Abstract:
An infant car seat cover is adapted to be attached to an existing infant car seat and is configured to extend over the surface thereof creating an enclosed internal cavity. The cover has an interior mesh surface, which is selectively covered by a protective exterior surface. Additionally, the interior and exterior surfaces are supported by pivotally attached support frames, which define an internal cavity for the infant to occupy. When fully extended over the surface of the car seat, the cover is capable of opening at multiple points, allowing various access and breathability configurations.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/813,831, filed Apr. 19, 2013, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus that provides a retractable enclosure for an infant vehicle seat to provide a permutation of protective layers from harsh environmental exposure for an infant seated within. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Infants are delicate little beings that require the utmost care in order to protect, and keep them safe from harm. As a result, there are a myriad of products intended to provide protection from the danger generated by a variety of sources. Perhaps the most common item that comes to mind when thinking of infant safety is that of the car seat. Such car seats securely hold the infant in place, protect them while being transported, and allow them to be moved from place to place with relative ease. However, as such car seats are often used outside, the child is often exposed to inclement weather such as rain, snow, cold temperatures, bright sunshine, and even flying insects. The only protection that a parent or care provider can offer is that of a blanket which completely covers the child. Unfortunately, this solution may cause the child to overheat, or not permit adequate air flow to allow breathing. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which a child inside a car seat can be protected from environmental hazards, without the dangers of present solutions. The development of the seat cover fulfills this need. 
     The invention is a protective cover for an infant seated in a car seat, which comprises a lower member and an upper member supported by attachment clamps. The clamps secure the lower member to a lower portion of the car seat and the upper member to an upper portion of the car seat. Each lower member and upper member is “U”-shaped frame jointed together by two (2) pivot joints. There is also a plurality of retraction frames, each having a similar “U”-shape that fit within the lower member and upper member configurations, and are also rotatingly affixed via the two (2) pivot joints. Each set of retraction frames provides for a different type and degree of cover. Each set of retraction frame is connected to enable independent rotation of each set of retraction frame, and extends up and over the top of the car seat when rotated. 
     These sets of retraction frames support varying textile coverings such as polyester cotton and/or a mesh material. The retraction frames can be completely closed or opened. When open, easy access is granted to place and/or remove the child. When closed, the child is provided with a desired type of protection from the outside environment. These features provide protection from rain, insects, cold weather, extreme sunlight, or other hazards, which can be detrimental to the child&#39;s well-being. 
     Prior art in this field consists of car seat covers that rotate up and over the top of the car seat. However, these coves are integral to the car seat and do not provide a user with a permutation of cover types and degrees of protection for the child seated within. Some prior art car seat covers are removable from the car seat, but these are in the form of casings or zip up tent-like structures. These removable covers have flap openings instead of rotating members to provide coverings to a child held within. Furthermore, these removable covers still suffer from not providing a permutation of cover types and degrees of protection. 
     It is an objective of the present invention to provide a system of covers that can rotate to varying angles to provide shade and cover to a child seated within a car seat. 
     It is a further objective of the present invention to enable independent rotation of each of the covers to allow a user to provide a desired type and degree of protection. 
     It is a further objective of the present invention to enable removable attachment to the system to any car seat. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a car seat cover system comprising a frame rotatingly connected by two (2) pivot joints. Within the frame there are a plurality of primary retraction bars and a plurality of secondary retraction bars that are also rotatingly connected to the two (2) pivot joints. The frame comprises two (2) “U”-shaped members, an upper member and a lower member, that form a general rectangular shape when rotated about the pivot joints to be substantially coplanar. The plurality of primary retraction bars has a nested configuration by which each primary retraction bar forms a “U”-shaped member able to fit within an inner space defined by a planar region of the upper member. Additionally, the plurality of secondary retraction bars has a nested configuration by which each secondary retraction bar forms a “U”-shaped member able to fit within an inner space defined by a planar region of the plurality of primary retraction bars. The pivot joints are configured to enable independent rotation of the upper member, lower member, primary retraction bars, and secondary retraction bars. 
     The upper and lower members are connected to upper and lower portions of a car seat, respectively, where each upper and lower member is connected to the car seat via at least one attachment mechanism. A first cover is attached to the plurality of primary retraction bars forming a first enclosure. A second cover, preferably a mesh material, is attached to the plurality of secondary retraction bars forming a second enclosure. Once attached to a car seat, the primary and secondary retraction bars can be rotated to provide a desired level of protection and cover for an infant seated within. 
     Furthermore, the described features and advantages of the disclosure may be combined in various manners and embodiments as one skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The disclosure can be practiced without one (1) or more of the features and advantages described in a particular embodiment. 
     Further advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental view of a vehicle seat cover system  10  depicted with the cover system  10  in a retracted position in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an environmental view of the system  10  illustrated with a screened enclosure  90  deployed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an isolated view of a secondary bar pivot  49   b  of the secondary retraction bars  44  of the system  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an environmental view of the system  10  with a main enclosure  50  deployed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an isolated view of a frame  20  of the system  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an isolated view of a primary bar pivot  49   a  of the primary retraction bars  42  of the system  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 7  is an isolated view of the pivot joint  30  of the system  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  seat cover 
               20  frame 
               30  pivot joint 
               31  first disk 
               32  shaft 
               35  second disk 
               36  second disk aperture 
               38   a  primary bar aperture 
               38   b  secondary bar aperture 
               42  primary retraction bar 
               43  primary lateral member 
               44  primary cross member 
               46  secondary retraction bar 
               47  secondary lateral member 
               48  secondary cross member 
               49   a  primary bar pivot 
               49   b  secondary bar pivot 
               50  main enclosure 
               60  upper member 
               61  upper lateral member 
               62  upper cross member 
               70  lower member 
               71  lower lateral member 
               72  lower cross member 
               80  attachment mechanism 
               90  screen enclosure 
               100  vehicle seat 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 7 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under the scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a vehicle seat  100  cover system (herein described as the “system”)  10 , which provides a means to afford a selection of retractable covers for an infant vehicle seat  100 , and protect an infant seated within from certain environmental exposures. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an environmental view of the system  10  in a retracted arrangement on a vehicle seat  100 , and  FIG. 5 , an isolated view of the frame  20 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The system  10  includes a frame  20  with two (2) pivot joints  30 , a main enclosure  50  having primary retraction bars  42 , and a screen enclosure  90  having secondary retraction bars  44 . The frame  20 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , is configured to be a pivoting rectangular structure having an upper member  60  and a lower member  70  connected at pivot joints  30 . The upper member  60  is preferably an elongated “U”-shaped structure having an upper cross member  62  and a pair of upper lateral members  61 . Similarly, the lower member  70  is a mirrored elongated “U”-shaped structure having a lower cross member  72  and a pair of lower lateral members  71 . The lateral members  61 ,  71  of the upper member  60  and of the lower member  70  are in mechanical connection with each other by means of a pair of pivot joints  30 . Each pivot joint  30  enables the upper member  60  and the lower member  70  to rotate about an axis defined by the pivot joints  30  so that the upper member  60  and lower member  70  have a range of motion to form angles between each other ranging from zero degrees (0°) to approximately one-hundred eighty degrees (180°). While in a position of a one-hundred eighty degree (180°) angle of separation, the two (2) members form an oblong substantially in a shape of a rectangle. The frame  20  is preferably composed of a rigid, tubular thermoplastic material; however it is understood that other materials, or other polymers having a different cross-sectional shape, may be utilized without limiting the scope of the system  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , each pivot joint  30  is configured to have a circular first disk  31  formed at the free end, or permanently fixed upon the free ends, of the lateral members  61  of the upper member  60 . The first disk has an attached cylindrical shaft  32  at the center thereof to be engaged into a centrally located second disk aperture  36  in a similar circular second disk  35  formed, or otherwise affixed to, the corresponding free ends of each lateral member  71  of the lower member  70 . 
     In use, the system  10  is employed with an existing vehicle seat  100 . The upper member  60  and the lower member  70  are rotated about the pivot joints  30  to widen an angle of separation such that the upper member  60  makes contact with an upper portion of the vehicle seat  100  and the lower member  70  makes contact with a lower portion of the vehicle seat  100 . A plurality of attachment mechanisms  80  is used to secure the upper member  60  to an upper portion of the vehicle seat  100  and the lower member  70  to a lower portion of the vehicle seat  100 . Due to the variability of existing vehicle seats  100  the attachment mechanism  80  may be configured as spring clamps having a pair of jaws and a pair of handles connected with a rotatable joint in some embodiments and user-installed hardware, such as snaps, in other embodiments. It is understood that other devices, such as a strap with an engaging hook, may be utilized without limiting the scope of the system  10 . 
     Simultaneously attached at the pivot joints  30  is a plurality of nested primary retraction members  42  connected to the main enclosure  50  and a separate plurality of nested secondary retraction bars  44  connected to the screen enclosure  90 . Each retraction bar  42 ,  44  is rotated about the shaft of the pivot joints  30  to create an approximate zero degree (0°) angle of separation between each set of retraction bars  42 ,  44  and the upper member  60  so as to create an opening for placing an occupant into a seating area of the vehicle seat  100  or removing the occupant therefrom. The engaging ends of each lateral member of the primary retraction bars  42  and secondary retraction bars  44  have respective primary bar pivots  49   a  and secondary bar pivots  49 , each of which are configured to include an aperture  38   a ,  38   b  defined by an inner surface complimentary to the periphery of the shaft  32  of the first disk  31  of each pivoting joint  30  whereby the aperture  38   a ,  38   b  may axially receive the shaft  32 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an environmental view of the system  10 , illustrated with the screen enclosure  90  deployed, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. Each secondary retraction bar  46  is substantially a similar “U”-shaped configuration as the upper member  60  of the frame  20 , having a pair of secondary lateral members  47  and a cross member  48 , but of a shorter perimeter length so as to allow each secondary retraction bar  46  to fit within an inner space defined by a planar region of the upper member  60 . Preferably more than one (1) secondary retraction bar  46  is provided, and each successive secondary retraction bar  46  has a shorter perimeter length than the previous secondary retraction bar  46  so that each additional secondary retraction bar  46  can be nested within an inner space defined by a planar region of a previous secondary retraction bar  46 . The cross section of the secondary retraction bars  44  is preferably a wide rectangle so as to have a much greater depth than the thickness as seen on  FIG. 3 . The secondary lateral members  47  of each secondary retraction bar  46  have secondary bar pivots  49   b  that are supported on the cylindrical shaft of the pivot joints  30 . Each secondary retraction bar  46  is able to pivot independently of the upper member  60  and lower member  70  about the pivot joints  30 . When each secondary retraction bar  46  forms a zero degree angle (0°) of separation with the upper member  60 , all secondary retraction bars  44  fit within an inner space defined by a planar region of the upper member  60 . 
     The screen enclosure  90  is attached first to the upper member  60  along the upper cross member  62  and the pair of upper lateral members  61  and then in turn to the secondary cross member  47  and the secondary lateral members  48  of each secondary retraction bar  46  beginning with the outermost secondary retraction bar  46  and ending with the innermost secondary retraction bar  46  of the nested set such that the secondary retraction bars  44  are approximately evenly spaced. The screen enclosure  90  may also be affixed, as by stitching with a natural or a synthetic thread, to the main enclosure at, or near, the juncture between the main enclosure  50  and the upper member  60 . The screen enclosure  90  is preferably a nylon mesh having an open area appropriate to isolate an occupant of the vehicle seat  100  from certain insects. It is understood that other materials forming a mesh or netting may be utilized without limiting the scope of the system  10 . A user may extend the screen enclosure  90  to a fully deployed position such that the angle of separation between the innermost secondary retraction bar  46  and the lower member  70  is zero degrees (0°) while maintaining a retracted position for the main enclosure  50 . A fastening means may be employed to secure the screen enclosure  90  in the fully deployed position or the friction inherent in the configuration of the secondary bar pivot  49   b  of the secondary retraction bars  44  may be sufficient to achieve comparable results without limiting the scope of the system  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an environmental view of the system  10 , with the main enclosure  50  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The primary retraction bars  42  are configured to be similar to the secondary retraction bars  44  with the exception that while the perimeter length of the primary retraction bars  42  is such as to a fit within an inner space defined by a planar region of the upper member  60 , the secondary retraction bars  44  have a perimeter length so as to fit within an inner space defined by a planar region of the primary retraction bars  42 . The main enclosure  50  is attached first to the upper member  60  along the upper cross member  62  and the pair of upper lateral members  61  and then in turn to the primary cross member  44  and the primary lateral members  43  of each primary retraction bar  42  beginning with the outermost primary retraction bar  42  and ending with the innermost primary retraction bar  42  of the nested set such that the primary retraction bars  42  are approximately evenly spaced in relation to the main enclosure  50 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , which illustrates the primary bar pivots  49   a  of the primary retraction bars  42 . As described above, the primary retraction bars  42  are configured to be similar to the secondary retraction bars  46 . As such, the friction inherent in the configuration of the primary bar pivot  49   a  of the primary retraction bars  42  may be sufficient to achieve comparable results without limiting the scope of the system  10 . 
     The main enclosure  50  is preferably composed of a cotton material, which may be any of various styles, colors, or patterns, attached in an approximately even pattern to the periphery of each primary retention bar  42 . The main enclosure  50  may additionally be lined with a material to provide some insulative or other protective value. It is understood that other materials may be utilized in the fabrication of the main enclosure  50  without limiting the scope of the system  10 . In reaction to environmental exposure conditions, such as rain, sun, or wind, a user may rotate a primary retraction bar  42  from its approximate zero degree (0°) angle of separation between the upper member  60  so that it makes contact with the lower member  70  and encapsulates the infant within the main enclosure  50 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by an enabled individual in a simple and straightforward manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the system  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The method of installing and utilizing the system  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring a model of the system  10  having a desired style to suit the taste of a user; manipulating the upper member  60  and the lower member  70  about the pivot joints  30  to widen an angle of separation to make contact with upper and lower portions of a vehicle seat  100 ; employing the plurality of attachment mechanisms  80  to secure the frame  20  to a perimeter edge of the vehicle seat  100 ; manipulating each retraction bar  42 ,  44  about the pivoting joints  30  to lessen an angle of separation between each retraction bar  42 ,  44  and upper member  60  so as to create an opening for ingress and egress into a seating area of the vehicle seat  100 ; placing an infant in the seating area of the vehicle seat  100 ; employing a permutation of main enclosure  50  or screen enclosure  90  by pivoting the preferred retraction bars  42 ,  44  to widen an angle of separation between the retraction bar  42 ,  44  and the upper member  60 , thereby enclosing an infant within the desired main enclosure  50  or screen enclosure  90 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit to the precise forms disclosed and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain principles and practical application to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.