Abstract:
The present invention relates generally to a child car seat device. More particularly, the invention encompasses a protective overlay or a sheath or a shield for a child car seat or a Phani Back. The present invention is also directed to a novel a protective overlay or a sheath or a shield for a child car seat that is reversible. The inventive protective overlay for a child car seat has both water repellant and water absorbent qualities and is machine washable. The inventive protective overlay for a child car seat provides a barrier between a child and a child seat cover. The inventive protective overlay for a child car seat can also be used as a padding between a child and a non-padded child seat cover.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a child car seat device. More particularly, the invention encompasses a protective overlay or a sheath or a shield for a child car seat or a Phalli Back. The present invention is also directed to a novel a protective overlay or a sheath or a shield for a child car seat that is reversible. The inventive protective overlay for a child car seat has both water repellant and water absorbent qualities and is machine washable. The inventive protective overlay for a child car seat provides a barrier between a child and a child seat cover. The inventive protective overlay for a child car seat can also be used as a padding between a child and a non-padded child seat cover. 
       BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
       [0002]    Child car seats are now used universally for infants, toddlers and young children. These car seats are usually made from molded plastic with a fabric protective covering. These child car seats provide a safe transportation device for children, especially, in automobiles. It is well know that young children are prone to wet themselves accidentally or spill liquids while being transported in a child car seat. Some child car seats have padding and other fabric material to absorb or contain the spilled liquid, however, it is a big challenge for parents to remove the protective cover from the plastic molded portion of the child car seat and then to wash the protective cover. Similarly, it becomes a challenge to re-install the car seat protective cover after the protective child car seat cover has been cleaned. Another problem that arises with this procedure is that sometimes the parents do not have the time to remove the manufacturer&#39;s child seat cover for the purposes of cleaning it, and at other times they simply forget it, and continue to use an unsanitary child seat cover. Once a manufacturer&#39;s child seat cover has been stained, it is rather an expensive, and a time consuming proposition to contact a manufacturer for a replacement child seat cover. 
         [0003]    There are times where young children in diapers are being transported in a child car seat, and in most cases their urine is mostly contained within the diaper. However, for young children who are being potty-trained, and thus who may not be wearing diapers, their urine leaks through their clothing and soils the car seat. In such cases the parents have to uninstall the car seat from the car, remove the protective cover, and then wash and clean not only the soiled seat, but also the soiled car seat cover. This can again become a challenge for parents who have limited time. 
         [0004]    Also children in car seats are given food, snacks, milk, juices, and other similar body nourishing material items while they are still in their child car seats. It is not uncommon for a child to spill their food or their fluids onto and into their car seats. Similarly, crumbs also fall into a child&#39;s car seats and these elements soil and stain the protective covering of the child&#39;s car seat. 
         [0005]    The child car seat industry has addressed this problem in a variety of ways, such as, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,352 (George Konovalov, et al.), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a car seat pad for use in child safety seats. The seat pad is formed of isotonic foam or encapsulated gel material to insulate an infant or small child from the hard surface of the safety seat. The pad includes a back portion and a hingedly joined seat portion. The back portion includes a number of slots designed to accommodate the seat belt webbing of the child safety seat. The seat portion includes a notch to provide space for the buckle of the seat belt. A removable washable cover is provided for the seat pad. The cover includes reinforced openings aligned with the slots in the back portion of the pad. In versions of the seat pad designed for larger children, a lumbar support pad is attached to the lower end of the back portion and an additional seat pad is attached to the upper end of the seat portion. The side edges of the back and seat portions are tapered to eliminate additional padding material from accumulating in the safety seat when the seat pad is fold to fit within the seat. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,341,011 (Jennifer Bari Pines, et al.), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a child car seat cover. This device provides an easily removable, cleanable and adjustable cover for a child car seat that restricts the passage of food, dirt and liquids to the car seat material. The device is comprised of multiple layers of fabric, strap covers, strap openings and strap closures. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,434,876 (Mary-Lou Laetitia Smulders, et al.), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a removable car seat cover that has openings adapted to allow the crotch strap and shoulder straps to extend through the cover while the straps remain affixed to the car seat. The removable cover comprises a periphery that secures the cover to the edges of a car seat. Various configurations of openings for shoulder straps to extend through include: two vertical openings, a “U”-shaped opening, multiple horizontal openings connected by a vertical slit and openings for shoulder belts used with booster seats. Fasteners and panels can be added to each configuration to provide further protection to the underlying factor car seat cover. A matching canopy cover has extended panels to provide additional protection from rain or the sun. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,556,314 (Allen Friedland, et al.), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a removable child car seat cover that enables removal of the cover without requiring that the car seat be removed from the car. 
         [0009]    U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0215600 (Caron Ammons), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a sheet of porous material, a sheet of absorptive material, and a sheet of non-porous material connected to the porous sheet with the absorptive sheet between them. The sheets are shaped to cover a seat surface of a child seat, such as, a car seat, and have a seat panel, two leg panels that extend from the seat panel, and a crotch flap that extends from the seat panel between the two leg panels. The porous material permits urine from a child in the child seat to pass through it, the absorptive material absorbs the urine, and the non-porous material prevents the urine from leaking through the absorptive sheet and soiling the child seat. 
         [0010]    However, a need exists for a child car seat protective overlay that provides an additional layer of material between a child and a child seat protective cover, and that which can be easily and quickly removed for cleaning. Additionally, there is a need for a child seat protective overlay that will not only contain any fluid spills, but also protect the child car seat cover and the child car seat. Furthermore, there is also a need for a child seat protective overlay that can be used with child car seats and other child seats, and that is economical to make and sell. Therefore, this invention improves on the deficiencies of the prior art and provides an inventive protective overlay for a child car seat. 
       PURPOSES AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The invention is a novel protective overlay for a child car seat. 
         [0012]    Therefore, one purpose of this invention is to provide a protective overlay for a child car seat. 
         [0013]    Another purpose of this invention is to provide a child car seat protective overlay that interfaces between a child and a child seat protective cover, and which can be easily and quickly removed for cleaning. 
         [0014]    Yet another purpose of this invention is to provide a child seat protective overlay that will not only contain any fluid spills but also protect the child car seat cover. 
         [0015]    Still yet another purpose of this invention is to provide a child seat protective overlay that can be used with child car seats and other child seats, and that is economical to make and sell. 
         [0016]    Therefore, in one aspect this invention comprises an overlay for a child seat, comprising: 
         [0000]    (a) a child seat protective overlay comprising a seat panel secured to a back panel, said seat panel having at least one opening for a child seat buckle, said back panel having a first side slit for a first child seat shoulder harness, and a second side slit for a second child seat shoulder harness;
 
(b) a child seat, said child seat having at least one opening for a child seat buckle, and a first child seat shoulder harness, and a second child seat shoulder harness;
 
(c) a child seat cover, wherein said child seat cover covers at least a portion of said child seat; and
 
(d) wherein said child seat accommodates said child seat protective overly such that at least a portion of said child seat cover is sandwiched between at least a portion of said child seat and at least a portion of said child seat protective overlay, and wherein said at least one opening for a child seat buckle is substantially congruent to said opening for a child seat buckle in said child seat.
 
         [0017]    In another aspect this invention comprises a combination child seat, child seat cover, overlay for a child seat, comprising: 
         [0000]    (a) a child seat protective overlay comprising a seat panel secured to a back panel, said seat panel having at least one opening for a child seat buckle, said back panel having a first side slit for a first child seat shoulder harness, and a second side slit for a second child seat shoulder harness;
 
(b) a child seat, said child seat having at least one opening for a child seat buckle, and a first child seat shoulder harness, and a second child seat shoulder harness;
 
(c) a child seat cover, wherein said child seat cover covers at least a portion of said child seat; and
 
(d) wherein said child seat accommodates said child seat protective overly such that at least a portion of said child seat cover is sandwiched between at least a portion of said child seat and at least a portion of said child seat protective overlay, and wherein said at least one opening for a child seat buckle is substantially congruent to said opening for a child seat buckle in said child seat, and wherein said first child seat shoulder harness passes through said first side slit in said child seat protective overlay, and said second child seat shoulder harness passes through said second side slit in said child seat protective overlay, and secures said child seat protective overlay to said child seat.
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    Although the scope of the present invention is much broader than any particular embodiment, a detailed description of the preferred embodiment follows together with drawings. These drawings are for illustration purposes only and are not drawn to scale. Like numbers represent like features and components in the drawings. The invention may best be understood by reference to the ensuing detailed description in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a detailed perspective view showing a first embodiment of the child seat protective pad invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the child seat protective pad invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the child seat protective pad invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the child seat protective pad invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the child seat protective pad invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a sixth embodiment of the child seat protective pad invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a detailed perspective view showing a seventh embodiment of the child seat protective pad invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a detailed perspective view showing an eighth embodiment of the child seat protective pad invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a cut-away side view showing a ninth embodiment of the child seat protective pad invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]      FIG. 1  is a detailed perspective view showing a first embodiment of the child seat protective pad invention  23 . The child seat protective pad or shield or overlay  23 , basically comprises a base or seat panel  10 , having at least one opening  12 , for a car seat belt buckle (not shown). A rear or back panel  20 , having at least one opening or side slit  22 , for a car seat belt (not shown), is secured to an edge of the base or seat panel  10 . As one can see in  FIG. 1 , that the inventive protective overlay  23 , for a child car seat can be easily and quickly placed over a child seat cover  95 , shown in  FIG. 9 , and then the child car seat belt (not shown) can be easily slid through the side slits  22 , as desired, and then the child car seat belt buckle (not shown) can be inserted thorough the opening  12 , and into a child car seat  90 , shown in  FIG. 9 . As stated earlier this inventive protective overlay  23 , for a child car seat  90 , is placed over a child seat cover  95 , that has already been secured to the child car seat  90 , and the child (not shown) is then placed over this inventive protective overlay  23 , for a child car seat  90 . Thus, this inventive protective overlay  23 , for a child car seat  90 , provides a barrier, as well as a padding, between a child and a cover  95 , of the child car seat  90 . This inventive protective overlay  23 , for a child car seat  90 , not only protects the child car seat cover  95 , for any fluid spills or crumbs, but also the child car seat  90 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the child seat protective pad invention  23 , where the base or seat panel  10 , comprises of at least one fluid or water repellant panel or material  16 , which is secured to at least one fluid or water absorbing panel or material  14 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the child seat protective pad invention  23 , where the rear or back panel  20 , comprises of at least one fluid or water repellant panel or material  26 , which is secured to at least one fluid or water absorbing panel or material  24 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the child seat protective pad invention  23 , where the base or seat panel  10 , comprises of at least one fluid or water absorbing and cushioning panel or material  18 , which is sandwiched between at least one fluid or water repellant panel or material  16 , and at least one fluid or water absorbing panel or material  14 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the child seat protective pad invention  23 , where the rear or back panel  20 , comprises of at least one fluid or water absorbing and cushioning panel or material  28 , which is sandwiched between at least one fluid or water repellant panel or material  26 , and at least one fluid or water absorbing panel or material  24 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a sixth embodiment of the child seat protective pad invention  63 , having a panel  60 . The panel  60 , comprises of a plurality of layers or panels. It is preferred that the center layer or panel comprises of at least one fluid or water repellant panel or material  66 , and that at least one layer of at least one fluid or water absorbing and cushioning panel or material  68 , is adjacent to the at least one fluid or water repellant panel or material  66 . It is also preferred that at least one fluid or water absorbing panel or material  64 , is adjacent and secured to at least one layer of at least one fluid or water absorbing and cushioning panel or material  68 . The panel  60 , can be used to replace the base or seat panel  10 , and/or the rear or back panel  20 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 7  is a detailed perspective view showing a seventh embodiment of the child seat protective pad invention  73 . The child seat protective pad or overlay or shield  73 , basically comprises a base or seat panel  10 , having at least one opening  12 , for a seat belt buckle (not shown). A rear or back panel  20 , having at least one opening  32 , having a side slit  31 , for a seat belt (not shown), is secured to an edge of the base or seat panel  10 . The base or seat panel  10 , has at least one seat belt flap  34 , adjacent the opening  12 . The child seat protective pad invention  73 , also has at least one side panel  30 , where the side panel  30 , secures a portion of the base or seat panel  10 , to a portion of the rear or back panel  20 . It is preferred that the side panel  30 , is along at least a portion of the side  39 , of the base or seat panel  10 . For some applications one could also have a protective sleeve or insert  37 , around the opening  12 , and/or around the opening  32 , and/or side slit  31 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 8  is a detailed perspective view showing an eighth embodiment of the child seat protective pad invention  83 . The child seat protective pad or shield or overlay or sheath  83 , basically comprises a base or seat panel  60 , having at least one opening  12 , for a seat belt buckle (not shown). A rear or back panel  60 , having at least one opening or side slit  22 , for a seat belt (not shown), is secured to an edge of the base or seat panel  60 . The base or seat panel  60 , has at least one seat belt flap  44 , adjacent the opening  12 . The child seat protective pad invention  83 , also has at least one securing or tying means  40 . The securing means  40 , securely secures either the base or seat back panel  60 , and/or the rear or back panel  60 , to a child seat  90 , shown in  FIG. 9 . The child seat protective pad invention  83 , could also have a plurality of non-slip or non-skid fasteners  45 , that can secure the inventive child seat protective pad  83 , to a corresponding car seat (not shown). For some applications the non-slip fasteners  45 , could be only on one side of the inventive child seat protective pad  83 . However, for some other applications the non-slip fasteners  45 , could be on both sides of the inventive child seat protective pad  83 . For some applications one could also have a protective sleeve or insert  47 , around the opening  12 , and/or around the opening or side slit  22 . The child seat protective overlay  83 , could have straight edge  49 , or an edge  59 , where a portion  55 , is removed creating an edge  54 , so that when the child seat protective overlay  23 ,  63 ,  83 , is placed over the child seat  90 , it does not bunch up at the transition point between the seat and the back. With the portion  55 , removed the child seat protective overlay  23 ,  63 ,  83 , would have a distinct region for the back of the child, and for the seat of the child. In some applications one could also secure a side panel, similar to the side panel  30 , to catch and contain any spillage and/or crumbs, and to prevent any spillage from penetrating or soiling the seat cover  95 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 9  is a cut-away side view showing a ninth embodiment of the child seat protective pad invention  93 . The inventive child seat protective pad invention  93 , comprises of a child seat protective pad or shield or overlay  23 , that basically follows the contours of a child seat or a child car seat  90 . The child seat  90 , has a base or seat area  92 , and a back or rear area  94 . The child seat  90 , is covered or protected by a child seat cover  95 . The child seat  90 , has at least one opening for a child seat buckle, a first child seat shoulder harness or strap or belt, and a second child seat shoulder harness or strap or belt, which are not shown as they are all well known to a person skilled in the art. 
         [0037]    It is preferred that the at least one fluid or water repellant panel or material  16 ,  66 , is selected from a group comprising of a rubber sheet, a plastic sheet, a polymeric sheet, a Teflon® or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) sheet, a Tyvek® sheet, a composite sheet, a vinyl sheet, to name a few. The water repellant panel or material  16 ,  66 , could also be a fabric material having at least one coating of at least one water repellant or at least one hydrophobic material or at least one moisture-repellant material. 
         [0038]    Tyvek® is a registered trademark of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, and is a brand of flashspun high-density polyethylene fibers, which is a synthetic material. This material is very strong; it is difficult to tear but can easily be cut with scissors or any other sharp object. Water vapor can pass through Tyvek® (highly breathable), but not liquid water, so the material lends itself to a variety of applications, such as, for example, medical packaging, envelopes, car covers, air and water intrusion barriers, house wraps, under house siding, labels, wristbands, graphics, to name a few. 
         [0039]    It is preferred that the at least one fluid or water absorbing panel or material  14 ,  64 , is selected from a group comprising of cotton material, terry cloth material, wool material, flannel material, composite material, to name a few. 
         [0040]    It is preferred that the at least one fluid or water absorbing panel or material  14 ,  64 , is capable of absorbing and holding fluid or water, such that, when it is in contact with liquid or water, the material  14 ,  64 , naturally absorbs the fluid or water and holds at least some of the fluid or water in its voids against gravitational force. Therefore, when the material  14 ,  64 , holding absorbed fluid or water is lifted, if part of the absorbed fluid or water is still held without falling, it can be said that the material  14 ,  64 , is capable of absorbing and holding fluid or water. Preferably, the material  14 ,  64 , is capable of absorbing fluid or water via capillary action. The material  14 ,  64 , could also be a sponge-like material  14 ,  64 , such as, for example, a sheet material  14 ,  64 , which is formed of hydrophilic fibers, such as, cotton, hydrophilically treated fibers, to name a few. 
         [0041]    It is preferred that the at least one fluid or water absorbing and cushioning panel or material  18 ,  68 , is selected from a group comprising of cotton material, terry cloth material, wool material, flannel material, composite material, to name a few. 
         [0042]    It is preferred that the at least one fluid or water absorbing and cushioning panel or material  18 ,  68 , is capable of absorbing and holding fluid or water, such that, when it is in contact with liquid or water, the material  18 ,  68 , naturally absorbs the fluid or water and holds at least some of the fluid or water in its voids against gravitational force. Therefore, when the material  18 ,  68 , holding absorbed fluid or water is lifted, if part of the absorbed fluid or water is still held without falling, it can be said that the material  18 ,  68 , is capable of absorbing and holding fluid or water. Preferably, the material  18 ,  68 , is capable of absorbing fluid or water via capillary action. The material  18 ,  68 , could also be a sponge-like material  18 , such as, for example, a sheet material  18 ,  68 , which is formed of hydrophilic fibers, such as, cotton, hydrophilically treated fibers, to name a few. 
         [0043]    It is preferred that the at least one securing means or non-skid or non-slip means  45 , are selected from a group comprising an adhesive, a glue, an adhesive type tape, an adhesive type strip, a zip, button, thread, a fastening means, hooks, snaps, ties, strings, hook and loop fastener, or the like, to name a few. The securing means or non-skid or non-slip means  45 , could be in a ribbon form or a sheet or a panel form, and this material should either prevent or limit the sliding movement of the child seat overlay  23 ,  63 ,  73 ,  83 , in reference to the seat cover  95 . 
         [0044]    It is preferred that the at least one protective sleeve or insert  37 ,  47 , is made from a material selected from a group comprising, plastic material, rubber material, composite material, ceramic material, metallic material, to name a few. 
         [0045]    This inventive child car seat overlay or supplemental car seat overlay  23 ,  63 ,  73 ,  83 ,  93 , can be used in many situations, such as, for example, in a stroller  90 , in a child&#39;s high chair  90 , a wheel chair  90 , to name a few. 
         [0046]    The inventive protective overlay  23 ,  63 ,  73 ,  83 ,  93 , for a child car seat  90 , allows parents to have several of these inventive protective overlay  23 ,  63 ,  73 ,  83 ,  93 , for a child car seat  90 , in spare, so that they can use one while another one is being washed and cleaned or is in the laundry basket waiting to be washed and cleaned. 
         [0047]    The panels  10 ,  20 ,  60 , are preferably wider than the seating area of the car seat  90 , so that when the inventive protective overlay  23 ,  63 ,  73 ,  83 , is placed into the child car seat  90 , the panels  10 ,  20 ,  60 , form a “cup” or “cradle” to capture any fluid spills or crumbs. The panels  10 ,  20 ,  60 , should also be wide enough to follow the inner contours of the car seat  90 , especially, the seat area  92 , and the back area  94 , without interfering with the rest of the functions of the child car seat  90 . In some embodiments the inventive protective overlay  23 ,  63 ,  73 ,  83 , could be flat when laid out on a flat surface, but then be flexible enough to follow the contours of the child car seat  90 . 
         [0048]    Upon filing of the instant patent application the inventive protective overlay  23 ,  63 ,  73 ,  83 ,  93 , will be available at www.phaniback.com under the trademark PHANI BACK™. 
         [0049]    While the present invention has been particularly described in conjunction with a specific preferred embodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will embrace any such alternatives, modifications and variations as falling within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.