Juvenile seating system

[57] ABSTRACT

A juvenile seating system including an accessory for cooperation with a juvenile chair so that the latter can be used as a juvenile vehicle seat, the accessory adapted for removably engaging the chair, the accessory having a rigid upwardly exending portion substantially disposed against the back of the backrest of the juvenile chair when the accessory and the juvenile chair engage each other, the accessory being adapted to rest against a backrest of a vehicle seat when the accessory and the juvenile chair are in engaging position and are adapted to be positioned with a vehicleprovided seat belt passing about the juvenile chair urging the accessory against the vehicle backrest, and the accessory having a base complementary to the base of the juvenile chair for the removable engaging.

Claims, 11 Drawing Figures

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PATENTED DEC 18 1973

3.779.599

SHEET 1 OF 2

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PATENTED OEC18 1973

3.779,599

SHEET 2 OF 2

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3,779,599

JUVENILE SEATING SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a juvenile seating system for vehicles.

Chairs for juveniles have been known for some time, 5

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the cooperative assembled position of the juvenile chair and the accessory;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing in assembled position a juvenile chair connected to another embodiment of an accessory;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing a portion of the base of the chair and the accessory of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a section along the lines 6—6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective assembled view of a juvenile chair and a third embodiment of an accessory in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded fragmentary view of the members of FIG. 7;

¹⁵ FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective assembled view showing the juvenile chair and another embodiment of an accessory in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary section taken along the lines ²⁰ 10—10 of FIG. 9.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1-3, a juvenile chair 1 is provided having a backrest 2 connected to a seat 3 and having arms 4 extending horizontally above the seat and curving down²$ wardly into a U-shaped base 5. The base 5 is adapted to sit on a substantially horizontal surface and the opening of the U faces the front. The U-shaped base 5 preferably of metal tubing comprises two parallel legs ₃₀ 5a and a rear leg Sb, joined by bends 5c.

In accordance with the present invention, an accessory 6 is provided which is adapted to engage with the juvenile chair 1. The accessory 6 comprises a preferably metal tubular bar member 7 which is generally bent 35 into U-shape, having two horizontal parallel ends 8 at its rear which are covered at their extreme ends with preferably plastic covers 9 or the like. The bar member 7 bends upwardly substantially vertically, but slightly rearwardly, at the front of the ends 8, forming portions 40 10 which slightly converge towards each other in the upward direction. Approximately less than half-way up the total length of the accessory, the portions 10 converge toward each other at a greater angle, and at their upper ends are bent into a rear bend forming a continu45 ous U-bend top portion 11. A head rest 12 is secured to the top portion 11 by any securing means such as a plurality of screws 13, preferably three in number, which pass through the top portion 11 as indicated in FIG. 2.

Two bars 14 are fastened at their ends by a rivet-like connection 15 to the ends 8 of the seat accessory 6 restraining the ends 8 against relative lateral movement. The bars 14 are substantially flat and are attached horizontally one above, and the other below, the ends 8.

⁵⁵ The bars 14 are bent arcuately at their ends 16, in a general forward direction and then are bent to each form a straight portion 17 therebetween, the straight portion 17 being substantially perendicular to the legs 8.

⁶⁰ The bars 14 are slightly bent apart from each other in order to readily receive therein the rear of the Ushaped base 5, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3.

To assemble the chair 1 and accessory 6, the spaced bars 14 are slided over the rear leg Sb and the rear por⁶⁵ tions of the legs 5α of the chair 1 until the upward bar portions 10 closely abut against the rear of the backrest 2 of the chair 1. The bars 14 are substantially spaced but these chairs are generally not adapted to serve as a chair for a juvenile in a moving vehicle.

It is one object of the present invention to provide an accessory which adapts a conventional juvenile seat so that it may be used in a vehicle and which meets and exceeds U.S. vehicle safety requirements.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a combination juvenile chair and accessory to be used as a juvenile vehicle seat, comprising a juvenile chair having a seat, a backrest and a base secured to one another, an accessory for removably engaging the chair, the accessory having a rigid upwardly extending portion substantially disposed against the back of the backrest when the accessory and the juvenile chair engage each other, the accessory adapted to rest against a backrest of a vehicle seat when the accessory and the juvenile chair are in engaging position and are adapted to be positioned on a vehicle seat with a vehicleprovided-seat belt passing about the juvenile chair urging the accessory against the vehicle backrest, and the juvenile chair and the accessory having complementary engaging base parts, respectively, for the removable engaging.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a juvenile chair and accessory in accordance with the afore-mentioned objective, further comprising a head rest secured to the accessory at a front side thereof, and the head rest disposed above the backrest of the juvenile chair when the accessory and the juvenile chair are in engaging position.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a juvenile chair and accessory, wherein the base of the accessory includes two parallel rearwardly extending ends adapted to be inserted between the backrest and the seat cushions of a vehicle, and the ends constitute the rear-most extremities of the engaged juvenile chair and accessory.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an accessory for adapting a juvenile chair for use as a juvenile vehicle seat, comprising an accessory having a base and a rigid upwardly extending portion extending from the base, the base being adapted to complementarily and removably engage a base of the juvenile chair, the upwardly extending portion simultaneously substantially abutting against the backrest of the juvenile chair, and the accessory adapted to be positioned against a seat and backrest of a vehicle with the vehicle provided seat belt securing the juvenile chair and the accessory against the backrest of the vehicle.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a juvenile chair assembled together with an accessory and a seatarm cushion and secured to a vehicle seat;

FIG. 1A is a fragmentary sectional view of FIG. 1 showing the position of the juvenile chair, seat-arm cushion and car seat belt;

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the juvenile chair, accessory and seat-arm cushion of FIG. 1;

3,779,599 by the thickness of the legs 5α and 5b although somewhat larger.

In this assembled position, the bend 5c of the chair 1 which connects the legs 5α with the rear leg 5b, is substantially adjacent to the arcuate ends 16 of the bars 14 [FIG. 1]. The ends 8 of the accessory 6 are spaced larger than, but complementary to the spacing of legs 5α of the chair 1 so as to complementarily receive the base 5 of the chair 1 therebetween.

The forward bending of the bars 14 positions the straight portion 17 substantially between the upwardly bent transition portion 18 between the ends 8 and the upwardly directed portions 10, and slightly in front of the leg 5b of the chair in the assembled position of FIG. 1.

In this assembled position the head rest 12 extends with its front surface 19 aligned substantially with the front surface of the backrest 2 of the chair 1.

In this operative position, the assembled unit comprising the chair 1 and the accessory 6, is placed on a vehicle seat 20, as illustrated in FIG. 1. with the rear ends of the legs 8 being pressed in between the cushions between the backrest 21 and the seat 22 of the vehicle.

A plurality of straps are provided on the vehicle by ²⁵the seat vehicle manufacturer, such as car waist straps 23, which are to be fastened around the assembled unit through the arms 4 of the chair and pressing flat against the seat 3 of the chair 1, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and la; thereby holding the chair 1 against the seat of the · vehicle.

A soft, flexible seat-arm cushion 3α is provided having arm portions 3b which are positioned around the horizontal portions of the metallic aims 4 of the seat 3 and snapped clipped to itself by snap fasteners 3c to soften the arm resting positions for the child. The central portion 3d of the cushion 3α is consequently positioned over the seat 3 of the chair 1 and further cushions the child. The car seat belt 23 is between the seat 3 and the central portion 3d of the cushion 3α, as indicated in FIG. 1A, providing in the unoccupied condition of the unit, a space between the cushion 3α and the seat 3. The cushion is preferably made of conventional stuffing 3c covered by covering material 3f which is sewed together at the narrowing edges 3g to hold the stuffing inside. The central rear edge 3g also abuts the backrest 2 of the chair in the assembled position. The front edge 3h is concavely curved inwardly for comfort. The rear edge of the cushion is recessed at portion 3k.

Straps are provided on the upper portions 10 of the accessory 6, including adjustable shoulder straps 24, which shoulder straps are designed to pass over the shoulder of the juvenile sitting in the chair, as well as adjustable waist straps 25α which pass between lower loops 25b formed in the shoulder straps 24 which waist straps 25 are adapted to pass around the waist of the child and then be secured by a lock-release buckle 25c at the front ends of the waist straps 25α. The rear ends of the waist straps 25α are attached to an intermediate portion of the portions 10 of the accessory 6. A spacing strap 25d is looped around the shoulder straps 24 to keep the latter on the juvenile.

The vehicle provided seat belt 25 around the chair 1 holds the chair against sudden stops and the assembled unit in the operative position of FIG. 1 can withstand a thrust of 1,000 lbs. in accordance with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Although the accessory is not connected to the chair 1 by any type of connections except for the free spacing between the bars 16, there is achieved by this embodiment of the present invention a rigid securing of the chair to the seat and backrest of the vehicle.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5, another embodiment of the accessory is disclosed, in which the accessory 27 is substantially formed as a triangle with rounded apex. The accessory 27 comprises a unitary bent member having horizontal ends 28 which is then bent at its rear end upwardly and slightly rearwardly to form two converging straight sides 29 which are bent at a curved upper apex portion 30 and so connected to each other. A head rest is secured to the apex portion as in the previous embodiment namely, head rest 31.

U-shaped channel members 32 with the U facing each other are secured to the inner sides of the ends 28 by rivet-like fasteners 33. The channel members 32 are provided with spring biased locking members 34 thereon and the U-shaped channel members are adapted to receive, as indicated in FIG. 4, the lateral legs Sa of the juvenile seat 1 and to snappingly engage the legs 5a by the locking members 34 in openings 5d formed in the base 5, for receiving the spring biased locking members 34. The locking members 34 include a latch 34α, which has a downward portion 34b which when rotated to abut the upper portion 35 of the Ushaped channel members 32 as indicated in FIG. 5 lifts 30 the spring biased latch pin 34c out from the U-channels and permits the legs 5α to slide in the channels. Upon turning the latch member 34α, the spring biasing causes the latch and pin 34c of the latch to move downwardly when the latch portion 34b extends beyond the edge of ³⁵ the U-shaped channel members, as indicated in FIG. 6, thereby causing the pin 34c to engage in the opening 5d in the legs 5α of the chair 1, and holding the chair securely to the accessory 27 in the U-shaped channels.

The forward ends of the U-shaped channel members ⁴⁰ 32 extend beyond the front of the ends 28, and a crossbar 36 is secured to the top members 35 and lateral sides 37 of the U-shaped channel members 32 by rivets 38 or the like. The bar 36 is raised slightly at its central portion 36α, the bar serving to space and hold the U⁴⁵ channels apart corresponding to the spacing of the legs 5α. The front ends of the U-shaped members form an inclined side edge 37α on the outer side wall 37 pointing downwardly to the front. The rear portions of the ends 28 of the accessory 27 extend beyond the rear of ⁵⁰ the U-channel members 32 and are adapted to be inserted between the seat and backrest cushions of a vehicle similarly as indicated in FIG. 1 with the same vehicle strap arrangement secureing and preventing the combination juvenile chair and accessory from moving.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 7 and 8, still another embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. An accessory 40 in accordance with the present invention comprises a front extending end 41 having a semi-circular cross section open toward the bottom and adapted to sit directly complementarily on the legs 5α of the chair 1. Screws 42 pass through aligned openings Sd in the legs 5α and openings 41α in the ends 41 and are secured by winged nuts 43, thereby securing the ends 41 to the chair 1. A ⁵ depending pin 44 in the front of the end 41 cooperates guidingly in an opening Se in the leg 5α to align the front of the ends 41 along the legs 5α.

3,779,599

6 tions thereof respectively, for said removable engaging, said base of said accessory includes two parallel rearwardly extending bars of a length to be at least par5 tially inserted between the backrest and seat of a vehicle, and said bars constitute the rear-most extremities of said engaged juvenile chair and accessory.

2. The system, as set forth in claim 1, further com10 prising at least one crossbar secured to and across said two ends of said accessory.

3. The system, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said base of said juvenile chair includes two parallel side legs and a rear leg forming a U-shaped base, 15 said at least one crossbar constitutes two parallel crossbars spaced apart from each other, constituting one of said complementary engaging base parts, said rear leg passes between said crossbars and rearwardly thereof in said engaged position, and said side legs are disposed between and complementary to said accessory in said engaged position.

4. An accessory for adapting a juvenile chair to be used as a juvenile seating system, comprising an accessory having a substantially horizontal base 25 and a rigid upwardly extending portion extending from said base, said base having means for complementarily and removably engaging a base of said juvenile chair and said upwardly extending portion simultaneously substantially disposed abuttingly 30 against the rearmost surface of the backrest of said juvenile chair, and said accessory being adapted to be positioned on a seat and backrest of a vehicle with a vehicle-provided strap secured around said juvenile chair and thereby securely holding said ac35 cessory against the backrest of said vehicle, said base constitutes two rearwardly extending bars adapted to be inserted between said seat and backrest of a vehicle, and said means comprises two spaced parallel crossbars 40 connected to and across said rearwardly extending bars adapted to complementarily engage said base of said juvenile chair therebetween as well as to insure rigidity of said rearwardly extending bars.

5. The system, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said cross bars are flat bars and are disposed between said rearwardly extending bars and each of said cross bars has curved portions curving away from said rearwardly extending bars and a straight portion connecting said curved portions.

*****

The accessory 40 is bent upwardly at the rear of the ends 41 forming parallel sides 45 and then bends inwardly in straight triangular portions 46 to and are connected at the top by a curved bend to which the head rest 47 is secured. In this embodiment the rear leg 5b of the chair is the most rearwardly projecting portion.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 9 and 10, still another embodiment of the accessory 48 is disclosed in which the accessory 48 comprises a U-shaped base 49 having a forward-most-front bar 50 and lateral side bars 51. The U-shaped base 49 is designed to fit complementarily to, in the same plane, and between the horizontal legs 5α. The base 49 of the accessory 48 and the base 5 of the chair 1 are disposed in inverted U position with the leg 5b of the chair 1 being the rear-most portion. The base 49 of the accessory 48 and the base 5 of the chair 1 are secured by horizontally extending bolt screws 52 and corresponding nuts 53, preferably provided in pairs on both sides.

The accessory bends upwardly and slightly rearwardly at the rear of the base 49 forming two straight portions 54 converging toward each other, which are joined at the top by a curved bend to which is secured the head rest 55 as disclosed in the previous embodiments.

The assembled chair and accessory units of FIGS. 7 and 9 are strapped to a vehicle seat similarly as illustrated in FIG. 1. All the disclosed accessory units are preferably made of metal tubing.