Patent Publication Number: US-9844278-B2

Title: Joint mechanism and child high chair thereof

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/995,478, filed on Apr. 11, 2014. The entire contents of these related applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a joint mechanism and a child high chair thereof, and more particularly, to a joint mechanism capable of automatically folding the tray while two legs are folded and a child high chair having the foresaid joint mechanism. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A conventional child high chair becomes a standard for safety, comfort and convenience when feeding a young child in household field. A seat height of the child high chair can be adjusted to be close to the caregiver in order to conveniently attend to the child. The conventional child high chair includes rollers disposed on a frame to easily move the child high chair. The conventional child high chair further includes a tray and a horn disposed on the seat. The horn is located between the child&#39;s legs and utilized to restrain a child for preventing the child from falling out, and the tray not only can be utilized to put the food, the toy and so on but also can offer a robust barrier to prevent the child from falling out. Stability of the child high chair is a primary factor in its overall safety, and the conventional child high chair has drawbacks of large size and bulkiness. The bulky child high chair is difficult to store, and is a real frustration to fold and to find a place to store when not in use. Therefore, designing a new child high chair capable of maintaining the current standard for safety and comfort and providing easy functions to fold and unfold is an important issue in the related mechanical design industry. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a joint mechanism capable of automatically folding the tray while two legs are folded and a child high chair having the foresaid joint mechanism for solving above drawbacks. 
     According to the claimed invention, a joint mechanism includes a first leg, a second leg, an extension arm and a latching component. The first leg includes a cammed portion and an accommodating space adjacent by each other. The second leg is pivotally connected to the first leg, and the second leg is rotated relative to the first leg to switch between a folded position and an unfolded position. The extension arm is pivotally connected to the second leg, and the extension arm includes a restricted portion. The latching component is movably disposed on the second leg. The latching component includes a main body and a protrusion. The main body is disposed on the second leg. The protrusion is disposed on a part of the main body opposite to the second leg. The protrusion is located inside the accommodating space to contact against the restricted portion while the second leg is switched to the unfolded position, and the protrusion is moved upon the cammed portion to separate from the restricted portion while the second leg is switched to the folded position. 
     According to the claimed invention, the main body is made of resilient material, and a resilient recovering force of the main body drives the protrusion to sink into the accommodating space while the protrusion moves from the cammed portion to the accommodating space. The main body includes a first part and a second part, an end of the first part is pivotally connected to the second leg, an end of the second part is connected to the end of the first part via a resilient component, and the protrusion is disposed on the other end of the second part. The resilient component is a torsional spring. The protrusion contacts against the restricted portion to constrain relative rotation between the extension arm and the second leg, and the extension arm is freely rotated relative to the second leg while the protrusion is separated from the restricted portion. The first leg further includes an arc-shaped structure and an extension structure, the accommodating space is an opening of the arc-shaped structure, the cammed portion is an outer surface of the arc-shaped structure, and the extension structure is connected to an end of the arc-shaped structure and stretches out into the opening. The second leg is folded relative to the first leg to slide the protrusion over the extension structure and the protrusion is moved from the extension structure to the cammed portion, the second leg is unfolded relative to the first leg to move the protrusion from the cammed portion into the accommodating space. 
     According to the claimed invention, a child high chair includes a seatback, a seat pan, a tray, two sets of leg tube and a joint mechanism. The seat pan is rotatably connected to the seatback. The joint mechanism includes a first leg, a second leg, an extension arm and a latching component. The first leg includes a cammed portion and an accommodating space adjacent by each other. The second leg is pivotally connected to the first leg, and the second leg is rotated relative to the first leg to switch between a folded position and an unfolded position. The extension arm is pivotally connected to the second leg, and the extension arm includes a restricted portion. The latching component is movably disposed on the second leg. The latching component includes a main body and a protrusion. The main body is disposed on the second leg. The protrusion is disposed on a part of the main body opposite to the second leg. The protrusion is located inside the accommodating space to contact against the restricted portion while the second leg is switched to the unfolded position, and the protrusion is moved upon the cammed portion to separate from the restricted portion while the second leg is switched to the folded position. 
     According to the claimed invention, an angle between the seatback and the seat pan is substantially equal to ninety degrees while the first leg and the second leg are unfolded, and the seat pan is substantially parallel to the seatback while the first leg and the second leg are folded. A protruding hole is formed on the seat pan, and the child high chair further includes a horn and a flexible connector, the horn is rotatably disposed on the seat pan and adjacent by the protruding hole, and two ends of the flexible connector are respectively connected to the seatback and the horn. A resilient recovering force of the flexible connector drives the horn to rotate relative to the seat pan and to protrude from an upper surface of the seat pan via the protruding hole. The tray presses the horn into the protruding hole or the horn is retracted into the protruding hole while the first leg and the second leg are folded. Further, the child high chair may include a torsional resilient unit disposed between the horn and the seat pan, and a resilient recovering force of the torsional resilient unit rotates the horn into the protruding hole. 
     The child high chair of the present invention can automatically retract the tray and the horn while folded. The second leg is folded relative to the first leg to rotate the latching component and to loosen the flexible connector, and the protrusion of the latching component can slide over the extension structure to move from the extension structure to the cammed portion, so the extension arm is not constrained by the protrusion and the tray can freely rotate relative to the second leg for retraction, and the horn can be pressed into the protruding hole by the tray, the gravity or the torsional resilient unit. In addition, the second leg is unfolded relative to the first leg to move the protrusion from the cammed portion to the accommodating space, the resilient recovering force of the main body or the resilient component drives the protrusion to sink into the accommodating space, and the flexible connector is lengthened to protrude the horn out of the protruding hole, so the protrusion can be utilized to constrain rotation of the extension arm when the tray is rotated to the useful position and the horn can prevent the child from sliding out of the seat pan. The child high chair can automatically retract the tray and the horn while being folded and further stabilize the tray and the horn at the useful position while unfolded. The child high chair of the present invention maintains current standards for safety and comfort, and also provides an easy to fold, compact storage solution that improves overall convenience. 
     These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of a child high chair according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  respectively are lateral views of the child high chair in different operational modes according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  to  FIG. 6  respectively are sectional views of a joint mechanism indifferent operational modes according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  respectively are diagrams of a latching component according to different embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10  respectively are sectional views of the child high chair in different operational modes according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram of the child high chair according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 1  is a diagram of a child high chair  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  respectively are lateral views of the child high chair  10  in different operational modes according to the embodiment of the present invention. The child high chair  10  includes a seatback  12 , a seat pan  14 , a tray  16 , two sets of leg tube  18  and a joint mechanism  20 . The two sets of leg tube  18  at least include a front leg tube  18 A and a rear leg tube  18 B. The seatback  12  can be rotatably connected to the joint mechanism  20  or the leg tubes  18 . The seat pan  14  is rotatably connected to the seatback  12  and pivotally connected to the front leg tube  18 A. Further, ends of a linkage module  22  are respectively pivotally connected to the seatback  12 , the seat pan  14  and the rear leg tube  18 B. The joint mechanism  20  is disposed between the two sets of leg tube  18 , the tray  16  is connected to the joint mechanism  20  and an inclined angle of the tray  16  relative to the two sets of leg tube  18  can be controlled by the joint mechanism  20 . While the child high chair  10  is unfolded shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the tray  16  stands and the child can stably sit on the child high chair  10  for meal. While the child high chair  10  is folded shown in  FIG. 3 , constraint of the tray  16  is liberated by the joint mechanism  20 , the tray  16  drops down automatically due to rotation of the two sets of leg tube  18  to minimize size of the child high chair  10  for convenient storage. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 6  respectively are sectional views of the joint mechanism  20  indifferent operational modes according to the embodiment of the present invention. The joint mechanism  20  includes a first leg  24 , a second leg  26 , an extension arm  28  and a latching component  30 . The first leg  24  and the second leg  26  are respectively disposed on the two sets of leg tube  18 . The first leg  24  is pivotally connected to the second leg  26  via a central pivot  32 , and the second leg  26  can rotate relative to the first leg  24  to switch between a folded position (which is shown in  FIG. 6 ) and an unfolded position (which is shown in  FIG. 4 ). The first leg  24  which includes a cammed portion  34  and an accommodating space  36  can be mainly composed of an arc-shaped structure  38  and a extension structure  40 . The extension structure  40  is connected to an end of the arc-shaped structure  38  and stretches out into an opening of the arc-shaped structure  38 . The opening is a breach of the uncompleted annularity and equals the accommodating space  36 . The cammed portion  34  is an outer surface of the arc-shaped structure  38  adjacent by the accommodating space  36 . 
     The tray  16  can be disposed on the extension arm  28 , and the extension arm  28  is pivotally connected to the second leg  26  via a tray axis  42 . The latching component  30  is movably disposed on the second leg  26  to contact against a restricted portion  44  of the extension arm  28  so as to constrain rotation of the tray  16 . Please refer to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  respectively are diagrams of the latching component  30  according to different embodiments of the present invention. The latching component  30  includes a main body  46  and a protrusion  48 . The main body  46  is disposed on the second leg  26 , the protrusion  48  is disposed on a part of the main body  46  opposite to the second leg  26 , and the protrusion  48  is utilized to contact against or separate from the restricted portion  44  to lock and unlock rotation between the extension arm  28  and the second leg  26 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the main body  46  includes a first part  50  and a second part  52 . An end  502  of the first part  50  is pivotally connected to the second leg  26 , an end  521  of the second part  52  is connected to the end  502  of the first part  50 , the protrusion  48  is disposed on the other end  522  of the second part  52 , and a resilient component  53  is selectively disposed between the end  502  and the end  521 . The resilient component  53  can be a torsional spring. The resilient component  53  is deformed while the second part  52  is unfolded relative to the first part  50 , which means an angle formed between the second part  52  and the first part  50  is enlarged, and a resilient recovering force of the resilient component  53  is generated and stored accordingly. In addition, the other end  501  of the first part  50  can include a protruding structure, and the protruding structure can abut against the second leg  26  as in the folded position. When an external force that drives the second part  52  and the first part  50  to unfold is removed, the resilient recovering force of the resilient component  53  can be released to fold the second part  52  relative to the first part  50 , and the angle formed between the second part  52  and the first part  50  is reduced accordingly. That is, position of the protrusion  48  can be automatically recovered by the resilient component  53 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , the latching component  30  may include the main body  46 ′ and the main body  46 ′ is an integrated crooked rod without resilient property; however, the main body  46 ′ may be deformable optionally. An end of the main body  46 ′ is fixed to the second leg  26 , and the other end of the main body  46 ′ is a free end whereon the protrusion  48  is disposed. The protrusion  48  has an initial position that is located inside the accommodating space  36  while the latching component  30  is assembled with the second leg  26 . The protrusion  48  of the main body  46 ′ is locate inside the accommodating space  36  to contact against the restricted portion  44  while the protrusion  48  moves from the cammed portion  34  to the accommodating space  36  and the first leg  24  and the second leg  26  are unfolded, as shown in  FIG. 4 , so that the extension arm  28  cannot rotate relative to the second leg  26  and rotation of the tray  16  is constrained. When the first leg  24  and the second leg  26  are folded, the protrusion  48  of the main body  46 ′ is removed from the accommodating space  36  to disconnect from the restricted portion  44  and further to move upon the cammed portion  34 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , the extension arm  28  is freely rotated relative to the second leg  26  and the tray  16  can be folded to be substantially parallel to the leg tube  18  accommodating space. 
     In  FIG. 4 , the second leg  26  is unfolded relative to the first leg  24 , the restricted portion  44  of the extension arm  28  aligns with the accommodating space  36  of the first leg  24 , and the latching component  30  connected to the second leg  26  can contact against the restricted portion  44  by the protrusion  48  to constrain the relative rotation between the extension arm  28  and the second leg  26 , so the tray  16  can be supported at an useful position shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . As the second leg  26  rotates relative to the first leg  24  via the central pivot  32 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , the latching component  30  is accordingly moved due to rotation of the second leg  26 , the protrusion  48  which is suspended in the accommodating space  36  can contact and slide over the extension structure  40 , and is removed from the accommodating space  36  to climb upon the cammed portion  34 . In the meantime, the resilient component  53  or the main body  46 ′ is compressed to store the resilient recovering force. While the second leg  26  is folded relative to the first leg  24 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , the protrusion  48  climbs out over the cammed portion  34 , which means the protrusion  48  is not located inside the accommodating space  36  and cannot block the restricted portion  44 , so that the extension arm  28  can be freely rotated relative to the second leg  26  and the tray  16  is automatically adjusted to be substantially parallel to the second leg  26  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) to minimize the size of the child high chair  10 . 
     For unfolding the child high chair  10  from the mode shown in  FIG. 6  to the mode shown in  FIG. 4 , the second leg  26  is rotated at a clockwise direction or the first leg  24  is rotated at a counterclockwise direction, position of the latching component  30  is varied due to the relative rotation of the first leg  24  and the second leg  26 , the protrusion  48  moves from the cammed portion  34  to the accommodating space  36 , and the resilient recovering force of the resilient component  53  or the main body  46 ′ drives the protrusion  48  to sink into the accommodating space  36 . Then, the tray  16  and the related extension arm  28  are rotated at the clockwise direction. The protrusion  48  can be engaged with the restricted portion  44  while the restricted portion  44  aligns with the accommodating space  36 , and the tray  16  can be stably set on the useful position shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10  respectively are sectional views of the child high chair  10  indifferent operational modes according to the embodiment of the present invention. The child high chair  10  further includes a horn  54  and a flexible connector  56 . The horn  54  is rotatably disposed on the seat pan  14  and adjacent by a protruding hole  58  formed on the seat pan  14 , and two ends of the flexible connector  56  are respectively connected to the seatback  14  and the horn  54 . The flexible connector  56  can be, but not limited to, made of nylon webbing. As shown in  FIG. 9 , while the first leg  24  and the second leg  26  are unfolded, an angle between the seatback  12  and the seat pan  14  may be substantially greater than or equal to ninety degrees to let the child stably sit, and an angle between the seatback  12  and the tray  16  may be substantially equal to ninety degrees to place the food or the toy. The flexible connector  56  is stretched out by unfolding of the seatback  12  and the seat pan  14 , and a resilient recovering force of the flexible connector  56  rotates the horn  54  relative to the seat pan  14  to protrude from an upper surface of the seat pan  14  via the protruding hole  58 . The horn  54  can prevent the child from falling down the seat pan  14 . 
     The foresaid angles formed between the seatback  12  and the seat pan  14  and between the seatback  12  and the tray  16  are not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, which depends on actual demand, and a detailed description is omitted herein for simplicity. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the first leg  24  and the second leg  26  are folded to rotate the seat pan  14  to be substantially parallel to the seatback  12 . In the meantime, the protrusion  48  is removed from the accommodating space  36  to release constraint of the joint mechanism  20  (which is illustrated in  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 6 ), so the tray  16  can be rotated by its weight or external force to be substantially parallel to the seat pan  14 . The flexible connector  56  is loosened and cannot pull the horn  54 , so the horn  54  can be pressed by the tray  16  to move into the protruding hole  58 , or the horn  54  can be retracted into the protruding hole  58  due to the gravity. It is to say, the horn  54  can be automatically accommodated under the seat pan  14  through the protruding hole  58  while the two sets of leg tube  18  and the tray  16  are folded, so as to effectively minimize the size of the child high chair  10 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 11  is a diagram of the child high chair  10  according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, elements having the same numeral as ones of the above-mentioned embodiment have the same functions and structure. The child high chair  10  further can include a torsional resilient unit  60  disposed between the horn  54  and the seat pan  14 . A resilient recovering force of the torsional resilient unit  60  is preferably smaller than a resilient recovering force of the flexible connector  56 . While the first leg  24  and the second leg  26  (which represents the two sets of leg tube  18 ) are folded and the flexible connector  56  is loosened, the resilient recovering force of the torsional resilient unit  60  can rotate the horn  54  into the protruding hole  58  automatically to prevent the folded tray  16  and the horn  54  from structural interference. 
     In conclusion, the child high chair of the present invention can automatically retract the tray and the horn while folded. The second leg is folded relative to the first leg to rotate the latching component and to loosen the flexible connector, and the protrusion of the latching component can slide over the extension structure to move from the extension structure to the cammed portion, so the extension arm is not constrained by the protrusion and the tray can freely rotate relative to the second leg for retraction, and the horn can be pressed into the protruding hole by the tray, the gravity or the torsional resilient unit. In addition, the second leg is unfolded relative to the first leg to move the protrusion from the cammed portion to the accommodating space, the resilient recovering force of the main body or the resilient component drives the protrusion to sink into the accommodating space, and the flexible connector is lengthened to protrude the horn out of the protruding hole, so the protrusion can be utilized to constrain rotation of the extension arm when the tray is rotated to the useful position and the horn can prevent the child from sliding out of the seat pan. Comparing to the prior art, the child high chair can automatically retract the tray and the horn while folded and further stabilize the tray and the horn at the useful position while unfolded. The child high chair of the present invention maintains current standards for safety and comfort, and also provides an easy to fold, compact storage solution that improves overall convenience. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.