# US 4,394,046 A · Convertible rocker and high chair

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- Number: US 4,394,046 A
- Document ID: US4394046A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/277,628
- Filed: 1981-06-26
- Granted: 1983-07-19
- Earliest claimed: 1981-06-26
- Inventors: Warren W. Irwin; Greg W. Irwin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4394046A

## CPC

- A47D 13/102: {with curved rocking members resting on the ground}
- A47D 1/004: {in height}
- A47D 1/08: convertible to a rocking chair
- A47D: FURNITURE SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CHILDREN (school benches or desks A47B39/00, A47B41/00)

## Abstract

A convertible chair for children supported by two pairs of curved pivotally connected and extendable cross legs that serve as rockers when the chair is in its lowered or nested position. Two pairs of pivotally connected and extendable cross arms are attached at one end to the ends of the cross legs, and at their other ends make pivotal connections to a skirt below the chair seat. Separation of the cross arms and cross legs permits converting the rocking chair to a high chair having stable support on the ends of the extended cross legs. The pairs of cross legs, cross arms, and chair skirt are pivotally joined together by transverse rungs. Cam apertures in the forward sections of the chair skirt, and a control rung which passes through the apertures, control the chair extension, and in conjunction with locking pawls on the interior surface of the chair skirts permit locking the chair in its position as a rocker or high chair. The orientation of the cam apertures establishes a rearward tilt to the chair in either operating position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A convertible rocker and high chair comprising:
a chair having a back, arms, and a rigid seat,
a skirt depending from the sides of the seat and having a front section and a rear section,
two pairs of inner and outer centrally pivoted cross arms pivotally mountable at their upper ends to the chair skirt,
two pairs of inner and outer centrally pivoted cross legs curved on their under sides to form rockers when the chair is lowered,
the cross legs being pivotally mounted at their upper ends to the lower ends of the cross arms to form a doubly extendable mechanism for raising and lowering the chair,
transverse rungs connecting opposite pairs of cross legs and cross arms at their pivot points,
the front section of the skirt having a cam aperture with internal cam surfaces,
a control rung connecting the upper ends of the inner cross arms and passing through the cam aperture for controlling the extension of the chair,
means for securing the control rung within the cam aperture to lock said chair in its upper or lower configuration.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A convertible rocker and high chair as recited in claim 1, wherein:
the outer cross legs having faired cut away sections on their upper surfaces adjacent to their forward ends to receive the ends of the outer cross arms when the chair is lowered,
the inner cross legs having a faired cut away section on their upper surfaces adjacent their after ends to receive the ends of the inner cross arms when the chair is lowered, and
the inner cross arms having notches in their upper surfaces to receive the rung connecting the upper ends of the outer cross arms to the chair skirt when the chair is lowered.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A convertible rocker and high chair as recited in claim 2, wherein:
the cam aperture has an internal semi-circular shaped channel in its lower half, and
a rearwardly oriented lobe forming its upper internal surface, and
a cusp on the upper surface of the lobe to receive and support the control rung when said chair is in its high chair configuration.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A convertible rocker and high chair as recited in claim 3, wherein the means for locking the control rung in the cam aperture comprises:
a first pivotable pawl spaced adjacent to the cam aperture to engage and hold the control rung in the lobe cusp for the upper positioning of the chair; and
a second pivotable pawl spaced adjacent to the cam aperture to engage and hold the control rung at the forward end of the channel in the lowered position of the chair.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A convertible rocker and high chair as recited in claim 4, wherein:
the rotational orientation of the cam aperture establishes the tilt of the chair seat in both its upper and lowered positions.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A convertible rocker and high chair as recited in claim 5, wherein:
the chair, cross arms, cross legs, rungs, and pawls are made of wood.