Patent Application
20060169864
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The present invention relates generally to an safety device and, more particularly, to a safety strap that provides for securing chairs under tables to prevent infants and toddlers from using the chairs to access higher areas, such as the table top, therefore reducing the risk of injuries that may result if such access were possible.
Toddlers are well known for their curiosity. Toddlers exhibit this curiosity by energetically exploring their environment. Generally, this behavior is encouraged, as it is well-accepted that an important part of the overall learning process is engaging in first hand experience. However, a toddler's desire to learn about the environment must be tempered by the realization that a toddler's environment includes activities that could pose risks to the toddler. Toddlers are still practicing simple motor activities, such as walking and climbing. Their lack of surefootedness at this stage often results in a toddler suffering a moment of imbalance and a subsequent fall. Most of these tumbles are harmless and quickly dismissed by both toddler and caregiver. Sometimes, however, such a fall can result in injury, sometimes serious. Therefore, parents, grandparents, babysitters, and the like, often attempt to child proof their house, in order to reduce the risk of injury, while allowing the curious toddler to explore their world around them.
However, even the most well-meaning caretaker cannot keep a close eye on the toddler every moment of each day—there are many other daily happenings that demand attention, even if only momentarily. Toddlers, despite their lack of dexterity, are incredibly quick moving. This, coupled with their size, can make monitoring and restraining the toddler extremely difficult for their parents and babysitters, let alone their older relatives. A toddler's quickness, coupled with his or her curiosity, can lead to some potentially serious situations.
One of the more dangerous activities toddlers indulge in is climbing. Because of the toddlers' curiosity, they are naturally fascinated with things that are within their sight but out of their reach, such as an object on top of a kitchen or dinning room table. In order to satisfy their curiosity, or simply to retrieve a desired object, a toddler is likely to think of a way to get reach what they want. In many cases, especially when the object of their desire is sitting on top of a kitchen or dinning room table, a toddler will resort to using a chair as a ladder. As toddlers are not yet competently dexterous, their attempts at using a chair for climbing, coupled with the inherent instability of a chair when used as a climbing tool, may result in a potentially dangerous fall. Additionally, because of their quick, and often unanticipated movement, the entire climbing event and subsequent fall, could easily happen while the parent, grandparent, or babysitter has only momentarily averted their attention from the toddler.
The reason a table chair is so appealing and dangerous to the toddler is that, unlike some other items in a house, chairs, especially those used routinely by a kitchen or dinning room table, are readily accessible to toddlers, table chairs are easy moved even by a toddler, they are relatively easy for a toddler to climb onto, and, problematically, are quite difficult, if not impossible, to child proof. Unlike doors that can be latched or plugs that can be covered, there is no readily apparent mechanism to secure a chair that is used for sitting at a table. Because a means to child proof these kinds of chairs is lacking, caregivers must constantly be concerned about a child taking the opportunity to use the chair as a climbing tool, and possibly injuring themselves in the process. Thus, it is quite clear that there a pressing need for a means and method of securing a chair under a table.
There are some means available for keeping children, especially toddlers, away from a chair, but they all seem to have shortfalls. Such means all involve some form of a child restraint. That is, it is known to place a young child into a playpen, but, of course, an older toddler is likely to climb out, which presents another hazard to the safety of the child. Alternatively, young children may be secured by a leash-type device to some safe area of the house. These means, however, do not answer the need for means to child-proof chairs used for sitting at a table. The ideal device to child-proof chairs used for sitting at a table should be easy and cost effective to manufacture, thus being affordable for all. Also, the device should be easy to use and ideally operable using only one hand. The necessity of this one handed operation is two fold. First and foremost, not all persons using this device would be the most dexterous, especially if used by grandparents to protect their grandchildren. Secondly, one may not have both hands free to use the device, which is especially true in a household with small children. Thus, the fewer parts required to make the device operable, the more attractive it becomes.
In addition to offering single-hand operation, ease of manufacturing, and being cost effective, there are other practical considerations. For one, the device should be able to be adapted to fit differently sized and styled chairs and tables. The device should also be portable so that it may accompany the child when traveling. For the atheistic sake, the device should be unobtrusive. As, toddlers are only toddlers for a short period of time and the time period during which there is a need for such a device it limited, the device should detachable. Likewise, if a new table and chairs are purchased, having a detachably attachable device would eliminate the need to purchase a second device, providing both a cost and time savings.
Accordingly, the present invention meets the heretofore unmet need by providing for a means and a method to child-proof chairs that are used for sitting at a table or other surface. The device is a two part safety-strap that easily, rapidly, and effectively secures chairs under a table to prevent a young child from using the chairs for climbing. The device may be operated using only one hand making is simple to use even if the user's other hand is busy, e.g., to hold onto the toddler. Moreover, the device is simple to manufacture requiring only straps and buckles and/or snaps. The materials required for manufacture are all low cost and readily available, thus making manufacture cost effective and further, allowing the device to be generally affordable. The universal design of the device allows it to be used with most tables and chairs and is easily detached to make the device portable so that it may accompany a child when traveling. For atheistic sake, the device is unobtrusive.
The adjustable safety-strap device comprises a first part of an attachment means that is first firmly secured to a chair and then is detachably attached to the second part of the attachment means that is installed to the underside of a kitchen or dinning room table by either mechanical or adhesive means, to allow for ease of connecting and to provide for a secure attachment of a chair under a table top to keep the chair inaccessible to a small child thereby eliminating the possibility of a child using the chair for climbing and the attendant possibility of ensuing injuries.
The strap, to which the first part of the attachment means is attached, is secured to a chair by slipping one end of the strap around a part of a chair, such as the arms of the chair or the back supports rungs of the chair and then detachably attaching that end of the strap to itself by use of either a snap or buckle. Once the strap is thusly secured to a chair, the first part of the attachment means that is fixedly attached to the other end of the strap is secured to the second part of the attachment means that has been secured under a table to thwart the possibility of the chair being pulled away from the table, thereby preventing a toddler from pulling out the chair and using it as a climbing means.
The length of the strap is adjustable to allow for a snug fit and the attachment means under the table can a short length of strap attached to it to provide extra ease in securing the two attachment parts together. Overall the device is lightweight, easy to use and manufacture, and provides an extra degree of safety in the home environment.
The attachment means of the device is contemplated to consist of either molded plastic or metal parts, although any suitable material would work just as well. The attachment means are attached to a strap, contemplated to be made of either a natural cloth or a polymeric material. To provide for its attachment to a part of a chair, the looped strap is held to itself either by a buckle, made of plastic, metal, fiberglass, or the like, or by series of snaps, where the buckle or the series of snaps allow for the length of the strap to be adjusted, and all of which are easy to manufacture. There are no complex mechanical parts that could break down, require frequent replacement, or would require large amounts of manufacturing time to create. Also, the number of parts required to manufacture the device is quite small. At most, it would require five distinct parts in order to fully implement the device.
The device is easy to use. Once the second part of the attachment means is installed on the underside of a table and the strap with the first part of the attachment means is secure about a part of a chair, the device can be easily secured to itself under the table using only one hand. The device then may be tightened so the chair fits snugly under the table. It would require very little effort to do this, allowing even a person with minimal dexterity to provide for child-proofed table chairs. Also, the tightening can be done with one hand as well, allowing the other hand to be occupied with other duties as may be necessary for a person taking care of a toddler.
The current invention also provides for adaptability of use. Since it consists of very few pieces, very little would be needed to adjust. The most important part, the strap, is in fact the most adjustable piece. Depending on the length of the strap, it can be placed anywhere on a chair, thus opening up its use to any number of chair designs. The means of securing, which is also the means of adjustment, is either a series of snaps, or a slide buckle, which allows for a wide breadth of adjustment of tension and length. The second part of the attachment means that is secured under a top of a table can either be secured by a mechanical means, or by a double sided adhesive, allowing the device to be used on wood, as well as glass.
The means that are used to secure (affix) the second part of the attachment means to the underside of a the table address the need for reversibility of affixation. When a mechanical affixing means, such as a screw, or a non-mechanical affixing means, such as double sided adhesive is used to affix the second part of the attachment means to the underside of a table, the second part of the attachment means (that is, the part that is located under the table top) can be removed as required by a user, without any marks showing on the visible top surface of the table and only minimal screw holes marks, if such affixing means are chosen, visible from beneath the table top. As for the strap attached to the other portion of the securing means, that is easily removed by either unbuckling it from the chair, or unsnapping it from itself. Both attachment processes do not destroy or damage the device, allowing it to be reused at a later time, or with another table.
All of these advances and advantages are made available by providing an apparatus for securing a chair to a table comprising a strap, and adjustable attachment means, wherein the attachment means comprise a first part and a second part that are constructively adapted for easy and rapid detachable attachment to each other, and further wherein said first part of the attachment means is fixedly attachable to the strap, wherein the strap is detachably attachable to the chair, and the second part of the attachment means is fixedly attachable to a table, so that when the strap, with the first part of said attachment means fixedly attached to said strap, is secured to the chair and the first part of the attachment means is detachably attached to the second part of the attachment means, which second part of the attachment means is fixedly attached to a table, the apparatus provides for the secure attachment of the chair to the table preventing the chair from being used as a climbing means.
Moreover, the second part of the attachment means further comprises means for attaching the second attachment means to the underside of a table wherein the table attachment means may be reversibly affixed to an underside of a table, and furthermore wherein the means to attach the second attachment means to the underside of a table includes a bolt table attachment means.
An adjustable safety strap wherein the first part of the attachment means further comprises a first part of a side release buckle clip, and where that side release buckle clip is connected to the reversible affixing means by a small connector. Additionally, the safety strap where the strap has a first strap end and a second strap end, and where that first strap end comprises a second part of a side release buckle clip complementary to the first part of a side release buckle clip providing for detachably attaching the first part and the second part of the attachment means together. The buckle clip may be made from plastic or if a stronger buckle is required, the buckle may be made from metal, fiberglass, or any other serviceable material.
Yet another method of attachment for the table attachment means comprises a grommet snap means fixedly attached to the underside of the table providing for detachably attaching the first part and the second part of said attachment means together. Moreover, the grommet snap means may be fixedly attached to an underside of the table using screw-like means or using adhesive means.
The safety strap wherein the end of the strap means further comprises a looping means for the reversible looping attachment of the second end of the strap means about a part of a chair. Additionally, the looping means further comprises the second end of the strap fitted with an adjustable slide buckle to affix the second end of the strap to itself forming the looping means for looping the second end of the strap means about a part of a chair.
The looping means for the strap where it further comprises the second end of the strap fitted with adjustable grommet snaps to affix the second end of the strap to itself forming the looping means for looping the second end of the strap means about a part of a chair.
The means for looping may be looped around any functional portion of a chair, such as, but not limited to the back supports, the arms or the arm supports, and the legs or the leg supports.
The invention also comprises a method for securing a chair to a table, which method comprises the steps of providing an attachment means having a first part and a second part, attaching the first part of the attachment means to the table and the second part of the attachment means to the chair, and attaching the first part of the attachment means to the second part of the attachment means for the secure attachment of the chair to the table preventing the chair from being used as a climbing means to the table.
Furthermore, the invention also contemplates the attachment means being sold in a kit, wherein a kit may comprise any reasonable number of attachment means to provide for child-proofing an entire set of chairs and also, if desired, including additional table attachment means so that the other attachment means may easily be taken along with the child when traveling, to a vacation home or to grandparent's home, for example.
In order that these and other features and advantages of the present invention may be more fully comprehended, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, and in which:
a is a partial perspective, side view of a safety strap, as illustrated in
b is a detail of the male and female parts of the side release buckle attachment means, illustrating the location for the insertion of a screw that may be used to attach the female side release buckle part to an underside of a table.
c is detail of the male and female parts of the side release buckle attachment means, utilizing a short connector strap piece in which a means for the insertion of a screw is placed.
a is a partial perspective side view of another embodiment of a safety strap, wherein a strap is attachable to itself to form a loop about a chair back support and to the underside of a table using grommet snaps attachment means.
b is a front plan view of two of the safety straps illustrated in
c is a detail side plan view of the male portion of the grommet snap attachment means screwed into an attachment block, where the attachment block may be attached to the table using an adhesive or double sided tape.
Side Release Buckle Clip, as used herein comprises of all clips wherein a portion of the clip, hereinafter referred to as the male portion, slides into, fits inside, and locks securely in the second portion of the clip, hereinafter referred to as the female portion. Releasing the male portion from the female portion requires the operator to apply pressure to one or both sides of the combined clip, thus mechanically releasing the male portion from the female portion.
Grommet Snap, as used herein comprises of all snaps wherein a portion of the snap, hereinafter referred to as female portion, fits on top of, and locks over another portion of the snap, hereinafter referred to as the male portion, after sufficient force is applied to the top of the female portion. Releasing the female portion from the male portion requires the operator to pull the female portion away from the male portion with enough force to separate the two halves.
It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein, but is disposed to embodiments in various sizes, shapes, and forms and, thus, encompasses many embodiments as are discussed throughout the specification. Therefore, the embodiments described herein are provided with the understanding that the present disclosure is intended as illustrative and are not intended to limit the invention.
An adjustable safety strap of two part construction provides for easy and effective securing of chairs under a table. The apparatus consists of a strap of any serviceable material and a two part, reversible attachment means, which can be made of any functional material, including, but not limited to metal or plastic. Another material that would be considered would be fiberglass. Using plastic as the material with which to make the attachment means has the advantage of the savings gained by the use of injection-type molding processes.
The first part of the reversible attachment means is secured to the strap, and the second part is reversibly secured under a table top, using either mechanical or adhesive-type means, to allow for ease of connecting, especially when the table attachment means is to be attached to a glass table top. After the strap is reversibly attached to the chair being secured, using either snapping or buckling means, the strap is adjusted to provide for a snug fit. Moreover, for extra ease of attaching the two attachment parts, the attachment means that are located under a table top may be attached to a length of strap to provide extra ease in securing the two parts together. Overall the apparatus is easy to use and manufacture, lightweight and low cost, and provides an extra degree of safety in the home environment.
Referring now particularly to the drawings,
More specifically, a first embodiment, illustrated by apparatus 10 in
Fitted onto the second end of strap 14 is slide buckle 16. Buckle 16 may be made of any suitable material, which materials will be readily appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art, although as illustrated, the buckle is made of plastic to realize low material cost and ease of manufacture. Of course, if additional durability is desired, metal may be used and fiber glass is always a reasonable material choice. Additionally, buckle 16 can be of any desired conformation and style, though as illustrated a traditional friction based buckle is shown.
Strap 14 can be made from any strong, yet pliable material, which may or may not have any elastic give, depending on the material used. Materials that could be used for the strap 14 include, but are not limited to, natural and synthetic fabrics, web weaves, plastics, polymers such as polyvinyl chloride, or any other material that can be conformed into a viable strap.
Strap 14 is to be secured to chair 12 (shown in dashed lines in
The use of apparatus 10 is illustrated in
a illustrates an alternative means of securing “female” portion 18b of the buckle clip to table 11. It is secured by an adhesive indicated by reference number 20. The adhesive can be any of a variety of possibilities, including, but not limited to, double sided tape, rubber cement, or any other adhesive that provides for the joining or attaching of one surface to another. The use of hook and loop attachment means if also contemplated. When a screw, or other mechanical attachment device means, would be impractical, undesirable, or impossible to use, one of the adhesive attachment means could be used instead. Such cases would be when table 11 is made of glass, stone, is an antique or any similar situation.
A close-up view of the interface between male 18a and female 18b portion of the buckle clip is illustrated in
The use of integrated connection device 32 is shown in
It is also obvious, to one having ordinary skill in the art, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the buckle clip made up of male part 18a and female part 18b, or to slide buckle 16. Another embodiment of the invention takes this into account and is illustrated in
It has been shown then that kitchen chair safety strap solves the problems presented by the currently available devices. For one, the invention according to what has been taught, provides an adjustable restraint that is readily adaptable to a variety of sizes of chairs and tables. Moreover, the apparatus 10 can be adjusted quite easily and quickly, even with the possibility of adjusting it with one hand. Additionally, the size of the invention makes it quite portable, and ideal for use by any number of persons who have concerns about children using chairs as a means to get to higher places. Importantly, the invention provides for an apparatus that is easy to make out of easily available materials and by inexpensive methods of manufacture, making the apparatus affordable to all.
The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific and defined nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details presented are not required in order to practice the invention and are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made to the features, embodiments, and methods of making the embodiments of the invention described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention is limited only by the claims.
