A chair for a child

Abstract

A chair for a child is provided. The chair comprises a seat assembly; a front leg assembly pivotally coupled to the seat assembly; a rear leg assembly pivotally coupled to the seat assembly; a locking mechanism configured to selectively lock the front and / or rear leg assemblies relative to the seat, in order to restrict pivoting of the front and / or rear legs relative to the seat assembly; and an actuator operable to unlock the locking mechanism to enable pivoting of the front and rear leg assembled relative to the seat assembly.

Description

[0001] A chair for a child

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to chairs for children and is particularly, although not exclusively concerned with highchairs for children.

[0004] Background

[0005] Young children are often placed into chairs, particularly highchairs, whilst eating or being fed. The highchair provides a comfortable seating position for the child whilst eating or engaging in other seated activities. Highchairs are often configured such that the child seated in the highchair is at a similar height to an adult when seated. This can allow the child seated in the highchair in interact more easily with adults sitting at a table and improves the ease with which the child can be fed by a seated adult.

[0006] Due to the height of the seat of the highchair, it is important that the highchair includes suitable supports, e.g. legs, for reducing the risk of the highchair toppling when a child is seated in the highchair. Highchair therefore typically have a large footprint and can take up a large space within a room, e.g. around a table.

[0007] Statements of Invention

[0008] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a chair, e.g. a highchair, for a child, the chair comprising: a seat assembly; a front leg assembly pivotally coupled to the seat assembly; a rear leg assembly pivotally coupled to the seat assembly; a locking mechanism configured to selectively lock the front and / or rear leg assemblies relative to the seat, in order to restrict pivoting of the front and / or rear legs relative to the seat assembly; and an actuator operable to unlock the locking mechanism to enable pivoting of the front and rear leg assembled relative to the seat assembly.

[0009] The front and rear leg assemblies may have proximal ends and distal ends. The front and rear leg assemblies may be coupled to the seat assembly at their proximal ends. The front and rear leg assemblies may be pivotable relative to the seat assembly between a deployed configuration, in which the distal ends of the front and rear leg assemblies are spaced apart from one another, and a storage configuration, in which the distal ends of the front and rear leg assembly are closer together than in the deployed configuration.

[0010] The actuator may comprise a foot pedal. The actuator may be provided on the rear leg assembly.

[0011] The chair may be configured such that pushing, e.g. in a longitudinal direction of the chair, such as forwards, on the seat assembly of the chair while the actuator is operated to unlock the locking mechanism causes the front and rear leg assemblies to move towards the storage configuration.

[0012] The chair may further comprise a leg assembly linkage configured to couple to the front and rear leg assemblies. The leg assembly linkage may be configured to cause the front and rear leg assemblies to move together between the deployed configuration and the storage configuration.

[0013] The leg assembly linkage may comprise a rotating link element pivotally coupled to the seat assembly. The leg assembly linkage may further comprise a front link element for coupling the front leg assembly to the rotating link element. The leg assembly linkage may further comprise a rear link element for coupling the rear leg assembly to the rotating link element. At least one of the front and rear link elements may be arcuate. The rotating link element may be coupled to the seat assembly at a position on the rotating link element offset from a straight line extending from the position at which the front link element is connected to the rotating link element and a position at which the rear link element is connected to the rotating link element.

[0014] The locking mechanism may comprise a front guide component coupled to the seat assembly, wherein the front guide component comprises one or more front guide surfaces. The locking mechanism may further comprise a front leg pin coupled to the front leg assembly. The actuator may be operable to move the front leg pin from a locking position, in which the front leg pin is engageable with the front guide surfaces to restrict pivoting of the front leg assembly relative to the seat assembly, to an unlocked position, in which the front leg pin does not engage the front guide surfaces, thereby enabling pivoting of the front leg assembly relative to the seat assembly. The front guide component may comprise a front deployed guide surface and a front storage guide surface. The front leg pin may be engageable with the front deployed guide surface when the front leg assembly is in the deployed position. The front leg pin may be engageable with the front storage guide surface when the front leg assembly is in the storage position.

[0015] The locking mechanism may comprise a front leg pin moving part movably, e.g. slideably, coupled to the front leg assembly. The front leg pin moving part may be configured to engage the front leg pin in order to move the front leg pin between the locking and unlocked position when the front leg pin moving part moves relative to the front leg assembly. The actuator may be configured to move the front leg moving part in order to move the front leg pin between the locking and unlocked position.

[0016] The locking mechanism may comprise a rear guide component coupled to the seat assembly, wherein the rear guide component comprises one or more rear guide surfaces. The locking mechanism may further comprise a rear leg pin coupled to the rear leg assembly. The actuator may be operable to move the rear leg pin from a locking position, in which the rear leg pin is engageable with the rear guide surfaces to restrict pivoting of the rear leg assembly relative to the seat assembly, to an unlocked position, in which the rear leg pin does not engage the rear guide surfaces, thereby enabling pivoting of the rear leg assembly relative to the seat assembly.

[0017] The rear guide component may comprise a rear deployed guide surface and a rear storage guide surface. The rear leg pin may be engageable with the rear deployed guide surface when the rear leg assembly is in the deployed position. The rear leg pin may be engageable with the rear storage guide surface when the rear leg assembly is in the storage position.

[0018] The locking mechanism may comprise a rear leg pin moving part movably, e.g. slideably, coupled to the rear leg assembly. The rear leg pin moving part may be configured to engage the rear leg pin in order to move the rear leg pin between the locking and unlocked position when the rear leg pin moving part moves relative to the rear leg assembly.

[0019] The actuator may be configured to move the rear leg moving part in order to move the rear leg pin between the locking and unlocked position. The chair may further comprise a cable extending from the actuator to the locking mechanism. Operating the actuator may pull the cable. The locking mechanism may be configured to cause the rear leg pin to move into the unlocked position when the cable is pulled by the actuator. For example, the cable may be coupled to the rear leg pin moving part.

[0020] The locking mechanism may comprise a pin linkage. The pin linkage may be configured operatively couple the front leg pin to the rear leg pin such that, when the locking mechanism causes the rear leg pin to move into the unlocked position, the front leg pin is moved into the unlocked position. The pin linkage may be configured to couple together the front and rear leg pin moving parts so that the front and rear leg pin moving parts move together.

[0021] The locking mechanism may comprise a front guide component coupled to the seat assembly, wherein the front guide component comprising one or more front guide surfaces. The locking mechanism may further comprise a front leg pin coupled to the front leg assembly. The front leg pin may be configured to engage one of the front guide surfaces in order to restrict pivoting of the front leg assembly relative to the seat assembly. The actuator may be operable to move the front leg pin to prevent the leg pin from engaging the front guide surfaces to thereby enable pivoting of the front leg assembly relative to the seat assembly.

[0022] The chair may comprise a locking assembly provided on either lateral side of the chair for locking the positions of the front leg assembly and the rear leg assembly at both lateral sides of the chair.

[0023] To avoid unnecessary duplication of effort and repetition of text in the specification, certain features are described in relation to only one or several aspects or embodiments of the invention. However, it is to be understood that, where it is technically possible, features described in relation to any aspect or embodiment of the invention may also be used with any other aspect or embodiment of the invention. For example, features described in relation to the first mentioned aspect may be combined with the features of the second mentioned aspect.

[0024] Brief Description of the Drawings For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a highchair for children, according to arrangements of the present disclosure, in a deployed configuration;

[0026] Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the highchair shown in Figure 1, in a storage configuration;

[0027] Figure 3 is an exploded view of leg attachment assembly of the highchair shown in Figure 1 ;

[0028] Figure 4 is a side view of leg attachment assembly shown in Figure 3, with a housing part omitted;

[0029] Figure 5 is a side view of a locking mechanism for locking leg assemblies of the highchair in the deployed and storage configurations;

[0030] Figure 6 is a rear perspective view of the highchair shown in Figure 1 , showing the routing of a cable through legs of the highchair;

[0031] Figure 7 is an exploded part-sectional view of an actuator for the highchair shown in Figure 1 ;

[0032] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the actuator shown in Figure 7;

[0033] Figures 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d, collectively referred to as Figure 9, are side views of the highchair shown in Figure 1, illustrating a sequence for reconfiguring the highchair from the deployed configuration to the storage configuration; and

[0034] Figures 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d, collectively referred to as Figure 10, are side views of the highchair shown in Figure 1, illustrating a sequence for reconfiguring the highchair from the storage configuration to the deployed configuration.

[0035] Detailed Description With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a chair 10, e.g. a highchair, according to arrangements of the present disclosure comprises a seat assembly 100 including a seat 110. The seat 110 comprises a seat base 112 for the child to sit on, a seat back 114 and first and second side walls 116a, 116b at respective lateral sides of the seat base 112.

[0036] The chair 10 further comprises a front leg assembly 20 and a rear leg assembly 30. The front and rear leg assemblies are for supporting the seat assembly 100 above a surface, such as a floor, on which the chair 10 is placed. As depicted, the front leg assembly 20 is coupled to the seat assembly at a position further forwards on the chair 10, in the longitudinal direction of the chair (perpendicular to the seat back), than the rear leg assembly 30. Further, when the chair 10 is in a deployed configuration, as depicted in Figure 1, the front leg assembly 20 may extend forwards from the seat assembly 100 and the rear leg assembly 30 may extend rearward from the seat assembly, e.g. in order to provide a stable support for the seat assembly 100 above the surface on which the chair 10 is standing.

[0037] The chair 10 may further comprise a tray 40 configured to be coupled to the seat assembly 100 in order to provide a table for a child sat in the seat 110. For example, the tray 40 may be couplable to a trim portion of the chair, such as a belly bar which extends across a child’s lap when the child is sat in the chair. Additionally or alternatively, the tray 40 may be couplable to the first and / or second side walls 116a, 116b of the seat assembly. When the tray 40 is coupled to the seat assembly 100, and the chair 10 is in the deployed configuration (depicted in Figure 1), a tray surface 42 of the tray may be substantially horizontal.

[0038] The front leg assembly 20 comprises first and second legs 22, 24 provided on respective lateral sides of the seat assembly. As described in greater detail below, the first and second legs are coupled to the seat assembly at proximal ends 22a, 24a of the first and second legs. The legs extend away, e.g. downwardly and optionally forwards, from the seat assembly 100. The front leg assembly 20 further comprises a foot bar 26, which extends between, e.g. laterally between, distal ends 22b, 24b of the first and second legs. When the chair is stood on a surface, such as the floor, distal ends 22b, 24b of the first and second legs and / or the foot bar 26 may be in contact with the surface to support the seat assembly 100 above the surface. The rear leg assembly 30 comprises first and second legs 32, 34 provided on respective lateral side of the seat assembly. As described in greater detail below, the first and second legs are coupled to the seat assembly at proximal ends 32a, 34a of the first and second legs. The legs extend away, e.g. downwardly and optionally rearwards, from the seat assembly 100. The rear leg assembly 30 further comprises a foot bar 36, which extends between, e.g. laterally between, distal ends 32b, 34 of the first and second legs. When the chair is stood on a surface, such as the floor, distal ends 32b, 34b of the first and second legs and / or the foot bar 36 may be in contact with the surface to support the seat assembly 100 above the surface.

[0039] The seat assembly 100 further comprises first and second leg attachment assemblies 120, 130. As depicted, the first and second leg attachment assemblies 120, 130 may be coupled to the seat, e.g. to respective lateral sides of the seat 110. The front leg assembly 20 and the rear leg assembly 30 may be coupled to the first and second leg attachment assemblies 120, 130. In particular, first legs 22, 32 of the front and rear leg assemblies may be coupled to the first leg attachment assembly 120, e.g. at their proximal ends 22a, 32a, and second legs 24, 34 of the front and rear leg assemblies may be coupled to the second leg attachment assembly 130, e.g. at their proximal ends 24a, 34a. As depicted in Figures 3 and 4, the first and second legs of the front and rear leg assemblies may be pivotally coupled to the leg attachment assemblies 120, 130 by leg pivot connectors 140. The front leg assembly 20 and the rear leg assembly 30 may be free from couplings at their distal ends, e.g. at positions closer to distal ends of the leg assemblies then proximal ends. In particular, the front leg assembly may not be coupled, directly or indirectly, to the rear leg assembly at their distal ends.

[0040] The leg assemblies 20, 30 may be movable, e.g. pivotable, relative to the seat assembly 100 between a deployed configuration of the chair (depicted in Figure 1), in which the distal ends of the front and rear leg assemblies are spaced apart from one another, e.g. in the longitudinal direction of the chair, and a storage configuration (depicted in Figure 2), in which the distal ends of the front and rear leg assembly are closer together than in the deployed position.

[0041] As depicted in Figure 1 , in the deployed configuration, the first and second legs 22, 24 of the front leg assembly 20 may extend from the seat assembly 100 in a direction with downward and forward components and the first and second legs 32, 34 of the rear leg assembly 30 may extend from the seat assembly 100 in a direction with downward and rearward components. In other words, the front leg assembly 20 may extend from the seat assembly in a direction at an angle, e.g. a non-zero angle, relative to the direction in which the rear leg assembly 30 extends from the seat assembly. In the deployed configuration, the chair 10 may have a maximum dimension in the longitudinal direction of the chair, e.g. between the distal ends of the front and rear leg assemblies. The leg assemblies 20, 30 may thereby provide a stable base for the chair when in the deployed configuration.

[0042] As depicted in Figure 2, in the storage configuration, the first and second legs 22, 24 of the front leg assembly 20 may extend from the seat assembly 100 in a substantially downward direction and the first and second legs 32, 34 of the rear leg assembly may extend from the seat assembly 100 in the substantially downward direction. In other words, the front leg assembly 20 and the rear leg assembly 30 may extend from the seat assembly 100 in substantially parallel directions. In the storage configuration, the dimension of the chair in the longitudinal direction, e.g. between the distal ends of the front and rear leg assemblies, may be reduced compared to in the deployed configuration, which may improve the ease of storage of the chair 100.

[0043] As illustrated in Figure 2, in the storage configuration, the tray 40 may be couplable to the front or rear leg assemblies 20, 30. For example, the front or rear leg assembly may comprise a cross-bar 44 extending between, e.g. laterally between, the first and second legs 22, 32, 24, 34 of the front or rear leg assembly, and the tray 40 may be couplable to the cross-bar. The seat assembly 100, front / rear leg assembly 20, 30 and / or the tray 40 may be configured such that the same coupling provided on the tray is couplable to the seat, e.g. the trim portion of the seat such as a belly bar, and the front / rear leg assembly (e.g. to the cross-bar) as desirable, e.g. interchangeably. As illustrated in Figure 2, when the tray is coupled to the front or rear leg assembly, the tray surface 42 of the tray may be substantially parallel with the first and second legs of the corresponding leg assembly.

[0044] Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5, the chair 10 further comprises a locking mechanism 300. The locking mechanism 300 is configured to selectively lock the front and rear leg assemblies 20, 30, e.g. in the deployed configuration and / or in the storage configuration, to thereby prevent the front and rear leg assemblies from moving, e.g. pivoting about the leg pivot connectors 140, relative to the seat assembly 100. The locking mechanism 300 may be configured to lock rotation of the front and rear leg assembly at the proximal ends of the front and rear leg assemblies. The locking mechanism 300 may be mounted on the seat assembly, e.g. integrated into the first and / or second leg attachment assemblies.

[0045] Figures 3, 4 and 5 illustrate one of the leg attachment assemblies 120, 130 and a locking assembly 300 provided on one side (lateral side) of the seat assembly 100 and it will be appreciated that a similar locking assembly may be provided on the other side of the seat assembly for selectively locking the front and rear leg assemblies, e.g. in the deployed configuration and / or in the storage configuration, on the other side of the seat assembly. For example, the leg attachment assembly and locking mechanism provided on the other side of the seat assembly may be a mirror image of the leg attachment assembly and locking mechanism illustrated in Figures 3, 4, and 5. Further, it will be appreciated that in the description of the locking mechanism, references to components provided on each lateral side of the chair refer to the component provided on the same side as the locking mechanism being described, unless otherwise stated.

[0046] The leg attachment assembly 120 may comprise a housing part 122 and a lid part 124 couplable to the housing part 122 to form an interior space 126. The housing part 122 and / or the lid part 124 may form leg openings 128 on either side, e.g. either longitudinal side, of the leg attachment assembly for the legs of the leg assembly that are to couple to the particular leg attachment assembly to pass into the interior space 126. The leg assemblies may be coupled to the leg attachment assembly inside the interior space 126 of the leg attachment assembly. As shown, the leg openings 128 may be sized and shaped to allow the legs assemblies 20, 30 to move between the deployed and storage configurations. The housing part 122 and / or lid part 124 of the leg attachment assembly and / or the distal ends 22a, 32a of the legs may be configured, e.g. shaped, such that a portion of the interior space 126ais enclosed, e.g. substantially completely enclosed, by the housing part 122, lid part 124and / or the distal ends of the legs. As described below, components, e.g. moving components, of the locking mechanism 300 of the chair 10 may be disposed inside the portion of the interior space 126a to reduce the risk of items become trapped by the components of the locking mechanism 300. In particular, enclosing the moving components of the locking mechanism within the portion of the interior space may reduce a finger trap hazard.

[0047] The locking mechanism 300 comprises a front guide component 310 and a rear guide component 320. The front and rear guide components may be coupled, e.g. fixedly coupled, to the seat assembly 100, e.g. to the leg attachment assembly 120, 130. For example, the front and rear guide components may be coupled to the housing part 122. The front guide component 310 comprises one or more guide surfaces 312, 314. In particular, the front guide component may comprise a deployed guide surface 312 and a storage guide surface 314. Similarly, the rear guide component 320 comprises one or more guide surfaces 322, 324. In particular, the rear guide component may comprise a deployed guide surface 322 and a storage guide surface 324. As depicted, the front and rear guide components 310, 320 may comprise plates and the guide surfaces may be surfaces extending around the bores of openings formed in the plates.

[0048] The locking mechanism 300 further comprises a front leg pin 332 and a rear leg pin 334. The front and rear leg pins are coupled, e.g. movably coupled, to the front and rear leg assemblies 20, 30 respectively. In particular, the front leg pin 332 may be movable relative to the front leg assembly 20 between a locking position in which the front leg pin is engageable with the guide surfaces 312, 314 of the front guide component 310 and an unlocked position in which the front leg pin 332 does not engage the guide surfaces of the front guide component. The front leg pin may be movable between the locking position and the unlocked position in a direction parallel with a front pivot axis PF about which the front leg assembly 20 moves relative to the seat assembly, e.g. defined by the leg pivot connector 140 connecting the front leg assembly to the seat assembly. When the front leg pin 332 is in the unlocked position, the front leg pin may be retracted into a hollow interior of the first front leg 22.

[0049] Similarly, the rear leg pin 334 may be movable relative to the rear leg assembly 30 between a locking position in which the rear leg pin 334 is engageable with the guide surfaces 322, 324 of the rear guide component 320 and an unlocked position in which the rear leg pin 334 does not engage the guide surfaces of the rear guide component. The rear leg pin may be movable between the locking position and the unlocked position in a direction parallel with a rear pivot axis PR about which the rear leg assembly 30 moves relative to the seat assembly, e.g. defined by the leg pivot connector 140 connecting the rear leg assembly to the seat assembly. When the rear leg pin 334 is in the unlocked position, the rear leg pin may be retracted into a hollow interior of the first rear leg 32.

[0050] When the guide surfaces 312, 314, 322, 324 of the front and rear guide components are surfaces extending around the bores of openings formed in the guide components, engagement of the front and rear leg pins 332, 334 with the guide surfaces may correspond to the front and rear leg pins being be received within respective ones of the openings.

[0051] The front leg pin may be biased to move towards the locking position of the front leg pin. Similarly, the rear leg pin may be biased to move towards the locking position of the rear leg pin. For example, the locking mechanism 300 may comprise biasing elements, such as coil springs, configured to bias the front and rear leg pins towards the locking positions.

[0052] When the front leg pin 332 is engaged with one of the guide surfaces 312, 314 of the front guide component, engagement between the front leg pin and the one of the guide surfaces acts to resist or prevent movement, e.g. pivoting, of the front leg assembly 20 relative to the seat assembly 100. Similarly, when the rear leg pin 334 is engaged with one of the guide surfaces 322, 324 of the rear guide component, engagement between the rear leg pin and the one of the guide surfaces acts to resist or prevent movement, e.g. pivoting, of the rear leg assembly relative to the seat assembly.

[0053] Figure 4 illustrates an arrangement in which the front leg assembly 20 is in the deployed configuration of the chair 10 and the rear leg assembly 30 is in the storage configuration of the chair. As depicted, when the front leg assembly 20 is in the deployed configuration, the front leg pin 332 is aligned with the deployed guide surface 312 of the front guide plate 310. Hence, when the front leg pin 332 is in the locking position, the front leg pin can engage with the deployed guide surface 312. It will be appreciated, that when the front leg assembly is in the storage configuration, the front leg pin 332 may be aligned with the storage guide surface 314 of the front guide plate. Hence, when the front leg pin is in the locking position when the front leg assembly is in the storage configuration, the front leg pin 332 can engage with the storage guide surface 314.

[0054] Similarly as depicted, when the rear leg assembly 30 is in the storage configuration, the rear leg pin 334 is aligned with the storage guide surface 324 of the rear guide plate 320. Hence, when the rear leg pin is in the locking position, the rear leg pin 334 can engage with the storage guide surface 334. It will similarly be appreciated that when the rear leg assembly 30 is in the deployed configuration, the rear leg pin 334 may be aligned with the deployed guide surface 322 of the rear guide plate 320. Hence, when the rear leg pin is in the locking position when the rear leg assembly 30 is in the deployed configuration, the rear leg pin 334 can engage with the deployed guide surface 322. With reference to Figure 5, the locking mechanism 300 may further comprise a front leg pin moving part 342 and a rear leg pin moving part 344. The front leg pin moving part 342 may be movably, e.g. slidably, coupled to the front leg assembly 20, e.g. to the first leg 22. In this way, front leg pin moving part may be the movable, e.g. slidable, relative to the front leg assembly 20. In particular, the front leg pin moving part 342 may be movable in a direction perpendicular to the front pivot axis PF. Further, front leg pin moving part 342 may be movable in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the front leg pin 332 moves between the locking and unlocked positions of the front leg pin. For example, the front leg pin moving part 342 may be slidable in a direction along the first leg 22, e.g. extending between the proximal and distal ends 22a, 22b of the first leg. The front leg pin moving part 342 may be configured to engage the front leg pin 332 in order to move the front leg pin between the locking and unlocked position, e.g. as the front leg pin moving part moves. For example, the front leg moving part 342 may comprise a ramp surface and the front leg pin may comprise a complimentary ramp surface. The ramp surface and complimentary ramp surface may be configured to engage one another to urge the front leg pin to move between the locking position to the unlocked position as the front leg pin moving part 342 moves.

[0055] In the arrangement depicted, the locking mechanism 300 is configured such that when the front leg pin moving part 342 moves towards the proximal end of the front leg assembly, the front leg pin moving part engages the front leg pin 332 to move the front leg pin towards the unlocked configuration. The locking mechanism 300 may be configured such that when the front leg pin moving part 342 moves towards the distal end of the front leg assembly, the front leg pin moving part engages the front leg pin 332 to move the front leg pin towards the locking position. Alternatively, the front leg pin 332 may move towards the locking position by virtue of a biasing member, such as a coil spring, which biases the front leg pin towards the locking position. As depicted, the locking mechanism 300 may comprise a biasing element 346, such as a coil spring, configured to move the front leg pin moving part 342 towards the distal end of the front leg assembly, e.g. towards a position in which the front leg pin is moved to the locking position.

[0056] In other arrangements, the locking mechanism 300 may be configured such that when the front leg pin moving part 342 moves towards the distal end of the front leg assembly, the front leg pin moving part engages the front leg pin to move the front leg pin towards the unlocked configuration and when the front leg pin moving part 342 moves towards the proximal end of the front leg assembly, the front leg pin moves towards the locking configuration.

[0057] The rear leg pin moving part 344 may be movably, e.g. slidably, coupled to the rear leg assembly 30, e.g. to the first leg 32. In this way, the rear leg pin moving part 344 may be movable, e.g. slidable, relative to the rear leg assembly 30. The rear leg pin moving part 344 may be movable in a direction perpendicular to the rear pivot axis PR. Further, the rear leg pin moving part 344 may be movable in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the rear leg pin 334 moves between the locking and unlocked positions. For example, the rear leg pin moving part may be slidable along the first leg 32 of the rear leg assembly, e.g. in a direction extending between the proximal and distal ends of the rear leg assembly. The rear leg pin moving part 344 may be configured to engage the rear leg pin 334 in order to move the rear leg pin between the locking and unlocked positions, e.g. as the font leg pin moving part 344 moves. For example, the rear leg moving part 344 may comprise a ramp surface and the rear leg pin 334 may comprise a complimentary ramp surface. The ramp surface and complimentary ramp surface may be configured to engage one another to urge the rear leg pin to move between the locking configuration to the unlocked configuration as the rear leg pin moving part moves.

[0058] In the arrangement depicted, the locking mechanism 300 is configured such that when the rear leg pin moving part 344 moves towards the distal end of the rear leg assembly, the rear leg pin moving part engages the rear leg pin 334 to move the rear leg pin towards the unlocked position. The locking mechanism 300 may be configured such that when the rear leg pin moving part 344 moves towards the proximal end of the rear leg assembly, the rear leg pin moving part engages the rear leg pin 334 to move the rear leg pin towards the locking position. Alternatively, the rear leg pin 334 may move towards the locking position by virtue of a biasing member, such as a coil spring, which biases the rear leg pin towards the locking position. As depicted, the locking mechanism 300 may comprise a biasing element 348, such as a coil spring, configured to move the rear leg pin moving part 344 towards the proximal end of the rear leg assembly, e.g. towards a position in which the rear leg pin is moved to the locking position.

[0059] In other arrangements, the locking mechanism 300 may be configured such that when the rear leg pin moving part 344 moves towards the proximal end of the rear leg assembly, the rear leg pin moving part engages the rear leg pin to move the rear leg pin towards the unlocked position and when the rear leg pin moving part 342 moves towards the distal end of the rear leg assembly, the rear leg pin moves towards the locking configuration.

[0060] With reference to Figures 6, 7 and 8, the chair 10 further comprises an actuator 700 operable to unlock the locking mechanism 300 and thereby enable moving, e.g. pivoting, of the front and rear leg assemblies 20, 30 relative to the seat assembly 100, e.g. between the deployed configuration and the storage configuration.

[0061] The actuator 700 may be a foot operated actuator, e.g. a foot pedal. In the arrangement shown, the foot pedal is provided on the foot bar 36 of the rear leg assembly. However, in other arrangements, the foot pedal may be provided on the foot bar 26 of the front leg assembly. Alternatively, the actuator 700 may be any other type of actuator, such as a hand actuatable button, slider or lever. Further, in other arrangements, the actuator 700 may be provided on any other location on the chair 10, such as on the seat assembly 100, e.g. on one or both of the leg attachment assemblies 120, 130.

[0062] As depicted, the chair 10 may further comprise a cable 710 extending from the actuator 700 to the locking mechanism 300. The cable may extend through a hollow interior of the first leg 32 of the rear leg assembly between the actuator 700 and the locking mechanism 300 provided in the leg attachment assembly 120. The actuator 700 may be configured to pull on the cable 710 when the actuator is actuated.

[0063] Returning briefly to Figure 5, the locking mechanism is configured such that when the actuator 700 pulls on the cable 710, the rear leg pin 334 is caused to move into the unlocked position. In particular, the cable 710 may be coupled to the rear leg pin moving part 344 and when the actuator 700 pulls on the cable 710, the rear leg pin moving part 344 may be moved, e.g. slid, towards the distal end of the rear leg assembly, thereby moving the rear leg pin 342 towards the unlocked position, as described above.

[0064] In some arrangement, the cable 710, or another cable, may be coupled to the front leg pin moving part 342, e.g. in additional or as an alternative to the cable being coupled to the rear leg pin moving part 344. In such arrangements, the locking mechanism 300 may be configured such that the actuator 700 pulling on the cable 710 (and optionally the other cable) acts to move the front leg pin moving part 342 to thereby move the front leg pin 332 into the unlocked position. The locking mechanism 300 may further comprise a pin linkage 500. The pin linkage 500 may be configured to operatively couple the front leg pin 332, 334 with the rear leg pin, such that when the rear leg pin moves into the unlocked position, the front leg pin is also moved into the unlocked position. In other arrangements, e.g. in which the cable 710, or other cable, is coupled to the front leg pin moving part 342 as an alternative to the cable being coupled to the rear leg pin moving part 344, the front leg pin 332 may be operatively coupled with the rear leg pin 334, such that when the front leg pin moves into the unlocked position, the rear leg pin is also moved into the unlocked position.

[0065] As depicted, the pin linkage 500 may comprise a cable 510. A first end 510a of the cable may be coupled to the rear leg pin moving part 344 and a second end 510b of the cable may be coupled to the front leg pin moving part 342. When one of the front leg pin moving part and the rear leg pin moving part is moved due to the action of the actuator 700 and cable 710, the cable 510 may pull on the other of the front and rear leg pin moving part so that the other of the front and rear leg pin moving part moves at the same time.

[0066] Returning to Figures 7 and 8, the actuator 700 comprises a housing part 702, forming and interior space 704 of the actuator 700, and a lid part 706 for closing the interior space. The actuator 700 further comprises a slider 708 arranged within the interior space 704. The slider 708 may be movably, e.g. slidably, coupled to the housing part 702. The cable 710, e.g. a first end 710a of the cable, is coupled to the slider 708. The lid part 706 comprises a wedge 706a extending into the interior space 704. The lid part 706 may be resiliently deformable and may be configured such that deforming the lid part, e.g. by pressing on the lid part, causes the wedge 706a to engage the slider 708. The wedge may comprise a ramp surface 706b and the slider may comprise a complementary ramp surface 708a. The actuator may be configured such that the wedge 706a, e.g. the ramp surface 706b, engages the complementary ramp surface 708a of the slider when the lid part is deformed and engagement between the wedge and the complementary ramp surface urges the slider to move, e.g. slide, and pull on the cable 710.

[0067] When the chair 10 comprises a locking assembly 300 on either lateral side of the chair, the chair may comprise a further cable 720 (illustrated in Figure 6) extending from the actuator 700 to the locking mechanism provided on the other lateral side of the chair. For example, the further cable 720 may extend through a hollow interior of the second leg 34 of the rear leg assembly 30 between the actuator 700 and the locking mechanism 300. In such arrangements, the actuator 700 may comprise a further slider 709 provided within the interior space 704 of the actuator and movably, e.g. slideably coupled to the housing part 702. The further cable 720, e.g. a first end 720a of the further cable, may be coupled to the further slider 709. The further slider 709 may comprise a complementary ramp surface 709a. The actuator 700 may be configured such that deforming the lid part 704 causes the wedge 704a, e.g. a further ramp surface 706c of the wedge 706a, to engage the further slider, e.g. the complementary ramp surface 709a of the further slider. Engagement between the wedge and the complementary ramp surface 709a of the further slider may urge the slider to move, e.g. slide, and pull the further cable 720. The further cable, e.g. a second end of the further cable, may be coupled to the locking mechanism 300 on the other side of the chair the same way that the cable 710 is coupled to the locking mechanism 300, as described above.

[0068] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the ramp surfaces 706b, 7076c may be formed on opposing lateral sides of the wedge and the slider and further slider 708, 709 may be urged to move in opposite lateral directions away from the wedge 706a. In the arrangement of Figures 7 and 8, the cable and further cable provided and cross over one another within the housing 702 to couple to the slider or further slide provided on the opposite side of the housing. When the slider 708 and further slider 709 are urged to move in opposite lateral directions, the two cables 710, 720 are therefore pulled in opposite lateral directions to actuate the locking mechanisms 300 provided in the leg attachment assemblies 120, 130 on opposite lateral sides of the chair 10.

[0069] Due to the resiliently deformable nature of the lid part 706, releasing the lid part may cause the wedge 706a to move away from the slider and further slider 708, 709. The slider and further slider may be biased to return to their original positions, e.g. prior to being urged to move by the wedge. Further, due to the biasing elements 346, 348 provided in the locking mechanism 300 described above, the locking mechanism may return to a locked configuration when the actuator is released. For example, the front and rear leg pins 332, 334 may return to locking positions.

[0070] In other arrangements, the lid part 706 may not be resiliently deformable, but may comprise a button that is movable relative to the housing part 702. The button may comprise the wedge 706a and may be moved relative to the housing part in order to engage the slider and further slider 708, 709. In such arrangements, the actuator 700 may comprise a biasing element, such as a coil spring, configured to bias the button towards a potion in which the wedge does not urge the slider and further slider to pull the cable and further cable respectively. Returning to Figure 5, the chair 10 may further comprise a leg assembly linkage 550. The leg assembly linkage is configured to couple together the front and rear leg assemblies 20, 30 and cause the front and rear leg assemblies to move together between the deployed configuration and the storage configuration of the chair. In other words, the leg assembly linkage 550 is configured such that when one of the front leg assembly 20 and the rear leg assembly 30 is moved from the deployed configuration towards the storage configuration, the leg assembly linkage causes the other of the front leg assembly and the rear leg assembly to move from the deployed configuration towards the storage configuration. In the same way, when one of the front leg assembly 20 and the rear leg assembly 30 is moved from the storage configuration towards the deployed configuration, the leg assembly linkage 550 causes the other of the front leg assembly and the rear leg assembly to move from the storage configuration towards the deployed configuration.

[0071] As depicted, the leg assembly linkage 550 may comprise a rotating link element 552 pivotally coupled to the seat assembly 100, e.g. to the leg attachment assembly 120. The rotating link element 552 may be configured to rotate relative to the seat assembly about a pivot axis PL, which may be parallel with the front and / or rear pivot axes PF, PR of the front and rear leg assemblies. The leg assembly linkage 550 may further comprise a front link element 554. A first end 554a of the front link element may be coupled, e.g. pivotally coupled to the front leg assembly 20, e.g. to the proximal end of the first leg 22, and a second end 554b of the front link element may be coupled to the rotating link element. As depicted, the front link element 554 may be arcuate. The leg assembly linkage 550 may further comprise a rear link element 556. A first end 556a of the rear link element may be coupled, e.g. pivotally coupled to the rear leg assembly 30, e.g. to the proximal end of the first leg 32, and a second end 556b of the rear link element may be coupled to the rotating link element. As depicted, the rear link element may be straight.

[0072] The rotating link element 552 may be coupled to the seat assembly 100 at a position on the rotating link element 552 offset from a straight line extending from the position at which the second end 554b of the front link element is connected to the rotating link element and a position at which the second end 556b of the rear link element is connected to the rotating link element.

[0073] As depicted, the front link element 554 may be coupled to the front leg assembly 20 at a position on the front leg assembly on an opposite side of the front pivot PFfrom the distal end of the front leg assembly. Similarly, the rear link element 556 may be coupled to the rear leg assembly 30 at a position on the rear leg assembly on an opposite side of the rear pivot PR from the distal end of the rear leg assembly.

[0074] With reference to Figure 9, a process of reconfiguring the chair 10 from the deployed configuration to the storage configuration will now be described. As illustrated in Figures 9a and 9b, the chair 10 may initially be tipped backwards so that the front leg assembly, e.g. the distal end of the is lifted off the ground. The seat assembly 100 may then be pushed forwards whilst the actuator 700 is actuated, e.g. to unlock the locking mechanism(s) 300. As illustrated in Figures 9b, 9c and 9d, pushing forwards on the seat assembly whilst the actuator is actuated may cause the front and rear leg assemblies 20, 30 to move together from the deployed configuration to the storage configuration. The actuator 700 may then be released to lock the front and rear leg assemblies in the storage configuration by the locking mechanism(s) 300.

[0075] With reference to Figure 10, a process of reconfiguring the chair 10 from the storage configuration to the deployed configuration will now be described. As illustrated in Figure 10a and 10b, the seat assembly 100 may initially be pulled backwards whilst the actuator 700 is actuated, e.g. to unlock the locking mechanism(s) 300. As shown in Figures 10b and 10c, the seat assembly 100 may be pushed forwards. Pulling back and / or pushing forwards on the seat assembly whilst the actuator 700 is actuated may cause the front and rear leg assemblies 20, 30 to move together from the storage configuration to the deployed configuration. As illustrated in Figures 10c and 10d, the chair 10 may then be tilted forwards to an upright position and the actuator 700 released. The front and rear leg assemblies may thereby be locked in the deployed configuration by the locking mechanism(s) 300.

[0076] Using the processes illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, the chair may be reconfigured between the deployed and storage configuration using only one hand.

[0077] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although the invention has been described by way of example, with reference to one or more exemplary examples, it is not limited to the disclosed examples and that alternative examples could be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 17 October 2024 (17.10.2024)1. A chair for a child, the chair comprising: a seat assembly; a front leg assembly pivotally coupled to the seat assembly; a rear leg assembly pivotally coupled to the seat assembly; a locking mechanism configured to selectively lock the front and / or rear leg assemblies relative to the seat, in order to restrict pivoting of the front and / or rear legs relative to the seat assembly; and an actuator operable to unlock the locking mechanism to enable pivoting of the front and rear leg assembled relative to the seat assembly.

2. The chair of claim 1 , wherein the front and rear leg assemblies have proximal ends and distal ends, wherein the front and rear leg assemblies are coupled to the seat assembly at their proximal ends, and wherein the front and rear leg assemblies are pivotable relative to the seat assembly between a deployed configuration, in which the distal ends of the front and rear leg assemblies are spaced apart from one another, and a storage configuration, in which the distal ends of the front and rear leg assembly are closer together than in the deployed configuration.

3. The chair of claim 2, wherein the front leg assembly is free from couplings directly or indirectly between the front leg assembly and the rear leg assembly at positions closer to distal ends of the leg assemblies than proximal ends.

4. The chair of any of claimsl to 3, wherein the actuator comprises a foot pedal.

5. The chair of any of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator is provided on the rear leg assembly.

6. The chair of any of the preceding claims, wherein the chair is configured such that pushing forwards on the seat assembly of the chair while the actuator is operated to unlock the locking mechanism causes the front and rear leg assemblies to move towards the storage configuration.

7. The chair of any of the preceding claims, wherein the chair further comprises a leg assembly linkage configured to couple to the front and rear leg assemblies, wherein theleg assembly linkage is configured to cause the front and rear leg assemblies to move together between the deployed configuration and the storage configuration.

8. The chair of claim 7, wherein the leg assembly linkage comprises a rotating link element pivotally coupled to the seat assembly, a front link element for coupling the front leg assembly to the rotating link element and a rear link element for coupling the rear leg assembly to the rotating link element.

9. The chair of claim 8, wherein at least one of the front and rear link elements is arcuate.

10. The chair of claim 8 or 9, wherein the rotating link element is coupled to the seat assembly at a position on the rotating link element offset from a straight line extending from the position at which the front link element is connected to the rotating link element and a position at which the rear link element is connected to the rotating link element.

11. The chair of any of the preceding claims, wherein the locking mechanism comprises: a front guide component coupled to the seat assembly, wherein the front guide component comprises one or more front guide surfaces; and a front leg pin coupled to the front leg assembly, and wherein the actuator is operable to move the front leg pin from a locking position, in which the front leg pin is engageable with the front guide surfaces to restrict pivoting of the front leg assembly relative to the seat assembly, to an unlocked position, in which the front leg pin does not engage the front guide surfaces, thereby enabling pivoting of the front leg assembly relative to the seat assembly.

12. The chair of claim 11, wherein the front guide component comprises a front deployed guide surface and a front storage guide surface, wherein the front leg pin is engageable with the front deployed guide surface when the front leg assembly is in the deployed position, and wherein the front leg pin is engageable with the front storage guide surface when the front leg assembly is in the storage position.

13. The chair of claim 11 or 12, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a front leg pin moving part movably, e.g. slideably, coupled to the front leg assembly, wherein the front leg pin moving part is configured to engage the front leg pin in order to move the front leg pin between the locking and unlocked position when the front leg pin moving part moves relative to the front leg assembly.

14. The chair of claim 13, wherein the front leg pin moving part is configured to move in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the front leg pin moves, wherein the front leg pin moving part is configured to slide in a direction along a first leg of the front leg assembly extending between the proximal and distal ends of the first leg.

15. The chair of claim 13 or 14, wherein the actuator is configured to move the front leg moving part in order to move the front leg pin between the locking and unlocked position.

16. The chair of any of the preceding claims, wherein the locking mechanism comprises: a rear guide component coupled to the seat assembly, wherein the rear guide component comprises one or more rear guide surfaces; and a rear leg pin coupled to the rear leg assembly, and wherein the actuator is operable to move the rear leg pin from a locking position, in which the rear leg pin is engageable with the rear guide surfaces to restrict pivoting of the rear leg assembly relative to the seat assembly, to an unlocked position, in which the rear leg pin does not engage the rear guide surfaces, thereby enabling pivoting of the rear leg assembly relative to the seat assembly.

17. The chair of claim 16, wherein the rear guide component comprises a rear deployed guide surface and a rear storage guide surface, wherein the rear leg pin is engageable with the rear deployed guide surface when the rear leg assembly is in the deployed position, and wherein the rear leg pin is engageable with the rear storage guide surface when the rear leg assembly is in the storage position.

18. The chair of claim 16 or 17, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a rear leg pin moving part movably, e.g. slideably, coupled to the rear leg assembly, wherein the rear leg pin moving part is configured to engage the rear leg pin in order to move the rear leg pin between the locking and unlocked position when the rear leg pin moving part moves relative to the rear leg assembly.

19. The chair of claim 18, wherein the rear leg pin moving part is configured to move in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the rear leg pin moves, wherein the rear leg pin moving part is configured to slide in a direction along a first leg of the rear leg assembly extending between the proximal and distal ends of the first leg.

20. The chair of claim 18 or 19, wherein the actuator is configured to move the rear leg moving part in order to move the rear leg pin between the locking and unlocked position.

21. The chair of any of claims 16 to 20 wherein the chair further comprises a cable extending from the actuator to the locking mechanism, wherein operating the actuator pulls the cable, and wherein the locking mechanism is configured to cause the rear leg pin to move into the unlocked position when the cable is pulled by the actuator.

22. The chair of claim 21 when depending on any of claims 11 to 15, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a pin linkage, wherein the pin linkage is configured operatively couple the front leg pin to the rear leg pin such that, when the locking mechanism causes the rear leg pin to move into the unlocked position, the front leg pin is moved into the unlocked position.

23. The chair of claim 22 when depending on claims 13 and 18, wherein the pin linkage is configured to couple together the front and rear leg pin moving parts so that the front and rear leg pin moving parts move together.

24. The chair of any of the preceding claims, wherein the locking mechanism comprises: a front guide component coupled to the seat assembly, wherein the front guide component comprising one or more front guide surfaces; and a front leg pin coupled to the front leg assembly, wherein the front leg pin is configured to engage one of the front guide surfaces in order to restrict pivoting of the front leg assembly relative to the seat assembly, and wherein the actuator is operable to move the front leg pin to prevent the leg pin from engaging the front guide surfaces to thereby enable pivoting of the front leg assembly relative to the seat assembly.

25. The chair of any of the preceding claims, wherein the chair comprises a locking assembly provided on either lateral side of the chair for locking the positions of the front leg assembly and the rear leg assembly at both lateral sides of the chair.

26. The chair of any the preceding claims, wherein the chair further comprises a leg attachment assembly coupled to the seat, wherein the front leg assembly and / or the rear leg assembly is coupled to the seat by the leg attachment assembly, wherein the leg attachment assembly comprises a housing part and a lid part couplable to the housing part to form an interior space, wherein the housing part and / or the lid part form legopenings on either side of the leg attachment assembly for the legs of the front and / or rear leg assembly to pass into the interior space, wherein the front and / or rear leg assembly is coupled to the leg attachment assembly inside the interior space of the leg attachment assembly.

27. The chair of claim 26, wherein movable components of the locking mechanism and / or the leg assembly linkage are disposed inside the interior space of the leg attachment assembly.

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