Abstract:
A juvenile chair having convenience features including a folding mechanism, an adjustable tray mechanism and a tray insert having decorative indicia thereon.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/751,799, filed Dec. 20, 2005, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to juvenile chairs, and particularly to convenience features associated therewith. More specifically, the invention relates to folding mechanisms, adjustable tray assemblies, and tray inserts for use in connection with juvenile high chairs.  
         [0003]     Juvenile high chair trays having convenience features are known. Specifically, juvenile high chairs having adjustable trays are known. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,932 to Kain et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,615 to Haut, et al. Generally, it is considered desirable for such adjustable trays to not only to be easily adjustable into several positions horizontally, but which also may be simply and easily removed by a caregiver, preferably with one hand.  
         [0004]     Additionally, juvenile high chairs incorporating a folding mechanism that allows the legs of the high chair to be folded are also known. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,643 to Kain et al., et al. Generally it is considered desirable for such folding mechanisms to be simply and easily operable by a caregiver so that the high chair may be folded for easy storage.  
         [0005]     Also, tray inserts for use in connection with juvenile high chairs are also known. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,920,831 to Asbach et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,851,375 to Guard et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,452 to Catelli, et al. Generally it is considered desirable for such trays to not only be dishwasher safer, but also to be visually stimulating for a child using the high chair.  
         [0006]     According to the present invention, a juvenile high chair is provided which meets these desired conditions. In particular, a juvenile high chair having improved features according to the present invention includes a tray adjustment mechanism which may be operated with one hand, a leg folding mechanism that is structurally sound and easy to operate, and a tray insert which is dishwasher safe and visually stimulating for an infant seated in the chair.  
         [0007]     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived. The drawings are only to serve for reference and illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying Figures in which:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a juvenile high chair in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of a tray for use in connection with the high chair of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a partial front perspective view of the high chair of  FIG. 1  with the tray removed;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a underside perspective view of the tray of  FIG. 2  showing a tray adjustment mechanism in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of the tray adjustment mechanism as shown in  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of a connection member of the tray adjustment mechanism shown in  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a partial perspective view of a stopping rib of the tray adjustment mechanism shown in  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of a leg folding mechanism for use with a juvenile high chair in accordance with the present invention showing the leg in an unfolded, use position;  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is a side elevation view of the folding mechanism of  FIG. 7  showing the leg as it is being moved to a folded position;  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of the folding mechanism of  FIG. 8  showing the leg as it is being moved to a folded position; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 11  is a tray insert for use in connection with a juvenile tray having decorative indicia etched and molded therein in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]     As shown best in the appended drawings as described above, the present invention is comprised of a juvenile high chair  10 . Juvenile chair  10  preferably includes a frame  12  and a seat  14 . The seat  14  is preferably mounted to frame  12  and includes a seat back  16 , a seating surface  18 , a center post  19 , and armrests  20 ,  22  positioned to lie on either side of the seating surface  18 . The frame  12  preferably includes front legs  24  and rear legs  26  which are connected together by a connector  28 . Preferably the high chair  10  includes a tray assembly  30  comprised of a main tray  32  and a tray insert  34 . The main tray  32  preferably includes side latch handles  36 ,  38 , a front latch handle  40  and a tray adjustment mechanism  42  attached to the underside thereof. Tray  32  is preferably shaped to be coupled to and extend across the armrests  20 ,  22  of seat  24  of the juvenile chair  10 . The side latch handles  36 ,  38  preferably include nubs  44  positioned thereon which are shaped to engage corresponding recesses  46  positioned on the top portions of the armrests  20 ,  22  to keep the tray  32  latched to the armrests  20 ,  22 . Preferably multiple recesses  46  are provided so that the tray  32  may be adjusted to several different horizontal positions as may be desired.  
         [0021]     Preferably, the tray  32  includes tray adjustment mechanism  42  attached to an underside thereof which is comprised of a center sled  50 , two rigid pivot arms  52 ,  54 , and two side latches  36 ,  38 . The front latch handle  40  is preferably attached to center sled  50  which is preferably slidingly attached to the underside of tray  32  in any of many operable manners as is known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The center sled  50  preferably includes a spring housing  56  formed therein for receiving a spring  58  to bias the tray adjustment mechanism  42  into the latched position. The spring housing  56  includes slots  60 ,  62  therein for slidingly receiving a rib  64  formed on the underside of tray  32 . The rib  64  acts as stop that prevents forward movement of the spring  58  when the sled  50  is pulled forward by the front latch handle  40  thereby resiliently biasing the tray adjustment mechanism  42  into the latched position. The sled  50  preferably includes slots  70  positioned therein for receiving sliding posts  72 . The slots  70  may include a shoulder portion  74  shaped to slidingly receive the head portion of screws  76  which retain the sled  50  on the underside of the tray  32  while allowing the sled  50  to slide about the sliding posts  72 . The sliding posts  72  are preferably threaded to receive the screws  76 .  
         [0022]     The sled  50  preferably includes pivot arm connection recesses  80  each having an incline portion  82  and a shoulder portion  84 . The pivot arm connection recesses  80  are shaped to receive first ends  86  of the pivot arms  52 ,  54  and the incline portions  82  and shoulder portions  84  are correspondingly positioned such that when the sled  50  is pulled horizontally outward using the front latch handle  40 , the pivot arms  52 ,  54  are forced to pivot in the direction the handle  40  is being pulled. The pivot arms  52 ,  54  include pivot holes  90  therein that are shaped to pivotally receive and retain a rivet head  92  extending from the underside of the tray  32 . While rivet heads  92  are shown in the drawings, any pivoting connection as known in the art, such as a screw, which retains the arms  52 ,  54  to the bottom of the tray  32  would be operable and is considered within the scope of the invention. The pivot arms  52 ,  54  include second ends  96  each having a ramp portion  98  and a retention portion  100 . The ramp portions  98  are shaped to engage a rib  102  positioned on the bottom portion of the side latch handles  36 ,  38 . The latch handles  36 ,  38  are pivotally and resiliently biased to the underside of the tray  32  to a latched position. Pivotal attachment is achieved by the use of nubs  110  which are shaped to be pivotally received in corresponding holes  112  in the side latch handle housings  114  extending from the bottom of the tray  32 . Resilient biasing is achieved through the use of springs  116  which are positioned on seats  118  formed on the inside of the side latch handles  36 ,  38 . The ramp portions  98  of the second ends  96  of the pivot arms  52 ,  54  are shaped and positioned such that horizontal pivoting movement of the pivot arms  52 ,  54  pulls the ramp portions  98  against the ribs  102  producing vertical pivoting movement in the side latch handles  36 ,  38  against the biasing action of the springs  116 . Accordingly, horizontal adjustment of the tray  32  may be accomplished using the tray adjustment mechanism  42  by the caregiver using either one hand or two. One hand horizontal adjustment may be accomplished by pulling front latch handle  40  horizontally outward while sliding the tray  32  to the desired location. Two hand horizontal adjustment may be accomplished by grasping and pushing in both side latch handles  36 ,  38  vertically while sliding the tray  32  to the desired horizontal location. In either instance, the vertical pivoting of the side latch handles  36 ,  38  disengages the nubs  44  from the recesses  46  allowing the tray  32  to be slid horizontally. Further, it is noted that one hand disengagement of the tray  32  from the armrests  20 ,  22  may be accomplished by depressing either of the side latch handles  36 ,  38  and tilting the side of the tray  32  on which the latch handle  36 ,  38  upward or by pulling outward on the front latch handle  40  and pulling the entire tray  32  upward.  
         [0023]     Preferably the front legs  24  and the rear legs  26  are mounted to the connector  28  such that at least one pair of legs is attached in a pivotal manner that allows selective folding of the legs  24 ,  26  so that the chair  10  may be simply and easily folded for easy storage and transportation but which prevents undesired folding when the chair  10  is in use. Preferably front legs  24  are non-movably connected to the connector  28  using at least two rivet pins  130  that are spaced apart and extend through both the connector  28  and a top portion  132  and a lower portion  133  of the front legs  24 . Preferably, rear legs  26  are pivotally connected to the connectors  28  using a single rivet pin  134 . Each leg  26  also preferably includes a sliding collar  138  that is slidingly attached to the rear legs  26  by a sliding pin  140  that is protrudes through and is attached to the collar  138  and which simultaneously extends through a slot  142  positioned in a lower portion  144  of the rear legs  26 . A spring  146  is provided to resiliently bias the collar  138  into a normally locked position and is attached at one end  148  to the top portion  136  of the leg  26  and at the opposite end  150  to the sliding pin  140 . The collar  138  includes a shoulder  152  that is shaped to be received in a corresponding notch  158  provided in the connector  28  such that when the collar  138  is resiliently biased upward in the locked position, the top and sides of the shoulder  152  engage the corresponding portions of the notch  158  preventing forward motion of the legs  26 . However, when a downward force is applied to the collar  138  to unlock the legs  26  for folding, the shoulder  152  disengages the notch  158  allowing rearward pivoting movement and folding of the chair  10 . Preferably, gripping rings  160  are provided on the collar  138  to facilitate gripping and downward movement thereof.  
         [0024]     Preferably, the tray insert  34  is made of a clear or opaque plastic material and decorative indicia  200  is provided on a bottom thereof to entertain a user of the chair  10 . The decorative indicia is preferably etched in the bottom of the insert  34  following molding of the insert  34  using chemical or mechanical means as is known to those of ordinary skill in the art, but may be molded, or both.  
         [0025]     While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth above for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiment of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.