A SEAT

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a seat, and in particular a seat which is convertible between a first position where it can be used by a small child as a high chair and a second position suitable for use by an adult.

Background to the Invention

It is well known to provide a high chair for children to locate them at a similar height as adults during a meal. Some high chairs are designed to be located next to a dining table so that the child can eat off the same table surface as the adults. Other high chairs are provided with a tray mounted to the chair which provides a surface from which the child may eat. In all cases, a high chair is such that it can only be used by the child. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a seat which can be used both by small children as a high chair and by adults.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a seat comprising a support, a seat part mounted to the support and a footrest mounted to the support. The seat is convertible from a first position in which the footrest is located below the seat part for supporting the feet of a user and a second position in which the upper surface of the footrest is aligned with the upper surface of the seat part to form an enlarged sitting surface.

The seat of the present invention, at least in the preferred embodiments, has the particular advantage that it can be converted simply from a high chair in the first position to an adult seat in the second position. Thus, in embodiments of the invention, the seat is suitable for use as a child's high chair in the first position and as an adult seat in the second position. This arrangement is particularly simple and allows great aesthetic freedom to the designer of the seat.

The seat may be in the form of a chair. Thus, the seat may comprise, in addition to the seat part and footrest, a back support and/or arms. Alternatively, the seat may be in the form of a stool, although this is not preferred. The seat may include a detachable feeding table or tray, although this is not preferred. The seat part may optionally include restraining means for added safety and/or a cushion or padded material for extra comfort.

The support may take any suitable form. For example, the support may comprise three, four or more legs. In the preferred embodiment, the support comprises a central column provided on a base. In this particular embodiment, the base is in the form of a circular disc. A planar base has the advantage that it can provide a protective surface onto which food residues may fall. However, it would be possible for the base to take other forms, for example a five-legged base as is common in office furniture. The support may be constructed of any suitably durable or strong material.

The support may be adjustable to vary the height of the seat part. For example, the height of the support may be manually adjustable. The height of the support may be manually adjustable, although this is not preferred. In the preferred embodiment the support is adjustable in height by means of a gas lift. The seat is therefore easily adjustable between the two positions and provides safety for the small child and comfort for the adult.

The seat part may be mounted directly to the support. For example, the seat part may be mounted to the support by welding or any other suitable means of attachment, including screw fixing. Alternatively, the seat part may be mounted indirectly to the support. For example, the seat part may be mounted to the footrest, which in turn may be mounted to the support.

Similarly, the footrest may be mounted directly to the support. For example, the footrest may be mounted to the support by welding or screw fixing and the like. Alternatively, the footrest may be mounted indirectly to the support. For example, the seat part may be mounted to the footrest, which in turn may be mounted to the support.

Thus, the seat may be converted from the first position to the second position by moving the footrest relative to the seat part (and the support) or by moving the seat part relative to the footrest (and the support). In the preferred embodiment, the footrest is movable relative to the seat part. For example, the footrest may be movable to a position adjacent the forward edge of the seat part to form an extension of the seat part. The seat and footrest may be positioned in coplanar relationship in the second position.

A gap may be provided between the upper surface of the footrest and the upper surface of the seat part in the second position. The gap may be provided to prevent pinching of the user's buttocks between the footrest and the seat part.

The footrest and seat part may have relative positions, other than the first and second positions. Indeed the relative positions of the footrest and seat part may be continuously variable. The seat may comprise a locking device to lock the seat in a desired position.

The seat may also comprise restraining means or a form of restraint to prevent a child seated in the chair from escaping therefrom. In one embodiment, the restraining means may comprise any length of material which is attachable to the seat to secure a child therein. For example, such restraining means may comprise a resiliently-biased material with two ends for engaging securing means located in said seat part, wherein engagement with said securing means functions to secure the resiliently-biased material at each of its two ends to the seat part. Said securing means may comprise at least one recess or aperture or gap in the seat part which is/are shaped and dimensioned such that pressure must be applied to the two ends of the resilient material in the direction towards one another to allow each of the ends to pass into the aperature(s). Furthermore, the at least one aperature may be such as to enable the ends of said resilient material to pass through the seat part. The resiliently-biased material may also comprise at least one projection which when passed through the aperature the restraining means is prevented from moving back through the aperature.

The resiliently-biased material may include a plurality of said projections on each of its ends for insertion into said aperatures The plurality of protrusions or projections facilitate an alteration of the length of the resilient material engaged in the securing means, which

advantageously allows for adjustment of the restraining means to accommodate different sized children. The space between said projections may be such as to comfortably embrace the depth or thickness of said seat part. Thus each of the projections may sit either side of the seat part via said aperature to provide a more secure restraint.

In another embodiment, the securing means comprises one or more projecions on said seat shaped and dimensioned for securely engaging with one or more aperatures located along the length of said resilient material.

In another embodiment, the restraining means may comprise two or more lengths of flexible material each separately attached to the chair, providing two free ends with a connecting member on each end. The lengths of flexible material may be attached to the chair by any means, including stitching or screw fixing or the like. The connecting members on each of the two ends may, therefore, be engageable by means of a catch mechanism. The connecting members may comprise any structure that enables them to be securely embraced together. Therefore, the two or more connecting members may be any shape or dimension, and may be complementary in shape to allow them to securely engage.

However, the restraining means may take any form, as long as it has the purpose of securing a child safely in the chair and many such means would be known to those of skill in the art.

The seat and/or footrest part may also comprise a padded material or a cushion, which has the aim of providing additional comfort to the user of the seat. Any material which provides some degree of cushioning may be used and may take the form of any shape and size. Said cushion or padded material may be attachable to the seat and therefore may be removable when the seat is not in use. Therefore, when the seat is in the first position, the padded material may be placed both on the surface of the seat portion onto which the user sits and the back part of the chair. The padded material may be held in place using any suitable securing means, such as a strap or the like including, for example, a snap fit or pop fastening mechanism. Said securing means may comprise two lengths of material,

each attached at one end to the padded material, with the suitable securing means attached to the other end.

Alternatively, when the seat is in the second position, the padded material may be folded so that it lies substantially flat onto the surface of the seat portion onto which the user sits. The padded material may also be held in place using any suitable means, such as a strap or the like including, for example, snap-fit or a pop fastening mechanism.

In a preferred embodiment, when both padded material and restraining means are used, the restraining means may also advantageously serve to secure the padded material or cushion to the chair. For example, the ends of the restraining means may be led through a fabric loop connected to the padded material on the seat of the chair, such that when the ends of the restraining means engage the securing or clamping mechanism, the padded material is secured to the chair.

Brief Description of the Drawings

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a chair in accordance with this invention in a first position forming a high chair for a child; and

Figure 2 shows the chair in a second position suitable for an adult.

Figure 3 shows a front, side and plan view of the restraining means used when the seat is in the first position.

Figure 4 shows a front, side and plan view of the cushion when the seat is in the first position, suitable for small children and when the seat is in the second position, suitable for adults.

Detailed Description of an Embodiment

Referring to the drawings, a chair according to an embodiment of the invention includes a support formed by a column 1 with the lower end mounted on a base 2 and the upper end supporting a seat part 3. The column 1 has two telescoping parts Ia and Ib incorporating spring means such as an air spring or gas lift with an actuating lever Ic whereby a selected relative position of the parts Ia and Ib may be set, thus setting the height of the seat part 3 above the floor. Located on the column 1 beneath the seat part 3 is a footrest 4 which may be secured, for example, by a clamp in a selected position such as is shown in Figure 1, forming a footrest. As shown in Figure 1, the chair forms a high chair for a child with a small seat portion 3 and footrest 4. The clamp may be released enabling the footrest 4 to be moved to the position shown in Figure 2 and locked where it lies adjacent and coplanar with the seat part 3. The seat may include a backrest 5. As shown in Figure 2, the footrest 4 now lies adjacent the front edge of the seat part 3 and forms a larger area suitable for an adult. A small gap preferably exists between the juncture of the footrest 4 and seat part 3 to prevent pinching.

The seat may also include restraint 6. With specific reference to Figure 3, one embodiment of the invention includes a seat with restraint 6, for safely securing a child in the seat, and comprising a length of resiliently-biased strip material with two ends including a plurality of regularly-spaced projections 7 thereon. The space between the projections is such as to comfortably embrace the depth or thickness of the chair, so that the projections can sit either side of the backrest of the chair when passed through an aperature 8. The ends of the resiliently-biased strip material are received within aperture 8 in the seat portion of the chair when pressure is applied to each of the ends of the strip material to bring them towards each other. To assemble the restraint, the ends of the resilient material are pushed together and placed through the aperture 8 in the seat. When released the resilient material of the restraint serves to secured it within the aperture 8 by means of the projections thereon which are suitably spaced to prevent any movement of the resilient strip material from the aperature and to securely fasten it therein and thus any child around which it is embraced. As also shown in Figure 3, the restraint of this embodiment comprises at least four projections 7 which also facilitate adjustment of the restraint to accommodate children of different sizes.

The seat may also comprise a padded material or cushion 9. Having regard to Figure 4, when the seat is adjusted to the first position, suitable for use by small children, the padded material is placed both on the surface of the seat onto which the user sits and the back part of the chair. As also according to Figure 4, when the seat is adjusted to the second position, suitable for use by adults, the padded material 9 is folded so that it lies flat on the surface of the seat portion onto which the user sits. The use of the padded material also prevents pinching.

In summary, a seat includes a support formed by a column 1 with the lower end mounted on a base 2 and the upper end supporting a seat part 3 with a backrest 5 suitable for a child. Located on the column 1 beneath the seat part 3 is a footrest 4 suitable for a child. As shown in Figure 1 the chair forms a high chair for a child with a small area seat part 3 and footrest 4. As shown in Figure 2 the footrest 4 may be moved upward to be adjacent and contiguous with the front edge of the seat part 3 to form a larger area seat suitable for an adult. As shown in Figure 3, the seat may also comprise restraining means 6 to secure a child in the chair. Finally, according to Figure 4, the seat may comprise a padded material or cushion 9 to provide additional comfort for the user, either the child or adult.