KR20160002223U - Child seat - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a seating structure, more particularly but not exclusively, a seating structure suitable for use by infants and toddlers. The seat includes a seat comprising a seat portion, a back extending from the seat portion, and a shell including two opposite side supports extending from the seat portion. The front pillar extends from the seat configuration and is spaced from the end of the opposite side support to form an opening for receiving a user's leg. The shell also has an outer skirt operatively extending downwardly below the height of the seat configuration. In addition, the seat has a base, which can be releasably secured to the shell and the fixed height of the base relative to the shell is adjustable.

Description

Child seat {CHILD SEAT}

The present invention relates to seating arrangements and, more particularly but not exclusively, seating structures suitable for use by infants and toddlers.

A wide variety of infant and toddler sheets are known in the market and are particularly popular for use for infants who can not fully support themselves in a sitting position. However, the disadvantage of existing sheets is that they have a limited lifespan. For example, a young infant may not be comfortable in a seat, particularly if the seat is used as a booster seat on a larger chair, due to the undesirably low height of the seat. In addition, young infants also grow up fairly quickly, so that the sitting area of the seat does not fit. The most popular infant sheets are typically bucket-type sheets, the width of the buckets is not adjustable, and as a result the infant grows out of shape at the early age. It is not desirable to increase the width of the sitting area from the beginning because such a bucket seat will not provide enough lumbar support for a small infant.

It is also desirable to provide a removable tray that can be removably secured to the sheet. The tray is a very helpful accessory and can be used by the infant as a meal tray or play tray. Disadvantages associated with conventional tray design constructions are that it is not always easy to attach the tray, and the infant should frequently be removed from the sheet to attach or remove the tray. In addition, the trays must be stored separately, which may result in the tray not being put in place or even being lost.

Finally, when the infant is still small, it is preferable that the seating surface of the seat is smooth. However, the sheet should still be rigid and sufficiently rigid to provide a sufficient level of support. Some of the sheets available on the market include a shell made of a substantially rigid material and an inner support portion made of a softer and more flexible material. Even if this works well, the inner support is often not readily removable from the shell, and even if it is removable, the inner support must be stored separately, which may result in the inner support not being put in place or even being lost. For example, in order to increase the seating volume of the seating structure, it may be beneficial to be able to remove the medial support when the infant is older.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a seat that at least partially alleviates the above-mentioned disadvantages.

The purpose of this invention is also to provide a sheet that will be a useful alternative to existing sheets.

According to the present invention there is provided a seat suitable for receiving infants or toddlers, the seat having a shell and a base releasably secured to the shell;

The shell

Seat formation,

A backrest extending from the seat configuration,

Two opposing side supports extending from the seat configuration,

A front pillar extending from said seat configuration,

The front pillar being spaced from an end of the opposite side support to form an opening for receiving a user's leg;

The shell having an outer skirt operatively extending downwardly below the height of the seat configuration;

The base is characterized in that the fixed height of the base with respect to the shell is adjustable.

The base is provided to be fixable to the shell at a plurality of locations where the position of the base relative to the shell is different.

The base is at least partly fitted inside the outer skirt and the relative height of the base is adjustable by adjusting the degree to which the base protrudes from the shell.

The base is constructed and dimensioned to fit within the shell in a number of different angular directions and is provided such that the degree of projection of the base from the shell in each of the different directions is different.

In one embodiment, a first set of coupling features is provided on the base, and at least two second sets of coupling features are provided on the shell such that when the base is secured to the shell in the first direction, When the first set of parts engages one of the second sets of engagement features and the base is secured to the shell in the second direction, the first set of engagement features engage the other of the second set of engagement features.

The backrest and the side support may be continuous.

An additional feature is provided such that when the base is secured to the shell, the base and the seat configuration are spaced apart to form an internal stowage area inside the shell between the base and the seat configuration.

A base is removably provided to provide access to the internal loading area.

The seat is provided with an inner support that can be removably secured to the shell, and more particularly to the seat configuration portion of the shell.

The inner support can be configured and sized to fit within the loading area within the shell.

A further additional feature of the present invention is that the sheet is provided with a tray that can be releasably secured to the shell.

The tray and shell may have complementary engagement features.

A tray is provided to be releasably secured to the inner shell at an operative position configured for use and at a loading position where the tray is secured to the rear end of the shell.

Preferably, a coupling configuration suitable for engaging a complementary engagement feature on the tray is provided on the forward pillar of the shell and on the rear side of the shell.

The rear side of the shell is also provided with a recessed zone configured and dimensioned to receive the tray so that when the tray is in the loading position, the tray is flush with the shell.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described above with reference to the accompanying drawings in the manner of a non-limiting embodiment.
1 is an exploded perspective view of a sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the shell of the sheet of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the shell of Figure 2;
FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the shell of FIG. 2; FIG.
5A is a front perspective view of the sheet of FIG. 1 with the base of the sheet in an extended position;
Figure 5b is a front perspective view of the sheet of Figure 1 with the base of the sheet in a retracted position;
Figure 6 is a front perspective view of the sheet of Figure 1 with a tray attached to the front pillar of the sheet;
Figure 7 is a rear perspective view of the sheet of Figure 1 in the process of being transferred to the loading position;
Fig. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the sheet of Fig. 1, in which the inner support portion is located inside the stacking region inside the shell; Fig.

Referring to the drawings in which like numerals represent like parts, a non-limiting embodiment of a sheet according to the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the sheet 10 includes a shell 20, a base 30 that can be removably secured to the shell 2, and an inner support (not shown) 40). The sheet may also have a tray 50 that may be removably secured to the shell 20.

The shell 20 is in the form of an integral casting and includes a seat top portion 21 that will withstand the weight of the child sitting in the seat 10 during use. The seat form portion 21 is essentially slightly concave to comfortably and securely accommodate the child within the seat. The backrest 22 extends substantially vertically upward from the seat top portion 21 and provides waist support for a child seated within the seat 10 during use. Two side supports 23 extend from the seat-shaped portion 21 at the opposite ends of the backrest 22. The side support 23 is integrally formed with the back 22 to define a continuous U-shaped bucket seat structure. The front pillar 24 extends from the seat-shaped portion 21 in the central region in front of the seat-shaped portion 21. The front pillar 24 is spaced from the end of the opposite side support 23 to form an opening 25 suitable for receiving the legs of a child seated in the seat 10. [ The continuous outer wall of the shell 20 terminates in a continuous outer skirt 26, where the edge of the outer skirt is in use on the surface on which the sheet is to be used.

The base 30 is configured and dimensioned to fit snugly within the outer skirt 26 of the shell 20 to form a closed lower portion of the sheet 10. The base 30 also has a first set 31 of engagement features as well as a second set 32 of engagement features. The two sets of engagement feature portions 31, 32 are located adjacent to each other and are identical as far as the functional engagement features are concerned. However, the height of the engagement features is different, with the first set of engagement features 31 being higher than the second set of engagement features 32. This relative height difference allows the base 30 to be secured to the shell 20 at a different height, or allows the base to lie differently from the upper skirt 26 at different locations. Both the first set 31 of engagement features and the second set 32 of engagement features are configured to engage a third set of complementary engagement features 28 provided inside the shell 20. The configuration of the engagement feature is such that when the base 30 is in the first orientation, the first set 31 of engagement features engage the third set 28 of engagement features, but when the base is in the second orientation, The base is rotated 180 degrees), the second set of engagement features 32 is made to engage the third set 28 of engagement features. This feature makes the height of the base effectively adjustable. It will be appreciated that additional intermediate positions may be provided, for example, by providing an additional set of engagement features at 90 degree intervals. The difference in effective height of the sheet can be seen in FIGS. 5A and 5B, in its highest position in FIG. 5A, and in its retracted position in FIG. 5B. The inventor anticipates that height adjustment can be achieved in other ways, for example, by using a screwable engagement structure that can be fastened. It will also be appreciated that the coupling morphology can be reversed so that two sets of coupling morphologies are provided on the shell and a single set of coupling morphologies can be provided on the base.

The seat 10 further comprises an inner support 40 constructed and dimensioned to fit within a bucket seat made of a soft, well-bending material and defined by the shell 20. The inner support 40 includes a seat configuration 41 and successive side and rear supports 44 extending upwardly from the seat configuration 41 and a front pillar 24 of the shell 20 in use And includes an opening portion 42 protruded. In addition, the inner support 40 has two slots 43 for receiving a fastening belt (not shown) extending from the shell 20. In the first configuration, the inner support 40 will be located inside the shell 20 and will provide a soft and comfortable sitting environment for the child sitting in the seat. However, as the child grows, it will be possible to remove the inner support 40 to increase the volume of the bucket-like sheet to accommodate a larger child. At that point the child will not need additional support, such as that provided by the inner support 40 of the seat 10. Conveniently, the inner support 40 can be stored inside the shell 20. More specifically, the inner support 40 can be stored in the loading area 29 provided within the hollow bottom of the shell. More specifically, the loading area 29 is defined by a gap formed between the lower surface of the seat form part 21 and the base 30.

The inner support 40 has a raised and contoured back for better infant positioning and support. This additional support is not required when the seat is used by a toddler because the shell 20 need not have the same raised and contoured back. This saves material when manufacturing the shell.

The sheet 10 also has a tray 50 that can be releasably secured to the shell 20. The tray 50 includes a tray area 51 and an engagement feature 52 for releasably securing the tray to the shell 20. The tray 20 includes a tray 51, When the tray is in the operating position, the tray 50 will be secured to the front pillar 24 of the shell 20, as shown in Fig. This is accomplished by engaging an engagement shaped portion 52 of the tray 50 with a complementary engagement shaped portion 53 provided on the front pillar 24. When the tray 50 is not needed, the tray can be removed and conveniently secured to the back side of the shell 20. More specifically, a complementary engagement feature 54 is provided on the rear surface of the shell 20 such that the tray 50 is securely mounted on the shell 20 when the tray 50 is not in use. In addition, a depression area 55 is provided for receiving the tray 50 and a tray 50 is provided to allow the tray 50 to be at the same height as the shell 20 when the tray 50 is in the loading position. The depression area 55 has a complementary contour.

A buckle receiving formation 60 is provided on the side of the shell 20 and is configured to retain a securing belt arrangement. Two fastening belts may be provided, one for securing the seat to the seating surface (not shown) of the larger chair where the seat is located, one for the backrest of the larger chair on which the seat is located In order to fix the sheet. When the fastening belt is not used, the belt can be pushed into the inside of the shell 20, and the belt buckle can be fixed in the buckle accommodation form 60. When a fastening belt is needed, the buckle can be simply removed from the buckle 60 and then pulled outward to remove the seat belt from the shell. Therefore, the fixing belt is also stored inside the loading area when not in use.

A number of advantages are associated with the novel sheet design structure. Typical advantages are as follows.

- the seat can be used as an auxiliary chair as well as an infant's positioner;

- the seat has a height-adjustable base for better on-chair functionality and for accommodating older and larger children;

The inner support of the seat has raised and contoured backs for infant positioning but the shell does not share this feature and thus makes more efficient use of the raw material;

- the tray can be installed and removed (back inserted) without removing the child from the seat;

- one hand can be used to install and remove trays;

- the inner support can be kept inside the shell; And

- the inner support is removable, which increases the seating volume for older children, thus increasing the period of use of the seat.

It will be understood that the foregoing is only one embodiment of the invention and that there may be many variations without departing from the spirit and / or scope of the present invention.

Claims (7)

As a sheet suitable for infant or infant,
Said sheet having a shell and a base releasably secured to said shell,
The shell
Seat form part,
A back extending from said seat configuration;
Two opposing side supports extending from the seat configuration;
A front pillar extending from said seat configuration;
The front pillar being spaced from an end of the opposite side support to form an opening for receiving a user's leg;
The shell having an outer skirt operatively extending downwardly below the height of the seat configuration;
Characterized in that the base has a fixed height of the base with respect to the shell
Infant or infant seat. The method according to claim 1,
The base being configured and dimensioned to fit in a plurality of different angular directions within the shell, the degree of projection of the base from the shell in each of the different directions being different
Infant or infant seat. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
Wherein one first set of coupling features is provided on the base and at least two second sets of coupling features are provided on the shell such that when the base is secured to the shell in the first direction, Wherein when the first set of parts engages one of the second sets of engagement features on the shell and the base is secured to the shell in the second direction the first set of engagement features on the base is engaged Coupled with the other of the two sets
Infant or infant seat. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Wherein the base and the seat configuration are spaced apart when the base is secured to the shell such that an inner loading area is formed inside the shell between the base and the seat configuration,
Infant or infant seat. 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
And an inner support that can be removably secured to the seat-shaped portion of the shell
Infant or infant seat. 6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A tray releasably secured to the shell at an operating position fixed to the front pillar and a loading position secured to a rear end of the shell
Infant or infant seat. The method according to claim 6,
The tray having a recessed area configured and dimensioned to receive the tray on the back side of the shell to be flush with the shell when the tray is in the loading position
Infant or infant seat.

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