Highchair with an automated tray

#The present invention relates to the field of highchairs for children, and, more particularly, to a highchair with an automated tray.

#Highchairs provide a raised seat for children so that they are at the same height as a table. A removable eating tray is often used so that the child does not eat directly off the table but from his or her own tray.

#While the tray has been a beneficial attachment and improvement to highchairs, the tray can also be an impediment. For example, when the adult is placing the child into the highchair, the tray must be up. However, often times the tray may be down and the adult has their hands full holding the child. The adult has to then place the child down, move the tray up, and pick the child back up in order to place them into the highchair. This can be a disruptive process to the child and physically straining to the adult.

#FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a highchair with an automated tray in which various aspects of the disclosure may be implemented;

#FIG. 2 is a front view of the highchair of FIG. 1;

#FIG. 3 is a top view of the highchair of FIG. 1;

#The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

#Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, a highchair with an automated tray, generally designated 100, includes a frame 102, a seat 104, and a tray 106 rotatably coupled to the frame 102. The frame 102 provides the structural support for the seat 104 that holds the child. In a particular aspect, the frame 102 comprises four legs 108a, 108b, 108c, 108d.

#A pedal 202 is secured to one of the legs (e.g. 108d) of the frame 102 and is configured to activate the movement of the tray 106. The pedal 202 is positioned so that it can be pushed with a foot of an adult while holding a child. The pedal 202 is in electrical communication with an electrically driven tray adjustment mechanism 302 that causes the tray 106 to alternately rotate between the down position to the raised up position when pushed. The child can be placed in the seat 104 of the highchair 100 when the tray 106 is rotated to an up position.