ADJUSTABLE ROCKER SEAT

Abstract

An adjustable children's rocking chair is shown that can be readily converted without the use of tools between a configuration where it is used to support an infant in a more reclined position, and a configuration where it is suitable for use as a rocking chair by a toddler. The rocking chair includes a seat portion, a support portion connected to the seat portion, and the support portion being pivotably connected to a rocker base and being adjustable in length. The support portion includes a front frame assembly, such as a pair of front legs, and a rear frame assembly, such as a pair of rear legs, with each of the front legs being pivotably connected to a respective rear leg through a detachable joint. The seat portion includes a back support portion that is formed by a U-shaped seat back tube slipped inside a pocket in soft goods. Both ends of the U-shaped seat back tube are connected to the detachable joints pivotably connecting the rear legs to the front legs. The seat portion also includes a bottom formed by a rigid board permanently attached to a transverse member extending between the front legs and slipped into a second pocket in the soft goods. As the rear legs are telescopically changed in length, the legs pivot relative to each other and to the rocker base, with a resulting change in inclination of the seat back tube and back support portion.

Description

Summary of Invention

[0008] The shortcomings of conventional rocker chairs are overcome by the rocker chair of the invention, which can be readily converted between a configuration suitable for use by a small infant and a configuration more suitable for use by a larger toddler.

[0009] The multi-use chair that can be readily converted without the use of tools between a configuration in which it is used to support an infant, a configuration in which the seat is at a stationary recline suitable for various uses such as feeding an infant or supporting an infant while the infant sleeps, and a more upright configuration for use as a rocking chair by larger toddlers.

[0010] The chair can be readily folded into a small volume for storage without the use of tools.

[0011] A preferred embodiment of the rocking chair includes a seat portion supported on a support structure that is pivotably connected to a rocker base and is adjustable in height.

[0012] More particularly, in the preferred embodiments the seating portion can be supported relative to a rocking base by multiple legs. The legs can be pivotably attached to the base with at least two of the legs being adjustable in length. Preferably, the adjustable legs are pivotably attached to a rear portion of the rocking base and positioned underneath a back support portion of the seating portion. A change in the length of the adjustable legs results in a change in the inclination of the back support portion relative to the rocking base, thus allowing the seating portion to be readily adjusted between a more reclined position suitable for supporting an infant and a more upright position suitable for supporting a larger toddler.

[0013] The rocking base of the chair can include two substantially parallel elongated curved members, or rocker rails, each having front and rear ends, and each being pivotably connected at the front and rear ends to respective front and rear leg members. The front and rear leg members associated with each rocker rail are detachably connected to each other and to one end of a curved seat back tube that defines the back support portion of the rocking chair.

[0014] A transverse propping member or kickstand can also be pivotably connected between the front ends of the rocker rails that form the rocking base. In its extended position the transverse propping member prevents the chair from rocking, and thus allows the chair to be maintained in a stationary reclined position. The legs pivotably connected to the rear ends of the rocker rails are adjustable in length and are readily detached from the front legs by manual release of engagement members on the joints that connect the rear legs to the front legs.

[0015] A vibrating unit can also be provided on a transverse member extending between the rear legs in order to provide a soothing vibration to the chair. The seat portion of the chair is formed by a seat pad (generally referred to as soft goods) that includes a back support portion framed by a seat back tube and a bottom seat portion that can extend over a rigid board permanently attached to a transverse member extending between the front legs. The seat pad is readily removed from the seat back tube and from the rigid board in order to allow for easy cleaning.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0016] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0017] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a rocker seat according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0018] Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the rocker seat shown in Fig. 1, illustrating a more inclined position and a more reclined position achieved by adjustments in the length of the rear legs.

[0019] Fig. 3 is a front perspective view of the rocker seat shown in Fig. 1, illustrating the kickstand in a position to preventing rocking of the seat.

[0020] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the rocker seat during assembly of the soft goods onto the seat back tube and front legs.

[0021] Fig. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the pivoting movement of front and rear legs and telescoping of the rear leg relative to the rocker rail.

[0022] Fig. 6A is a detail side elevation view in partial cross section of the detachable joint provided between front and rear leg members.

[0023] Fig. 6B is an end elevation view of the detail shown in Fig. 6A.

[0024] Fig. 7 is a detail view of the integral detent on an end cap at one end of a rocker rail in relationship to extended and retracted positions of a kickstand.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments

[0025] An adjustable children's rocker seat according to the preferred embodiments of the invention includes a seat, an arcuate rocker base and an adjustable and collapsible support structure that supports the seat on the arcuate rocker base. The support structure has a front assembly and a rear assembly. In the illustrated embodiments, both assemblies are pivotably coupled to the arcuate rocker base so that they can be rotated down toward the base into a folded or stowed configuration. The change between inclined and reclined positions in the illustrated embodiments is accomplished by changing the axial length of one of the front and rear assemblies and pivoting both of the assemblies relative to the rocker base.

[0026] An adjustable child's rocker seat embodying the principles of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The rocker chair 20 includes an arcuate rocker base 30 and a seating portion 90. The rocker base 30 is formed by two substantially parallel, laterally spaced arcuate rocker rails 32 and 34. Rocker rail 32 has an end cap 40 positioned at a front end 32a, and an end cap 42 positioned at a rear end 32b. Similarly, rocker rail 34 has a front end cap 44 positioned at end 34a and a rear end cap 46 positioned at rear end 34b.

[0027] The front support frame assembly includes a pair of substantially parallel arcuate tubes 50 and 52 that are pivotably connected at their respective front ends 50a and 52a to the respective front end caps 40 and 44. The pivotal connection 41 between front leg member 50 and front end cap 40 and the pivotal connection 45 between front leg member 52 and front end cap 44 allow the respective front legs to be pivoted between more upright and more reclined positions relative to the rocker rails 32 and 34. A transverse tube member 54 connected between the front leg members 50 and 52 maintains the front leg members in parallel relationship as well as providing a support for a rigid board 95 used in connection with the bottom seat portion 94 of seat 90.

[0028] The rear support frame assembly includes an adjustable, telescoping rear leg 60 that is connected to rear end cap 42 of rocker rail 32, and an adjustable, telescoping rear leg 64 is connected to rear end cap 46 of rocker rail 34. Rear leg 60 includes a lower leg portion 61 that is pivotably connected at end 61a by a pivotal connection 43 to the rear end cap 42. The upper end 61b of lower leg portion 61 is telescopically received within an upper leg portion 62. As best seen in Fig. 2, the relative positions between lower leg portion 61 and upper leg portion 62 can be maintained by a spring biased button 61c that engages with one of several desired openings through the upper leg portion 62. The spring biased button 61c can be of the type sold under the trademark VALCO.

[0029] Similarly, rear leg 64 includes a lower leg portion 65 and an upper portion 66 telescopically received over the lower leg portion. As seen in Fig. 1, the lower end 65a of lower leg portion 65 is pivotably connected by pivotal connection 47 to the rear end cap 46 of rocker rail 34. The upper end 65b of lower leg portion 65 is telescopically received within the upper leg portion 66 and maintained in position relative to the upper leg portion by a spring biased button 65c that engages with one of several desired openings through the upper leg portion 66, as seen in Fig. 2.

[0030] As seen in Fig. 1, the upper ends 62b and 66b of respective rear leg members 60 and 64 can be provided with a clevis-type joint for pivotal engagement with respective detachable joint members 70 and 72.

[0031] As best seen in Figs. 1, 6A and 6B, detachable joint members 70, 72 are each provided with an opening at first end 70a, 72a for engagement with the end 50b, 52b of front leg members 50, 52 and an opening at opposite end 70b, 72b for receipt of one end 80a, 80b of a U-shaped seat back tube 80. At central portions 70c, 72c the detachable joint members 70, 72 are each provided with laterally-extending spring-biased buttons 70c , 72c that engage with respective openings through the clevis ends 62b, 66b of respective leg members 60, 64. The openings at ends 70b, 72b of detachable joints 70, 72 can be provided with internal splines, such as internal splines 70d shown in Fig. 6B, that define the opening for ends 80a, 80b of seat back tube 80.

[0032] As seen in Fig. 1, transverse member 67 can also be provided extending between the upper leg portions 62 and 66 of respective rear leg members 60 and 64. A vibrating unit 68 can be mounted on the transverse member 67 in order to transmit a soothing vibration through the legs of the rocking chair and thus through the seat 90 to an infant positioned in the seat.

[0033] Seat 90 is formed by soft goods that are formed into a back support portion 92 and a bottom seat portion 94 and suspended over the seat back tube 80 and front assembly tubes 50 and 52. As best seen in Fig. 4, the soft goods are slid over seat back tube 80 and front assembly tubes 50 and 52 after they are assembled to detachable joints 70 and 72, but before the detachable joints 70 and 72 are connected to the rear leg members 60 and 64. The rigid seat board 95 can be inserted into a pocket at the bottom seat portion 94 of the soft goods forming the seat 90. A restraint pad 96 can also be provided between the bottom seat portion 94 and the back support portion 92 to constrain an infant seated in seat portion 90.

[0034] As best seen in Figs. 1 and 7, a transverse propping member or kickstand 100 is pivotably connected at one end 100a to the front end cap 40 on rocker rail 32 and pivotably connected at the other end 100b to the front end cap 44 on rocker rail 34. Each of the front end caps 40 and 44 can also be provided with integrally molded detents 40a (not shown) and 44a on their inside facing surfaces to receive the kickstand 100 in its retracted position substantially flush with the rocker rails 32, 34, and in its extended position when it is desired to maintain the rocker seat in a stationary position.

[0035] With the above construction and arrangement of the parts of the multi-purpose adjustable rocker seat in accordance with the invention, the seat can be employed in the following several ways:As seen in Fig. 2, when it is desired to place the rocker seat in a more reclined position suitable for supporting a small infant, the spring biased buttons 61c and 65c extending through the openings in upper rear leg portions 62 and 66 can be depressed in order to allow the upper rear leg portions to be telescoped down over the lower rear leg portions 61 and 65. Referring to Fig. 5 for a representative illustration of the telescoping and pivoting motion of the front and rear legs relative to a rocker rail, as upper rear leg portions 62 and 66 are moved downwardly over the lower rear leg portions the resulting downward movement of detachable joints 70 and 72 causes front leg portions 50 and 52 to pivot about their front pivot connections 41 and 45 relative to rocker rails 32 and 34. The pivotal movement of the rear leg members and front leg members relative to the rocker base also causes a change in orientation of the detachable joints 70 and 72 relative to rocker rails 32 and 34 such that seat back tube 80 is moved to a more reclined position relative to the rocker base. The front kickstand 100 can be rotated to its extended position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 if it desired to maintain the rocker chair 20 in a stationary position.

[0036] If it is desired to use the chair in a more upright, stationary position such as shown in Fig. 3 during feeding of the infant or for other uses, the spring biased buttons 61c and 65c (best seen in Fig. 2) can be depressed within the openings through upper rear leg portions 62 and 66 and the upper rear leg portions can be telescoped relative to lower rear leg portions 61 and 65 to increase the length of the rear leg members 60 and 64. Again the interconnection between the rear leg members, the front leg members and the seat back tube through the detachable joints 70 and 72 results in the front and rear leg members pivoting relative to the rocker base as the rear leg members are telescoped to a longer, more extended position.

[0037] As an infant grows in size to a toddler, the rocker seat can be easily adjusted as described above by increasing the length of rear leg members 60 and 64 to convert the rocker seat to a more upright rocking chair type configuration.

[0038] The above described changes in configuration of the rocking chair achieved by a simple adjustment in the lengths of the rear leg members without the use of any tools, allow the rocking chair to be readily adapted as an infant grows in size to a toddler. The rocking chair can also be readily folded into a relatively flat configuration when not in use by simply depressing the spring loaded buttons 70c and 72c (seen in Fig. 5) of detachable joints 70 and 72 and disengaging them from the clevis ends 62b and 66b of the rear leg members 60 and 64. With the detachable joints 70 and 72 being disengaged from rear leg members 60 and 64 but still connected to front leg members 50 and 52 and to the seat back tube 80, the rear leg members can be folded down toward the rocker rails 32 and 34, and the front leg members 50, 52, joints 70, 72, and seat back tube 80 can be folded down toward the rocker rails 32 and 34, thus readily folding the entire rocking chair into a relatively flat configuration.

[0039] It will be understood that various modifications and changes can be made in the configuration of the disclosed adjustable rocker seat without departing from the scope or intent of the appended claims. As an example, the number of openings through the upper rear leg members 62 and 66 can be increased in order to allow for a multiple of different height positions to which the chair can be adjusted. Additionally, the interconnection between the rear leg members 60 and 64 and the detachable joints 70 and 72 could be provided with the spring loaded buttons mounted on the rear leg members rather than on the detachable joints, and openings provided in the detachable joints rather than through the clevis ends of the rear leg members. Additionally, the front support assembly could be made axially adjustable rather than the rear support assembly with some simple modifications to the soft goods supported on the frame assembly. The axial length adjustments in the front or rear support assemblies can be provided by any suitable structure including, but not limited to, telescoping tubes, or tubes offset from each other with some kind of sliding connector between them. Furthermore, the support frame assemblies are not necessarily limited to pairs of substantially parallel tubes, and the rocker base is not limited to a pair of discrete rocker rails. The support frame assemblies could be formed from any of a variety of alternative structures including X-frames, or even solid frames, and the rocker base could be provided as a solid base with an arcuate bottom.

Claims

A rocking chair, comprising:

A rocking chair, comprising:

An adjustable chair, comprising:

The adjustable chair according to claim 3, further including a kickstand pivotably attached at an upper end thereof to said rocking base for adjustment between a first position wherein the adjustable chair can rock on said rocking base and a second position wherein a lower end of said kickstand projects downwardly from said base to engage a support surface, thereby preventing the chair from rocking on said rocking base.

The adjustable chair according to claim 4 wherein said back support portion includes a U-shaped member, each end of which is received within an opening in one of said detachable joints.

The adjustable chair according to claim 5, wherein the pivotable connection between each of said front legs and a respective rear leg is made by engagement of a spring-biased protrusion on one of the respective detachable joint and the respective rear leg and an opening in the other of the respective detachable joint and the respective rear leg.

A children's chair, comprising:

The children's chair according to claim 7, further including a propping member for preventing rocking of the chair on said rocking base.

The children's chair according to claim 8, wherein said propping member is pivotably connected to said rocking base and said rocking base includes a detent for maintaining said propping member in either of an extended or a retracted position to restrain or permit rocking motion of the chair, respectively.

A method of adjusting the inclination of a seat supported relative to a rocker base by a support frame having a front support frame portion coupling a front portion of the seat to a front portion of the base and a length adjustable rear support frame portion coupling a rear portion of the seat to a rear portion of the base, comprising the steps of:

A child support configurable between an upright position and a reclined position, said child support being supportable upon a support surface, said child support comprising:

The child support of claim 11, wherein said U-shaped upper and lower frame members are formed from tubes.

The child support of claim 12, wherein said joint portion includes a housing and said U-shaped upper and lower frame members are connected through said housing.

The child support of claim 13, wherein said housing includes a first and a second opening and said U-shaped upper and lower frame members are connected through said housing by said left terminal end of said U-shaped upper frame member being received in said first opening and said left terminal end of said U-shaped lower frame member being received in said second opening.

The child support of claim 11, wherein when said child support is configured in said upright position, said second leg extends between said arcuate base rear end and said joint portion.

The child support of claim 11, wherein when child support is configured in said reclined position, said second leg extends between said arcuate base rear end and said joint portion.

The child support of claim 11, wherein said second leg first orientation is rotationally offset from said second leg second orientation.

The child support of claim 11, wherein said second leg is coupled to said arcuate base rear end when said second leg is positioned in said first orientation.

The child support of claim 18, wherein said second leg is coupled to said arcuate base rear end when said second leg is positioned in said second orientation.

The child support of claim 11, wherein said second leg has a first length when said child support is configured in said upright position and said second leg has a second length when said child support is configured in said reclined position.

The child support of claim 11, wherein said second leg is configurable in a folded position, said folded position including at least said first and second legs being disposed adjacent to each other.

The child support of claim 21, said child support further being configurable in a stowed configuration, wherein said second leg folded position is formed when said child support is in said stowed configuration.

The child support of claim 11, wherein said U-shaped upper and lower frame members are connected through said joint portion.

The child support of claim 23, wherein said first leg includes left and right ends secured to said joint portion and said U-shaped lower frame member left and right terminal ends are formed by said first leg left and right ends.

The child support of claim 11, wherein said joint portion includes a first and second opening and said U-shaped upper and lower frame members are connected through said joint portion by said left terminal end of said U-shaped upper frame member being received in said first opening and said left terminal end of said U-shaped lower frame member being received in said second opening.

The child support of claim 11, further including a kickstand disposed on said arcuate base and selectively positionable between a use and non-use position, said use position adapted for configuring said child support as a stationary seat and said non-use position adapted for configuring said child support as a rocker seat such that said child support is selectively configurable among an upright toddler rocker seat, an upright toddler stationary seat, a reclined infant rocker seat and a reclined infant stationary seat.

A child support configurable between upright, reclined and folded positions, said child support being supportable upon a support surface, and comprising:

The child support of claim 27, wherein when child support is configured in its reclined position, said second leg extends between said rocker base rear portion and said frame connector.

The child support of claim 27, wherein said second leg occupies a first orientation when said child support is in its upright position and said second leg occupies a second orientation when said child support is in its reclined position, said first orientation being rotationally offset from said second orientation.

The child support of claim 30, wherein said second leg is coupled to said rocker base rear portion when said second leg occupies its first orientation.

The child support of claim 31, wherein said second leg is coupled to said rocker base rear portion when said second leg occupies its second orientation.

The child support of claim 27, wherein said second leg has a first length when said child support is in its upright position and said second leg has a second length when said child support is in its reclined position.

The child support of claim 34, wherein said releasable fastener comprises a clevis joint formed on one of said frame connector and said rocker base rear portion that is engageable with a spring biased button formed on said second leg.

The child support of claim 34, wherein said second leg is detached from one of said frame connector and said rocker base rear portion when said child support is positioned from one of its upright and reclined positions to its folded position.

The child support of claim 27, wherein a portion of said first leg forms part of said U-shaped lower frame member.

The child support of claim 27, said second leg including a vibrator for transmitting soothing vibrations to an infant placed on said soft goods when said child support is configured in its reclined position.

The child support of claim 38, said soft goods including an infant harness for retaining an infant received in said seating area when said child support is configured in its reclined position.

The child support of claim 27, wherein a fourth angle extends between said U-shaped portion of said upper frame member and said U-shaped portion of said lower frame member, said fourth angle defining an angular relationship between said U-shaped portions that is suitable for forming a support frame for a child received on said seating area, and

The child support of claim 40, wherein said fourth angle is fixed when said child support is configured in each of its upright, reclined and folded positions.

The child support of claim 27, further including a pair of frame connectors disposed between said upper and lower frame members, wherein said upper and lower frame members are connected through said pair of frame connectors.

A child support configurable between upright, reclined and folded positions, said child support being supportable upon a support surface, comprising:

The child support of claim 43,wherein said second leg is pivotally coupled to said rocker base in both of the upright and reclined positions.

The child support of claim 44, wherein said rocker base includes front and rear portions and said second leg is pivotally coupled to said rear portion.

The child support of claim 44, wherein said second end is pivotally coupled to said frame portion at a location proximate to said left terminal ends of said upper and lower frame members.

The child support of claim 43, wherein said frame portion includes a frame connector and said first leg is coupled to said frame portion by said frame connector.

The child support of claim 43, wherein said frame portion includes a frame connector and said first leg is coupled to said upper frame member by said frame connector.

The child support of claim 48, wherein said frame connector includes a latch portion adapted for configuring said child seat from one of its upright and reclined positions to its folded position.

The child support of claim 49, wherein said latch portion permits said first leg to rotate about said rocker base so as to configure said child support from one of its upright and reclined positions to its folded position.

The child support of claim 50, said second leg including a mating portion releasably engageable with said latch portion, wherein said mating portion is disengaged from said latch portion when said child support is configured from one of its upright and reclined positions to its folded position.

The child support of claim 51, wherein said latch portion is a clevis joint and said mating portion is a spring biased button.

The child support of claim 43, said soft goods including an infant harness for retaining an infant received in said seating area when said child support is configured in its reclined position.

The child support of claim 43, further including a kickstand disposed on said rocker base and selectively positionable between a use and non-use position, said use position adapted for configuring said child support as a stationary seat and said non-use position adapted for configuring said child support as a rocker seat such that said child support is selectively configurable among an upright toddler rocker seat, an upright toddler stationary seat, a reclined infant rocker seat and a reclined infant stationary seat.

The child support of claim 43, wherein said second leg has a first end pivotally coupled to said frame portion, a second end pivotally coupled to said rocker base, and said second leg defines a longitudinal axis extending between said first and second ends of said second leg when said child support is in each of its upright, reclined and folded positions.

The child support of claim 43, wherein a portion of said first leg forms part of said U-shaped lower frame member.

The child support of claim 43, wherein said rocker base is arcuate in shape.

The child support of claim 27, wherein said rocker base is arcuate in shape.