Patent Publication Number: US-6666510-B2

Title: Highchair cover and support

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to chair covers and supports, and, more specifically, to a highchair back support for supporting a child in an upright position and for preventing a child from sliding out of a highchair. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Highchairs are designed for a wide age range of children, from a young infant up to an age just before the child is old enough to sit on its own in a regular or booster chair. Younger children are often too small to sit in a highchair without additional back support to urge their bodies to the front of the highchair. Consequently, parents must often use a rolled-up towel, article of clothing or other cloth to position between the child and the seatback of the highchair. 
     Prior art seatback covers are designed either to protect the surface of the chair or to improve the aesthetic appearance of the chair. A laminated chair protector may be found by reference to U.S. Pat. No. 3,504,941 to Gerard. This design uses front and back panels of laminated paper to protect the finish of the chair in shipping, handling and/or storage. 
     The seatback cover in U.S. Pat. No. 4,232,898 to Bodrero uses front and back panels as well as side panels to conform to a vehicle-type seatback. However, in light of the present invention, the aforementioned designs are deficient in that they do not provide back support that fills the extra space left in a highchair occupied by a small child. 
     It is readily apparent that a new and improved highchair back support is needed that supports a child in an upright and upfront position and prevents the child from sliding therefrom. It is, therefore, to the provision of such an improvement that the present invention is directed. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly described, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages by providing a highchair back support that fills extra space left in a highchair when a small child sits therein and supports the back of the child to prevent the child from sliding. Generally, the present invention, in the preferred embodiment, comprises a seatback cover, which slides over the back of a highchair and a support cushion, which removably attaches to the seatback cover. 
     More specifically, the seatback cover comprises front and back panels, which are joined on three sides, leaving an opening at the bottom of the cover. The seatback cover is easily slid over the back of the highchair and secured into position via hook-and-loop fastener. Hook-and-loop fasteners are also attached to the support cushion, and mating hook-and-loop fasteners are attached to the sides of the seatback cover, thereby allowing the support cushion to be removably attached to the seatback cover. 
     In an alternate embodiment, a single sheet of material is used to construct the seatback cover. The sheet of material is folded to form front and back panels, the front and back panels are then joined along its edges, wherein the bottom of the seatback cover remains open so that the cover can be slid over the seatback of the highchair as described in the preferred embodiment. In another alternate embodiment, the cushion can be secured to the seatback cover using ties, buckles, straps or any other suitable attaching means. 
     A feature and advantage of the present invention is to provide a new and improved highchair back support that prevents a child from sliding from a highchair. 
     Another feature and advantage of the present invention is provide a new and improved highchair back support that is portable thus making it suitable for use at restaurants and other locations. 
     Another feature and advantage of the present invention is to provide a new and improved low cost highchair back support for young children. 
     These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description and claims when read in light of the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention according to a preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the seatback cover of the present invention according to a preferred embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS 
     In describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in the figures, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The invention, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish similar functions. 
     With regard to all such embodiments as may be herein described and contemplated, it will be appreciated that optional features, including, but not limited to, aesthetically pleasing coloration and surface design, and labeling and brand marking, may be provided in association with the present invention, all without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, device  10  generally comprises seatback cover  20  and support cushion  50 . More specifically, seatback cover  20  comprises front panel  22  and back panel  32 . Front panel  22  and back panel  32  are constructed of a durable, non-stretchable fabric material cut to the approximate dimensions of a typical highchair A seatback configuration. Therefore, the width of front panel  22  and back panel  32  will approximate the width of the highchair A seatback. 
     Front panel  22  comprises first end  24 , second end  26 , third end  28 , fourth end  30 , inner surface  31   a  and outer surface  31   b.  Back panel  32  comprises first end  34 , second end  36 , third end  38 , fourth end  40 , inner surface  41   a  and outer surface  41   b.  Front panel  22  is fixedly attached to back panel  32  on three sides as more fully described below, preferably by stitching or any known means within the art. First end  24  of front panel  22  is fixedly attached to first end  34  of back panel  32 . Second end  26  of front panel  22  is fixedly attached to second end  36  of back panel  32 . Third end  28  of front panel  22  is fixedly attached to third end  38  of back panel  32 . 
     Opening  42  is defined by fourth end  30  of front panel  22  and fourth end  40  of back panel  32 . Seatback cover  20  is slid over the seatback of the highchair through opening  42  and is secured to the highchair by removably connecting fourth end  30  of front panel  22  and fourth end  40  of back panel  32  under the seatback of the highchair by any means known within the art such as, for exemplary purposes only, buttons, ties, buckles, hook-and-loop fastener or the like. 
     Preferably, first securing fastener  44  and second securing fastener  46  comprise hook-and-loop fasteners. First securing fastener  44  is fixedly attached to inner surface  31   a  of front panel  22  proximal to fourth end  30 . Mating second securing fastener  46  is fixedly attached to inner surface  41   a  of back panel  32  proximal to fourth end  40 . First securing fastener  44  and second securing fastener  46  are attached to first panel  22  and second panel  32 , respectively, preferably by gluing, stitching or any known means within the art. First securing fastener  44  and second securing fastener  46  are preferably positioned directly across from and aligned with each other to allow seatback cover  20  to be secured under the seatback of highchair A. 
     First seatback fastener  70  and second seatback fastener  72  are provided for removably securing support cushion  50  to seatback cover  20 . Preferably, first seatback fastener  70  and second seatback fastener  72  comprise one portion of hook-and-loop fastener, wherein the mating portion of hook-and-loop fastener is attached to support cushion  50  as more fully described below. First seatback fastener  70  and second seatback fastener  72  are fixedly attached to outer surface  41   b  of back panel  32  proximal to first end  24  and third end  28 , respectively, by glue, stitching or any known means within the art. 
     Support cushion  50  is preferably an elongated triangular cross-sectional shaped member comprising insert  50   a  and cover  50   b  having first surface  51 , second surface  52 , third surface  53 , first end  54  and second end  56 . Insert  50   a  is preferably foam but may be formed from any suitable material known within the art. Surfaces  51 ,  52 ,  53 , and ends  54  and  56  are constructed, preferably, of fabric material cut to the approximate dimensions of a typical highchair A seatback configuration. Therefore, the width of surfaces  51 ,  52 , and  53  approximates the width of the highchair A seatback. The height of surface  51  will preferably approximate one-third to one-half the height of the highchair A seatback. In an alternate embodiment, however, the height of surface  51  may be greater or less then the preferred height. 
     Support cushion  50  is attached to back panel  32  of seatback cover  20  by any means known within the art such as, for exemplary purposes only, ties, buckles, hook-and-loop fastener or the like. First cushion fastener  74  is attached to first end  54 , and second cushion fastener  76  is attached to second end  56 , preferably by glue, stitching or any known means within the art. First cushion fastener  74  and second cushion fastener  76  preferably comprise hook-and-loop fastener portions mating to those of first seatback fastener  70  and second seatback fastener  72 , respectively, such that support cushion  50  is removably secured to seatback cover  20  when first cushion fastener  74  is mated with first seatback fastener  70  and second cushion fastener  76  is mated with second seatback fastener  72 . Alternatively, ties, buttons, snaps or any known attaching means can be utilized to secure support cushion  50  to seatback cover  20 . 
     In use, seatback cover  20  is slid over the seatback of the highchair A. Seatback cover  20  is secured by drawing fourth end  30  of front panel  22  and fourth end  40  of back panel  32  underneath the highchair A seatback and attaching first securing fastener  44  to second securing fastener  46 . Support cushion  50  is placed on highchair A seat with first surface  51  oriented toward seatback cover  20 , second surface  52  oriented toward the highchair A seat, and third surface  53  oriented toward the back of the child. Support cushion  50  is secured to seatback cover  20  when first cushion fastener  74  is attached to first seatback fastener  70  and second cushion fastener  76  is attached to second seatback fastener  72 . 
     It should be noted that in an alternate embodiment, seatback cover  20  may be formed from a single sheet or blank of material. Although, washable cloth is the preferred material for seatback cover  20 , other materials such as, for exemplary purposes only, plastics, leather or rubber may be utilized. It should also be noted that the dimensions of seatback  20  and support cushion  50  may be varied, as needed, depending on the dimensions of highchair A, the size of the child or the capabilities of the child. 
     Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein, but is limited only by the following claims.