Car seat mobility system

The present application includes a system and method for transporting a car seat outside of a vehicle. The system includes a wheel assembly configured to couple to a portion of the car seat. The wheel assembly attaches to existing base attachment portions on the car seat to minimize any need for retrofit operations. The system further includes a mobility handle configured to adjust in length and couple to a portion of the car seat. The mobility handle is designed to allow an individual to guide and control the movement of the car seat on the wheel assembly.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present application relates generally to infant child seats and, more particularly, to a system and method for transporting the infant child seat outside of the vehicle.

2. Description of Related Art

Various local and national laws require children to be secured within a vehicle while in motion. This has led to the development of various types of car seats for children of different ages. Examples are booster seats, carrier car seats for infants, and fully secured child seats. Each has selected age and weight applications as kids grow. Booster seats and fully secured child seats are typically left in the vehicle and do not provide any ability to carry a child outside of the vehicle. Carrier car seats are different in that they are used to selectively detach from a base in the vehicle. The base remains in the vehicle while the seat with the infant is removed. These seats are used to transport the child outside of the vehicle.

Carrier car seats have many advantages including the convenience afforded to parents and other adults in being able to move the child without disturbing him/her. However, as the name implies, the adult is required to carry the child wherever they go. In an effort to ease the burden and strain on adults from carrying the child and the seat everywhere, specialized strollers were developed to permit the selective attachment of the carrier car seat to the stroller. Although this allows for some relief to adults, it necessitates the bulky carrying and transportation of the stroller in the vehicle. Not all vehicles have room.

It is desirable to provide a more convenient and less bulky system and method of transporting an infant child in a carrier car seat outside of the vehicle. Although great strides have been made, considerable shortcomings remain.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The system in accordance with the present application overcomes one or more of the above-discussed problems commonly associated with conventional medical assessment practices and procedures. Specifically, the system of the present application is configured to provide an ability to transport a carrier car seat outside of the vehicle in a manner that alleviates stresses and strains on an individual having to lift and hold the car seat. The system and method of the present application permits the car seat to be translated along the ground on one or more wheels. The system and method of the present application is useful as permitting mobility while minimizing the bulky transportation of equipment and maximizing convenience. These and other unique features of the system and method are discussed below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The system and method will be understood, both as to its substance and operation, from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description. Several embodiments of the system are contemplated herein. It should be understood that various components, items, and features of the system and method may be modified and/or interchanged with one another, all of which are within the scope of the present application, even though not all variations and particular embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should also be understood that the mixing and matching of features, elements, and/or functions to form various embodiments is expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that the features, elements, and/or functions of one embodiment may be modified into another embodiment as appropriate, unless otherwise described.

The car seat mobility system of the present application is illustrated in the associated drawings. Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters identify corresponding or similar elements in form and function throughout the several views.FIG. 1in the drawings illustrates a car seat mobility system101. System101is used to transport a child in a car seat102outside of a vehicle. The system includes the use of a wheel assembly103and a mobility handle105. Both wheel assembly103and mobility handle105are configured to operate together to permit the selective transportation of the child in car seat102.

In order to operate system101with car seat102, an individual can engage and disengage the wheel assembly103from car seat102as it is coupled to and detached from the base in the car. The base is typically anchored in the vehicle with a seat belt and possibly one or more straps. Car seat102has base attachment portions104(seeFIGS. 2-3) that are configured to snap into the base for securing itself while in the vehicle. System101incorporates wheel assembly103that are configured to couple to car seat102. One such way of coupling is performed by translating wheel assembly103into base attachment portion104after car seat102has been removed from the vehicle. Prior to securing car seat102back in the vehicle on the base, wheel assembly103is selectively detached from car seat102.

Referring now alsoFIGS. 2-3in the drawings, side views of car seat mobility system101without the mobility handle105is illustrated. In particular, an example of coupling wheel assembly103to base attachment portion104is shown. Portion104is located along the bottom of car seat102. Car seat102includes tabs106in portion104for progressively securing car seat102to the base. Wheel assembly103is configured to pass upward through portion104and snap into a temporary locking position relative to car seat102. In this position, wheel assembly103is configured to selectively elevate car seat102relative to the ground or other surface.

Although wheel assembly103has been described as coupling into portion104of car seat102, it is understood that other locations on car seat102may be selected. Other locations may require additional components to ensure a proper and secure fit. These embodiments are also contemplated herein system101. It is preferred that wheel assembly103attaches through portion104to minimize modifications and in order to simplify its use.

Referring now also toFIG. 4in the drawings, a rear view of car seat102as seen inFIGS. 2 and 3is illustrated. System101may include the use of one or more wheel assemblies103as shown. As depicted, wheels107are axially restricted in that rotation about a horizontal axis is maintained. Wheel assembly103may be modified to include additional degrees of freedom wherein wheel assembly103may permit a swivel feature for wheels107. These other embodiments are also contemplated herein. Despite the known variations to the types of wheels and its many various possible degrees of freedom, wheel assembly103is configured to separate car seat102from the ground and permit car seat102to selectively roll along the ground with the proper application of force to mobility handle105.

Referring now also toFIGS. 5-7in the drawings, enlarged views of wheel assembly103is illustrated. In the embodiment where wheel assembly103couples to car seat102via portion104, wheel assembly103is configured to have a few key features to allow it to engage portion104. As seen in the Figures, wheel assembly103is shown having two wheels107separated by central body109. Central body109is hollowed out to form a groove111along a rear surface114and a recess113along a front flat surface115. Groove111is configured to accept car seat102to pass within and between the two sides of groove111. Recess113is configured to accept tabs106. Wheel assembly103may be installed with a slight application of force into seat102. Removal is made simply by pulling wheel assembly103away from seat102. Of not is notch117. Notch117is optionally included and is used to ease acceptance of seat102through groove111. Wheel assembly103is not limited to the use of two wheels. Wheel assembly103may use one or more wheels107.

Referring now also toFIGS. 8-10in the drawings, mobility handle105is illustrated. Mobility handle105is used in combination with wheel assembly103to permit for the comfortable movement of car seat102. It is understood that car seat102may be operable and moveable with only wheel assembly103, however this entails the need for an individual to bend over and push/pull seat102. Although optionally included in system101, it is preferred and recommended that mobility handle105be operable and included at all times with wheels103.

Mobility handle105is coupled to a portion of seat102(i.e. the seat handle). Mobility handle105is configured to provide control of the car seat to an individual. The individual is able to manipulate the movement of the car seat on the wheel by adjusting the forces applied to mobility handle105. Mobility handle105is detachable from car seat102and adjustable in its position on seat102. Mobility handle105is designed to extend away from car seat102to permit comfortable operation by an individual. This may be done through the use of one or more separable members. Although there are many different types of styles and capabilities with handles in general, each of which is contemplated herein, a particularly useful design is shown.

Mobility handle105as seen inFIGS. 8-10are configured to have at least two separable components or members, namely at least a base member121and an upper member123. Other members are contemplated and the use of only two members herein is not meant to be limiting. Base member121is configured to be composed of two halves that when affixed together create a central void125. Void125is used and sized to accommodate one or more portions of seat102, ideally or typically that of the handle of seat102. The halves of base member121are affixed via the use of fasteners passed through apertures127. These fasteners are removable allowing the individual to selectively remove base member121. Additionally, the fasteners may be loosened to adjust the orientation of mobility handle105in relation to seat102.

Upper member123is configured to be selectively detachable from that of base member121. It is understood that mobility handle105is coupled to seat102and that seat102is frequently brought into and out of a vehicle. The length and/or orientation of mobility handle105may be a limiting factor or hindrance in the vehicle. Therefore, upper member123is removable to permit storage while seat102is installed in the vehicle along with the wheel assembly103. Upper member123may operate in various conventional ways. Member123herein is configured to include a shaped peg129configured to mate with a recess130in base member121. Upper member123and peg129are designed to pass down through a portion of the recess130in a first orientation and then snap into place when rotated into a second orientation. When secured, upper member123and base member121are flushly contacted as seen inFIGS. 8 and 9.

In an effort to accommodate the different sizes of adults and individuals using system101, mobility handle105is configured to adjustable in length. An individual may adjust the length of upper member123to accommodate their height and comfort. Upper member123is depicted with the ability to telescope from one length to another. An infinite number of lengths are possible. Grip131is located at the upper most portion of upper member123for the individual to grab and control seat102.

There are many advantages with using system101. System101is simplistic and configured to operate seamlessly with existing car seats102. To use, an individual merely attaches wheel assembly103, having at least one wheel107, to a portion of car seat102. Mobility handle105is then oriented into position, which may include attaching upper member123to base member121. An individual grabs a portion of mobility handle105and positions car seat102on wheel assembly103and applies the desired force to induce motion along the wheels. Prior to placing car seat102back into a vehicle, wheel assembly103is removed for storage. Mobility handle105may optionally be disassembled partly by separating members123and121and storing as well. It is interesting to note that car seat102is inherently unbalanced on wheel assembly103thereby causing car seat102to tilt at a slight angle and contact the ground. This contact helps to prevent car seat102from rolling away unintentionally. All that is required to move car seat102is to tilt it onto wheel assembly103.

The current application has many advantages over the prior art including at least the following: (1) increased convenience; (2) no need to transport a stroller; (3) ability to transport a car seat without difficulty; (4) no required modifications necessary to the car seat; and (5) adjustability to accommodate individuals of various heights.