US3516709A - Convertible high chair - Google Patents

Description

June 23, 1970 Filed June 14, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.1

June 23, 1970 NADEQR 3,516,709

CONVERTIBLE HIGH CHAIR 2 She'et SSheet 2 Filed June l i. 196

United States Patent O 3,516,709 CONVERTIBLE HIGH CHAIR Donald J. Nader, 3443 W. 98 St.,

Cleveland, Ohio 44102 Filed June 14, 1968, Ser. No. 737,075 Int. Cl. A47c 13/00 US. Cl. 297-153 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combined luggage case and a collapsible babys chair that is operative as a high chair having a storage compartment therein for the storage of the tray when used as a booster chair. The chair has strap means which secures the chair to a conventional chair as well as to an automobile seat to operate as a babys safety car seat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an infants chair and more particularly to a new and improved collapsible combination childs chair that is adapted to be used as a high chair, booster chair or as a childs automobile safety seat.

Ordinarily, childs chairs are special purpose chairs useable for a single function and those available for multiple purpose use are bulky, difiicult tomanufacture and are not coordinated for the most desirable uses. In the instant invention, a childs high chair adds versatility by its use as a booster chair while additionally useful as a childs car seat with greater safety than heretofore available.

' SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with a multifunction childs chair that may be folded into a compact boxlike structure to resemble a piece of luggage, wherein such chair is adaptable as a high chair, a booster chair and a childs'automobile safety seat.

An objectof this invention resides in thefact that the childs chair is useable as a highchair with provision for immediate storage and accessibility of the tray to permit quick conversion to a booster chair.

In addition, a further object of 'this invention is to provide a multipurpose childs chair that is useable "as a childs automobile seat which attaches easily and securely to an automobile seat assuring maximum protection in either a folding type seat as bucket seats or of the type found in sedans. i

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view of the multipurpose.

folding high chair constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the chair partially unfolded from its compact condition.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the chair partially unfolded similar to that shown in FIG. 2 but with the back rest panel raised.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the detent mechanism on the back rest panel taken on line 44 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings, there is shown a base having laterally spaced upwardly extending side members 11 and 12 joined at their one end by a cross member 13. Suitably secured to the upper end portions of side members 11 and 12 is a seat member 15, which seat member 15 is parallel to the base 10 and defines with such members 11, 12 and 13 a compartment 16 (FIG. 1). Suitably hinged to the base 10 is a front panel member 17, which 3,516,70'9 Patented June 23, 1970 hinges operate to limit the angular inclination of such member 17 relative to the base 10 to facilitate the functional use of such panel member 17 as a leg rest. The forward portion of seat member 15 is flush with the forwardly disposed portions of the side members 11 and 12 Whereas the rearwardly disposed portion of seat member 15 adjacent to cross member 13 provides a clearance space for a purpose to be described.

Suitably hinged to the uppermost end portion of cross member 13 is a back rest panel member 18, with such hinges operating to limit the outward swinging of such member relative to the seat member 15. Back rest panel member 18 has a rectangular shaped member 19 rotatably journaled thereon for movement about a pivot pin 20 (FIGS. 3 and 1). Members 18 and 19 are latched together by a spring pressed detent means 21 which permits rotation of member 19 relative to back rest panel member 18. As seen in FIG. 4, the spring pressed detent means 21 is adapted to register with a recess 22 (or a recess 23 in member 19). Extending laterally outwardly from the respective side portions of member 19 and secured thereto are strap members 26 and 27 with suitable buckling means on the respective end portions. If desired, the buckling means on the end portions may be similar to car safety belts to facilitate their adjustability for use and release. Member 19 can be rotated relative to panel member 18 from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 3 wherein the straps 18 and 19 are generally vertical. With the straps in the vertical position the childs chair can be secured to a sedans automobile seat that requires the straps to go over, around and under the back rest thereof in contradistinction to the type of auto seat which folds forward as in two door sedans. In automobiles having bucket seats or a folding type of back rest where there is lateral clearance space between the front two adjacent seats, the straps 26 and composed of elements 30 and 31 on back rest panel member 18 and front panel member 17, respectively, can be intercoupled, to assure that the assembled members in their folded condition can be effected to provide ease of handling. With the seat member 15 and back rest panel member 18 as shown in FIG. 1, the childs chair may be placed on a conventional chair and through the use of straps 26 and 27 encompassing the back of the chair provides a useful booster chair that can be pushed up to the table and used functionally at a convenient height.

Pivotally mounted on the base 10 is a pair of spaced tubular U-shaped arms 33 and 34. The lower legs of U-shaped arms 33 and 34 are secured to the base 10 either by detent means or spaced holes which cooperate with pins (not shown) which lock the arms 33 and 34 either in the upright position shown in FIG. 1 or the collapsed position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. With the clearance space provided between seat member 15 and cross member 13, the pivotal movement of arms 33 and 34 facilitates the collapsing of the chair to its compact storing position as shown in FIG. 2. A tray 35 with conventional hardware including guide rails 36 cooperates with the upper leg portions of U-shaped arms 33 and 34 to facilitate the attachment of tray 35 to the chair for its use as a high chair. For storage the tray is received by compartment 16 such that the entire chair can be collapsed and transported as a unit. To function as a high chair, the chair may be placed on a conventional chair or, if desired, telescopic legs or legs with screw-in means may be provided to enable the childs chair to function as an independent high chair.

From the above description, it will be apparent that the collapsible childs chair is useable as a high chair with the cooperation of the tray 35 or as a booster chair or as a childs car safety chair that is foldable into the form of a suitcase that can be conveniently carried by the handle 38 that is attached to one of the side members 11.

Various modifications within the scope of the appended claims will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is not intended that this specification and the accompanying drawings shall be limiting, the spirit and scope of the invention being set forth in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined luggage case and a collapsible babys chair comprising a base member; a pair of sides and a cross member attached to said base member and extending vertically upwardly therefrom; a seat member secured to said sides with a clearance space between said seat member and said cross member; said seat member cooperative with said sides, said base member, and said cross member to define a storage compartment; a pair of U-shaped arm members having one of their respective leg members pivotally secured to said base for pivotal movement bet-ween a first and a second position; a back panel member pivotally secured to said cross member for movement between a position parallel to said seat member and an erect position normal to said seat member; a leg rest panel member pivotally mounted to said base for movement into cooperative relationship to said base, sides and back panel member when said back panel member is in said parallel position to define a closed luggage case; latch means on said leg rest panel member and said back panel to secure said luggage case in closed condition for transporting; a tray member located within said compartment, said arm members in said first position contained closely Within said luggage case, said arm members in said second position operative to secure said tray member in a position parallel and spaced from said seat member; and strap means secured to said back panel member to facilitate securing of said back panel to a conventional chair or the back rest of an auto seat; said back panel member including a top member pivotally mounted thereon, detent means mounted on said back panel member operative to selectively secure said top member relative to said back panel in several selected positions, and said strap means secured to said top member for movement therewith.

2. A folding high chair for infants comprising a base having a forward portion and a rearward portion; a pair of side members secured to said base; a cross member rigidly secured to said rearward portion of said base and to said side members; a planar seat member rigidly secured to said side members and cooperative therewith to define an H-shaped member in vertical cross section; a leg panel member pivotally connected to said forward portion of said base; said base, said side members, said leg panel member and said cross member being cooperable to define a box-like structure with a closed compartment therein; a tray member adapted to be received by said compartment for storage therein; a back panel member pivotally secured to said box-like structure for movement between an upright position and a closed position; said back panel member in said closed position cooperable with said box-like structure to define a closed container that has smoothly interfitting edges; a pair of tubular U-shaped arm members each having a leg portion pivotally mounted on said box-like structure; said arm members adapted to be pivoted from a collapsed position within said box-like structure to an upright position wherein the intermediate portions of said U-shaped arm members are normal to said seat member such that said arm members may receive said tray providing an eating surface for an infant seated on said seat; latching means on said leg panel member cooperable with latching means on said back panel member to hold the chair in a secure condition when closed; and strap means mounted on said back panel member for securing said chair to a conventional chair or to the seat of an automobile.

3. A folding high chair as set forth in claim 2 wherein a clearance space is provided between said seat member and said cross member, and said tubular arm members extend through said clearance space to facilitate the pivotal movement thereof.

4. A folding high chair as set forth in claim 2 wherein said back panel member includes a back rest member rotatably mounted thereon; and said strap means is secured to said back rest extending laterally outwardly therefrom in one position of rotation of said back rest and vertically outwardly therefrom in another position of said back rest upon rotation of said back rest relative to said back panel member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 854,154 5/1907 Domsgen et al. 297-17 X 1,049,080 12/ 1912 Greene 297-25 6 1,656,352 1/1928 Groll 297-152 2,318,475 5/1943 Ellner 297-152 X 2,418,731 4/ 1947 Seitz 297-152 2,555,566 6/1951 Bleck 297-152 2,580,935 1/ 1952 Lovelace 297-152 2,971,570 2/ 1961 Vanderbush 297-17 JAMES T. McCALL, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 297-183

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