Cup holder for use with high chair

Abstract

Cup holder assemblies, methods of using cup holder assemblies and a high chair or tabletop with a cup holder assembly are disclosed. The cup holder assembly may include a mounting assembly configured to mount on a high chair or tabletop and a cup holder which is removably mounted on the mounting assembly so that the mounting assembly may remain on the high chair or tabletop when the cup holder is removed. The mounting assembly may be removable from the high chair or tabletop, and may remain on stackable high chairs during stacking thereof.

1 . A cup holder assembly comprising:
 a mounting assembly adapted to mount on a high chair or tabletop; and   a cup holder having a secured position in which the cup holder is secured to the mounting assembly and a separated position in which the cup holder is separated from the mounting assembly whereby the cup holder assembly is configured to allow the cup holder to be in the separated position when the mounting assembly is mounted on the high chair or tabletop.   
     
     
         2 . The cup holder assembly of  claim 1  wherein the cup holder assembly is free of a fastener which extends into the high chair or tabletop when mounted thereon. 
     
     
         3 . The cup holder assembly of  claim 1  wherein the cup holder assembly is free of an adhesive which contacts the high chair or tabletop when the mounting assembly is mounted thereon. 
     
     
         4 . The cup holder assembly of  claim 1  wherein the mounting assembly comprises a first connector member; and a further comprising a second connector member which is secured to the cupholder and releasably mounted on the first connector member. 
     
     
         5 . The cup holder assembly of  claim 4  further comprising a snap fit connection between the first and second connector members. 
     
     
         6 . The cup holder assembly of  claim 4  wherein the first connector member comprises a front portion and a back portion; and the mounting assembly comprises a flexible strap which is sandwiched between the front and back portions and which is adapted to wrap around a beam of a high chair. 
     
     
         7 . The cup holder assembly of  claim 1  wherein the mounting assembly comprises a flexible strap adapted to wrap around an arm of a high chair. 
     
     
         8 . The cup holder assembly of  claim 7  further comprising a quick release fastener comprising first and second strips which are secured to the strap and which are peelably removable from one another. 
     
     
         9 . The cup holder assembly of  claim 8  wherein the quick release fastener is a hook and loop fastener; the first strip is a hook portion; and the second strip is a loop portion. 
     
     
         10 . The cup holder assembly of  claim 7  wherein the mounting assembly comprises a ring defining an aperture; wherein the strap is insertable through the aperture. 
     
     
         11 . The cup holder assembly of  claim 7  further comprising a connector member back portion which is secured to the strap and has a rear surface adapted to contact a side surface of the arm of the high chair. 
     
     
         12 . The cup holder assembly of  claim 11  in combination with the high chair; wherein the high chair defines a child receiving seating space and comprises the arm having the side surface; wherein the side surface faces away from the seating space; and the rear surface contacts the side surface when the mounting assembly is mounted on the arm. 
     
     
         13 . The cup holder assembly of  claim 12  wherein the arm has a top and a bottom; and when the mounting assembly is secured to the arm, at least one of (a) no portion of the back portion extends higher than the top of the arm and (b) no portion of the back portion extends lower than the bottom of the arm. 
     
     
         14 . The cup holder assembly of  claim 1  in combination with the high chair or tabletop; wherein the mounting assembly is mounted on the high chair or tabletop. 
     
     
         15 . The cup holder assembly of  claim 14  wherein the combination comprises the high chair and is free of an eating tray which is permanently or removably attached to the high chair. 
     
     
         16 . The cup holder assembly of  claim 1  in combination with a first high chair having a top and a second high chair defining a chair receiving space having a bottom entrance opening; wherein when the mounting assembly is mounted on the first high chair adjacent the top thereof and the cup holder is in the separated position, the top of the first high chair is receivable in the chair receiving space via the bottom entrance opening to allow stacking of the second high chair on the first high chair. 
     
     
         17 . The cup holder assembly of  claim 16  wherein the bottom entrance opening has a first horizontal width as measured from left to right; when the mounting assembly is mounted on the first high chair adjacent the top thereof and the cup holder is in the secured position, a combination of a top portion of the first high chair and the cup holder has a second horizontal width as measured from left to right; and the second horizontal width is equal to or greater than the first horizontal width. 
     
     
         18 . The cup holder assembly of  claim 1  wherein the mounting assembly comprises a generally C-shaped spring clip adapted to mount on an arm of the high chair or an edge of the tabletop. 
     
     
         19 . A combination comprising:
 a high chair;   a cup holder;   a first connector member secured to the cup holder; and   a second connector member having a secured position in which the second connector member is secured to the first connector member so that the cup holder is mounted on the high chair and a released position in which the second connector member is separated from the first connector member so that the cup holder is dismounted from the high chair.   
     
     
         20 . A method comprising the steps of:
 providing a cup holder assembly comprising a cup holder and a mounting assembly;   securing the mounting assembly to a high chair or tabletop to mount the cup holder assembly on the high chair or tabletop; and   removing the cup holder from the mounting assembly while the mounting assembly remains secured to the high chair or tabletop.