Abstract:
A car seat for restraining a child during operation of a motor vehicle includes a base capable of being removably disposed on a selected motor vehicle seat. A seat unit is swivelably connected to said base. A locking assembly selectively extends between the base and the seat unit for selectively restricting the swiveling of the seat unit on the base.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/657,951, filed on Mar. 2, 2005. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   The present invention relates to the art of removable seats for vehicles. More particularly, the invention relates to the art of removable safety seats used for children in vehicles. Still more particularly, the present invention is directed to a safety seat that selectively swivels between a forward-facing position and a side or door-facing position to enable a child enter and/or exit the seat. 
   2. Background Art 
   Safety seats in vehicles for children, also known in the art as car seats, are well-known in the art. Car seats are removable units that are secured to a selected passenger seat of a vehicle. Car seats are specially designed for the smaller weight and size of a child, as compared to standard vehicle seats, which are designed to accommodate large youths and adults. In most states, once a child reaches a certain weight and age, such as over 20 pounds and one year old, a car seat is used in which the child faces the front of the vehicle. Prior-art car seats that facilitate this forward-facing position typically are one-piece units that are placed on a selected one of the vehicle&#39;s passenger seats, and the vehicle&#39;s seatbelt for the selected passenger seat is passed through the frame of the child&#39;s car seat and latched to secure the car sear to the vehicle seat, as known in the art. In this manner, the car seat essentially sits on a pre-existing vehicle passenger seat and is secured thereto with a seatbelt. 
   Since such prior-art car seats are designed to secure a child and limit movement of the child, it can be difficult to move the child into or from such a seat. For example, a typical prior-art car seat includes partially raised sides, and a five-point seatbelt harness to secure the child to the car seat. The raised sides of a forward-facing seat, however, make it necessary for an adult that is assisting the child into the seat to lift the child over a side of the seat and then place the child in the seat. Due to the confined space in most passenger vehicles, the assisting adult must remain outside the vehicle when lifting and assisting the child, causing the adult to bend and lean or reach into the vehicle. Moreover, the assisting adult has to lean into the vehicle to assist the child in putting the five-point harness on and buckling it. When the child exits the vehicle, it is again necessary for the assisting adult to lean into the vehicle over the car seat, assist the child in unbuckling the five-point harness, and lift the child up and past a raised side of the car seat. 
   This structure of a typical prior-art car seat creates problems for both the child and the assisting adult. Particularly when a larger child is to use the seat, or when adults that are older or may have physical disabilities assist the child, it can be difficult to lift the child over the side of the car seat, as well as to lean into the vehicle to place the child in the seat and assist the child in buckling the harness. As a result, potential discomfort and/or injury may be incurred by the assisting adult. Moreover, the act of lifting the child over a raised side of the prior-art car seat may cause the assisting adult to inadvertently bump the child&#39;s head against the side or upper door frame of the vehicle, or even accidentally drop the child. Hence, prior-art forward-facing car seats may result in potential discomfort and/or injuries for both the assisting adult and the child using the seat. 
   Thus, a need exists in the art for an apparatus that allows a child to be placed into and removed from a car seat without the need for an assisting adult to substantially lean inside the vehicle, or to lift the child over a raised side of the car seat. The swivelable car seat of the present invention provides such an apparatus, selectively swiveling between a forward-facing position and a side or door-facing position to enable a child enter and/or exit the seat. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An objective of the present invention is to provide a car seat for a child that enables the child to be placed into and removed from the seat without the need for an assisting adult to substantially lean inside the vehicle. 
   Another objective of the present invention is to provide a car seat for a child that enables the child to be placed into and removed from the seat without the need to lift the child over a raised side of the car seat. 
   These objectives and others are obtained by the swivelable car seat of the present invention, the general nature of which may be stated as including a base capable of being removably disposed on a selected motor vehicle seat. A seat unit is swivelably connected to said base. A locking assembly selectively extends between the base and the seat unit for selectively restricting the swiveling of the seat unit on the base. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicants have contemplated applying the principles of the invention, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings, and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the swivelable car seat of the present invention, taken along line  1 - 1  in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 2  is a fragmentary top plan view of the base unit and a portion of the seat unit of the swivelable car seat of the present invention, with hidden parts represented by dashed lines; 
       FIG. 3  is an angled front perspective view of a base of the swivelable car seat shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the swivelable car seat shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional side view of a lower portion of the swivelable car seat shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a portion of the swivelable car seat shown in  FIG. 5 , with a first exemplary locking assembly; 
       FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6 , but with a second exemplary locking assembly; and 
       FIG. 8  is a side cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the swivelable car seat of the present invention. 
   

   Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Turning now to the drawings of the present invention, wherein the illustrations are for showing preferred embodiments of the invention, and not for limiting the same,  FIGS. 1-7  show a first embodiment of the swivelable car seat of the present invention, indicated generally at  10 . With particular reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , swivelable car seat  10  includes a base  12  and a seat or seat unit  14 . Base  12  pivotally engages and secures seat  14 , as will be described in greater detail below. 
   Base  12  includes an L-shaped frame  16 . Frame  16  in turn includes a horizontal bottom member  18  having a bottom surface  20  that is contoured to generally conform to the seat area of a typical passenger seat of a vehicle (not shown). Frame  16  also includes a vertical upper member  22  that has a rear surface  24  shaped to generally conform to the front of the seatback of the vehicle passenger seat. With additional reference to  FIG. 3 , vertical member  22  also includes a front surface  26  that preferably is curved to facilitate the swivel of seat  14 . Mounted in vertical member  22  at front surface  26  preferably is at least one roller assembly  36  which contacts seat  14  and enables a consistent clearance to be maintained between the seat and base  12  as the seat swivels. Slots  28  are formed in frame  16  at the bottom of vertical member  22  at or near horizontal member  18 , and enable the seatbelt of the vehicle (not shown) to pass through the base frame and secure it to the passenger seat in a manner known to those skilled in the art. Thus, base unit  12  enables a seatbelt of the vehicle to connect swivelable car seat  10  to a selected vehicle seat. Optionally, an upper anchor  42  may be attached to base  12  at a top  30  of vertical member  22 , thereby providing an additional anchor for swivelable seat  10 , as known in the art. At top  30  of vertical member  22  a groove  32  is formed in the vertical member to engage an upper hook  34  of seat  14 , as will be described in greater detail below. 
   Seat  14  includes a vertical upper member  44  and a horizontal bottom member  50 . With additional reference to  FIG. 4 , vertical member  44  may extend laterally up to about 270 degrees, that is, leaving only the forward-facing 90 degrees of seat  14  open, thereby surrounding the back and sides of a child sitting in swivelable seat  10 , which provides safety advantages to be described below. As mentioned above, seat  14  includes upper hook  34  which is formed on or is attached to a top  46  of vertical member  44  and engages groove  32  of base  12  to prevent the base and the seat from separating in the event of an impact. The hook and groove sections  32 ,  34  allow seat  14  to swivel in relation to base  12 , while remaining securely attached thereto. Vertical member  44  of seat  14  also includes a groove  48  that aligns with roller assembly  36  in base  12 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , since vertical member  22  of base  12  does not extend about the sides of the child, as does vertical member  44  of seat  14 , groove  48  and roller assembly  36  cooperate to enable the vertical base member and the vertical seat member to remain consistently aligned, with uniform clearance and spacing integrity therebetween. Seat  14  also includes padding, seat material and a five-point seat harness (not shown), which are known to those skilled in the art. 
   Facilitating the swivel of seat  14  in relation to base  12  is a turntable assembly  38 , which is mounted to and extends between bottom member  18  of the base and bottom member  50  of the seat. To limit the rotation of seat  14 , base  12  includes stops  40  which provide positive mechanical stops at predetermined side-facing positions, to be described below. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 5 , an exemplary construction for turntable  38  is shown. Bottom member  18  of base  12  defines a cylindrical orifice  52  through which a center bolt  54  passes. At bottom surface  20  of bottom member  18 , a counter-sunk cavity  56  is formed in axial alignment with orifice  52 . Cavity  56  enables fasteners, such as a washer  58  and a lock nut  60  to be secured to center bolt  54  inside base  12 . Center bolt  54  extends upwardly through an aligned opening  62  formed in a lower turntable plate  64  and an aligned opening  65  formed in an upper turntable plate  66 . Center bolt  54  then passes through an aligned opening  68  and into a counter-sunk cavity  70  formed in bottom member  50  of seat  14 . Cavity  70  in seat  14  enables a roller bearing  72 , a washer  76  and the head  78  of bolt  54  to be secured inside seat  14 . In this manner, center bolt  54  is secured with nut  60 , thereby securing seat  14 , turntable plates  64 ,  66  and base  12  in pivotal alignment. Roller bearing  72  and upper turntable plate  66  cooperate to provide rotational surfaces that enable seat  14  to swivel in relation to base  12  and lower turntable plate  64 . To reduce the tendency of base  12  to move when seat  14  swivels, a friction pad  80 , or other means, such as mating dimples and indentations, are preferably included between bottom member  18  of base  12  and lower turntable plate  64 . 
   Thus, center bolt  54  provides the axis about which seat unit  14  rotates, and also provides a means to secure the seat  14  to base  12 . Bolt head  78  and lock nut  60  cooperate to keep seat bottom  50  and bottom member  18  of base  12  in compression, thereby providing a tight, stable connection between the base and seat  14 , while still allowing rotation of the seat. Preferably, counter-sunk cavity  56  in base  12  and counter-sunk cavity  70  in seat  14  are covered by pop-in plugs  82  of plastic or elastomeric material. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 6 , to secure the position of swivelable seat  10 , a locking assembly  84  is included. Bottom  50  of seat  14  includes a downwardly extending lip  86 . A generally horizontal channel  88  is formed in lip  86  to allow a fastener  90 , such as a pin, to pass through the lip to selectively secure seat  14  to a fixed point, such as turntable bottom plate  64  or bottom member  18  of base  12 . Fastener  90  preferably is a threaded locking pin that passes through channel  88  and includes a tip  92  which frictionally engages lower turntable plate  64  or a portion of bottom member  18  of base unit  12  when a handle  94  is turned, thereby securing the position of seat  14  so that the seat does not rotate or swivel. Thus, when seat  14  is in a forward-facing position, a user may turn handle  94  of fastener  90  clockwise to secure fastener  90  against lower turntable plate  64  or base  12 , and thus lock the seat in a forward-facing position. When it is desired to swivel seat  14  to a loading or unloading position, that is, to the right side or left side to face a vehicle door (not shown), the user turns the handle  94  counterclockwise to disengage the frictional connection between fastener  90  and lower turntable plate  64  or base  12 . The seat  14  is then free to swivel on turntable assembly  38 , reaching a limit of rotation when the seat faces the open door, as dictated by the engagement of a projection  41 , which is formed on bottom member  50  of the seat, with a respective one of positive stops  40  formed on base  12 . The user then turns handle  94  in a clockwise direction to re-engage tip  92  of fastener  90  with lower turntable plate  64  or base  12  to secure seat  14  in position and safely load or unload the child to or from the seat. 
   Once the child is seated in and secured to seat  14 , handle  94  is rotated in a counterclockwise direction to enable the seat to rotate to a forward-facing position, at which time the user rotates handle  94  in a clockwise direction to secure fastener  90  to lower turntable plate  64  or base  12 . Preferably, fastener  90  is in a center position of seat  14 , that is, the fastener engages lower turntable plate  64  or base  12  at the front of the turntable plate or base, respectively, when a forward-facing position is reached. Alternatively, the position of fastener  90  in lip  86  of seat  14  may be configured off-center, that is, to allow the fastener to engage lower turntable plate  64  or base in a forward-facing position when the fastener aligns with a left front or right front portion of the turntable plate or base, thereby allowing easier use by an adult who leans into the vehicle door from outside the vehicle. 
   Other types of fasteners  90  that are known in the art may be used. For example, turning now to  FIG. 7 , a spring-loaded fastener  96  may be used. When spring-loaded fastener  96  is used, a corresponding orifice or indentation  98  is formed in bottom turntable plate  64  or base  12 , enabling the spring-loaded fastener to engage the front orifice when seat unit  14  is in a forward-facing position. A user then pulls handle  100  to free seat  14  for rotation to a side-facing position for loading or unloading of the child. When spring-loaded fastener  96  reaches the side-facing position, the spring enables the fastener to engage a selected one of side orifices  102 , which are positioned in a corresponding right- or left-facing side of lower turntable plate  64  of base  12 . Once the child is seated and secured to seat  14 , the user pulls handle  100  to disengage spring-loaded fastener  96  from the selected one of side orifices  102  and rotates the seat to a forward-facing position, whereupon the fastener engages front orifice  98 . The spring-loaded nature of fastener  96  causes a positive snapping sound that is heard by the user when the fastener engages orifices  98 ,  102 , thereby providing confirmation of the engagement of the fastener in the selected orifice. To guide fastener  96 , a channel  104  may optionally be formed in base  12  or bottom turntable plate  64 , and a guide ring  106  may be included in the channel to provide a smooth, hard surface on which a tip of the fastener rides. It is important to note that alternative designs may be employed for spring-loaded fastener  96 , as known in the art. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 8 , a second embodiment of the swivelable car seat of the present invention is shown generally at  210 . For the purpose of convenience and clarity, the differences between second embodiment swivelable car seat  210  and first embodiment swivelable car seat  10  ( FIG. 1 ) are described below. More specifically, second embodiment swivelable car seat  210  includes a base  212  having an L-shaped frame  216 , which in turn includes a generally horizontal bottom member  218  and a vertical member  222 . A top portion  230  of base vertical member  222  forms an upper hook  234 . Second embodiment swivelable car seat  210  also includes a seat  214 , which includes a top portion  224  having an interlocking structure, such as a channel  226 , formed therein. In this manner, upper hook  234  of base  212  engages seat channel  226  to provide a positive mechanical connection between base vertical member  22  and seat upper portion  224 . This connection also permits seat  214  to swivel in relation to base  210 . Thus, upper hook  234  and channel  226  cooperate to maintain the integrity of second embodiment swivelable car seat  210  in the event of an impact. 
   Second embodiment car seat  210  preferably includes a vertically-disposed locking assembly  290 , which is mounted in base vertical member  222  and selectively engages seat upper portion  226 . Locking assembly  290 , when engaged, generally prohibits seat  214  from swiveling relative to base  212  and thus secures the seat relative to the base. Preferably, second embodiment locking assembly  290  includes a pin  282  having an integral flange  280 . Flange  280  is rectangular, and in an unlocked position, rests on top of base vertical member  222 , thereby preventing pin  282  from extending into seat top  224 , which enables seat  214  to swivel relative to base  212 . When it is desired to engage or lock pin  282  in seat top  224  to prevent seat  214  from rotating relative to base  212 , the pin is rotated 90 degrees. Due to the rectangular shape of flange  280 , the flange is then able to pass through a narrow cavity formed in base vertical member  222 , which enables pin  282  to engage seat top  224 . Preferably, pin  282  is spring-loaded, so that flange  280  snaps into a positive locking position in a wider cavity once the pin has fully engaged seat top  224 . When it is desired to unlock pin  282  to enable seat  214  to swivel, the pin is again turned 90 degrees, enabling flange  280  to pass out of the cavity in base vertical member  222  and onto the top of the base vertical member. In this manner, pin  282  provides a simple 90 degree turn-to-lock and turn-to-unlock mechanism having positive stops. 
   Alternatively, locking assembly  290  may generally be similar in construction and operation to above-described locking assembly  84 , with the exception that vertically-disposed locking assembly  290  generally is vertical and secures seat upper portion  226  to base vertical member  222 , rather than being generally horizontally disposed and securing seat bottom  50  to base bottom member  18 . Also mounted in base vertical member  222  preferably is at least one roller assembly  36  which contacts seat  14  and enables a consistent clearance to be maintained between the seat and base  12  as the seat swivels. 
   Additionally, turntable assembly  238  of second embodiment swivelable car seat  210  is simplified over that of first embodiment swivelable car seat  10 . More particularly, bottom member  218  of base  212  defines a cylindrical orifice  252  through which a center bolt  254  passes. A counter-sunk cavity  256  is formed in bottom member  218  in axial alignment with orifice  252 . Cavity  256  enables installation of and access to center bolt  254  inside base  212 . Center bolt  254  extends upwardly through an aligned opening  262  formed in a disk  264 , through an aligned opening  268  formed in seat bottom member  250 , and into a counter-sunk cavity  270  formed in the seat bottom member. Seat cavity  270  in seat  214  enables fasteners, such as a washer  258  and a lock nut  260  to be secured to center bolt  254  inside the seat. 
   In this manner, center bolt  254  is secured with nut  260 , thereby securing seat  214 , disk  264  and base  212  in pivotal alignment. Thus, center bolt  254  provides the axis about which seat  214  rotates, and also provides a means to secure the seat to base  212 . To enable efficient rotation of seat  214  relative to base  212 , disk  264  preferably is made from or coated with a low-friction material such as polytetrafluoroethylene. 
   Second embodiment swivelable car seat  210  further includes a circular protrusion  292  formed on a bottom member  250  of seat  214 , which preferably forms part of turntable assembly  238 , and which is received in a mating cavity  294  formed in base bottom member  218 . The engagement of protrusion  292  in cavity  294  provides stability for the rotation of seat  214 , and provides a positive mechanical engagement that reduces fore-aft and side-to-side movement of the seat. Seat  214  also includes a lower hook  296  formed on seat bottom member  250 , which is received in a corresponding channel  298  that is formed in base bottom member  218 . The engagement of lower hook  296  and channel  298  provides a positive mechanical engagement to limit vertical movement of seat  214  relative to base  212 . The engagement of protrusion  292  and cavity  294 , and the engagement of lower hook  296  and channel  298 , each help to maintain the integrity of swivelable car seat  210  in the event of an impact, by acting to retain the connection between base  212  and seat  214 . 
   An upper anchor  242  optionally is attached to base  212  at top portion  230  of vertical member  222 , thereby providing an additional anchor for swivelable seat  210 , as known in the art. An additional lower anchor (not shown) may also be attached to bottom member  218  of base  212 , thereby providing yet another anchor for the swivelable seat  210 , also as known in the art. 
   Swivelable car seat  10 ,  210  of the invention enables seat  14 ,  214  to rotate up to 90 degrees left or right from a forward-facing position so that the seat faces a vehicle door, thereby facilitating easier loading and unloading of the child. For example, when swivelable car seat  10 ,  210  is closest to a door on the left side of the vehicle, the car seat may selectively be swiveled to face the left door, and likewise, when the car seat is closest to a door on the right side of the vehicle, the car seat may selectively be swiveled to face the right door. Of course, swivelable car seat  10 ,  210  of the invention maintains a forward-facing position during vehicle operation. 
   By using fixed base  12 ,  212  and seat  14 ,  214 , which swivels via a respective turntable assembly  38 ,  238 , convenient and dependable rotation of swivelable car seat  10 ,  210  is established. Moreover, the use of groove  32  and upper hook  34 , upper hook  234  and channel  226 , protrusion  292  and cavity  294 , and lower hook  296  and channel  298 , each help to preserve the integrity of swivelable car seat  10 ,  210  in the event of an impact, retaining the connection between each respective base  12 ,  212  and seat  14 ,  214 . 
   Seats  14 ,  214  of swivelable car seats  10 ,  210 , respectively, surround the child to a greater extent than prior art seats, wrapping about the back and each side of the child up to about 270 degrees. That is, since seats  14 ,  214  swivel to face an open vehicle door frame for loading and unloading, it is only necessary to have an opening of approximately 90 degrees to allow the child to enter and exit the car seat, as well as for the child&#39;s legs to extend from the seat. Therefore, the sides of seats  14 ,  214  preferably substantially surround the child, and can be padded appropriately, which may provide greater side-impact protection for the child in the case of a vehicle accident. In this manner, swivelable car seats  10 ,  210  of the present invention provide greater protection than car seats of the prior art. 
   The features of swivelable car seat  10 ,  210  reduce the amount of strength required to assist a child in and out of the car seat, thus reducing the potential for injury to an adult who assists the child. Moreover, since there is a reduced need to lift the child into or out of swivelable car seats  10 ,  210 , the likelihood of bumping of the child&#39;s head on the vehicle door frame is also reduced. These advantages are accomplished by enabling the adult who is assisting the child to gain better control of the child with a seat  14 ,  214  that is facing an open vehicle door for loading and unloading and then swiveling the seat to a forward-facing position for traveling, rather than being restricted to a forward-facing position. 
   In this manner, swivelable car seat  10 ,  210  of the present invention provides an apparatus that allows for easier assistance of a child entering and exiting the car seat, thereby reducing the tendency of injury to an adult who is assisting the child, as well as potentially reducing injuries to the child by reducing the lifting of the child that is required, as well as by surrounding the sides of the child to protect against side-impact. 
   It is important to note that other arrangements of components may be used without affecting the overall concept of the invention. For example, other forms for turntable assemblies  38 ,  238  may be used, as alternative construction of the rotation mechanism may be adopted to suit particular design requirements, thereby potentially altering or eliminating at least one of upper and lower turntable plates  64 ,  66  and roller bearing  72 , or disk  264 . It should also be noted that, while portions of car seat  10 ,  210  have been illustrated as solid sections, they may alternatively be adapted to be hollow for cost and weight savings without affecting the overall concept or operation of the invention. 
   Accordingly, the swivelable car seat of the present invention is simplified, provides an effective, safe, inexpensive, and efficient structure which achieves all the enumerated objectives, provides for eliminating difficulties encountered with prior-art car seats, and solves problems and obtains new results in the art. 
   In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
   Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. 
   Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which the improved swivelable car seat is constructed, arranged and used, the characteristics of the construction and arrangement, and the advantageous, new and useful results obtained; the new and useful steps, structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts and combinations, are set forth in the appended claims.