US20170143135A1

US20170143135A1 - Infant Support Having Tray with Repositionable Insert

Info

Publication number: US20170143135A1
Application number: US14/950,206
Authority: US
Inventors: Karl Christopherson; Michael Armbruster
Original assignee: Mattel Inc
Current assignee: Mattel Inc
Priority date: 2015-11-24
Filing date: 2015-11-24
Publication date: 2017-05-25

Abstract

An infant support includes a base that defines an infant receiving surface, a tray removably coupled to the base, and an insert. The tray may include a top surface, a bottom surface, and a cavity disposed in the top surface. The cavity may be sized and shaped to removably receive an insert, where the insert may be inserted into the cavity in a deployed position and in a stowed position. The insert may contain a first surface and a second surface opposite of the first surface. When the insert is placed in the cavity in the deployed position, the first surface of the insert may be exposed. Conversely, when the insert is placed in the cavity in the stowed position, the second surface of the insert may be exposed.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an infant support. More specifically, the present invention is an infant support having a tray with an insert that may be removably secured to the tray in different positions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Infants and children are often not tall enough to reach conventional tables while seated in conventional chairs, benches, booths, etc. Accordingly, high chairs, booster seats, and other types of infant supports have been developed, which provide a suitable feeding environment for infants and small children. Some high chairs and booster seats include tray members that may be used to support food or other items in close proximity to the seated infant or child.
Many portable high chairs and booster seats that include tray members are often used in public spaces during meal time or snack time for an infant. During use, the infant may create a mess on the tray from food and/or other items. When on the go, caregivers may not have all of the necessary cleaning supplies for adequately cleaning the mess off of the tray before transporting the tray of the high chair or booster seat. In addition, caregivers may also not have the necessary time to adequately clean the mess off of the tray before transporting the high chair or booster seat. Thus, the mess on the tray is often transported with the portable high chair or booster seat, where the mess may undesirably spread to other locations (e.g., clothes, a car, a floor, etc.).
Thus, a need exists for a high chair, a booster seat, or other type of infant or child support or receiving device that includes a tray with an insert, where the insert may be repositioned between a deployed position and a stowed position. When in the deployed position, the insert will serve as the eating surface for an infant using the infant support or receiving device. When it is time to relocate the portable infant support or receiving device, the insert may be positioned on the tray in the stowed position, trapping the mess on the insert between the insert and the tray until a later point in time when the insert and tray can be properly cleaned. Further, when the insert is in the stowed position, the mess on the insert may be adequately trapped between the insert and the tray such that the mess does not spread beyond the tray and the insert. Moreover, the insert should be easily repositioned by a parent or caregiver between the deployed and stowed positions, but not easily repositionable by a child seated within the infant support. Finally, it would be desirable to have an insert for a tray that is more tightly secured to the tray in the stowed position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one example, an infant support includes a base, a tray, and an insert. The base defines an infant receiving surface and is configured to support the infant placed in the infant receiving surface above a supporting surface. The tray is removably coupleable to the base. Furthermore, the tray may include a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, where disposed in the top surface is a cavity. The cavity may be sized and shaped to removably receive the insert, where the insert may be inserted into the cavity on the top surface of the tray in a deployed position and in a stowed position. The insert may contain a first surface and a second surface, where the second surface is disposed opposite of the first surface. When the insert is placed in the cavity in the deployed position, the first surface of the insert may be exposed. Conversely, when the insert is placed in the cavity in the stowed position, the second surface of the insert may be exposed.
Furthermore, the cavity of the tray has a first shape, while the insert has a second shape. The first shape and the second shape are substantially similar such that the first shape is complementary to the second shape. In addition, the cavity of the tray of the infant support may include a front sidewall and a rear sidewall opposite the front sidewall. The rear sidewall and the front sidewall may face one another. The front sidewall may contain a first projection and the rear sidewall may contain a second projection. Additionally, the insert may include a first tab, a second tab, and a third tab. The first and second tabs extend forward from a front side of the insert. The third tab extends rearward from a rear side of the insert. The front side of the insert may be opposite of the rear side of the insert, where the front side and the rear side face in opposite directions from one another. When the insert is placed in the cavity in the deployed position, the insert is retained by the second tab of the insert being disposed adjacent to and engaged with the first projection. Conversely, when the insert is placed in the cavity in the stowed position, the insert is retained by the first tab of the insert being disposed adjacent to and engaged with the first projection and the third tab being disposed adjacent to and engaged with the second projection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an example of an infant support according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the base of the infant support illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom view of the base illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the tray and insert of the infant support illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the front of the tray of FIG. 4, where the insert is removed from the tray.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the rear of the tray illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the bottom of the tray illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of the front of the tray insert illustrated in FIG. 4, where the insert is removed from the tray illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of the rear of the tray insert illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the tray insert illustrated in FIG. 8 and the tray illustrated in FIG. 5, where the tray insert is positioned within the tray in the deployed position

FIG. 11A-FIG. 11C illustrate the reconfiguration of the tray insert illustrated in FIG. 8 from the deployed configuration to the storage configuration.

FIG. 12 illustrates a top view of the tray insert illustrated in FIG. 8 positioned in the tray illustrated in FIG. 5 in the storage configuration.

Like reference numerals have been used to identify like elements throughout this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention disclosed herein relates to infant support structures, and more specifically, the tray for infant support structures that are booster seats and/or feeding seats or chairs (hereinafter collectively referred to as boosters or booster seats) used by children. The booster seat disclosed herein has a base that defines a seat region configured to receive and support an infant above a support surface. In addition, the booster seat includes a tray removably coupled to the base. The tray may include a cavity configured to receive a reconfigurable tray insert. The tray insert may be selectively secured to the cavity of the tray in a first, or deployed, position. The tray insert may also be selectively secured to the cavity of the tray in a second, or stowed, position. In the deployed position, the various eating areas and compartments of the tray insert are accessible to an infant seated in the booster seat. When the tray insert is in the stowed position, the tray insert may be flipped over, so that the eating areas and compartments of the tray insert are not accessible. The tray disclosed herein may be used with infant support structures other than booster seats, such as, but not limited to, high chairs.
Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of an example of the booster seat 10 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. According to this embodiment, the booster seat 10 includes a base 100, a tray 200, and a tray insert 300 (hereinafter referred to as an insert). The tray 200 may be removably coupled to the base 100, and may be positioned in multiple positions (three positions in the depicted example) depending on the size of the infant seated in the booster seat 10. In addition, the insert 300 is removably coupled to the tray 200, and, as described herein, may be repositioned between a deployed position and a stowed position (with the deployed position illustrated in FIG. 1).
Turning to FIGS. 2 and 3, the base 100 includes a top 102 (illustrated in FIG. 2) and a bottom 104 (illustrated in FIG. 3). The base 100 further includes a front side 106, a rear side 108 opposite the front side 106, a first side 110 spanning the distance between the front side 106 and the rear side 108, and a second sides 112 opposite the first side 110 that also spans the distance between the front side 106 and the rear side 108. The base 100 includes an upper housing 120 and a lower housing 140, where the upper housing 120 is disposed on top of the lower housing 140. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the upper housing 120 is shaped to define a seat region 122 that is configured to receive and support a child in a seated position. The seat region 122 includes a seat 124, a first armrest 126, and a second armrest 130. The first armrest is disposed proximate to and along the first side 110 of the base 100. The second armrest 130 is disposed proximate to and along the second side 112 of the base 100. In the illustrated example, the first armrest 126 and the second armrest 130 are integrally or unitarily formed within the upper housing 120 of the base 100. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the first and second armrests 126, 130 may form at least a portion of the first and second side 110, 112 of the base 100. In an alternative example of the present invention, the armrests 126, 130 are not integrally or unitarily formed in the upper housing 120 of the base 100. Rather the armrests 126, 130 are pivotally coupled, fixedly coupled, or otherwise formed separately from and coupled to the first and second sides 110, 112 of the base 100. As illustrated, the first armrest 126 includes three projections 128. Similarly, the second armrest 130 includes three projections 132 (illustrated in FIG. 3). These projections 128 and 132 are positioned and configured on the armrests 126, 130 for attaching accessories, such as the tray 200, to the base 100 of the booster seat 10.
As further illustrated in FIG. 2, disposed in the seat region 122 proximate to the front 106 of the base 100 is an upwardly extending crotch post 134. The crotch post 134 is disposed in the seat region 122 equidistant from the first side 110 and the second side 112 of the base 100. The crotch post 134 defines two leg channels proximate to the front side 106 of the base 100 to allow a seated infant's legs to extend forward from the seat region 122 and at least partially hang downwardly from the upper housing forward of front side 106 of the base 100. In addition, the crotch post 134 restrains the infant in the seat region 122 from sliding forward and out of the seat region 122 and off the booster seat 10.
FIG. 2 further illustrates a backrest 136 extending substantially vertically from the seat region 122 proximate to the rear side 108 of the base 100. Similarly to the armrests 126, 130, the backrest 136 may be integrally or unitarily formed within the upper housing 120 of the base 100. In addition, the backrest 136 may be integrally or unitarily formed with the first and second armrests 126, 130 proximate to the rear side 108 of the base 100. In an alternative example of the present invention, the backrest 136 may not be integrally or unitarily formed with the upper housing 120 of the base 100. Rather, the backrest 136 may be separately formed and pivotally coupled, fixedly coupled, or otherwise movably coupled to the rear side 108 of the base 100.
Turning to FIG. 3, illustrated is the bottom side 104 of the base 100. Coupled to the bottom 104 of the base 100 are a front support 142 and a rear support 144. The front support 142 is disposed proximate to the front side 106 of the base 100 and is configured to span from the first side 110 of the base 100 to the second side 112 of the base 100. The rear support 144 is disposed proximate to the rear side 108 of the base 100 and is configured to span from the first side 110 of the base 100 to the second side 112 of the base 100. The front support 142 and the rear support 144 are connected to one another via a first handle 146 and a second handle 148. The first handle 146 is disposed more proximate to the first side 110 of the base 100 than the second handle 148. Thus, the second handle 148 is disposed more proximate to the second side 112 of the base 100 than the first handle 146. The front support 142 and the rear support 144 are configured to contact a supporting surface and stabilize the booster seat 10 on the supporting surface for use by an infant.
In addition, the front support 142 and the rear support 144 are coupled to the lower housing 140 where the front support 142 and the rear support 144 are configured to telescope in and out of the lower housing 140 to raise or lower the height of the booster seat 10, and subsequently the seat region 122, with respect to the supporting surface. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the front support 142 and the rear support 144 are locked in position. However, when the first handle 146 is translated in the direction A while the second handle 148 is simultaneously translated in the opposite direction B simultaneously, the front support 142 and the rear support 144 are free to be telescoped with respect to the lower housing 140. Thus, when a user moves the first handle 146 and the second handle 148 towards one another simultaneously, the user may then push or pull the front support 142 and the rear support 144 towards or away from the lower housing 140. When the handles 146, 148 are released, an internal biasing member may force the handles to return to the position illustrated in FIG. 3, and the front support 142 and the rear support 144 are then locked in their positions and are prevented from telescoping with respect to the housing 140. T
Turning to FIG. 4, illustrated is the tray 200 and the insert 300, where the insert is disposed within a portion of the tray 200. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the insert 300 is secured to the tray 200 in the deployed configuration C.
Turning to FIGS. 5-7, the tray 200 contains a front side 210, a rear side 220 opposite the front side 210, a first side 240 that spans from the front side 210 to the rear side 220, and a second side 250 opposite the first side 240, where the second side 250 also spans from the front side 210 to the rear side 220. The tray 200 further includes a top surface 260 and a bottom surface 280. As illustrated, extending from the rear side 220 of the tray is a first extension 222 and a second extension 228. The first extension 222 extends from the rear side 220 proximate to the first side 240. The second extension 228 extends from the rear side 220 proximate to the second side 250. The first extension 222 includes a first coupling member 224, and the second member 228 includes a second coupling member 230 (illustrated in FIG. 7). Each of the coupling members 224, 230 include apertures 226, 232 configured to receive one of the projections 128, 132 of the armrests 126, 130 to removably couple the tray 200 to the upper housing 120 of the base 100. Specifically, the first coupling member 224 is configured to be removably coupled to the first armrest 126 and the second coupling member 230 is configured to be removably coupled to the second armrest 130. The coupling members 224, 230 are resilient and configured to be bent or otherwise flexed by a user to remove the projections 128, 132 of the armrests 126, 130 from the openings 226, 232. As previously explained, and as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first armrest 126 includes three projections 128, while the second armrest 130 also includes three projections 132. Thus, the tray 200 may be removably coupled to the armrests 126, 130 in one of three different horizontal positions to allow the booster seat 10 to be used by different sized children or infants.
As further illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the top surface 260 of the tray 200 includes a recess or cavity 262. The cavity 262 is substantially rectangular and includes a cavity surface 263 surrounded by a front sidewall 264, a rear sidewall 270, a first side sidewall 274, and a second side sidewall 276. The front sidewall 264 is disposed proximate to the front side 210 of the tray 200. The rear sidewall 270 is disposed proximate to the rear side 220 of the tray 200. In addition, the first side sidewall 274 is disposed proximate to the first side 240 of the tray 200, while the second side sidewall 276 is disposed proximate to the second side 250 of the tray 200. As best illustrated in FIG. 6, the front sidewall includes a notch 266 and a front projection 268 disposed beneath the notch 266. The front projection 268 extends from the front sidewall 264 towards the center of the cavity 262. The notch 266 and the front projection 268, as illustrated in FIG. 6, may be disposed on the front sidewall 264 equidistant from the first side 240 and the second side 250 of the tray 200. As best illustrated in FIG. 5, the rear sidewall 270 includes a rear projection 272 that extends toward the center of the cavity 262. The rear projection 272 is disposed on the rear sidewall 270, as illustrated in FIG. 5, equidistant from the first side 240 and the second side 250 of the tray 200. The cavity 262 is sized and shaped to receive the insert 300.
Turning to FIG. 7, illustrated is a downwardly extending crotch projection 282 extending substantially vertically from the bottom surface 280 of the tray 200 in the downward direction. The downwardly extending crotch projection 282 is configured to align with the crotch post 134 of the seat region 122 of the upper housing 120 when the tray 200 is coupled to the armrests 126, 130 of the upper housing 120 of the base 100. The downwardly extending crotch projection 282 in conjunction with the crotch post 134 restrains an infant in the seat region 122 from sliding forward and out of the seat region 122 and off the booster seat 10.
Turning to FIGS. 8 and 9, illustrated is the insert 300 that may be removably coupled to the tray 200 in different positions. The insert 300 includes a top surface 310 and a bottom surface 320 opposite the top surface 310. The insert 300 further includes a front side 330, a rear side 340 opposite the front side 330, a first side 350 that spans from the front side 330 to the rear side 340, and a second side 360 opposite the first side 350 that also spans from the front side 330 to the rear side 340. The insert 300 is substantially rectangular in shape and is complementary to the shape of the cavity 262 of the tray 200. The top surface 310 of the insert may contain a plurality of compartments or areas 312, 314, 316, 318. The compartments 312, 314, 316, 318 are configured to separately receive food, plates, drinks, or other objects for an infant seated in the booster seat 10. As illustrated in FIG. 8, disposed proximate to the first side 350 of the insert is a first compartment 312 and a second compartment 314, where the first compartment 312 is disposed proximate to the front side 330 and the second compartment 314 is disposed proximate to the rear side 340. The first and second compartments 312, 314 may be substantially equal in size. Furthermore, the third compartment 316 is substantially L-shaped around the substantially circular fourth compartment 318. The third compartment 316 may be the largest of the compartments 312, 314, 316, 318. Furthermore, the fourth compartment 318 may be located proximate to the front side 330 and the second side 360 and may be substantially circular to receive a cup or bowl. While the insert 300 illustrated contains four compartments 312, 314, 316, 318, the number of compartments of the insert 300 may vary. In another embodiment, the insert 300 may not contain any compartments (i.e., it may comprise one single undivided area).
As further illustrated in FIG. 8, the front side 330 of the insert 300 includes an upper tab 332 and a lower tab 334. The upper and lower tabs 332, 334 extend forward from the front side 330 of the insert 300 equidistant from the first side 350 and the second side 360. The upper tab 332 extends from the front side 330 of the insert 300 proximate to the top surface 310 of the insert 300. The lower tab 334 extends from the front side 330 of the insert 300 proximate to the bottom surface 320 of the insert 300. As illustrated in FIG. 9, extending rearward from the rear side 340 of the insert 300 is a rear tab 342. The rear tab 342 extends from the rear side 340 of the insert 300 proximate to the top surface 310 of the insert 300. The rear tab 342 is equidistant from the first side 350 and the second side 360 of the insert 300.
Turning to FIG. 10, illustrated is a cross sectional view of the tray 200 and the insert 300 disposed within the cavity 262 of the tray 200 in the deployed position C. When the insert 300 is disposed in the cavity 262 of the tray in the deployed position C, the top surface 310 of the insert 300 is exposed and the lower surface 320 of the insert 300 is disposed against the cavity surface 263 of the cavity 262. As further illustrated, the lower tab 334 of the insert 300 is disposed below the front projection 268 of the front sidewall 264. The lower tab 334 is adjacent to and in engagement with the front projection 268. Moreover, the upper tab 332 is positioned proximate to the notch 266, while the rear tab 342 is disposed proximate to the top of the rear sidewall 270. In the deployed position C, the rear tab 342 is not disposed below the rear projection 272, nor is the rear tab 342 in engagement with the rear projection 272. Thus, as illustrated, front projection 268 of the front sidewall 264 of the cavity 262 interacts with and engages the lower tab 334 of the insert 300 to retain the insert 300 in the deployed position C in the cavity 262 during use of the tray 200 and the insert 300. As further illustrated, the space between the upper tab 332 and the lower tab 334 is aligned with the notch 266 in the front sidewall 264 of the tray 300. Thus, a caregiver can place their finger or fingers within the notch 266 and the space between the upper tab 332 and the lower tab 334 to pull upwardly on the upper tab 332 to remove the insert 300 from the deployed position C in the cavity 262 of the tray 300. When a user pulls upwardly on the upper tab 332, the lower tab 334 is simultaneously pulled past the front projection 268 to release the insert 300 from the cavity 262 of the tray 300. With the notch 266 being located proximate to the front side 210 of the tray 200, the notch 266 is easily accessible by a parent or caregiver, but not accessible by an infant disposed in the seat region 122 of the base 100. Moreover, a caregiver must only release one of the upper tab 332 from the front projection 268 or the rear tab 342 from the rear projection 272 to enable the insert 300 to be easily removed from the cavity 262 of the tray 200.
Turning to FIGS. 11A-11C, illustrated is the insert 300 being removed from the deployed position C within cavity 262 of the tray 200 and being reinserted to the cavity 262 of the tray 200 in the stowed position D (shown in FIG. 12). As illustrated in FIG. 11A, and as previously explained, the insert 300 is pulled upwardly out of the cavity 262 of the tray 200. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 11A, when the insert 300 is in the deployed position C in the cavity 262 of the tray 200, the first side 350 of the insert 300 is disposed proximate to the first side 240 of the tray 200, and the second side 360 of the insert 300 is disposed proximate to the second side 250 of the tray 200. Once the insert 300 is removed from the cavity 262 of the tray 200, as illustrated in FIG. 11B, the insert 300 may be flipped over such that the bottom surface 320 of the insert 300 is facing upward while the top surface 310 of the insert 300 is facing downward. As illustrated in FIG. 11C, once the insert 300 has been flipped over, the insert 300 is inserted into the cavity 262 of the tray 200 such that the top surface 310 of the insert 300 is placed against the cavity surface 263 of the cavity 262 of the tray 200. Thus, in this stowed position D, the bottom surface 320 of the insert 300 is exposed. Furthermore, in the stowed position D, as illustrated in FIGS. 11C and 12, the first side 350 of the insert 300 is now disposed proximate to the second side 250 of the tray 200, while the second side 360 of the insert 300 is disposed proximate to the first side 240 of the tray 200.
As best illustrated in FIG. 12, the insert 300 is disposed within the cavity 262 of the tray 200 in the stowed position D. As explained previously, and as illustrated in FIG. 12, when the insert 300 is disposed in the cavity 262 of the tray 200 in the stowed position D, the top surface 310 of the insert 300 is placed facing the cavity surface 263 of the cavity 262 and the bottom surface 320 of the tray 200 is exposed. In addition, the first side 350 of the insert 300 is disposed proximate to the second side 250 of the tray 200, and the second side 360 of the insert 300 is disposed proximate to the first side 240 of the tray 200. Thus, food or other substance disposed on the top surface 310 is trapped between the top surface 310 of the tray and the cavity surface 263 of the cavity 262 of the tray 200. When the insert 300 is disposed in the stowed position D, only the bottom surface 320 of the insert 300 is exposed. As best illustrated in FIG. 12, the rear tab 342 of the insert 300 is disposed beneath the rear projection 272 of the rear sidewall 270 of the cavity 262 such that the rear tab 342 is adjacent to and in engagement with the rear projection 272. While not illustrated, in the stowed position D, the upper tab 332 of the insert 300 is disposed beneath the front projection 268 of the front sidewall 264 of the cavity 262 such that the such that the upper tab 332 is adjacent to and in engagement with the front projection 268. In the stowed position D, front projection 268 of the front sidewall 264 of the cavity 262 interacts and is in engagement with the upper tab 332 of the insert 300 while the rear projection 272 of the rear sidewall 270 of the cavity 262 interacts and is engagement with the rear tab 342 to retain the insert 300 in the cavity 262 in the deployed position D. Thus, unlike when the insert 300 is in the deployed position C, where only the front side 330 of the insert 300 is secured to the front sidewall 264 of the cavity 262 of the tray 200, when the insert 300 is in the stowed position D, the front side 330 of the insert 300 is secured to the front sidewall 264 of the cavity 262 while the rear side 340 of the insert 300 is secured to the rear sidewall 270 of the cavity 262.
As explained with the insert 300 being placed in the deployed position C, when in the stowed position D, the space between the upper tab 332 and the lower tab 334 is aligned with the notch 266 in the front sidewall 264 of the tray 300. Thus, a user can place their finger or fingers within the notch 266 and the space between the upper tab 332 and the lower tab 334 to pull upwardly on the lower tab 334 to remove the insert 300 from the stowed position D in the cavity 262 of the tray 200. When a user pulls upwardly on the lower tab 334, the upper tab 332 is forced upward past the front projection 268 and the rear tab 342 may be forced upward past the rear projection 272 to release the insert 300 from the cavity 262 of the tray 200 when in the stowed position D. As previously explained, with the notch 266 being located proximate to the front side 210 of the tray 200, the notch 266 is easily accessible by a parent or caregiver, but not accessible by an infant disposed in the seat region 122 of the base 100. Thus, repositioning the insert 300 is not easily accomplished by an infant seated in the seat region 122 of the base 100.
In another embodiment of the tray 200 and the insert 300, rather than the cavity 262 of the tray 200 including the front projection 268 and the rear projection 272, the cavity 262 may include a front indentation and a rear indentation. Thus, the front indentation may be disposed on the front sidewall 264 of the cavity 262 and the rear indentation may be disposed on the rear sidewall 270 of the cavity 262. In accordance with this embodiment, when the insert 300 is disposed in the cavity 262 of the tray 200 in the deployed position C, the lower tab 334 may be disposed in the front indentation to secure the insert 300 in the cavity 262. In addition, when the insert 300 is disposed in the cavity 262 of the tray 200 in the stowed position D, the upper tab 332 may be disposed in the front indentation while the rear tab 342 may be disposed in the rear indentation to secure the insert 300 in the cavity 262.
When the insert 300 is in the deployed position C, the top surface 310 of the insert 300 may be utilized by an infant seated in the booster seat 10 for meal time and/or snack time. Often during meal time and/or snack time, the infant will make a mess on the top surface 310 of the insert 300. As explained previously, when the insert 300 is in the stowed position D, the top surface 310 is placed facing the cavity surface 263 of the cavity 262. Thus, by enabling a tray insert 300 to be repositioned within a tray 200 of a booster seat 10 from a deployed position C to a stowed position D, a caregiver of the infant seated in the booster seat 10 may be able to quickly reposition a dirty insert 300 to the stowed position D so that the booster seat 10 may be transported without spilling the mess or further spreading the mess on the insert 300. In today's busy and fast paced life, booster seats 10 are used in public locations for meal time and/or snack time. The infant seated in the booster seat 10 may make a mess on the insert 300, but the caregiver may not have the time or supplies to clean the insert 300 until they are home. Thus, the caregiver may quickly reposition the insert 300 to the stowed position D until the booster seat 10 is located in an environment where the caregiver has the time and cleaning supplies to properly clean the insert 300. When in the stowed position D, the top surface 310 of the insert 300 may form enough of a seal with the cavity 262 that any mess on the top surface 310 of the insert 300 remains disposed between the top surface 310 of the insert 300 and the cavity surface 263 of the cavity 262. As disclosed herein, the repositionable insert 300, in combination with the tray 200, serves as an eating surface in the deployed position C and a lid in stowed position D.
It is to be understood that terms such as “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “height,” “length,” “width,” “upper,” “lower,” “interior,” “exterior,” “inner,” “outer” and the like as may be used herein, merely describe points or portions of reference and do not limit the present invention to any particular orientation or configuration. Further, the term “exemplary” is used herein to describe an example or illustration. Any embodiment described herein as exemplary is not to be construed as a preferred or advantageous embodiment, but rather as one example or illustration of a possible embodiment of the invention.
Although the disclosed inventions are illustrated and described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the inventions and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. In addition, various features from one of the embodiments may be incorporated into another of the embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An infant support comprising:

a base defining an infant receiving surface;

a tray removably coupled to the base; and

an insert with a top surface and an opposite bottom surface, the insert being removably coupled to the tray in a first position, where the bottom surface of the insert face the tray, and a second position, where the top surface of the insert faces the tray.

2. The infant support of claim 1, wherein the tray includes a top surface that contains a cavity, and the insert is disposed in the cavity when removably coupled to the tray.

3. The infant support of claim 2, wherein the cavity includes first projection and a second projection.

4. The infant support of claim 3, wherein the insert includes a first tab and a second tab, the first tab extending from a first side of the insert, the second tab extending from a second side of the insert.

5. The infant support of claim 4, wherein in the second position, the first tab of the insert is disposed adjacent to and engaged with the first projection of the tray and the second tab of the insert is disposed adjacent to and engaged with the second projection of the tray.

6. The infant support of claim 4, wherein the insert includes a third tab extending from the first side of the insert, only the third tab being disposed adjacent to and engage with the first projection of the tray when the insert is in the first position.

7. The infant support of claim 2, wherein in the second position, a substance disposed on the top surface of the insert is contained between the top surface of the insert and the cavity of the tray.

8. An infant support comprising:

a base defining an infant receiving surface;

a tray removably coupled to the base, the tray including a cavity; and

an insert removably disposed within the cavity of the tray, the insert being repositionable between a deployed position and a stowed position, where a first surface of the insert is exposed in the deployed position, and a second, opposite surface of the insert is exposed in the stowed position.

9. The infant support of claim 8, wherein the cavity includes a first sidewall having a first projection and second sidewall opposite the first sidewall having a second projection.

10. The infant support of claim 9, wherein the insert includes a first tab, a second tab, and a third tab, the first and second tabs extending from a first side of the insert, the third tab extending from a second side of the insert, the second side being opposite the first side.

11. The infant support of claim 10, wherein the insert is retained in the deployed position by the second tab of the insert being disposed adjacent to and engaged with the first projection.

12. The infant support of claim 10, wherein the insert is retained in the stowed position by the first tab of the insert being disposed adjacent to and engaged with the first projection and the third tab is disposed adjacent to and engaged with the second projection.

13. A tray of an infant support comprising:

a top surface; and

an insert removably secured to the top surface of the tray and repositionable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, a bottom surface of the insert is disposed adjacent to the top surface of the tray, and in the second position, a top surface of the insert is facing the top surface of the tray.

14. The tray of claim 13, wherein the tray is removably coupled to an infant support.

15. The tray of claim 13, wherein the top surface of the tray includes a cavity having a first sidewall and a second sidewall disposed opposite the first sidewall.

16. The tray of claim 15, wherein the first sidewall has a first projection and the second sidewall has a second projection.

17. The tray of claim 16, wherein the insert includes a first tab, a second tab, and a third tab, the first and second tabs extending from a first side of the insert, the third tab extending from a second side of the insert, the second side being opposite the first side.

18. The tray of claim 17, wherein the insert is retained in the first position by the second tab of the insert being disposed adjacent to and engaged with the first projection.

19. The tray of claim 17, wherein the insert is retained in the second position by the first tab of the insert being disposed adjacent to and engaged with the first projection and the third tab being disposed adjacent to and engaged with the second projection.

20. The tray of claim 13, wherein in the second position, a substance disposed on the top surface of the insert is contained between the top surface of the insert and the top surface of the tray.