Foldable high chair

A foldable child's high chair has a use position wherein an occupant can occupy the chair and a folded position wherein the chair can be folded for storage. The chair includes a seat having a base portion and a back support portion. The back support portion includes a stationary section and a movable section which is movable to position the child. A retaining latch is provided for retaining the movable section in at least two different selected positions relative to the stationary section. A frame is provided for supporting the seat and includes a front leg and a rear leg. A first pivot is provided for pivotally coupling the base portion to the front leg, and a second pivot is provided for pivotally coupling the base portion to the rear leg. A third pivot is provided for pivotally coupling the back support to the rear leg. A rigid link member and a pair of pivots are provided for coupling the back support portion to the base portion. The frame, seat, link member, and pivots are cooperable so that when the chair is moved between its use position and its folded position, the base portion pivots in one direction and the back support portion pivots in an opposite direction.

This invention relates to chairs, and more particularly to foldable 
juvenile chairs. 
Foldable chairs are known. Heretofore, folding chairs have generally 
included a seat having a back support portion and a base portion, a pair 
of front leg members and a pair of back leg members. The front legs are 
joined to the back legs at a pivot to form a cross or X-frame structure. 
Various X-frame folding chair structures are shown in McRae U.S. Pat. No. 
3,147,036 and Duer U.S. Pat. No. 3,220,764. 
Other folding mechanisms for chairs are shown in Lisi U.S. Pat. No. 
2,789,623; Panicci U.S. Pat. No. 3,058,773; Goldsholl et al U.S. Pat. No. 
3,113,802; Spinola U.S. Pat. No. 3,542,419 and Lay et. al. U.S. Pat. No. 
3,715,142. 
The juvenile chair according to the present invention has a structure which 
is cooperable during folding to enable the base portion and back support 
portions of the seat to pivot in opposite directions when the chair is 
folded from its use position to its storage position. 
One object of the instant invention is to provide a chair which pivots in 
the above described manner to provide a stable seat for a child, when the 
chair is in its use position, and a compact structure for storage when the 
chair is in its folded position. 
The base portion and back support portions of conventional juvenile high 
chairs usually consist of unisectional, nonadjustable cushions. Examples 
of such cushions are shown in the patents discussed above. The 
unisectional cushions are usually made generally planar and wide enough to 
accommodate larger, older high chair users. The width and planarity of 
these unisectional cushions can present an impediment to the use of the 
chairs by younger infants. By making the cushions wide enough to 
accommodate larger children, the cushions are often much wider than the 
children when they are first beginning to use the chair as young babies 
and infants. Younger babies and infants often are not either developed or 
coordinated sufficiently to sit up straight in the seats. Since the 
unisectional cushion provides no lateral support for the children, the 
children often tilt laterally, assuming a slumped position in the seats. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing problem, it may not be desirable to use a 
one-piece cushion which is contoured to fit the backs of the youngest high 
chair users. Since children tend to grow at a rapid rate, a chair having a 
cushion which is contoured to fit very young babies would probably be 
uncomfortable to older children. Thus, the effective length of use of a 
chair having such a fixed, contoured back would be unacceptably short. 
It is therefore also an object of the instant invention to provide a chair 
having a seat with at least two back support sections, one of which is 
adjustable relative to the other to resist lateral movement of younger 
children and to provide a sufficiently wide, comfortable seating surface 
for older children. 
In accordance with the instant invention, a small child's chair includes a 
seat having a base portion and a back support portion. The back support 
portion includes at least two sections, one movable with respect to the 
other to position the child. Retention means is provided for retaining the 
movable section with respect to a stationary section in a selected 
position. 
Illustratively, the back support portion includes a generally rigid frame 
member and a cushion portion. The cushion portion includes a movable side 
section and a stationary central section. The cushion portion further 
includes cushioning material, and a generally rigid backing adjacent the 
frame member. The backing includes a central member corresponding in 
position to the central section of the cushion, and a side member 
corresponding in position to the side section of the cushion. A backing 
hinge means is provided for hingedly coupling the side member and central 
member of the backing. 
Also in accordance with the instant invention, a foldable high chair is 
provided having a use position wherein an occupant can occupy the chair 
and a folded position wherein the chair can be folded for storage. The 
foldable high chair includes a seat having a base portion and a back 
portion. A frame including a front leg and a rear leg is provided for 
supporting the seat. A first pivot means is provided for pivotally 
coupling the base portion to the front leg. A second pivot means is 
provided for pivotally coupling the base portion to the rear leg. A third 
pivot means is provided for pivotally coupling the back support portion to 
the rear leg, and a link means is provided for coupling the back support 
portion to the base portion. A first link (i.e. fourth) pivot means is 
provided for pivotally coupling one end of the link means to the base 
portion and a second link (i.e. fifth) pivot means is provided for 
coupling the other end of the link means to the back portion. The frame, 
seat, pivot means, and link means are cooperable so that when the chair is 
moved between its use position and its folded position, the base portion 
pivots in one direction and the back portion pivots away from the base 
portion in the opposite direction. 
Illustratively, the chair also includes an arm member which is coupled to 
the frame. A first arm (i.e. sixth) pivot means is provided for pivotally 
coupling the arm to the front leg and a second arm (i.e. seventh) pivot 
means is provided for pivotally coupling the arm to the rear leg. 
Preferably, the link means includes a rigid link member having a first 
portion to which the first pivot means is journaled, a second portion to 
which the second link pivot is journaled, and a stop means for limiting 
relative movement of the base and back portions of the seat.

A chair such as a foldable juvenile high chair 10 is shown in FIGS. 1-3. 
The chair 10 has a frame 12 which includes elongated tubular front legs 14 
and elongated tubular rear legs 16. The front 14 and rear 16 legs are 
generally straight, with each having slight, obtuse bends 13,15 
respectively near their upper ends. Plastic non-skid feet 17 are placed at 
the lower ends of legs 14,16 to provide a secure gripping surface for the 
legs 14,16 and to prevent the ends of the legs 14,16 from scratching or 
otherwise marring the flooring upon which the chair is placed. A cross-bar 
member (not shown) can be placed between the front legs 14 to stationarily 
position the front legs 14 with respect to each other. Likewise, a 
cross-bar member (not shown) can be placed between the rear legs 16 to 
stationarily position the rear legs 16 with respect to each other. 
The chair also includes a seat 20 having a base portion 21 and a back 
support portion 22. When the chair 10 is in its use position (shown in 
FIG. 1), the base portion 21 is disposed generally parallel to the ground, 
and provides a surface upon which an occupant of the chair can sit. The 
back support portion 22 is disposed generally perpendicular to the ground 
when the chair 10 is in its use position, and provides a back rest and 
back support for an occupant of the chair 10. The base portion 21 includes 
a generally U-shaped tubular frame member 23 and a padded, base cushion 
member 24, which is stationarily attached to base portion frame member 23. 
Back support portion 22 includes a tubular, inverted U-shaped back support 
frame member 26 and a back support cushion 27, a part of which is 
stationarily attached to back support frame member 26. 
A pair of arms 30 extend generally parallel to the base frame member 23. 
One arm 30 is disposed on either side of seat 20. Arm 30 includes an 
inverted, elongated U-shaped channel member 34 which is coupled to the 
front 14 and rear 16 legs, and an arm member 36 which is generally 
elongated and tubular, and has an obtuse bend near its 36 middle. Arm 
member 36 is fixedly attached to channel 34 and is provided for supporting 
a tray 38. Tray 38 can be of conventional construction, and is preferably 
made out of a plastic material. Tray 38 includes a latch member 42 which 
is selectively positionable along rails 44 so that the tray 38 can be 
positioned properly for occupants of different sizes. Rails 44 preferably 
are fixedly attached to, and extend generally parallel to a portion of arm 
member 36. 
A selectively positionable foot rest member 48 is mounted to the underside 
of base portion 21 to provide a rest for the occupant's feet. Preferably, 
the foot rest 48 is selectively positionable in a first position (shown in 
FIG. 1) wherein the foot rest 48 extends downwardly from base portion and 
a second position (not shown) wherein the foot rest 48 extends outwardly 
and forwardly of base portion 48. The foot rest 48 is positionable in its 
first position to provide a comfortable foot rest for older children, and 
is positionable in its second position to provide a comfortable foot rest 
for younger children. A harness strap 53 of conventional design is 
provided for harnessing and restraining a child in the chair 10. 
A pivot means 58 and a link means 62 are provided so that the chair 10 can 
pivot from a use position, shown in FIG. 1, to a folded position shown in 
phantom in FIG. 2. In the chair's 10 use position, the back support 
portion 22 and base portion 21 are generally perpendicular, so that an 
occupant can occupy the chair, and the legs 14,16 are spaced by relatively 
large distance to provide a stable base for the chair 10. When the chair 
10 is in its folded position, the back support portion 22 and base portion 
21 are generally parallel and the legs 14,16 are spaced relatively 
closely, to provide a compact structure which will require a minimal 
amount of space for storage, and which is easily transportable. The frame 
12, seat 20, pivot means 58, and link means 62 are cooperable so that when 
the chair 10 is moved between its use position and its folded position, 
the base portion 21 pivots in one direction, and the back support portion 
22 pivots away from the base portion 21 in the opposite direction. 
Pivot means 58 includes a first base portion pivot means 66 for pivotally 
coupling the base portion frame member 23 to the front leg 14. 
Illustratively, first pivot 66 can comprise a rivet or a bolt and nut, 
with the shaft portion of the rivet or bolt defining the pivot axis. A 
spacer (not shown) may be placed on the shaft portion of the rivet or bolt 
to maintain the front leg 14 and base portion frame member 23 in a spaced 
relation. A second base portion pivot means 68 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 
2-5, and is provided for pivotally coupling base portion frame member 23 
to rear leg 16. Second base portion pivot means 68 is formed by a rivet 67 
or nut and bolt arrangement similar to first base portion pivot means 66. 
The shaft portion of rivet 67 extends through aligned apertures in the leg 
16 and base portion frame member 23. A spacer 69 may be placed between the 
leg 16 and frame member 23 to maintain the leg 16 and frame member 23 in 
the proper spacial relation. 
A first arm pivot 72 is provided for pivotally coupling the channel 34 to 
the front leg 14. A third pivot means 74 serves both as a back support 22 
pivot means for pivotally coupling the back support frame member 26 to 
rear leg 16, and as a second arm 30 pivot means for pivotally coupling the 
channel 34 to rear leg 16. As best shown in FIG. 3, third pivot 74 
provides a collinear pivot axis for the back support pivot means and 
second arm pivot means. Since channel 34 is fixedly attached to arm member 
36, first and second arm pivots 72, 74 serve to functionally connect the 
legs 14,16 to arm member 36. Since back support frame member 26 also 
pivots about pivot 74, the back support portion 22 is also functionally 
connected to the arms 30 and legs 14, 16. A spacer 79 is interposed 
between channel member 34 and back support frame member 26 to maintain the 
leg 16 and frame member 26 in the proper spacial relation. The spacer 79 
also facilitates the folding of the chair by preventing the leg 16 and 
frame member 26 from rubbing against each other, or otherwise interfering 
with each other during the pivoting of the chair 10 between its use 
position and its storage position. 
A runway or guide member 83 is formed as a part of channel 34. Channel 34 
includes an extended portion 84 disposed between rear leg 16 and back 
support frame member 26 in the general vicinity of second arm pivot 74. 
Extended portion 84 includes a raised, arcuate surface 85 providing a 
runway or guide for a lock means 98 in a manner which will be explained 
later 
Link means 62 includes a planer, rigid, angled link member 86 having an end 
portion 88 and an end portion 92. A first link (i.e. fourth) pivot means 
90 pivotally couples end portion 88 of angled link member 86 to the base 
portion frame member 23, near the rearward end of frame member 23. The end 
portion 92 of link member 86 includes a second link (i.e. fifth) pivot 
means 94. Second link pivot means 94 pivotally couples the link member 86 
to the back support portion frame member 26. A stop means such as stop 
flange 96, is provided intermediate the end portions 88 and 92. Stop 
flange 96 is formed as a part of link member 86, and is angled generally 
perpendicularly to the link member 86 so as to engage the back support 
portion frame member 26 when the chair is in its use position (See FIG. 
1). 
The stop flange 96 is provided for limiting the relative pivotal movement 
of the chair 10 by providing a limit to the extent of rotation of back 
support portion frame member 26. Stop flange 96 is positioned to prevent 
back support frame member 26 from pivoting past the use position (shown in 
FIG. 1) when the chair 10 is being unfolded. 
A lock button means 98 is provided for preventing the chair 10 from 
inadvertently folding out of its use position when an occupant is 
occupying the chair 10. Lock button means 98 includes a rod or pin 100 
which extends through rear leg 16 and is extendable through an aperture 
102 in runway 83 and into an aperture 104 in the back support frame member 
26. Rod 100 and apertures 102,104 are positioned to be in alignment when 
the chair 10 is in its unfolded, use position. The button 98 also includes 
a spring 106 for urging rod 100 toward the apertures 102,104 and a pull 
button 108 for enabling a user to pull the rod 100 out of engagement with 
apertures 102,104. As best seen in FIG. 2, one of the apertures 102 is 
elongated so that at least one of the pins 100 will engage an aperture to 
prevent the chair from folding when the lock button means is not fully 
engaged. This is a safety feature to limit movement of the back support 
portion 22 when the lock means does not fully engage. As can be seen in 
FIGS. 3 and 4 when rod or pin 100 is disengaged from aperture 102 and the 
chair is folded; spring 106 urges pin 100 against the surface 85 of runway 
83. Thus runway 83 serves to keep the pin 100 from engaging the frame or 
interfering with the operation of the chair during the folding and 
unfolding of the chair. 
As shown in FIGS. 4-6, the lock button 98 also includes an interference 
finger 110 which is movably mounted to the raised arcuate surface 85 of 
runway 83 by pivot 111. The interference finger 110 is activated by 
gravity to prevent rod 100 from becoming inserted into apertures 102,104. 
Flange 112 is provided for the user to manipulate the finger 110 if 
desirable. When the chair 10 is being moved from its use position to its 
folded position, it is generally necessary for the user to pull outwardly 
on the pull buttons 108 of lock button 98 to disengage the rod 100 from 
the apertures 102,104. As can be appreciated, it might be difficult for a 
user to simultaneously pull the buttons 108 of both rear legs 16 while 
simultaneously moving either the seat 20 or frame 12 to fold the chair 10. 
The interference finger 110 moves over aperture 102 to prevent the rod 100 
of at least one button means 98 from becoming inserted into apertures 102, 
104, the user can free up one of his hands to grab either the frame 12 or 
seat 20 to pivot the seat 20 or frame 12 to commence the folding of the 
chair 10. It will be noted that the elongated aperture 102 is provided on 
the opposite side from the location of the interference finger 110. 
To move the chair 10 from its use position (shown in FIG. 1) to its folded 
position (shown in FIG. 2), the user grips the button 108 (shown in FIG. 
3) of the right rear leg 16 of the chair 10 to pull rod 100 out of 
engagement with apertures 102,104. Interference finger 110 moves by 
gravity into a position wherein it covers aperture 102 when rod 100 is 
moved out of aperture 102. Button 108 is then released, allowing rod 100 
to rest against interference finger 110. The user then pulls outwardly on 
button 108 of left rear leg 16 to pull the left side rod 100 out of 
engagement with apertures 102,104. When rod 100 is out of engagement with 
apertures 102,104 the user can push rearwardly on the top of the back 
support portion 22 to begin the pivoting action of the pivot means 58 to 
move the chair into a folded position as shown in FIG. 2. During the 
folding, the base portion 21 of seat 20, tray 38, and arms 30 pivot in a 
first direction, and the back portion 22 of the seat and rear leg 16 pivot 
in a second direction, opposite the first direction. 
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, arrow A indicates the direction base 
portion 21 pivots. Arrow C indicates the direction that tray 38 pivots, 
and arrow E indicates the direction in which arm 30 pivots. When viewed 
from the left side of chair 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, arrows A, C, 
and E all are directed in a counterclockwise direction, indicating that 
the base portion 21, tray 38, and arm 30 pivot in a first, 
counterclockwise direction. Arrow G indicates the direction back support 
portion 22 pivots and arrow H (FIG. 2) indicates the direction rear leg 16 
pivots. When viewed from the left side of the chair (as shown in FIGS. 1 
and 2), arrows G and H indicate that back support portion 22 and leg 16, 
pivot in a second, clockwise direction. Referring now to FIG. 4, it will 
be noticed that arrow G indicates a counterclockwise rotation of back 
support portion 22 and arrow E indicates a clockwise pivoting of arm 30. 
This reversed condition is expected, since FIGS. 4-6 are views taken from 
the right side of the chair. 
To move the chair from its folded position (shown in FIG. 2) to its use 
position (shown in FIG. 1) the process is reversed, with the leg 16, back 
support portion 22, tray 38, arm 30, and seat 20 being pivoted to a point 
wherein the stop means 96 of link member 86 is adjacent the back support 
portion frame member 26, and the rod 100 of lock means 98 is engaged into 
apertures 102,104. Because of the elongated aperture 102 at least one of 
the rods 100 will engage aperture 102 to limit backward movement of the 
back support portion 22 in case of a false locking condition. It will be 
appreciated that when the chair is moved from its folded position to its 
use position, the base portion 21, tray 38 and arm 30 will pivot in a 
clockwise direction, and the back support portion 22 and rear leg 16 will 
pivot in a counterclockwise direction (when viewing the chair 10 from its 
left side). During the unfolding operation rod 100 pushes the interference 
finger away from the corresponding aperture 104. 
As best shown in FIGS. 7-10, the cushion portion 27 of back support portion 
22 of seat 20 includes a stationary, central section 120 and a first side 
section 122 hingedly mounted to a first side of central section 120, and a 
second side section 124 hingedly mounted to a second side of central 
section 120. The first side section 122 is movable between a first 
position (shown in solid in FIG. 10) which is generally coplanar with 
central section 120, and a second position (shown in phantom) wherein the 
side section 122 is angled from the plane of the central section 120. Side 
section 122 is movable to accommodate children of different sizes. When 
the side section 122 is in its second position, angled from the plane of 
the central section 120, the side section 122 is positioned to resist 
lateral movement of an occupant 126 of the chair. This resistance to 
lateral movement is especially useful when the occupant 126 is an infant 
who has either not developed or coordinated sufficiently to sit up 
straight in seat 20. Second side section 124 is similarly movable. When 
both side sections 122, 124 are in their second positions, the sections 
122, 124 are positioned to resist lateral movement in the directions 
indicated by arrows R and S in FIG. 10. The central section 120, first 
side section 122, and second side section 124 are part of the cushion 
portion 27 of back support portion 22. 
The cushion portion 27 includes a padded portion 128 to provide a cushioned 
seat for occupant 126, a relatively rigid backing portion 130, and a 
fabric cover 132, which is preferably made of vinyl or other material 
which can be cleaned easily. The padded portion 128 is preferably 
constructed of three separate pieces of contoured, tufted foam material, 
thus providing a first crease 136 and a second crease 138 which 
facilitates the movement of side sections 122,124 about their respective 
axes. 
The backing portion 130 includes a stationary, central section rigid 
backing member 142, a first side section backing member 144, and a second 
side section backing member 146 which correspond in position generally to 
the stationary central section 120, first side section 122, and second 
side section 124, respectively, of cushion 27. The backing members 
142,144,146 are preferably constructed of a material such as chip board, 
MASONITE, or the like, and comprise three separate pieces. 
A fabric or plastic hinge panel 150 is interleaved between the sections of 
the padded portion 128 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10. The hinge panel 150 
extends across the front of the central section of the padded portion 128 
and between the side sections and the central section. The panel is cut to 
produce end flaps which are glued or otherwise attached to the backing 
members 142,144,146. The hinge panel 150 thus serves to hingedly mount the 
first side section backing member 144 and second side section backing 
member 146, to the central section backing member 142. The placement of 
hinge panel 150 and backing members 142,144,146 allows the first side 
section backing member 144 and second side section backing member 146 to 
hingedly move about generally vertical hinge axes K,M, respectively, as 
best seen in FIG. 7. Hinge axis K is defined generally by the space 149, 
between the first side section backing member 144 and central section 
backing member 142. Hinge axis M is defined generally by the space 151, 
between second side section backing member 146 and central section backing 
member 142. The central section backing member 142 is fixedly attached to 
back support portion frame member 26 by screws 152 which are threadably 
received by the backing member 142. 
A retention means 154 is provided for retaining the side sections 122,124 
in their first and second positions. Retention means 154 includes an 
elongated bar 156, a first side section latch member 158, and a second 
side section latch member 160. Elongated bar 156 is fixedly attached to 
the base support frame member 26 by rivets 162, and is fixedly attached to 
the central section backing member 142 by screws 166 which are threadably 
received by central section backing member 142. Bar 156 includes a first 
aperture 170 for receiving the first side section latch member 158 when 
the first side section 122 is in its second position, and a second 
aperture 172 for receiving the second side section latch member 160 when 
second side section 124 is in its second position. 
The first and second side section latch members 158,160 are mirror images 
of each other. Eacn of the latch members 158,160 includes a first leg 
portion 180 which is disposed generally parallel to the backing surface 
181 of side sections 122,124 and a second leg portion 182 which is 
disposed generally perpendicular to the backing surfaces 181 of side 
section 122,124. The first leg 180 includes an aperture 186 through which 
a screw 188 can pass. Screw 188 is received by an anchor 190 having 
gripping prongs 192 to grip hinge panel 150 and one of the side section 
backing members 144,146. The screws 188, apertures 186, and anchors 190 
are cooperable to movably mount the latch member 158 to first side section 
122 and latch member 160 to second side section 124. 
Each of the second leg portions 182 of latch members 158,160 includes a 
slot 197 which is positioned to engage elongated bar 156 when the side 
sections 122,124 are in their first position, generally coplanar with 
central section 120. The engagement of the slot 197 of first latch member 
158 with bar 156 is shown in FIGS. 7 and 10. Each second leg portion 182 
also includes a corner portion 199 which is positioned to be received by 
slots 170,172 in elongated bar 156. The corner portions 199 engage the 
slots 170,172 when the side sections 122,124 are in their second 
positions. The engagement of corner portion 199 of latch 160 by aperture 
172 is shown in FIG. 10. 
To operate the retention means 154 to move the side sections 122,124 from 
their first positions to their second positions, the latch members 158,160 
are rotated 90.degree. about the axis defined by screw 188 from a position 
wherein the second legs 188 are generally perpendicular to the ground, to 
a position wherein the second legs 182 are generally parallel with the 
ground. First latch member 158 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as 
indicated by arrow P in FIG. 7, and second latch member 160 is rotated in 
a counterclockwise direction, as indicated by arrow Q in FIG. 7. When the 
latch members 158,160 are so rotated, the slots 197 become disengaged from 
bar 156, permitting the side sections 122,124 to be moved forwardly. The 
side sections 122,124 are moved forwardly to a point wherein the corner 
portions 199 of latch members 158,160 have cleared the forward side 200 of 
bar 156. The latch members 158,160 are then rotated further in their same 
respective directions until the corner portions 199 are positioned to be 
received by slots 170,172. The side sections 122,124 are then released 
backwardly until the corner portions 199 of latch members 158,160 are 
received by their respective slots 170,172. To move the side sections 
122,124 from their second positions to their first positions, the above 
described procedure is generally reversed.