FOLDABLE AUXILIARY TRAY

Abstract

The invention relates to a folding auxiliary tray (4) for equipping a child's chair comprising a seat (2) and a chair tray (3), said auxiliary tray (4) being able to be attached to said chair tray (3). Said auxiliary tray (4) comprises a main surface (5) made of a flexible material having a larger surface area than said chair tray (3) and fastening means attached to an underside (11) of said main surface (5) for reversibly mechanically connecting said auxiliary tray (4) to said chair tray (3). Said fastening means comprise at least one strap (13 and 14) passing under said chair tray (3) and attached at least one of its ends to said underside (11) by a fastening means (15).Furthermore, said auxiliary platform (4) further comprises at least one stiffening element (16) arranged substantially parallel to the main surface (5) and mechanically connected to said auxiliary platform (4).

Description

Title of the invention: FOLDABLE AUXILIARY TRAY TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates, in general, to the technical field of childcare articles for early childhood intended to promote the learning of autonomy in children during mealtimes or play.

[0002] The invention relates more specifically to an accessory usable in addition to a child's high chair having a tray on which the child can eat, play, or paint. The tray of children's high chairs has a small surface area. The invention concerns an auxiliary tray that can be attached to a chair tray and has a much larger usable surface area than that of a conventional chair tray.

[0003] Due to its large surface area, the auxiliary tray of the invention is particularly suited to feeding young children who have not yet reached a sufficient level of autonomy to feed themselves neatly without adult intervention. Since the surface area of ​​the auxiliary tray is larger than that of the highchair tray to which it is attached, it prevents food served to the child from falling onto the floor or clothing. By considerably reducing the risk of soiling the floor or the child's clothes, it becomes possible to allow the child to handle their food and the utensils they use during meals earlier in their development, thus promoting their learning and the acquisition of autonomy in eating. The auxiliary tray can also be used for play or painting, which more generally promotes the development of their fine motor skills. PRIOR TECHNOLOGY

[0004] Auxiliary trays such as those described above are known. These trays, being large, are most often made of flexible material so that they can be folded for easier transport and storage. These known auxiliary trays are held onto the chair tray during use by point-type fasteners arranged on the underside of the tray so that they can be attached to the top of the chair tray.

[0005] It is common for the fasteners to be suction cup type, the lower part of which adheres to the top of the chair seat by suction. The upper part of these suction cups is connected to the underside of the auxiliary seat. Thus, the suction cups holding the auxiliary seat to the chair seat are located between the underside of the auxiliary seat and the top of the chair seat. Because the seat The auxiliary is made of flexible material; these suction cups generate reliefs that make the upper surface of the auxiliary tray uneven.

[0006] Furthermore, since the surface area of ​​the auxiliary tray is substantially larger than that of the chair seat, the entire surface of the auxiliary tray located outside the chair seat is unsupported. Thus, because the material of the auxiliary tray is flexible, all peripheral areas of the auxiliary tray located outside the chair seat are very unstable, and any object of a certain weight placed on it can cause the tray to deform and tip over or fall to the ground.

[0007] The presence of these suction cups and the instability of the peripheral areas of the auxiliary tray therefore significantly complicate the use of the auxiliary tray with the containers intended to hold the child's food or drink which are placed on it, risking being unbalanced and thus reducing or negating the advantages provided by the use of these foldable auxiliary trays.

[0008] There is therefore a need for a folding auxiliary tray whose usable surface is totally usable and is not deformed by the means of fixing which hold it on the chair tray. Description of the invention

[0009] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing in particular a foldable auxiliary tray whose upper surface remains substantially flat after being securely fixed to the chair tray, the surface of which it is intended to increase the usable surface for a child seated on a high chair for eating or playing.

[0010] To this end, according to a first aspect of the invention, a folding auxiliary tray is proposed for equipping a child's chair comprising a seat and a chair tray, said auxiliary tray being able to be attached to said chair tray. Said auxiliary tray comprises a main surface made of a flexible material with a larger surface area than said chair tray and fastening means attached to an underside of said main surface for reversibly mechanically connecting said auxiliary tray to said chair tray. Said fastening means comprise at least one strap passing under said chair tray and attached at least one end to said underside. Said auxiliary tray further comprises at least one stiffening element arranged substantially parallel to the main surface and mechanically connected to said auxiliary tray.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, said fastening means comprise at least one pair of straps encircling the chair tray and optionally two pairs of straps arranged on either side of a median axis of the auxiliary tray.

[0012] Advantageously, each pair of straps comprises a first strap (13) and a second strap, each fixed by a first end to the underside of the main surface, the first and second straps having respectively at their second ends a first and a second attachment cooperating together to attach the first strap (13) to the second strap around the chair tray.

[0013] Preferably, said first and second fasteners are clip-on loops.

[0014] Advantageously, each pair of straps includes at least one means for adjusting the length of at least one of said first and second straps to tension the pair of straps under the chair tray when the first and second straps are attached together, optionally said at least one means for adjusting is integrated into said first attachment and / or said second attachment.

[0015] Preferably, the folding auxiliary tray includes an outer rim surrounding all or part of said main surface.

[0016] Advantageously, a flexible stiffener is integrated into said outer rim.

[0017] Preferably, an opening, optionally oval or elliptical in shape, arranged on the main surface so as to allow the passage of the upper part of the body of a child seated on the child's chair.

[0018] Advantageously, the opening is positioned symmetrically with respect to the median axis of the auxiliary plate and towards the rear of said auxiliary plate.

[0019] Preferably, an inner rim surrounds all or part of said opening, optionally, attachment means are located on the inner rim so that a bib is able to hang on it, for example by a Velcro® strip fixed to the inner rim.

[0020] Advantageously, said at least one stiffening element is mechanically connected to said auxiliary tray by being inserted or threaded into at least one pocket and / or a loop fixed on said lower face of said main surface and / or at least one loop fixed on said lower face of said main surface, optionally said auxiliary tray comprises at least two longitudinal stiffening elements arranged parallel to the median axis of the auxiliary tray and / or at least one transverse stiffening element arranged perpendicular to the median axis of said auxiliary tray at the front of the opening.

[0021] Other features and advantages of the invention are highlighted by the following description of non-limiting examples of implementation of the different aspects of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0022] The description is given by way of example and refers to the attached figures, which are also given as non-limiting examples of embodiments of the invention:

[0023] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] shows a perspective view of a child's high chair and an auxiliary tray;

[0024] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents an auxiliary platform in top view;

[0025] [Fig.3]: [Fig.3] represents an auxiliary platform viewed from below; and

[0026] [Fig.4] : [Fig.4] shows a disassembled stiffening element.

[0027] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs throughout the figures.

[0028] In the following description, the longitudinal and transverse directions are understood to mean axes respectively parallel or perpendicular to the principal direction in which the child is seated in a high chair. The longitudinal direction is contained within a vertically oriented median plane dividing the high chair and the auxiliary tray into two generally symmetrical parts. The same applies to the front and back, or the top and bottom, which are respectively to be interpreted according to the normal position of a child in a high chair. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A METHOD OF IMPLEMENTATION

[0029] Fig. 1 illustrates a child's high chair on which a child (not shown) is safely placed on a seat 2 so that a chair tray 3 is at a height substantially identical to that of the tray of an adult dining table.

[0030] As also illustrated in [Fig. 2], an auxiliary tray having a main surface 5 substantially larger than the surface of the chair tray 3 is positioned from above on the chair tray 3 by passing a chair back 6 through an opening 7. An opening 7 is arranged in the main surface 5 of the auxiliary tray 4 symmetrically with respect to a median longitudinal axis 8 (hereafter referred to as the median axis) and behind a median transverse axis 9 (hereafter referred to as the transverse axis). Thus, most of the main surface 5 is located in front of a child (not shown) seated on the seat 2 when the auxiliary tray 4 is installed on the high chair 1.

[0031] The main surface 5 of the auxiliary plate 4 generally has an oval or elliptical shape, the major diameter of which, measured along the transverse axis 9, is generally between 75 cm and 120 cm, for example 80 cm, and the minor diameter, measured along the median axis 8, is generally between 65 cm and 110 cm, for example 70 cm. Alternatively, the main surface 5 of the auxiliary plate 4 may have a circular or polygonal shape, for example rectangular or octagonal.

[0032] The opening 7 generally has an oval or elliptical shape, the major diameter of which, measured parallel to the transverse axis 9, is generally between 35 cm and 50 cm, for example 43 cm, while the rear edge of the opening 7 is at a distance from the rear edge of the main surface 5 of between 1 and 10 cm, for example 4 cm, while the front edge of the opening is at a distance from the transverse axis 9 of between 1 and 10 cm, for example 3 cm. Alternatively, the main surface 5 of the auxiliary tray 4 can have a circular or polygonal shape, for example rectangular or octagonal.

[0033] The main surface 5 of the auxiliary tray 4 is made of a flexible and easily washable material. The main surface 5 has an upper surface 10 on which the food containers are placed and an underside 11 that comes into contact with the top of the chair tray 3. Since the child's food may come into contact with the upper surface 10, the materials that can be used to make the upper surface 10 are plastics or fabrics that comply with RoHS standards and are suitable for contact with food for children. This material must also be impermeable to water, cooking oils, and other condiments so that it can be easily cleaned when the main surface 5 has been soiled by food during mealtimes. PEVA or TPU with a thickness, preferably but not exclusively, between 0.3 and 0.4 mm may be used.Alternatively, PE can also be used in the same thicknesses.

[0034] The lower face 11 can be made, by way of non-exclusive example, of 210D polyester with or without a PU (polyurethane) coating, with a thickness generally, for example, between 0.1 and 0.4 mm, for example 0.15 mm. Alternatively, the lower face 11 can also be made of the same plastic material as that used to make the upper face 10, or of any other plastic material or fabric.

[0035] Thus, the materials used to make the lower and upper surfaces of the main surface 5 allow the auxiliary tray to be easily folded and is also easy to maintain. It is also possible to make the auxiliary tray 5 in a single piece, which must be made of a material having the same properties as those used to make the upper surface 10. In this case, the material used may be of a thickness greater than or equal to that indicated above.

[0036] Fastening means allow the auxiliary platform 4 to be mechanically connected to the chair platform 3. These fastening means are reversible in that they allow the auxiliary platform 4 to be attached and detached from the chair platform 3 at will. Figure 3 shows fastening straps 12 that serve as a means of attaching the auxiliary platform 4 to the chair platform 3. These fastening straps 12 are fixed to the underside 11 of the main surface 5. In the non-limiting embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 3, the fastening straps consist of two pairs of fastening straps 12 arranged symmetrically on either side of the median axis 8. The pairs of fastening straps 12 are intended to clamp the chair tray 3 to attach the auxiliary tray 4 to the chair tray 3. The two pairs of fastening straps 12 are arranged in directions converging towards the opening 7.

[0037] These pairs of fastening straps 12 each comprise a first strap 13 fixed at one end to the front edge of the lower face 11 of the main surface 5 and a second strap 14 fixed at one end to the front edge of the opening 7. The first strap 13 and the second strap 14 of each pair of fastening straps 12 are mechanically connected to each other by fastening means 15 arranged at a second end of the first strap 13 and the second strap 14. In this case, the fastening means are formed by clip-on buckles 15. Alternatively, any other means of reversibly connecting two straps can be used as fastening means 15, for example, Velcro® fasteners or belt-type buckles.

[0038] Furthermore, each pair of fastening straps 12 also has means for adjusting the length of at least the first strap 13, which allow each pair of straps 12 to be tightened under the chair seat 3 to firmly hold the auxiliary tray 4 onto the chair seat 3. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in [Fig. 3], the means for adjusting the length of the first strap 13 are integrated into the portion of the clip-on buckle 15 connected to the second end of the first strap 13. Alternatively, the means for adjusting the length of one of the straps may be integrated into the portion of the clip-on buckle 15 connected to the second end of the second strap 14. In another embodiment of the invention, one or both of the first and second straps 13 and 14 may be elastic, with or without a non-slip coating.

[0039] In the embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 3], the first straps 13 are adjustable and generally have a length between 8 and 45 cm, for example 14 or 30 cm. The second straps 14 generally have a length between 5 and 20 cm, for example 14 cm, and the clip buckle has a length between 4 and 5 cm in the clipped position.

[0040] In another embodiment of the invention, the first and second straps 13 and 14 can be Velcro® type strips which allow both to mechanically connect the two straps together and to tighten them under the chair tray 3 to firmly hold the auxiliary tray 4 on the chair tray 3.

[0041] The auxiliary plate 4 also has stiffening elements 16 arranged parallel to the main surface 5 and mechanically connected in a detachable manner on the underside 11 to the auxiliary plate 4. The stiffening elements 16 are rigid rods with a diameter generally between 4 and 8 mm, for example 6 mm, as illustrated in [Fig. 3]. Alternatively, the elements The stiffening elements may be stiffening tabs. The stiffening elements 16 are arranged either longitudinally or transversely along the lower face 11 of the main surface 5.

[0042] In the example illustrated in [Fig.3] [Fig.3], three stiffening elements 16 are arranged longitudinally. Two longitudinal stiffening elements 16 are positioned on either side of the opening 7 at a distance of 12.5 cm from the lateral edges of the main surface 5, extending over a substantial part of the main surface at their level. A longitudinal stiffening element 16, shorter than the two longitudinal stiffening elements 16, is arranged on the median axis 8. On the other hand, a stiffening element 16 is arranged parallel to the transverse axis 9 at 3 cm from the front edge of the opening 7, extending almost over the entire transverse width of the auxiliary platform 4, while another stiffening element 16 of shorter length is arranged transversely at the front of the main surface 5, crossing the longitudinal stiffening element 16 arranged on the median axis 8.

[0043] Depending on the size and shape of the folding auxiliary tray, the stiffening elements 16 can be more numerous and arranged differently. For example, for an auxiliary tray of 93 cm by 86 cm, two longitudinal stiffening elements 16 are arranged on either side of the opening 7 at a distance of approximately 14.5 cm from the lateral edges of the main surface 5, extending over a substantial part of the main surface at their level, with two transverse stiffening elements 16 extending almost over the entire transverse width of the auxiliary tray 4 and arranged parallel to the transverse axis 9, one 3 cm from the front edge of the opening 7 and the other approximately 18.5 cm from the first.In addition, two oblique stiffening elements intersecting in the central area of ​​the main surface 5 extend between the front edge of the auxiliary platform and the front edge of the opening 7 with a spacing of 44 cm on the side of the front edge of the auxiliary platform.

[0044] The stiffening elements 16 are made of fiberglass. Alternatively, any other rigid material such as steel may be used. The stiffening elements are mechanically connected to the lower face 11 of the main surface 5 by rectangular pieces of the same material as the lower face 11 or the upper face 5 to which they are attached to form pockets or loops into which the stiffening elements 16 are inserted. As illustrated in [Fig. 3], the ends of the stiffening elements 16 can be inserted into pockets 17 and their middle portion can be inserted into one or more loops 18. The pockets 17 and the loops 18 are spaced 18 to 19 cm apart, with the exception of the stiffening element 16 arranged transversely near the front edge of the main surface, for which the pockets 17 and the loop 18 are spaced 7 cm apart. Alternatively, the pockets 17 can be replaced by loops 18 to facilitate the insertion of the stiffening elements 16. The pockets 17 and the loops 18 are either heat-sealed or sewn onto the underside 11 of the main surface 5. The arrangement and spacing of the pockets 17, the loops 18 and the stiffening elements 16 can be modified according to design requirements and the size of the auxiliary platform 4 in order to reinforce it and optimize its stability.

[0045] Fig. 2 shows an outer rim 19 fixed by stitching or welding on The outer edge of the main surface 5 of the auxiliary tray 4. The outer edge forms a border around the upper surface 10 that prevents food from falling to the ground. The outer edge 19, which may come into contact with food, is made of the same material as the upper surface (see above). A flexible stiffener in the form of a flat ring (not shown) made of galvanized steel with a thickness between 1 and 3 mm, for example 2 mm, is inserted into the outer edge 19 of the auxiliary tray 4. This flat ring stabilizes the shape of the auxiliary tray 4 while maintaining its flexibility so that it can be folded. The flexible ring can be made of other materials such as fiberglass.

[0046] An inner rim 20 is attached by welding or sewing to the edge of the opening 7. The inner rim 20, which may also come into contact with food, is made of the same material as the upper surface 10 of the main surface 5. The inner rim 20 also prevents food from falling to the floor or soiling the clothing of the child seated in the high chair 1. To complement the inner rim 20, the child may wear a bib (not shown) secured by its upper end around the child's neck and by its lower end to the inner rim 20. The lower end of the bib may be attached to the inner rim 20 by a Velcro® strip 21.In this case, to avoid damaging the child's clothes or damaging the Velcro® strip 21 attached to the inner rim 20 by direct contact with food if the child is required to use the auxiliary tray 4 without a bib, a Velcro® protector 22 is attached to the Velcro® strip 21 fixed to the inner rim 20.

[0047] As illustrated in [Fig. 4], the stiffening elements 16 can be made of one or more segments 23, for example, two segments 23, which reduces their size when disassembled. One of the segments 23 forming a stiffening element has at one end a fitting 24 into which one end of another segment 23 fits. To facilitate assembly, the two segments 23 forming a stiffening element 16 are connected to each other by an elastic link 25, similar to tent poles. Thus, even when disassembled, the two segments 23 remain together to facilitate assembly. If it is necessary to lengthen the stiffening element 16, according to design requirements, This may be composed of more than two segments. Thus, as many additional segments 23 as necessary can be assembled together as indicated above by means of several end pieces 24 and an elastic link 25 connecting together all the segments 23 forming a stiffening element 16.

[0048] In order to maintain the correct position of the folding auxiliary tray 4 relative to the child and to secure the child's seat on the assembly formed by the high chair 1 and the folding auxiliary tray 4, the folding auxiliary tray 4 is provided with a clip-on retaining strap 26 illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The clip-on retaining strap 26 comprises a first retaining strap 27 attached at one end to the rear part of the opening 7 and a second retaining strap 28 also attached at one end to the rear edge of the opening 7. The first and second retaining straps 27 and 28 have a clip-on retaining strap loop 29 at their other end. The length of the first and / or second strap 27 and 28 can be adjusted to wrap around and fit around the rear legs and / or the backrest of the high chair by means of an adjustment device integrated into the clip-on retaining strap loop 29.

[0049] As indicated in the preceding description, the various aspects of the invention can be implemented depending on the context in configuration variants different from those described above.

[0050] The invention is described above by way of example. It is understood that a person skilled in the art is able to carry out different embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0051] It is emphasized that all features, as they are apparent to a person skilled in the art from the present description, drawings and claims below, even if in practice they have only been described in relation to other specific features, both individually and in any combinations, can be combined with other features or groups of features disclosed herein, provided that this has not been expressly excluded or that technical circumstances make such combinations impossible or meaningless.

Claims

Demands

1. Folding auxiliary tray for equipping a child's high chair (1) comprising a seat (2) and a chair tray (3), said auxiliary tray (4) being able to be fixed on said chair tray (3), said auxiliary tray (4) comprising a main surface (5) of a flexible material having a larger area than said chair tray (3) and fastening means attached to an underside (11) of said main surface (5) for mechanically and reversibly connecting said auxiliary tray (4) to said chair tray (3), characterized in that said fastening means comprise at least one strap passing under said chair tray (3) and attached at least one of its ends to said underside (11), and said auxiliary tray (4) further comprises at least one stiffening element (16) arranged substantially parallel to the main surface (5) and mechanically connected to said auxiliary tray (4).

2. Folding auxiliary tray according to claim 1, characterized in that said fastening means comprise at least one pair of straps encircling the chair tray (3) and optionally two pairs of straps arranged on either side of a median axis (9) of the auxiliary tray (4).

3. Folding auxiliary tray according to claim 2, characterized in that each pair of straps comprises a first strap (13) and a second strap (14) each fixed by a first end to the underside (11) of the main surface, the first and second straps (13 and 14) having respectively at their second ends a first and a second attachment cooperating together to attach the first strap (13) to the second strap (14) around the chair tray (3).

4. Folding auxiliary tray according to claim 3, characterized in that said first and second fasteners are clip-on loops or Velcro® strips.

5. A folding auxiliary tray according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that each pair of straps (12) comprises at least one means for adjusting the length of at least one of said first and second straps to tension the pair of straps under the chair tray (3) when the first and second straps (13 and 14) are attached to each other, optionally, said at least one adjustment means is integrated into said first attachment and / or said second attachment.

6. Folding auxiliary tray according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an outer rim (19) surrounding all or part of said main surface.

7. Folding auxiliary platform according to claim 6, characterized in that a flexible stiffener is integrated into said outer rim (19).

8. Folding auxiliary tray according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes an opening (7), optionally oval or elliptical in shape, arranged in the main surface (5) so as to allow passage of the upper part of the body of a child seated on the child's chair.

9. Folding auxiliary platform according to claim 8, characterized in that the opening (7) is positioned symmetrically with respect to the median axis (9) of the auxiliary platform (4) and to the rear of said auxiliary platform (4).

10. Folding auxiliary tray according to any one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that an inner rim (20) surrounds all or part of said opening (7), optionally, attachment means are located on the inner rim (20) so that a bib is able to hang on it, for example by a Velcro® strip (21) fixed on the inner rim (20).

11. Folding auxiliary tray according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one stiffening element (16) is mechanically connected to said auxiliary tray (4) by at least one of its ends which is inserted into a pocket (17) or a loop (16) fixed on said lower face (11) of said main surface (5) and / or at least one loop (16) fixed on said lower face (11) of said main surface (5) and into which it is threaded, optionally said auxiliary tray (4) comprises at least two longitudinal stiffening elements arranged parallel to the median axis (9) of the auxiliary tray (4) and / or at least one transverse stiffening element (16) arranged perpendicular to the median axis (9) of said auxiliary tray (4) at the front of the opening (7).

Images