Convertible high chair

Patent No. US9883749 (titled "Convertible high chair") on Jun 17, 2015. The application was issued on Feb 6, 2018.

’749 is related to the field of children's furniture, specifically focusing on convertible high chairs that can be reconfigured to accommodate children of different ages. The background context involves the need for versatile seating solutions that transition from a traditional elevated high chair to a portable booster seat without requiring cumbersome additional hardware or specialized adapter bases.

The underlying idea behind ’749 is the creation of a dual-purpose base geometry that allows a secondary infant seat to nest perfectly within a larger toddler seat while also functioning as a standalone, stable pedestal for use on standard dining chairs. By designing the bottom profile of the smaller seat to be complementary to the seating surface of the larger one, the invention eliminates the need for a separate mounting base when the seat is used in a remote booster configuration.

The claims of ’749 focus on a convertible high chair system comprising a frame-supported first seat and a second seat characterized by a unified base portion. This base portion is specifically claimed as the single structural interface that both engages the first seat assembly in a high chair mode and rests directly on a flat support surface in a booster mode, providing stable upright support without any intervening components.

In practice, the invention works by utilizing a nesting architecture where the second seat’s base includes a recessed portion to accommodate the crotch restraint of the first seat. This ensures a secure, low-profile fit when the two are combined. When separated, the second seat functions as a portable booster, utilizing integrated storage compartments to house attachment straps that are hidden and inaccessible when the seat is docked in the high chair frame.

This approach differs from prior solutions that required a dedicated, separate base member to stabilize a removable seat when placed on a standard chair. By integrating the self-supporting base directly into the removable seat unit, the invention reduces the total number of parts a caregiver must manage and ensures that the booster functionality is always available without searching for additional equipment.

How does this patent fit in bigger picture?

Technical Landscape

In the early 2010s when ’749 was filed, children’s seating systems were typically implemented using modular components that required secondary adapters or auxiliary base members to transition between different functional modes. At a time when convertible high chairs commonly relied on multi-piece assemblies to achieve stability on external surfaces, the mechanical interface between a primary high chair frame and a secondary booster seat was often constrained by the need for intervening hardware. These engineering constraints made it non-trivial to design a secondary seat that could maintain structural stability and ergonomic positioning across both a dedicated high chair frame and a standard chair without the use of additional stabilizing components.

Prosecution Position

The disclosed invention represents a technical advancement in the integration of multi-functional seating components through a complementary geometric architecture. By configuring the base surface of a secondary child seat to match the surface profile of a primary seating surface, the system achieves a secure mechanical lock between the two components while simultaneously enabling the secondary seat to function as a standalone unit. This architectural shift eliminates the need for separate base members by utilizing the primary seat's lateral shoulders as structural guides. The resulting technical effect is a reduction in system complexity and a more stable transition between configurations, overcoming the constraint of requiring auxiliary hardware for booster seat stability on flat support surfaces.

Claims

The patent contains a total of 12 claims, with claims 1 and 9 serving as the independent claims. These independent claims focus on a convertible children's high chair system featuring a first seat assembly with a floor-supported frame and a second child seat designed with a versatile base portion that can either couple to the first assembly for a high chair configuration or rest directly on a flat surface as a standalone booster seat. The dependent claims serve to provide specific structural details and functional enhancements, such as the inclusion of non-slip pads, securing straps with dedicated storage compartments, locking mechanisms for attachment, and configurations tailored for different age groups like infants and toddlers.

Key Claim Terms New

Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.

Term (Source)	Support for Specification	Interpretation
Base portion (Claim 1, Claim 9)	The second child seat defines a base surface configured for resting directly on a support surface. The surface profile of the second child seat's base surface is substantially complimentary to the surface profile of the first seating surface. When the second child seat is coupled to the first child seat, the second child seat's base surface engages the first seating surface.	The bottom part of the second child seat that includes a surface profile designed to both interface with the first child seat and provide stable, direct contact with a flat surface.
Booster seat configuration (Claim 1, Claim 9)	The second child seat defines a base surface configured for resting directly on a support surface and supporting the second child seat on the support surface when the second child seat is decoupled from the first child seat and the frame. This allows the removable booster seat to be capable of stably supporting itself on a support surface (e.g., a standard chair) without the need to be secured to a separate component. The high chair is thus convertible into multiple configurations including the booster seat alone.	A state where the second child seat is decoupled from the first seat assembly and rests directly on a flat support surface (such as a standard chair) to independently support a child.
First seat assembly (Claim 1, Claim 9)	In various embodiments, the convertible high chair comprises: a frame configured for resting on a floor; and a first child seat defining a first seating surface, the first child seat being coupled to the frame and supported above the floor. The first child seat defines upwardly extending shoulders on lateral sides of the first seating surface to receive the second child seat.	The primary structure of the high chair, comprising at least a floor-standing frame and a first child seat.
High chair configuration (Claim 1, Claim 9)	In various embodiments, the convertible high chair comprises a frame configured for resting on a floor and a first child seat coupled to the frame and supported above the floor. The second child seat is configured for being removably coupled to at least one of the first child seat and the frame. When the second child seat is coupled to the first child seat, the second child seat's base surface engages the first seating surface.	A state of the convertible high chair where the second child seat is coupled to the first seat assembly, which is supported above the floor by a frame.
Separate support member (Claim 1, Claim 9)	There remains a need for a removable booster seat capable of stably supporting itself on a support surface without the need to be secured to a separate component (e.g., a separate base member). When the booster seat is detached from the high chair, it must be coupled to a separate base member in conventional chairs, but the present invention avoids this requirement.	An additional component or base accessory that is not required for the second child seat to maintain stability when used independently on a flat surface.

Litigation Cases New

US Latest litigation cases involving this patent.

Case Number	Filing Date	Title
5:25-cv-02001	Aug 1, 2025	Kids2, LLC v. Baby Trend, Inc.
1:24-cv-12399	Sep 19, 2024	Kids2, Llc V. Dorel Juvenile Group, Inc.

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US9883749

Application Number: US14742132A
Filing Date: Jun 17, 2015
Publication Date: Feb 6, 2018
External Links: Slate, USPTO , Google Patents

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