Abstract:
Two (or more), component, body-implantable, absorbable, biocompatible, putty-like surgical mechanical hemostatic tamponades for use in surgery. Component 1, a carboxylic acid salt bulking material preferably less than 50 micron, preferably the calcium, magnesium, zinc, aluminum, lithium or barium salts of saturated or unsaturated carboxylic acids containing about 6 to 22 carbon atoms.  
     Component 2, a dispersing vehicle, may be esters of C 8 -C 18  monohydric alcohols with C 2 -C 6  aliphatic monocarboxylic acids; C 2 -C 18  monohydric alcohols with polycarboxylic acids; C 8 -C 30  monohydric alcohols; tocopherol and esters thereof with C 2 -C 10  aliphatic monocarboxylic acids or polycarboxylic acids; absorbable 10-14C hydrocarbons; free carboxylic acids such as oleic, linoleic, caprylic, capric, and lauric; dialkyl ethers; alkyl aryl ethers; dialkyl ketones and alkyl aryl ketones; polyhydroxy compounds and esters and ethers thereof; oils such as olive oil and castor oil and triglycerides.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a feeding chair or highchair apparatus having a first seat assembly for an infant or child and a second seat assembly for an adult or caregiver connected to and housed inside and preferably under the first seat assembly when not in use. In one embodiment, the adult seat assembly is detachable from the child chair assembly and positionable in relation thereto. In a further embodiment, the adult seat assembly is operatively connected to the child chair assembly and moveable to a plurality of positions in relation thereto. The convertible apparatus can advantageously be employed to assist a caregiver with the feeding of an infant or child.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Numerous different styles of feeding chairs or high chairs for infants or children are known in the art. High chairs are generally utilized to secure a child in a seated position for feeding. Typically, highchairs include a seat with a seat bottom, a seat back, and some form of side arms or other barriers to prevent a child from falling out of the seat. The seat is typically supported by four legs affixed to the seat. A tray is normally provided and is selectively attachable and detachable from the arms of the chair for cleaning or removal of the infant from the chair. In order to prevent a child from slipping or submarining out of the chair such as underneath the tray, the highchair is generally provided with a restraint system typically configured as a belt and buckle arrangement for fastening about the waist of the child and preventing movement out of the seat without disconnecting the belt system. As used herein the term “child” applies to any infant from birth up to the teenage years, although generally only children from a few months to a few years of age utilize highchairs.  
         [0003]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,922 relates to a convertible highchair including a base, a board attachable to a lower portion and to an upper portion of the base, a chair attachable to the base by means of mechanical fasteners, the chair when attached to the base, and the board when attached to the lower portion of the base forming a highchair, wherein the chair includes a plurality of chair parts which are storable separately and which are assembled together by means of mechanical fasteners, and the base includes a plurality of base parts which are storable separately and which are assembled together by means of mechanical fasteners, and wherein the base and the chair are adapted to be assembled separately, the board being attached to the upper portion of the base, such that the base and the chair form a chair and table set, and wherein each mechanical fastener is storable attached to at least one of the chair and the base parts.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,830 relates to a highchair which includes a foldable frame having a pair of front legs and a pair of rear legs, a seat and a backrest mounted on the frame between the front legs and between the rear legs, and a pair of pivotal coupler devices, each of which is connected to one of the front legs and one of the rear legs.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,102 relates to a highchair which includes a removable tray with a single-handed actuation handle for actuating a release mechanism.  
         [0006]     The prior art highchairs do not make any provision to aid a caregiver feeding the child. The highchair seat is often positioned at a height where it is awkward for an adult to stand and feed a child seated therein. Furthermore, most table chairs have seat bottoms which are at an incorrect height to allow a person seated therein to feed a child in a highchair, causing back strain or other problems.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The feeding chair apparatus of the present invention includes a feeding chair having a seat assembly for one or more, and preferably a single infant or child having a seat member connected to a base which is adapted to contact a ground surface and maintain the seat member a predetermined distance therefrom. The base generally comprises one or more legs attached to the seat member. Located in the base, preferably between the legs of the base, below the child seat member is a housing having connection element for connection to an adult seat assembly removably connectable or nested in the housing. When desired, the adult seat assembly can be disconnected or moved out from the housing and utilized as a stool, chair or seat, etc.  
         [0008]     In one embodiment, the feeding chair housing includes a rail member attached to each leg assembly. The adult seat assembly is removably and slidably connected to the rail members. In a preferred embodiment, the adult seat assembly has a seat bottom which has a lower surface that is removably connected to the upper surface of the housing rail members. In yet a further embodiment, the adult seat assembly has leg members which fold into the adult seat assembly bottom. The adult seat assembly when connected to the folding chair housing, can be also utilized as a shelf or storage tray with miscellaneous items being storable thereon when the adult seat assembly is not in use.  
         [0009]     In a further embodiment, the child feeding chair assembly base includes a bottom member that extends a predetermined distance between the leg assemblies. The adult seat assembly is located within the housing and generally conforms to the shape thereof. The adult seat assembly has a leg(s) which contacts the bottom member of the housing and generally rest thereon. When desirable, the adult seat assembly is detached from the housing and utilized to aid in feeding a child in the feeding chair.  
         [0010]     In yet a further embodiment, the feeding chair apparatus includes an adult seat assembly operatively connected to a child chair assembly and positionable in relation thereto at at least a plurality of positions and/or distances therefrom. The adult seat assembly and child chair assembly are connected by a connecting member such as a rail, an arm or the like which is preferably pivotally or slidably connected between each assembly. In various embodiments, the arm is a swing arm, or a telescoping arm, or a combination thereof. In preferred embodiments, the arm is attached at one end to a leg of the child chair assembly and at a second end to a leg of the adult seat assembly. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The invention will be better understood and other features and advantages will become apparent by reading the detailed description of the invention, taken together with the drawings wherein:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a side view of one embodiment of a feeding chair apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a front view of a further embodiment of a feeding chair apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the apparatus in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of one embodiment of an adult seat assembly having legs which fold into the seat bottom and are capable of telescoping to provide a desired seat height.  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional top view of a further embodiment of a feeding chair apparatus having an arm or other member connecting the adult seat assembly to the child chair assembly.  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a further embodiment of the feeding chair apparatus of the present invention illustrating an adult seat assembly moveable from a position inside and conforming to the shape of the child seat assembly housing to at least a second position outside of the housing in order to seat a person therein. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION  
       [0019]     This description of preferred embodiments is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are part of the entire written description of this invention. In the description, corresponding reference numbers are used throughout to identify the same or functionally similar elements. Relative terms such as “horizontal,” “vertical,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing figure under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and are not intended to require a particular orientation unless specifically stated as such. Terms including “inwardly” versus “outwardly,” “longitudinal” versus “lateral” and the like are to be interpreted relative to one another or relative to an axis of elongation, or an axis or center of rotation, as appropriate. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and. “interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. The term “operatively connected” is such an attachment, coupling or connection that allows the pertinent structures to operate as intended by virtue of that relationship.  
         [0020]     The feeding chair apparatus of the present invention is described in detail hereinbelow wherein the preferred embodiments have been set forth. Making reference now to the drawings, one embodiment of the feeding chair apparatus of the present invention is shown generally in  FIG. 1  and is designated by reference numeral  10 . The apparatus  10  includes a child chair or highchair assembly  20  having a seat member  21  for an infant or child in combination with an adult seat assembly  100  for a caregiver which is removable and displaceable from the child seat assembly, to assist in feeding the child. The adult seat assembly  100  is operatively connected to and located in the housing  60  provided in the child chair assembly  20  below child seat member  21 .  
         [0021]     The feeding chair apparatus  10  child chair assembly  20  includes base or frame  50  adapted to reside on a ground surface  12 . Assembly  20  also includes child seat member  21  having a seat back  22  and seat bottom  24  which are either integrally connected such as by molding or otherwise connected with a suitable bracket and/or fastening mechanism such as nuts and bolts, etc. The seat back  22  can be disposed at an angle with respect to horizontal which varies generally from about 65° to about 90°, desirably from about 70° to about 90°, and preferably from about 80° to about 90° in order to maintain a child seated in the seat member in a convenient position for feeding. Likewise, the seat bottom can be inclined or declined with respect to horizontal at a predetermined angle. In one embodiment, the child seat member  21  includes a securing belt  30  which is adjustably attached to either the seat back  22  or seat bottom  24 , or a combination thereof in order to further restrain the child within the apparatus  10 .  
         [0022]     Child seat member  21  further includes a side member  26  connected to seat back  22  or seat bottom  24 , or both to aid in preventing the child from falling out of the child seat member  21 . Each side member  26  can be fashioned as an arm or a sidewall having a predetermined height to partially surround the child while in the chair. Each side member  26  can be substantially straight or curved. In one embodiment, the child seat member  21  is further provided with a front restraining bar or support  28  which extends between and connects side members  26  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Front support  28  is located a predetermined distance from seat back  22  to allow placement of child within the seat. In some embodiments, front support  28  and center support  29  are removable to allow removal of a child seated in seat member  21  or for ease of cleaning, etc. Center support  29  is in some embodiments removably connected to seat bottom  24  and front support  28 , and is further adapted to be located between a child&#39;s legs seated in the chair in order to prevent submarining of the child out of the front of the child seat member  21  below the front support  28 .  
         [0023]     In a preferred embodiment, a tray  32  is removably connected to child seat member  21  utilizing release mechanism  34  connected to the bottom or sides of tray  32  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The tray  32  is generally connectable at a plurality of positions in relation to seat back  22  as known in the art and can be moved toward or away from a child seated within the child seat member if desired for better positioning. The tray  32  can be lifted off of the seat member when the release mechanism  34  is disengaged allowing cleaning of the tray  32  or greater access to the remaining seat portion of the seat member. The tray  32  serves as a support for any of various objects and accordingly can have any desirable surface area or configuration in order to hold bottles, cups, plates, toys or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the seat and back members  22 ,  24  are integrally molded, optionally with side members  26 . An enclosure assembly including the front bar  28  and center strut  29  are integrally molded in a preferred embodiment and can be operatively connected to the seat and/or back member  22 ,  24 . As known in the art, the child seat member can be fitted with a cover, cushion, or a combination thereof which is preferably easily cleanable in order to provide an aesthetically pleasing design and/or comfort to the child seated therein. In some embodiments, footrest  36  is operatively connected to child chair assembly  21  such as to seat bottom  24 . The footrest  36  is generally aligned with the seat and adapted to receive and support the feet of a child sitting in the child chair assembly  20 . The bottom or lower most portion of footrest  36  is preferably situated at a height above the uppermost portion of adult seat assembly  100 . In an alternative embodiment, footrest  36  includes a hinge where the same is connected to another portion of the chair assembly  20  such as to seat bottom  24  so that footrest  36  can be lifted in order to gain access to housing  60  and adult seat assembly located therein.  
         [0024]     The child seat member  21  is mounted on base or frame  50  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 . Base  50  includes two or more legs  52 ,  54 ,  56  ( FIG. 6 ) and  58  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The area between the legs of base  50  and/or below child seat member  21  forms housing  60  for detachable adult seat assembly  100 . The upper ends of each leg are directly connected to the child seat assembly or indirectly or operatively connected through a bracket, securing bar, or other element as known in the art. The legs can be equipped with feet  59  if desired to increase stability of the chair  10 . As further illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , legs  66  and  68  include bottom or lower member  64  which extends inwardly a predetermined distance from the lower end of each leg and preferably completely therebetween as shown in  FIG. 3 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , only one leg  66  and  68  is present on each side of the apparatus  10  which extend a predetermined width such as about 12 to about 36 inches and preferably from about 18 to about 24 inches in order to provide stability to the feeding chair apparatus  10 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , access to housing  60  is attained from the front or rear of chair  10 . In other embodiments, base  50  is oriented so that housing  60  can be accessed from either side of the chair with legs  66  and  68  extending across the front and rear portions of the chair respectively.  
         [0025]     Detachable adult seat assembly  100  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is operatively connected to child chair assembly  20  through adult seat assembly holding element  62 . A holding element  62  is connected between each pair of front and back legs  52 ,  54  and  56 ,  58 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , holding element  62  is fashioned as a rail extending a predetermined distance between a pair of legs whereupon adult seat assembly  100  can be positioned and operatively connected to child seat member  20 . As illustrated, detachable adult seat assembly  100  is substantially in the shape of a seat or chair, particularly a stool which substantially conforms to the dimensions of housing  60  and is housed therein. Adult seat assembly can have generally any shape or structure as known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The adult seat assembly  100  is removed from within child chair assembly  20  by sliding the bottom or underside portion of seat bottom  102  along the upper surface of holding element  62  and out of base  50 . Detachable adult seat assembly  100  includes one or more legs  104  which are utilized to stabilize the adult seat assembly when utilized independently of child seat member  20 .  
         [0026]     In a further embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , adult seat assembly  100  is operatively connected to and housed within housing  60  of child seat member  20  through a bottom portion of at least one leg  104  which rests upon base  50  bottom member  64 . Detachable adult seat assembly  100  substantially fits within housing  60  and can be pushed, pulled or otherwise moved out from under child seat member  20  and utilized independently to seat an adult to aid in feeding a child seated within child seat member  20 .  
         [0027]     In a further embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , detachable adult seat assembly  110  includes one or more foldable legs  112 . In a preferred embodiment, four foldable legs  112  are utilized and are able to move from an extended fixed position substantially perpendicular to the plane formed by seat housing  116  to a folded position located inside seat housing  116 . A locking mechanism  114  is utilized to maintain leg  112  in an extended position. Suitable locking mechanisms are known in the art and are commonly utilized for folding chairs, tables and the like. Adult seat assembly  110  with legs in a folded position  112  can be inserted into housing  60  as illustrated in  FIG. 1  with the bottom portion of seat housing  116  resting on the upper surface of adult seat assembly holding element  62 . The flat upper surface of the seat housing can be utilized as a tray or storage area for any of various items such as baby food, bibs, diapers, etc. when operatively connected to child seat member  20  of feeding chair apparatus  10 . In a further embodiment, the adult seat assembly  110  is provided with one or more telescoping legs as illustrated in  FIG. 5  in order to adjust the seat assembly to a desired height which provides a comfortable seated position for a person seated thereon. Telescoping mating tubes, threaded tubes, or the like can be utilized in order to provide height adjustment. The adult seat assembly of the present invention can have a seating surface height which ranges generally from about 12 to about 36 inches, desirably from about 16 to about 30 inches, and preferably for about 18 to about 24 inches, and can be based on the height proportional to the child highchair seat member.  
         [0028]     A further embodiment of the feeding chair apparatus  10  of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Therein, the adult seat assembly  100  is operatively connected to the child chair assembly  20  through connecting member  120 . One portion or end of connecting member  120  is connected, preferably pivotally to a portion of the child chair assembly  20 , such as leg  54 . Alternatively, the connecting member can be connected to any other structure of child chair assembly  20 . The second portion or end of connecting member  120  is connected to adult seat assembly  100  such as a leg thereof as shown in  FIG. 6 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , connecting member  120  is a swing arm which allows adult seat assembly to be positioned within housing  60  of the child chair assembly  20  when not in use. When desired, the adult seat assembly  100  can be removed from housing  60  by moving connecting member  120  to any desired position out from within housing  60 . The adult seat assembly can be located at a plurality of positions in relation to child chair assembly  20 , four of which are illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The connecting member can be a swing arm, telescoping mechanism, sliding members, mateable members or the like in order to operatively connect adult seat assembly  100  to child chair assembly  20 . A further embodiment of the connecting member is described hereinbelow.  
         [0029]      FIG. 7  illustrates further embodiment of the present invention feeding chair apparatus  10 . In this embodiment, the adult seat assembly  100  and child chair assembly  20  are operatively connected by a connecting member  170 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7  the adult seat assembly includes connecting member  170  which is connected between both seat assemblies  20  and  100 . The connecting member  170  can be, but is not limited to mateable rails, guides, glides, tubes or other similar structure. The connecting member can optionally include rollers or other friction reducing elements. Any mateable means or connecting mechanisms known in the art can be utilized. The connecting member is adjustable in length to a multitude of positions. Thus, adult seat assembly  100  having seat  102  which can be a swivel seat or height adjustable, or the like, or a combination thereof, can be moved from an inactive position in housing  60  of child chair assembly  20  and pulled out to one or more active positions a predetermined distance from child chair assembly  20  wherein seat  102  is adapted to be sat upon by a person. Mateable member  170  can even be utilized as a footrest if desired. A locking mechanism  172  and locking position apertures can be provided to maintain a desired distance between the seat assemblies  20  and  100 . Adult seat assembly  100 , seat  102  and  104  can have any shape or form and generally conforms to the interior dimensions of housing  60  of base  50 .  
         [0030]     The feeding chair apparatus  10  can be constructed of generally any materials or combinations thereof such as plastic, metal, wood, or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the structural members such as the child chair assembly and adult seat assembly are constructed from plastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene having structural rigidity as well as the necessary resilience to impact. It is often preferable to utilize metal fasteners to connect or reinforce plastic structural parts where strength is needed.  
         [0031]     In accordance with the patent statutes, the best mode and preferred embodiment have been set forth, the scope of the invention is not limited thereto, but rather by the scope of the attached claims.