US3331631A - Children's play seat - Google Patents

Description

uly 6 R. s. P|ERS ON, JR 3,33

CHILDREN'S PLAY SEAT Filed April 15, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. RAYMOND (3. Pl ERSON,JR BY ATTORNEYS July 18, 1967 R. a. PIERSON, JR -3,331,6I1H

CHILDREN'S PLAY SEAT Filed April 15. 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.5

INVENTOR RAYMOND G. PIERSON,JR.

ATTORNEYS July 18, 1967 R. G. PIERSON. JR 3,331,631

CHILDREN'S PLAY SEAT Filed April 15. 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR RAYMOND e. PIERSON JR, BY

' aw Am W ATTORNEYS United States Patent 6 3,331,631 CHILDRENS PLAY SEAT Raymond G. Pierson, Jr., Gardner, Mass, assignor to Hedstrom Union Company, Fitchburg, Mass. Filed Apr. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 549,108 6 Claims. (Cl. 297-458) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a play seat for children. It relates more specifically to a play seat which is able to function selectively as a baby jumper, a rocker or a baby walker and which also can be folded easily into a compact package. This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 406,956, filed October 21, 1964, now abandoned.

Most of the juvenile furniture items now on the market have only one mode of operation; they can be used in only one way by a child. Therefore, those parents who wish their children to have varied exercise and play are compelled to obtain, store and carry about several separate play items. As a practical matter, full use is usually not made of any one of those items.

Accordingly, this invention aims to provide a single item of juvenile furniture which is capable of operating selectively as a baby jumper, a rocker or a baby walker.

Another object of this invention is to provide a childrens play seat capable of functioning as a stationary baby jumper having exceptionally good stability.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a childrens play seat capable of functioning as a rocker whose rocking motion is confined within selected safe limits for the particular user.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a childrens play seat which is capable of functioning as a baby walker with greatly reduced capacity for marring furniture and other surfaces with which it may come into contact.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a childrens play seat which is convertible between jumper, rocker and walker positions, yet which is foldable into a compact package for storage purposes.

The invention accordingly comprises apparatus possessing the features, properties and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view seat embodying the principles of my to function as a baby jumper;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational childrens play seat of FIG. 1 to function as a rocker;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of of a childrens play invention and ready view of a portion of the showing the seat adapted the play seat of FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating the adjustment of the play seat between its jumper and rocker positions;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a similar portion of the play seat of FIGS. 1 and 2 and illustrating the adjustment of the play seat for its operation as a baby walker;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a modified form of stop member used on the play seat of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to modification of my play seat.

In my play seat generally, a seat assembly is resiliently suspended from a rocker assembly. The seat assembly is foldable down on the rocker assembly. Stops which are adjustable to prevent the rocking movement of the play seat are mounted near the ends of the rocker assembly. These stops also function as resilient bumpers when casters are installed on the rocker assembly and the play seat is used as a baby walker.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawing, my improved play seat comprises a rocker assembly indicated generally at 10 and a seat assembly indicated generally at 12 resiliently suspended from the rocker assembly by conventional flexible, resilient means, herein helical springs 14.

The rocker assembly 10 includes a pair of parallel, spaced-apart upwardly curved rockers 16. Only one of these has been illustrated for clarity. Each rocker 16 has an upturned rear end 16a and an upturned forward end 16b. A pair of caster mountings 18 are installed near the opposite ends of each rocker 16 below the upturned end portions 16a and 16b. The mountings 18 are adapted to receive the usual swivel-type caste-rs 19 (FIG. 4).

Like stops 20 are mounted on the opposite ends of each rocker 16 above caster mountings 18 at the bases of the upturned end portions 16a and 16b. The function and operation of stops 20 will be described more particularly later.

The seat assembly 12 includes duplicate, upstanding side scissors frames indicated generally at 22, each consisting of a pair of crossed frame members 24 and 26 piv otally connected intermediate their ends by pin-s 28.

The frame members 24 and 26 have their flattened lower ends 24a and 26a, respectively, pivotally linked to the upturned end portions 16b and 16a respectively by means of the springs 14. The springs 14 are hooked through openings 30 in the portions 24a and 26a and their other ends are secured by means of bolts 32 to the upturned end portions 16a and 16b of rocker 16.

The upper ends of frame members 26 are turned up and flattened at 26b and are pivotally connected there by pins 34 to the opposite arms of a U-shaped, rearwardly curving seat supporting member 36.

The frame members 24, on the other hand, are shorter than frame members 26 and their upper ends are hingedly connected by pins 48 to the opposite arms of a generally U-shaped upwardly curving backrest member 40. Inclined detents 44 are mounted on the ends of backrest member 40. These engage and stop the ends of frame members 24 when the members 24 are in axial alignment with the arms of member 40. The flattened rear ends 36a of the seat supporting member 36 are pivotally connected by pins 48 to the opposite arms of frame member 40 at points thereon above pins 38. The frame member 36 supports a conventional bag seat or body 50, while the backrest member 40 carries the usual fabric backrest 52. Also, if desired, a tray 53 may be removably fitted into the forward end portion of the seat supporting member 36..

When the play seat is fully extended, the frame members 24 are in axial alignment with the opposite arms of FIG. 4 showing another backrest member 40, and the springs 14 are tens-i oned between the lower ends of frame members 24 and 26 and the upturned end portions 16b and 16a, respectively, of rockers 16 so that the seat 50 is normally resiliently suspended above the rocker assembly To maintain the play seat in its aforesaid extended condition, slips rings 54 are provided on the arms of member 40. Rings 54 may be slid down over the detents 44 to engage them so that the frame members 24 become, in effect, rigid extensions of the opposite arms of backrest member 40.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the play seat may be folded for storage simply by disengaging the slip rings 54, whereupon the entire seating assembly 12 I can collapse downwardly onto rocker assembly 10, with the backrest member 40 swinging forward and down about pins 38 thereby making a flat, compact package.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3 in one embodiment of my invention, the identical stops are preferably fairly thick discs constructed of rubber or plastic or other such relatively rigid, but resilient material. Of course, other stop shapes such as triangular, oval, rectangular, as well as certain elongated manipulable fingers or detents are also considered to be within the scope of this invention. Each stop 20 is provided with an off-centered axial passage 55 (FIG. 3) for receiving a rocker 16. The diameter of passage 55 is the same as, or slightly less than, that of rocker 16 so that once the stop 20 is slid onto the rocker prior to assembling the play seat, the frictional fit between them is sufiiciently tight that it takes a substantial force to move the stop 20 relative to the rocker.

Since the opening 55 is off-centered, the distance between the edge of a stop 20' and the rocker 16 varies around the periphery of the stop between a maximum and a minimum at points 56 and 58, respectively, on the edge of the stop. Thus, by forcibly swivelling the stops 20 around the rocker 16 as indicated in FIG. 3, one is able to adjust between these extremes the distance to which stops 20 will extend below the rockers 16.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the diameter of the stops 20 and the positioning of their openings 55 are so related to the length and curvature of rockers 16 that when the stops are in their lower position (i.e. with the rim point 56 directly below rockers 16), they extend down to the horizontal plane containing the lowermost points A of the rockers 16.

Accordingly, when the play seat is in the jumper position as in FIG. 1 with all of the stops 20 in the lower position as aforesaid, the rocker assembly 10, and hence the entire play seat, is prevented from rocking. In addition, the resilient stops 20 extend fore and aft downwardly-outwardly from the ends of rockers 16 to the floor giving the play seat a very long base and, also preventing the play seat from sliding along the floor. It is apparent, therefore, that assembly 10 provides an extremely stable base which will remain upright even with the most violent bouncing and thrusting movements of a child seated in the seat 50.

Refer now to FIG. 2 which shows my play seat adapted to function as a rocker. The play seat is converted to this rocker position from the baby jumper position illustrated in FIG. 1 simply by swivelling the stops 2%) to the upper position wherein their rim points 58 lie directly under the rockers 16 but substantially above the point A. In other Words, each stop 20 is swivelled from the solid line to the dotted line position indicated in FIG. 3. With the stops 20* oriented thusly, they extend only a small distance below rockers 16. A child seated in seat 50 is now able to rock back and forth as well as to bounce up and down as before.

It is a feature of this invention that the degree or extent of the rocking motion of the play seat can be controlled by swivelling the stops 20 only part way to their extreme upper position. For example, for a very young or delicate child the stops 20 can be adjusted so that they still extend appreciably below rockers 16 to permit only minimum rocking of the assembly 10. The amount of rocking motion permitted, as determined by the aforesaid adjustment of stops 20, can be selected to suit the particular circumstances. It will be appreciated, however, that even when the stops 28 are in their extreme upper position, they still extend slightly below rockers 16. Accordingly, they serve as limit stops to prevent rocking so excessively that an older child might otherwise fall over forward or backward.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4, my play seat is also capable of functioning as a baby walker. For this, the casters 19 are fitted into the mountings 18 provided in rockers 16. The stops 20 are forcibly slid up on their respective rocker end portions 16a and 16b until they lie in a horizontal plane (FIG. 4). That is, each one is slid from the dotted line position to the solid line position. When the stops 20 are positioned thusly, they extend or stand out from the front, back and sides of the rocker assembly 10. Consequently, they function as bumpers to cushion impacts of the play seat against furniture and other surfaces. By this, they protect not only the child in the play seat but also the finished objects in the home.

FIG. 5 illustrates a modified form of stop 60 which gives the play seat a distinctive overall appearance. Stop 60 is generally triangular in shape, but has its apex out off to form a flat top surface 62. Its bottom surface 64 is also filat. Stop 60 has a through passage 66 adapted to snugly receive rocker 16 (FIG. 1). The passage 66 is displaced toward the top surface 62. Thus, when stop 60 is installed on rocker 16, it acts as an eccentric member much the same as stop 20 described above.

When four stops 60 are properly oriented to the down position so that the seat is adapted to function as a bouncer (FIG. 1), each presents its flat side 64 to the floor giving the seat extremely good stability. In addition, due to their resilience, they tend to accentuate the bouncing action of the seat.

Of course, stops 60 can be swivelled around rockers 16 so that the surface 62 faces the floor. In this position, they permit the seat to rock as described above.

Referring now to FIG. 6, in another modified form of my improved play seat, each stop 20 is made up of two separate components, to wit: a stabilizer 70 and a retaining member 72, both mounted on an upturned portion of rocker 16. The stabilizer 70* is a wire member, preferably plastic coated, made up of two generally triangular, slightly diverging portions 70a and 70b. Each portion 70a and 70b has three legs 74, 76 and 78. Each leg 74 is pivotally connected at one end thereof by pivot to the rocker 16. The other end of each leg 74 forms with leg 76 a protruding nose 82. The legs 78 of each portion 70a and 70b are connected by web portion 84. The totality is a rigid structure having appreciable extent in both the longitudinal and lateral directions.

The retaining member 72 is cup-shaped having a depending resilient skirt 72a. Preferably member 72 is made of moderately soft material so it can double as -a bumper for the play seat. Member 72 also has a central opening 86 so that it can be slid onto member 16 and positioned above stabilizer 70. The size of opening 86 is such that member 72 very snugly engages rocker 16 and has no tendency t-oslide thereon.

Still referring to FIG. 6, each stabilizer 70 is adjustable on the rocker 16 about its pivot 80 so that by forcibly swivelling the stabilizer, one is able to adjust the distance to which it will extend below the rocker 16. The lengths of the arms 74, 76 and 78 are so related to the length and curvature of rocker 16 that when the stabilizer is in its lowermost position (ie with legs 76 below rocker 16), as indicated by solid lines in FIG. 6, it extends at least down to the lowermost point A (FIG. 1) of the rocker 16 with its legs 76 resting flat on the floor. In this position, the web portion 87 of the stabilizer engages the underside of rocker 16 on the side of pivot 80 away from the particular end of the rocker. This engagement stops the stabilizer at the proper point. Also, due to the curvature of rocker 16 and the shape of stabilizer 70, and the weight of the play seat, there is no tendency for the stabilizer to swing up from this position even when the seat is violently bounced.

Accordingly, when the play seat is in the jumper position (FIGS. 1 and 6) with all of the stabilizers 70 in the lower position as aforesaid, the rocker assembly 10 and hence the entire play seat is prevented from rocking. The stabilizers 70 extend fore and aft from the ends of the rocker 16 to the floor, giving the play seat a very stable base.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 6, the play seat is converted to its rocker position from the aforesaid jumper position by swinging each stabilizer 70 to its upper position indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 6. The web portion 84 again engages the underside of rocker 16 but on the side of pivot 80 nearest the corresponding end of the rocker. This engagement limits the upward swinging of the stabilizer 70. The noses 82 are engaged under the depending skirt 72a of the corresponding retaining mem ber 72 which then holds the stabilizer in this position. In the rocker position, the legs 76 of stabilizer 70 are vertical and the entire stop 20 lies substantially above the point A (FIG. 2) on rocker 16. With the play seat thus in its rocker position as aforesaid, a child is now able to rock back and forth and bounce up and down as well.

This modified form of my play seat is also capable of functioning as a baby walker. As before, the casters 19 (FIG. 4) are fitted into the mountings 18 provided therefor. The stabilizers 70 are adjusted to their elevated position wherein they engage under the corresponding retaining members 72, as aforesaid. The retaining members 72 then function also as resilient bumpers to cushion impacts of the play seat. The plastic coated stabilizers 70 also help in this respect as they add needed reinforcement to the members 72 and present a coated surface to any object encountered by the play seat.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided a single play seat which is readily convertible between a baby jumper, a rocker and a baby walker. The play seat is also easily folded so that it can be carried about easily in the car and conveniently stored in a small space. This single play chair which is capable of several modes of operation,-replaces three separate and distinct items of juvenile furniture.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efi'iciently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above article without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A childrens play seat convertible between jumper, rocker and walker positions, said play seat comprising a pair of parallel, spaced-apart, upwardly-curved rockers, a seat resiliently suspended from said rockers, means for mounting casters near the opposite ends of said rockers and stop means mounted on said rockers, said stop means comprising a plurality of members swingable on said rockers between two operative positions, in one of said positions said members extend down from said rockers to points substantially even with the lowermost portions of said rockers and prevent rocking motion, in the second of said positions said members terminate substantially above said lowermost portions of said rockers so as not to inhibit said rocking motion, said stop means also extending outwardly from said rockers whereby to function as bumpers when casters are installed in said mounting means and said play seat is used as a baby walker.

2. A childrens play seat as defined in claim 1 wherein said stop means comprise resilient eccentric bodies mounted on and frictionally engaging said rockers.

3. A childrens play seat as defined in claim 1 said stop means comprise stabilizing members connected to said rockers adjacent said caster means.

4. A childrens play seat as defined in claim 1 wherein said stop means comprise frame members pivotally connected to said rockers near said caster mounting means, said frame members having portions thereof engaging said rockers when said stop means are in said first position to limit the swinging movement of said frame members, and said stop means further include resilient retaining means mounted on said rockers above said frame members, said retaining means engaging said frame members when said stop means are in their said second position.

5. A childrens play seat as defined in claim 2 wherein said eccentric body is generally triangular.

6. A childrens play seat as defined in claim 2 wherein said eccentric body is discoid.

wherein pivotally mounting References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,323,946 12/1919 Wright 297270 2,618,318 11/1952 Welsh 297-274 2,746,203 5/1956 Gibas 248345.1 2,758,632 8/1956 Koller et al. 248l88.1 2,758,634 8/1956 Wash et al. 297-285 X 2,851,236 9/1958 Koller et al. 248188.1 X 2,855,978 10/1958 Hamilton 248188.1 X 2,885,821 5/1959 Frick 248-3451 3,093,356 6/1963 Boyalos 248l88.1

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner. FRANK B. SHERRY, Examiner. G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A CHILDREN''S PLAY SEAT CONVERTIBLE BETWEEN JUMPER, ROCKER AND WALKER POSITIONS, SAID PLAY SEAT COMPRISING A PAIR OF PARALLEL, SPACED-APART, UPWARDLY-CURVED ROCKERS, A SEAT RESILIENTLY SUSPENDED FROM SAID ROCKERS, MEANS FOR MOUNTING CASTERS NEAR THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID ROCKERS AND STOP MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID ROCKERS, SAID STOP MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF MEMBERS SWINGABLE ON SAID ROCKERS BETWEEN TWO OPERATIVE POSITIONS, IN ONE OF SAID POSITIONS AND MEMBERS EXTEND DOWN FROM SAID ROCKERS TO POINTS SUBSTANTIALLY EVEN WITH THE LOWERMOST PORTIONS

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