Patent Publication Number: US-2002000741-A1

Title: Portable, convertible seat, lounge chair and sleeping mat

Description:
I. BACKGROUND—Field of Invention  
       [0001] This invention relates in general to seats for infants that can hold their heads up well and sit up for some amount of time unassisted but that do not yet have the skills to remain in a seated position without back and side support and, specifically, to such seats for infants that also convert to a sleeping mat for infants and older children and to a chair and lounge chair for older children.  
       II. BACKGROUND—Description of Prior Art  
       [0002] Beginning at approximately four to five months of age, an infant can hold his or her head up well and can sit up for some amount of time unassisted but, without back and side support, will eventually topple backward or to one side. It is important during this stage that the infant be able to remain in a seated position for some amount of time in order to build the muscles and gain the skills necessary to achieve and maintain a sitting position without support. Likewise, it is important to the child&#39;s mental development during this stage that the child be able to remain in positions other than a prone position so as to receive a variety of visual perspectives. During this stage of an infant&#39;s development, parents or caretakers often place cushions to either side and the back of an infant when in the sitting position in order to prevent the baby from falling over.  
       [0003] Devices intended to provide back and side support to infants at the stage of development described have been invented. U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,902 discloses an example of such an infant supporting device. Prior devices such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,902, however, have limited application often useful only during the several months of a child&#39;s infancy during which the infant can hold his or her head up and maintain a seated position for some amount of time unassisted but cannot yet maintain a sitting position without back and side support.  
       [0004] In addition, from the age that children master the skill of sitting up through their early school years, children are often more comfortable in furniture designed specifically for their use, with proportionately smaller dimensions than chairs designed for adults. Because such children do not spend all or even a majority of their time in their own rooms but instead are just as frequently found in the television room, at dayschool and at the homes of grandparents and other relatives, for maximum utility, furniture designed for children should also be portable. Moreover, a child&#39;s comfort and security when away from home is often increased when the child has a familiar object from home with him or her. A child&#39;s chair that is portable will increase the child&#39;s comfort and security when at daycare, at a relative&#39;s house for the weekend or in other situations outside of the child&#39;s house.  
       [0005] Thus, a need exists for a portable infant seat which will provide back and side support for infants that can hold their heads up well and sit up for some amount of time unassisted but that do not yet have the skills to remain in a seated position without back and side support and that also has other applications during the child&#39;s infancy including as a sleeping mat as well as other applications as the child grows including as a lightweight, portable chair, lounge chair and sleeping mat for older children.  
       [0006] Various forms of convertible furniture have been designed such as the disclosures in U.S. Pat. No. 4,518,203; U.S. Pat. No. 3,902,759; and U.S. Des. 252,489. However, such disclosures cannot serve as a sitting support for infants because such disclosures lack a seat that is substantially level with the ground, a necessary element to allow an infant to maintain balance in a seated position; or because they do not provide side support. Moreover, disclosures such as that U.S. Pat. No. 3,902,759 are not lightweight so as to be easily transportable by adult and child but instead are designed to rely on their mass and weight for stability. Other prior disclosures such as that in U.S. Pat. No. 4,518,203 rely for stability on the mass, weight and balancing skills of the individual using the furniture and, accordingly, are unsuitable for lightweight infants or small children who can be expected to be restless and change positions often while seated or lounging in furniture. In addition, prior disclosures such as that in U.S. Pat. No. 4,518,203 which rely for operation and convertibility on exposed straps are less comfortable and less sturdy especially for young children than furniture that includes arms for side support. Finally, disclosures such as that in U.S. Pat. No. 4,518,203 which rely for operation and convertability on exposed straps or which consist of soft cushions that conform to the shape of the individual using them also likely pose a safety hazard for small infants and children.  
       III. OBJECTS  
       [0007] One object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight, portable infant seat which will provide back and side support to infants that can hold their heads up well and sit up for some amount of time unassisted but that do not yet have the skills to remain in a seated position without back and side support.  
       [0008] A second object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight, portable sleeping mat for infants.  
       [0009] A third object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight, portable chair for children for use from the time a child has mastered the skill of sitting up on his or her own through early school age.  
       [0010] A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight, portable sleeping mat for children for use from the time a child has mastered the skill of sitting up on his or her own through early school age.  
       [0011] A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight, portable lounge chair for children for use from the time a child has mastered the skill of sitting up on his or her own through early school age.  
       [0012] A sixth object of the present invention is to provide an infant seat which will provide back and side support for infants that can hold their heads up well and sit up for some amount of time unassisted but that do not yet have the skills to remain in a seated position without back and side support that is easily converted to a sleeping mat for infants and older children and to a child&#39;s chair and lounge chair in accordance with the preceding objects.  
       [0013] A seventh object of the present invention is to provide an infant seat as described in the preceding objects that is convertible to a sleeping mat for infants and older children and to a child&#39;s chair and lounge chair in accordance with the preceding objects that is also lightweight so as to be easily transportable.  
       [0014] An eighth object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight, portable infant seat as described in the preceding objects that is convertible to a sleeping mat for infants and older children and to a child&#39;s chair and lounge chair in accordance with the preceding objects and that is also structurally sturdy and does not rely for stability on its own mass and weight or on the mass and weight or balance of the individual using it.  
       [0015] A ninth object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight, portable infant seat as described in the preceding objects that is convertible to a sleeping mat for infants and older children and to a child&#39;s chair and lounge chair in accordance with the preceding objects that can also be manufactured easily and economically in conformance with conventional forms of manufacturing.  
       [0016] A tenth object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight, portable infant seat as described in the preceding objects that is convertible to a sleeping mat for infants and older children and to a child&#39;s chair and lounge chair in accordance with the preceding objects that is also easy for parents and children to use.  
       [0017] An eleventh object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight, portable infant seat as described in the preceding objects that is convertible to a sleeping mat for infants and older children and to a child&#39;s chair and lounge chair in accordance with the preceding objects that is long-lasting and substantially trouble-free in operation.  
       [0018] A twelfth object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight, portable infant seat as described in the preceding objects that is convertible to a sleeping mat for infants and older children and to a child&#39;s chair and lounge chair in accordance with the preceding objects that does not consist of a soft cushion or rely for operation and convertibility on exposed straps.  
       [0019] Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become a apparent from the following description and drawings.  
     
    
    
     IV. DRAWING FIGURES  
     [0020]FIG. 1 is a lateral view of the bottom of the base of the present invention.  
     [0021]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention positioned in the sleeping mat position.  
     [0022]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention in the infant sitting support position.  
     [0023]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the present invention illustrating the base of the invention in the child&#39;s lounge chair position and illustrating the back slats and seat slats.  
     [0024]FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the present invention illustrating the left back flap with buckle and left seat flap with buckle.  
     [0025]FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the present invention illustrating the right back flap with buckle and right seat flap with buckle.  
     [0026]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the present invention in the child&#39;s chair position.  
     [0027]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the present invention in the child&#39;s lounge chair position. 
    
    
     V. REFERENCE NUMERALS  
     [0028]                                                      10   Base           10A   Seat           12   Upper back/mat cushion           14   Lower back/mat cushion           18   Left back slat           20   Right back slat           22   Left seat slat           24   Right seat slat           26   Left side member cushion           28   Right side member cushion           30   Left back flap with buckle           32   Right back flap with buckle           34   Left seat flap with buckle           36   Right seat flap with buckle           38   Unattached cushion           40   Unattached cushion           42   Handle                        
     VI. DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION  
     [0029]FIG. 1 is a lateral view of the bottom of base  10  of the present invention. Base  10  is a substantially rectangular-shaped, thinly padded base made of strong fabric such as nylon.  
     [0030]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention with base  10  extended on a horizontal plane surface. Upper back/mat cushion  12  and lower back/mat cushion  14  are parallelepiped substantially rectangular-shaped cushions each of which is approximately three inches thick and of substantially the same width as base  10 . Upper back/mat cushion  12  and lower back/mat cushion  14  consist of a firm cushion made of material such as polyurethane. The exposed faces of upper back/mat cushion  12  and lower back/mat cushion  14  may be covered in any fabric.  
     [0031] As illustrated in FIG. 2, upper back/mat cushion  12  is positioned horizontally over base  10  so that its two parallel faces with the largest surface areas face base  10  and upwardly, respectively, and so that the upper horizontal edge of base  10  and one of the horizontal edges of back/mat cushion  12  coincide. Upper back/mat cushion  12  is attached to base  10  as by longitudinal seams running along the longitudinal edges of cushion  12  and of base  10  and by a horizontal seam running along the upper horizontal edge of base  10  and the coinciding horizontal edge of upper back/mat cushion  12 .  
     [0032] Lower back/mat cushion  14  is positioned horizontally over base  10  in the same manner as and directly adjacent to upper back/mat cushion  12  so that one of the four faces of the upper back/mat cushion  12  with the smallest surface area confronts one of the four faces of lower back/mat cushion  14  with the smallest surface area. Lower back/mat cushion  14  is attached to base  10  as by longitudinal seams running along the longitudinal edges of cushion  14  and of base  10  and by a horizontal seam running along the lower horizontal edge of lower back/mat cushion  14 . A handle  42  is attached to the face of lower back/mat cushion  14  confronting the face of upper back/mat cushion  12  as illustrated in FIG. 3.  
     [0033] Left side member  26  and right side member  28  are two parallelepiped cushions made of firm material such as polyurethane. The exposed sides of left side member  26  and right side member  28  may be covered in any fabric. Left side member  26  and right side member  28  extend vertically at approximately right angles to base  10  and are positioned at the lower horizontal edge of base  10 , opposite of the horizontal edge to which upper back/mat cushion  12  is attached.  
     [0034] Left side member  26  is attached to base  10  as by a longitudinal seam running along the left longitudinal edge of base  10  and by longitudinal seam running along the right longitudinal side of left side member  26 . Left side member  26  may also be attached to base  10  by horizontal seams extending the thickness of the cushion on both of the cushion&#39;s horizontal edges.  
     [0035] Right side member  28  extends vertically from the right longitudinal side of base  10  and is attached to base  10  as by a longitudinal seam running along the right longitudinal edge of base  10  and by a longitudinal seam running along the left longitudinal side of right side member  28 . Right side member  28  may also be attached to base  10  by horizontal seams extending the thickness of the cushion on both of its horizontal edges.  
     [0036] Seat  10 A is formed by the uncovered portion of the base  10  lying between left side member  26  and right side member  28  as illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.  
     [0037] The width of upper back/mat cushions  12  and lower back/mat  14  should equal the sum of the width of seat  10 A and the thickness of left side member  26  and right side member  28 .  
     [0038] Left back slat  18  and right back slat  20  are made of aluminum or other lightweight, sturdy material. Left back slat  18  and right back slat  20  may be padded as by sewing them into a padded nylon pocket to prevent them from ripping base  10 . Left back slats  18  and right back slat  20  are encased inside base  10  behind lower back/mat cushion  14  equidistant from each longitudinal edge of base  10 . Left back slat  18  and right back slat  20  and their placement inside base  10  are best illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. Left back slat  18  and right back slat  20  should each measure approximately one and one-half inches in width and extend the length of lower back/mat cushion  14  in order to provide support and stability to the invention when in the infant sitting support position illustrated in FIG. 3 and when in the child&#39;s chair position illustrated in FIG. 7. The stability provided by left back slat  18  and right back slat  20  are especially important for furniture made for restless infants and children who change positions often.  
     [0039] Left seat slat  22  and right seat slat  24  are also made of aluminum or other lightweight sturdy material. As with left back slat  18  and right back slat  20 , left seat slat  22  and right seat slat  24  may be encased inside padded nylon pockets to cushion the slats and prevent ripping of the nylon seat  10 A. Left seat slat  22  and right seat slat  24  are encased in seat  10 A equidistant from each longitudinal edge of seat  10 A and at the same distance as left back slat  18  and right back slat  20  are placed from the longitudinal edges of cushion  14 . Left seat slat  22  and right seat slat  24  and their placement inside base  10  are best illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3. Left seat slat  22  and right seat slat  24  should each measure approximately one and one-half inches in width and extend the length of seat  10 A to prevent the seat from creasing or folding when in the infant sitting support position and the child&#39;s chair position and to add back support and stability when the invention is in the child&#39;s lounge chair position as illustrated in FIG. 8.  
     [0040] Left back flap  30  extends from the left longitudinal edge of base  10  behind lower back/mat cushion  14  so that the top of left back flap  30  is positioned near the top of lower back/mat cushion  14  when the invention is in the infant seat position. Right back flap  32  extends from the right longitudinal edge of base  10  behind cushion  14  so that the top of right back flap  32  is positioned near the top of cushion  14  when the invention is in the infant seat position. A strap which is approximately two inches in length extends from the bottom of left back flap  30  and right back flap  32 . A prong element of a quick-connect buckle is attached to the strap on both flaps as by looping the strap through an aperture in the prong element. Left back flap  30  with strap and buckle is best illustrated in FIG. 5. Right back flap  32  with strap and buckle is best illustrated in FIG. 6.  
     [0041] The bottom of left back flap  30  with the strap and buckle attached extends downward along the left side of left side member  26  when the invention is in the infant seat position. The bottom of right back flap  32  with the strap and buckle attached extends downward along the right side of right side member  28  when the invention is in the infant seat position. Left back flap  30  and right back flap  32  may be cut from the fabric constituting the base or may be attached to the base as by longitudinal seams running along longitudinal edges of base  10  and lower back/mat cushion  14  and by horizontal seams running along the top and bottom horizontal edges of each flap and across the left and right parallel faces of lower back/mat cushion  14 .  
     [0042] Left seat flap  34  extends from the left longitudinal side of seat  10 A at the lower horizontal edge of base  10 , the horizontal edge opposite of that from which upper back/mat cushion  12  extends. Right seat flap  36  extends from the right longitudinal side of seat  10 A also at the lower horizontal edge of base  10 . Left seat flap  34  and right seat flap  36  are approximately triangular in shape and may be cut from the fabric constituting the base  10  or may be attached to the base  10  as by longitudinal seams running along the left and right longitudinal edges of seat  10 A. Left seat flap  34  and right seat flap  36  are attached to the outward sides of the side members as by vertical seams running along the two vertical sides of each of the seat flaps and across the side members.  
     [0043] A strap which is approximately two inches in length extends upward from the narrow angle of the left seat flap  34  and from the narrow angle of the right seat flap  36 . A socket element of the quick-connect buckle is attached to the strap as by looping the strap through an aperture in the socket element. Left seat flap  34  with strap and buckle is best illustrated in FIG. 5. Right seat flap  36  with strap and buckle is best illustrated in FIG. 6. When the invention is in the infant seat position, the top of left seat flap  34  with the strap and socket element of the buckle attached extends upward toward the bottom of left back flap  30  with the strap and prong element of the buckle attached. When the invention is in the infant seat position, the top of right seat flap  36  with the strap and socket element of the buckle attached extends upward toward the bottom of right back flap  32  with the strap and prong element of the buckle attached.  
     [0044] Unattached cushion  38  and unattached cushion  40  are parallelepiped cushions of the same length and width as seat  10 A. Unattached cushion  38  and unattached cushion  40  consist of a firm cushion made of material such as polyurethane and covered in any fabric.  
     VII. OPERATION  
     [0045] When the present invention is positioned with base  10  extended on a horizontal plane surface with upper back/mat cushion  12  and lower back/mat cushion  14  attached as described above and facing upwardly, the structure forms a sleeping mat for infants and small children as illustrated in FIG. 2. Unattached cushion  38  and/or unattached cushion  40  may be placed in the seat  10 A to form a head rest for older children.  
     [0046] When the structure is in the sleeping mat position, it may be transformed into the infant seat position as illustrated in FIG. 3 by buckling the prong element of left back flap  30  into the socket element of left seat flap  34  and the prong element of right back flap  32  into the socket element of right seat flap  36 . When the flaps are buckled as described, upper back/mat cushion  12  and lower back/mat cushion  14  are pulled up to a vertical position with their bottom faces confronting and form a thick back cushion support for the invention in the infant seat position. Left side member  26  and right side member  28  form thick side support. The infant&#39;s back should be against lower back/mat cushion  14  and the infant&#39;s bottom should be positioned in seat  10 A with legs protruded toward the front of the chair.  
     [0047] The invention forms a child&#39;s chair as depicted in FIG. 7 when unattached cushion  38  and/or unattached cushion  40  is/are placed in the seat  10 A when the invention is in the infant seat position. As in the infant seat position, upper back/mat cushion  12  and lower back/mat cushion  14  provide thick back support and left side member  26  and right side member  28  serve as side support and the arms of the chair.  
     [0048] A child&#39;s lounge chair as depicted in FIG. 8 is formed by buckling the left seat flap  34  to the left back flap  30  and buckling the right seat flap  36  to the right back flap  32  as described above and positioning the invention so that seat  10 A with cushions  38  and/or  40  placed in it forms thick cushioned back support for the lounge chair and left side member  26  and right side member  28  form the arms of the lounge chair.  
     VIII. CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS and SCOPE  
     [0049] Thus, the invention provides a lightweight, portable sitting support for infants that can hold their heads up well and sit up for some amount of time unassisted but that do not yet have the skills to remain in a seated position without back and side support which does not rely on its own mass and weight for stability or on the mass and weight of the individual using it; said support also converting to a sleeping mat for infants and older children and to a chair and lounge chair for use by children once they have mastered the skill of sitting up through their early school years.  
     [0050] While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention but rather as an exemplification of one preferred embodiment thereof.