Bath chair

A bath chair having a reclining mechanism with enhanced operability and durability. A backrest is rotatable provided to bearing members at a rear of a base, an operating shaft is laid across a back of the backrest, a lever is provided to a center of the operating shaft. The operating shaft is biased so that the lever is pressed downward; abutment members fixed to both ends of the operating shaft and a step member having a plurality of steps provided to a rear of the bearing member abut against each other to support the backrest. When the lever is pulled up, the abutment members are rotated upward, the abutment between the step members and the abutment members are released, and then the backrest can be adjusted its inclination angle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC 119 of Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-008386 filed on Jan. 21, 2014, the entire disclosure of which, including the description, claims, drawings, and abstract, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bath chair for infants. More specifically, the present invention relates to a reclining mechanism of a backrest of a bath chair for infants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, bath chairs are provided for taking care of an infant in a bathroom. These bath chairs comprise a seat having a protrusion at a front center part, a seat back having a reclining mechanism, and a handle provided from side to side above a front side of a seat. Heretofore, various proposals have been made on structures of the reclining mechanism.

For example, Japanese Patent No. 5140839 describes a bath chair that includes a retractable engaging rod at both lower left and lower right sides of a backrest. A base is provided with a plurality of rod holes for engaging with the engaging rod. A pair of operating members for retracting and protruding the each left and right engaging rods is provided to an upper part of a back side of the backrest where respectively correspond to the each left and right engaging rods. The operating member and the engaging rod are connected by an engaging member which is formed extending to perpendicular direction. The engaging member is biased toward a direction in which the engaging rod protrudes. In order to perform a reclining operation, the pair of operating members is pinched against bias force of the engaging member so as to retract the engaging rod. Next, an inclination angle of the backrest is changed with the operating members pinched (engaging rods retracted, in other words) so that the engaging rod aligns with a desired rod hole. By releasing the pinched operating members at the inclination angle in which the engaging rod aligns with the desired rod hole, the engaging rod protrudes to engage with the desired rod hole, whereby the backrest is fixed.

A reclining mechanism described in Japanese Patent No. 5140839 has a certain perpendicular distance between the operating member and the engaging rod. Accordingly, when the pair of operating members is pinched in order to retract the engaging rods, rotational force is generated around a position where a lower portion of the operating member intersects with an axis line of the engaging rod, and is applied to the connecting member for connecting the engaging rod and the operating member. The rotational force makes parallel movement of the engaging member in lateral direction difficult, although the connecting member should move parallel in lateral direction. This interferes with transmission of a pinching force on the operating members to elastic members directly. Consequently greater force is required for retracting the engaging rods relative to elastic force of the elastic member; hence the reclining operation cannot be performed easily with one hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a bath chair including: a base having a seat; a backrest rotatably supported by left and right bearing members each protrudes from rear left and right sides of the base; an operating shaft rotatably laid across a back face of the backrest; a lever provided on a axis of the operating shaft; an abutment member fixed on each end of the operating shaft and which have an abutment part extending orthogonally to the operating shaft; an elastic member for energizing the operating shaft to a direction in which the lever is rotated downward; and a plurality of steps formed at a back side of each bearing members of the base so as to be abuttable against the abutment part of each abutment member.

According to the other aspect of the invention, there is provided the bath chair further including: a latching projection projecting from the abutment part of each abutment members toward front direction; and a latching hole formed on a front side wall surface of a topmost step of each plurality of steps so as to be latchable to the latching projection.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided the bath chair, wherein a flat portion is formed on a distal end of the abutment part of each abutment members and the plurality of steps is made up of three steps, a top step, a middle step, and a bottom step and further the top step and the bottom step are formed into flat surfaces, and the middle step is formed into an inclined surface which inclines downward toward rear direction.

As described above, the bath chair of the present invention is made such that the abutment members are individually fixed to the each both ends of the operating shaft, and the backrest is supported by the abutment member and one of the steps formed at the back side of the bearing member abutting against each other. The plurality of steps is provided so that an inclination angle of the backrest can be adjusted to positions corresponding to the each step. The lever is provided to the operating shaft and is energized to the direction in which the lever is rotated downward. Consequently, reclining operation can be performed by the lever being pulled up against the energizing force of the operating shaft so as to rotate the operating shaft, whereby abutment between the abutment member and one the steps is released. This means that the reclining operation can be performed with ease by operating the lever in one direction. In addition, the operating shaft rotates smoothly when the reclining operation is performed since a direction of force for pulling up the lever and a direction of rotation of the operating shaft coincide with each other. Further, according to a structure of the present invention, the backrest can be raised by simply raising the backrest by hand without operating the lever only in a raising direction of the backrest.

The latching projection is provided to the abutment member, and the latching hole is formed on the front side wall surface of the topmost step of the plurality of steps so as to be latched with the latching projection. In performing the reclining operation by raising up the backrest, when the abutment member reaches the topmost step, the latching projection of the abutment member is latched to the latching hole formed on a front side wall surface of the topmost step, whereby further rotation of the backrest is restricted. Unintentional forward folding of the backrest is thus prevented.

A flat portion is formed on a distal end of the abutment member. The each plurality of steps is made up of three steps, the top step, the middle step, and the bottom step. The top step and the bottom step are formed into flat surfaces, and the middle step is formed into the inclined surface which inclines downward toward rear direction. By doing this, the abutment member abuts on the step in surface to surface contact, whereby the backrest can be supported by the abutment member more stably. In addition, posture of an infant can be changed such as from seating to laying or vice versa with ease.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 9.

FIG. 1is a front left perspective view of a bath chair10, according to the present invention, having a handle for a bath chair. In descriptions hereinafter, a handle40side of the bath chair10is referred to as front, and a backrest70side is referred to as rear. Similarly, when viewed from a user's perspective on the bath chair10, a left hand side is referred to as left, a right hand side is referred to as right, a seat21side on a base20of the bath chair10is referred to as top, and a reverse side of the top is referred to as bottom.

The bath chair10includes the base20on a top surface of which the seat21is formed, a backrest70which is connected rotatably to the base20, and a handle40provided laterally in a front upper space of the base20. A plurality of holes27is provided substantially in a center of the seat21. The plurality of holes27prevents water from pooling on the seat21when bathing. A protrusion23is formed into a mountain shape at a front center of the seat21. Support parts24are individually formed at each front left and right sides of the seat21in such a manner that the support part24rises in front-to-rear direction when being viewed down from the upper space above the seat21.

A handle40is provided above a front space of the seat21in such a way as to extend between the support parts24. A handle body41of the handle40extends from left to right and a front side of the handle body41is gradually bent into a convex shape projecting toward front. Each side end of the handle body41is extended to project rearward so as to continuously form a rearward projection42. Consequently, an infant sitting on the seat21is surrounded by the handle body41and the each rearward projection42so as to restrict his/her front side, left side and right side.

Toys43a,43b,43care disposed on a top surface43of the handle body41so that the infant can play with while sitting. The toy43ais a marbles-like toy which is made up of multiple rings supported by a supporting bar. The toy43bincludes a rotating base having a perpendicular rotational axis. When a doll or the like is fixedly installed on the rotating base, the doll or the like can be rotated about the perpendicular rotational axis. The toy43cincludes a cylindrical drum having substantially a lateral rotational axis. Popular characters from animation or TV programs are printed on the cylindrical drum and the infant can play by rotating the cylindrical drum by his/her hand.

A protrusion45is formed into a mountain shape at a center of a bottom surface44of the handle40so as to rise downwardly. The protrusion45is formed so as to face the protrusion23formed on the seat21. The protrusions23and45prevent the infant from slipping forwardly off of the bath chair10since the infant sits straddling the protrusions23and45.

The handle40is detachably attached to the base20and supported upwardly swingable in a clockwise direction or in counterclockwise direction by handle release/support mechanisms50,50provided to each both sides of the bottom surface of the handle40. Bearing members46,46are individually formed on each both sides of a bottom surface of the handle body41at each positions where face the each support parts24,24, so as to project downward from the bottom surface of the handle body41. The bearing member46is formed into an inverted U-shape, whose front and rear portions extend downward. A connection member51is rotatably connected to the bearing member46in such a way that a center upper portion of the connection member51is inserted into a center recessed portion of the inverted U-shape of the bearing member46. A lower portion of the connection member51is detachably attached to the support part24. A release push button52is projectingly formed on an outer side surface of the connection member51. Pressing the release push button52detaches the connection member51from the support part24.

A backrest70is provided to a rear of the base20. The backrest70is formed so as to have a gradual concave curve extending from a center to left and right so that the infant can lean back on the backrest70stably. At each of lower ends of both sides in a left-right direction of the backrest70, axle portions71,71are individually provided and the axle portions71,71are made two-pronged like an inverted U-shape when viewed from the front of the backrest70and individually have openings which cut through between two-prongs and in a front-back direction of the axle portions71,71. bearing members25,25are individually formed at each both side of a rear of the base20, and the bearing member25,25are made to be a substantially circular shape when viewed from a side and project from each rear side ends of the base20. The each bearing members25,25projecting from the base20are individually inserted into the openings between two prongs of the axle portions71,71. An inside and outside surfaces of the bearing member25projecting from the base20slidingly contact inside surfaces of the two-prongs of the axle portion71, and the axle portion71is rotatably supported by the bearing member25at an inside and outside surfaces of the bearing member25.

FIG. 2is a rear right perspective view of the bath chair of the present invention. A reclining mechanism80is provided to a backside of the backrest70. The backrest70can be reclined at three predetermined angles by the reclining mechanism80.

A step member81, which includes three stair-like steps, is formed on a backside of the bearing member25of the base20. The step member81corresponds to the three predetermined angles of the backrest70adjusted by the reclining mechanism80. A top step81ais a highest step and corresponds to a state in which the backrest70is at the highest position. A middle step81band a bottom step81care formed in sequence along from top to bottom.

An operating shaft82is rotatably laid across the backrest70at slightly lower position from a center in a vertical direction of a back face of the backrest70. Abutment members83,83are respectively provided in a fixed manner to each both ends of the operating shaft82. Therefore the operating shaft82and the abutment member83rotate integrally. An abutment part83ais formed on the abutment member83so as to extend to a direction which is intersected with a shaft center of the operating shaft82at a right angle. A flat portion83bis formed on a distal end of the abutment part83a. The backrest70is supported by the flat portion83band the step member81, which abut against each other.

A lever84is provided to a center of the operating shaft82. A cover85covers the remaining portions of the operating shaft82other than portions to which the lever84and the each abutment member83are provided. An elastic member provided to an interior of the cover86biases the operating shaft82toward a direction in which the lever84is pressed down (in other words, in counterclockwise direction when viewed from right side). The operating shaft82is rotatably supported by a bearing member (not shown) formed by the cover85and the back face of the backrest70. Consequently, pulling up the lever84against the bias force to the operating shaft82rotates the abutment members83,83backward, whereby abutments between the abutment members83,83and the step members81,81are released, and then, the backrest70can be adjusted its reclining angle.

A top end cover72is provided to a top end part of the back face of the backrest70. On a surface of the top end cover72, two hooks76are provided. The each hook76is formed by bending a plate-like member. Free ends of the plate-like member are formed to be biased so as to close a gap therebetween. The each hook76is disposed so that its free end side is oriented upwardly. Usage of the hooks76is that one end of a towel (not shown) is inserted into gaps of the free ends of the two hooks76, and the other end of the towel is extended over the top end of the backrest70to a vicinity of a front end of the seat21. By doing this, the infant does not feel coldness of the backrest70and the seat21, and is prevented from slipping forwardly when he/she is naked and sits on the bath chair10for bathing since the backrest70and the seat21are covered by the towel. The free end on the rear side of each hook76is bent toward gap-opening direction for facilitating insertion of the towel. In addition, a grip26is formed at a rear center of the base20by making a laterally elongated through hole.

Next, opening and closing operations of the handle40of the bath chair10will be described with reference toFIG. 3.FIG. 3is a front left perspective view of the bath chair showing a state in which the handle40is opened. In order to open the handle40as shown, press either one of the two release push buttons52(left side button in this embodiment). By doing this, the connection member51is in a state in which the connection member51can be detached from the support part24. Now, the handle40can be opened by lifting it up with being swung about the bearing member46for supporting the handle40on a different side, whereby an open space can be secured above the seat21. The opening and closing operations can be conducted at either one of both left and right connection members51. Therefore the handle40can be opened to both left and right sides of the base20. In addition, the handle40can be removed from the base20by pressing the both left and right release push buttons52simultaneously.

Further, reclining operation of the backrest70of the bath chair10will be described with reference toFIGS. 4A-4C. In order to adjust the reclining angle, pull up the lever84provided to the back face of the backrest70so as to rotate the abutment member83, and then choose a preferred step of the step member81to which the abutment member83abuts.FIG. 4Ashows a condition in which the abutment member83abuts against the top step81a. The backrest70is at the highest position. An inclination angle of the backrest70from a floor is between 65 degrees and 75 degrees.FIG. 4Bshows a condition in which the abutment member83abuts against the middle step81b. The inclination angle of the backrest70from the floor is between 40 degrees and 50 degrees.FIG. 4C shows a condition in which the abutment member83abuts against the bottom step81c. The inclination angle of the backrest70from the floor is between 10 degrees and 15 degrees. By doing as such, the inclination angle of the backrest70of the bath chair10can be adjusted to three positions.

A storage condition of the bath chair10will be described with reference toFIG. 5. The backrest70can be folded forward by pulling up the lever84provided to the back face of the backrest70when the bath chair10is stored. The bath chair10can be made compact for easier storage by folding the backrest70until it contacts the handle40lightly, as shown inFIG. 5.

Alternatively, the bath chair10can also be stored with the bath chair being placed vertically, as shown inFIG. 6. Namely, the backrest70of the bath chair10can be folded until its front top end lightly contacts the protrusion23if the handle40is removed from the base20by pressing the both left and right release push buttons52simultaneously. In addition, by re-installing the handle40to the base20with the backrest70and the protrusion23contacting each other, the backrest70can be stored with its backward rotation being restricted by the handle40. Consequently, the backrest is prevented from rotating to open unintentionally. The bath chair10can be placed with the handle40, backrest70, a front end of the base20being oriented downward, and with the grip26being oriented upward. By doing this, the bath chair10can be stored compactly even in a small bathroom. Further, the vertical position of the bath chair10facilitates an easy gripping of the grip26, and thereby facilitates an easy carry of the bath chair10.

Next, a structure in which the backrest70is rotatably supported by the bearing member25of the base20is described.FIG. 7shows the principal part of the cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII ofFIG. 5. An axle71provided to each lower left and lower right sides of the backrest70is formed into an inverted U-shape having an outer axle part71aand an inner axle part71b. The bearing member25of the base20is inserted between the outer axle part71aand the inner axle part71bin such a manner that the bearing member25protruding from the base20is nipped by the outer axle part71aand the inner axle part71b. A support pin25ais provided to an outer side surface of the bearing member25toward outer side in a standing manner. A bearing ring25bis formed so as to project annularly toward outer side on the periphery of the support pin25a. A step portion25b1is formed annularly on an outer periphery of the bearing ring25b. A sliding annular section25b2which is a part of the outer periphery of the bearing ring25bis formed as an annular sliding surface on a wall surface so as to stand from the step portion25b1toward outer side. Two cutout portions25b3are provided to two portions in an up-down direction of the bearing ring25bso as to face each other by cutting out the bearing ring along an axis thereof.FIG. 7shows the cutout portion25bof an upper side only.

A cylindrical portion71a1is formed on the outer axle part71atoward outer side in standing manner. An interior wall surface, which is in a center side of the cylinder, of the cylindrical portion71a1slides on the sliding annular section25b2. An inner side surface of the cylindrical portion71a1is formed abuttable against the step portion25b1. This restricts the axle71from moving inward. Meanwhile, a stopper73formed in a disc shape is disposed to the outer side of the cylindrical portion71a1. A first annular projection73a, and a second annular projection73bare formed concentrically on an inner side of the stopper73in such a manner that the both annular projections73a,73bproject inward annularly, and the second annular projection73bis formed larger in diameter than the first annular projection73a. Two key-like projections73cfor fitting into the cutout portions25b3are formed on top and bottom portions of an inner side surface of an outer periphery of the stopper73. By the key-like projection73cfitting into the cutout portion25b3, the stopper73is restricted from rotating about an axis of the bearing ring25b.FIG. 7shows the key-like projection73cof an upper side only.

An inner wall surface of the first annular projection73aand an outer peripheral surface of the support pin25afit to each other. An outer peripheral surface of the second annular projection73band an inner wall surface of the bearing ring25balso fit to each other. An inner side surface of the outer periphery of the stopper73is formed abuttable against a tip face of the cylindrical portion71a1. In this way, the axle71is restricted from moving outward by the stopper73. The sliding annular section25b2receives a weight of the backrest70via the cylindrical portion71a1. Therefore the outer peripheral surface of the second annular projection73bsupports an inner wall surface of the sliding annular section25b2, and the bearing ring25bis reinforced by the first annular projection73aand the support pin73fitting to each other. An axle cover74is installed over the stopper73from the outer side.

A reclining mechanism80will be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 8 and 9.FIG. 8is a rear view of the bath chair showing a state in which a cover is removed, andFIG. 9is a cross-sectional view with omitting some parts of the backrest70, axle71, and cover85.

The operating shaft82is, as heretofore described, rotatably laid across the back face of the backrest70. More specifically, portions adjacent to both left and right ends of the operating shaft82are rotatably supported by a bearing member formed by the back face of the backrest70and the cover85. An annular rib87is formed on the operating shaft82so as to prevent lateral displacement of the operating shaft82.

A step member81formed on a backside of the bearing member25of the base20includes a top step81aand a bottom step81c, and the both steps81a,81care formed into flat surfaces. The middle step81bis formed into an inclined surface which inclines downward toward rear direction. A latching hole81a2is provided to a front side wall surface81a1of the top step81aso as to be a laterally extended rectangular hole when viewed from rear.

A square hole83c1is formed on a base part83cof the abutment member83. A prismatic projection82ais formed at each left and right distal ends of the operating shaft82so as to project toward outer side. The prismatic projection82ais pressed into the square hole83c1, whereby the abutment member83is fixed to the operating shaft82. An abutment part83ais formed on the abutment member83so as to extend from the base part83cto a direction intersecting a shaft center of the operating shaft82at a right angle. A flat portion83bis formed on a distal end of the abutment part83a. A latching projection83dprojecting toward front direction is formed on a distal end of the abutment part83a. The latching projection83dis formed so as to be inserted into the latching hole81a2to be latched.

Two elastic member locking projections82bare disposed to left and right outer surfaces of the operating shaft82, which project in a direction opposite to the lever84. The elastic member locking projection82bhas a locking portion downwardly bent at a right angle. At least one elastic member locking pin75is disposed to the backside of the backrest70in a rearwardly standing manner. A coil spring86, which is the elastic member, is provided between the each elastic member locking projection82band the elastic member locking pin75. One end of the coil spring86is locked by the elastic member locking projection82band the other end of the coil spring86is locked by the elastic member locking pin75. Consequently the operating shaft82is biased to a direction in which the lever84is pressed down (in other words, clockwise rotation inFIG. 9) by the coil spring86. This means that the abutment member83is also biased clockwise inFIG. 9.

Consequently, in operation of the reclining mechanism80having the structure heretofore described, pulling up the lever84against the bias force of the coil spring86releases the abutment between the flat portion83bof the abutment member83and the step member81, whereby the backrest70can be adjusted its reclining angle. When the lever84is released from a hand, the flat portion83bof the abutment member83abuts against any step of the step member81, whereby the backrest70is fixed. In addition, when adjusting the backrest70to a raising direction, by simply raising the backrest70by hand, the flat portion83bis moved to the next step of the step member81with a front distal end of the latching projection83dcontacting slidingly to the front side wall surface of each step of the step member81, and then the flat portion83band the next step of the step member81abut against each other.

In the top step81a, the latching hole81a2is provided to the front side wall surface81a1to be latched with the latching projection81a2. The backrest70is restricted from folding forward by the latching projection83dand the latching hole81a2latching with each other. In order to make the bath chair10into a storage condition as shown inFIG. 5or6, pulling up of the lever84releases the latching between the latching projection83dand the latching hole81a2, whereby the backrest70can be folded until it contacts the handle40or the protrusion23. In this condition, the front distal end of the latching projection83dabuts against a curved surface on an upper part of the bearing member25.

By structuring the reclining mechanism80of the present invention as heretofore described, the backrest70can be adjusted its reclining angle by one lever84, thereby be operated with ease. In addition, the reclining angle can be adjusted without operating the lever84when raising the backrest70, whereby the reclining operation can be performed more easily. The backrest70is not be folded forward unintentionally since the forward folding of the backrest70is restricted by the latching between the latching hole81a2and the latching projection83d.

A direction of force applied to the operating shaft82via the lever84when pulling up the lever84is a direction of a tangent line to a vertical section of the operating shaft82. Therefore the operating shaft82can be rotated smoothly since the direction of the force applied to the operating shaft82and the direction of the rotation are the same. Durability of components is improved and this allows the reclining mechanism80to be used stably for a long period of time since undue force is not applied to the operating shaft82.

In the step member81, the top step81aand the bottom step81care formed into flat surfaces, and the middle step81bis formed into an inclined surface which inclines downward toward rear direction. The abutment member83is biased to be rotated forward by the coil spring86via the operating shaft82. Accordingly, in a condition in which the lever84is released from the hand, the front distal end of the latching projection83dof the abutment member83is always latched with the latching hole81a2at the top step81a, and abuts against the front side wall surface at the steps81band81c. This means that the flat portion83balways abuts against any one of the steps of the step member81.

When the latching projection83dis superposed on the top step81a, the flat portion83bof the abutment member83is oriented downward as shown inFIG. 9. In addition, when the backrest70is lowered and the latching projection83dis superposed on the middle step81b, the operating shaft82is located at a position slightly rearward from a position of the middle step81b. Further, when the latching projection83dis superposed on the bottom step81c, the operating shaft82is located at a position lower than a position of the axle71, and above the step81c. Accordingly, in the step member81, a whole surface of the flat portion83balways abuts against the surface of each step of the step member81since the top step81aand the bottom step81care formed into flat surfaces, and the middle step81bis formed into an inclined surface which inclines downward toward rear direction. Contact pressure of the flat portion83bcan thus be reduced, thereby reduces a damage possibility of the abutment member83.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment that has been described heretofore but can be modified or improved variously without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, although the operating shaft82is biased by the coil spring86, the operating shaft82can also be biased by a torsion coil spring that is wound around the operating shaft82. In addition, the step member81is made up of three steps in this embodiment; however the step member81can also be made up of two steps, four steps, or more steps.