Abstract:
A vehicle restraint system for a child includes a child car seat having a body with a back and a bottom, the bottom having one or more openings. A base unit that fits in a passenger seat of a vehicle has a top with one or more members, each of which is adapted for mated insertion into the one or more openings. A resilient insertion member locks the child car seat to the base unit. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to vehicle restraint systems, more specifically, to car seats for infants and toddlers.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Child car seats are well known in the prior art. Child car seats are typically secured in the vehicle by a seat belt. The seat belt may attach directly to the car seat, or to a base unit. In either case, removal of the car seat from the vehicle generally requires that it be lifted in a vertical direction from the base or directly from the seat. The awkwardness of this lifting motion is difficult and can strain the back and shoulder muscles or cause injury.  
           [0003]    An example of an infant restraining seat providing a platform adapted to rest on and be secured in position on a vehicle seat is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,807. U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,693 discloses another type of removable child car seat that can also function as a stroller. Combination stroller-infant seats that can be converted from one form to the other are also described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,398,951; 4,678,196; and 2,720,911. Many of these prior art infant restraining seats and stroller-infant seats are quite complicated, lack versatility in use, and are cumbersome or arduous to deal with.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]    The present invention will be understood more fully from the detailed description that follows and from the accompanying drawings, which however, should not be taken to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown, but are for explanation and understanding only.  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1A is a side view of a child car seat according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1B is a side view of one embodiment of a base unit utilized with the child car seat shown in FIG. 1A.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1C shows the child car seat and base unit of FIGS. 1A &amp; 1B in a secured or mated configuration.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base unit of FIG. 1B.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIGS. 3A &amp; 3B are cut-away side views of the base unit of FIG. 1B showing a center locking mechanism in open and secure positions, respectively.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a rear view of the child car seat of FIG. 1A.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a child car seat according to one embodiment of the present invention in a mobile position.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the child car seat of FIG. 1A.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]    The present invention provides an ergonomic child car seat for removable attachment to a base unit secured to a passenger seat of a vehicle. The child car seat includes wheels for mobile transport of a child upon removal of the car seat from the base unit. In the following description numerous specific details are set forth, such as materials, mechanisms, angles, dimensions, etc., in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. Persons having ordinary skill in the mechanical arts, however, will appreciate that these specific details may not be needed to practice the present invention.  
         [0014]    Referring to FIG. 1A there is shown is a side view of a child car seat  100  according to one embodiment of the present invention. Child car seat  100  comprises a support shell body  101  that includes a back  102 , a front  108 , a recessed seat  107 , and a bottom  104 . Support shell  101  may be constructed of thermal plastic materials, but other types of material may be used as well such as chromed tubular steel. A cushioned seat cover  103  fits over recessed seat  107 . Seat cover  103  may comprise soft foam, or a similar material, covered within a durable vinyl or cloth case. A child retaining bar  105  is made of plastic or other durable material and is fastened to the outer sides of support shell  101 .  
         [0015]    Child car seat  100  also includes a handle assembly (more clearly shown in FIG. 5) having a fixed portion attached to, or integral with, back  102  of support shell  101 . A telescopic portion of the handle assembly comprises a pair of inner tubes or rods  109  retractably received by a corresponding pair of outer tubes  110  of larger diameter associated with the fixed portion. A horizontal gripping bar  410  (see FIG. 6) connects the pair of telescopically extending inner rods  109 . Telescopic portion  109  extends in a direction shown by arrow  116 .  
         [0016]    The handle assembly may include any one of a number of conventional locking mechanisms utilized for positioning the gripping bar  410  at a desired height or extended position. Such locking mechanisms are well known in the luggage arts. For example, a pair of compression fittings  119  that tighten against rods  109  when twisted may be utilized, as shown. Other alternative mechanisms include conventional handle-actuated latching mechanisms such as the type that locks the inner rods  109  to outer tubes  110  when a latch built into handle gripping bar  410  is engaged. Squeezing the grip disengages the latch to allow inner rods  109  to move within outer tubes  110  so they may be extended or retracted to a new position.  
         [0017]    A pair of wheels  111  is axially affixed to a protruding section  112  of back  102 . By way of example, the rear view of FIG. 4 shows wheels  111  affixed to an axle  118  that extends through section  112  of support shell  101 . Alternatively, wheels  111  may comprise a wheel/bearing/truck assembly (of a type commonly utilized in skateboards) bolted or otherwise attached to back  102 . It should be understood that even though the embodiment of FIG. 4 shows outer tubes  110  embedded within or integral with back telescopic handle  307  is integral with back portion  102  of the child car seat  100 , other embodiments may include an externally attached telescopic handle assembly.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1A shows child car seat  100  in a stationary position with bottom  104  in contact with a ground surface  115 . In one embodiment, wheels  111  do not contact, or just barely contact, ground surface  115  when in a stationary position. In another embodiment, wheels  111  contact ground surface  115  such that the rear portion of bottom  104  is slightly raised off of ground surface  115 , and child car seat  100  rests on the front portion of bottom  104  when in the stationary position. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1A, the angle (shown by arrow  117 ) between back portion  102  and ground surface  115  when child car seat  100  is in a stationary position is in the range of 55 to 60 degrees. In such an embodiment, an obtuse angle thus exists between back portion and bottom  104 .  
         [0019]    To transport a child positioned in recessed seat  107 , the parent or guardian tilts child car seat  100  by pushing back and/or down on the handle gripping bar  410  in a direction indicated by arrow  411  of FIG. 5. This causes child car seat  100  to pivot back onto wheels  111  such that the weight of child car seat rests entirely on wheels  111 . In other words, child car seat  100  is tilted back so as to lift bottom  104  off ground surface  115 . This mobile position, in which child car seat  100  is pivoted onto wheels  111 , is shown in FIG. 5. In this mobile position, the parent or guardian can transport a child positioned in cushioned recessed seat  107  by pushing (or pulling) child car seat  100  over the ground.  
         [0020]    Bottom  104  of child car seat  100  includes a pair of dovetail openings or slots  113  and  114  that extend through support shell  101  from one sidewall to the other. Slots  113  and  114  are formed to receive corresponding interlocking dovetail members  131  and  132 , respectively, of a base unit  120  (see FIG. 1B). Dovetail members  131  and  132  and the upper surface  121  of base unit  120  may comprise a waxy plastic material having a low coefficient of friction to facilitate sliding of support shell  101  of child car seat  100  onto or off of base unit  120 .  
         [0021]    In the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1C, dovetail slots  113  and  114  run completely through the bottom portion  104  of child car seat  100  from one side to the other. Additionally, the width of child car seat  100  is substantially the same as that of base system  120 . Other embodiments may implement variations of this design. For example, a child car seat may have only one dovetail slot, corresponding to one dovetail member on the base unit, is also possible. Still other embodiments may utilize three or more interlocking members/slots to secure child car seat to base unit  120 .  
         [0022]    It is also understood that dovetail slots  113  and  114  may run only partially through shell  101  of child car seat  100 . Another possibility is to configure bottom  104  of child car seat  100  to be smaller in width than the width of base unit  120 . In other words, a wide variety of configurations other than those shown and discussed in the present specification are possible.  
         [0023]    Base unit  120  is secured to a passenger seat of a vehicle using the vehicle&#39;s seat belt. Bottom  104  of child car seat  100  is then slid in a sideways or horizontal motion so that members  131  and  132  fit into respective openings  113  and  114  to secure car seat  100  to base unit  120  within the vehicle. In other words, the dovetail relationship of members  131  &amp;  132  mated to slots  113  and  114 , respectively, securely attaches child car seat  100  to base unit  120 .  
         [0024]    To prevent car seat  100  from sliding sideways, a resilient base plate is raised into a transverse slot  141  that passes through a portion of members  131  &amp;  132  (see FIG. 2). This slot is aligned with a corresponding transverse slot  142  (see FIG. 6) that extends in a direction from front  108  to back  102  along bottom  104  of child car seat  100 . This aspect of the invention will be described in more detail shortly.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1B is a side view of base unit  120  according to one embodiment of the present invention. A perspective view of base unit  120  is provided in FIG. 2. Base unit  120  has an upper surface  121  fitted to match bottom  104  of child car seat  100 . Bottom  104  rests against upper surface  121  when child car seat  100  is mated to base unit  120  during transportation in a vehicle. A lower surface  122  of base unit  120  is adapted to be received upon a passenger seat of a vehicle. A rear side  128  of base unit  120  fits against the back portion of the vehicle&#39;s passenger seat. A front side  127  of base unit  120  faces the direction of travel of the vehicle.  
         [0026]    Seat belt attachment brackets or flanges  133  are provided on the top rear portion of the base unit  120 . To secure base unit  120  to the seat of the vehicle the seat lap belt is passed through the slots or openings  134  formed by brackets  123 . It is appreciated that other embodiments may include more than two brackets, or just a single, extended bracket  133 . A wide variety of alternative seat belt attachment techniques may also be utilized to secure base unit  120  to a vehicle&#39;s passenger seat.  
         [0027]    With continuing reference to FIG. 1B, a rigid sidewall panel  126  is shown attached to the side of base unit  120  via a hinge  129 . An identical second hinged sidewall panel (not shown in this view) may be attached to the opposite side of base unit  120  in the embodiment of FIG. 1B. Sidewall panel  126  may be fabricated, for example, utilizing thermal plastic materials or from hard-wear resistant material such as aluminum or steel. When child car seat  100  is mated to base unit  120  by sliding dovetail openings  113  &amp;  114  over members  131  &amp;  132 , sidewall panel  126  may be raised to secure child car seat  100  to base system  120 . FIG. 1C shows this mated relationship, with sidewall panel  126  raised to hold child car seat  100  in position on base unit  120 .  
         [0028]    A latch assembly comprising a finger  151  and sleeve  152  is also shown attached to the side of base unit  120 . When sidewall panel  126  is in a raised position, finger  151  may be extended to hold panel  126  in place. Other conventional latching mechanisms may also be used. When sidewall panel  126  is in a raised or closed position as shown in FIG. 1C, the child car seat  100  is prevented from sliding laterally on base unit  120 . A corresponding latching mechanism may also be provided on the opposite side (not shown in this view) of the base system  120 . When hinged sidewall panel  126  is lowered child car seat  100  may be slideably removed from that side of base unit  120 .  
         [0029]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a center locking mechanism may be actuated to further prevent child car seat  100  from sliding sideways off of base unit  120 . FIGS. 3A &amp; 3B are cut-away side views of base unit  120  showing the center locking mechanism in unlocked and locked positions, respectively, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The locking mechanism comprises a rigid center plate  160  that is raised or lowered by turning a knob or lever  170  located on a side of base unit  120 . Lever  170  is axially coupled to mechanical linkage arm  162  axially connected to a proximate end of center plate  160 . First and second linkage legs  164   a  &amp;  164   b  are axially connected to distal and proximate ends of center plate  160 , and also to a spine  166  located along the inside surface of bottom  122  of base unit  120 .  
         [0030]    Rotating lever  170  in a direction shown by arrow  182  causes linkage arm  162  to push center plate  160  up through slot  141  in upper surface  121  of base unit  120  (see FIG. 2). Slot  141  extends in a transverse direction from front side  127  toward rear side  128 . Slot  141  also passes through a portion of each of dovetail members  131  &amp;  132  to a height that allows center plate  160  to be fully raised, as shown in FIG. 3B.  
         [0031]    A corresponding slotted opening  142  is located along a transverse direction of bottom  104  of child car seat  100 , as shown in FIG. 6. When child car seat  100  is mated to base unit  120  and centered such that sidewall panels  126  may be raised and latched, respective transverse slots  141  &amp;  142  in base unit  120  and child car seat  100  are aligned. In this configuration, actuation of lever  170  causes center plate to be raised to a locking position in which plate  160  fits within transverse slots  141  &amp;  142 . This locked position prevents child car seat from moving laterally over base unit  120 .  
         [0032]    Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, numerous modifications and alterations are well within the scope of the present invention. For example, instead of a base unit with trapezoidal shaped dovetail members, T-shaped or other rectilinear or curvilinear shaped members may be used with corresponding shaped openings in the bottom of child car seat. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.