly of each end of the latter. This permits the positioning of the handle 142 either rearwardly of the seat back 54 or forwardly of the latter.

In Figure 9 it is seen that the table top 104 rests upon the flanges 106 of the angle members 108 and is also secured to the frame element 98 by means of an L-shaped bracket 158, although such means of attachment of the table top 104 are only examples of means by which the components may be secured together.

In use, the leg members 12 and 14 may be secured together in either the elongated arrangement shown in Figure 1 or the shortened arrangement shown in Figure 2by means of the telescoping tubular members 30 with the buttons 32 of the latter selectively positioned in either of the two holes 34 provided in each perpendicular horizontal leg member portion 26 or 28. A bed 42 or the chair seat 44 may be positioned upon the webs 38 of the angle members 36, constituting ledges, and the seat back 54 may be used in combination with the seat 44 or may be omitted. Suitable fastening elements may be used to position either the bed 42 or the seat 44 on the ledges and to fixedly secure the same to the ledges. The tray 78 is quickly attached to or detached from the top portions 16 of the leg members 12 and 14, as desired. The chair seat with attached tray may be used either apart from the table member 96 or may be mounted upon the table member 96 for elevating the chair to form a high chair. The chair seat 44 with the attached leg members 12 and 14 may alternatively be secured to the frame platform 134 with the associated frame elements 128 and rotatable wheels 132 for converting the chair to a stroller.

While only preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, other embodiments are contemplated and numerous changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a childs convertible article of manufacture, a pair of upstanding leg members arranged in lateral spaced relation, each of said members having a horizontal top portion, a front portion sloping downwardly and outwardly from the forward end of said top portion, a rear portion sloping downwardly and outwardly from the rear end of said top portion, a concavely curved portion having one end merging with the lower end of each of said front and rear portions, the other ends of said curved portions extending toward and spaced from each other, and a horizontal portion arranged perpendicularly with respect to each of said curved portions and having one end merging into the other end of the curved portion, a fixed ledge carried by and extending from the front portion to the rear portion of each leg member between the top portion and the horizontal portion, said ledges facing toward each other, means detachably connecting each of the adjacent perpendicular horizontal portions of said leg members together, a platform member positioned between said leg members so that the underface of said platform rests upon said ledges, and releasable cooperating fastening elements on said platform member and said ledges for holding said platform member in position on said ledges.

2. In a childs convertible article of manufacture, a pair of upstanding leg members arranged in lateral spaced relation, each of said members having a horizontal top portion, a front portion sloping downwardly and outwardly from the forward end of said top portion, a rear portion sloping downwardly and outwardly from the forward end of said top portion, a concavely curved portion having one end merging with the lower end of each of said front and rear portions, the other ends of said curved portions extending toward and spaced from each other, and a horizontal portion arranged perpendicularly with respect to each of said curved portions and having one end merging into the other end of the curved portion, a fixed ledge carried by and extending from the front portion to the rear portion of each leg member between the top portion and the horizontal portion, said ledges facing toward each other, means detachably connecting each of the adjacent perpendicular horizontal portions of said leg members together, a platform member positioned between said leg members so that the underface of said platform rests upon said ledges, a back positioned between said leg members so as to extend in an upright direction toward the rear portions of said leg members, detachable cooperating securing elements on said back and said ledges for retaining said back in the upright direction position, and releasable cooperating fastening elements on said platform member and said ledges for holding said platform member in position on said ledges.

3. In a childs convertible article of manufacture, a pair of upstanding leg members arranged in lateral spaced relation, each of said members having a horizontal top portion, a front portion sloping downwardly and outwardly from the forward end of said top portion, a rear portion sloping downwardly and outwardly from the forward end of said top portion, a concavely curved portion having one end merging with the lower end of each of said front and rear portions, the other ends of said curved portions extending toward and spaced from each other, and a horizontal portion arranged perpendicularly with respect to each of said curved portions and having one end merging into the other end of the curved portion, a fixed ledge carried by and extending from thefront portion to the rear portion of each leg member between the top portion and the horizontal portion, said ledges facing toward each other, means detachably connecting each of the adjacent perpendicular horizontal portions of said leg members together, a platform member positioned between said leg members so that the underface of I said platform rests upon said ledges, a back positioned between said leg members so as to extend in an upright direction toward the rear portions of said leg members, detachable cooperating securing elements on said back and said ledges for retaining said back in the upright direction position, releasable cooperating fastening elements on said platform member and said ledges for holding said platform member in position on said ledges, a tray positioned adjacent the forward portions of said leg members, and attaching means on said tray and releasably engaging the top portions of said leg members for holding said tray in position on said leg members.

4. In a childs convertible article of manufacture, a pair of upstanding leg members arranged in lateral spaced relation, each of said members having a horizontal top portion, a front portion sloping downwardly and outwardly from the forward end of said top portion, a rear portion sloping downwardly and outwardly from the forward end of said top portion, a concavely curved portion having one end merging with the lower end of each of said front and rear portions, the other ends of said curved portions extending toward and spaced from each other, and a horizontal portion arranged perpendicularly with respect to each of said curved portions and having one end merging into the other end of the curved portion, a fixed ledge carried by and extending from the front portion to the rear portion of each leg member between the top portion and the horizontal portion, said ledges facing toward each other, means detachably connecting each of the adjacent perpendicular horizontal portions of said leg members together, a platform member positioned between said leg members so that the underface of said platform rests upon said ledges, a back positioned between said leg members so as to extend in an upright direction toward the rear portions of said leg members, detachable cooperating securing elements on said back and said ledges for retaining said back in the upright direction position, releasable cooperating fastening elements on said platform member and said ledges for holding said platform member in position on said ledges, a pair of inverted U-shaped frame elements arranged in lateral spaced relation, and a pair of opposed shelves extending between said frame elements and carried by the latter, the perpendicular horizontal portions of said leg members resting upon said shelves and the lower ends of said frame elements being adapted to engage a ground surface.

5. In a childs convertible article of manufacture, a pair of upstanding leg members arranged in lateral spaced relation, each of said members having a horizontal top portion, a front portion sloping downwardly and outwardly from the forward end of said top portion, a rear 7 portion slbping downwardly and" outwardly from the forward end of saidtop portion, a-concavely curvedportio'n having, one end merging. with the lower end of each of said front and rear portions, the other ends of said curved portions extending toward and spaced from each other, and a liorizontaf'por'tion arranged perpendicularly with respect to each of said curved portions and having one end merging into the other end of the curved portion, a fixed ledge carried by and extending from the front portion to the rear portion of each leg member between the top portion and the horizontal portion, said ledges facingr toward each other, means detachably connecting each of the adjacent perpendicular horizontal portions of said legtme'mb'ers together, a platform member positioned between said leg members so that the underface of said platform rests upon said ledges, a back positioned between said; leg members so as to extend in an upright direction toward the rear portions of said leg members, detachable cooperating securing elements on said back and said ledges for retaining said back in the upright direction position, releasable cooperating fastening elements on said platform-member and said ledges for holdiii'g. said platform member-in position on said ledges, a pair or inverted U-shaped frame elements arranged in lateralspaced relation,.a1pair ofop'posed shelves extendin'gb'etw'een said frameelem'e'nts and carried by the latter, the perpendicular horizontalportions of said leg, members resting, upon said shelves, and rotatable groundengaging wheels supporting the lower ends of said frame element's.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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