CUP HOLDER FOR USE WITH HIGH CHAIR

Abstract

Cup holder assemblies, methods of using cup holder assemblies and a high chair or tabletop with a cup holder assembly are disclosed. The cup holder assembly may include a mounting assembly configured to mount on a high chair or tabletop and a cup holder which is removably mounted on the mounting assembly so that the mounting assembly may remain on the high chair or tabletop when the cup holder is removed. The mounting assembly may be removable from the high chair or tabletop, and may remain on stackable high chairs during stacking thereof.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/596,275, filed Feb. 8, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to cup holders, especially those which are mountable on a high chair or table. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cup holder which is easily removable from the high chair or table. Specifically, the present invention includes a cup holder for use with a high chair in which the cup holder may be removed from the high chair while a mounting assembly remains on the high chair to allow high chairs in restaurants to be stacked with the mounting assembly thereon.

2. Background Information

Various types of cup holders have been created for use with chairs, tables and within cars or other vehicles for example. As parents know so well, infants and toddlers are apt to knock over their drinks. Thus, it would be helpful to have an appropriate cup holder to minimize this possibility while also providing additional space on a table or tray by placing a glass or cup in a cup holder mounted beside the tray or table.

In addition, a particular problem arises when an infant or toddler is seated in a high chair at a table related to the fact that the child's head is much lower or closer to the top surface of the table compared to an adult. As a result, when the cup is sitting on the table top, a straw sticking out of the cup is too high (higher than the child's mouth) for the child to use without tipping the cup. The child tends to tilt the cup too far so that the liquid in the cup comes out through the straw hole formed in the lid, leading to messy spills. Especially since most restaurant straws these days are straight (not the accordion-style flexible type), parents can often be found trying to teach toddlers to keep the cup upright while the parent lowers the cup to the side for the child to drink from the straw. In an attempt to avoid spills, parents quite often keep the cup out of the child's reach and present it to the child only when a drink is needed.

While many restaurants provide high chairs for infants and toddlers, restaurants often do not provide any type of cup holders for use by infants and toddlers. Certain types of high chairs are formed with trays on which various dinnerware such as plates, cups and silverware may be placed. Some of these trays are formed with built-in cup holders. Further, some of these trays are configured to be removed from the chair to make it easier for the child to get in and out of the high chair. However, the inclusion of such trays on high chairs may substantially increase the cost of the chair. Thus, many restaurants currently use high chairs which do not include such trays and are rather configured to be used with the standard tables provided within the restaurant. Another advantage of these high chairs without trays is the ability to stack them on one another in order to minimize the amount of valuable space needed to store the high chairs when not in use. Thus, especially where a restaurant uses high chairs without trays, there is a need for a convenient cup holder which may be mounted on a high chair or table top. The present invention addresses the above-noted problems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention may include a cup holder assembly comprising a mounting assembly adapted to mount on a high chair or tabletop; and a cup holder having a secured position in which the cup holder is secured to the mounting assembly and a separated position in which the cup holder is separated from the mounting assembly whereby the cup holder assembly is configured to allow the cup holder to be in the separated position when the mounting assembly is mounted on the high chair or tabletop.

In another aspect, the invention may include a combination comprising a high chair; a cup holder; a first connector member secured to the cup holder; and a second connector member having a secured position in which the second connector member is secured to the first connector member so that the cup holder is mounted on the high chair and a released position in which the second connector member is separated from the first connector member so that the cup holder is dismounted from the high chair.

In another aspect, the invention may include a method comprising the steps of providing a cup holder assembly comprising a cup holder and a mounting assembly; securing the mounting assembly to a high chair or tabletop to mount the cup holder assembly on the high chair or tabletop; and removing the cup holder from the mounting assembly while the mounting assembly remains secured to the high chair or tabletop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Example embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a first example embodiment of the cup holder assembly of the present invention mounted on a typical restaurant high chair, which is viewed from its right side.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, which shows the first example embodiment in a left side elevational view and looks rearwardly on portions of the high chair.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the strap assembly of the first example embodiment in a substantially flat stretched out configuration.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the strap assembly shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged exploded view showing the upper right portion of the high chair as viewed from the left side, the strap assembly in its mounted position as viewed from the front, and the cup holder and cup as viewed from the rear.

FIG. 6 is a right side elevational view showing one high chair stacked atop another high chair wherein the two high chairs are shown from the right side and strap assemblies of the first example embodiment are mounted on the high chairs and shown in a front elevational view.

FIG. 6A is a front elevational view of the stacked chairs of FIG. 6 and also shows a cup holder mounted on the top high chair.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 and shows the cup holder mounted on a high chair with a second example embodiment of a mounting assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a right side elevational view of the cup holder mounted on a tabletop (shown in section) with a third example embodiment of the mounting assembly of the present invention.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A first example embodiment of the cup holder assembly of the present invention is shown generally at 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2; a second example embodiment of the cup holder assembly is shown generally at 1A in FIG. 7; and a third example embodiment is shown generally at 1B in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 1, assembly 1 is mounted on a typical restaurant high chair 2 having a top 4, a bottom 6 seated on the floor, a front 8, a back 10, a right side 12 (FIGS. 2, 6A) and a left side 13 (FIG. 6A). Front 8 and back 10 define therebetween a longitudinal direction. Left and right sides 12 and 13 define therebetween an axial direction. In general, high chair 2 adjacent top 4 is narrower from front to back than it is adjacent bottom 6. In addition, high chair 2 is likewise narrower from left to right adjacent top 4 than it is adjacent bottom 6, as shown in FIG. 6A. This tapered configuration allows for the well known stacking of the chairs illustrated in FIG. 6. More particularly, high chair 2 includes upwardly elongated angled front right and left uprights 14 and 16 which may be substantially straight and identical to (or mirror images of) one another, upwardly elongated angled back right and left uprights 18 and 20 which also may be substantially straight and identical to (or mirror images of) one another, a substantially flat vertical seat back 22, a substantially straight horizontal axially elongated front bar 24, horizontal longitudinally elongated right and left bottom beams 26 and 28 which may be substantially straight and identical to (or mirror images of) one another, horizontal longitudinally elongated right and left intermediate beams 30 and 32 which may be substantially straight and identical to (or mirror images of) one another, and horizontal longitudinally elongated right and left top beams 34 and 36 which also may be substantially straight and identical to (or mirror images of) one another. High chair 2 may also include horizontal axially elongated front and back bottom beams 33 and 35 which may be substantially straight and identical to (or mirror images of) one another.

Right and left uprights 14 and 16 angle upwardly and rearwardly from adjacent bottom 6 to adjacent top 4. Right front upright 14 has a leftward facing inner side surface 15 (FIG. 6A) which extends from adjacent bottom 6 to adjacent top 4. Left front upright 16 has a rightward facing inner side surface 17 which extends from adjacent bottom 6 to adjacent top 4 and faces inner side surface 15. High chair 2 is typically substantially bilaterally symmetrical about a vertical longitudinal central plane extending from front to back. Thus, for instance, front right upright 14 angles upwardly and to the left from adjacent bottom 6 to adjacent bottom 4, while front left upright 16 similarly angles upwardly and to the right. Back right and left uprights 18 and 20 angle upwardly and forward from adjacent bottom 6 to adjacent top 4. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6A, back right upright 18 angles upwardly and to the left from adjacent bottom 6 to adjacent top 4, while back left upright 20 similarly angles upwardly and to the right. Right rear upright 18 has a leftward facing inner side surface 19 which extends from adjacent bottom 6 to adjacent top 4. Left rear upright 20 has a rightward facing inner side surface 21 which extends from adjacent bottom 6 to adjacent top 4 and faces inner surface 19.

Seat back 22 is rigidly secured to and extends between back right and left uprights 18 and 20 adjacent top 4. Front bar 24 likewise is rigidly secured to and extends between front right and left uprights 14 and 16 adjacent top 4. Front bottom beam 33 is rigidly secured to and extends between front right upright 14 and front left upright 16 adjacent bottom 6. Similarly, back bottom beam 35 is rigidly secured to and extends between back right upright 18 and back left upright 20 adjacent bottom 6. Right bottom beam 26 extends between and is rigidly secured to right uprights 14 and 18 adjacent bottom 6, while left bottom beam 28 likewise extends between and is rigidly secured to left uprights 16 and 20 adjacent bottom 6. Right bottom beam 26 has a leftward facing inner surface 27 (FIG. 6A) which extends from adjacent front right upright 14 to adjacent back right upright 18. Left bottom beam 28 has a rightward facing inner surface 29 which extends from adjacent front left upright 16 to adjacent back left upright 20 and faces inner surface 27. Right intermediate beam 30 extends between and is rigidly secured to right beams 14 and 18 typically in the upper half of high chair 2 and spaced downwardly from top 4 while left intermediate beam 32 is at the same height as beam 30 and likewise is rigidly secured to and extends between the left uprights 16 and 20.

Right top beam 34 extends between and is rigidly secured to right uprights 14 and 18 adjacent top 4, while left top beam 36 is at the same height as beam 34 and likewise extends between and is rigidly secured to left uprights 16 and 20 adjacent top 4. Each of top beams 34 and 36 has an upwardly facing top surface or top 43 and a downwardly facing bottom surface or bottom 45. Right top beam 34 has a generally vertical flat leftward facing inner side surface 47A (FIGS. 2, 6A) and an opposed generally parallel and vertical flat rightward facing outer side surface 49A (FIG. 6A), wherein side surfaces 47A and 49A extend from adjacent top 43 to adjacent bottom 45 and from adjacent the front of beam 34 and front right upright 14 to adjacent the back of beam 34 and rear right upright 18. Left top beam 36 has a generally vertical flat rightward facing inner side surface 47B (FIG. 6A) and an opposed generally parallel and vertical flat leftward facing outer side surface 49B, wherein side surfaces 47B and 49B extend from adjacent top 43 of beam 36 to adjacent bottom 45 of beam 36 and from adjacent the front of beam 36 and front left upright 16 to adjacent the back of beam 36 and rear left upright 20. Inner side surfaces 47A and 47B face one another, while outer side surfaces 49A and 49B face away from one another. High chair 2 also includes a substantially horizontal flat seat bottom 38. Seat bottom 38 is rigidly secured to and extends between right and left intermediate beams 30 and 32, which thus serve as seat bottom supports. Chair 2 typically also includes a strap assembly (not shown) to help secure a child when seated on seat bottom 38.

High chair 2 defines a lower space 37 which may serve as a stacking space for receiving an upper portion of another high chair when stacked thereon. More particularly, space 37 is located between the four uprights 14, 16, 18 and 20, as well as between the lower right and left beams 26 and 28, between bottom front and back beams 33 and 35, and below seat bottom 38. Space 37 has a bottom entrance opening 39 through which the upper portion of another high chair may be received. High chair 2 also defines an upper space 41 which serves as a child receiving seating space for an infant or toddler to sit in. Inner surfaces 47A and 47B of beams or arms 34 and 36 face child receiving seating space 41, while outer surfaces 49A and 49B face away from child receiving seating space 41. High chair 2 is thus the type of high chair which is configured to be stacked whereby a restaurant may minimize the required storage space when not in use, as discussed in the Background section of the present application. High chair 2 is also free of an eating tray attached thereto, whether permanently or removably.

With primary reference to FIG. 2, cup holder assembly 1 includes a rigid cup holder 40 for holding a drinking cup 42 therein and a mounting assembly 44 which may include a strap assembly 46. Mounting assembly 44 has a mounted or attached position (FIGS. 2, 5, 6) in which mounting assembly 44 is mounted or attached to high chair 2 (as detailed further below) and a dismounted or detached position (FIGS. 3-4) in which mounting assembly 44 is dismounted or detached from high chair 2 and separated from high chair 2. Assembly 1 may further include a connector or buckle 48 which in the example embodiment is a snap fit connector or buckle. Buckle 48 includes a first connector member or buckle member 50 and a second connector member or buckle member 52 which are releasably secured to one another by a snap fit connection. Connector 48 thus has a secured or connected position (FIG. 2) in which mounting members 50 and 52 are engaged and connected or secured to one another, and an unsecured, disconnected, released or separated position (FIG. 5) in which members 50 and 52 are separated from one another. More particularly, cup holder 40 and buckle member 50 are secured as a unit to buckle member 52 and strap assembly 46 as a unit in the secured position of FIG. 2 and are separated from one another in the unsecured position of FIG. 5.

Cup holder 40 is a rigid structure which is typically formed of a rigid plastic material and which typically includes a rigid flat horizontal bottom wall 54 which is typically circular when viewed from below. Cup holder 40 further includes a tapered annular side wall 56 which is rigidly secured to and extends upwardly from the outer perimeter of bottom wall 54. Side wall 56 typically tapers upwardly and outwardly so that the upper portion is wider than the lower portion. The side wall of cup holder 40 includes tapered side wall 56, a rigid annular lip 58 secured to the top of side wall 56 and extending upwardly and radially outwardly therefrom, and a cylindrical upper annular side wall or ring 60 which is secured to and extends upwardly from lip 58. In the example embodiment, bottom wall 54, side wall 56 and lip 58 are molded as an integral one piece member while ring 50 is formed as a separate member which is typically rigidly secured to the top of lip 58 by sonic welding, adhesive or the like. Although cup holder 40 may be molded as a single piece, the use of ring 60 simplifies manufacturing particularly with the attachment of buckle member 50 thereto. The bottom wall and side wall of cup holder 40 define there within a cup-receiving cavity 62 having a top entrance opening 64 for receiving there through cup 42 into cavity 62.

With primary reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, strap assembly 46 includes a flexible flat strap 66 which is folded over on itself adjacent one end and secured to itself such as by stitching 68 in order to form an end loop 70 defining a through passage and serving as a first end 72 of strap 66 opposite a second end 74 thereof between which strap 66 is elongated. Strap 66 is typically formed of a woven fabric although other suitable flexible materials may be used. Along one side of strap 66 is secured a first strip or portion of a quick release fastener and a second strip or portion 78 of the quick release fastener. This quick release fastener is typically in the form of hook and loop fasteners or a similar structure such that one of its strips is the hook portion and the other of the strips is the loop portion or the like so that the first and second strips can easily be secured to one another simply by manually pressing them together and likewise easily released from one another by pulling them apart such as by grasping second portion 78 adjacent end 74 and pulling the second strip 78 away from first strip 76 to separate the two portions. Assembly 46 further includes a rigid ring 80 such as a D ring or another closed loop configuration such that ring 80 is secured to the strap with a portion of ring 80 extending through the through passage defined by end loop 70 and with end 72 of strap passing through a strap receiving aperture 82 defined by ring 80. In the example embodiment, the strap assembly includes only a single strap 66 and only a single ring 80, which is in keeping with the simplicity of the configuration and also helps to minimize the cost of production.

With continued primary reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, buckle member 52, which is typically formed of a rigid plastic material, includes a typically rigid front portion 83 secured to the front side of strap 66 atop or forward of part of first strip 76, and a typically rigid component shown here as a flat connector member back portion or backing plate 85 which is secured to the back of strap 66 and has a rear surface 87 which is spaced rearwardly of the back of strap 66 and may be flat. More particularly, front and back portions 83 and 85 are rigidly secured to one another via connectors (not shown) which pass through strap 66. Thus, strap 66 is sandwiched or clamped between front and rear portions 83 and 85. Front portion 83 defines a cavity 84 having a top entrance opening 86 configured to receive there through an insert portion of member 50. Right and left entrance openings 88 and 90 of cavity 84 also communicate with the outside of front portion 83 along the right and left thereof respectively. Front portion 83 has a pair of substantially horizontal downwardly facing keeper ledges or stops 92 at the top of left and right openings 88 and 90.

With primary reference to FIG. 5, buckle member 50, which is typically formed of a rigid plastic material, includes a rigid body 94 with left and right connector arms 96 which are rigidly secured to and cantilevered downwardly from the lower end of body 94. Arms 96 include upwardly facing and generally horizontal catch ledges 98. The lower free ends of arms 96 are respectively movable back and forth to the left and right as shown at Arrows A in FIG. 5 during flexing pivotal movement about their upper end connections with body 94. Body 94 is rigidly secured or affixed to the circular outer surface of side wall or ring 60 by a pair of rivets 100. In the example embodiment, rivets 100 are formed of aluminum or another non-rustable material. However, other securing mechanisms may be used instead of rivets 100. Cup holder 40, buckle member 50 and the securing mechanism in the form of rivets 100 are thus formed of non-rust materials whereby the unit formed by these components is well suited to be washed in a dishwasher or by hand in order to facilitate keeping the cup holders clean at home, in restaurants or elsewhere.

In use, strap assembly 66 and buckle member 52 are typically secured to the horizontal beams or arms of the high chair, such as arm 34, which typically serves as an armrest of the high chair. Although strap assembly 46 may be secured to either side of the high chair, it is represented for purposes of illustration on the right arm. In order to secure strap assembly 46 on arm 34, the back of the strap and backing plate 85 are positioned adjacent and in contact with arm 34 in order that strap 66 may be wrapped around arm 34 so that end 74 thereof may be inserted through aperture 82 of ring 80 and folded back on itself and pulled to tighten the strap around arm 34 and so that portion 78 of the strap fastener on the front side of the strap engages portion 76 on the front side of the strap to form a releasable connection as shown in FIG. 2. In the example embodiment, this connection between portions 76 and 78 is primarily along the bottom of arm 34.

Back portion or backing plate 85 rear surface 87 is in contact with outer side surface 49A of arm 34 when mounting assembly 44 is secured to arm 34. Rear surface 87 in this mounted or attached position of mounting assembly 44 is typically substantially vertical. The engagement between surfaces 87 and 49A helps to stabilize strap 66 and lower buckle member 52 when secured on arm 34. In addition, the contact between surfaces 87 and 49A in combination with the use of strap 66 extending around arm 34 prevents strap 66 from slipping in a revolving manner about arm 34, thus helping to ensure that buckle member 52 and that the entire cup holder assembly 1 remains substantially fixed relative to high chair 2 when mounted thereon. In the example embodiment, backing plate 85 is the only rigid structure of cup holder assembly 1 which contacts high chair 2 with the possible exception of ring 80. Plate 85 typically extends only along one side of arm 34, namely the flat outer surface 49A which faces away from space 41. Thus, backing portion 85 typically does not include any structure which extends along other sides of arm 34, such as along top or top side 43, the bottom or bottom side 45 or the opposed inner side or surface 47A which faces space 41. Plate 85 in its entirety thus typically extends outwardly away from and beyond outer side surface 49A of arm 34 in a direction away from space 41 when strap assembly 46 is secured to arm 34. In the example embodiment, no portion of back portion or plate 85 extends upwardly beyond the top of arm 34 and likewise no portion of back portion or plate 85 extends downwardly below the bottom of arm 34. It may also be stated that in the example embodiment, no portion of back portion or plate 85 extends higher than the top of arm 34, no portion of back portion or plate 85 extends lower than the bottom of arm 34, no portion of back portion or plate 85 extends directly above the top of arm 34, and no portion of back portion or plate 85 extends directly below the bottom of arm 34. Strap assembly 46 may be quickly removed from high chair 2 simply by pulling on strap 66 adjacent end 74 to peel or separate portion 76 from portion 78 of the quick release fastener. Thus, portion 76 is peelably removable from portion 78. Once portions 76 and 78 are separated, strap 66 can be simply pulled back through aperture 82 in order to remove the strap assembly from arm 34.

While strap assembly 46 is secured to arm 34, cup holder 40 may be easily mounted on strap assembly 46 by moving cup holder downwardly (Arrow B in FIG. 2) so that the insert portion of buckle member 50 including arms 96 is inserted downwardly through entrance opening 86 into cavity 84. During this downward insertion of arms 96, the lower free ends thereof engage left and right walls of portion 83 just above ledges 92, which forces the free ends inwardly toward one another via a flexing pivotal movement of arms 96 until the lower portions of arms 96 enter openings 88 and 90 with catch ledges 98 lower than keeper ledges 92, so that the resilient or spring nature of arms 96 causes the lower ends to spring outwardly away from one another into openings 88 and 90 respectively to snap into a secured position such that ledges or stops 98 engage or are closely adjacent keeper ledges or stops 92 so that connector member 50 is secured to connector member 52 and cup holder 40 is secured to mounting assembly 44 and high chair 2. Thus, when an upward force is applied on the mounted cup holder 40, upward movement of cup holder 40 is limited or prevented by engagement of surfaces 98 and 92 of the snap fit connection. However, the user may easily remove cup holder 40 from strap assembly 46 by pressing inwardly on the tabs or lower ends of arms 96 toward one another until ledges 98 move inwardly to a releasing position in which ledges 98 are no longer directly below ledges 92. In the releasing position, the user may remove or separate connector member 50 from connector member 52 by pulling upwardly on cup holder 40 to remove the cup holder from mounting assembly 44 and more particularly to remove the insert portion of member 50 from cavity 84 of member 83 via entrance opening 86.

Thus, cup holder assembly 1 may be easily secured to arm 34 of high chair 2 with cup holder 40 and the snap fit connector 48 positioned to the side of the chair on the opposite side of arm 34 from child receiving space 41. In this secured position, cup holder 40 is well suited to support cup 42, which may be easily inserted and removed from cavity 62 via top entrance opening 64. One of the advantages of using a quick release mounting assembly for securing strap 66 and buckle member 52 to arm 34 is to allow for adjustability of the position of the mounting assembly and thus the cup holder as well. More particularly, either during the initial mounting of strap assembly 46 on the high chair or subsequently, the strap assembly may be adjusted forward or rearward (Arrow C in FIG. 5) to any desired position along arm 34 while the strap is loose or in an unsecured position, and then easily secured at any desired position along arm 34.

Although cup holder assembly 1 uses a removable mounting assembly 44 which may be easily mounted on or attached to high chair 2 and likewise easily dismounted or detached from high chair 2, it is within the scope of the present invention to provide a mounting assembly which is permanently fixed to high chair 2. In one such configuration, the mounting assembly may include, for instance, a connector member such as connector member 52 which is permanently secured to high chair 2, for instance by rivets or other suitable fasteners. Alternately, a high chair may be formed with a connector member which is integrally formed with the high chair, for example, where at least some portion of the high chair (such as an arm similar to arms 34 or 36) is a molded plastic such that a connector member could be molded therewith. The removable type of mounting assembly, such as assembly 44, may be desirable in many circumstances because it allows existing chairs without cup holders to be easily retrofitted with cup holder assembly 1 or another removable cup holder assembly. Whether the cup holder assembly is configured to be removable or permanently fixed to the high chair, one concept of the present invention is to allow the cup holder to be removed from the high chair by removing the cup holder connector member from the connector member secured to the high chair.

FIG. 6 illustrates the usefulness of cup holder assembly 1 with respect to the ability to stack high chairs on one another. More particularly, FIG. 6 shows two substantially identical high chairs 2A and 2B with the second high chair 2B stacked on top of the first high chair 2A. An advantageous concept of cup holder assembly 1 is the ability to easily remove or separate cup holder 40 from the strap assembly 46 or mounting assembly 44 and the portion of connector 48 (here, connector member 52) which remains secured to the respective arm 34 of a given high chair 2. This concept is well suited to restaurants which typically utilize multiple high chairs in their operations. Typically, a restaurant employee such as the waiter, waitress or busboy, etc. will remove cup holder 40 from the mounting assembly which remains on arm 34 of a given high chair 2 and take it to the appropriate cleaning location to be washed. The same employee or another person will wash or clean the cup holder so that the washed or cleaned cup holder may be used again with the same mounting assembly or another mounting assembly, which may be one of mounting assemblies 44, one of mounting assemblies 44A or 44B described further below, or another such mounting assembly which includes a typically identical connector member on which the cup holder connector member is releasably mountable. Thus, for instance, after cup holder connector member 50 has been removed from a given mounting assembly connector member 52 to be washed, cleaned or otherwise, the removed cup holder connector member 50 can then be secured again to the same mounting assembly connector member 52, or alternately be secured to the mounting assembly connector member 52 of a given mounting assembly 44A or mounting assembly connector member 52 of a given mounting assembly 44B or a mounting assembly connector member 52 of a given otherwise modified mounting assembly.

With cup holder 40 removed from the chairs and more particularly removed from a given high chair such as high chair 2A upon which another high chair such as high chair 2B is to be stacked, then the second high chair 2B may be stacked on the first high chair 2A without interference from mounting assembly 44 or any portion of connector 48 (here, connector member 52) which remains secured to the lower high chair 2A. More particularly, cup holder 40 is removed from the mounting assembly including strap assembly 66, which remains on arm 34 of first high chair 2A. While the strap assembly or mounting assembly remains secured to high chair 2A, second high chair 2B is lifted above first high chair 2A and lowered (Arrow D) on top of high chair 2A so that top 4 of high chair 2A is received upwardly through bottom entrance opening 39 of second high chair 2B into the lower chair receiving or stacking space 37 of chair 2B. High chair 2B is lowered until it is seated on high chair 2A such that high chair 2B can be lowered no further. This may occur, for example, when the bottom of seat bottom 38 of high chair 2B contacts top 4 of high chair 2A although this may occur in other ways. When the upper high chair 2B, which is stacked or seated on the lower high chair 2A, the upper high chair 2B typically either does not contact the mounting assembly 44 or the portion 52 of the connector mounted on the lower high chair or contacts it in such a way that allows the mounting assembly to remain in its secured position on the lower high chair 2A, so that the upper high chair does not damage the mounting assembly on the lower high chair, and so that the mounting assembly does not damage either high chair.

As noted above, the removal of cup holder 40 from the mounting assembly while the mounting assembly remains on the high chair allows high chair 2B to be stacked on the lower high chair 2A without interference from the mounting assembly. In contrast, if cup holder 40 were to remain secured to the mounting assembly and thus to high chair 2A, then it may be impossible or very difficult to stack high chair 2B on top of high chair 2A due to the interference between cup holder 40 and portions of high chair 2B, such as its bottom beam 26, intermediate beam 30 or seat bottom 38. Even if it is possible to stack high chair 2B on top of high chair 2A while cup holder 40 is secured to the mounting assembly and high chair 2A, doing so may be awkward or cause contact between cup holder assembly 1 and high chair 2B, which may damage cup holder assembly 1 or high chair 2B. The horizontal normal axial width W1 (FIG. 6A) as measured from left to right (or in the axial direction) of a combination of a top portion of high chair 2 adjacent top 4 and cup holder 40 when secured thereto may be greater than the horizontal normal axial width W2 as measured from left to right (or in the axial direction) of bottom entrance opening 39. Width W1 may also be equal to or less than width W2 although even when width W1 is less than width W2, the difference between widths W1 and W2 may be relatively minimal.

Width W1 of the noted combination is typically measured horizontally in the axial direction, or from left to right, from the axially outmost point of cup holder 40 to the axially outmost part of high chair 2 on the opposite side of high chair 2 from cup holder 40 at the same or similar height as the axially outmost point of cup holder 40. The axially outmost part of high chair 2 on the opposite side of high chair 2 from cup holder 40 is typically on or adjacent the outer side surface of one of arms 34 or 36. In the example shown in the Figures, because cup holder 40 is on the right side of the high chair with mounting assembly 44 secured to right arm 34, the axially outmost point of cup holder 40 is the rightmost point of cup holder 40, and the axially outmost part of high chair 2 on the opposite side of high chair 2 from cup holder 40 is the leftmost point at the same or similar height as the rightmost point of cup holder 40, and thus this leftmost point is typically on or adjacent outer surface 49B of left arm 36. However, when cup holder 40 is on the left side of the high chair with mounting assembly 44 secured to left arm 36, the axially outmost point of cup holder 40 is the leftmost point of cup holder 40, and the axially outmost part of high chair 2 on the opposite side of high chair 2 from cup holder 40 is the rightmost point at the same or similar height as the leftmost point of cup holder 40, and thus this rightmost point is typically on or adjacent outer surface 49A of left arm 34.

Width W2 of entrance opening 39 is typically measured between inner surfaces 27 and 29 of bottom beams 26 and 28 or between inner surfaces 15 and 17 of front uprights 14 and 16 adjacent bottom 6 or between inner surfaces 19 and 21 of rear uprights 18 and 20 adjacent bottom 6. An attempt to stack high chair 2B on top of high chair 2A with the cup holder assembly still mounted on high chair 2A may result in the above-noted interference between the cup holder and various portions of high chair 2B, especially if high chair 2B is lowered vertically without any other manipulation thereof. Such an interference or other difficulty might occur even if width W1 is less width W2. When cup holder 40 is removed, that is, when cup holder 40 and connector member 50 are removed from connector member 52 and mounting assembly 44 and when mounting assembly 44 is mounted on arm 34 of high chair 2, the horizontal normal axial or left to right width W3 (FIG. 6A) of the combination of a top portion of high chair 2 adjacent top 4, mounting assembly 44 and any portion of connector 48 (here, connector member 52) mounted on the top portion of high chair 2 is less than the horizontal axial or left to right width W2 of bottom entrance opening 39, which thus eliminates the interference or stacking difficulties which would otherwise exist with cup holder 40 still mounted on high chair 2A.

Width W3 of the noted combination is typically measured horizontally in the axial direction, or from left to right, from the axially outmost point of connector member 52 to the axially outmost part of high chair 2 on the opposite side of high chair 2 from connector member 52 at the same or similar height as the axially outmost point of connector member 52. The axially outmost part of high chair 2 on the opposite side of high chair 2 from connector member 52 is typically on or adjacent the outer surface of one of arms 34 or 36. In the example shown in the Figures, because connector member 52 is on the right side of the high chair with mounting assembly 44 secured to right arm 34, the axially outmost point of connector member 52 is the rightmost point of connector member 52, and the axially outmost part of high chair 2 on the opposite side of high chair 2 from connector member 52 is the leftmost point at the same or similar height as the rightmost point of connector member 52, and thus this leftmost point is typically on or adjacent outer surface 49B of left arm 36. However, when connector member 52 is on the left side of the high chair with mounting assembly 44 secured to left arm 36, the axially outmost point of connector member 52 is the leftmost point of connector member 52, and the axially outmost part of high chair 2 on the opposite side of high chair 2 from connector member 52 is the rightmost point at the same or similar height as the leftmost point of connector member 52, and thus this rightmost point is typically on or adjacent outer surface 49A of left arm 34.

With reference to FIG. 7, the second example embodiment of the cup holder assembly 1A includes a mounting assembly 44A comprising a generally C-shaped spring clip 102 configured to mount on arm 34 (or arm 36) of high chair 2. Clip 102 is formed primarily of a resilient material such as spring metal or a substantially rigid plastic which allows for sufficient flexing to mount the clip on arm 34. Clip 102 includes a flat vertical spine 104, a flat horizontal top arm 106 connected to and extending rearwardly from the top of spine 104, and a flat vertical top hook 108 which extends downwardly from the rear end of arm 106 to a bottom terminal end 110. Clip 102 further includes a flat horizontal bottom arm 112 which is rigidly secured to and extends rearwardly from the bottom of spine 104. Clip 104 further includes a bottom hook 114 which is rigidly secured to and extends upwardly and rearwardly from the rear end of bottom arm 112. Hook 114 has an inverted U-shaped configuration whereby hook 114 includes a front leg extending upwardly from the rear of arm 112 to an upper curved portion, and a rear leg which extends downwardly from the rear of the curved portion. The curved portion defines a top 116 of bottom hook 114 and the rear leg defines a bottom terminal end 118 of hook 114. Hook 114 defines a chair arm receiving space 120 having a rear entrance opening 122 defined between terminal end 110 and top 116.

Clip 102 is easily mounted on arm 34 by maneuvering clip 102 to receive the top of arm 34 through entrance opening 122 such that the top of arm 34 is adjacent and below top arm 106, at which point the bottom portion of clip 102 is pushed rearwardly so that bottom hook 114 pivotally flexes downwardly (Arrow E) to sufficiently widen entrance opening 122 to allow arm 34 to move into space 120. The downward movement of hook 114 causes flexing of arm 112 and/or spine 104 and/or arm 106 in order to sufficiently widen opening 122. Hook 114 may be pushed downwardly manually or may be caused to move downwardly as the bottom of clip 102 is pushed rearwardly such that hook 114 slides along the bottom of arm 34. As bottom hook 114 slides past the inner vertical surface of arm 34, hook 114 snaps upwardly (opposite Arrow E) within space 41 via the spring bias of the material of which clip 102 is formed to secure clip 102 and buckle member 52 to arm 34. Clip 102 may be easily removed by applying a downward force (Arrow E) on bottom hook 114 to widen the entrance opening 122 sufficiently to pull spring clip 102 off of arm 34. Cup holder assembly 1A thus provides a different mounting assembly for securing the cup holder to the high chair. Although the mounting and dismounting of clip 102 is different from the use of strap assembly 46 of the first example embodiment, the use of cup holder assembly 1A is otherwise the same as assembly 1. Thus, the cup holder 40 may be removed along with buckle member 50 from buckle member 52 and clip 102 so that cup holder 40 may be washed, and so that the clip and buckle member 52 remain on the chair whereby another high chair may be stacked on top as discussed previously.

Referring to FIG. 8, cup holder assembly 1B includes a mounting assembly 44B having a generally C-shaped spring clip 124 which is configured for mounting on an edge 123 of a table or tabletop 125 which is substantially flat and horizontal. Clip 124 includes a flat vertical spine 126 and a flat horizontal top arm which is rigidly secured to and extends rearwardly from the top of spine 126 to a terminal end 129. Clip 124 further includes a generally S-shaped bottom arm 130 which is rigidly secured to the bottom of spine 126 and extends rearwardly and upwardly therefrom. Bottom arm 130 includes a bottom curved segment 132 secured to the bottom end of spine 126 and curving rearwardly and upwardly therefrom to an intermediate straight segment 134 which angles upwardly and rearwardly from the back of curved segment 132. Bottom arm 130 further includes an intermediate curved segment 136 which curves rearwardly and upwardly from the upper rear end of straight segment 134 to transition to a flat horizontal straight end segment 138 which extends rearwardly from the upper rear end of curved segment 136 to a terminal end 140. The spine and upper and lower arms of clip 124 define there within a table edge receiving space 142 having a rear entrance opening 144. A rigid finger receiving handle 146 in the example embodiment has an inverted U-shape, the parallel vertical legs of which are rigidly secured to the top of top arm 106 and extend upwardly therefrom to define a finger receiving space 148 below a horizontal bar of handle 146. Other handle configurations may be used. An upper flat horizontal pad 150 is secured to the bottom of top arm 106, and a lower flat horizontal pad 152 is likewise secured to a top of straight end segment 138 of bottom arm 130 adjacent terminal end 140. In the exemplary embodiment, pads 150 and 152 are formed of an anti-slip foam, elastomer or other padding material which is typically relatively soft and compressible to prevent scratching of finished surfaces of tabletop 125 and to prevent slippage of clip 124 relative to tabletop 125. Pads 150 and 152 are typically secured to the respective arms by an adhesive.

Clip 124 mounts on tabletop 125 in a generally similar manner as the mounting of clip 102 on arm 134. That is, the upper and lower arms 128 and 130 are flexibly spread apart from one another to sufficiently widen entrance opening 144 for receiving table edge 123 there through into space 142 as clip 124 is moved rearwardly. This spreading movement may be facilitated by upward force on the top bar of handle 146 to pivotally flex the upper arm 128 upwardly (Arrow F). Once mounted on tabletop 125, the bottom of pad 150 engages the top of tabletop 125 while the top of pad 152 engages the bottom of tabletop 125. More particularly, the spring nature of the clip applies a downward force on the top of the table via the spring arm 128 and pad 150 as well as an upward force on the bottom of the table via the bottom spring arm 130 and pad 152. The configuration of cup holder assembly 1B retains the use of cup holder 40 and snap fit connector 48 so that cup holder 40 and buckle member 50 may be removed from buckle member 52 and clip 124 to be washed while the clip assembly remains on the tabletop if desired. Clip 124 is easy to remove from the tabletop by spreading the top and bottom arms 128 and 130, which may be facilitated by the use of handle 146, and moving the clip assembly forward past edge 123.

The cup holder assemblies of the present invention thus provide mounting assemblies which are easy to use and rapidly mount on a high chair or tabletop. The mounting and dismounting of these mounting assemblies requires no tools and thus can be done entirely by manual engagement alone with the mounting assembly. Similarly, the snap fit connector 48 allows for the quick and easy mounting and dismounting of cup holder 40 from the mounting assembly of the given cup holder assembly. This mounting and dismounting of cup holder 40 likewise may be done without the use of tools and thus merely by manual engagement with the connector or buckle members. Thus, cup holder assemblies 1, 1A and 1B may be free of fasteners which extend into the high chair or tabletop, and may also be free of an adhesive which contacts the high chair or tabletop to secure the mounting assembly thereto. Each of the cup holder assemblies allows for the easy removal of the cup holder to allow it to be washed easily within a dishwasher. Each of the mounting assemblies is also configured to allow them to remain on the high chair or table top when the cup holder is removed therefrom. However, each of the mounting assemblies may be easily removed when desired. Cup holder assemblies 1 and 1A likewise allow the stacking of high chairs when the cup holder is removed from the mounting assembly without damage to the high chairs or to the mounting assembly which remains on the high chair during the stacking process.

As discussed above with respect to mounting assemblies which may be removable from or permanently attached to a high chair, it is also within the scope of the present invention to provide a mounting assembly which is permanently attached or affixed to a tabletop. For example, a connector member such as connector member 52 may be permanently secured to a tabletop by rivets or other suitable fasteners, or a tabletop may be formed with a connector member which is integrally formed therewith, such as by molding or another method.

In each example embodiment of the cup holder assembly of the present invention, the cup when sitting in the mounted cup holder is positioned so that the bottom of the cup is typically lower than the table top adjacent the high chair and so that the lid, top of the cup and top of the straw are lower than a child's mouth. Thus, the child can either leave the cup in the cup holder while leaning over to suck the drink through the straw or pick up the cup to raise the straw to the mouth for a drink. Either option helps to keep the straw and cup upright and thus greatly reduces the likelihood of spills.

Applicants hereby reserve the right to claim additional aspects or features which are evident from the Figures but which may not be explicitly described herein in the interest of brevity.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

Claims

1. A cup holder assembly comprising:

a mounting assembly adapted to mount on a high chair or tabletop; and

a cup holder having a secured position in which the cup holder is secured to the mounting assembly and a separated position in which the cup holder is separated from the mounting assembly whereby the cup holder assembly is configured to allow the cup holder to be in the separated position when the mounting assembly is mounted on the high chair or tabletop.

2. The cup holder assembly of claim 1 wherein the cup holder assembly is free of a fastener which extends into the high chair or tabletop when mounted thereon.

3. The cup holder assembly of claim 1 wherein the cup holder assembly is free of an adhesive which contacts the high chair or tabletop when the mounting assembly is mounted thereon.

4. The cup holder assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting assembly comprises a first connector member; and a further comprising a second connector member which is secured to the cupholder and releasably mounted on the first connector member.

5. The cup holder assembly of claim 4 further comprising a snap fit connection between the first and second connector members.

6. The cup holder assembly of claim 4 wherein the first connector member comprises a front portion and a back portion; and the mounting assembly comprises a flexible strap which is sandwiched between the front and back portions and which is adapted to wrap around a beam of a high chair.

7. The cup holder assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting assembly comprises a flexible strap adapted to wrap around an arm of a high chair.

8. The cup holder assembly of claim 7 further comprising a quick release fastener comprising first and second strips which are secured to the strap and which are peelably removable from one another.

9. The cup holder assembly of claim 8 wherein the quick release fastener is a hook and loop fastener; the first strip is a hook portion; and the second strip is a loop portion.

10. The cup holder assembly of claim 7 wherein the mounting assembly comprises a ring defining an aperture; wherein the strap is insertable through the aperture.

11. The cup holder assembly of claim 7 further comprising a connector member back portion which is secured to the strap and has a rear surface adapted to contact a side surface of the arm of the high chair.

12. The cup holder assembly of claim 11 in combination with the high chair; wherein the high chair defines a child receiving seating space and comprises the arm having the side surface; wherein the side surface faces away from the seating space; and the rear surface contacts the side surface when the mounting assembly is mounted on the arm.

13. The cup holder assembly of claim 12 wherein the arm has a top and a bottom; and when the mounting assembly is secured to the arm, at least one of (a) no portion of the back portion extends higher than the top of the arm and (b) no portion of the back portion extends lower than the bottom of the arm.

14. The cup holder assembly of claim 1 in combination with the high chair or tabletop; wherein the mounting assembly is mounted on the high chair or tabletop.

15. The cup holder assembly of claim 14 wherein the combination comprises the high chair and is free of an eating tray which is permanently or removably attached to the high chair.

16. The cup holder assembly of claim 1 in combination with a first high chair having a top and a second high chair defining a chair receiving space having a bottom entrance opening; wherein when the mounting assembly is mounted on the first high chair adjacent the top thereof and the cup holder is in the separated position, the top of the first high chair is receivable in the chair receiving space via the bottom entrance opening to allow stacking of the second high chair on the first high chair.

17. The cup holder assembly of claim 16 wherein the bottom entrance opening has a first horizontal width as measured from left to right; when the mounting assembly is mounted on the first high chair adjacent the top thereof and the cup holder is in the secured position, a combination of a top portion of the first high chair and the cup holder has a second horizontal width as measured from left to right; and the second horizontal width is equal to or greater than the first horizontal width.

18. The cup holder assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting assembly comprises a generally C-shaped spring clip adapted to mount on an arm of the high chair or an edge of the tabletop.

19. A combination comprising:

a high chair;

a cup holder;

a first connector member secured to the cup holder; and

a second connector member having a secured position in which the second connector member is secured to the first connector member so that the cup holder is mounted on the high chair and a released position in which the second connector member is separated from the first connector member so that the cup holder is dismounted from the high chair.

20. A method comprising the steps of:

providing a cup holder assembly comprising a cup holder and a mounting assembly;

securing the mounting assembly to a high chair or tabletop to mount the cup holder assembly on the high chair or tabletop; and

removing the cup holder from the mounting assembly while the mounting assembly remains secured to the high chair or tabletop.