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(11) | EP 4 427 640 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | BOOSTER SEATS |
| (57) A booster seat (10) for a child that with a footprint has a base (28) provided with
at least one of: a set of stabilising feet (50-56) having use positions including
a retracted position and a laterally extended position in which the stabilising feet
are laterally extended with respect to the base (28) to increase the footprint; and
a set of height increasing feet (64-70) that have use positions including a retracted
position and a height increasing position in which the height increasing feet are
downwardly extended with respect to the base to raise the base with respect to a surface
supporting the booster seat. The booster seat also includes an actuator operable to
move the feet between their use positions.
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Field of the Invention
Background to the Invention
[0002] Booster seats may be secured to a chair to enable an infant or other small child to sit at table height so that the infant can join family members at meal times. Typically, a booster seat is provided with strapping to enable the seat to be secured to a chair so that the chair provides a stable platform for the booster seat and there is no danger of the child causing the booster seat to fall from the chair.
[0003] A booster seat may also be used as a standalone seat for a child by placing it on a floor or the like. In this situation, it is desirable that the booster seat is inherently sufficiently stable to resist tipping or toppling by a boisterous, or lively, child. However, the footprint of a booster seat is constrained by the need for it to fit on a conventional chair seat if that is to be its primary use, so there has to be a compromise between the sizing of the booster seat to fit on a typical chair seat and providing stability for standalone use.
Summary of the Invention
[0006] The invention also includes a method of increasing the height of a booster seat that comprises a plurality of laterally movable stabilising feet, the method comprising, manually moving respective height increasing feet mounted on said stabilising feet from a retracted position in which said height increasing feet are disposed within said stabilising feet and a deployed position in which said height increasing feet project from the respective stabilising feet. The height increasing feet may be mounted to said respective stabilising feet so as to be pivotable between said retracted and deployed positions. The stabilising feet may be simultaneously movable between retracted and deployed positions by a rotary actuator.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0007] In the following disclosure, reference will be made to the drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a booster seat secured to a chair;
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the booster seat resting on a floor with stabilising feet of the booster seat in a laterally extended position;
Figure 3 shows the underside of the base of the booster seat with the stabilising feet in the retracted position shown in Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 3 showing the stabilising feet in the laterally extended position shown in Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a view corresponding to Figure 3 showing height increasing feet of the booster seat in an extended position that is also shown in Figure 6;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the booster seat secured to a chair corresponding generally to Figure 1, but with the height increasing feet in the extended position shown in Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the base of the booster seat viewed from above showing the stabilising feet and a part of an actuator;
Figure 8 is a perspective view showing one of the stabilising feet cutaway and a second part of the actuator;
Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the parts shown in Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a section view on line X-X in Figure 3;
Figure 11 is a section view on line XI-XI in Figure 4;
Figure 12 is a section view on line XII-XII in Figure 5;
Figure 13 is a perspective view on line XIII-XIII in Figure 4
Figure 14 is a schematic underside view of an alternative stabilising foot and height increasing foot of a booster seat;
Figure 15 is a schematic section view of the stabilising and height increasing feet of Figure 14 showing the height increasing foot in a deployed condition; and
Figure 16 is a perspective view of a base of a booster provided with stabilising feet and height increasing feet similar to the stabilising foot and height increasing foot illustrated by Figures 14 and 15.
Detailed Description
[0008] Figure 1 shows a booster seat 10. The booster seat 10 is shown supported by an elevated surface in the form of the seating surface 12 of the seat 14 of an adult chair 16. The booster seat 10 may be secured to the chair 16 by strapping 18. It will be understood that the booster seat 10 may be supported by many other suitable elevated surfaces, such as a surface defined by a bench, car seat, high chair or table top. As shown in Figure 2, the booster seat 10 may also function as a standalone seat by placing it unsecured on a non-elevated surface such as a floor 20.
[0009] Referring to Figure 2, the booster seat 10 may comprise a base 28 and a seat 30 that fits onto the base. The seat 30 may comprise a seat shell 32 and a seat insert 34 that is removably positioned within the seat shell. The seat shell 32 may be made of a relatively hard plastics material and the seat insert 34 may be made of a relatively softer cushioning plastics material. For example, the seat shell 32 may be made of polypropylene (PP) and the seat insert 34 may made of polyurethane (PU) foam. In other examples the seat 30 may be a one-piece unit, which may comprise a plurality of non-detachable parts bonded or otherwise permanently joined to one another to form what may be a relatively hard shell with no cushioning. The seat 30 may be made of materials other than those mentioned above and may in principle be made of any suitable material or combination of materials, including one or more of foam, graphite, fiberglass, metal, fabrics and composites. A two-piece seat 30 with a detachable seat insert 34 as illustrated may be configured such that the seat insert 34 defines a relatively smaller seat space for a younger child and the seat shell 32 defines a relatively larger seat space for an older child.
[0010] Still referring to Figure 2, the seat 30 may comprise a backrest portion 36, a bottom-support portion 38, and two opposing sidewall portions 40. The backrest portion 36 and the sidewall portions 40 may extend upwardly from the bottom support portion 38. The bottom-support portion 38 may be contoured so as to be at least partially concave. In some examples, the seat 30 may comprise a horn 42 that extends generally upwardly from a front end of the bottom-support portion 38 so that, in use, it will be positioned between the legs of a child seated in the booster seat 10. The horn 42 may assist preventing the child from sliding downward and forward.
[0011] Still referring to Figure 2, optionally the booster seat 10 may comprise a tray 44. The tray 44 may be removably attached to the seat 30. The tray 44 may hold food, drink bottles, toys and other items in proximity to the seated child and may also aid in restraining the child in the seat 30. The tray 44 may be of a conventional type well known to those skilled in the art. The tray 44 may be fixed to the seat 30 or detachable. A fixed tray 44 may be hinged to the seat 30 so that it can be moved away from the use position shown in Figures 1 and 2 to make it easier to place a child in the seat. In examples in which the tray 44 is detachable, the booster seat 10 may be provided with fittings or one or more storage compartments, or pockets, to allow the tray 44 to be secured to or otherwise partially stowed in the booster 10 seat when not in use.
[0012] Referring to Figures 3 to 5, the base 28 is provided with a set of stabilising feet 50-56 and an actuator 58 operable to move the stabilising feet between a plurality of use positions. In Figures 3 to 5, only a hand-operated rotatable input member 60 of the actuator 58 can be seen. The actuator 58 is shown more completely in Figures 7 to 12 and will be described in more detail below. Although not essential, in the illustrated example the actuator 58 is configured such that movement of the stabilising feet 50-56 is at least substantially simultaneous.
[0013] Still referring to Figures 3 to 5, the booster seat has a footprint 62 defined by a perimeter defined by the outer periphery of the base 28 and the leading ends of the stabilising feet 50-56. The use positions of the stabilising feet 50-56 comprise a retracted position shown in Figure 3 and a laterally extended position shown in Figure 4 in which the feet are laterally extended with respect to the base 28 to increase footprint 62 of the booster seat 10. The increased footprint 62 may provide greater stability when the booster seat 10 is used in standalone mode such as is shown in Figure 2.
[0014] The base 28 may also be provided with a set of height increasing feet 64-70. The height increasing feet 64-70 may have use positions comprising a retracted position shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 and a height increasing position shown in Figures 5 and 6. When deployed in their height increasing position, the height increasing feet are downwardly extended with respect to the base 28 to raise the base with respect to a surface supporting said booster seat (such as the seating surface 12 of a seat 14 shown in Figures 1 and 6). The height increasing feet 64-70 may operate to provide, or to increase, a space between the base 28 and the surface on which the booster seat 10 is supported. For example, as shown in Figure 6 the height increasing feet 64-70 may be placed in a height increasing position in which the base 28 is raised off of the seating surface 12 of the seat 14 on which the booster seat 10 is supported, thereby effectively increasing the height of the booster seat 10 by the distance d by which the height increasing feet are downwardly extended with respect to the base.
[0015] Although not essential, the height increasing feet 64-70 may be housed by, or mounted on, respective stabilising feet 50-56. In the example illustrated by Figures 1 to 6, when in the retracted position, the height increasing feet 64-70 may be at least substantially flush with the underside of the base 28 and the stabilising feet 50-56 or even withdrawn within the stabilising feet. However, it is to be understood that this is not essential and that it may be advantageous to have the height increasing feet 64-70 project from the stabilising feet 50-56 when in their retracted position so that the height increasing feet are always operative to provide the points of contact between the booster seat 10 and the surface, or body, on which it is supported.
[0016] The height increasing feet 64-70 are movable between their retracted and downwardly extended positions by operation of the actuator 58. Although not essential, in the illustrated example, the actuator 58 is configured such that movement of the height increasing feet 64-70 is at least substantially simultaneous. When moving between the retracted and use positions illustrated by Figures 3 and 4, the stabilising feet 50-56 make a planar movement. The movement of the height increasing feet 64-70 to the height increasing position shown in Figures 5 and 6 may be transverse to the plane of movement of the stabilising feet and may be at least substantially perpendicular to that plane. The actuator 58 may be configured such that movement of the stabilising feet 50-56 is independent of movement of the height increasing feet 64-70.
[0017] Referring to Figures 7 to 9, the actuator 58 may comprise a camming device configured to at least cause the stabilising feet and height increasing feet to move from their retracted positions to their extended positions. In some examples, the camming device may be configured to be operable to cause one or both sets of feet to return to their retracted positions. The camming device may comprise a first rotatable member 74 and a second rotatable member 76. Although not essential, the first and second rotatable members 74, 76 may be connected for simultaneous rotation in response to manual input via the input member 60. In some examples, the first rotatable member 74 may comprise ribs 78 (Figure 9) that cooperably engage mating slots 80 provided on the second rotatable member 76. Although not essential, there may be four ribs 78 disposed in a cruciform arrangement and corresponding slots 80 defined by ribs 82, or another body or bodies defining suitable slots, provided on the second rotatable member 76. The engagement of the ribs 78 in the slots 80 enables the transmission of rotational movement from the first rotatable member 74 to the second rotatable member 76 so that rotation of the input member 60 will cause simultaneous rotation of the first and second rotatable members 74, 76.
[0018] The rotatable input member 60 may be an integral part of the first rotatable member 74. The input member 60 may be disposed axially centrally on the first rotatable member 74 and accessible via an access opening 86 (indicated in Figures 4 and 5) provided in the base 28. The input member 60 and access opening 86 may be configured such that the input member 60 substantially blocks, or fills, the opening to prevent the ingress of dust and the like. In some examples, the input member 60 may be a separate part that is releasably or permanently fixed to the first rotatable member 74. This may be desirable if the input member 60 to be made from a different material to the first rotatable member 76.
[0019] Still referring to Figures 7 to 9, the first rotatable member 74 and the second rotatable member 74, 76 define camming tracks that 88, 90 that are engaged by respective projections 92, 94 associated with the stabilising and height increasing feet. As shown in Figure 8, the projections 92 associated with the stabilising feet 50-56 engage at least one first camming track 88 defined by the first rotatable member 74. As shown in Figure 7, the projections 94 associated with the height increasing feet 64-70 engage at least one second camming track 90 defined by the second rotatable member 76. In the illustrated example, the first rotatable member 74 has respective first camming tracks 88 for the stabilising feet 50-56 and the second rotatable member 76 has respective second camming tracks 90 for the height increasing feet 64-70. It is to be understood that discrete camming tracks for each stabilising foot and each height increasing foot are not essential as one or both of the first and second rotatable members 74, 76 may be provided with continuous tracks that have respective camming portions configured to actuate respective feet. The first camming tracks 88 are configured such that rotation of the rotatable member 74 may cause a drive force to be applied to the projections 92 to cause movement of the stabilising feet 50-56 to their laterally extended positions. The second camming tracks 90 are configured such that rotation of the second rotatable member 76 may cause a drive force to be applied to the projections 94 to cause movement of the height increasing feet 64-70 to their downwardly extended positions.
[0020] In the illustrated example, the first and second camming tracks 88, 90 have the same configuration. Accordingly, the description of the second camming tracks 90 that follows applies also to the first camming tracks 88 and in the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to indicate like portions or sections of the camming tracks 88, 90.
[0021] As best seen in Figure 7, the second camming tracks 90 each comprise a neutral position 96, a non-active portion 98 extending in a first direction from the neutral position and an active portion 100 extending in a second direction from the neutral position. The first and second directions are generally opposite directions and the neutral position 96 is disposed intermediate the respective inner ends of the non-active and active portions 98, 100. The first direction corresponds to an active direction of rotation A of the second rotatable member 76 and the second direction corresponds to a non-active direction of rotation NA of the second rotatable member. As viewed in Figure 7, the active direction and the first direction are generally clockwise, while the non-active direction and the second direction are generally anticlockwise. In the illustrated example, the first and second rotatable members 74, 76 are mounted in parallel spaced apart, face to face and coaxial relationship so that they have a common axis of rotation 102. In examples in which the first and second rotatable members 74, 76 are connected for simultaneous rotation, the first and second rotatable members 74, 76 are inverted with respective to one another so that when the first rotatable member 74 is rotated in its active direction A, the second rotatable member 76, although rotating in the same direction, is rotated in its non-active direction NA.
[0022] The non-active portions 98 of the second camming tracks 90 are arcuate and have a substantially constant radius measured from the axis of rotation 102. The configuration is such that if the second rotatable member 76 is rotated in the non-active direction NA (anticlockwise as viewed in Figure 7), the respective projections 94 can move from the neutral position 96 along the non-active portions 98 of the second camming tracks 90 towards the respective outer ends 104. As the projections 94 move along the non-active portions 98, no drive force will be applied to the projections. Consequently, the height-increasing feet 64-70 are not caused to move by rotation of the second rotatable member 76 in the non-active direction.
[0023] The active portions 100 of the second camming tracks 90 comprise an arcuate inner end section 106 having a radius measured from the axis of rotation 102 that progressively increases along the length of the inner end section 106 in the second direction and an arcuate outer end section 108 having a substantially constant radius. The configuration is such that if the second rotatable member 76 is rotated in the active direction A (clockwise as viewed in Figure 7), the projections 94 can move from the neutral position 96 in the second direction along the inner end sections 106 of the respective active portions 100 towards the outer end sections 108 and a drive force is applied to the projections 94 to cause movement of the height increasing feet 64-70 to their downwardly extended positions. When the projections 94 enter the outer end sections 108, despite continued rotation of the second rotatable member 76 in the active direction A, the drive force ceases to be applied to the projections 94.
[0024] Referring to Figures 9 to 12, the height increasing feet 64-70 each have a ramp surface 112 configured to convert the laterally directed drive force applied by the projections 94 into a downwards movement of the height increasing feet that is at least substantially perpendicular to the direction of the drive force. The ramp surface 112 is provided on the radially inwardly facing end of the height increasing feet 64-70 so that it faces the axis of rotation 102. The actuator 58 comprises respective mover bodies 114 that carry the projections 94 and transfer the force applied by the projections 94 to the height increasing feet 64-70. Each mover body 114 has an inclined pusher surface 116 engageable with the ramp surface 112 of the respective height increasing foot 64-70 via which the drive force is transferred from the mover body to the respective height increasing foot. Thus, the drive force provided by the actuator 58 is transmitted from the second rotatable member 76 to the height increasing feet 64-70 via the respective projections 94 and the pusher surfaces 116 of the mover bodies 114 pushing against the ramp surfaces 112.
[0025] Referring to Figure 9, the stabilising feet 50-56 each comprise a base member 118 and a hollow top shell 120 that is secured to the base member. The respective height increasing feet 64-70 are housed in a height increasing foot housing 122 defined in the top shell 120. The height increasing foot housing 122 is provided at a leading, or radially outer, end of the respective stabilising foot 50-56 and may be configured to guide the respective height increasing foot 64-70 as it moves between its retracted and downwardly extended positions. As shown in Figure 13, in the illustrated example, the height increasing feet 64-70 each have first guide members 124 that are configured to cooperably engage second guide members 126 provided in the height increasing foot housing 122 to guide the movement of the height increasing feet between their retracted and downwardly extended positions. The first guide members 124 may comprise generally U-shaped formations and the second guide members 126 may comprise one or more ribs that are received between the arms of the U-shaped formations so as to function as a guide rail, or rails, for the height increasing feet 64-70.
[0026] Referring to Figure 9, the base member 118 is provided with a through-hole 128 through which the respective height increasing foot 64-70 passes when being downwardly extended. Although not essential, the through-hole 128 is configured to mate with the height increasing foot 64-70 so that the height increasing foot is a sliding fit in the through-hole 128. This may assist in guiding the height increasing feet 64-70 as they move between their retracted and downwardly extended positions. Again, although not essential, the height increasing feet 64-70 may be configured such that a leading end portion of each foot is housed in the respective through-hole 128 when the height increasing foot is in its retracted position so that the height increasing foot effectively plugs the hole to prevent the ingress of dirt and dust.
[0027] As best seen in Figure 7, the respective trailing ends of the stabilising feet 50-56 may be bevelled, or otherwise narrowed or thinned, to allow the feet to be disposed close to the axis of rotation 102 when in their retracted positions. This allows for more efficient space utilisation in the base.
[0028] The height increasing feet 64-70 may be provided with respective pads 130 disposed on the leading, or outer, end of the foot. The height increasing feet 64-70 and pads 130 may be configured such that the booster seat 10 is supported on the pads in all conditions of the stabilising feet 50-56 and height increasing feet 64-70. Thus, when the stabilising feet 50-56 and height increasing feet 64-70 are all in their retracted positions as shown in Figures 1, 7 and 10, the height increasing feet, or at least the pads 130 project sufficiently from the underside 132 of the base 28 to allow the pads to engage the supporting surface. Similarly, when the stabilising feet 50-56 are in their laterally extended position shown in Figures 2, 4 and 11, engagement with the supporting surface is via the pads 130. Also, when the height increasing feet 64-70 are in their downwardly extended positions as shown in Figures 6 and 12, engagement with the supporting surface is via the pads 130. Thus, in all use positions of the stabilising feet 50-56 and the height increasing feet 64-70, the underside 132 of the base 28 is spaced from the supporting surface and the booster seat 10 rests on the pads 130. The pads 130 may be made of a material that is relatively softer than the stabilising feet 50-56 and height increasing feet 64-70 so that the supporting surfaces are protected against scratching and similar damage as a result of movement of the booster seat with respect to the surface. The material from which the pads 130 are made may have a relatively high coefficient of friction so as to resist sliding movement of the booster seat 10 when it is supported on a hard surface.
[0029] The mover bodies 114 are disposed within the top shells 120 of the respective stabilising feet 50-56 rearwardly, or radially inwardly, of the height increasing foot housings 122. The mover bodies 114 are supported for relative sliding movement within the respective stabilising feet 50-56 so as to be able to move towards the height increasing feet 64-70 to transmit a drive force to the height-increasing feet to downwardly extend the height increasing feet and move away from the height increasing feet to allow the height increasing feet to be returned to their retracted positions. The mover bodies 114 may be configured to slide back and forth between opposed spaced apart pillars 140 that project upwardly from the base member 118. The pillars 140 are used to fix the base member 118 to the top shell 120. Although not essential, in some examples, the pillars 140 may be configured to additionally function as guides for the mover bodies 114.
[0030] As best seen in Figures 10 to 12, the projections 94 are embedded in, or otherwise fixed or secured to, the respective mover bodies 114 so as to be supported, or carried, by the mover bodies. The projections 94 may comprise metal pins. The projections 94 protrude upwardly through respective slots 142 (see Figure 7) provided in the stabilising feet 50-56 to engage the second camming tracks 90 of the second rotatable member 76. The slots 142 may be provided in the top shells 120. The slots 142 may extend radially with respect to the axis of rotation 102 of the first and second rotatable members 74, 76. Thus, the slots 142 may extend in the lengthways direction of the respective stabilising feet 50-56. The slots 142 are configured to have sufficient length to permit a range of movement to be imparted to the projections 94 by the second rotatable member 76 sufficient to drive the mover bodies 114 to position at which they cause the height increasing feet 64-70 to be fully downwardly extended or deployed.
[0031] Referring to Figures 9 to 12, the base members 118 of the stabilising feet 50-56 are provided with respective bosses 144 disposed on their upper sides such that when the top shells 120 and base members are assembled, the bosses are housed within the respective stabilising feet. The projections 92 are embedded, or otherwise fixed, in a respective boss 144 and project from the underside of the base members 118 to engage the first camming tracks 88 of the first rotatable member 74. The projections 92 may be metal pins. The mover bodies 114 have respective lengthways extending channels 146 that receive the bosses 144 so that the mover bodies can slide back and forth over the bosses.
[0032] As illustrated by Figure 12, the second camming tracks 90 and slots 142 are configured to allow the mover bodies 114 to be driven to a fully deployed position in which the inclined surfaces 116 disengage the respective ramp surfaces 112 and the mover bodies pass over the inner, or upper, ends 148 of the respective height increasing feet 64-70 so that a horizontally disposed locking surface, or surface portion, 150 of the mover bodies can engage the upper ends 148 to prevent retraction of the height increasing feet from their downwardly extended positions. The height increasing feet 64-70 are thus locked in their deployed positions until such time as the actuator 58 is operated to retract the mover bodies 114 from their fully deployed positions to the retracted positions shown in Figures 10 and 11. The locking surface 150 may simply comprise the underside of the mover body 114, or may be a suitable surface defined intermediate the inclined surface 116 and the underside of the mover body, for example, by a recess disposed below the pusher surface 116.
[0033] Referring to Figure 13, the height increasing feet 64-70 may be provided with biasing mechanisms by which they are biased to their retracted positions. For example, the height increasing feet may be provided with fixings 152 by which first ends of tension springs 154 are attached to the height increasing feet 64-70. The second ends of the tension springs 154 are attached to the top shells 120 of the respective stabilising feet 50-56 by fixings 156. The extension springs 154 are configured such that they are put in tension when the height increasing feet 64-70 are deployed so that when the mover bodies 114 are withdrawn from the deployed position shown in Figure 12, the height increasing feet will automatically be pulled back to their retracted positions by the tension springs 154. It will be understood that the use of tension springs to bias the height increasing feet 64-70 to their retracted positions is not essential. For example, the stabilising and height increasing feet may be configured such that when the height increasing feet are deployed in their downwardly extended positions, they compress one or more resilient members, or bodies, such as compression springs, that are able to push the height increasing feet back to their retracted positions when the mover bodies 114 are retracted. Alternatively, there may be no biasing mechanism. The height increasing feet 64-70 may be held in their retracted positions by a detent or other locking mechanism that can be disengaged by a pusher, which may be of similar construction to a mover body 114, so that the height increasing feet may drop to their downwardly extended positions. In such an arrangement, the pushers may be used to lock the height increasing feet in their downwardly extended positions in analogous fashion to the mover bodies 114 and when the mover bodies are retracted, a user may simply push the height increasing feet back to their retracted positions to re-engage and be held their respective locking mechanisms.
[0034] Referring to Figures 3 and 7, in the illustrated example, the base 28 and stabilising feet 50-56 define a footprint 62 that is approximately square, but with rounded corners, defined by the stabilising feet and slightly curved sides defined by the base. The stabilising feet 50-56 are disposed in angularly equi-spaced relationship about the perimeter of the base 28, which is provided with respective cut-outs 160 (Figure 4) in which the leading ends of the stabilising feet are received. As best seen in Figure 9, the base members 118 are stepped to define a trailing end portion 162 and a leading end portion 164 that are connected by an upright face 166. The inner ends of the cut-outs 160 and the upright faces 166 are curved and configured to mate so that when the stabilising feet 50-56 are in their retracted positions, there is continuity between the underside of the base 28 and the leading end portions 164 of the stabilising feet. The interface between the inner ends of the cut-outs 160 and the upright faces 166 may be adjacent the outer periphery of the first rotatable member 74 so that their curvature is determined by the diameter of the first rotatable member.
[0035] Referring to Figure 7, the stabilising feet 50-56 are provided with side-mounted guide members 170 (see also Figure 13) that are engageable with an upper surface 172 of the base 28. In the illustrated example, each stabilising foot 50-56 has a pair of guide members in the form of elongate fins 170 disposed in opposed relationship and projecting from opposite sides of the top shells 120. The stabilising feet 50-56 are configured to be a sliding fit between the opposed side walls 174 of the cut-outs 160 and respective arched openings 176 (Figure 2) defined in an upstanding side wall 178 of the base 28. The side walls 174 and the walls defining the openings 176 cooperate to guide the stabilising feet 50-56 for rectilinear movement between their retracted and laterally extended positions, while the fins 170, upper surface 172 of the base 28 and the walls defining the openings 176 cooperate to guide the stabilising feet so that the movement between the retracted and laterally extended positions is at least substantially planar.
[0036] Referring to Figures 3, 4, 10 and 11, when the actuator 58 is disposed in neutral mode, the stabilising feet 50-56 and height-increasing feet 64-70 are both in their retracted positions so that the booster seat is as shown in Figure 1. When the actuator 58 is in its neutral mode, the input member 60 may be arranged such that the centrally located finger grip extends in a north-south orientation as shown in Figure 3. To deploy the set of stabilising feet 50-56, the user turns the input member 60 clockwise (as viewed in Figure 3). This causes the first rotatable member 74 to rotate in its active direction A and simultaneous rotation of the second rotatable member 76 in its non-active direction NA. As the second rotatable member 76 is rotated in its non-active direction NA, the projections 94 move along the non-active portions 98 of the second camming tracks 90, no drive force is applied to the projections 94 and the set of height increasing feet 66-70 remain in their retracted positions. Meanwhile, as the first rotatable member 74 rotates in its active direction A, the first projections 92 move along the active portions 100 of the first camming tracks 88. This causes a laterally, or radially, outwardly directed force to be applied to the projections 92, which respond by moving radially outwardly with respect to the axis of rotation 102 and driving the stabilising feet 50-56 to their laterally extended positions. When the projections 92 enter the respective outer end sections 108 of the active portions 100, the drive force will cease to be applied and the projections are parked in a non-active position with the stabilising feet 50-56 fully deployed. As shown in Figure 4, when in their laterally extended positions, the set of stabilising feet 50-56, increase the footprint 62 of the booster seat 10 when compared with the configuration shown in Figure 3. This increases the stability of the booster seat 10 when used in standalone mode as illustrated in Figure 2, thereby reducing the risk of tipping by an active child. When the user wishes to retract the stabilising feet 50-56, the input member 60 is simply rotated anticlockwise from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 3 to reverse the deployment process, with the projections 92 applying a radially inwardly directed force to the stabilising feet to drive them back to the positions shown in Figure 3.
[0037] Referring to Figures 3, 5, 6, 10 and 12, when the user wishes to deploy the set of height increasing feet 64-70, the input member 60 is turned anticlockwise from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 5. This causes the first rotatable member 74 to be rotated in its non-active NA direction and the second rotatable member 76 to be rotated in its active A direction. Since the first rotatable member 74 is rotated in its non-active direction NA, the projections 92 move along the non-active portions 98 of the first camming tracks 88 and no drive force is applied to the projections. Accordingly, the stabilising feet 50-56 remain in their retracted positions. As the second rotatable member 76 is rotated in its active direction A, the projections 94 move along the active portions 100 of the second camming tracks 90. This causes a laterally, or radially, outwardly directed force to be applied to the second projections 94 driving them in the direction of the leading end of the stabilising feet 50-56. Since the projections 94 are secured to the mover bodies 114, this causes the mover bodies to be driven in the direction of the applied force. As the mover bodies 114 slide towards the leading ends of the respective stabilising feet 50-56, the pusher surfaces 116 push against the ramps 112 of the respective height increasing feet 64-70 causing a downwards (as viewed in Figure 12) force to be applied to the height increasing feet. This causes the height increasing feet 64-70 to move from their retracted positions (shown in Figure 10) to their downwardly extended, or deployed, positions (shown in Figure 12). The arrangement is such that when the height increasing feet 64-70 are in their downwardly extended positions shown in Figure 12, the inclined surfaces 116 of the mover bodies 114 have moved over and past the ramps 112 and the upper surface 148 of the height increasing feet 64-70 is engaged by the locking surface 150 of the mover bodies 114, to hold the height increasing feet in their deployed position against the returning force exerted by the tension springs 154. When the user wishes to return the height increasing feet 64-70 to their retracted positions, the input member 60 is turned clockwise as viewed in Figures 3 and 5, causing the actuator 58 to retract the mover bodies 114. As the mover bodies 114 are retracted, the tension springs 154 are able to draw the height increasing feet 64-70 back to their retracted positions.
[0038] It will, thus, be understood that the actuator 58 is configured to cause independent movement of the stabilising feet 50-56 and the height increasing feet 64-70 from their retracted to their deployed positions in response to a simple rotary input movement and that when a set of feet are moved, all of the feet of the set move together. Similarly, the feet can be returned from their deployed to their retracted positions by simply rotating the input member 60 of the actuator 58.
[0039] In the illustrated example, the camming tracks are slots defined in the rotatable members. In other examples, the camming tracks may be defined by grooves or ribs provided in or on the rotatable members.
[0040] In the illustrated example, the booster seat has a set of four stabilising feet and a corresponding number of height increasing feet. This is not essential. For example, there may be fewer or more than four stabilising feet in a set. In one example, a booster seat may comprise a set of stabilising feet comprising three stabilising feet disposed in angularly equi-spaced relationship about the base of the booster seat. It is also not essential that there is a set of height increasing feet. Thus, a booster seat may comprise a set of stabilising feet with no height increasing feet. Similarly, the booster seat may comprise a set of height increasing feet, but no stabilising feet.
[0041] In the illustrated example, the actuator is configured to be operable to actuate the set of stabilising feet and the set of height increasing feet. This is not essential. In some examples, the actuator may be configured to actuate only the stabilising feet. In such examples, the height increasing feet may be configured to be deployed manually by drawing them out of the base and locking them in their deployed position using a locking mechanism such as a detent mechanism. The height increasing feet may, for example, be pivotable from a retracted position to a deployed position in which they are downwardly extended with respect to the base of the booster seat so as to increase the height of the booster seat. In such examples, the height increasing feet may still be housed in respective stabilising feet to provide efficient use of the space available on the base and the provision of larger stabilising feet than would be possible if, for example, height increasing feet were disposed between adjacent pairs of stabilising feet.
[0042] Figures 14 and 15 illustrate a stabilising foot 250 of a booster seat that may be the same as, or similar to, the booster seat 10. The stabilising foot 250 is movable between retracted and deployed positions by an actuator, such as a modified actuator 58, that is configured to move a plurality of such stabilising feet 250 between retracted and deployed positions in analogous fashion to the movement of the stabilising feet 50-56 by the actuator 58. The stabilising foot 250 is provided with a height increasing foot 252 that is movable between its retracted and deployed positions independent of the actuator by which the stabilising foot is moved. The height increasing foot 252 may be pivotably connected to the stabilising foot 205 so as to be movable between its retracted and deployed positions by pivoting movement relative to the stabilising foot 250. Although not essential, in the illustrated example, in moving from its retracted position (shown in Figure 14) to its deployed position (shown in Figure 15) the height increasing foot 252 pivots towards the leading, or outer, end 254 of the stabilising foot 250.
[0043] The stabilising foot 250 may comprise a hollow shell that comprises opposed sidewalls 256 and a top wall 258 extending between the side walls so that the stabilising foot has a generally U-shaped lateral cross section that is open at its rear end 260 and closed at the opposite end by a wall that defines the leading end 254. A foot pad 262 extends inwardly from the leading end 254 at the underside of the stabilising foot 250 to contact supporting surfaces on which the booster seat is seated, except when the height increasing foot 252 is deployed to support the booster seat. The foot pad 262 may be disposed at least substantially parallel to the top wall 258. Optionally, the foot pad 262 may be provided with a contact pad 264 made of a material that is relatively softer than the stabilising foot 250 so that the supporting surfaces are protected against scratching and similar damage as a result of movement of the booster seat with respect to the surface. The material from which the contact pad 264 is made may have a relatively high coefficient of friction so as to resist sliding movement of the booster seat when it is supported on a hard surface.
[0044] The stabilising foot 250 may be provided with a pair of internally disposed housing walls 266 that extend along the inner, or underside, of the top wall 258 in opposed spaced apart relationship. The housing walls 266 may extend from the wall defining the leading end 254 of the stabilising foot 250. The height increasing foot 252 is housed between the housing walls 266 when in its retracted position. In the illustrated example, when in its retracted position, the height increasing foot 252 is fully contained within the housing, or recess, defined between the housing walls 266. However, this is not essential and, in some examples, the height increasing foot 252 may protrude from between the housing walls 266, as long as it does not protrude from the stabilising foot 250.
[0045] The height increasing foot 252 is provided with pivot members 268 that extend from opposite sides of the height increasing foot and engage in respective apertures provided in the housing walls 266 so that the height increasing foot can pivot about a pivot axis 270. The pivot axis 270 extends perpendicular to the direction of movement 272 of the stabilising foot 250. In some examples, rather than respective pivot members 268, the height increasing foot 252 may be mounted on an axle that extends between the housing walls 266.
[0046] The height increasing foot 252 may be a generally rectangular body and may also be hollow. The leading end 274 of the height increasing foot 252 may be provided with a contact pad 276 in analogous fashion to the contact pad 264 of the foot pad 262.
[0047] The configuration of the stabilising foot 250 is such that the height increasing foot 252 can be easily accessed to allow a user to manually move the height increasing foot 252 from its retracted position to its deployed position. The stabilising foot 250 may be provided with a locking arrangement by which the height increasing foot 252 can be locked in its deployed position. In the illustrated example, the foot pad 262 is configured to limit pivoting movement of the height increasing foot 252. The arrangement of the foot pad 262 and height increasing foot 252 is such that the height increasing foot is stopped in an over centre position so that the height increasing foot is locked in its deployed position when supporting the booster seat. It will be understood that instead of using the foot pad 262 as a stop, a separate stop, or movement limiter, may be provided.
[0048] Figure 16 is a perspective view from below of a base 328 for a booster seat comprising a set of stabilising feet 350-356 and respective height increasing feet 364-370 mounted on the stabilising feet. The stabilising feet 350-356 and height increasing feet 364-370 operate in analogous fashion to the stabilising foot 250 and height increasing foot 252 illustrated by Figures 14 and 15. The stabilising feet 350-356 are movable between their retracted and deployed positions by an actuator (not shown) that comprises a hand-operated rotatable input member 368. The actuator may be similar to the actuator 58 illustrated by Figures 7 to 12, except that it is configured only to drive the stabilising feet 350-356. In Figure 16, the stabilising feet 350-356 are shown in their retracted position.
[0049] The height increasing feet 364-370 are movable independently of the actuator. In particularly, the height increasing feet 364-370 are manually movable from their retracted positions, in which they are disposed within the stabilising feet 350-356, to the deployed positions shown in Figure 16 in which they project from the respective stabilising feet 350-356. In this example, the stabilising feet 350-364 do not have internal walls defining a housing for the respective height increasing feet 364-370. Instead, the opposed side walls 372 of the stabilising feet 350-366 are provided with respective mounting members 374 to which the height increasing feet 364-370 are pivotably connected.
[0050] In their deployed positions, the height increasing feet are disposed in abutting relationship with respective foot pads 376 of the stabilising feet 350-356, which each have a contact pad 378. The foot pads 376 are configured such that when contacted by the height increasing feet 364-370, the height increasing feet are in an over centre position.
[0051] The following numbered embodiment statements also form part of the present disclosure:
Statement 1. A booster seat for a child, said booster seat having a footprint and comprising a base provided with a stabilising foot and a height increasing foot mounted to said stabilising foot, wherein:
said stabilising foot is movable with respect to said base from a retracted position to a deployed position in which said stabilising foot is laterally extended with respect to said base to increase said footprint; and
said height increasing foot is mounted to said stabilising foot and movable with respect to said base from a retracted position to a deployed height increasing position in which the height increasing foot is extended downwardly with respect to said base to raise the base with respect to a surface that supports said booster seat to raise the base with respect to said surface.
Statement 2. A booster seat according to statement 1, wherein when in said retracted position said height increasing foot is at least partially housed by said stabilising foot.
Statement 3. A booster seat according to statement 1 or 2, wherein said height increasing foot is pivotally mounted to said stabilising foot so as to be pivotable between said retracted and deployed positions.
Statement 4. A booster seat according to statement 1 or 2, wherein said stabilising foot moves in a first plane when moving between said retracted and deployed positions and said height increasing foot moves in a direction transverse to said first plane when moving from said retracted and deployed positions.
Statement 5. A booster seat as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an actuator configured to be operable to cause at least one of said stabilising foot and said height increasing feet to move between said retracted and deployed positions.
Statement 6. A booster seat according to statement 5, wherein said actuator comprises a hand operated rotary input member.
Statement 7. A booster seat according to statement 5 or 6, wherein said actuator comprises a camming mechanism.
Statement 8. A booster seat according to statement 5, 6 or 7, wherein said actuator is configured to move said stabilising foot between said retracted and deployed positions and said height increasing foot is configured to be independently manually movable between said retracted and deployed positions.
Statement 9. A booster seat according to statement 8, wherein said stabilising foot has an underside defining an opening via which a user can manually move said height increasing foot between said retracted and deployed positions.
Statement 10. A booster seat as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of said stabilising feet each having a respective said height increasing foot mounted thereto.
Statement 11. A booster seat for a child, said booster seat having a footprint and
comprising:
a base provided with at least one of:
a set of stabilising feet having use positions comprising a retracted position and a laterally extended position in which said stabilising feet are laterally extended with respect to said base to increase said footprint; and
a set of height increasing feet having use positions comprising a retracted position and a height increasing position in which said height increasing feet are downwardly extended with respect to said base to raise the base with respect to a surface supporting said booster seat; and
an actuator operable to move said feet between said use positions.
Statement 12. A booster seat according to statement 11, wherein said actuator is configured to provide simultaneous movement of the feet of a said set of feet.
Statement 13. A booster seat according to statement 11 or 12, comprising a said set of stabilising feet and a said set of height increasing feet, wherein the feet of said set of height increasing feet are at least partially housed in respective said stabilising feet of said set of stabilising feet.
Statement 14. A booster seat according to statement 11, 12 or 13, wherein said stabilising feet move in a first plane when moving between said retracted and laterally extended positions and said height increasing feet move in a direction transverse to said first plane when moving between said retracted and height increasing positions.
Statement 15. A booster seat as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein said actuator comprises a rotary input member and is configured such that turning said input member in a first direction causes said stabilising feet to move to said laterally extended position and turning said input member in a second direction causes said height increasing feet to move to said height increasing position.
Statement 16. A booster seat as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein said actuator comprises a camming device that is configured to cause said movement of said feet.
Statement 17. A booster seat according to statement 16, wherein said camming device comprises at least one rotatable member that defines at least one camming track engaged by respective projections provided on the feet of a said set of feet and said at least one camming track is configured such that rotation of said rotatable member causes a drive force to be transmitted via said projections to the respective feet.
Statement 18. A booster seat as claimed claim 17, wherein:
said base is provided with a said set of stabilising feet and a said set of height increasing feet;
said projections comprise respective first projections associated with said stabilising feet and respective second projections associated with said height increasing feet;
said camming device comprises a first rotatable member that defines at least one first camming track engaged by said first projections and a second rotatable member that defines at least one second camming track engaged by said second projections;
said at least one first camming track is configured such that rotation of said first rotatable member causes a said drive force to be applied to said stabilising feet via said first projections to cause said stabilising feet to move to said laterally extended positions; and
said at least one second camming track is configured such that rotation of said second rotatable member causes a said drive force to be applied to said height increasing feet via said second projections to cause said movement to said height increasing position.
Statement 19. A booster seat according to statement 18, wherein:
said first and second camming tracks each include a neutral position, a non-active
portion extending in a first direction from said neutral position and an active portion
extending in a second direction from said neutral position,
said non-active portions are configured such that rotation of said first and second
rotatable members in a non-active direction causes no said drive force to be applied
to said stabilising and height increasing feet and rotation of said first and second
rotatable members in an active direction causes said drive force to be applied, wherein
said non-active direction is an opposite direction to said active direction.
Statement 20. A booster seat according to statement 19, wherein said camming device is configured such that said first and second rotatable members rotate simultaneously and are orientated such that rotation of said first rotatable member in said active direction causes rotation of said second rotatable member in said non-active and rotation of said first rotatable member in said non-active direction causes rotation of said second rotatable member in said active direction.
Statement 21. A booster seat according to statement 18, 19 or 20, wherein said first rotatable member defines respective said first camming tracks for said first projections and said second rotatable member defines respective second camming tracks for said second projections.
Statement 22. A booster seat as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 21, wherein each height increasing foot has a ramp surface configured to receive a said drive force applied in a lateral direction with respect to said base and cause movement of said height increasing feet in a direction transverse to said lateral direction to move said height increasing feet to said downwardly extended position.
Statement 23. A booster seat according to statement 22, wherein said actuator comprises respective mover bodies to apply said drive force to said height increasing feet, each said mover body having an inclined pusher surface to engage the respective ramp surface and carrying a respective said projection.
Statement 24. A booster seat according to statement 23, wherein each said mover body is movable to a position wherein said inclined surface disengages said ramp surface and the respective height increasing foot is engaged by a locking surface of said moving body such that said height increasing foot is held in said downwardly extended position.
Statement 25. A booster seat as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 24, further comprising a plurality of resilient biasing members configured to return said height increasing feet from said downwardly extended position to said retracted position.
Statement 26. A booster seat according to statement 11, 12 or 13, wherein said height increasing feet are pivotably mounted to said respective stabilising feet so as to be pivotable between said retracted and deployed positions independent of said actuator.
a base provided with at least one of:
a set of stabilising feet having use positions comprising a retracted position and a laterally extended position in which said stabilising feet are laterally extended with respect to said base to increase said footprint; and
a set of height increasing feet having use positions comprising a retracted position and a height increasing position in which said height increasing feet are downwardly extended with respect to said base to
raise the base with respect to a surface supporting said booster seat; and an actuator operable to move said feet between said use positions.
said base is provided with a said set of stabilising feet and a said set of height increasing feet;
said projections comprise respective first projections associated with said stabilising feet and respective second projections associated with said height increasing feet;
said camming device comprises a first rotatable member that defines at least one first camming track engaged by said first projections and a second rotatable member that defines at least one second camming track engaged by said second projections;
said at least one first camming track is configured such that rotation of said first rotatable member causes a said drive force to be applied to said stabilising feet via said first projections to cause said stabilising feet to move to said laterally extended positions; and
said at least one second camming track is configured such that rotation of said second rotatable member causes a said drive force to be applied to said height increasing feet via said second projections to cause said movement to said height increasing position.
said first and second camming tracks each include a neutral position, a non-active portion extending in a first direction from said neutral position and an active portion extending in a second direction from said neutral position,
said non-active portions are configured such that rotation of said first and second rotatable members in a non-active direction causes no said drive force to be applied to said stabilising and height increasing feet and rotation of said first and second rotatable members in an active direction causes said drive force to be applied, wherein said non-active direction is an opposite direction to said active direction, and optionally, wherein said camming device is configured such that said first and second rotatable members rotate simultaneously and are orientated such that rotation of said first rotatable member in said active direction causes rotation of said second rotatable member in said non-active and rotation of said first rotatable member in said non-active direction causes rotation of said second rotatable member in said active direction.
from said downwardly extended position to said retracted position.