CUSHION FOR A CHAIR, ESPECIALLY A DETACHABLE CUSHION FOR A CHILD'S SEAT

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cushion for a chair (1), especially a demountable cushion (2) for a chair for children, and for the object of providing a cushion which simply and effectively can be mounted on a child's chair and correspondingly in a rapid and effective manner can be demounted therefrom, it is according to the invention suggested that the main shape (3) of the cushion comprises a main portion (4) serving to support the back portion of the user, and one or more side portions (5a, 5b) serving as extended support portion and/or affixing portion.

Description: CUSHION FOR A CHAIR, ESPECIALLY A DETACHABLE CUSHION FOR A CHILD'S SEAT Filed of the invention The present invention relates to a cushion for a chair, especially a detachable cushion for a chair for children, comprising a main portion which substantially covers the user's back support. Prior art From NO 132.782 (Peter Opsvik) there is known a chair for children comprising to side members which at the bottom merge into a leg support and at the top carry a back rest connecting the upper portions of the side members. At the inner surfaces of the side members there are provided tracks, wherein can be inserted the side edges of a seat plate and a foot plate, respectively, which plates there- by are given an optional height and thereby the possi¬ bility of being used by both small children, larger children and adult persons for one and same chair struc¬ ture. In connection with such chairs for children which usually are manufactured from wood or another suitable material, there has been a requirement for a back cushion and a seat cushion which in a simple manner can be attached to and detached from the back support and seat, respective- ly, for thereby improving the sitting comfort of the chair user. US 4.235.474 relates to a chair cushion for retaining a baby in a chair, but here the cushion is provided with an upper pocket which is to be threaded onto the back sup¬ port. Consequently, this cushion does not comprise a specifically designed main portion rendering support for the back portion of the user, at the same time as the back portion comprises one or more side-portions com¬ bining the attachment of the cushion itself as well as additional support for the user, especially in connection with chairs for children both with and without a guard. US 4.824.320 relates to a cushion with assembled back portion and seat portion, but without slit side portions which in connection with for example chairs for children of the type "tripp-trapp" as discussed in said NO 132.782 can pave the way for additional upholstery whether such chairs are used with or without a sitting guard. US 5.005.903 relates to a child's auto seat, wherein is suggested an upholstery around the child's seat, such that a passengers placed next to the child's seat shall not be injured. Neither has this publication any rele¬ vance in relations to the present child's cushion. US 5.042.878 relates to an invalid chair cushion having side portions which do not form a part of the back portion, but a part of the seat front. It is true that there are suggested some very narrow attachment straps on the back portion, but these are only intended as means for attaching the cushion to the chair, see especially Figure 3 in this publication. Otherwise, the discussed side portions constituting a part of the seat front are adapted to extend all around the chair back, which most apparently is seen in Figure 2 of said publication. Said prior art side portions will thus constitute a separate part of the cushions main portion itself, and said prior art side portions can not on the one hand be used as means for attachment to the chair with expanded support¬ ing portion, and/or attachment means on a supporting guard, at the same time as the expanded supporting func¬ tion is conserved. Background of the invention An object of the present invention is to provide a cush¬ ion for a chair, especially a detachable cushion for a child's chair which in a rapid and simple manner can be mounted on a child's chair and also in a rapid and effec¬ tive manner can be demounted from the chair in connection with cleaning. A further object of the present invention is to provide a cushion for a child's chair which can be used not only for chairs for children without a child's guard, but which also can be used for the same chair when such a supporting guard is mounted thereon. Another object of the present invention is to provide a cushion which can be manufactured in a simple and non- costly manner, at the same time as the material is uti¬ lized in an optimum way. Still another object of the present invention is to pro¬ vide a cushion for a child's chair giving the possibility for additional upholstering at optional portions without reducing the requirements for simple and rapid mounting and cleaning requirements. Summary of the invention These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by a cushion of the type as stated in the intro¬ ductory part, which according to the invention is charac¬ terized in that the main shape of the cushion in addition to the main portion serving to support the back portion of the user also comprises one or more side portions serving as an extended supporting portion and affixing portion on chair back and/or child's guard. Further features and characteristics of the present in¬ vention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the appended Figures, as well as from the appending patent claims. Brief disclosure of the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view as seen from the front of an upper portion of a chair having an adjustable seat and foot support, wherein an embodiment of a cushion accord¬ ing to the invention is included. Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 , but illustrates the same as seen from the opposite side, i.e. from the rear side of the chair. Figure 3 is perspective view similar to Figure 1 , com¬ prising the same type of adjustable chair, but having a child's guard mounted thereon, and here with the same embodiment of cushion according to the invention adapted to said guard. Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 3, wherein is specifically illustrated an embodiment for attachment means of the cushion according to the in¬ vention. Figures 5 and 6 are views as seen from the one side and the other side, respectively, of that embodiment of a cushion which is illustrated in Figures 1-4, but here in unmounted condition. Figures 7 and 8 illustrate views as seen from the one and the other side, respectively, of a seat cushion which can be used together with a back cushion according to the invention. Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8, but with included symbols illustrating that edge portions of the cushion can be turned inside out. Disclosure of embodiments In Figures 1-6 there is in connection with a chair, here designated by reference numeral 1, especially a child's chair, illustrated a first embodiment of a demountable cushion 2 according to the present invention. The cushion 2 itself has a main shape 3 comprising a main portion 4 serving to support the back portion of the user, said cushion 2 also comprising one or more side portions, appropriately two side portions 5a and 5b, respectively, serving as an extended supporting portion and/or affixing portion. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, i.e. without any mounted guard, the side portions 5a and 5b, respectively, are provided as bendable portions 6a, 6b adapted to be affixed around a portion 7 of a back sup¬ port 8a, 8b, and in the illustrated chair 1 the back support is composed of two parallel ribs 8a, 8b, extend¬ ing substantially horizontally in a spaced relation. The side portions 5a, 5b of the cushion can then be adapted to be attached at the lower back support rib 8b of the chair 1 and will then serve to expand the back support portion in the area of this back support rib 8b. Alternatively, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 wherein the chair 1 is of the same type as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, but wherein a child's guard 10 has been attached to the chair 1 , the side portions 6a, 6b of the cushion 2 are appropriately affixed around appropriate portions 9a, 9b of said child's guard 10. From Figures 5 and 6 it appears that the cushion 2 prior to mounting has a substantially rectangular shape, and that the main portion 4 which substantially serve to support the back area of the user also has a substanti¬ ally rectangular shape, said side portions 5a, 5b being provided by means of appropriate notches 12a, 12b. These notches 12a, 12b can be arranged substantially parallel in relation to each other and from the one side edge 3a of the main shape 3. However, it is to be under- stood that other shapes and proportions between the vari¬ ous portions of the cushion can be used within the scope of the present invention. The side portions 5a, 5b are appropriately provided with affixing means 13a, 13b provided on the outer portions of the respective side portions, which affixing means can co-operate with corresponding affixing means 14a, 1 b on opposite edge portions of the main portion 4 of the cushion, see also Figure 4. Such affixing means can for example comprise velcro locks, straps, or similar, pro¬ viding for an affixing objective for simple and reliable mounting of the cushion on the child's chair in question. The cushion 2 also comprises further affixing means 15a, 15b provided on the mounting side 4a of the main portion 4. These further affixing means contribute, together with the previously discussed affixing means, to a mounting of the back cushion in an easy and safe manner, especially without the latter sliding around or being displaced in an uncomfortable manner for the user, see also Figure 2. In the embodiment illustrated according to Figures 1-6 the cushion 2 is contemplated to be formed as a separate unit, and it is appropriate that this separate unit is related to a separate seat cushion 20, for example of the embodiment as illustrated in Figures 7-9. There is here illustrated a separate seat cushion 20 which is adapted to the seat 21 of the previously discussed chair 1 , whet¬ her this is provided with or without said child's guard. The separate seat cushion 20 is provided with excess edge portions 22a, 22b, 22c which can be slipped around corre¬ sponding edge portions of the chair seat 21 for the at¬ tachment thereto, and if these edge portions 22a, 22b, 22c are arranged for being turned inside out, which is indicated by the arrows in Figure 9, this will allow that an arbitrary side 24a, 24b of the seat cushion can con¬ stitute the use surface. Appropriately, the seat cushion 20 can be provided with a front cut-out 25, which is specifically favourable if the cushion 20 is to be used on a chair seat 21 which is arranged to give support for a child's guard 10, see especially Figure 3, said cut-out 25 allowing the mount¬ ing and demounting of said cushion 20 without removal of the child's guard 10. It is also appropriate that the seat cushion 20 has a main surface extension corresponding to the surface ex¬ tension of the seat 21 , which renders the same good cush¬ ion function independent of the seat depth and the height adjustment of the seat 21. It is to be understood that both types of cushions can be manufactured separately, but it is also contemplated a certain form of association between said cushions, for example by means of appropriate detachable connections. Further, it is to be understood that the separate or connected cushions may favourably be manufactured from a material which can easily be cleaned, and said cushions should also in a rapid and effective way be demounted and remounted in relation to the chair, and said cushion or cushions should also have an appropriate user softness.

Claims: P A T E N T C L A I M S 1. Cushion for a chair (1), especially a detachable cushion (2) for a chair for children, comprising a main portion (4) which substantially covers the user's back support, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the main shape (3) of the cushion in addition to the main portion (4) ser¬ ving to support the back portion of the user, also com- prises one or more side portions (5a, 5b) serving as an extended supporting portion and affixing portion on chair back and/or child's guard. 2. Cushion as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the side portion or the side portions (5a, 5b) are provided as bendable portions (6a, 6b) adapted to be affixed around a portion (7) of a back support (8a, 8b) or a portion (9a, 9b) of a child's guard (10), and at the same time defining extend- ed supporting portions. 3. Cushion as claimed in claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the cushion (2) before mounting has a substantially rectangular main shape (3, Fig. 5, Fig. 6), that the back main portion (4) also has a substantially rectangular form, and that said side portions (5a, 5b) are provided by means of appropri¬ ate notches (12a, 12b). 4. Cushion as claimed in claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said notches (12a, 12b) are arranged substantially parallel in relation to each other and from the one side edge (3a) of the main shape (3) . 5. Cushion as stated in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said side portions (5a, 5b) are provided with appropriate first affixing means (13a, 13b, 14a, 14b), for example velcro locks, straps, etc. 6. Cushion as claimed in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the cushion (2) comprises further affixing means (15a, 15b) arranged on the mounting side (4a) of the main portion (4). 7. Cushion as claimed in claim 5 and/or 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the cushion (2) comprises affixing means (13a, 13b, 14a, 14b; 15a, 15b) which by mounted cushion (2) prevent displacement of the cushion. 8. Cushion as stated in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that it is adapted to a child's chair, especially child's chair comprising a back support composed of two parallel ribs (8a, 8b) running substantially horizontally at a related distance, the side portions (5a, 5b) of the cushion being adapted for either to be affixed on the one back support rib (8b) of the chair (1 ) as expanded back support portion in the area of said back support rib (8b), or to be affixed on a child's guard (10) as side support portion in an area (9a, 9b, Fig. 3) of said child's guard (10). 9. Cushion as stated in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the cushion (2) is provided as a separate unit in relation to a possible separate seat cushion (20) adapted to the seat (21) of the chair (1), with or without a child's guard. 10. Cushion as stated in claim 9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the separate seat cushion (20) has excess edge portions (22a, 22b, 22c) which can be slipped around corresponding edge portions of the chair seat (21) for attachment thereto. 11. Cushion as claimed in claim 9 or 10, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the seat cushion (20) comprises edge portions (22a, 22b, 22c) which can be reversed for allowing an arbitrary side (24a, 24b) of the seat cushion (20) as a use surface. 12. Cushion as claimed in any of the claims 9-11, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the seat cushion (20) is provided with a cut-out (25), which cut-out (25) renders access for demounting even with a child's guard (10) mounted on a chair (2) . 13. Cushion as stated in any of the claims 9-12, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the seat cushion (20) has a main surface extension corresponding to the surface extension of the seat (21), which renders a simi¬ lar good cushion function independent of the seat depth and the height adjustment of the seat (21).

Inventors: HAGEN MERETE, OPSVIK PETER, HAGEN, MERETE, OPSVIK, PETER
Applicants: HAGEN MERETE, OPSVIK PETER, STOKKE FABRIKKER AS, HAGEN, MERETE, OPSVIK, PETER
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A47C7
IPC codes: A47C7, A47C31, A47D1, A47D15, B60N2