Baby Supporting Chair

Abstract

A baby supporting chair ( 1 ) is provided that comprises a generally rigid outer support shell ( 2 ) of generally dome shape with a lower periphery ( 3 ) for supporting the chair ( 1 ), directly or indirectly, on a generally horizontal surface. The outer support shell ( 2 ) has, in plan view, a baby receiving zone in a central region for receiving at least a lower trunk of a baby, in use. At least one, and typically two, channels ( 5 ) extend from the central region for receiving, in use, the legs of a baby projecting outwards generally beyond an outer extremity of the outer support shell ( 2 ). A baby restraining member, typically in the form of a pillar, inhibits a baby from sliding out of the chair ( 1 ). A relatively flexible inner baby support member ( 7 ) is attached to the outer support member to provide a relatively flexible seat ( 11 ) portion, a backrest ( 12 ) portion, and sidewall ( 13 ) portions to the baby receiving zone.

1 . A baby supporting chair comprising a generally rigid outer support shell of generally dome shape with a lower periphery for supporting the chair, directly or indirectly, on a generally horizontal surface and wherein the outer support shell has, in plan view, a baby receiving zone in a central region of the outer support shell for receiving at least a lower trunk of a baby, in use, and at least one channel extending from the central region for receiving, in use, the legs of a baby projecting outwards, optionally beyond an outer extremity of the outer support shell, with a baby restraining member associated with the chair for inhibiting a baby from sliding into the at least one channel, wherein the outer support shell is made of injection moulded thermoplastic material and wherein a relatively flexible inner baby support member made of an injection moulded elastomer is attached to the outer support member to provide a relatively flexible seat portion, a backrest portion, and sidewall portions to the baby receiving zone that communicates with the at least one channel, wherein the inner baby support member has an edge region that is attached to the moulded outer support shell by a bond selected from a mechanical bond; a chemical bond; an adhesive bond; and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         2 . A baby supporting chair as claimed in  claim 1  in which there is a pair of channels extending from the central region for receiving, in use, the legs of a baby with the baby restraining member being in the form of a pillar formation separating the two channels. 
     
     
         3 . A baby supporting chair as claimed in  claim 1  in which the generally rigid outer support shell is made of an injection moulded thermoplastic material having a wall thickness of from 1.5 to 5 mm. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A baby supporting chair as claimed in  claim 1  in which the material of the inner baby support member has a shore A hardness of between 30 and 60 with a wall thickness of from 0.05 to 4 mm, and a tensile strength at break of from 1200 to 1600 psi/MPa. 
     
     
         6 . A baby supporting chair as claimed in  claim 1  in which the inner baby support member has an edge region that is over-moulded onto a moulded outer support shell to form a bi-material assembly extending around the periphery of the baby receiving zone with a bond between the two moulded materials being selected from a laminar mechanical bond having its origins at least partially in a thermal differential between the temperature of the over-moulded material during its moulding and that of the outer support shell; a mechanical bond that includes keying formations selected from perforations, protrusions and recesses on the outer support shell; a bond that includes at least some chemical bonding to the outer support shell, an adhesive bond; and any combination of the foresaid. 
     
     
         7 . A baby supporting chair as claimed in  claim 6  in which the outer support member has an inwardly lipped periphery to selected regions of the baby receiving zone in order to provide a continuous attachment surface surrounding the baby receiving zone in which the material of the inner baby support member overlaps the material of the outer support shell that includes regions of the sidewalls to the channels and the bottom of the pillar onto which an edge of the inner baby support member is over-moulded. 
     
     
         8 . A baby supporting chair as claimed in  claim 1  in which the under surface of the channels of the outer support shell have integral legs extending downwards so as to form additional support for the outer support shell in the region of the channels. 
     
     
         9 . A baby supporting chair as claimed in  claim 8  in which suction cups are attached to the integral legs. 
     
     
         10 . A baby supporting chair as claimed in  claim 1  in which the lower periphery of the outer support shell is generally circular. 
     
     
         11 . A baby supporting chair as claimed in  claim 1  in which the lower periphery of the outer support shell is generally circular and is provided with a circumferential enlarged rib or a series of formations extending around the periphery and cooperating with co-operating formations on a stiffening ring configured to maintain a substantially fixed circular shape to the lower periphery of the outer support shell, or both. 
     
     
         12 . A baby supporting chair as claimed in  claim 2  in which the pillar formation has formations in an upper region thereof for releasably receiving co-operating formations on a removable tray that spans gaps between the pillar and adjacent upper ends of the two channels. 
     
     
         13 . A baby supporting chair as claimed in  claim 12  in which the formations on the pillar and tray cooperate in a clipping relationship with a clip being releasable only from a front of the tray by a release mechanism that is substantially inoperable by a baby occupying the baby seat. 
     
     
         14 . A baby supporting chair as claimed in  claim 1  in which the outer support shell together with the inner baby support member are stackable for transport, storage and display purposes. 
     
     
         15 . A baby supporting chair as claimed in  claim 1  in which the outer support shell has handles, or cut-outs in the lower periphery that serve as handles, whereby the baby supporting chair can be lifted with a baby in it.