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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023146888-A1
Application number	US-202318094201-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 6, 2023
Priority date	Jan 26, 2018
Publication date	May 11, 2023
Grant date	—

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

1 . (canceled)

2 . An apparatus comprising:
a front leg stand comprising a first leg, a second leg, and a first crossbeam support member extending between the first leg and the second leg; a rear leg stand configured to pivot with respect to the front leg stand; a second crossbeam support member coupled to the rear leg stand; a seat coupled to the front leg stand and the rear leg stand; and a first platform step coupled to the front leg stand, wherein the first platform step is configured to (i) pivot with respect to the front leg stand, and (ii) pivot with respect to the rear leg stand, the first crossbeam support member, and the second crossbeam support member; wherein the apparatus is adjustable from a high-chair to a step stool.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first platform step is removably coupled to the front leg stand.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising:
a securing mechanism configured to secure the first platform step to a lower portion of the seat.

5 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the front leg 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 apparatus can be configured from a first, unfolded position to a second, folded position.

6 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the seat further comprises:
a seat base comprising a front end, a rear end, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side; a seat back coupled to the 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 at least one of the front leg stand or the rear leg stand further comprises:
a first seat receiving slot configured to receive the first tab; and
a second seat receiving slot configured to receive the second tab.

7 . The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:
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 2 , further comprising:
a second platform step configured to be coupled to the front leg stand.

9 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein when in the apparatus is in a second, folded configuration, the first platform step remains coupled to the front leg stand, and is uncoupled from the rear leg stand.

10 . The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:
a height adjustment mechanism configured to adjust from a first vertical position to a second vertical position with respect to the front leg stand; wherein the seat is coupled to the height adjustment mechanism.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the height adjustment mechanism is slidably adjustable with respect to the front leg stand.

12 . An apparatus comprising:
a front leg stand comprising a first leg, a second leg, and a first crossbeam support member extending between the first leg and the second leg; a rear leg stand configured to pivot with respect to the front leg stand; a second crossbeam support member coupled to the rear leg stand; a seat coupled to the front leg stand and the rear leg stand; and a first platform step coupled to the front leg stand, wherein the first platform step is configured to (i) pivot with respect to the front leg stand, and (ii) pivot with respect to the rear leg stand, the first crossbeam support member, and the second crossbeam support member; 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 first platform step is removably coupled to the front leg stand.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:
a securing mechanism configured to secure the first platform step to a lower portion of the seat.

15 . 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.

16 . The apparatus of claim 12 , 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.

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

18 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the front leg 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 apparatus can be configured from a first, unfolded position to a second, folded position.

19 . The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:
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.

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

21 . The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:
a height adjustment mechanism configured to adjust from a first vertical position to a second vertical position with respect to the front leg stand; wherein the seat is coupled to the height adjustment mechanism.

Assignees

• Graco Childrens Products Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A47D1/0085

  removable · CPC title

• A47D11/00 Primary

  Children's furniture convertible into other kinds of furniture, e.g. children's chairs or benches convertible into beds {or constructional play-furniture} · CPC title

• A47C12/02 Primary

  requiring conversion between the step and seat functions · CPC title

• A47D1/006

  dismountable · CPC title

• A47D1/023

  of high chair type · CPC title