Highchair with an improved seat angle adjustment mechanism

[0002] 1. Field of Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a highchair and more particularly to an angle adjustment mechanism for seat of highchair.

[0004] 2. Related Art

[0005] Conventionally, a highchair is designed to provide a convenient means to feed a baby by parents. A conventional highchair comprises a seat for permitting a baby to sit and four legs for supporting the seat. A number of prior art highchairs are found such as Taiwanese Patent Publication Nos. 369,862 and 269,141, U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,097 and 5,348,374, and German Patent Publication DE 4,429,573. These prior art generally disclose a highchair having a coupled seat which is at a fixed vertical height, or a highchair having an adjustable seat. However, none of above prior art highchairs discloses a highchair having an oblique angle adjustment seat. It is found by the inventor that a slightly oblique seat is preferred for baby while dining.

[0006] Various designs for performing an angle adjustment of seat have been located in a search such as Taiwanese Patent Publication Nos. 318,358 entitled “Improved angle adjustment mechanism for seat of highchair”, 329,129 entitled “Highchair with angle adjustable seat”. These prior art generally disclose a seat angle adjustment mechanism disposed in the arms. As such, it requires a precise configuration to effect a desired angle adjustment of seat. Further, such angle adjustment mechanisms inevitably complicate the structure of arm.

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an oblique angle adjustment mechanism for seat of highchair. The highchair comprises a frame and a seat pivotably secured to frame. The oblique angle adjustment mechanism comprises a positioner including an arcuate notched member having a plurality of notches; a base; a guide member; a latched member being positioned in a locked position or an operating position; an elastic member; and a control member attached to the latched member for controlling the movement of the latched member; wherein in a locked position, seat is immovably secured to frame with the latched member engaged with the notch of the positioner, and in adjusting the angle of seat, actuate the control member to cause the latched member to disengage from the notch of the positioner, thereby pivotably moving the seat for changing the angle thereof, and release the latched member to engage with the notch of the positioners again, thus locking seat in that angle.

[0008] Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

[0009] The present invention will become fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein;

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a highchair incorporating an oblique angle adjustment mechanism of a first preferred embodiment according to the invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the FIG. 1 mechanism;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the assembled FIG. 2 mechanism;

[0013] FIG. 4A, 4B, 4C are side views illustrating the operation of the FIG. 3 mechanism; and

[0014] FIG. 5 is a side view of a highchair incorporating a second preferred embodiment of angle adjustment mechanism according to the invention.

[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown a highchair incorporating an oblique angle adjustment mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention. Highchair comprises a frame 11 and a seat 12. Frame 11 comprises a pair of front legs 111a, 111b, apair of rear legs 112a, 112b, and a pair of hinges 113a, 113badjoined front leg 111a, rear leg 112aand front leg 111b, rear leg 112brespectively wherein front leg 111a, front leg 111bboth are at an acute angle with respect to rear leg 112a, rear leg 112brespectively. Horizontal extensions 114, 115 are coupled between the bottom ends of front legs 111a, 111band the bottom ends of rear legs 112a, 112brespectively. Wheels 1141a, 1141b, 1151a; and 1151bare pivotably provided on the lower ends of front legs 111a, 111band rear legs 112a, 112brespectively. As such, highchair may move on a supporting surface by means of wheels 1141a, 1141b, 1151a, and 1151b. Sleeves 13a, 13bfor adjusting height of seat 12 are put on front legs 111a, 111bnear hinges 113a, 113brespectively. First connection tube 1111 and second connection tube 1112 are parallel coupled between sleeves 13aand 13b. Seat 12 comprises a back portion 121, a seat portion 122, arms 123a, 123b, and foot rest 124.

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 specifically, the angle coupled mechanism 20 comprises a pair of positioners 21a, 21b, a base 22, a guide member 23, a latched member 24, an elastic member 25, a control member 26, a connection cable 27, and an actuation member 28. Each of above components is detailed below.

[0017] Each of positioners 21a, 21bis L shape. Positioner 21acomprises holes 211aand 212aat the corner and in the end of the vertical portion respectively and an arc-shaped notched member (with respect to the corner of the positioner 21a) having a plurality of notches 213ain the end of horizontal portion, while positioner 21bcomprises holes 211band 212bat the corner and in the end of the vertical portion respectively and an arc-shaped notched member (with respect to the corner of the positioner 21b) having a plurality of notches 213bin the end of horizontal portion. The serially connected notches Second connection tube 1111 is inserted through holes 211a, 211band second connection tube 1112 is inserted through holes 212a, 212brespectively. As such, positioners 21a, 21bare secured to first connection tube 1111, second connection tube 1112 respectively.

[0018] Base 22 is generally a U comprising two first engagement members 221a, 221bhaving end holes 2211a, 2211brespectively. First engagement members 221a, 221bfurther comprise apertures 2212a, 2213aand 2212b, 2213brespectively. Wings 222aand 222bare extended outward from sides of first engagement members 221a, while wing 222cis provided between first engagement members 221aand 221b. Each of wings 222a, 222b, and 222ccomprises a plurality of holes 2221a, 2221b, and 2221crespectively. Second engagement members 223a, 223bare extended from first engagement members 221a, 221bopposing end holes 2211a, 2211brespectively. Hole 2231a, 2231bare provided on second engagement members 223a, 223brespectively. Wings 222a, 222b, and 222care secured to the underside of seat portion 122 by threading a plurality of screws 30a, 30b, and 30cthrough holes 2221a, 2221b, and 2221crespectively and seat portion 122. Also, end holes 2211a, 2211bof first engagement members 221a, 221bare pivotably disposed around first connection tube 1111 respectively. As such, seat 12 may pivot about first connection tube 1111.

[0019] Guide member 23 is generally a U comprising two opposed upper side plates 231a, 231bcorresponding to first engagement members 221a, 221bof base 22 respectively. Side plate 231acomprises a plurality of holes 231a, 2312acorresponding to apertures 2212a, 2213aof first engagement members 221arespectively, while side plate 231bcomprises a plurality of holes 2311b, 2312bcorresponding to apertures 2212b, 2213bof first engagement members 221brespectively. Guide member 23 further comprises two opposed lower guide plates 232a, 232bbetween side plates 231a, 231brespectively. A slot 2321bis provided on guide plate 232b, while two spaced slots 2321a, 2321a′ are provided on guide plate 232a. A stud 233 is provided between slots 2321aand 2321a′. Guide member 23 is secured to base 22 by inserting a plurality of rivets 40a, 40b, 40c, and 40dthrough holes 2311a, 2312aof side plate 231aand holes 2311b, 2312bof side plate 231brespectively as well as through apertures 2212a, 2213aof first engagement member 221aand apertures 2212b, 2213bof first engagement member 221brespectively. Guide member 23 is secured between positioners 21aand 21bsuch that slots 2321a, 2321a′ are disposed corresponding to notches 213a, 213b.

[0020] Latched member 24 is generally a U comprising two uprights 241a, 241binserted into slots 2321a, 2321a′ respectively, a hole 242, and slot 243 both between uprights 241aand 241b. Latched member 24 is slidably provided in slots 2321a, 2321a′, and 2321bof guide member 23.

[0021] Elastic member 25 has one end coupled to stud 233 of guide member 23 and the other end coupled to end coupled to hole 242 of latched member 24. As such, uprights 241a, 241bare extended through slots 2321a, 2321a′ to engage with notches 213a, 213bof positioners 21, 21brespectively by virtue of elastic member 25, thereby inhibiting the rotation of seat 12. User may pull latched member 24 rearward to urge against the elastic member 25 to move uprights 241a, 241bout of engagement of notches 213a, 213b. As a result, seat 12 is in an operating position.

[0022] Control member 26 is generally an L comprises a vertical plate 261, a horizontal plate 262, and a pin 263 pivotably secured the vertical plate 261 and the horizontal plate 262 together. Also, pin 253 of control member 26 is pivotably secured to holes 2231, 2231bof second engagement members 223a, 223b. Further, the vertical plate 261 is extended through slot 243 of latched member 24. In use, pull the horizontal plate 262 upward to cause the vertical plate 261 to move outward which in turn pulls latched member 24 outward to the operating position.

[0023] Actuation member 28 is provided on the outer surface of the back portion 121 of seat 12. Connection cable 27 is coupled between the horizontal plate 262 and actuation member 28. As such, operator may manipulate the angle adjustment in a convenient position.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, seat 12 is pivotable about first connection tube 1111 of frame 11 through the engagement of base 22 and first connection tube 1111. Further, the height of seat 12 is adjustable by manipulating sleeves 13a, 13balong front legs 111a, 111b. In a locked position, seat 12 is immovably secured to frame 11 wherein uprights 241a, 241bare engaged with notches 213a, 213bof positioners 21. In adjusting the angle of seat 12, pull actuation member 28 for pulling connection cable 27 and actuating the control member 26 accordingly. And in turn latched member 24 is pulled outward to cause uprights 241a, 241bto disengage from notches 213a, 213bof positioners 21. As such, seat 12 may pivotably move about first connection tube 1111 until a desired angle is reached. At this time, release actuation member 28 which in turn instantly causes latched member 24 to return to its original position by virtue of elastic member 25. As a result, latched member 24 is again engaged with notches 213a, 213bof positioners 21, thus locking seat 12 in that angle.

[0025] Note that the provision of connection cable 27 and actuation member 28 is simply for the sake of convenience. Operator may directly manipulate control member 26 to adjust the angle of seat 12. Also, two positioners 21 may be formed as one positioner as long as capable of engaging with latched member 24.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a second preferred embodiment of the invention. It is designed in the first preferred embodiment that elastic member 25 has one end coupled to stud 333 of guide member 23 and the other end coupled to hole 242 of latched member 24. In comparison, elastic member 25′ of the second preferred embodiment is anchored between underside of seat 12 and control member 26. It is also possible to lock latched member 24 or move latched member 24 for achieving the angle adjustment purpose.

[0027] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.