Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US4962965?dq=Frischling
Timestamp: 2017-02-27 09:32:26
Document Index: 16789108

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 40', 'art 40', 'art 40', 'art 40', 'art 40', 'arts 40', 'arts 40', 'arts 40', 'arts 40', 'art 40', 'art 40', 'art 40', 'art 40', 'art 40']

Patent US4962965 - Seat belt assembly for high chairs - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsAn improved high chair comprising a seat with a back component and a bottom component for receiving a child thereon; a plurality of tubes for strengthening the seat and extending on opposite sides of the seat for forming arm rests; a plurality of legs for supporting the seat at a proper height; a tray...http://www.google.com/patents/US4962965?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US4962965 - Seat belt assembly for high chairsAdvanced Patent SearchTry the new Google Patents, with machine-classified Google Scholar results, and Japanese and South Korean patents.Publication numberUS4962965 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 07/409,370Publication dateOct 16, 1990Filing dateSep 19, 1989Priority dateSep 19, 1989Fee statusLapsedPublication number07409370, 409370, US 4962965 A, US 4962965A, US-A-4962965, US4962965 A, US4962965AInventorsRichard W. GloverOriginal AssigneeSpalding & Evenflo Companies, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (11), Referenced by (21), Classifications (12), Legal Events (12) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetSeat belt assembly for high chairs
US 4962965 AAbstract
An improved high chair comprising a seat with a back component and a bottom component for receiving a child thereon; a plurality of tubes for strengthening the seat and extending on opposite sides of the seat for forming arm rests; a plurality of legs for supporting the seat at a proper height; a tray removably positioned on the arm rests in front of the seat above the bottom component; and a seat belt assembly comprising a pair of generally horizontally extending waist straps each coupled at its remote end to a portion of a high chair seat with a buckle part at its front end, a crotch strap permanently secured to a front central extent of the seat portion and having a free front end, and a main buckle permanently attached to the free end of the crotch strap with the main buckle also having a pair of attachment mechanisms for removably receiving the buckle parts of the ends of the waist straps.
1. A high chair comprising:a seat with a back component and a bottom component for receiving a child thereon; a plurality of tubes for strengthening the seat and extending on opposite sides of the seat for forming arm rests; a plurality of legs for supporting the seat at a proper height; a tray removably positioned on the arm rests in front of the seat above the bottom component; and a seat belt assembly comprising a pair of generally horizontally extending waist straps each coupled at its remote end to a portion of a high chair seat with a buckle part at its front end, a crotch strap permanently secured to a front central extent of the seat portion and having a free front end, and a main buckle permanently attached to the free end of the crotch strap with the main buckle also having a pair of attachment mechanisms for removably receiving the buckle parts of the ends of the waist straps and operator controlled means to individually separate each buckle part at the waist strap free end from the main buckle. 2. The high chair as set forth in claim 1 wherein the remote end of the crotch strap is permanently attached to the lower face of the bottom component.
4. The high chair as set forth in claim 3 wherein one of the waist straps is attached to its buckle part permanently and further including means to adjustably attach the other waist strap to its buckle part.
This invention relates to a seat belt assembly for high chairs and, more particularly, to a high chair having a seat, legs and a tray and having a seat belt assembly including a fixed crotch strap and a pair of waist straps coupled at a common buckle.
A high chair is an item of functional furniture for children which has been in use for many years. A high chair is used to assist a young child in eating and in learning to eat and to help parents feed a child. Normally, a high chair includes a seat for the child. The seat is supported by extended legs. A tray is located in front of the child for his or her food.
A relatively recent advance in high chairs is the incorporation of seat belts to retain the child in proper position on the seat while eating. Seat belts are formed of waist straps secured at their remote ends to the seat, generally to the back or bottom or adjacent their juncture. Seat belts reduce the possibility of a child inadvertently or deliberately sliding down out of the seat, beneath the tray. A more recent advance in high chair seat belts is the incorporation of a crotch strap. A crotch strap normally couples permanently to the central front portion of the seat and extends upwardly for coupling with the waist straps or buckle at a central area. Unfortunately, all known seat belt arrangements are designed so that the waist straps may be used without the crotch strap. This is a shortcoming of prior known devices which causes safety problems for children in high chairs.
Today high chairs represent the third leading cause of accidental deaths for children. Such deaths normally occur when the seat belts are not utilized or seat belts are utilized without a crotch strap. In such situation, a child may slide downwardly, intentionally or inadvertently, and catch his or her chin on the tray. The weight of the body pulling downwardly will cause strangulation resulting in severe injury or death.
The shortcomings of known high chairs and strap arrangements are evidenced by a large number of commercial devices in use today as well as a large number of patents issuing on devices attempting to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,849 to Smith discloses the use of a safety belt arrangement for use with a high chair. In addition, seat belt arrangements are shown in a wide variety of environments other than high chairs. Note U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,709,558 to Jakob; 3,834,758 to Soule; 3,910,634 to Morris; 4,302,049 to Simpson and 4,650,252 to Kassai. Lastly, a large number of patents show a wide variety of buckle arrangements. Note U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,150,464 to Tracy; 4,559,679 to Downey; 4,569,106 to Lovato; 4,662,040 to Terrell; 4,791,709 to Fildan and 4,793,032 to Crowle.
As illustrated by the background art, efforts are continuously being made in an attempt to improve seat belts for high chairs. No prior effort, however, suggests the present inventive combination of component elements arranged and configured as disclosed herein. Prior seat belts for high chairs do not provide the benefits attendant with the present invention. The present invention achieves its purposes, objects and advantages over the prior seat belts for high chairs through a new, useful and unobvious combination of component elements, through the use of a minimum number of functioning parts, and through the use of only readily available materials and conventional components.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved high chair comprising a seat with a back component and a bottom component for receiving a child thereon; a plurality of tubes for strengthening the seat and extending on opposite sides of the seat for forming arm rests; a plurality of legs for supporting the seat at a proper height; a tray removably positioned on the arm rests in front of the seat above the bottom component; and a seat belt assembly comprising a pair of generally horizontally extending waist straps each coupled at its remote end to a portion of a high chair seat with a buckle part at its front end, a crotch strap permanently secured to a front central extent of the seat portion and having a free front end, and a main buckle permanently attached to the free end of the crotch strap with the main buckle also having a pair of attachment mechanisms for removably receiving the buckle parts of the ends of the waist straps.
It is a further object of the present invention to strap children in high chairs with an arrangement of separable waist straps and a permanent crotch strap to preclude child injury as caused by the child sliding downwardly beneath the high chair tray.
The present invention is defined by the appended claims with the specific preferred embodiment shown in the attached drawings. For the purpose of summarizing the invention, the invention may be incorporated into an improved seat belt assembly for use in a high chair comprising a pair of generally horizontally extending waist straps each coupled at its remote end to a portion of a high chair seat and having a buckle part at its front end; a crotch strap permanently secured to a front central portion of the seat and having a free front end; and a main buckle permanently attached to the free end of the crotch strap, the main buckle also having attachment mechanisms for removably receiving the buckle parts at the end of the waist straps.
The main buckle has a slot at its lower extent for the receipt of the free end of the crotch strap and wherein the crotch strap is stitched to itself after passing through and around the slot of the main buckle. The buckle parts at the ends of the waist straps are male members and the main buckle has openings in its upper extent for the receipt of the male members.
In addition, the invention may also be incorporated into an improved high chair comprising a seat with a back component and a bottom component for receiving a child thereon; a plurality of tubes for strengthening the seat and extending on opposite sides of the seat for forming arm rests; a plurality of legs for supporting the seat at a proper height; a tray removably positioned on the arm rests in front of the seat above the bottom component; and a seat belt assembly comprising a pair of generally horizontally extending waist straps each coupled at its remote end to a portion of a high chair seat with a buckle part at its front end, a crotch strap permanently secured to a front central extent of the seat portion and having a free front end, and a main buckle permanently attached to the free end of the crotch strap with the main buckle also having a pair of attachment mechanisms for removably receiving the buckle parts of the ends of the waist straps.
The remote end of the crotch strap is permanently attached to the lower face of the bottom component. The remote ends of the waist straps are coupled to the rear face of the back component. One of the waist straps is attached to its buckle part permanently. Further included is means to adjustably attach the other waist strap to its buckle part.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood so that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the disclosed specific embodiment may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other constructions for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
Shown in FIG. 1 is a high chair 10 with a seat belt assembly 12 constructed in accordance with the present invention. The high chair includes a seat 14 having a bottom component 16 and a back component 18 with appropriate padding for the comfort of the child who will sit therein. The bottom and back components are shown as permanently secured together at a line of junction 20 for maintaining their intended position with respect to each other.
A plurality of legs 24, four in the preferred embodiment, are shown to support the seat 14 at an appropriate height for the convenience of both the child and the parent who may be feeding or otherwise attending to the child. An array of tubes 26 support the seat 14 for increased rigidity and security of the high chair. Such tubes also form arm rests 28 laterally disposed on opposite sides of the seat.
Removably coupled with respect to arm rests 28 of the high chair 10 is a tray 30. The tray 30 is coupled for appropriate removability and adjustability through conventional mechanisms on the lower surface of the tray 30 and the upper surface of the arm rests 28. The tray 30, like the seat 14, is at a convenient height for the child seated in the high chair 10 as well as for the attendant parent.
The seat belt assembly 12 of the present invention includes a pair of waist straps 34 and 36. The waist straps are permanently attached to the rear side of the back component 18 of the seat 14. Permanent coupling of the waist straps 34 and 36 to the high chair 10 is by pinching the remote ends of the waist straps 34 and 36 between the rear side of the back component 18 and the supporting tubes 26 so that the waist straps 34 and 36 may not be removed. This promotes their use for increased child safety.
The forward ends of the straps are coupled to male buckle parts 40 adapted to engage with adjacent female parts of the main buckle 42. In the preferred embodiment, one of the waist straps 34 is stitched 44 to form a permanent coupling with its associated buckle part 40 while the other waist strap 36 is coupled through a slot 46 in the buckle part 40 and has a slotted securement piece 48 for allowing adjustability of the waist strap 36. This is to accommodate children of smaller or larger sizes.
As can be more readily seen in FIG. 2, each male buckle part 40 has a central post 52 extending forwardly for guiding the movement of the male buckle part 40 during the coupling with the main buckle 42. On each side of each central post is a resilient finger 54, movable by an operator, toward the central post 52 coupling and uncoupling with respect to the main buckle 42.
The third strap of the seat belt arrangement is the crotch strap 58 adapted to extend upwardly from the bottom component 16 to the waist straps 34 and 36 between the legs of a child seated in the high chair 10. The crotch strap 58 has its remote end permanently attached to the lower face of the bottom component 16 of the seat 14 through a screw. This effects a permanent attachment therebetween to preclude removal of the crotch strap 58 from the high chair 10. The front end of the crotch strap 58 is attached through a slot 60 in the main buckle 42, folded back on itself, and stitched 62 in position. As such, the main buckle 42 is always in position for use, always attached to the crotch strap 58, and the waist straps 34 and 36 cannot be utilized without the crotch strap since the main buckle 42 is permanently attached to the crotch strap 58.
The main buckle 42 of the present invention is permanently attached to the crotch strap 58 at a slot 60 at its lower extent. The upper extent of the main buckle 42 includes a pair of aligned female openings 64 for receiving the free ends of the male buckle parts 40 attached to the forward ends of the waist straps 34 and 36. The main buckle 42 also has cutouts 66 on each end, top and bottom, adapted to receive the inwardly flexible resilient fingers 54 of the male buckle parts 40 on the waist straps 34 and 36. The male buckle parts also have an enlarged central post 52 for guiding and aligning the entry of the male buckle parts 40 into central aligned openings of the main buckle 42.
When inserted, the resilient fingers 54 of the male buckle parts 40 will cam down towards the central post 52 due to the curvatures 70 at their remote ends. When fully inserted, the resilient fingers 54 will spring back and intermediate shoulders 74 will engage mating shoulders 76 within the cutouts 66 of the main buckle 42 for permanent attachment until the resilient fingers 54 are eventually urged inwardly toward the central post 52 by a user so that they can be then withdrawn from the main buckle 42. Note is taken that the main buckle 42 may not be put in position for receiving the waist straps 34 and 36 unless the crotch strap 58 is located in proper position for child safety.
The straps, waist and crotch, are fabricated of conventional strapping material, inextensible or essentially inextensive, either natural or synthetic, so that they will not stretch over time. This retention of strap length over prolonged use further promotes child safety. Further, the main buckle and male buckle parts are fabricated of a generally rigid material, metal or preferably a toxically safe plastic, again for child safety.
In operation and use a parent or other attending adult will first place the waist straps across the seat at the line of junction 20 so that the waist straps cross each other and overlap. The parent will then place the child in the seat 14 of the high chair 10. The crotch strap 58 will then be brought upwardly between the child's legs full length until the main buckle 42 is at about the child's waist. Then a first waist strap 34 is coupled to the main buckle through the male buckle part 40. The first waist strap effectively follows an S-shape. The same procedure is then followed for the second waist strap 36 and male buckle part 40. The two waist straps effectively form a FIG. 8 encompassing the child and part of the back components 18. The child is then safely positioned in the high chair. To remove the child, the resilient fingers 54 of one male buckle part 40 are squeezed toward each other and the male buckle part 40 is withdrawn from the main buckle 42. This separates one waist strap 34 from the main buckle 42. The other male buckle part 40 is then withdrawn by the same procedure to separate the second waist strap 36. The child may then be removed from the high chair.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS3052432 *Mar 31, 1961Sep 4, 1962Martin JamesAircraft seats and harness for airmenUS3694029 *Sep 22, 1971Sep 26, 1972Us NavyAircraft seat restraint tensioning mechanismUS3713692 *Mar 2, 1971Jan 30, 1973Mc Cracken MHarness for restraining a child in a chairUS4082349 *May 12, 1976Apr 4, 1978Central Specialties, Inc.Commercial duty high chairUS4402548 *Feb 18, 1981Sep 6, 1983Britax-Excelsior LimitedSafety seats for vehiclesUS4540218 *Jun 6, 1983Sep 10, 1985Allied CorporationSafety belt system for childs chairUS4685741 *Jan 23, 1986Aug 11, 1987Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-SeisakushoChild passenger securing apparatusUS4818016 *Oct 1, 1987Apr 4, 1989James F. MariolHook-on type baby chairDE2422288A1 *May 8, 1974Nov 28, 1974Universal Oil Prod CoFahrzeug-kindersitzGB1187677A * Title not availableGB1374266A * Title not available* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS5084946 *Dec 11, 1990Feb 4, 1992Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.Quick disconnect connectorUS5438737 *Apr 14, 1994Aug 8, 1995National Molding CorporationSnap closure type buckle with quick releaseUS5445676 *Oct 12, 1994Aug 29, 1995F.T.L. Co., Ltd.Method and apparatus for manufacturing semiconductor devicesUS5507550 *Jun 6, 1994Apr 16, 1996Hasbro, Inc.HighchairUS5509719 *Nov 4, 1994Apr 23, 1996Cosco, Inc.Multi-position chairUS5527090 *Nov 4, 1994Jun 18, 1996Cosco, Inc.Child seat tray assemblyUS5540403 *Nov 28, 1994Jul 30, 1996Standley; Jeff W.Airplane seat child safety harnessUS5590896 *Sep 9, 1994Jan 7, 1997Fisher-Price, Inc.StrollerUS5615925 *Sep 26, 1995Apr 1, 1997Cosco, Inc.Article holder for child seatUS5669624 *Apr 12, 1996Sep 23, 1997Fisher-Price, Inc.StrollerUS5685604 *Sep 26, 1995Nov 11, 1997Cosco, Inc.Child-restraint booster seatUS6089653 *Sep 25, 1998Jul 18, 2000The First Years Inc.Adjustable high chair and carrierUS6543847Jul 9, 2001Apr 8, 2003Cosco Management, Inc.Juvenile seat assembly having harness strap retainer apparatusUS6588849Jul 9, 2001Jul 8, 2003Cosco Management, Inc.Juvenile seat assembly having crotch strap positioning apparatusUS7568758Jan 2, 2008Aug 4, 2009Kolcraft EnterprisesHigh chairs and methods to use high chairsUS7883145Jun 30, 2009Feb 8, 2011Kolcraft EnterprisesHigh chairs and methods to use high chairsUS8029053Dec 27, 2010Oct 4, 2011Kolcraft Enterprises, Inc.High chairs and methods to use the sameUS9066606 *Apr 28, 2014Jun 30, 2015Carol Archer-HallCollapsible high chair with locking legsUS9439522 *Feb 2, 2015Sep 13, 2016Heartwood Creations, Inc.Bands with buckles and methods and apparatus for displaying band and buckle componentsUS20110227384 *Mar 2, 2011Sep 22, 2011Mattel, Inc.Reconfigurable support system for childrenWO1995019125A1 *Jan 12, 1995Jul 20, 1995Peter OpsvikArrangement in a chair, especially a chair for children* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification297/467, 24/625, 24/579.11, 24/DIG.35, 297/468International ClassificationA47D15/00, A47D13/08Cooperative ClassificationY10T24/45084, Y10T24/45581, Y10S24/35, A47D15/006European ClassificationA47D15/00F2Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionSep 19, 1989ASAssignmentOwner name: SPALDING & EVENFLO COMPANIES, INC., FLORIDAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:GLOVER, RICHARD W.;REEL/FRAME:005151/0076Effective date: 19890912Jan 16, 1990ASAssignmentOwner name: CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC., AS AGENTFree format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SPALDING & EVENFLO COMPANIES, INC.5750A NORTH NOOVER BLVD., TAMPA, FL. 33630, A CORP. OF DE.;REEL/FRAME:005249/0749Effective date: 19900103Oct 1, 1991ASAssignmentOwner name: LISCO, INC. A CORP. OF DELAWARE, FLORIDAFree format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SPALDING & EVENFLO COMPANIES, INC. A CORP. OF DELAWARE;REEL/FRAME:005891/0200Effective date: 19911001Apr 4, 1994FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Nov 3, 1994ASAssignmentOwner name: SPALDING & EVENFLO COMPANIES, INC., FLORIDAFree format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC.;REEL/FRAME:007188/0928Effective date: 19921202May 12, 1998REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedMay 20, 1998ASAssignmentOwner name: BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST & SAVINGS ASSOCIATIFree format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNORS:EVENFLO & SPALDING HOLDINGS CORPORATION;SPALDING & EVENFLO COMPANIES, INC.;EVENFLO COMPANY, INC.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:009342/0379Effective date: 19980330May 22, 1998ASAssignmentOwner name: BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST & SAVINGS ASSOCIATIFree format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNORS:EVENFLO & SPALDING HOLDINGS CORPORATION;SPALDING & EVENFLO COMPANIES, INC.;EVENFLO COMPANY, INC.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:009516/0369Effective date: 19980330Owner name: BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST & SAVINGS ASSOCIATIFree format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:EVENFLO & SPALDING HOLDINGS CORPORATION;SPALDING & EVENFLO COMPANIES, INC.;EVENFLO COMPANY, INC.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:009227/0574Effective date: 19980331Jun 25, 1998ASAssignmentOwner name: EVENFLO COMPANY, INC., OHIOFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:LISCO, INC;REEL/FRAME:009827/0269Effective date: 19980520Sep 8, 1998ASAssignmentOwner name: BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST AND SAVINGS ASSOCIAFree format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNORS:EVENFLO COMPANY, INC.;LISCO FEEDING, INC.;LISCO FURNITURE, INC.;REEL/FRAME:009430/0456Effective date: 19980820Oct 18, 1998LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesDec 29, 1998FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 19981016RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services