System, apparatus, and method for a convertible child high-chair and step stool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11564501-B2
Application number	US-202117372408-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 9, 2021
Priority date	Feb 12, 2021
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

The convertible child high-chair and step stool can include a frame having a front leg stand and a rear leg stand. A height adjustment mechanism can be coupled to the front leg stand or the rear leg stand and can be adjustable along the vertical axis of the front leg stand or the rear leg stand from a raised position to a lowered position. The apparatus can also include a booster seat and removable platform step. In the raised position, the booster seat can be coupled to the height adjustment mechanism to provide a high chair. In the lowered position, the booster seat can be removed and the removable platform step can be coupled to the height adjustment mechanism and the frame to provide a step stool. The apparatus can also include wheel assemblies coupled to the frame that limit the potential for tip hazards in the step stool configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a stand comprising
a front leg stand; and
a rear leg stand configured to pivot with respect to the front leg stand;

a height adjustment mechanism, movably coupled to the stand, and adjustable from a first vertical position towards a second vertical position with respect to the stand;
a booster seat coupled to the height adjustment mechanism in the first vertical position; and
a first platform step coupled to the stand, wherein the first platform step pivots with respect to the front leg stand and further pivots with respect to the rear leg stand, a first crossbeam support member extending between a first leg and a second leg of the front leg stand, and a second crossbeam support member coupled to the rear leg stand,
wherein the apparatus is adjustable from a high-chair to a step stool.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stand further comprises a panel release latch configured to facilitate release of the first platform step to simultaneously pivot with respect to the front leg stand and the rear leg stand, wherein the stand can be configured from a first, unfolded position to a second, folded position.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the stand comprises:
a first housing defining a first cavity for receiving a first portion of the height adjustment mechanism therethrough;
a second housing defining a second cavity for receiving a second portion of the height adjustment mechanism therethrough.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 ,
wherein the booster seat further comprises:
a booster seat base comprising a front end, a rear end, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side;
a seat back coupled to the booster seat base along the rear end;
a first tab extending from the first lateral side; and
a second tab extending from the second lateral side;

wherein the stand further comprises:
a first booster seat receiving slot configured to receive the first tab; and
a second booster seat receiving slot configured to receive the second tab.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the height adjustment mechanism is slidably adjustable with respect to the front leg stand.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the front leg stand comprises a first leg and a second leg and wherein the height adjustment mechanism is slidably adjustable with respect to the first leg and the second leg of the front leg stand.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stand further comprises:
a first rotation hub comprising a first rotation portion coupled to the rear leg stand; and
a second rotation hub comprising a second rotation portion coupled to the front leg stand.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stand further comprises:
a second platform step configured to be coupled to the front leg stand.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein when in the stand is in a second, folded configuration, the first platform step stand remains coupled to the front leg stand, and is uncoupled from the rear leg stand.

10. A method of converting an apparatus between a high-chair and a step stool comprising:
providing a convertible high-chair comprising:
a front leg stand; and
a rear leg stand configured to pivot with respect to the front leg stand;
a height adjustment mechanism, movably coupled to the front leg stand, and adjustable from a first vertical position towards a second vertical position with respect to the front leg stand;
a booster seat coupled to the height adjustment mechanism in the first vertical position; and
a first platform step coupled to the front leg stand, wherein the first platform step pivots with respect to the front leg stand and further pivots with respect to the rear leg stand, a first crossbeam support member extending between a first leg and a second leg of the front leg stand, and a second crossbeam support member coupled to the rear leg stand;
a second platform step coupled to the front leg stand;

decoupling the booster seat from the front leg stand; and
adjusting the second platform step to abut and be supported adjacent to the front leg stand and the rear leg stand.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
wherein the convertible high-chair further comprises:
a panel release latch configured to facilitate release of the first platform step to simultaneously pivot with respect to the front leg stand and the rear leg stand, wherein the apparatus can be configured from a first, unfolded position to a second, folded position; and

the method further comprising:
decoupling the second platform step from the apparatus;
manipulating the panel release lock to permit the appeartus to be configured from a first, unfolded position to a second, folded position; and
pivoting the first platform step such that a rear portion of the first platform step is elevated higher than a front portion of the first platform step.

12. An apparatus comprising:
a stand comprising
a front leg stand; and
a rear leg stand configured to rotate with respect to the front leg stand;

a seat configured to be removably coupled to the stand;
a first platform step coupled to the stand, wherein the first platform step pivots with respect to the front leg stand and further pivots with respect to the rear leg stand, a first crossbeam support member extending between a first leg and a second leg of the front leg stand, and a second crossbeam support member coupled to the rear leg stand,
wherein the apparatus is adjustable from a high-chair configuration, when the seat is coupled to the stand, and to a step stool configuration, when the seat is decoupled from the stand.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the stand further comprises a panel release latch configured to facilitate release of the first platform step to simultaneously pivot with respect to the front leg stand and the rear leg stand, wherein the stand can be configured from a first, unfolded position to a second, folded position.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein when the stand is in the second, folded configuration, a rear portion of the first platform step is elevated higher than a front portion of the first platform step.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 ,
wherein the front leg stand further comprises:
a second platform step extending from the first front leg to the second front leg; and

wherein the rear leg stand comprises:
a first rear leg;
a second rear leg; and
the second crossbeam support member extending from the first rear leg to the second rear leg.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein in the step stool configuration, the first platform step extends from the first crossbeam support member to the second crossbeam support member and a bottom side of the first platform step abuts the first crossbeam support member and the second crossbeam support member.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the stand further comprises:
a first rotation hub comprising a first rotation portion coupled to the rear leg stand; and
a second rotation hub comprising a second rotation portion coupled to the front leg stand.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first platform step is configured to be either permanently coupled to or removably coupled to the stand.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the stand further comprises:
a second platform step configured to be coupled to the front leg stand.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the apparatus comprises a follower structure connecting the first platform step to the rear leg stand.

Assignees

• Graco Childrens Products Inc

Inventors

• Dziak Daniel Emil
• Gu Connie Yuanfang
• Kasam Shahnaz Selena
• Hsu Ming Cheng
• Chen Chiyuan

Classifications

• A47C12/02 Primary

  requiring conversion between the step and seat functions · CPC title

• A47D1/004

  in height · CPC title

• A47D1/006

  dismountable · CPC title

• A47D1/0085

  removable · CPC title

• A47D1/10

  capable of being suspended from, or attached to, tables or other articles · CPC title