Abstract:
A seat cover configured to be removably attached to a child vehicle seat is provided with a compartment to enable a booster seating insert to be inserted into and secured. The cover is further provided with a plurality of straps, having fasteners, to secure the cover to the child vehicle seat.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention is a continuation-in-part of, was first described in, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/163,481, filed May 19, 2015, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of universal removable vehicle seat cover and booster seat height pad systems and more specifically relates to washable removable child seat covers and removable height boosting pads. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The booster seat is used for children who are outgrowing the conventional car seat and still not old enough to sit alone in a conventional car seat. Booster seats are designed to improve the placement of the seat restraint in order to prevent injuring a child during an accident. They are often further designed as a secondary precautionary protection device by providing another barrier for a child in cases of collisions, especially from the side impacts. 
     A child is not lawfully able to sit in a car without a safety seat until they reach a specific age or weight. As they grow older different types of vehicle car seats may be used to ensure a child&#39;s safety. When a child reaches approximately thirty to forty pounds (30-40 lbs.), a booster seat may be used in a vehicle. Some children reach the weight limit to transition to a booster seat, but are not tall enough for the seat restraint to fit correctly and safely on their body. 
     During the years of use a child booster seat often have to withstand a large amount of soiling, including fluid spillage, food spillage, body fluid spoilages, amongst other wear and tear. Often, vehicle booster seats have a fabric covering, which bear a large volume of wear and tear from a child. There is a clear need for an easy and affordable way to improve booster seat clean up and functionality. 
     Various attempts have been made to solve problems found in booster seat cover art. Among these are found in U.S. Pat. and U.S. Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 2010/0109399 to Elizabeth B. Rockwell; 2013/0229036 to Leo Willard Bill, III; U.S. Pat. No. 7,740,314 to Allen Friedland; 2005/0082886 to Paige Sganga; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,422,278 to Thomas E. McConnell. These prior art references are representative of vehicle seat covers and removable seat cushions. 
     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed. Thus, a need exists for a reliable universal removable vehicle seat cover and booster seat height pad system, and to avoid the above-mentioned problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide such a covering for a child vehicle seat that is capable of receiving at least one (1) cushioned insert capable of being retained within a compartment. In such an arrangement, the covering can be removably attached to the child vehicle seat such that the cushioned insert can be used as a booster seat by an occupant while maintaining the overall outward appearance of a continuous vehicle seat cover without the unsightly and protruding features of a typical booster seat. 
     In at least one (1) embodiment of the invention, the covering includes a waterproof, flexible fabric having a back portion and a bottom portion. The compartment for retaining each insert therein is located on the rear surface of the bottom portion. At least one (1) pair of upper straps are located at opposing perimeter edges of the back portion, each having an attachment means at distal ends thereof for removably attaching to themselves. An upper portion of the vehicle seat is retained within the pair of upper straps when they are conjoined. Similarly, at least one (1) pair of lower straps are located at opposing perimeter edges of the bottom portion, each having an attachment means at distal ends thereof for removably attaching to themselves. A lower portion of the vehicle seat is retained within the pair of lower straps when they are conjoined. In a preferred embodiment, the attachment means for both the upper and lower straps are conventional buckle fasteners commonly associated with child harness fasteners. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a cover flap that has a first side affixed to or an integral part of the rear surface of the bottom portion and adjacent to the compartment opening. The second side of the cover flap has a fastener that is capable of mating with a corresponding fastener located on the rear surface of the bottom portion on the other side of the compartment opening, thereby to fully retain the insert or inserts therein. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide at least one (1) cushioned insert that is configured to be fully retained with the compartment when the fasteners of the cover flap and bottom portion are attached. In a preferred embodiment, each cushion is generally wedge-shaped. In the embodiments where multiple inserts are being used, the compartment is configured to enable multiple inserts to be retained therein in a stacked arrangement. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front environmental perspective view of the seat cover/booster seat  10 , shown in an installed state upon a conventional vehicle seat  30  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded parts diagram depicting the major components of the seat cover/booster seat  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the seat cover/booster seat  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 4  is a front environmental perspective view of the seat cover/booster seat  10  in a utilized state, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               8   a  first lower strap 
               8   b  second lower strap 
               9   a  first upper strap 
               9   b  second upper strap 
               10  seat cover 
               11  first buckle 
               12  second buckle 
               15  back portion 
               16  bottom portion 
               20  compartment 
               22  cover flap 
               23  fastener 
               30  conventional vehicle seat 
               35  strap system 
               40  flexible fabric cover 
               45  height dimension 
               50  occupant 
               55  lap restraint 
               60  shoulder restraint 
               65  conventional seat belt buckle 
               80  foam cushion 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 6 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one (1) particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one (1) of the referenced items. 
     The present invention is directed to a universal removable seat cover/booster seat  10 , useful for providing a user, such as a parent, with a convenient means to attach the seat cover/booster seat  10 , to a conventional vehicle seat  30  and insert the proper height adjusting foam cushion  80  in order to accommodate a child&#39;s stature relative to a desired and safe seating position within a motor vehicle utilizing the vehicle provided restraint system for a “ready for use” condition 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a seat cover  10 , (herein referred to as the “device”)  10  is installed on and over a conventional vehicle seat  30 . The device  10  is held in place via a strap system  35  which will be described in greater detail herein below. The device  10  is intended to be universal in nature and can work with bucket seats, sport seats, bench seats and the like. The depiction of the conventional vehicle seat  30  as represented in  FIG. 1  or any other figure is for illustrative purposes only and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the present invention. As shown, the device  10  may comprise a flexible fabric cover  40  fully encasing the seat upper surface and forward facing rear surface of the conventional vehicle seat  30  using a bottom portion  16  and back portion  15  respectively. The bottom portion  16  is provided with a compartment  20 . A foam cushion  80  is then inserted into the compartment  20  so as to provide an increase in seat height or “boost” to the occupant of the conventional vehicle seat  30 . The foam cushion  80  is generally wedge-shaped, and is shown via hidden lines to depict its concealment within the compartment  20 . 
     Referring next to  FIG. 2 , an exploded parts diagram depicting the major components of the device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The device  10 , utilizing primarily the back portion  15  and bottom portion  16  to cover and protect the conventional vehicle seat  30  is held in place with a first lower strap  8   a , a second lower strap  8   b , a first upper strap  9   a , and a second upper strap  9   b . Said straps are envisioned to be made of nylon and secure around the bottom and rear of the conventional vehicle seat  30  respectively. The distal end of first lower strap  8   a  and second lower strap  8   b  is provided with a first buckle  11 , while the distal end of first upper strap  9   a  and second upper strap  9   b  is provided with a second buckle  12 . Other types of fastening means such as snaps, hook and loop fastener, buttons/button holes, elastic, and the like could be used with equal effectiveness, and as such, should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the present invention. In tandem, the first and second buckles  11 ,  12  secure the device  10  and virtually prevent any movement of the device  10  relative to the conventional vehicle seat  30 . The proximal end of each of the first lower strap  8   a  and second lower strap  8   b  are affixed to side locations of the bottom portion  16 . The proximal end of each of the first upper strap  9   a  and second upper strap  9   b  are affixed to side locations of the back portion  15 . Other locations of the proximal end attachment to the flexible fabric cover  40  is appreciated. 
     As aforementioned described, and as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the foam cushion  80  is placed into the compartment  20  of the bottom portion  16  and secured in place with the cover flap  22  and fastener  23 . The compartment  20  is located on the underside of the bottom portion  16 . The flap  22  is affixed at least on one (1) side to the bottom portion  16  and in certain embodiments, comprises a continuation of the material of the bottom portion  16 . In embodiments where the flap  22  is generally rectangular, the flap  22  is a three-sided piece of material, with the fourth side attached to or a continuation of the bottom portion  16 . The side opposite the side attached to or a continuation of the bottom portion  16  has a fastener  23 . The fastener  23  is envisioned to be one-half (½) of a hook-and-loop fastener such as VELCRO® so as to provide ready access. The other half of the hook-and-loop fastener is on the exterior of the underside of the bottom portion  23 . Such a fastener  23  enables quick detachment and access to the compartment  20 , either for inserting or removing the foam cushion  80 . Other fasteners  23  can be appreciated, such as snap buttons, zippers, or similar devices associated with easy detachment. 
     It is envisioned that foam cushion  80  could be provided in varying heights to provide different amounts of height increase for the occupants of the device  10 . Smaller, younger, or shorter children would utilize a foam cushion  80  with a larger height dimension  45  while larger, older, or taller children would utilize a foam cushion  80  with a smaller height dimension  45 . Similarly, the device  10  could be utilized without a foam cushion  80  for children of an acceptable size (those not legally requiring the use of a car seat or booster seat) while still providing the physical stain and dirt protection provided by the flexible fabric cover  40 . In other embodiments of the present invention, the device  10  may accommodate more than one (1) quantity of foam cushion  80  allowing incremental usage of multiple foam cushions  80  in a stacked configuration to obtain the proper height dimension  45 . 
     Referring finally to  FIG. 4 , a perspective view of the device  10 , in a utilized state, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. An occupant  50  is seated upon the device  10  as would be conventionally expected. A lap restraint  55  and shoulder restraint  60  in conjunction with a conventional seat belt buckle  65  is used to safely secure the occupant  50  to prevent injury should a motor vehicle accident occur. It will be appreciated that the placement of the device  10  does not interfere with normal usage and operation of the conventional seat belt buckle  65 . The flexible fabric cover  40  is envisioned to be made of a waterproof fabric such as neoprene that will protect the underlying surface of the conventional vehicle seat  30  from stains or soiling. The flexible fabric cover  40  will withstand a large amount of soiling, including fluid spillage, food spillage, body fluid spillage, contact with dirty clothes, dirty hands, and other properties typically associated with children. The removability of the device  10  allows for removing the foam cushion  80  (as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) from the flexible fabric cover  40  and washing the flexible fabric cover  40  in a clothes washing machine prior to drying and reinstalling upon the conventional vehicle seat  30 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.