Convertible child restraint

A device adapted to be used as either a safety restraint seat for a child in a vehicle or as a stroller. The device comprises a shell provided with wheels and with a handle adjustable to a first position extending upwardly and rearwardly for using the device as a stroller and to a second position extending downwardly below the shell for engaging a vehicle floor structure when the shell is placed on a vehicle seat in a rearwardly-facing position.

This invention relates to a child's stroller and, more particularly, to a 
stroller adapted to be readily converted to a child's safety restraint 
seat for use in a vehicle or to a child's highchair. 
Heretofore it has been known to mount a child's vehicle safety restraint 
device on a carriage for use as a stroller. Likewise, it is not new to 
attach wheels and a handle to a shell of a child's vehicle restraining 
device so that it can be used as a stroller. However, with both types of 
constructions heretofore proposed it is necessary to remove certain 
elements from the shell when it is desired to use the shell as a child 
restraining device in a vehicle. Thus, in constructions heretofore 
proposed it is necessary to dismantle from the shell and to store such 
parts as a handle, an undercarriage, wheels, etc. when the device is used 
as a child's restraining seat in a vehicle. 
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a stroller of 
integral construction which can be converted into a safety restraint for 
use in a vehicle without requiring the removal of any parts. The 
accomplishment of this object is important not only from the standpoint of 
practicality, but also because the unit can be manufactured, shipped and 
merchandised more economically than the constructions heretofore proposed. 
More specifically, the invention comprises an enclosure for the child in 
the form of a shape-retaining shell having wheels mounted thereon and also 
a handle shiftable to various positions, depending upon the use to which 
the device is to be put. 
Another feature of the stroller of this invention resides in the design of 
the handle which prevents it from being incorrectly arranged when a 
stroller is used as a safety restraint device in a vehicle. 
The stroller of this invention is designed such that by the manipulation of 
a minimum number of parts it can be used for travelling on a ground 
surface, a safety restraining seat in a vehicle, or as a child's 
highchair. 
More specifically, the stroller is designed so that it can be converted 
from one use to another without removing the child therefrom.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the stroller of the invention comprises a shell 
10 which is preferably molded of at least a semi-rigid plastic material 
having a front wall 12, a rear wall 14, a bottom wall 16 and side walls 
18. Within shell 10 there is arranged an insert 20 formed of a 
compressible, slow-recovery foam which is overlaid with a soft, 
slow-recovery padding 22. Front and rear wheels 24, 26, respectively, are 
mounted on shell 10 adjacent the opposite ends thereof. Insert 20 is 
shaped such that, when the shell is oriented in a generally horizontal 
position as shown in either FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the child is supported 
therein in a generally upright, inclined position. 
Adjacent the rear of each side wall 18 there is mounted thereon a rigid 
journal plate 28 on which a handle 30 is pivotably supported. Handle 30 is 
of generally U-shaped configuration with a cross bar 32 interconnecting 
the pivotably supported legs of the handle. The handle legs each comprise 
two sections 34, 36 which are pivotably interconnected as at 38. At one 
end of cross bar 32 there is fixedly secured thereto a disc 40 having 
three circumferentially spaced notches 42, 44, 46 around the periphery 
thereof. Disc 40 is located axially between journal plate 28 and a 
retainer plate 48 mounted thereon. The handle 30 is adapted to be retained 
in any of the hereinafter described positions by means of a lock latch 50 
pivotably mounted on the adjacent plate 28 as at 52 and biased to a 
latching position by a spring 54. The sear 56 of lock latch 50 is adapted 
to engage in any of the notches 42, 44, 46 to lock handle 30 in a 
plurality of different positions. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, when 
sear 56 engages in notch 42 handle 30 is locked in a position extending 
upwardly and rearwardly from shell 10. When sear 56 engages with notch 44 
handle 30 is locked in a generally upright position extending downwardly 
from the shell. Likewise, when sear 56 engages in notch 46 handle 30 is 
locked in a forwardly extending position overlying the shell. If desired, 
a lock latch and disc may be provided adjacent both ends of cross bar 32. 
The sections 34 of handle 30 are interconnected by additional cross bar 58 
which projects laterally outwardly beyond the handle sections. The outer 
ends of handle sections 34 are provided with laterally outwardly extending 
lugs 60. The inner ends of sections 36 of handle 30 are of tubular shape 
and slideably receive plungers 62 which are biased axially outwardly by 
compression springs 64. Each plunger 62 is slotted as at 66 to receive the 
pivot shaft as at 38. Thus, plungers 62 are axially retractable and 
extendable within the handle sections 36. The handle sections 36 are 
located on the laterally outer sides of handle sections 34 and the outer 
ends of cross bar 68 and lugs 60 are formed with cam surfaces as at 70 
adapted to be engaged by the ends 72 of plungers 62. Thus, when handle 
sections 36 are pivoted in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6, the ends 
72 of the plungers engage and ride over the cam surfaces 70 and onto the 
flat surfaces 74 of the ends of cross bar 58 to lock the handle in its 
extended position. In this position the upper end portion of each handle 
section 36 is locked against the flat upper face 76 of lugs 60. When 
handle section 36 is rotated in the opposite direction the ends 72 of 
plungers 62 ride over the cam surface 70 of lug 60 and lock the handle in 
the collapsed condition shown in FIG. 8. 
It will be observed that, when the handle is swung forwardly to the 
position shown in FIG. 8 wherein the two handle sections are in the 
collapsed condition, cross bar 58 is located in a position interfering 
with the abdomen of a child supported within shell 10. As shown in FIG. 9, 
if it is desired to exaggerate this interference the central portion of 
cross bar 58 may have an additional humped member 78 mounted thereon and 
arranged to project within the confines of the shell to provide very 
substantial interference with a child therein. 
In the arrangement shown in FIG. 10 a modified handle 30' is shown wherein 
two sections 34', 36' are both of U-shape and interconnected by pins 38'. 
In this arrangement a single plunger 62 may be employed. In other respects 
handle 30' is substantially the same as handle 30. 
In addition to handle 30 there is pivotably mounted on shell 10 as at 80 a 
generally U-shaped support leg 82. The pivotal supports 80 comprise 
openings located one on each side panel 18 adjacent the lower forward ends 
thereof. The inwardly bent ends 84 of leg 82 project into the openings 80 
and are retained therein by pins 86. Leg 82 is adapted to be swung between 
the collapsed position shown in FIG. 1 wherein the bight portion 88 of the 
leg is nested within a recess 90 on the bottom of the shell to an upright 
supporting position (shown in FIG. 4) wherein the free end of the leg is 
adapted to engage a ground surface. Leg 82 is adapted to be retained in 
the nested position by a plunger 92 mounted in the bottom wall 16 of the 
shell and biased axially outwardly by a compression spring 94 engaging a 
pin 95 on plunger 92 so that the head of the plunger normally lies in the 
path of swinging movement of the leg. In the upright position shown in 
FIG. 4 the leg is trapped between plunger 92 and a stop 96 on side wall 
18. 
When the device is used as a stroller, leg 82 is arranged in the nested 
position and handle sections 34, 36 are extended as shown in FIG. 1. The 
handle 30 is locked in the upwardly and rearwardly inclined position by 
engaging the sear 56 of lock latch 50 with notch 42 in locking disc 40. In 
this condition of the device a child may be placed therein and the shell 
rolled along a ground surface. 
If it is desired to use the device as a child's safety restraint in a 
vehicle, spring plunger 62 is retracted and handle section 36 is pivoted 
counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 1 to snap the head 72 of the spring 
plunger over lug 60. Thereafter, the handle assembly is pivoted downwardly 
and the sear 56 of lock latch 50 is interengaged with notch 44 of disc 40 
so that the handle assembly assumes the position shown in FIG. 2. It will 
be appreciated that the handle can be so collapsed and arranged without 
removing the child from within the shell. Thereafter the device is 
arranged on a vehicle seat in the manner shown in FIG. 2 with the shell 
and the child in a rearwardly facing direction. 
In the position shown in FIG. 2 the collapsed handle will project 
downwardly forwardly of the front edge of the vehicle seat and the lower 
end thereof will engage the floor structure 98 of the vehicle. With the 
shell so arranged on the vehicle seat the conventional vehicle seat 
restraining belt 100 is tightened around the shell. The upper edges of 
side walls 18 have a recess 102 formed therein for engaging and retaining 
said belt in the desired position; namely, inclined forwardly and upwardly 
from the anchoring plates 104 on the floor structure of the vehicle and 
around the shell at the recesses 102. It will be noted that, when the 
device is arranged as shown in FIG. 2, the line of force 106 of seat belt 
100 and the line of force 108 between handle 30 and shell 10 are inclined 
toward each other and intersect above the center of gravity CG of the 
device with the child placed therein. Accordingly, in the event of a front 
end collision the inertia forces of the combined mass of the child and the 
device tend to pivot the shell counterclockwise as indicated by the arrow 
in FIG. 2. This results from the fact that handle 30 forms a rigid strut 
between the floor structure of the vehicle and its point of pivotal 
connection with the shell. This may cause the front wheels 24 on the shell 
to be displaced further into the vehicle seat. However, it will not result 
in the application of forces on the child which would tend to produce 
serious injury. The danger of ejection of the child is greatly reduced 
without the necessity of providing shoulder straps around the child to 
restrain the inertia forces imposed on the child. Shoulder straps, if 
provided, would only be used to prevent ejection of the child in the event 
of a collision wherein the vehicle might roll over. Accordingly, the 
provision of such shoulder straps is not illustrated in the drawings. When 
the device is arranged in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2 it functions in 
the same manner as shown in my copending application Ser. No. 635,653, 
filed Nov. 26, 1975. 
When it is desired to remove the child and the device from within a vehicle 
it is only necessary to detach the seat belt 100 and thereafter pivot 
handle 30 to a desired position. In the event it is desired to use the 
device as a highchair, it is only necessary to pivot handle section 36 to 
the extended position while the handle is locked as shown in FIG. 2 and to 
swing leg 82 to the position shown in FIG. 4. 
It will be observed that recess 102 not only provides a means for properly 
locating seat belt 100, but also provides a recess in each side wall of 
the shell above the plane of which the child's body would normally 
project. Thus, although for storage purposes the handle 30 can be pivoted 
forwardly to the position shown in FIG. 8 wherein the sear 56 of lock 
latch 50 engages notch 44, it is apparent that the user will appreciate 
that the handle is improperly located in this position when it is desired 
to use the device as a child's restraint in a vehicle. The cross bar 58 or 
the humped portion 78 thereon would seriously interfere with the child's 
body. Thus, the user would realize that the proper location of the handle 
when the device is used as a child's restraint is in the upright position 
shown in FIG. 2 rather than in the collapsed position shown in FIG. 8.