Abstract:
The invention is an elevated seat that adjusts to different seat back angles with the seat supported at a height to reduce the distance a user has to bend over or kneel down in order access the child.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of infant seats and more particularly to infant seats having a storage area. In even greater particularity the present invention relates to an infant seat which is supported on a framework at a convenient height that optimizes the seated height of the infant with respect to the caregiver, bringing the caregiver in greater proximity to the infant, and which may be adjusted for the comfort of the infant supported therein as well as the caregiver for the infant. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    An infant seat is intended to sit on the floor while in use. The child is positioned low relative to the floor such that it is difficult for adults to access the child for play or feeding. Further, mothers who have given birth through C section are advised not to bend over, which makes it even more difficult to access an infant using a conventional infant seat. These seats also place the child close to the floor where pets and small siblings have potentially undesirable proximity to the infant. 
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is an object of the present invention to elevate the child relative to the floor in such a manner that is both stable and ergonomically correct providing improved caregiver accessibility. By elevating the seat height, an adult can comfortably sit in a chair or otherwise approach the child to engage him without having to bend over. It is an object of the present invention to raise the child relative to the floor to make it more difficult for small pets or siblings to come in contact with the child. It is a further object of the invention to provide a stable platform and to reduce a caregiver&#39;s incentive to improperly place the child on top of a counter or another piece of furniture. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a selectively variable seat angle that allows the caregiver to optimally position the child for play or feeding. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a space associated with the seat in which to place toys or other necessities. 
         [0004]    These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    An apparatus for supporting an infant at a comfortable level is depicted in the accompanying drawings which form a portion of this disclosure and wherein: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is an Isometric view of the embodiment of the invention 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an Exploded view of the embodiment of the invention (isometric view) 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a detail side elevation view of the seat angle adjustment member. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the bottom seat support ring; and, 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the top seat support ring. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0012]    Referring to the  FIGS. 1-6  for a clearer understanding of the invention, it may be seen that the preferred embodiment of the invention contemplates a seat assembly  10  supported at a desired elevation by a tubular base frame  12 . The components of the elevated seat include plastic, metal and fabric. The seat pad  11  includes a fabric pocket  13  in which the infant sits. Pocket  13  is formed from side panels  13 ′ and  13 ″ and is circumscribed by a border  14  which may also be constructed from various fabrics, and overlies an upper seat frame Y. The peripheral edge of seat pad  11  has formed there a plurality of grommets which are used to attach the seat pad  11  to upper seat frame  19   
         [0013]    Seat frame  17  includes upper and lower mating seat frames  19  and  18  shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Seat frames  18  and  19  are assembled using one or more latches  21  spaced about the inside or outside perimeter thereof and extending transversely to the rings. Upper seat frame  19  provides a plurality of complementary hooks  23  formed as part of the upper seat frame  19  to engage grommets thereby allowing the attachment of seat pad  11 . Further, a music/vibration unit  22  attaches to the seat frame assembly  17 . A removable toy bar  24  or other accessory can be mounted on the seat frame  19  in one or more apertures  26 . Seat frames  18  and  19  are molded from plastic and include cooperative loops  28  and  29  formed therein to receive the ends of a pair of front metal tubes  31  and  32  of tubular base frame  12 . This connection further allows the seat frame to pivot about the metal tube to facilitate the adjustment of the seat angle as described hereinafter. 
         [0014]    The two front tubes  31  and  32  connect to two generally U shaped runners  33  and  34  which extend from front to rear as part of the tubular base frame  12  and connect to a rear tube  36 . Rear tube  36  passes through a recline mechanism  41  and alignment wheel  42 . The upper end of recline mechanism  41  is attached by an axle  43  to seat frame assembly  17  and the interior of recline mechanism  41  defines a vertical slot  44  communicating with a series of vertically spaced detents  46 . Recline mechanism  41  can be adjusted relative to rear tube  36  to position the tube in a selected detent to adjust the seat to multiple positions. Adjustment is accomplished by disengaging the spring loaded wheel  42  mounted on rear tube  36  from the recline mechanism  41  and adjusting by way of the handle  41   a  to the desired position. In the rest position, the knob  42  is captured within the recline mechanism  41  effectively trapping it such that tube  36  cannot move out of the selected detent  46 . Two-handed operation is required to disengage the knob and position the seat using the recline mechanism. 
         [0015]    The runners  33  and  34  allow the seat to rock back and forth. These tubes have stops  48  attached at the front and rear positions to limit the rocking motion of the seat. A pair of wireforms, front and rear, serve as kickstands  49  and are connected to the frame by four housings  51  located on the upwardly extending portions of runners  33  and  34 . These kickstands have multiple positions which may be selectively oriented: (a) stored (inactive), (b) engaged to prevent rocking, and (c) extended for use as a treadle to rock the seat by foot. The kickstands  49  are operatively connected to housings  51  to allow adjustment to these positions by simultaneously pushing in and turning a rotatably mounted knob  52  located within each housing at the ends of the kickstands  49 . The knobs must be moved inward sufficiently to overcome spring tension generated by the geometry of the kickstands thus displacing the wireform from detents and permitting them to be repositioned. 
         [0016]    A storage bin  55  hangs from a metal wire  54  that connects the housings  51  on runners  33  and  34  together. The bin may include a cover portion  56 . It will be understood that conventional infant seats are not provided with such storage areas and that the increased height of the base frame  11  as compared to prior art allows the provision of such storage. Whereas conventional infant seats support the infant within a foot (12 inches) of the underlying surface, it is to be understood that the present invention will support the infant at a height of ten to twenty-two inches (or greater) above the surface and sufficient to allow for storage in bin  55 . 
         [0017]    It is to be understood that the form of the invention shown is a preferred embodiment thereof and that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope as defined in the following claims.