COLLAPSIBLE TRAVEL SEAT FOR INFANTS AND THE LIKE

A collapsible seat for supporting an infant is provided. The collapsible seat is configured so as to obtain a relatively compact unit for convenient storage and easy transportation during periods of non-use. In that regard, the collapsible seat may include one or more inflatable sections. The collapsible seat may also include a removable, flexible cover, which may be designed with patterns, such as stripes, Polka dots, among others, or may be themed, such as with general characters, such as a mouse, cat, dog, etc., or with branded themes such as Disney® characters and the like. The collapsible seat may further include other features, such as an restraint system, headrest, etc.

BACKGROUND

Families of toddlers and infants know the need for stable sitting apparatuses. This need further extends away from the home, whether a visit to friends or family or an out of town trip or vacation.

The prior art contains several devices intended to be used as sitting support devices for infants and young children, ranging from pillow like devices to be placed around the middle of the infant that also double as nursing pillows and infant propping devices, to devices designed specifically for the developmental stage when infants are first learning to sit upright.

SUMMARY

In accordance with aspect of the present disclosure, an inflatable seat having a concavity for supporting an infant is provided. The inflatable seat includes an inflatable base section having a flat bottom surface configured to rest on a support surface and an upper perimeter region, and an inflatable upper section having a longitudinal center line. In some embodiments, the inflatable upper section includes front and back walls and first and second side walls each upwardly extending from the upper perimeter region of the inflatable base section. The upper ends of the side walls form in some embodiments a generally oval, forwardly facing opening of the concavity. The concavity can be formed by a contiguous support surface that includes a rearwardly inclined back support surface section and a forwardly inclined front support surface section.

In some embodiments, the support surface has a general curvature from the upper end of the first side wall to the upper end of the second side wall as the support surface extends from the front wall to the back wall.

In some embodiments, the flat bottom surface is ovally shaped.

In some embodiments, the upper perimeter region is generally ovally shaped.

In some embodiments, the inflatable upper section is symmetrical about the longitudinal center line.

In some embodiments, the seat further comprises an infant restraint mounted to the upper section.

In some embodiments, the seat further comprises a headrest positioned on the a rearwardly inclined back support surface section.

In some embodiments, the seat further comprises a removable, flexible cover that extends over at least the upper section.

In some embodiments, the flexible cover includes one or a theme and pattern.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, an inflatable seat having a concavity for supporting an infant is provided. The inflatable seat includes an inflatable base section having an flat, ovally shaped, bottom surface configured to rest on a support surface, and an ovally shaped, upper perimeter region, and an inflatable upper section having a longitudinal center line. In some embodiments, the inflatable upper section includes outwardly curved front and back walls and first and second side walls each upwardly extending from the upper perimeter region of the inflatable base section. The upper ends of the side walls in some embodiments form a generally oval, forwardly facing opening of the concavity. The inflatable seat in some embodiments may also include a removable, flexible cover that extends over at least the upper section, and in some embodiments, extends over both the base section and the upper section.

In some embodiments, the forwardly facing opening is disposed generally transverse to the inflatable base section.

In some embodiments, a bottom surface of the concavity includes a contiguous support surface having a rearwardly inclined back support surface section and a forwardly inclined front support surface section.

In some embodiments, the inflatable upper section is symmetrical about the longitudinal center line.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present disclosure, an inflatable seat is provided. The inflatable seat includes an inflatable seat structure defining a concavity suitably dimensioned and configured for receiving and supporting an infant, and an outer covering disposed over at least the concavity of the inflatable seat structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings where like numerals reference like elements is intended as a description of various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter and is not intended to represent the only embodiments. Each embodiment described in this disclosure is provided merely as an example or illustration and should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The illustrative examples provided herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the claimed subject matter to the precise forms disclosed. Similarly, any steps described herein may be interchangeable with other steps, or combinations of steps, in order to achieve the same or substantially similar result.

One representative embodiment of a collapsible seat, generally designated20, constructed in accordance with the present disclosure is illustrated inFIG. 1. Generally described, the collapsible seat20comprises a bottom24, sides26that upwardly extend from around the perimeter of the bottom24, and a top28. The top28, in cooperation with the sides26in some embodiments form a concavity32suitably dimensioned and configured for receiving and supporting an infant and/or the like. An optional restraint36and a headrest40may be provided to secure the infant while placed in the cavity30and to support the head of the infant, respectively. As will be described in more detail below, the collapsible seat20is configured so as to obtain a relatively compact unit for convenient storage and easy transportation during periods of non-use, as shown inFIG. 7.

Turning now to FIGS.2and8-15, one example of the collapsible seat20will be described in more detail. As best shown inFIG. 2, the seat20may comprise an inflatable seat structure46and an outer covering50. The inflatable seat structure46may be formed by an inflatable base section54mountable below an inflatable upper section56. The inflatable base section54in one embodiment is generally oval, as shown in the bottom view ofFIG. 11, and is generally symmetrical about its longitudinal axis. The inflatable base section54may be formed with rounded side walls60that interconnect generally flat, parallelly disposed bottom and top walls62and64. The flat bottom wall62includes a bottom surface configured to be supported by a support surface, such as a floor of a room, a top of a table, etc. The bottom wall62, side walls60, and top wall64are constructed of an impermeable, flexible material, such as polyethylene or plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film, and are glue bonded, adhesive bonded, heat sealed, or otherwise connected in order to form an air tight cavity68(SeeFIG. 14). The inflatable base section54is sized and configured for having the strength and stability to support the weight of the inflatable upper section56and infant when in use. An air valve74is provided for inflating and deflating the air tight cavity68of the inflatable base54.

The inflatable upper section56is glue bonded, adhesive bonded, heat sealed, or otherwise connected to the inflatable base54. The upper section56is comprised of a bottom wall76(optional), side walls78, a front wall80, a back wall82, and an upper or top wall84. The walls76-84are formed of an impermeable flexible material, such as polyethylene or plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film, and can be easily fabricated and joined by glue bonding, adhesive bonding, or heat sealing techniques known in the art, among others, in order to form an air tight cavity88(SeeFIG. 14). The inflatable upper section56includes a resealable air valve86disposed in fluid communication with the cavity88. Alternatively, the upper section56and the base54may be interconnected in such a way as to permit inflation of via one of the resealable air valves74or86.

As best shown inFIGS. 2 and 8,14and16, the walls78-82of the inflatable upper section56upwardly extend from an outer perimeter region of the base section54. In the embodiment shown, the outer perimeter region of the base section54is generally oval. The outer surfaces of the walls78-82each have an outward or somewhat convex curvature, the back wall82extending higher than the front wall80, and with a generally wider curve. As shown inFIGS. 15 and 16, the upper section54is symmetrical about its longitudinal axis.

The top ends of the walls78-82define an oval or egg-shaped opening92of a concavity or well90when inflated. In the embodiment shown, the well90is somewhat shaped like an oval bowl, formed by the concave top wall84. In that regard, the outer perimeter of the top wall84is generally oval or egg-shaped, and is cooperatively sized to interface with top ends of the walls78-82, thereby forming the opening of the well90. As shown in the cross sectional view ofFIG. 16, the top wall84generally curves in a concave manner from side wall78A to side wall78B as the top wall84extends from the front wall80to the back wall82. In some embodiments, the top ends of the side walls78A and78B, along with the front wall80and top wall82, contiguously connect to the outer, oval perimeter of top wall84via a top surface94. As the top wall84extends from the front wall80to the back wall82, the top wall84forms a shorter, frontwardly inclined front inner wall section96(curved from side wall to side wall as shown, for example, inFIG. 16) that supports the infants legs, and a longer, generally backwardly inclined, inner wall section98(curved from side wall to side wall as shown, for example, inFIGS. 16-18) that supports the infants back, as shown in the longitudinal cross-section view ofFIG. 14. The inner wall sections96and98join at the bottom100of the well with a general curvature for supporting the buttocks region of the infant. In one embodiment, the curvature has a radius of between about 120 mm and 180 mm along the longitudinal center line or axis, designated104inFIG. 10, of the upper section56.

As inflated, the well90is suitably dimensioned and configured for receiving and supporting an infant and/or the like while lying in a somewhat prone to inclined, forwardly facing position. In some embodiments, the back inner wall section98of the well90supports the infant at an inclined angle of between about ten (10) degrees and about 60 degrees, although other angles of inclination are within the scope of the disclosed subject matter. As best shown inFIGS. 1,8, and9, the well90is sized and configured to somewhat cradle and ensconce the infant in a somewhat seated but inclined, supporting position when placed therein.

FIGS. 20A-20Billustrate another embodiment of the inflatable seat structure146. The inflatable seat structure is substantially similar to the inflatable seat structure46except for the differences that will now be explained. As shown inFIGS. 20A-20B, the upper or top wall84of upper section56described above is optional. In that regard, the top wall164of base section154may form the bottom surface of the concavity190. As such, the front, back, and side walls178-182have a somewhat tubular shape, defining cavity188. In this embodiment, the cavity188is generally shaped as an oval ring.

Referring now toFIGS. 1-7, the inflatable seat20may optionally include the outer covering50. The outer covering50is sized and configured to overlay at least the upper section56is a somewhat snug fashion so as to be somewhat secured to the upper section56when the upper section56is generally inflated, and in some embodiments, when the upper section56is fully inflated. In one embodiment, the outer covering50is lace locked to the upper section56. Alternatively or additionally, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, etc., may be used in other embodiments to releasably secure the outer covering50to the upper section56. As best shown in the rear view ofFIG. 6, the covering50may provide access to the resealable valve86. In other, embodiments, the outer covering50may be sized and configured to overlay both the base section54and the upper section56. In some embodiments, the outer covering50overlays both the upper section56and base section54, as shown inFIG. 19.

Preferably, the outer covering50may be generally soft to the touch and aesthetically pleasing to the infant and/or the like. In one embodiment, the outer covering50is constructed from a durable fabric, such as Cordura®. Other materials may be additionally or alternatively employed, including fleece, Polar fleece or other microfiber material, wool, lambs wool, cotton, nylon, polyester, etc. The outer covering50may be designed with patterns, such as stripes, Polka dots, among others, or may be themed, such as with general characters, such as a mouse, cat, dog, etc., or with branded themes such as Disney® characters and the like.

Referring now toFIGS. 1-3, the collapsible seat20may include additional features, such as a restraint36and/or a head rest40. In the embodiment shown, the head rest40is a pillow or other head support structure capable of supporting the infant's head when the infant is placed in the well90. The head rest40is stitched or otherwise secured to the covering50at a position on the back wall92. In some embodiment, the head rest40can be an inflatable body, foam padding, and/or the like, and covered, for example, with a soft fabric covering.

The restraint36may be any restraint currently employed in infant, baby, and or toddler seats, for restraining the infant in the seat20when placed therein. The restraint36may also support the infant in a generally inclined position, among others. In some embodiments, the restraint36may include a harness system of the three point type or the five point type. In the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-4, the restraint36includes leg openings and straps that are positionable around the infant's waist or stomach. The restraint36may be stitched or otherwise secured to the outer covering50at a proximal portion of the well90. In other embodiments, the restraint36and the head rest40are releasably secured to the outer covering50in any of a variety of connection techniques known in the art.

Using the collapsible seat20, which is constructed in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference toFIGS. 1-19. When the collapsible seat20is not in use, the collapsible seat20can be stored in a deflated condition. In the deflated condition, the collapsible seat20can be folded, rolled, or otherwise manipulated into a compact, stowable, condition, including, floor example, as shown inFIG. 7. If desired, the collapsible seat20in the compact, stowable, condition can be placed within a storage bag for easy transport, etc. In embodiments where the headrest40and/or the restraint36are removable, these features may be removed prior to deflating and placed within the storage bag for subsequent use. In some embodiments, the collapsible seat20includes straps108or other structure that maintains the collapsible seat20in the compact, stowable, condition. In these embodiments and others, the straps or other structure may either be attached to the seat20, or detached from the seat20.

When the collapsible seat20is needed for supporting an infant or the like, the base54and the upper section56are inflated via the valves74and86. This can be readily accomplished by manually exhaling into the valves74,86or by using an auxiliary air system, such as an air pump or with the exhaust port of a wet/dry vacuum. The inflation of the base54and upper section56will cause the collapsible seat20to expand, thereby erecting the walls and forming the well90. The optional cover50may then be placed over at least the upper section56, and in some embodiments, over both the base section54and the upper section56. The infant may then be placed within the well90, and if employed, the infant may be positioned so as to be restrained by the restraint36and/or have its head supported by the headrest40.

After use of the collapsible seat20and the infant is removed from the collapsible seat20, the collapsible seat20may be deflated by opening the air valves74and86, permitting air within the cavities68and88to be released. After the collapsible seat20is deflated, the collapsible seat20may then be folded, rolled or otherwise manipulated into a relatively compact unit for convenient storage and transport during periods of non-use. Prior to storing the collapsible seat20, the collapsible seat20may be cleaned and/or sanitized, as desired.