Abstract:
An adjustable high chair comprises a frame, a seat portion, and a backrest sequentially connected with each other, as well as a tray connected to the top end of the seat portion, in addition to an adjusting unit installed at the back of the backrest. The adjusting unit comprises a guiding piece for guiding movement, and an actuating piece, at least a transmitting piece, a sliding piece, and a securing piece sequentially cooperated each other, as well as a button severed as a secondary safety lock. Two distal ends of the securing piece are respectively engaged into a plurality of recesses to fix the backrest at a certain inclination angle. When the actuating piece is pressed to the extent that the securing piece is escaped from the recesses, the backrest can be adjusted and its inclination can be changed. If the actuating piece and the button are pressed simultaneously, the backrest can be adjusted to have the largest inclination angle. Besides, the seat portion comprises a movable piece having bumps which are engaged into slits formed at the arms in different height to adjust the tray in height.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to an adjustable high chair, and more particularly to a high chair for infants, having a secondary safety lock, whose backrest can be adjusted to have different inclinations.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a conventional high chair  9 ′ (or stroller) mainly has a seat portion  1 ′, a backrest  2 ′, two arms  12 ′, a frame  4 ′, and a plurality of wheels  8 ′, all of which are pivotally connected sequentially. The conventional high chair  9 ′ further comprises a tray  3 ′ connected to the arms  12 ′ and an adjusting unit (not shown) installed at the joint of the backrest  2 ′ and the seat portion  1 ′ for adjusting the inclination of the backrest  2 ′ relative to the seat portion  1 ′, with only one safety lock.  
         [0003]     The position of the adjusting unit results in the inconvenience of assembling the adjusting unit due to confining space. The only one safety lock may results in sudden and large-ranged inclination of the backrest  2 ′, which frightens or moreover hurts the infants if the high chair  9 ′ is adjusted when the infants are sitting therein. In addition, either because the height of the tray  3 ′ connected to the arms  12  and the distance between the tray  3 ′ and the backrest  2 ′ cannot be adjusted, or because the distance between the tray  3 ′ and the backrest  2 ′ can be adjusted while the height of the tray  3 ′ cannot be adjusted, the conventional high chair  9 ′ cannot be adapted for all infants with different statures.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Accordingly, the present invention relates to an adjustable high chair whose adjusting unit is easy to be mounted thereto.  
         [0005]     One object of the present invention is the provision of an adjustable high chair whose backrest can be adjusted step by step to prevent the infants therein from being frightened or hurt.  
         [0006]     Another object of the present invention is the provision of an adjustable high chair whose tray can be adjusted in height to be adapted for all infants with different statures.  
         [0007]     Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.  
         [0008]     To achieve these and other advantages and according to the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, an adjustable high chair comprising: a seat portion; a backrest pivotally connected to the seat portion; and an adjusting unit pivotally connected to the seat portion and the backrest. Said adjusting unit further comprising: a sliding piece movably connected to the backrest; an actuating piece movably restricted by the sliding piece; at least a transmitting piece, one end of the transmitting piece connected to the actuating piece and the other end thereof connected to the sliding piece; and a securing piece passing through the sliding piece, two ends thereof engaged to the seat portion to restrict the backrest from pivotally rotating relative to the seat portion. The backrest is allowed to pivotally rotate relative to the seat portion when the actuating piece is pressed to cooperate the securing piece to the extent that the two ends of the securing piece are escaped from the seat portion.  
         [0009]     It is preferred that the adjusting unit further comprises a guiding piece connected to the backrest and guiding the slide of the actuating piece.  
         [0010]     It is preferred that the guiding piece is integrally formed with the backrest.  
         [0011]     It is preferred that the seat portion has a plurality of flutes for the securing piece to be respectively engaged into so that the backrest is fixed relatively to the seat portion at a predetermined angle.  
         [0012]     It is preferred that a plurality of recesses are further provided in one of the flutes for the securing piece to be respectively engaged into.  
         [0013]     It is preferred that each of the transmitting pieces is pivotally connectedly at a point between two ends to the backrest.  
         [0014]     It is preferred that the adjusting unit further comprises a button connected to the actuating piece and serving as a safety lock whereby the actuating piece can be moved again when the button is pressed.  
         [0015]     It is preferred that the adjusting unit further has a button served as a safety lock connected to the actuating piece and when the button is pressed, the securing piece is escaped from the flute with a plurality of recesses in order to be engaged into another flute.  
         [0016]     It is preferred that the high chair further has a tray connected to the seat portion.  
         [0017]     It is preferred that the seat portion further has an arm and a movable piece engaged with the arm each other and the movable piece is connected to the tray to adjust the tray in height.  
         [0018]     It is preferred that the movable piece has a bump and the arm has a plurality of slits situated at different heights for the bump to be respectively engaged into so as to adjust the tray in height.  
         [0019]     It is preferred that the high chair further comprises a frame pivotally connected the seat portion.  
         [0020]     It is preferred that an adjustable high chair, comprising: a seat portion; a backrest pivotally connected to the seat portion; and an adjusting unit pivotally connected to the seat portion and the backrest. Said adjusting unit further comprising: a guiding piece connected to the backrest; an actuating piece movably restricted by the guiding piece; at least a transmitting piece, one end thereof connected to the actuating piece; a sliding piece connected to the other end of the transmitting piece; and a securing piece passing through the sliding piece, two ends thereof engaged to the seat portion to restrict the backrest from pivotally rotating relative to the seat portion. The backrest is allowed to pivotally rotate relative to the seat portion when the actuating piece is pressed to cooperate the securing piece to the extent that the two ends of the securing piece are escaped from the seat portion.  
         [0021]     It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:  
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is an assembled perspective view illustrating a conventional high chair;  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is an assembled side view of the adjustable high chair according to the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is an assembled perspective view of the adjustable high chair according to the present invention but not showing the frame and adjusting unit;  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a partial assembled side view of the adjustable high chair according to the present invention illustrating the engaging state near the arm at a small angle of inclination;  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a partial assembled side view of the adjustable high chair according to the present invention illustrating the engaging state near the arm at a large angle of inclination;  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the adjustable high chair according to the present invention;  
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is a partial exploded perspective view of the adjustable high chair according to the present invention illustrating the parts of the adjusting unit;  
         [0030]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the actuating piece of the adjustable high chair according to the present invention; and  
         [0031]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the sliding piece of the adjustable high chair according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0032]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 3 ,  4  and  6 , the first preferred embodiment of the adjustable high chair for the infants according to the present invention comprises a seat portion  1 , an upwardly extending backrest  2  pivotally connected to rear part of the seat portion  1  at two sides, a tray  3  for being placed articles thereon connected onto front part of the seat portion  1  at two sides, a downwardly extending frame  4  pivotally connected to middle part of the seat portion  1  at two sides, and an adjusting unit  5  secured to the back of the backrest  2  at upper part and downwardly extending to engage with the seat portion  1  at two sides, wherein the prior art can be adopted as the pivotally connecting structure between the seat portion  1  and the backrest  2  and that between the seat portion  1  and the frame  4 , so that there are no further descriptions thereof hereinafter.  
         [0033]     The seat portion  1  comprises a tabular seat plank  11 , two arms  12  upwardly extending respectively from two sides of the seat plank  11 , and two T-shaped movable pieces  13  partially accommodated respectively in the arms  12 . Each arm  12  has a flute  121  and a gutter  122  on top surface  123  of the rear half section. A shoulder  124  is formed at one end in longitudinal direction of the flute  121  near the top surface  123  and three recesses  125  are configured at the bottom of the flute  121  for adjusting inclination of the backrest  2 . A shell  126  with an upward opening is formed at the front half section of each arm  12 . Four column of slits  127 , with three slits  127  in each column, are juxtaposed on outer wall of each shell  126  and four slits  127  laterally aligned with each other are constructed a group. Two laterally parallel flexible fingers  132 , each with two round bumps  133  at lower end, are integrally molded at lower section of each movable piece  13 .  
         [0034]     The top end  134  of each movable piece  13  is engaged with the bottom end of the tray  3  and the lower section of each movable piece  13  is accepted in the shell  126  of each arm  12 . By means of the four bumps  133  being engaged into one group of slits  127  formed on the shell  126 , the tray  3  is secured at a predetermined height above the arm  12 . When the four bumps  133  are pressed by one hand from outside of the shell  126  to inside of the shell  126 , the bumps  133  retract into the shell  126  due to elastic deformation of the flexible finger  132 ; at the meantime, the movable piece  13  is pulled up or pushed down by another hand to the extent that the bumps  133  are engaged into another group of slits  127  by means of the restoration force of the flexible finger  132  so as to secure the tray  3  at another predetermined height above the arm  12  in order to hereby achieve the object of adjusting the tray  3  in height for being adapted to all infants with different statures. When the bumps  133  are engaged into the lowest group of the slits  127 , the high chair  9  is adapted to be folded at this state so as to reduce the volume after being collapsed. Besides, the tray  3  can be further separated from the movable pieces  13  to make the volume of the high chair  9  collapsed much smaller.  
         [0035]     With reference to  FIGS. 6, 7 ,  8  and  9 , the adjusting unit  5  comprises a lying U-shaped guiding piece  51 , a reversing U-shaped and rod-like securing piece  52 , a rectangle-like actuating piece  53 , a rectangular button  54 , two transmitting pieces  55  like isosceles triangle, and a reversing U-shaped sliding piece  56 .  
         [0036]     The guiding piece  51  has a first side wall  511  and a second side wall  512  respectively extending outwardly (i.e. backwardly) from and perpendicularly to the back of the backrest  2  and laterally juxtaposed, a third side wall  513  laterally connecting the first side wall  511  and the second side wall  512 , and an upper opening  514  and a lower opening  515  defined by the three side walls  511 ,  512 , and  513 . Two passages  516  reaching to the upper opening  514  are respectively formed at the upper section of the first side wall  511  and second side wall  512  near the backrest  2 . A rectangular aperture  517  is provided at the central part of the third side wall  513 . A flange  518  extends outwardly from and perpendicularly to the third side wall  513  at the end near the upper opening  514 .  
         [0037]     The securing piece  52  has two side portions  521 , two distal ends  522  respectively situated at lower ends of the two side portions  521 , and a bridge portion  523  connecting the two side portions  521  at upper ends.  
         [0038]     The actuating piece  53  has two holes  531  laterally juxtaposed near the lower end thereof and a forward cavity  532  (referring to  FIG. 8 ) formed at the central part thereof. There are two regular chasms  533  respectively situated at two laterally side walls defining the cavity  532 . The button  54  is integrally in form of a cover with a front opening  541  and has two flexible tabs  542  respectively extending forwardly at two lateral sides. Each flexible tab  542  has a barb  543  at distal end thereof. Each transmitting piece  55  has a first slot  551  and a second slot  552  respectively installed near the two equal angles and a bore  553  installed near the third angle.  
         [0039]     A first elastic element  544  is placed into the button  54  and then the button  54  and elastic element  544  are together put into the cavity  532  of the actuating piece  53 . By means of two barbs  543  of the button  54  being respectively engaged into two chasms  533  situated at two side walls of the actuating piece  53 , the button  54  is movably connected to the actuating piece  53 . At the same time, the button  54 , when not being pushed, always backwardly protrudes partially outside of the actuating piece  53  and permits repeatedly pushing the button  54  by the aid of the first elastic element  544  accommodated between the button  54  and the actuating piece  53 . Next, two first pivotal elements  554 , such as rivets, respectively pass through one of holes  531  of the actuating piece  53  and the first slots  551  of two transmitting pieces  55  to pivotally connect the actuating piece  53  and two transmitting pieces  55  together. Subsequently, after the bridge portion  523  of the securing piece  52  is placed into the passages  516  of the guiding piece  51 , the sub-combination of the actuating piece  53 , button  54 , first elastic element  544 , and transmitting pieces  55  is inserted into the guiding piece  51  from upper opening  514  to lower opening  515  thereof and the button  54  is simultaneously engaged into the aperture  517  of the guiding piece  51 . Then two second pivotal elements  555  respectively pass through the bores  553  of two transmitting piece  55  and the annular poles  21  to pivotally connect two transmitting pieces  55  to the backrest  2 .  
         [0040]     The reversing U-shaped sliding piece  56  comprises two longitudinal side members  561  laterally arranged, a bridge member  562  connecting the two side members  561  at upper ends thereof and extending first backwardly and then laterally, and a space  563  defined by the bridge member  562  and two side members  561 . Each side member  561  is equipped with an elongated hole  564  at upper part thereof, a notch  565  at the front of the central part thereof, a chamber  566  (referring to  FIG. 9 ) at lower part thereof, an annular pin  567  extending forwardly from lower end.  
         [0041]     The lower ends of two second elastic elements  568  are respectively received in the chambers  566  of two side members  561  of the sliding piece  56 . The upper end of each second elastic element  568  is respectively received in the gaps  23  between the backrest  2  and two tags  23  (only one is shown in  FIG. 2 ) extending out of the backrest  2  first and then downwardly. Next, two annular pins  567  of the sliding piece  56  respectively pass through the second slots  552  provided at another corner of the transmitting pieces  55 . Simultaneously, the bridge portion  523  of the securing piece  52  is received in two notches  565  of the transmitting pieces  55 , the actuating piece  53  is accommodated in the space  563  of the transmitting pieces  55 , and two annular stakes  24  extending from the back of the backrest  2  respectively pass through two elongated holes  564 . Then, two third pivotal elements  569 , such as bolts, are respectively screwed into two annual stakes  24  to movably limit the sliding piece  56  to the backrest  2 .  
         [0042]     With reference to  FIGS. 4, 5 ,  6 , and  7 , when the actuating piece  53  is not pushed yet, the two distal ends  522  of the securing piece  52  are respectively situated in the corresponding recesses  125  of the arms  12 , which serves to prevent the backrest  2  from rotating relative to the seat portion  1 . On the contrary, when the actuating piece  53  is pushed by a hand to the extent that the lower end of the button  54  contacts the bottom of the aperture  517  of the guiding piece  51 , the ends of each transmitting piece  55  with the first slot  551  are pressed down by the actuating piece  53  and the other ends of each transmitting piece  55  with the second slot  552  swing upwardly. Simultaneously, the sliding piece  56  is upwardly cooperated by the annular pins  567  of the sliding piece  56  to compress the second elastic elements  568  and the securing piece  52  is lifted by the inner wall of the notch  565  in the sliding piece  56  to the extent that two distal ends  522  of the securing piece  52  is above the corresponding recess  125  but still in the flute  121  of the arms  12 , that is the distal ends  522  of the securing piece  52  is still beneath the upper surface  123  of the arms  12 , so that the distal ends  522  of the securing piece  52  can only move in the flute  121 . At this time, the backrest  2  can be rotated to a predetermined angle where the distal ends of the securing piece  52  are aligned with one of recesses  125  in each arm  12 . After withdrawing the hand which pushes the actuating piece  53  previously, the sliding piece  52  is moved downwardly by the aid of the restoration force of the second elastic elements  568 . The transmitting pieces  55  are cooperated and rotated by the sliding piece  56  to upwardly push the actuating piece  53  returning to its normal position.  
         [0043]     As described above, when the actuating piece  53  is pushed by one hand to the extent that the lower end of the button  54  contacts the bottom of the aperture  517  of the guiding piece  51 , the actuating piece  53  can not be moved downwardly any more. However, at this state, if the button  54  is simultaneously pushed with another hand to make the rear surface of the button  54  situate in front of the third side surface  513 , thus the button  54  can escape from the obstruction of the bottom of the aperture  517  in the guiding piece  51  and the actuating piece  53  is allowed to further move downwardly. Through the cooperating of the transmitting pieces  55  and sliding piece  56 , the distal ends  522  of the securing piece  52  can further move upwardly to situate above the upper surfaces  123  of the arms  12 . Therefore, when the backrest  2  is rotated, each distal end  522  of the securing piece  52  will not be stopped by the shoulder  124  between the flute  121  and the upper surface  123  and can be further rotated to the gutter  122 . At this position, if the actuating piece  53  is released from being pressed, the sliding piece  56  and securing piece  52  are descent and the actuating piece  53  is lifted by the aid of restoration force of the second elastic elements  568 , and consequently the distal ends  522  of the securing piece  52  are respectively engaged into the gutters  122 .  
         [0044]     In view of the above description, it is apparent that the button  54  is served as a secondary safety lock, i.e., when the high chair  9  is operated with only one hand pushing the actuating piece  53  (serving as a first safety lock), due to the obstruction of shoulders  124  to the distal ends  522  of the securing piece  52 , the distal ends  522  of the securing piece  52  can only be moved in the flute  121 , relatively smaller range. Accordingly, the backrest  2  would not be suddenly rotated to about 180° relative to the seat portion  1 , which can prevent the infants sitting in the high chair  9  from being frightened or even hurt. If only if the button  54  (i.e. the secondary safety lock) is simultaneously pressed by another hand when the actuating piece  53  (serving as a first safety lock) is pressed by one hand, the actuating piece  53  can be downwardly moved further and cooperate the securing piece  52  to make the distal ends  522  to be above the shoulders  124  and the upper surfaces  123  so that the backrest  2  can be pivotally rotated further and finally the securing piece  52  is engaged into the gutter  122 . In this state, the high chair  9  is adapted for being folded.  
         [0045]     Besides, the adjusting unit  5  is installed at the upper part of the backrest  2  and then extends downwardly to be engaged into the arms  12  so that the space for assembling operation is large, which is convenient for assembling operation.  
         [0046]     In a second preferred embodiment according the present invention, the guiding piece  51  of the adjusting unit  5  may be omitted and the aperture  517  is provided at the center of the bridge member  562  of the sliding piece  56 . In this way, the transmitting pieces  55  still can be pivotally connected to the backrest  2  by the second pivotal elements  555  and the sliding piece  56  is also pivotally connected to the backrest  2  by the third pivotal elements  569  so as to make the entire adjusting unit  5  be connected to the backrest  2 . At the same time, the potential lateral movement of the actuating piece  53  is restricted by both side members  561  of the sliding piece  56 , the potential front-rear movement of the actuating piece  53  is restricted by the bridge member  562 , and the actuating piece  53  can only longitudinally slide up and down under the guide of the sliding piece  56 . Moreover, because the aperture  517  of the guiding piece  51  in the first preferred embodiment is also provided at the bridge member  562  of the sliding piece  56  in the second preferred embodiment for restricting the button  54  up and down moving in a certain range, the button  54  still has the function of the second safety lock. Therefore, the second preferred embodiment has the whole effects of the first preferred embodiment and can achieve all objects of the present invention.  
         [0047]     This invention has been disclosed in terms of specific embodiments. It will be apparent that many modifications can be made to the disclosed structures without departing from the invention. Therefore, it is the intent of the appended claims to cover all such variations and modifications as come within the true sprit and scope of this invention.