Cushion for baby chair

A cushion for a baby chair comprises a head pad, a back pad and a buttocks pad arranged on a seat of the baby chair. The head is supported by a neck support portion projecting along a lower edge of the head pad and a pair of temporal support portions projecting along both side edges of the head pad. A trunk is supported from a side by a pair of trunk support portions projecting along both side edges of the back pad and extending from an upper to a lower edge of the back pad. Buttocks are supported by a buttocks support portion projecting along a lower edge of the buttocks pad. A thigh and a knee are supported by a pair of thigh support portions projecting along both side edge of the buttocks pad. The head pad, the back pad, and the buttocks pad are mutually detachable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an attitude holding cushion provided in a seat of a baby chair.

2. Description of the Related Art

For a seat structure of a baby chair, there is well known a seat structure in which a seat having cushioning characteristics is covered with an integrated cover substantially all over the surface of the seat (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 8-107816). For the cushion used in an automobile child safety seat or a baby crib, there is also proposed a cushion in which all circumferences of a flat base seat are surrounded by a projection portion or a wall portion (for example, see JP-A No.2000-296734).

In the seat structure disclosed in JP-A, No. 8-107816, little infant attitude holding effect can be expected because an infant support surface is formed in a substantially flat shape. In the cushion disclosed in JP-A No. 2000-296734, there is high infant protection effect against a shock because the projection portion or the wall portion is provided so as to surround the infant. However, because the baby chair is used to temporarily lay the infant down or to seat the infant indoors, the high shock cushioning effect is not required for the cushion of the baby chair unlike the child safety seat. The cushion of the seat of the baby chair is preferentially configured to hold the infant in a comfortable attitude. Furthermore, because the baby chair is used in a relatively wide range of a newborn baby to a child of the age of about four, it is necessary that the attitude holding function be appropriately changed according to growth of the infant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, an object of the invention is to provide a cushion having an attitude holding function suitable for the baby chair.

The present invention achieves the above-described object by a cushion for baby chair comprising; a head pad, a back pad and a buttocks pad which are arranged on a seat of the baby chair to support a head, a back and a buttocks of the infant respectively, wherein the head pad is configured to support the head of the infant by a neck support portion projecting along a lower edge of the head pad and a pair of temporal support portions projecting along both side edges of the head pad, the back pad is configured to support a trunk of the infant from a side by a pair of trunk support portions projecting along both side edges of the back pad and extending from an upper edge to a lower edge of the back pad, the buttocks pad is configured to support a buttocks of the infant by a buttocks support portion projecting along a lower edge of the buttocks pad, and the buttocks pad is configured to support a thigh and a knee of the infant by a pair of thigh support portions projecting along both side edge of the buttocks pad, and the head pad, the back pad, and the buttocks pad are made to be couplable with and separatable from one another.

According to the cushion of the present invention, firstly, by supporting the infant head with the neck support portion, the infant head can be held in the attitude in which an infant jaw is raised in some degree. Thereby, the oppression of an infant airway can be prevented to cause the infant to take breath without any difficulty. The infant head can be orientated toward the front face while the side toppling and side shift of the head are prevented by putting the temporal support portion to the infant head from the side. The side shift of an infant trunk can be prevented by supporting the infant trunk from the side with the trunk support portions of the back pad. The trunk support portion is extended from the lower edge to the upper edge of the back pad, so that the side-shift prevention effect can be enhanced. The shift of the buttocks toward the front of the seat can be suppressed by putting the buttocks support portion of the buttocks pad to the infant buttocks. Thereby, abdominal part curvature and oppression caused by the forward shift of the buttocks can be prevented. The thigh support portion of the buttocks pad supports the range from the thigh to the knee of the infant from the side, which allows the infant knee to be properly folded inside to hold the lower extremity toward a proper orientation. Therefore, a balance between a flexor and an extensor of a lower part of the infant is properly maintained to prevent deformation or atrophy of the body. Because the lower extremity can be orientated toward an appropriate direction by putting the thigh support portion of the buttocks pad to the outside of the knee, it is not necessary that the infant lower extremity be surrounded over all the circumferences, and a degree of freedom for the leg movement of the infant can relatively easily be enhanced. The head pad, the back pad, and the buttocks pad is couplable with and separatable from one another, so that only the necessary pad can be used by arranging the pad on the seat according to the growth of the infant. Therefore, the baby chair is used in the wide range of applicable ages, and the proper attitude holding function can be obtained easily and securely according to the growth of the infant.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, an edge line of the neck support portion may be curved about a height direction so as to draw a concave curve line whose bottom is a central portion in a right and left direction of the head pad. The infant rear neck can naturally be positioned in the center in the right and left direction of the head pad to prevent the side shift of the head by imparting the curvature to the neck support portion.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a support surface may be provided on an inner periphery of the temporal support portion, the support surface being extended drawing a down slope toward a recess portion surrounded by the neck support portion and the temporal support portion. The temporal support portion can support the temporal region of the infant in the wide range to naturally orientate the head toward the front face by providing the support surface.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, an edge line of the temporal support portion may be gradually lowered toward the upper edge side of the head pad. Thereby, a feeling that the head is surrounded by the temporal support portion is reduced to enhance open-feeling of the infant.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a projection portion does not exist in at least a central portion of the upper edge of the head pad, thereby the recess portion surrounded by the neck support portion and the temporal support portion is opened to the upper edge side of the head pad. According to the mode, the open-feeling of the infant is enhanced because the projection portion which constrains the parietal region of the infant does not exist.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a height of the trunk support portion of the back pad is gradually decreased from the lower edge side toward the upper edge side of the back pad. When the height of the trunk support portion is changed in the above-described way, the vicinity of an infant lumber is deeply supported by the trunk support portion, and the vicinity of an infant shoulder is lightly supported by the trunk support portion, which allows the degree of freedom to be enhanced in arm movement of the infant.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, an edge line of the buttocks support portion of the buttocks pad may be curved about the height direction so as to draw a concave curve line whose bottom is a central portion of the right and left direction of the buttocks pad. The infant lower extremity can securely be orientated toward the inside by imparting the curvature to the edge line of the buttocks support portion. When the buttocks support portion and the pair of thigh support portions are integrally connected, the recess portion surrounded by the buttocks support portion and the thigh support portion is generated on the buttocks pad to enhance the positioning effect of the buttocks accepted by the recess portion, which allows the side-shift of the buttocks to be securely prevented. When the trunk support portion and the thigh support portion are continued with the back pad and the buttocks pad coupled, even if the back pad and the buttocks pad are configured to be separatable, the projection portion, which is continued in a hill-shape from the thigh support portion to the trunk support portion as if the back pad and the buttocks pad are integrated, is generated, thereby the side shift of the infant trunk can securely be prevented while supporting the infant more naturally. Particularly, when the trunk support portion and the thigh support portion are continued such that an edge line of the thigh support portion is located on extension of the edge line of the trunk support portion, a sense of unity of the back pad and the buttocks pad can further be enhanced. When inclined surface are formed in each facing end portions of the trunk support portion and the thigh support portion, a gap is generated between the facing portions of the trunk support portion and the thigh support portion, thereby the cushion can easily be folded between the back pad and the buttocks pad. Accordingly, even if the seat of the baby chair comprises the reclining mechanism, the resistance of the cushion is reduced to easily perform the reclining operation.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a coupling portion between the head pad and the back pad may be configured such that the head pad becomes adjustable in position in an up and down direction of the seat with respect to the back pad. According to the mode, the infant head can be supported at the optimum position by changing the position of the head pad according to the position of the infant head.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the cushion may comprise a cover with which the coupling portion between the head pad and the back pad, and a coupling portion between the back pad and the buttocks pad are covered. When such a cover is provide, because the gap does not exists in the coupling portion between the pads, the same attitude holding effect or cushioning effect as the integrated cushion can apparently be obtained even if the cushion has the divided structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A cushion for a baby chair according to a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described below.FIG. 1shows a baby chair when obliquely viewed from above. A baby chair1comprises a chair main body2and a seat3attached to the chair main body2. The chair main body2comprises a seat support portion4and a foldable leg portion (only a part is shown inFIG. 1)5which supports the seat support portion4. The seat3is formed by covering a base plate or a cushioning material, which is or a core material, with a cover made of cloth or the like. A reclining mechanism (not shown) which changes inclination of a back portion3B with respect to seat portion3aof the seat3is provided in the seat support portion4. The reclining mechanism may have the same configuration as the well-known baby chair. A shoulder belt6, a lumber belt7, and a crotch belt8which constrain the infant are provided on the seat3. A caster5ais attached to a front end of the leg portion5.

A cushion9according to an embodiment of the invention is provided on the seat3.FIG. 2is a perspective view of the cushion9,FIG. 3is a perspective view showing a state in which the cushion9is turned over,FIG. 4is a plan view of the cushion9, andFIG. 5is a right side view of the cushion9. As shown inFIGS. 2 to 5, the cushion9includes a head pad10, a back pad30, and a buttocks pad50. The head pad10is provided to support the infant head, the back pad30is provided to support the infant back, and the buttocks pad50is provided to support the infant buttocks. These pads10,30, and50are individually formed in an independent component. As shown inFIG. 3, the head pad10and the back pad30are coupled to each other through a coupling portion70, and the back pad30and the buttocks pad50are coupled to each other through a coupling portion80. As shown by an imaginary line inFIG. 4, the position of the head pad10can be adjusted in a longitudinal direction of the seat3with respect to the back pad30.

As can be seen fromFIG. 1, belt through holes10a,30a, and50aare provided on the pads10,30, and50respectively. The head pad10is attached on to the seat3by passing the shoulder belt6through the belt through hole10a, the back pad30is attached onto the seat3by passing the lumber belt7through the belt through hole30a, and the buttocks pad50is attached onto the seat3by passing the crotch belt8through the belt through hole50a.

As shown inFIGS. 2,4,6, and7, the head pad10comprises a base seat11and a projection portion12provided along an outer periphery of the base seat11. The base seat11is formed in a flat shape while the outer periphery of the base seat11has roundness. The projection portion12comprises a neck support portion13and a pair of temporal support portions14. The neck support portion13is extended along the lower edge of the head pad10, and the pair of temporal support portions14is extended along both side edges of the head pad10. The neck support portion13is provided to support the infant rear neck, and the temporal support portion14is provided to support the infant head from the side. The neck support portion13and the temporal support portion14are integrally provided such that edge lines13aand14aof the neck support portion13and temporal support portion14are connected to each other in a U-shape when viewed from above. The temporal support portion14is extended to a position where the temporal support portion14substantially reaches the upper edge of the head pad10, and the projection portion12does not exist in at least the center of the upper edge of the head pad10. Therefore, a recess portion15is generated on the base seat11. In the recess portion15, the lower edge and side edges are surrounded by the projection portion12while the upper edge side is opened. The recess portion15functions as a portion which accepts the infant head.

As shown by broken lines inFIGS. 7 and 8, the edge line13aof the neck support portion13is curved in a height direction (thickness direction of the head pad10) so as to draw a concave curved line whose bottom is a center portion in the right and left direction of the head pad10. As can be seen fromFIG. 4, the edge line14aof the temporal support portion14is continuously connected to both ends of the edge line13aof the neck support portion13, and the edge line14ais extended toward the upper edge of the head pad10drawing an arc swollen outward to some extent. As can be seen fromFIG. 5, the edge line14aof the temporal support portion14is inclined so as to be gradually lowered from a vertex12atoward the upper edge side (right inFIG. 5) of the head pad10. The vertex12ais located in the connection portion of the edge line14aand the edge line13aof the neck support portion13. A front end of the temporal support portion14has the substantially same height as the base seat11. That is, the projection portion12of the head pad10has the vertex12aat a boundary position between the neck support portion13and the temporal support portion14, and the height of the projection portion12, i.e., an amount of projection from the base seat11is decreased as the projection portion12is separated away from the vertex12aalong the edge lines13aand14a.

As shown by hatch lines inFIGS. 6 to 7, a support surface14bwhich draw a downslope toward the recess portion15is provided on an inner periphery of the temporal support portion14, i.e., in a region located inside the edge line14a. As shown inFIG. 9, the support surface14bfunctions as an inclined surface which laterally supports the infant head accepted in the recess portion15. The support surface14bmay be formed in the inclined surface having the constant inclination, or the support surface14bmay be recessed in a bowl shape.

Dimensions such as the height of the projection portion12, the inclined angle of the support surface14b, and a size of the recess portion15can appropriately be determined according to a physical size of the infant which is of the target of the baby chair1. However, desirably the height of the neck support portion13is adjusted to the projection amount of the occipital region based on the infant rear neck, and desirably a width of the recess portion15is adjusted to the size of the occipital region. Only as a guide, based on the surface of the base seat11, i.e., a bottom surface of the recess portion15, the height of the vertex12aof the projection portion12can be set at about 30 mm, the minimum height (the height in the center portion) of the neck support portion13can be set at about 9 mm, and an inclined angle θa can be set at about 39° with respect to a horizontal direction of the support surface14bshown inFIG. 9. As shown by the imaginary line inFIG. 6, the size of the recess portion15can be set so as to ensure a flat circular area Ch having the diameter of about 107 mm. As shown inFIG. 9, the projection portion12of the head pad10is formed by providing an elastic material having the proper cushioning characteristics inside a skin material16. The elastic material is provided as an interior material17. A material such as mesh textile having an aeration property or a material in which through holes are additionally made in a raw material such as cloth having the poor aeration property to ensure the aeration property can be used as the skin material16. The elastic material such as cotton, urethane, low-repulsion urethane, and gel can be used as the interior material17. The aeration property may be formed in the interior material17, and a urethane raw material having coupled bubbles may be used as the interior material17. However, the interior material17may be provided in both the base seat11and the projection portion12.

As shown inFIGS. 2,4, and10, the back pad30includes a base seat31and a pair of trunk support portions32which is arranged at both ends in the right and left direction of the base seat31. The base seat31is formed in a flat shape like the base seat11of the head pad10. Each of the hill-shape trunk support portions32is extended from the upper edge to the lower edge of the back pad30while projecting along both side edges of the back pad30. Thereby, a recess portion33, upper edge side and the lower edge side there of are opened respectively, is generated on the base seat31. The recess portion33functions as a portion which accepts the infant back. As shown inFIG. 4, an edge line32aof the trunk support portion32is extended substantially straight from the upper edge to the lower edge. As shown inFIG. 5, the edge line32aof the trunk support portion32is inclined so as to draw the downslope from the lower edge toward the upper edge of the back pad30. That is, the height of the trunk support portion32is gradually decreased from the lower edge toward the upper edge of the back pad30.

As shown inFIGS. 11 and 12, a support surface32bdrawing the downslope toward the recess portion33is provided on a region located inside the edge line32aof the back pad30. The support surface32bfunctions as the inclined surface which supports the infant, accepted by the recess portion33, from the side. The support surface32bmay be formed in the inclined surface having the constant inclination, or the support surface32bmay be curved in a convex or concave shape. As shown inFIG. 5, an inclined surface32cis provided on the end portion on the lower edge side (left end side inFIG. 5) of the trunk support portion32. The inclined surface32cis provided to avoid interference of the trunk support portion32and the buttocks pad50when the back portion3bis raised with respect to the seat portion3ain the seat3of the baby chair1.

The size of the trunk support portion32can appropriately be determined according to the physical size of the infant which is of the target of the baby chair1. However, desirably the size and position of the trunk support portion32are provided such that the trunk support portion32properly supports the infant from the side. Only as a guide, based on the surface of the base seat31, the maximum height of the trunk support portion32can be set at about 40 mm, the minimum height of the trunk support portion32can be set at about 30 mm, and the inclined angle θb shown inFIGS. 11 and 12can be set at about 39° with respect to the horizontal direction of the support surface32bof the trunk support portion32. A minimum width Wb (seeFIG. 4) in the flat portion of the recess portion33can be set at about 147 mm, and a width Wc (seeFIG. 4) of the recess portion33in the back pad30can be set at about 156 mm. As shown inFIGS. 11 and 12, the trunk support portion32of the back pad30is formed by providing an elastic material having the proper cushioning characteristics, as an interior material35, in a skin material34. The raw materials used for the skin material34and interior material35may be selected in the same manner as the skin material16and interior material17of the head pad10. The interior material35may be provided in both the base seat31and the side support portion32.

As shown inFIGS. 2,4, and13, the buttocks pad50comprises a base seat51and a projection portion52provided along the outer periphery of the base seat51. The base seat51is formed in the flat shape like the base seats11and31of the head pad10and back pad30. The projection portion52comprises a buttocks support portion53and a pair of thigh support portions54. The buttocks support portion53is projecting along the lower edge of the buttocks pad50, and the thigh support portions54are projected in both side edges of the buttocks pad50. The buttocks support portion53is provided to support the infant buttocks, and the thigh support portion54is provided to support an infant tight from the side. The buttocks support portion53and the thigh support portion54are integrally provided such that edge lines53aand54aof the buttocks support portion53and thigh support portion54are connected to each other in a U-shape when viewed from above. The thigh support portion54is terminated at a position where the thigh support portion54substantially reaches the upper edge of the buttocks pad50, and the projection portion52does not exist in at least the center of the upper edge of the buttocks pad50. Thereby, a recess portion55, the lower edge and side edges there of are surrounded by the projection portion52while the upper edge side is opened, is generated on the base seat51. The recess portion55functions as a portion which accepts the infant buttocks. As shown inFIG. 4, when the back pad30and the buttocks pad50are coupled to each other, the thigh support portion54is continuously connected to the trunk support portion32of the back pad30, and the edge line54aof the thigh support portion54is located on an extension of the edge line32a.

As shown by the broken line inFIG. 14, the edge line53aof the buttocks support portion53is curved about the height direction (thickness direction of the buttocks pad50) so as to draw a concave curved line whose bottom becomes the center portion in the right and left direction of the buttocks pad50, and vertexes53bof the buttocks support portion53are located at both ends of the edge line53a. As can be seen fromFIG. 5, the edge line54aof the thigh support portion54is slightly inclined so as to draw an uphill gradient from the vertex53bof the buttocks support portion53toward the upper edge side (right inFIG. 5) of the buttocks pad50, and the height of the edge line54aat the front end (end portion on the upper edge side) is substantially equal to the height of the trunk support portion32in the lower edge of the back pad30.

As shown inFIGS. 13 and 15, a support surface54bdrawing the downslope toward the recess portion55is provided on a region located inside the edge line54aof the thigh support portion54. The support surface54bfunctions as the inclined surface which supports the infant, accepted by the recess portion55, from the side in the range of the buttocks to the knee through the thigh. The support surface54bmay be formed in the inclined surface having the constant inclination, or the support surface54bmay be recessed in the bowl shape. As shown inFIGS. 5 and 13, a support surface53cdrawing the downslope toward the recess portion55is provided on a region located inside the edge line53aof the buttocks support portion53. The support surface53cfunctions as the inclined surface which supports the infant buttocks accepted by the recess portion55, more particularly a surface of a diaper attached to the buttocks from below. As shown inFIG. 5, an inclined surface54cis provided on the end portion on the upper edge side (right end side inFIG. 5) of the thigh support portion54. Similarly to the inclined surface32cof the back pad30, the inclined surface54cis provided to avoid interference of the trunk support portion32and the buttocks pad50when the back portion3bis raised with respect to the seat portion3ain the seat3of the baby chair1.

The dimensions such as the height of the projection portion52and the inclined angles of the support surfaces53cand54bcan appropriately be determined according to the physical size of the infant which is of the target of the baby chair1. However, desirably the height of the buttocks support portion53is set to a level such that the buttocks support portion53can accept the infant buttocks and, at the same time, such that an infant lower extremity can naturally surmount the buttocks support portion53. Desirably the height and position of the thigh support portion54are set such that the thigh support portion54comes into contact with the thigh and knee of the infant from the outside and, at the same time, such that the infant knee does not exceed the thigh support portion54to slip to the outside in the right and left direction. Only as a guide, based on the surface of the base seat51, the center height of the buttocks support portion53can be set at about 13 mm, the maximum height of the thigh support portion54can be set at about 43 mm, and the inclined angle θc (seeFIGS. 5 and 15) can be set at about 39° with respect to the horizontal direction of each of the support surfaces53cand54b. A width Wc (seeFIG. 4) of the recess portion55in the upper edge of the buttocks pad5can be set at about 156 mm which is equal to the width Wc of the recess portion33of the back pad30, and a height Hc (seeFIG. 5) of the recess portion55can be set at about 160 mm. As shown inFIG. 15, the projection portion52of the buttocks pad50is formed by providing an elastic material having the proper cushioning characteristics, as an interior material57, in a skin material56. The raw materials of the skin material56and interior material57may be selected in the same manner as the skin material16and interior material17of the head pad10. The interior material57may be provided in both the base seat51and the projection portion52.

When the infant is laid down on or seated in the seat3, the function of the cushion9will be described below. In the head pad10, the infant head is accepted and supported by recess portion15. In this case, as shown inFIG. 16, the neck support portion13of the head pad10is put to the rear neck of an infant100to support the neck portion from the back. Therefore, a head101of the infant100is held in an attitude in which the jaw of the infant100is raised in some degree, and the oppression of the airway can be prevented to cause the infant100to take breath without any difficulty. Because the edge line13aof the neck support portion13is curved while drawing the concave curved line as shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the neck portion of the infant100can naturally be positioned to the center in the right and left direction. As shown inFIG. 17, because the head101is supported by the support surfaces14bof the temporal support portion14from both sides, the head101is naturally orientated toward the front face to prevent the side toppling and side shift of the head101. These functions are particularly effective to a baby whose head is not held up yet. Because the temporal support portion14is gradually decreased toward the upper edge of the head pad10, the feeling that the head101is surrounded by the temporal support portion14is reduced to enhance the open-feeling. The projection portion12is provided to both side edges and the recess portion15is opened to the upper edge side of head pad10, so that there is no fear that a parietal region is excessively constrained by the projection portion12. Accordingly the open-feeling is enhanced in the infant.

In the backpad30, as shown inFIG. 18, the trunk support portion32is put to a trunk102of the infant100to support the trunk102from the outside. Thereby the side shift of the trunk of the infant100is prevented. The side-shift prevention effect is enhanced because the trunk support portion32is continuously extended from the upper edge to the lower edge of the back pad30. As shown inFIG. 5, because the height of the trunk support portion32is gradually decreased from the lower edge side toward the upper edge side of the back pad30, the trunk support portion32becomes higher in the infant lumber while becoming lower in the sides of the infant. Accordingly, the vicinity of the infant lumber is deeply supported to securely prevent the lumber shift by the trunk support portion32, while the vicinity of the infant shoulder is lightly supported to enhance the degree of freedom in arm movement of the infant by the trunk support portion32.

As shown inFIG. 19, in the buttocks pad50, the support surface53cof the buttocks support portion53is put to buttocks103of the infant100to support the buttocks103. Thereby the shift of the infant100toward the front of the seat3is suppresses. Particularly, even in the case of the attitude in which the back portion of the seat is raised to seat, the infant100, the buttocks103of the infant100is never shifted frontward. Accordingly, the abdominal part curvature and oppression caused by the forward shift of the buttocks is not generated. Furthermore, the buttocks support portion53and the thigh support portion54are integrally connected and extended at the surroundings of the recess portion55which accepts the buttocks103, so that the positioning effect of the buttocks103of the infant is enhanced to prevent the side-shift of the buttocks103.

In the buttocks pad50, the thigh support portion54supports the region from a thigh104to a knee105of the infant, which allows the knee105to be properly folded inside while opening of the thigh104toward the outside is properly regulated. Therefore, the opening of the knee105toward the outside is suppressed to properly hold a lower extremity106toward the proper orientation. In addition, because the edge line53aof the buttocks support portion53is curved so as to draw the concave curved line, the lower extremity106can be orientated more stably toward the inside. These functions properly hold the balance between the flexor and the extensor of the lower part of the infant100to prevent the deformation or atrophy of the body. The buttocks pad50is configured such that the lower extremity106exceeds the projection portion52to stretch out the lower extremity106toward the front of the seat3, and the projection portion or wall portion which surrounds the lower extremity106does not exist. Therefore, the leg movement of the infant is not obstructed.

In the cushion9of the embodiment, because the back pad30and the buttocks pad50are individually provided, and the back pad30and the buttocks pad50are coupled by the coupling portion80. Therefore, the cushion9can easily be folded at a boundary portion between the back pad30and the buttocks pad50. When the inclination of the back portion3bof the seat3is change, the cushion9does not become the resistance, and the reclining operation of the seat3can relatively easily be performed. The inclined surfaces32cand54care provided in the facing portions of the trunk support portion32of the back pad30and the thigh support portion54of the buttocks pad50, which allows the cushion9to be further easily folded.

In the cushion9of the embodiment, the head pad10, the back pad30, and the buttocks pad50is couplable with and separatable from one another, so that the pads10,30, and50can be used by appropriately selecting the pads10,30, and50according to a growing stage of the infant. In an example of the usage pattern, all the pads10,30, and50are used in a newborn baby stage (baby which is two to three months old), the back pad30and the buttocks pad50are used in an early sit-up stage. (baby which is two or three to five or six months old), only the buttocks pad50is used in a middle sit-up stage (baby which is five or six to eleven or twelve months old), and the cushion9is not used after a late sit-up stage (baby which is thirteen months old or more). The head pad10is configured such that the position of the head pad10is adjustable in an up and down direction of the seat3with respect to the back pad30, so that the infant head can be supported at the optimum position by changing the position of the head pad10according to the infant head.

The coupling portions70and80of the pads10,30, and50will be described below.FIGS. 20A to 20Eshow examples of the coupling portion70between the head pad10and the back pad30. In the example, a strip-shape portion71is provided on the center of the upper edge of the back pad30, and surface fasteners72A and72B are bonded to the surface of the strip-shape portion71and the backside of the head pad10. The head pad10and the back pad30are coupled to each other by utilizing the surface fasteners72A and72B. In the example ofFIG. 20A, the position in the up and down direction of the head pad10can be changed with respect to the back pad30by shifting the overlapping range of the surface fasteners72A and72B in the up and down direction of the seat3. The position adjustment range of the head pad10may be enlarged by attaching the strip-shape portion71to the back pad30with the position of the strip-shape portion71vertically adjustable. Because the surface fastener72B of the head pad10comes into contact with the skin material of the seat3, it is desirable to form the surface fastener72B in a female side having no hook-shape projection, i.e., a loop-side surface fast.

In the example ofFIG. 20B, a pair of strip-shape portions73is provided on the upper edge of the back pad30, a hook74A is attached to each strip-shape portion73, and plural hooks74B are attached at appropriate intervals in the up and down direction. The hooks74B can be engaged with the hook74A located at the position corresponding to the strip-shape portion73in the backside of the head pad10. In the example ofFIG. 20B, the head pad10and the back pad30are coupled to each other by engaging the hook74A of the back pad30with the hook74B located at any one of the positions in the head pad10. The position of the head pad10can vertically be changed with respect to the back pad30by changing the hook74B which should be engaged with the hook74A.

The example ofFIG. 20Cis similar to the example ofFIG. 20Bin that the head pad10and the back pad30are coupled by engaging the hook74A with the hook74B. However, it is different from the example ofFIG. 20Bin that a slide guide75extended in the up and down direction is provided at each position corresponding to the strip-shape portion73of the head pad10, and the single hook74B is attached to each slide guide75while the position of the hook74B can vertically be adjusted. In the example, the position of the head pad10can be changed with respect to the back pad30by changing the position in the up and down direction of the hook74B of the head pad10.

In the example ofFIG. 20D, a pair of buttons76is attached to the lower edge of the head pad10, and plural-button holes77through which the button76is passed are vertically provided at intervals in each of the strip-shape portion73of the back pad30. In this example, the head pad10and the back pad30can be coupled by passing the button76through any one of the button holes77, and the position in the up and down direction of the head pad10can be changed with respect to the back pad30by changing the selection of the button hole77.

FIG. 20Eis a modification ofFIG. 20A, and a cover78with which the surface fastener72B is covered is added to the backside of the head pad10, and the strip-shape portion71of the back pad30is made to be able to be inserted in the cover78through a lower end opening of the cover78. In the example, because the surface fastener72B is not exposed to the backside of the head pad10, the surface fastener72B can be used as the male-side surface fastener in which the hook-shape projections exist. In examples ofFIGS. 20A to 20E, the pads10and30can similarly be coupled even if constituents provided in the head pad10and back pad30are counterchanged.

FIG. 21A to 21Cshow examples of the coupling portion80between the back pad30and the buttocks pad50.FIG. 21Ashows the example in which the pads30and50are coupled by engaging each hook82A provided on a pair of strip-shape portions81of the lower edge of the back pad30with a hook82B provided on the backside of the buttocks pad50.FIG. 21Bshows the example in which the pads30and50are coupled by overlapping a surface fastener84A provided on a strip-shape portion83in the center of the lower edge of the back pad30on a surface fastener84B provided on the backside of the buttocks pad50.FIG. 21Cshows the example in which the pads30and50are coupled bypassing a button85, provided on the backside of the buttocks pad50, through a button hole86of the strip-shape portions81of the back pad30. In examples ofFIGS. 21A to 21C, the constituents provided on the back pad30and buttocks pad50may be counterchanged. In the example ofFIG. 21B, it is desirable that the surface fastener84B is used as the female-side surface fastener.

FIGS. 22A and 22Bshows examples in which the covers90and91with which the coupling portions70and80are covered are extended from the upper and lower edges in the backside of the back pad30. The covers90and91are also shown inFIGS. 3 and 10. When the covers90and91are provided, the gap is not formed between the coupling portions of the pads10,30, and50, so that the same attitude holding effect or cushioning effect as the integrated cushion can be obtained even if the cushion9is formed by the divided structure.

The invention is not limited to the above configurations, but various changes and modifications could be realized as appropriate. For example, the head pad10may have the configuration in which the neck support portion13and the temporal support portion14are separated from each other. In the configuration of the buttocks pad50, the buttocks support portion53and the thigh support portion54may be separated from each other. The configuration in which the pad is attached to the seat is not limited to the above examples, but various changes and modifications could be realized as appropriate. For example, the pad can be attached to the seat cover or the seat interior material (cushion material or base plate) using appropriate means such as the hook, a string, a buckle, and the button. Because the belt through holes through which the shoulder belt6, the lumber belt7, and the crotch belt8are passed are provided in the cover of the seat3in the above embodiment, the pads10,30, and50may be coupled to the seat3by utilizing the belt through holes respectively.