Car seat insert with elastic under-body panel

An insert for positioning an infant in a car seat. The insert includes a head support section to support the baby's head on both sides. Connected to the head support section is a body support section with elongate side members connected by an elastic under-body support panel extending therebetween. This panel can be sewn to the side members or, even more preferably, can be attached by tubular sleeves that are slidably received on the side members of the body support section. In this way, the position of the panel can be adjusted along the length of the insert. Additionally, by rotating the side members, or the sleeves on the side members, the tension on the panel can be adjusted to increase or decease the tension, as desired, to create a swaddling effect under the infant. Alternately, the insert serves as an infant swing or carrier.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to infant support pillows and cushions for use in infant car seats.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Infant car seats are an essential, but expensive travel accessory for parents and caregivers of infants and toddlers. Because of their cost, they are typically sized for use from infancy though 2-3 years of age. However, this means that the seat usually is too spacious for premature or very young infants. A variety of car insert cushions and pillows have been developed to position and support small infants in car seats. However, there remains a need for a car seat insert with added versatility.

The car seat insert of the present invention answers this need by providing a car seat insert cushion that cushions and positions the entire length of the infant's body. The head support section comprises a unitary C-shaped cushion that supports both sides of the head. The body support section includes two elongate side members with an elastic support panel extending therebetween. The tension on the panel can be adjusted by rotating the side members. In a most preferred embodiment, the panel is attached to the side members by sleeves so that the position of the panel along the length of the insert can be adjusted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning now to the drawings in general and toFIG. 1in particular, shown therein is a car seat insert made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention and designated generally by the reference numeral10. The car seat insert10is shown inside a conventional car seat12, shown in broken lines, with an infant14, also in broken lines, secured therein by a harness16. Typically, the harness16comprises two shoulder straps20and22that extend generally from the back of the car seat12downwardly over the shoulders and torso of the infant14and connecting by a clamp or buckle24to the lower body portion of the harness. The car seat12shown in the drawings is merely exemplary of many commercially available car seats. The car seat12may vary in style and configuration, but typically will include forwardly extending sides28and30for partially enclosing the infant14.

As shown inFIG. 2, the car seat insert10comprises a head support section34that is generally C-shaped, though the shape may vary. The head support section34should at least comprise side members36and38for supporting the sides of the infant's head in the car seat12. Each side member36and38has an end40and42configured to be adjacent to the shoulder of the infant14when the infant and the insert10are secured in the car seat12(FIG. 1).

The insert10preferably also comprises a body support section48connected to the head support section34. The body support section comprises a pair of spaced apart, elongated side members50and52. Each of the side members50and52is sized to be received between one side of the infant14and the adjacent side of the car seat12. Specifically, the side member50is dimensioned to be received between the infant's right side and the side28of the seat12, and the side member52is dimensioned to be received between the infant's left side and the side30of the seat.

Each of the side members50and52has an upper and lower end, that is, the side member50has an upper end56and a lower end58, and the side member52has an upper end60and a lower end62. Preferably the upper ends56and58are attached to the ends40and42, respectively, of the head support section34. Most preferably, this connection takes the form of a seam or joint, although the connection can be a continuous transition from the head support section34to the side members50and52. In addition, the lower ends58and60may each include an outwardly projecting foot68and70, respectively. When rotated inwardly towards each other, as shown inFIG. 1, these form a complete bolster around the infant14.

The head support section34and the body support section48may be formed of compressible, resilient material so that the insert10provides good cushioning and returns to its original shape or resting position after being deformed. The insert10may be formed in any suitable manner. In the preferred technique, the insert10is formed by first sewing a fabric enclosure (not shown) in the desired configuration. The enclosure material may be any suitable fabric, including but not limited to waterproof nylon, flannel, or elastic fabrics, such as spandex or cotton-spandex blends. However, presently a polyester/cotton blend is preferred. The enclosure may be filled with a compressible, resilient material. A preferred filler is polyester fiberfill. Other suitable fillers include down feathers, memory foam, and polystyrene pellets. In some instances, an inflatable inner liner may be preferred.

Referring still toFIGS. 1-3and now also toFIG. 4, the insert10preferably includes a pair of loops, such as the tabs76and78, attached to the insert. Each of the tabs76and78is positioned and sized to slidably receive one of the two shoulder straps20and22of the harness16in the car seat12, as shown inFIG. 1. In this way, the bolster formed by the insert10is held snugly around the infant14.

Referring particularly toFIG. 4, one of the tabs78will be described in more detail. The tab78has one end82attached to the insert, preferably to the end42of the head support section34, and a second end84that is removably attachable to the insert, again preferably to the end of the head support section. Mating hook-and-loop fasteners are provided on the tab78. Specifically, as shown inFIG. 4, hook-and-loop fastener88is provided on the end84of the tab78, and fastener90is attached to the end42of the head support section34, the fastener90positioned to mate with the fastener88. It will be understood that the tab76has similar fasteners. While hook-and-loop type fasteners are ideal for the preferred embodiment shown herein, other types of connectors may be substituted. For example, the attachment means could be drawstrings, buttons, ties, snaps, hooks, buckles, or the like.

With continued reference toFIGS. 2-4, the insert10preferably further comprises an under-body panel92extending between the side members50and52. In the preferred embodiments, the panel92is an elastic fabric, such as spandex, however other fabrics may be substituted. The panel92preferably has an upper edge94that, with the head support section34, forms an opening96behind the head of the infant when the infant and the insert10are secured in the car seat. The shoulder straps20and22of the harness26may be accessed through this opening96.

The under-body panel92has a first side edge98and a second side edge100(FIG. 3), the side edge98being attached along the length of the side member50, and the second side edge100being attached along the length of the side member52. In this way, when the side members50and52are rotated inwardly, the panel92will be stretched apart, and when the side members are rotated outwardly, the panel will be relaxed. In other words, the tension on the panel92can be increased or decreased by rotation of the side members50and52of the body support section48. This creates a swaddling effect, especially for the smaller infants.

Turning now toFIGS. 5 and 6, a second embodiment of the car seat insert of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment the insert, designated generally by the reference numeral10A, comprises a similarly formed head support section34with tabs76and78, and a body support section48A comprising side members50A and52A with feet68A and70A. An under-body panel92A also is included. However, in this embodiment, the side edges98A and100A are attached along the length of each one of a pair of tubular sleeves106and108that are slidably receivable on the side members50A and52A of the body support section48. The sleeves106and108, like the panel92A, are made of fabric, and most preferably of the same elastic fabric as the panel.

Now it will be apparent that the sleeves106and108easily can be slipped on and off the side members50A and52A of the body support section48. In this way, the position of the under-body panel92A can be moved upwardly and downwardly on the body support section48.

With reference now toFIGS. 7 and 8, the adjustable tension feature of the panel92A is illustrated.FIG. 7shows the panel92A in a relaxed position, in which the panel will lie flat against the back of the car seat12. By rotating the sleeves106and108in the direction of the arrows110and112, the tension on the panel92A can be increased, while maintaining the panel92A in a rearward position. As shown inFIG. 8, when the sleeves106and108are rotated in the direction of the arrows114and116, the tension on the panel92A can be increased while at the same time lifting the panel to a more forward position. This allows the tension on the under-body panel92A to be adjusted independent of the position of the side members50A and52A. Thus, the feet68A and70A can rotated inwardly to support the infant's feet and legs, as shown inFIG. 1, while the under-body panel92A is lifted, as inFIG. 8.

Now it will be appreciated that the car insert of the present invention provides an ideal way to position a small infant snugly in a standard sized car seat. The shoulder loops keep the insert close to the infant's body, and the under-body panel hugs the infant's back and bottom in a bucket-like manner, which can be adjusted for the size of the infant. It will also be apparent that the car insert can be used in other ways apart from a car seat. For example, the because of its “bucket” seat, the insert may be used as a swing or an infant carrier.

The embodiments shown and described above are exemplary. Many details are often found in the art and, therefore, many such details are neither shown nor described. It is not claimed that all of the details, parts, elements, or steps described and shown were invented herein. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present inventions have been described in the drawings and accompanying text, the description is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad meaning of the terms of the attached claims. The description and drawings of the specific embodiments herein do not point out what an infringement of this patent would be, but rather provide an example of how to use and make the invention. The limits of the invention and the bounds of the patent protection are measured by and defined in the following claims.