ADJUSTABLE BOOSTER SEAT
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to an adjustable children's booster seat. In various embodiments, the booster seat includes a child support (e.g., a child seat) having a user-adjustable height and tilt angle. In particular, various embodiments of the booster seat include one or more improved tilt control devices and height control devices configured to enable a user to easily adjust the child support's height and tilt angle. In certain embodiments, the booster seat's frame is also configured to have a narrow profile enabling the booster seat to fit on a wide variety of chairs.
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This application claims priority from provisional U.S. application Ser. No. 61/383,326 entitled “Adjustable Booster Seat,” which was filed on Sep. 15, 2010 and is herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
Various embodiments of the present invention described herein generally relate to an adjustable booster seat for a child and, in particular, to an adjustable booster seat having a child support with an adjustable height and tilt angle.
2. Description of Related Art
Children's booster seats are commonly used to provide an elevated seating surface for a child. For example, many booster seats are configured to be placed upon an adult chair in order to provide a seating surface that is better suited for supporting a child and elevated above the seating surface of the adult chair. Such booster seats are often used when feeding a child as it is desirable for the child to be seated in an elevated position that is nearer to the surface of a dining table or more easily accessible by a parent. However, the preferred position for a child during feeding can change as the child matures. For example, the preferred seating position for an infant may be relatively high to accommodate the infant's short height and may be reclined as the infant many be unable to sit upright in a chair. Likewise, the preferred seating position for a toddler may be lower to accommodate the toddler's taller height and less reclined as the toddler is able to sit upright.
In order to provide a variable seating position for children of different ages and sizes, more recent booster seats have been configured such that their height and recline angle can be adjusted. For example, U.S. Publication No. 2010/0181808 discloses a seat configured to swivel, recline, and raise to accommodate a child during feeding. However, existing booster seats provide such variable seating positions through the use of large, complex seat repositioning mechanisms. To accommodate these mechanisms, existing booster seats are often excessively wide, making them difficult to fit on certain chairs (e.g., adult chairs having armrests). In addition, the complexity of these seat repositioning mechanisms makes the booster seats costly to manufacture, difficult to use, heavier to carry, and less reliable.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved adjustable children's booster seat that incorporates a simple, low-cost, reliable, lightweight, and easy to use mechanism for adjusting the seating position of the booster seat.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONVarious embodiments of the present invention are directed to an adjustable children's booster seat. According to various embodiments, the adjustable booster seat comprises a child support configured for supporting a child, and a frame configured for resting on a support surface and suspending the child support above the support surface. The frame comprises one or more vertically adjustable arms operatively connected to lateral sides of the child support such that the child support can rotate about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation. The booster seat further comprises at least one tilt control device configured to be actuated by a user between a secured configuration and an adjustable configuration. The tilt control device permits the child support to be rotated about the horizontal axis of rotation when in the adjustable configuration and prevents the child support from being rotated about the horizontal axis of rotation when in the secured configuration. The booster seat further comprises one or more height control devices configured to be actuated by a user between a secured configuration and an adjustable configuration. The one or more height control devices permit the vertically adjustable arms to be moved upwardly and downwardly with respect to the frame when in the adjustable configuration and prevent the vertically adjustable arms from moving downwardly with respect to the frame when in the secured configuration.
Various other embodiments of the present invention are directed to an adjustable children's booster seat comprising a child support configured for supporting a child; a frame configured for resting on a support surface and suspending the child support above the support surface, the frame comprising one or more vertically adjustable arms operatively connected to lateral sides of the child support, and one or more height control devices configured to be actuated by a user between a secured configuration and an adjustable configuration. In various embodiments, the one or more height control devices permit the vertically adjustable arms to be moved upwardly and downwardly with respect to the frame when in the adjustable configuration and prevent the vertically adjustable arms from moving downwardly with respect to the frame when in the secured configuration.
Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to an adjustable children's booster seat. According to various embodiments, the booster seat generally includes a frame configured to suspend a child support (e.g., a child seat) such that both the height and tilt angle of the child support can be adjusted. In particular, one or more tilt control devices and height control devices are provided on the booster seat to enable a user to easily adjust the child support height and tilt angle. The frame is also generally configured to have a narrow profile, thereby enabling the booster seat to fit on a wide variety of chairs. In certain embodiments of the booster seat, such as those adapted for feeding a baby, the booster seat also includes a removable tray and one or more straps configured to safely secure the booster seat to a chair.
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the frame's base 102 is a generally rigid platform configured for resting on a support surface (e.g., the surface of a chair) and providing a stable support base for the remaining components of the booster seat 5. As described in greater detail herein, the base 102 also defines a plurality of strap connection points 104, each of which comprises one or more apertures through which a securing strap can be threaded and attached to the base 102. In addition, as shown in the rear view of
The frame's upright members 110 extend upwardly from lateral sides of the base 102 and are generally configured to support the vertically adjustable arms 120 and, thereby, the child support 20. According to various embodiments, the upright members 110 may be separate components affixed to the base 102, or may be formed with the base 102 as a single molded part. In the embodiment of
As noted above, the upright members 110 and vertically adjustable arms 120 include a height control device to effectively adjust the height of the child support 20.
At the lower end of its interior channel 112, the upright member 110 includes two rows of teeth 114. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the teeth 114 extends outwardly from the inner walls of the channel 112 and is angled slightly upwardly toward the upper opening 113. As such, each pair of adjacent teeth 114 defines an angled cavity 115. As described in greater detail herein, the teeth 114 and cavities 115 are configured to engage a portion of a vertically adjustable arm 120 inserted into the channel 112 as part of a height control device.
In particular, as shown in
However, by pulling the handle 126 upward, a user can actuate the arm 120 to an adjustable configuration in which the height of the arm 120 can be adjusted. As will be appreciated from
As the child support 20 is operatively connected to the vertically adjustable arms 120, adjusting the height of the arms 120 with respect to the upright members 110 necessarily adjusts the height of the child support 20. Accordingly, in the illustrated embodiment of
According to other embodiments, springs may be disposed in the chambers 128 in order to bias the fingers 125 and handle 126 to an extended position. Such springs positioned in the chambers 128 may be provided in place of, or in addition to, the spring 129 shown in
In the illustrated embodiment of
The rotating member 131 is rotatably secured to the fixed member 132 such that it may rotate about an axis 133. In the illustrated embodiment, the axis 133 is generally perpendicular to the illustrated surface of the elongate body 121 and, as such, is substantially horizontal and would extend outwardly from the page of
In order to control the rotation of the child support 20, the fixed member 132 includes a plurality of teeth 134 defining cavities 135 therebetweeen. The rotating member 131 includes a trigger member 136, which is connected to the rotating member 131 by a pin 137 such that the trigger member 136 can rotate about the pin 137. The trigger member 136 also includes a finger 138 configured to engage the fixed member's teeth 134 (e.g., by being positioned within one of the cavities 135). As shown in
According to various embodiments, the tilt control device 130 is configured to be actuated between a secured configuration, in which the child support 20 is prevented from rotating with respect to the vertically adjustable arms 120, and an adjustable configuration, in which the child support 20 is permitted to rotate about the axis 133.
To actuate the tilt control device 130 to an adjustable configuration, a user may press the exposed surface of the trigger member 136 such that it rotates about the pin 137, thereby causing its finger 138 to be moved out of contact with the teeth 134. With the finger 138 disengaged from the teeth 134, the rotating member 131—and thereby the child support 20—are free to rotate about the axis 133. To actuate the tilt control device 130 back to a secured configuration, the user may allow the finger 138 to realign with one of the fixed member's cavities 135 and release the trigger member 136 such that the finger 138 reengages the teeth 134. In the illustrated embodiment of
According to various embodiments, a spring may be provided within the rotating member 131 in order to bias the trigger member 136 to the secured configuration. In addition, the trigger member 136 may be dimensioned such that, when it is in the adjustable configuration and rotated by a user, the finger 138 skips over the top surfaces of the teeth 134 in order to provide a “clicking” sensation to the user that indicates when the finger 138 has been realigned with a different cavity 135. Furthermore, the fixed member 132 may be provided with additional teeth to provide additional tilt angle settings for the tilt control device 130. In yet another embodiment, the position and orientation of certain components of the tilt control device may be reversed. For example, in one embodiment, the teeth 134 and cavities 135 are defined on the trigger member 136, while the finger 138 is defined within the fixed member 132. In addition, as will be appreciated from
In the illustrated embodiment of
As noted above, the child support 20 also includes a removable backrest 204. Referring back to
In addition, certain embodiments of the booster seat 5 include one or more securing straps configured to secure the booster seat 5 to a chair.
According to various embodiments, the booster seat 5 shown and described herein provides a stable child support having a height and tilt angle that can be easily adjusted by a user. In addition, the components of the booster seat 5 providing this functionality can be easily assembled, have a low manufacturing cost, and are very reliable.
CONCLUSIONMany modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
Claims
1. An adjustable children's booster seat comprising:
- a child support configured for supporting a child;
- a frame configured for resting on a support surface and suspending the child support above the support surface, wherein the frame comprises one or more vertically adjustable arms operatively connected to lateral sides of the child support such that the child support can rotate about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation;
- at least one tilt control device configured to be actuated by a user between a secured configuration and an adjustable configuration, wherein the tilt control device permits the child support to be rotated about the horizontal axis of rotation when in the adjustable configuration and prevents the child support from being rotated about the horizontal axis of rotation when in the secured configuration; and
- one or more height control devices configured to be actuated by a user between a secured configuration and an adjustable configuration, wherein the one or more height control devices permit the vertically adjustable arms to be moved upwardly and downwardly with respect to the frame when in the adjustable configuration and prevent the vertically adjustable arms from moving downwardly with respect to the frame when in the secured configuration.
2. The adjustable children's booster seat of claim 1, wherein the tilt control device comprises a locking mechanism configured to selectively secure the child support at two or more predefined tilt angles with respect to the frame.
3. The adjustable children's booster seat of claim 2, wherein the tilt control device comprises:
- a fixed member operatively connected to one of the one or more vertically adjustable arms, wherein the fixed member defines one or more teeth; and
- a rotating member operatively connected to the seat and rotatably connected to the fixed member, wherein the rotating member includes a trigger member configured to be actuated by a user to selectively engage the fixed member's teeth;
- wherein the tilt control device is in the secured configuration when the trigger member is engaged with the fixed member's teeth and wherein the tilt control device is in the adjustable configuration when the trigger member is disengaged from the fixed member's teeth.
4. The adjustable children's booster seat of claim 1, wherein the height control device comprises a locking mechanism configured to selectively secure the child support at two or more predefined heights with respect to the frame.
5. The adjustable children's booster seat of claim 4, wherein the frame comprises one or more upright members, at least one of the upright members defining a vertical channel dimensioned for receiving at least one of the vertically adjustable arms; and
- wherein the height control device comprises: a plurality of teeth defined within the vertical channel of the at least one upright member; and one or more retractable fingers positioned on the at least one vertically adjustable arm, wherein the one or more retractable fingers can be selectively retracted and extended via a movable handle disposed on the at least one vertically adjustable arm, and wherein the one or more retractable fingers are configured for selectively engaging the plurality of teeth defined within the vertical channel when the at least one vertically adjustable arm is inserted within the vertical channel; and
- wherein the height control device is in the secured configuration when the one or more fingers are engaged with the vertical channel's teeth and wherein the height control device is in the adjustable configuration when the one or more fingers are disengaged from the vertical channel's teeth.
6. The adjustable booster seat of claim 1, wherein the at least one tilt control device comprises a single tilt control device attached to the child support and rotatably connected to one of the one or more vertically adjustable arms.
7. The adjustable booster seat of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises a pair of upright members, each upright member defining a vertical channel;
- wherein the one or more vertically adjustable arms comprise a pair of vertically adjustable arms, each of the vertically adjustable arms being operatively connected to a lateral side of the child support and positioned at least partially within one of the upright members; and
- wherein the one or more height control devices comprise a pair of height control devices, each height control device being configured to selectively secure one of the vertically adjustable arms at a user preferred height within one of the upright members.
8. The adjustable booster seat of claim 7, wherein the upright members have a length greater than their width, and wherein the upright members are positioned proximate lateral edges of the frame.
9. The adjustable booster seat of claim 1, wherein child support comprises a seat having a rigid shell defining a seating surface.
10. The adjustable booster seat of claim 1, wherein the seat includes a removable backrest.
11. The adjustable booster seat of claim 1, further comprising a removable tray configured to be removably secured to the one or more vertically adjustable arms such that, when the tray is secured, the child support can rotate independent of the tray.
12. The adjustable booster seat of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a base configured for resting on the seating surface of a chair.
13. The adjustable booster seat of claim 12, further comprising one or more securing straps operatively connected to the frame and configured for being releasably attached to the chair in order to secure the booster seat to the chair.
14. An adjustable children's booster seat comprising:
- a child support configured for supporting a child;
- a frame configured for resting on a support surface and suspending the child support above the support surface, wherein the frame comprises one or more vertically adjustable arms operatively connected to lateral sides of the child support; and
- one or more height control devices configured to be actuated by a user between a secured configuration and an adjustable configuration, wherein the one or more height control devices permit the vertically adjustable arms to be moved upwardly and downwardly with respect to the frame when in the adjustable configuration and prevent the vertically adjustable arms from moving downwardly with respect to the frame when in the secured configuration.
15. The adjustable children's booster seat of claim 14, wherein the height control device comprises a locking mechanism configured to selectively secure the child support at two or more predefined heights with respect to the frame.
16. The adjustable children's booster seat of claim 15, wherein the frame comprises one or more upright members, at least one of the upright members defining a vertical channel dimensioned for receiving at least one of the vertically adjustable arms; and
- wherein the height control device comprises: a plurality of teeth defined within the vertical channel of the at least one upright member; and one or more retractable fingers positioned on the at least one vertically adjustable arm, wherein the one or more retractable fingers can be selectively retracted and extended via a movable handle disposed on the at least one vertically adjustable arm, and wherein the one or more retractable fingers are configured for selectively engaging the plurality of teeth defined within the vertical channel when the at least one vertically adjustable arm is inserted within the vertical channel; and
- wherein the height control device is in the secured configuration when the one or more fingers are engaged with the vertical channel's teeth and wherein the height control device is in the adjustable configuration when the one or more fingers are disengaged from the vertical channel's teeth.
17. The adjustable booster seat of claim 14, wherein the frame further comprises a pair of upright members, each upright member defining a vertical channel;
- wherein the one or more vertically adjustable arms comprise a pair of vertically adjustable arms, each of the vertically adjustable arms being operatively connected to a lateral side of the child support and positioned at least partially within one of the upright members; and
- wherein the one or more height control devices comprise a pair of height control devices, each height control device being configured to selectively secure one of the vertically adjustable arms at a user preferred height within one of the upright members.
18. The adjustable booster seat of claim 17, wherein the upright members have a length greater than their width, and wherein the upright members are positioned proximate lateral edges of the frame.
19. The adjustable booster seat of claim 14, wherein the seat includes a removable backrest.
20. The adjustable booster seat of claim 14, wherein the frame comprises a base configured for resting on the seating surface of a chair.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 15, 2011
Publication Date: Mar 15, 2012
Applicant: KIDS II, INC. (Alpharetta, GA)
Inventors: Alex E. Soriano (Atlanta, GA), John Matthew Thomson (Johns Creek, GA), Jacob Sclare (Dacula, GA), Charles Simons (Alpharetta, GA), Steve Burns (Cumming, GA)
Application Number: 13/233,991
International Classification: A47D 1/10 (20060101); A47C 31/00 (20060101); A47B 83/02 (20060101);