Abstract:
An infant car seat comprising: (a) a seat adapted to receive an occupant; and (b) an illumination system that includes a focused light emitting source in electrical communication with a switch adapted to be in electrical communication with a power source to illuminate the focused light emitting source and downwardly directing light in front of the occupant proximate a lap region. A method of illuminating a child car seat, the method comprising the step of illuminating a seat portion of a child car seat by at least one of focusing an illumination source and orienting an illumination source to direct light downward onto the seat portion.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention is directed to car seat illumination systems and methods for carrying out the same and, more specifically, to car seat illumination systems illuminating areas in front of the child to enable the child to perform acts such as reading or manipulation of toys. 
   2. Background of the Invention 
   It is customary to provide a special seat in a vehicle that is adapted for younger occupants, commonly referred to as a child car seat. Various embodiments of car seats exist, some of which are adapted to be mounted to a vehicle base and/or a stroller frame. Car seats generally include straps or other retainers to maintain the general position of the occupant with respect to the car seat. 
   Often in low lighting situations, a care giver may be required to turn on an interior dome light of a vehicle to discern the condition of the younger occupant of the car seat. However, by turning on an interior light in the vehicle, the care giver may disturb or distract other persons in the vehicle such as the driver. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,233 to Gaetano et al. discloses an integral car seat illumination system that is remotely activated by the driver of the automobile. The &#39;233 patent teaches a system and method of casting light on the child on order to monitor the child. More specifically, the &#39;233 patent teaches utilizing multiple lights to illuminate the upper torso of a child, however, the &#39;233 patent does not teach illuminating the lap area of a child by focusing a downwardly directed light. More importantly, the &#39;233 patent teaches away from a system illuminating the lap of a child by focusing on monitoring the child (light in the child&#39;s face) as opposed to providing light for the child&#39;s activities (light in the child&#39;s lap). Thus, the system disclosed in the &#39;233 patent may be undesirable for car seat occupants by having the light directed toward the head. 
   Therefore, there is a need for an illumination device and associated method that illuminates the lap area of a child car seat, without shining light into the face of the child. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to car seat illumination systems and methods for carrying out the same and, more specifically, to car seat illumination systems having focused light sources that enable car seat occupants to view activities directly in front of them, without necessarily directing the light toward the occupant&#39;s head. 
   The present invention makes use of illumination devices selectively positioned and configured to selectively illuminate portions of a child seat and a child positioned within the seat. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention improve over the prior art by directing light to predetermined areas in front of the child. In a further detailed exemplary embodiment, the invention may include one or more sensors coupled to one or more switches for selectively powering the illumination source. Examples include illuminating the child car seat for a predetermined period, having the illumination source dim over a predetermined period, illuminating the child car seat when the car seat is occupied, illuminating the child car seat when motion within the seat is detected, and providing multiple illumination sources in single location to provide multiple degrees of illumination intensity. Other aspects of the present invention are discussed in the description below and reference is had thereto for a more encompassing summary. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a right-hand side prospective view from the front of an exemplary back support in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a right-hand side prospective view from the rear of the exemplary back support of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a right-hand side profile view of the exemplary back support of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a frontal view of the exemplary back support of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a frontal view from the front of an exemplary illumination device in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is an overhead view of the exemplary illumination device of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a left-hand side profile view of the illumination device of  FIG. 5 ; and 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the illumination device of  FIG. 5 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described and illustrated below to encompass systems and methods for illuminating selected portions of a child seat and consequently a child positioned therein. Of course, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the preferred embodiment discussed below is exemplary in nature and may be reconfigured without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. However, for clarity and precision, the exemplary embodiments may include one or more optional features that one of ordinary skill may recognize as not being a requisite to fall within the scope of the present invention. 
   Referencing  FIGS. 1–4 , a first exemplary embodiment  10  of the present invention includes a focused illumination device  12  that may be mounted to a back support  14  of a child car seat. The back support  14  may include opposed headrests  18 ,  20 , each headrest  18 ,  20  being fabricated with a pocket  22  having an orifice  24  therethrough. Each pocket  22  is adapted to receive an illumination device  12  to mount the illumination device to a respective headrest  18 ,  20 . An illumination section  28  of each illumination device  12  is adapted to be received within the orifice  24 . The pocket  22  may be fabricated to expose one or more controls  30  associated with the illumination device. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 5–8 , an exemplary illumination device  12  may include a frame  32  that includes a first frame member  36  and a second frame member  38 . The first frame member  36  may also include a cover  39  that may be removably mounted to the frame member  36  using a fastener (not shown) such as, without limitation, a screw. Removal of the cover  39  exposes electrical contacts  40  adapted to contact one or more batteries (not shown) received within a bay  42 . The batteries provide a source of power to the illumination device, but are not required for performance of the present invention. Other sources of electrical power that may be used with the present invention include DC power from an automotive battery or a generator, such as, without limitation, an alternator. Exemplary connections to such power sources include conventional cigarette lighters and DC-to-AC converters where two prong plugs may be used. In addition, the present invention may be used with solar arrays or other forms of renewable power. 
   The first frame member  36  may also include a receptacle  44  for mounting an electrical switch  46  thereto. The electrical switch  46  may include various types of sensors and/or components such as, without limitation, a motions sensor, a dimmer, a timer, an optical sensor; a remote control, and an occupancy sensor. In a further detailed exemplary embodiment, the present invention includes a timer that may be set by a care giver to illuminate a portion of the car seat and child during a predetermined time, such as, two minutes after the child is buckled to the car seat. 
   The frame  32  may include an opening  47  formed from corresponding cut-outs  48 ,  50  within the first and second frame members  36 ,  38 . A convex lens  51  may be adapted to protrude through the opening  46 . The lens  51  is adapted to protect an illumination source  52 . Exemplary illumination sources include, without limitation, a light emitting diode (LED), an incandescent bulb, and a halogen bulb. It is intended that at least one of the illumination source  52  and/or the lens  51  include features that focus the light produced by the illumination source  52 . Exemplary light focusing features include the shape of the lens  51  and the illumination source  52 , in addition to partially opaque lenses  51  and partially opaque illumination sources  52 . In addition, the lens  51  and/or the illumination source  52  may be colored to provide selectively colored light, which includes light other than white light. 
   Electrical connections (not shown) associated with the illumination device  12  are operative to provide selective electrical communication between the power source, the electrical switch  46 , and the illumination source  52 . 
   It is also within the scope of the present invention to provide multiple pockets or mounting points for the exemplary illumination device  12 . Still further, it is within the scope of the present invention to provide multiple mounting points for the exemplary illumination device  12  that would allow repositioning of the illumination device without removing the device from the car seat. An exemplary instance might include providing a lengthwise notch adapted to receive the illumination section  28  therethrough, where the illumination section  28  could be repositioned within the notch, all the while retaining the mounting of the illumination device  12  to the child car seat. It is not a requisite of the present invention that the illumination device  12  be mounted to the child car seat, nor that the illumination device be controlled with integrated controls. In other words, it is within the scope of the present invention to provide a wireless illumination device that may be remotely controlled. 
   It is also within the scope of the present invention to provide multiple illumination sources  52  within a single illumination device  12 . Still further, it is also within the scope of the present invention to selectively activate the one or more of the illumination sources  52  to provide various intensities of light, various colors of light, and/or various focuses of light. 
   It is likewise within the scope of the present invention that an audible device be associated with the illumination device. Exemplary audible devices include radios, music boxes, and music players. 
   Following from the above description and invention summaries, it should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that, while the apparatus described herein constitutes an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the invention contained herein is not limited to this precise embodiment and changes may be made to the aforementioned embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Additionally, it is to be understood that the invention is defined by the claims and it is not intended that any limitations or elements describing the exemplary embodiment set forth herein are to be incorporated into the interpretation of any claim element unless such limitation or element is explicitly stated. Likewise, it is to be understood that it is not necessary to meet any or all of the identified advantages or objects of the invention disclosed herein in order to fall within the scope of any one of the claims, since the invention is defined by the claims and since inherent and/or unforeseen advantages of the present invention may exist even though they may not have been explicitly discussed herein.