Patent Publication Number: US-6702380-B2

Title: Universal floatation child safety seat

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/535,476, filed on Mar. 24, 2000, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,865 which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/167,468, filed Oct. 7, 1998 (now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,360 on May 9, 2000). 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to seats for infants and children that may be used in motor vehicles, aircraft, and watercraft. In particular, this invention relates to such seats that secure the infant or child for safety and are also adapted to float upright in the water. 
     This invention further relates to seating systems for infants and children that may be used in motor vehicles, aircraft, and watercraft. In particular, this invention relates to a seating system that includes the aforementioned floating seat, and a base adapted to accept the seat in such a way that the seat is laterally secured and vertically free. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Automotive safety seats are well-known in the art of protection of a child from injury in the event of an impact and are mandated by law. A child automotive safety seat generally includes a rigid bucket seat with various types of protective padding. An undercarriage connected to the bucket safety seat is secured to the motor vehicle by means of straps and quick release buckles connected to the surface of the vehicle. Other straps and quick release buckles connected to the bucket seat hold the child in the safety seat. Such motor vehicle safety seats accommodate a range of ages of young children. 
     Life preserving devices for infants and young children on water craft are considered by many experts in the field to be only marginally dependable. The smallest life preserver now approved by the U.S. Coast Guard for children over 20 to 22 lbs. is merely a smaller version of the adult life preserver with an extension of the preserver floatation material from the shoulder area to the head area. The purpose of the extension is to provide additional floatation protection for a small child&#39;s head so as to keep it above the surface of the water and so protect the child from intake of water. Such a safety device is useful when the child is over 20 to 22 lbs. and can be placed in a standard automotive child safety seat, but an older (over 30 lbs.) or more active child is better cared for in a life jacket. 
     Complete protection of a child aboard a water craft, such as a motor boat or sail boat, as typical examples, would include both 1) protecting the child from being injured from shock during quick movements of the boat in the case of movements in rough water, and 2) protecting the child from the water in the event of an emergency where the child enters the water, Protection of an adult or a child from quick movements of the boat by various types of shock-absorbing seating devices on the boat including child safety seats are well-known. 
     Floatable safety seats for a child in a marine environment are known. In particular, such a device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,020 issued to Gainforth. The Gainforth buoyant child safety seat for boats, however, cannot be transferred to a motor vehicle for the reason that the bottom of the described safety seat is provided with ballast stands with ballast weights that prevent the safety seat from being placed upon and secured to the seat of a motor vehicle. Another floatable safety seat for a child is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,253 issued to Politte. The Politte infant safety flotation seat device cannot be used in a motor vehicle since it cannot be placed upon and secured to the seat of a motor vehicle primarily because of metal weights, or ballast, near the bottom of the safety seat. Child safety seats particularly intended for marine use have been described in prior art, such as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,709,648; 4,934,303; 5,119,754; and 5,309,881; but none of the latter describe floatation capability. 
     Protection of a child from injury during rough water conditions in a marine environment and protection of a child from injury in the event of an impact in a motor vehicle are similar enough that the same shock and cushion protection in accordance with mandated child motor vehicle safety seats will provide a child from sudden movement in a marine environment. Child safety seats for motor vehicles, however, are generally not provided with floatation material or ballast. 
     Child safety seats presently used for motor vehicles have support structures for the bucket seats and bases for the seats. One type of support structure is a metal frame that includes bars made of a strong metal such as steel that can be hollow tubular bars known in the art of metal structures. My U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/167,468 entitled “Car/Boat Floatation Seat for Infants” described a child safety seat that is made of such a support structure. 
     Another type of support structure for child safety seats for motor vehicles that is currently being marketed is made from a strong rigid molded plastic that meets the same safety requirements as metal support structures. The basic design structure of such molded plastic structures vary widely. For example, one such design includes the bucket seat and the support base that rests upon the car seat being integral and secured to the car seat by belt attachment devices between the car structure and the safety seat. Another basic design structure for molded plastic safety seats includes a child bucket seat that is removably secured to a base structure that is secured to the car structure by belt attachment devices so that the bucket seat can be unsnapped from the base structure removed therefrom. Child safety seats made of molded plastic material may not float in water, and may require more floatation material to achieve a high freeboard, which is that distance between the water level and the top of the sidewalls of the child safety seat. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a child safety seat that is usable both in an automotive environment and in a motor vehicle environment in accordance with mandated child automotive safety seat standards and in a marine environment for shock protection in both environments and for floatation protection of the child after entry into the water in the marine environment. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a quick release child safety seat for a motor vehicle as mandated by law that is also usable in a marine environment for protection of a child from shock during rough water encounters and for floatation protection of the child in case of an emergency entry into the water. The child safety seat is capable of floating out of the support base in response to a rising water level. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a safety seat for a child in a marine environment that protects the child from shock during encounters with rough water and also provides floatation protection for the child in the event of an emergency entry into the water, the safety seat also being easily transportable and mountable to a seat or surface of a motor vehicle so that it provides safety protection for the child in accordance with mandated law for child safety seats. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a child safety seat that is usable both in an automotive environment and in a motor vehicle environment in accordance with mandated child automotive safety seat standards and in a marine environment for shock protection in both environments and for floatation protection of the child after entry into the water in the marine environment, the child safety seat being of the type having a support frame made of molded plastic material. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a child safety seat adapted to float in water such that a child secured in the safety seat is held completely or almost completely above the surface out of the water. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a child safety seat with a “self-righting” capability such that the seat will turn top side up in water. 
     In accordance with these and other objects that will become apparent in the course of this disclosure, there is provided a floatable automotive/water craft child safety seat for holding a child weighing generally between birth and 30 or 40 pounds so that the child is protected from injury in the event of sudden movements in both an automotive environment and a marine environment. The floatable child safety seat remains afloat in the water in the event of an emergency on board a water craft so that the head of the child remains above water level. The floatable child safety seat includes a safety seat that meets automotive code requirements for protecting children. The floatable child safety seat includes a support frame holding the safety seat in a generally upright position. The frame also defines a planar surface that is compatible with placing the floatable child safety seat either on the surface of a seat of a motor vehicle or on the surface of a water craft. A floatation structure is secured to the child safety seat so that the child is maintained afloat in water so that the head of the child is positioned above water level. The support frame acts as ballast for maintaining the child safety seat upright in water. 
     In addition to the steel frame type of child safety seat described in my U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/167,468, the current molded plastic seat devices that meet the safety standards for infant and child safety seats in motor vehicles are set forth and described herein. Molded plastic seats have a marked advantage over steel frame type safety seats in relation to floatation features in that the plastic is much lighter than steel and in fact in themselves merely submerge in water rather than sink. For this reason, the amount of floatation material that is needed to maintain a molded plastic child safety seat in a floating situation when in water may be much reduced from the floatation material required to maintain a steel frame type safety seat floating in water depending upon the desired amount of freeboard. Specifically, the inventive features that enable child safety seats that meet mandated safety requirements for motor vehicles to be secured to the deck of a boat or other water craft and that remains afloat in the water in the event of an emergency so that the head of the child remains above water level differ from the features described in my U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/167,468. For example, surfaces are available on the molded plastic child safety seats for placement of floatation material that are not available on metal framed child safety seats. 
     One embodiment of the present invention set forth herein includes a molded plastic safety seat of the type having a bucket seat unitary with a base structure. Another embodiment of the present invention set forth herein includes such a molded plastic safety seat of the type having a bucket seat that can be detached from the base structure. A large number of various designs of automotive child safety seats are presently being marketed. The two embodiments child molded plastic safety seats described herein are set forth as being merely representative of many designs of child molded plastic car safety seats that can be adapted so as to function as car/boat child floatation seats that meet the legal standards for both automotive and marine environments, so that the inventive features of the present invention described herein can be likewise used for any other type of molded plastic child safety seat. 
     In addition, the present invention is also intended to meet the requirements for child safety seats for air travel, both for on board flight safety and as floatation devices. 
     According to a further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a child safety seat and a child safety seat system that are adapted for use in automobiles, watercraft, and/or aircraft. The child safety seat is adapted to float in water such that a child secured in the safety seat is held completely or almost completely above the surface of the water. The child safety seat has a “self-righting” capability such that the seat will turn top-side up in water. The child safety seat has a handle that is integral to the self-righting capability of the child safety seat. In addition, the child safety seat system includes a support base for use in a watercraft that is adapted to secure the child safety seat such that the child safety seat cannot be shifted horizontally, but can be moved vertically. Another support base is also provided with a releasable locking assembly for use in an automobile. 
     The present invention will be better understood and the objects and important features, other than those specifically set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following details and description, which when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, describes, illustrates, and shows preferred embodiments or modifications of the present invention and what is presently considered and believed to be the best mode of practice in the principles thereof. 
     Other embodiments or modifications may be suggested to those having the benefit of the teachings therein, and such other embodiments or modifications are intended to be reserved especially as they fall within the scope and spirit of the subjoined claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the floatable motor vehicle/boat child safety seat with a metal frame; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view taken through plane  2 — 2  in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a top view taken through plane  3 — 3  in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is front view taken through plane  4 — 4  in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a rear view taken through plane  5 — 5  in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a side sectional view taken through line  6 — 6  in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the frame/ballast portion of the floatable motor vehicle/boat child safety seat shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 8 is a side view taken through plane  8 — 8  in FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a side view taken in isolation of the bucket seat of the floatable motor vehicle/boat child safety seat shown in FIG. 1 with optional floatation material secured to the bottom of the seat; 
     FIG. 10 is a front view of the bucket seat shown in FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a side view of the floatable motor vehicle/boat child safety seat shown in FIG. 1 that indicates generally its position in fresh water while empty and holding children of varying weights; 
     FIG. 12 is perspective view of another embodiment of a floatable motor vehicle/boat child safety seat of the type made of molded plastic frame cradle integral with a molded plastic base and shown with a removable cushion fitted over the cradle; 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the child safety seat shown in FIG. 12 with the cushion and the safety belt removed with the molded plastic frame cradle and the base shown in isolation; 
     FIG. 14 is a side elevational view taken through plane  14 — 14  in FIG. 13; 
     FIG. 15 is a side sectional view taken through plane  15 — 15  in FIG. 13; 
     FIG. 16 is a rear elevational view taken through plane  16 — 16  in FIG. 13; 
     FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken through plane  17 — 17  in FIG. 13; 
     FIG. 18 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a floatable motor vehicle/boat child safety seat of the type made of molded plastic frame cradle removably positioned on a molded plastic base and shown with a removable cushion fitted over the cradle; 
     FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the child safety seat shown in FIG. 18 with the cushion removed with the molded plastic frame cradle and the base shown in isolation; 
     FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the child safety seat as shown in FIG. 19 with the cradle shown as being removed and vertically raised from the base; 
     FIG. 21 is a side sectional view taken through plane  21 — 21  in FIG. 20; 
     FIG. 22 is a rear elevational view taken through plane  22  taken through plane  22 — 22  in FIG. 21; 
     FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a cradle seat with floatation cylinders; 
     FIG. 24 is a sectional view of a floatation cylinder taken through plane  24 — 24  of FIG. 23; 
     FIG. 24A is the floatation cylinder shown in FIG. 24 filled with floatation material; 
     FIG. 25 is a sectional view of a floatation cylinder taken through plane  25 — 25  of FIG. 23; 
     FIG. 25A is the floatation cylinder shown in FIG. 25 filled with floatation material; 
     FIG. 26 is a sectional view taken of a floatation cylinder through plane  26 — 26  of FIG. 23; 
     FIG. 26A is the floatation cylinder shown in FIG. 26 filled with floatation material; 
     FIG. 27 is a right-side view of a third embodiment of a floatable motor vehicle/boat child safety seat system according to the present invention showing the child safety seat in a rear-facing position; 
     FIG. 28 is a right-side view of the floatable motor vehicle/boat child safety seat of FIG. 27; 
     FIG. 29 is a front-side view of the seat of FIG. 27; 
     FIG. 30 is a top view of the seat of FIG. 27; 
     FIG. 31 is a right-side cross-sectional view of the seat of FIG. 27 along line  31 — 31  of FIG. 29; 
     FIG. 32 is a close-up perspective view of the bottom side of the seat of FIG. 27; 
     FIG. 33 illustrates the seat of FIG. 28 with a overlapping or “cris-crossed” 5-point harness; 
     FIG. 34 illustrates the seat of FIG. 28 with an alternative 5-point harness; 
     FIG. 35 is a detail view of a safety tether for use with the seat of FIG. 28; 
     FIG. 36 is a right-side view of the seat of FIG. 27 secured in an automobile seat using a safety belt and two safety tethers; 
     FIG. 37 is a left side view of the seat of FIG. 28 secured in an automobile without the support base; 
     FIG. 38 is a right-side view of the seat of FIG. 28 secured in a base particularly adapted for use in a watercraft; 
     FIG. 39 is a right-side cross-sectional view of the seat and base of FIG. 38; 
     FIG. 40 is a top view of the base of FIG. 38; 
     FIG. 41 is a right-side cross-sectional view of the base of FIG. 38; 
     FIG. 42 is a front-side cross-sectional view of the base of FIG. 38 along line  43 — 43  of FIG. 35; and 
     FIG. 43 is a detail view of a releasable locking assembly useful for securing the floating seat in the base. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Reference is now made in detail to the drawings wherein the same numerals refer to the same or similar elements throughout. 
     A floatable motor vehicle/boat child safety seat  10  shown generally in FIG. 1 is usable in both a motor vehicle environment and a marine environment and includes a typical automotive child safety seat  12  that meets the safety requirements for motor vehicles. The automotive child safety seat  12  as shown herein is only one example of a number of designs for child automotive safety seats and is described herein for only for purposes of exposition. Automotive child safety seat  12  includes a rigid bucket seat  14  that comprises a generally horizontal bucket seat bottom wall  16 , a seat back wall  18 , and opposed bucket seat upper side walls  20  that extend generally laterally from bottom wall  16  and back wall  18  in a downward angled direction parallel to bucket seat back wall  18  and bucket seat lower side walls  21  that extend in a generally horizontal direction parallel to bucket seat bottom wall  16 . Back wall  18  is preferably slightly tilted rearward from the vertical. Typical child automotive safety seat  12  also includes a cushion  22  that is contoured to fit over bucket seat  14  and is secured at bottom wall  16 , back wall  18  and upper and lower side walls  20  and  21 . Cushion  22  also includes head-protective side wings  24  that extend outwardly from back wall  18 . Automotive child safety seat  12  is for holding a young child and protecting the child from injury in the event of a sudden movement or collision. Automotive child safety seat  12  also similarly protects a young child from sudden movements in a marine environment. Automotive child safety seat  12  includes a pair of shoulder safety straps  26  secured to cushion  22  and removably connected to a crotch safety buckle  28  in turn secured by a crotch safety strap  29  to cushion  22 . 
     Floatable child safety seat  10  includes a support frame  30  shown in isolation in FIGS. 7 and 8 that is secured in a manner known in the art to child safety seat  12 . Support frame  30  includes parallel bottom side support bars  32  and parallel bottom front and rear support bars  34  and  36 , respectively, that together define a rectangular planar surface  38  that is compatible with placing support frame  30  along with connected child safety seat  12  on a horizontal surface of a motor vehicle or a water craft. 
     Support frame  30  includes a pair of rearwardly angled side support bars  40  connected generally midway to bottom side support bars  32 . Support frame  30  further includes a pair of parallel upper support side bars  42  that are positioned horizontally and directly above bottom side support bars  32  and that are connected to a pair of parallel forwardly angled rear support bars  44  and a pair of parallel rearwardly angled front support bars  46 . Angled rear support bars  44  and angled front support bars  46  in turn are connected to bottom side support bars  32 . Angled side support bars  40  are also connected to upper side support bars  42 . A pair of parallel vertical parallel support bars  48  are connected to and extend vertically upward from connection to the rear end of upper side support bars  42  and are also connected to the top of angled side support bars  40 . A horizontal rear crossbar  50  is positioned forwardly and upwardly from and parallel to bottom rear support bar  36  and is connected to the junctions of upper side support bars  42  and vertical support bars  48 . A pair of parallel rearwardly angled upper support bars  52  are connected to the junction of angled side support bars  40  and vertical support bars  48  with the rearward angle being greater than the rearward angle of angled side support bars  40 . A horizontal upper rear crossbar  54  parallel to and spaced upwardly from rear crossbar  50  is connected to the upper ends of rearwardly angled upper support bars  52 . 
     As indicated in FIGS. 2 and 6, bucket seat  14  is secured to support frame  30 . In particular, back wall  18  is in contact with and secured in a manner known in the art to rearwardly angled side support bars  40 . In addition, bucket seat lower side walls  21  are in contact with and secured in a manner known in the art to upper side support bars  42 . Bucket seat bottom wall  16  is positioned at the horizontal at a distance above and parallel to planar surface  38 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 1-9 floatable child safety seat  10  includes a unitary generally U-shaped floatation structure  56  made of a material that provides buoyancy in water. Floatation structure  56  includes a floatation top portion  58  positioned generally horizontally along and connected to the top side of bucket seat back wall  18 , a pair of downwardly angled floatation side portions  60  secured in a manner known in the art to bucket seat upper side walls  20  and a pair of floatation horizontal side portions  62  secured in a manner known in the art to bucket seat lower side walls  21 . Floatation structure  56  is secured to bucket seat  14  directly or is indirectly secured to bucket seat  14  by way of connection to support frame  30 . Floatation structure  56  is made of any suitable low density material, such as a low density plastic material, such as a closed cell polyurethane foam material. Floatation structure  56  is particularly situated and positioned so that floatation top portion  58  is spaced rearwardly from the center of gravity  63  (FIGS. 5 and 11) of floatable child safety seat  10  so as to provide an outrigger-type lateral stability to floatable child safety seat  10  in water. Floatation horizontal side portions  62  are equally spaced transversely from the center of gravity  63  so as to provide an outrigger-type lateral stability to floatable child safety seat  10  in water. 
     Also as shown in FIGS. 1-9, floatable child safety seat  10  further includes a rear cylindrical floatation structure  64  made of a buoyant material that is mounted around horizontal upper crossbar  54 . Rear cylindrical floatation structure  64  is spaced farther from bucket seat back wall  18  and from the center of gravity  63  than floatation top portion  58  so as to provide further outrigger-type lateral stability to floatable child safety seat  10  in water. 
     Floatable child safety seat  10  includes a ballast  66  coextensive with support frame  30  as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 7 for maintaining child safety seat  12  upright and improving the stability of floatable child safety seat  10  in water. Support frame  30  can be made of a solid metal to provide ballast  66 . Alternatively, support frame  30  can be made of a tubular metal and filled with metal shot to achieve ballast  66 . 
     Floatable child safety seat  10  includes a ballast suitably disposed below the safety seat&#39;s center of gravity, and attached to or cooperatively associated with support frame  30  for maintaining child safety seat  12  upright and improving the stability of floatable child safety seat  10  in water. Support frame  30  as best indicated in FIGS. 7-8 can be made of any type of solid metal to provide ballast. Alternatively, support frame  30  can be made of a tubular metal and filled with metal shot (not shown) to achieve ballast, or, if desired, solid, lead ballast(s) may be secured to one of more of the bottom support bars  32 ,  34  and  36  or to other sections of the frame. 
     Floatable child safety seat  10  includes a pair of triangular securing grips  68  defined by pair of angled side support bars  40 , pair of upper side support bars  42  and pair of vertical support bars  48  that provide attaching areas for a removable strap or straps known in the art (not shown) that pass through grips  68  and that in turn are attached to the surface of a motor vehicle or water craft so as to restrain the movements of floatable child safety seat  10 . 
     An optional floatable armrest tray  70  shown in FIGS. 1-6 includes an outer protective layer  72  surrounding an inner floatable material  74 . Armrest tray  70  is supported by an armrest support frame  76  shown in isolation in FIGS. 7 and 8 that includes a parallel pair of angled slightly upwardly armrest support bars  78  that are each connected at each of their ends to angled side support bars  40 . A cross-support bar  80  is in turn connected to each of armrest support bars  78 . Armrest support bars  78  and cross-support bar  80  extend through and support inner floatable material  74 . Floatable material  74  is made of any suitable low density material, such as a low density plastic material, such as a closed cell polyurethane foam material. 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 show bucket seat  14  with added floatation material  82  affixed in any of various manners known in the art, for example by gluing or by riveting, to the rear side of bucket seat bottom wall  16  and the rear side of bucket seat back wall  18 , in order to increase the floatation capacity of floatable child safety seat  10 . 
     FIG. 11 indicates various desirable and theoretically achievable positions of floatable child safety seat  10  in water, for purposes of exposition as fresh water, with various levels of immersion relative to the surface of the water in accordance with the body weight of a child therein and with no child. The exemplary body weights of the children are zero (safety seat being empty), 10 pounds, 20 pounds, 30 pounds, and 40 pounds with associated chin levels of A, B, C, D, and E, respectively, relative to water levels shown as A 1 , B 1 , C 1 , D 1 , and E 1 , respectively. 
     Exemplary specifications for floatable child safety seat  10  are as follows: 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Floatable Carrier Dry Weights (in lbs., approximate) 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Total components dry weight 
                 12 
               
               
                   
                 Molded seat with armrest tray, 
                 2 
               
               
                   
                 liner, straps, and buckles 
               
               
                   
                 Understructure frame 
                 9.6 
               
               
                   
                 Floatation material 
                 0.4 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Ballast Contributions (in lbs.. approximate) 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Total components 
                 9.5 
               
               
                   
                 Understructure frame 
                 9.4 
               
               
                   
                 Molded seat, tray shell, straps, etc 
                 0.1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Floatation Contributions (in lbs., approximate) 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Total components 
                 4.1 
               
               
                   
                 Low density foam plastics 
                 40 
               
               
                   
                 All other components (negligible) 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Floatation Distribution (Approximate) 
     50% forward and 50% aft of center of gravity. Virtually all floatation is at the molded seat compartment perimeter with 40% of all floatation centered within 4 inches of the fore and aft edges of the molded seat compartment. 
     Floatation Characters and Vertical Distribution (Approximate) 
     Submerged portions of infant body has natural buoyancy. 
     (One cc. of water or one cc. of body mass=one gram 
     (Specific Gravity=1.0) 
     Line A—(safety seat empty), 5,500 or 29% of floatation material submerged, 71% above water level. 
     Line B—(with 10 pound child, 50% of child submerged), 7,773 c.c.s. or 41% of floatation material submerged, 59% above water level. 
     Line C—(with 20 pound child, 55% of child submerged), 9,591 c.c.s. or 50% of floatation material submerged, 50% above water level. 
     Line D—(with 30 pound child, FILL of child submerged), FILL c.c.s. or FILL of floatation material submerged, FILL % above water level. 
     Line E—(with 40 pound child, 65% of child submerged), 11,864 c.c.s. or 62% of floatation material submerged, 38% above water level. 
     Another universal floatable child safety seat  84  shown generally in FIG. 12 is usable in a motor vehicle environment, a marine environment and an aircraft environment. Floatable child safety seat  84  includes a typical child safety seat that meets the safety requirements for motor vehicles. The child safety seat  84  as shown herein is merely one example of a number of designs for mostly molded-plastic type automotive child safety seats and is set forth herein only for purposes of exposition. 
     As best seen in FIG. 13, child safety seat  84  includes a rigid molded upright plastic bucket seat, or cradle,  86 , and a rectangular base member  88  that is nonremovably secured to cradle  86 . Cradle  86  includes a generally horizontal cradle bottom wall  90 , a cradle back wall  92  connected to bottom wall  90 , opposed cradle upper side walls  94  transversely connected to the sides of back wall  92  and opposed cradle lower side walls  96  continuously connected to upper side walls  94  and which are transversely connected to and extend upwardly from bottom wall  90  in a generally horizontal direction along bottom wall  90 . Back wall  92  is slightly tilted rearwardly from the vertical. Typical floatable child safety seat  84  also includes a cushion  98  that is contoured to fit over cradle  86  for protecting a child seated in cradle  86  from injury in combination with cradle  86  in the event of sudden movement or collision. Child safety seat  84  protects a young child from sudden movement both in an automotive and in a marine environment. 
     Child safety seat  84  includes an optional armrest  100  shown in FIG. 12 in a lowered position to provide an armrest for a child seated in cradle  86 . A pair of armrest support bars  101  connect armrest  100  to a pair of opposed horizontally aligned armrest shafts  102  transversely and pivotally mounted to both cradle upper side walls  94 . Armrest  100  can be rotated between the lowered position shown in FIG. 12 to a raised position as shown in FIGS. 13,  14 ,  15  and  16 . 
     As shown in FIG. 12, child safety seat  84  includes a pair of shoulder straps  104  to be secured over the shoulders of the child seated in cradle  86 . Shoulder straps  104  are passed through one pair of three pairs of cushion apertures  106  shown in FIG. 12 aligned with three pairs of cradle apertures  108  in cradle back wall  92 .as shown in FIG.  13 . Shoulder straps  104  are connected to a crotch strap  110  that includes one strap portion  111  connected to the underside of armrest  100  and the other end having a crotch strap buckle  112  that can be removably secured to a snap-on connector (not shown) mounted to the top side of base member  88  accessed at connector aperture  113  in bottom wall  90  aligned with cushion aperture  113 A. A release mechanism (not shown) for buckle  112  positioned under cradle  86  can be activated by pressure upon a release bar  114  at the front of cradle bottom wall  90  as shown in FIG. 13, which can be accessed through cushion aperture  116 . A locking strap  118  is connected to crotch strap  106  as shown in FIG. 12 is removably snap mounted by way of a snap-on buckle (not shown) to a permanent connector  120  located on the underside of armrest  100  shown in FIG.  13 . Shoulder straps  104  joined at a rear strap buckle  122  continue to the rear side of cradle back wall  92  as seen in FIG.  16  and then continue as a single connecting strap  124  that extends downwardly along the rear of cradle back wall  92  to the underside of cradle bottom wall  90  and then forwardly between cradle bottom wall  90  and base member  88  and are connected to the front of base member  88  at permanent connector  126  (shown with a portion of connecting strap  124 ) as seen in FIG.  15 . 
     Cradle  86  is rotatably mounted on base member  88  by a transverse shaft  128  connected to opposed low upwardly extending side walls  130  of base member  88  as best seen in FIGS. 12,  14  and  15 . Base member  88  defines a planar bottom surface  132  best seen in FIG. 15 that is compatible with placing floatable child safety seat  84  either on the surface of a seat of a motor vehicle or on the deck of a water craft or on a seat in the cabin of an aircraft all indicated as surface  134  in FIG.  12 . Floatable child safety seat  84  is secured to surface  134  by forward securing strap  118  connected to base member  88  by snap-on connector  138  seen in FIG.  12 . Cradle  86  includes a pair of opposed curved side supports  140  that are unitary with cradle bottom wall  90 . A pair of vertical structural supports  142  unitary with the rear side of cradle back wall  92  form a pair of elongated apertures  144  through which securing straps (not shown) can be passed and further connected to connectors (not shown) integral with surface  134 . 
     Ballast  146  is connected to child safety seat  84  in order to provide safety seat  84  with a center of gravity in water, and in particular to provide cradle  86  with a center of gravity in water so that a child in cradle  86  that is floating in water is maintained along with cradle  86  in an upright position. Ballast  146  for child safety seat  84  is shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 as a rectangular structure attached in any manner known in the art to the top side of base member  88  at a location at the midportion between cradle side walls  96  and generally under cradle back wall  92 . Ballast  146  preferably comprises a non-corrosive material such a non-corrosive metal such as stainless steel. Ballast  146  can also be such material as lead such as molded lead connected in a manner known in the art to any suitable portion of safety seat  84 . Lead shot can also be used as a ballast material. 
     Floatation material referred to generally herein as floatation material  148 A-E is secured to various areas of cradle  86  so as to create the buoyancy to float child safety seat  84  in water in arrangement with ballast  146  so that the head of a child positioned in cradle  86  is maintained above water level in combination with the center of gravity created by ballast  146 . Floatation material  148 A-E is attached to various locations of cradle  86  as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 as follows: First, floatation material  148 A is attached to the inner side of cradle back wall  92 . Second, floatation material  148 B is attached to the inner portions of cradle upper and lower side walls  94  and  96 . Third, floatation material  148 C is attached to the top side of cradle bottom wall  90 . Fourth, floatation material  148 D is positioned in upper and lower arm wall cavities  150  defined by cradle upper and lower molded side walls  94  and  96  as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 with FIG. 17 being representative of both upper and lower side walls  94  and  96  mutatis mutandis. Fifth, floatation material  148 E is positioned in a pair of vertical recesses  152  formed by buttresses  142 . Sixth, armrest  100  is enclosed by floatation material  148 F that is in turn enclosed by a protective layer  154 . 
     Floatation material  148 A-E is a buoyant material, which is preferably a low density material. One such low density material is a closed cell polyurethane. Another such low density material is polystyrene. Various types of buoyant material  148 A-E can be used at various locations in accordance with various qualities of the buoyant material. 
     Buoyancy of cradle  86  can be achieved by molding selected portions of plastic cradle  158  to be hollow and so buoyant. As long as buoyant characteristics of cradle  158  are achieved in arrangement with ballast  214  so as to keep the head of the infant held in cradle  158  above the water line when cradle  158  is in water, the overall inventive aspect of the floatable child safety seat  156  is achieved. 
     The arrangement of ballast  146  and floatation material  148 A-E is to achieve the general results shown in FIG. 11, which indicates various desirable and theoretically achievable positions of floatable child safety seat  10  in water, for purposes of exposition as fresh water, with various levels of immersion relative to the surface of the water in accordance with the body weight of a child therein and with no child. The exemplary body weights of the children are zero (safety seat being empty), 10 pounds, 20 pounds, 30 pounds, and 40 pounds with associated chin levels of A, B, C, D, and E, respectively, relative to water levels shown as A 1 , B 1 , C 1 , D 1 , and E 1 , respectively. 
     Child safety seat  84  is of a type that is appropriate and suitable for accommodation for a child in the general weight range of 40 pounds. Child safety seat  84  can be secured to the base of a motor vehicle such as a seat of a motor vehicle, to the base of a top deck or underdeck in a marine environment, to a seat in a marine environment such as a motor boat, or to any base in an aircraft enviroment including a floor or a seat therein. 
     Another universal floatable child safety seat  156  shown generally in FIG. 18 is usable in a motor vehicle environment, a marine environment and an aircraft environment and meets the safety requirements for motor vehicles. Child safety seat  156  is appropriate and suitable for accommodation of an infant from birth to a weight of approximately 20 pounds. Child safety seat  156  as shown herein is merely an example of a number of designs for mostly molded-plastic type automotive child safety seats and is set forth herein only for purposes of exposition. 
     As best seen in FIG. 19, child safety seat  156  shown in isolation includes a rigid molded upright plastic bucket seat, or cradle,  158 , and a base member  160  that is removably connected to cradle  158 . Cradle  160  includes a generally horizontal cradle bottom wall  162 , a cradle back wall  164  connected to bottom wall  162 , opposed cradle upper side walls  166  transversely connected to the sides of back wall  164  and opposed cradle lower side walls  168  continuously connected to upper side walls  166  and which are transversely connected to and extend upwardly from bottom wall  162  in a generally horizontal direction along bottom wall  162 . Cradle back wall  164  is slightly tilted rearwardly from the vertical. A pair of opposed cradle arced bottom flanges  169  seen in FIGS. 20 and 21 are connected to cradle bottom wall  162 . Typical floatable child safety seat  156  also includes a cushion  170  that is contoured to fit over cradle  158  for protecting an infant or child seated in cradle  158  from injury in combination with cradle  158  in the event of sudden movement or collision. Child safety seat  156  protects a young child or infant from sudden movement both in an automotive and in a marine environment. 
     As shown in FIG. 18, child safety seat  156  includes a pair of shoulder straps  172  to be secured over the shoulders of the child or infant seated in cradle  158 . Shoulder straps  172  are adjustably joined at an strap clip  174  from where straps  172  continue downwardly as strap crotch holders  176  to a snap-on clip  178  that is removably mountable to a clip holder  180  seen in FIG. 19 that is accessible through an aperture  182  in cushion  170  seen in FIG.  18 . Shoulder straps  172  pass through one of a pair of upper apertures  186 A defined in cradle back wall  164  as seen in FIG. 19. A pair of lower apertures  186 B located below upper access apertures  186 A for an alternate strap adjustment. Shoulder straps  172  continue down the rear surface of cradle back wall  164  and are connected to a cross-bar  173  mounted to the upper portion of cradle back wall  164  as seen in FIG.  22 . Upper and lower access apertures  188 A and  188 B defined at the rear of cushion  170  provide access for shoulder straps  172  to upper and lower apertures  186   a  and  186 B. 
     A cradle handle  190  includes a pair of upright handle arms  192  joined at the upper ends by a horizontal handle grip  194 . The lower arm ends  196  are rotatably mounted to cradle upper side walls  166  at transverse shafts  198 . Cradle handle  190  allows cradle  158  to be lifted from cradle base member  160  and transported with or without a child or infant seated in cradle  158 . Cradle handle  190  is rotatable forwardly as seen in FIG. 19 as cradle handle  190 A shown in partial view in phantom line. Release buttons  198  are located at both shafts  198  that when pressed inwardly, cradle handle  190  is released from a locking mechanism (not shown) of a kind known in the art mounted in base member  160  so that handle  190  can be rotated to either an upper position or a lower position where handle  190  is automatically locked at the new position by the locking mechanism. 
     As seen in FIGS. 18-22, base member  160  defines a planar bottom surface  202  seen in FIG. 18 that extends between opposed upright base member side walls  203  that is compatible with placing floatable child safety seat  156  either on the seat of a motor vehicle or on the deck of a water craft or on a seat in the cabin of an aircraft all indicated as surface  204  in FIG.  18 . Removable cradle  158  is releasably secured to base member  160  by a pair of inwardly extending spring-biased tabs  206  (one of which is shown on FIGS. 19,  20  and  21 ) removably secured in a pair of locking pockets  207 . Tabs  206  are connected to the inner surfaces of base member side walls  203 , and locking pockets are positioned on the inner sides of opposed upstanding cradle lower side walls  168 . Tabs  206  are drawn inward by operation of a pull handle  208  mounted at front wall  209  connected to a slidable pull mechanism  210  of a type known in the art (indicated generally in dashed line in FIG. 20) located under base member  160  as generally indicated in dashed line in FIG.  20 . Operation of pull handle  208  connected to a attached to pull mechanism  210  that in turn draws a pair of bands connected to pulleys (neither shown) operatively connected to tabs  206  so as to drag tabs  206  inwardly out of locked retention in locking pockets  207  into a biased mode. Cradle  158  is then in a free mode to be separated from base member  160  by lifting cradle handle  190 . Tabs  206  self-bias back into their original position. Tabs  206  are tapered so that the during return of cradle  158  to its locked position relative to base member  160 , a portion of cradle  158  presses tabs  206  inwardly into a biased mode in a manner known in the art until cradle  158  is fully settled into base member  160  at which position holding grips  206  are free to be self-biased back into a non-biased locking mode relative to cradle  158 . Other suitable locking mechanisms known in the art can be used to releasably connect cradle  158  to base member  160 . 
     Child safety seat  156  is designed to be placed in a motor vehicle with the child or infant therein in a rear facing position. Child safety seat  156  is secured to surface  204  by a forward securing straps (not shown) passed through a pair of recesses formed by curved grips  212  formed integrally with and extending laterally outwardly from the forward portion of cradle lower side walls  168  and that can receive a transverse securing strap (not shown) extending over cradle  158  and that are in turn are removably secured in a manner known in the art to grips (not shown) associated with the surface  204  of a vehicle, boat or aircraft. Other suitable securing devices known in the art can be used to removably connect base member  160 , and thus child safety seat  156 , to a vehicle, boat or aircraft. 
     Ballast  214  is connected to cradle  158  in order to provide cradle with a center of gravity in water, and in particular to provide cradle  158  in water so that an infant or child positioned in cradle  158  that is floating in water is maintained in an upright position. Ballast  214  is shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 as a rectangular structure attached in any suitable manner known in the art to the underside of cradle  158  in particular to the underside of cradle bottom wall  162  at a location at the midportion between cradle lower side walls  168 . Ballast  214  generally comprises a non-corrosive material such as a non-corrosive metal such as stainless steel or lead. Ballast  214  preferably comprises a non-corrosive material such a non-corrosive metal such as stainless steel. Ballast  214  can also be such material as lead such as molded lead connected in a manner known in the art to any suitable portion of cradle  158 . Lead shot can also be used as a ballast material. 
     Floatation material referred to generally herein a floatation material  216 A-E is secured to various areas of cradle  158  so as to create the buoyancy to float cradle  158  in water in arrangement with ballast  214  so that the head of an infant or child positioned in cradle  158  is maintained above water level in combination with the center of gravity created by ballast  214 . Floatation material  216 A-E is shown attached to various locations of cradle  158  as shown in FIGS. 19,  20 ,  21  and  22  as follows: First, floatation material  216 A is attached to the inner side of cradle back wall  164 . Second, floatation material  216 B is attached to the top side of cradle bottom wall  162 . Third, floatation material  216 C is attached to the inner portions of cradle upper and lower side walls  166  and  168 . Fourth, floatation material  216 D is attached to the rear side of cradle back wall  164 . Fifth, floatation material  216 E is attached to the outer side of cradle upper side walls  166 . Other floatation material can be attached to suitable areas of cradle  158  in a manner known in the art. 
     Floatation material  216 A-E is a buoyant material, which is preferably a low density material. One such low density material is a closed cell polyurethane. Another such low density material is polystyrene. Various types of buoyant material  216 A-E can be used at various locations in accordance with various qualities of the buoyant material. Buoyancy of cradle  158  can be achieved in other ways. For example, buoyancy of cradle  158  can be achieved by molding selected portions of plastic cradle  158  to be hollow and so buoyant. As long as buoyant characteristics of cradle  158  are achieved in arrangement with ballast  214  so as to keep the head of the infant held in cradle  158  above the water line when cradle  158  is in water, the overall inventive aspect of the floatable child safety seat  156  is achieved. 
     The arrangement of ballast  214  and floatation material  216 A-E is to achieve the general results shown in FIG. 11, which indicates various desirable and theoretically achievable positions of floatable cradle  158  in water, for purposes of exposition as fresh water, with various levels of immersion relative to the surface of the water in accordance with the body weight of a child therein and with no child. The exemplary body weights of the children are zero (safety seat being empty), 10 pounds, 20 pounds, 30 pounds, and 40 pounds with associated chin levels of A, B, C, D, and E, respectively, relative to water levels shown as A 1 , B 1 , C 1 , D 1 , and E 1 , respectively. 
     Although the present invention as described in relation to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 12-22 has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will, of course, be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the form, details, and arrangements of the parts without departing from the scope of the invention. Both floatable child safety seat  84  and floatable child safety seat  156  have been described herein primarily as associated with motor vehicles and water craft, both child safety seat  84  and child safety seat  156  can be used in association with aircraft where both child safety seats would be placed upon a passenger seat of the aircraft in a manner analogous with placing the child safety seats upon the front or rear seat of a motor vehicle. Child safety seat  156  can be secured to the base of a motor vehicle such as a seat of a motor vehicle, to the base of a top deck or underdeck in a marine environment, to a seat in a marine environment such as a motor boat, or to any base in an aircraft enviroment including a floor or a seat therein. 
     Child safety seat  156  as presently used in motor vehicles includes cradle  158  and base member  160  being locked together in the event of either sudden movement or a shock such as an accident. When child safety seat  156  is secured to the deck of a water craft, or to the seat of a water craft such as a speedboat, it is possible that the person with the infant positioned in cradle  158  would be unable to accomplish the task of freeing the entire child safety seat  156  from attachment to the water craft, generally by removing the securing straps from connection with the securing grips on the water craft. It is particularly advantageous to include a mechanism between cradle  158  and base member  160  that would quickly release cradle  158  from base member  160  upon child safety seat  156  being immersed in water. In particular, the entire pull mechanism  210  that is operable with biasable holding grips  206  would be further integrated with a material that would swell upon immersion with water so that holding grips  206  would be pressed apart into a biased mode so as to free cradle  158  from a locked relationship with base member  160  so that cradle  158  would float free from base member  160  in the water independent of any intervention by a person who had been attendant on the child. Other suitable water-activated release mechanisms associated with freeing cradle  158  from base member  160  are, of course, possible. 
     A mostly plastic cradle  218  is shown in isolation is shown in FIGS. 23-26 where sealed portions of plastic cradle  218  form buoyant hollow compartments. Cradle  218  is generally analogous to cradles  86  and  158  in that the buoyant compartments shown in FIGS. 23-26 can be used in arrangement with ballasts  146  and  214 , for example, to achieve both the buoyancy and the upright characteristics in water necessary to preserve the life of a child strapped in cradles  86  and  158 . 
     Plastic cradle  218  includes a bottom wall  220  connected to a generally upright rear wall  222  and opposed vertical lower side walls  224  connected to bottom wall  220  and rear wall  222  and further including opposed vertical upper side walls  226  connected to rear wall  222  and to lower side walls  224 . An opposed pair of generally cylindrical side members  228  are mounted to lower side walls  224  and extend generally horizontally therefrom. A pair of generally cylindrical lower side wall members  228  connected to the upper portions of lower side walls  224  and extending generally horizontal form hollow compartments  230 . An opposed pair of generally cylindrical upper side wall members  232  connected to upper side walls  226  and extending generally vertical form hollow compartments  234 . A generally cylindrical rear wall member  236  connected to the top of rear wall  222  and extending generally horizontal forms a hollow compartment  238 . Hollow compartments  230 ,  234 , and  238  are buoyant in themselves so that, when so sized and arranged in relation to ballast, such as ballasts  146  and  214  of child safety seats  84  and  156 , can serve as floatation devices in themselves without the necessity of adding floatation material, such as floatation material  148 A-E and  216 A-E. Alternatively, floatation material such as floatation material  148 A-E and  216 A-E can be used in addition to hollow compartments  230 ,  234 , and  238 . 
     FIGS. 24A,  25 A, and  26 A show compartments  230 ,  234 , and  238  each filled with a floatation material designated as floatation material  230 A,  234 A and  236 A. Such floatation material can be any buoyant floatation material that is water repellent a closed cell polyurethane. Another such low density material is polystyrene. The purpose of floatation material  230 A,  234 A and  238 A is to maintain the buoyancy of compartments  230 ,  234  and  238  in the event of a break in the plastic enclosure areas so as to allow the entry of water therein. 
     Referring to FIGS. 27 through 31, there is illustrated another embodiment of child safety seat and seating system according to the present invention, generally indicated as reference number  270 . Seat  270  has a bucket seat portion  274 , a handle portion  276 , and a base portion  278 . In addition, bucket seat portion  274  includes a notched segment or aperture  277  that is a part of the releasable latching system, described hereinafter (see FIG.  37  and description, infra.). 
     Bucket seat portion  274  is the main structural component of seat  270 . Bucket seat portion has a seating area comprising a back surface  271  and a seat surface  272 . Peripheral side-walls  273   a ,  273   b  are on respective side edges of the seating area. Back surface  271  is angled about 90 to 95 degrees relative to seat surface  272 . Back surface  271  is about 22 inches long between seat surface  271  and the top edge  275  of bucket seat portion  274 . Side-walls  273   a ,  273   b  are no less than about four inches high. Side-walls  273   a ,  273   b  are higher than those of traditional child safety seats by about 2 inches in order to accommodate about 2 inches of floatation material in the seating area of bucket seat portion  274 . In addition, side-walls  273   a ,  273   b  extend beyond the edge of seat surface  272  and, thus, form bumper portions  279   a ,  279   b  (see FIG. 30) that protect the legs of a child in seat  270  from impacts. Bucket seat portion  274  preferably has drainage holes  290  in order that water caught in bucket seat portion  274  can drain out. 
     Bucket seat portion  274  is preferably injection molded and constructed of a plastic material that is substantially rigid, partially elastomeric, temperature stable, sunlight resistant, ultraviolet light resistant, and salt resistant. Bucket seat portion  274  should resist cracking and other detrimental changes in physical and/or chemical characteristics when exposed to environmental factors normally present in watercraft. 
     Handle  276  is also integral to the self-righting capability of seat  270 . The self-righting capability is not effected by the height or position from which seat  270  is dropped. Seat  270  will self-right more quickly from higher distances and in more turbulent waters. 
     In addition, due to its larger horizontal surface area, handle  276  functions as a shock absorber or impact reducer. In case of impact with water, the speed of seat  270  hitting the water is reduced upon impact with the water because the water surface becomes partially displaced by handle  276 . When seat  270  is used as a rear-facing car safety seat, handle  276  may act as a bumper guard during a collision to protect a child for impacting with the seat to which seat  270  is secured. If seat  270  is used as a front-facing car seat, handle  270  may help prevent a child from being trapped or injured between the back seats and the front seats, which might become dislodged and forced rearwards in a collision. If seat  270  is used in the front passenger seat (generally not recommended), handle  276  will act as a bumper guard against an air bag hitting the child&#39;s face (if seat  270  is facing front) or as a bumper guard against an air bag forcing seat  270  against the back of the front seat to which it is secured. The possibility of these “rebound” injuries is also reduced when seat  270  is tethered to the automobile with a tether assembly  420  (see FIGS. 34 a ,  34   b , and  35 ). 
     Moreover, as an aid in rescue at sea, handle  276  provides an easily accessible structure that can be easily grasped by hand, with a boat hook, a gaff, or a similar device. Handle  270  may also be adapted with an emergency locator light, such as an IMO (“International Maritime Organization”) or SOLAS (“Safety of Life at Sea”) approved emergency locator light. Light reflective material may be built into or cover handle  270 . In particular, for Type 1 International IMO and SOLAS approved models, handle  270  and/or the top surfaces of bucket seat portion  274  must be built with or covered by at least 32 square inches of approved light reflective material. 
     Handle  276  is fixedly attached to bucket seat portion  274  so that, when child safety seat  270  is placed on a level surface, handle  276  has a vertical orientation, i.e., handle  276  is perpendicular to the level surface upon which child safety seat  270  is placed. 
     Handle  276  has a hollow interior that is filled with suitable floatation material, such as lower density and/or closed celled foam. 
     Handle  276  is preferably a plastic material that is substantially rigid, partially elastomeric, temperature stable, sunlight resistant, ultraviolet light resistant, and salt resistant. Handle  276  is preferably formed using injection molding techniques. In addition, handle  276  is preferably adapted to be highly visible. For example, handle  276  may be orange colored (particularly “International Orange”) or some other easily seen color. 
     Base portion  278  of seat  270  includes two rocker bars  279   a  and  279   b . Rocker bars  279   a ,  279   b  are preferably integrally molded on the underside of bucket seat portion  274 . Rocker bars  279   a ,  279   b  engage support base  320 , as described hereinafter. 
     Rocker bars  279   a ,  279   b  have ballast weights  280  incorporated therein. The ballast weights insure that the majority of the weight of seat  270  is below bucket seat portion  274 . Thus, seat  270  has the capability to self-right in the water. Seat  270  has the capability to self-right itself regardless of the orientation in which seat  270  entered the water. The ballast weights may be any appropriate material, shape, and size. 
     In addition to ballast weights  280 , rocker bars  279   a ,  279   b  also have flotation material  281  therein sufficient to float seat  270 . Preferably, the flotation material provides sufficient buoyancy so that seat  270  floats high in the water with a large proportion of freeboard. When a child is secured in seat  270  and seat  270  is floating in the water, the child is preferably completely or almost completely out of the water. The freeboard helps to keep the child as dry as possible and out of cold water, which will dramatically reduce the effects of hypothermia. 
     Between the floatation material  281  in rocker bars  279   a ,  279   b  and the floatation material in the seating area of bucket seat portion  274 , the square inch per pound ration for floatation of seat  270  far surpasses all the requirements of the United States Coast Guard and Underwriters Laboratories. In addition, the floatation material in the seating area of bucket seat portion  274  far surpasses present requirements for automotive child seat padding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 
     Referring to FIGS. 32 and 33, seat  270  has a harness  400 , which is preferably a 5-point harness. Harness  400  has two body straps ( 401 ,  402 ), a crotch strap  403 , and a central guide member  405 . Each body strap  401  and  402  has a fixed end permanently attached to seat  270  at a position corresponding to the waist of a child in seat  270 , and a free end with the tongue or end fitting  407  adapted to be releasably engaged with a latch or buckle  408 . When harnessing a child therewith, body straps  401  and  402  initially extend from their fixed ends in a direction substantially towards each other (i.e., horizontally). Body straps  401  and  402  subsequently pass through apertures  406  in central guide member  405  that angle or change the direction of body straps  401  and  402  so that body straps  401  and  402  extend upwardly or vertically, thereby passing over the chest and shoulders of the child in seat  270 . In one embodiment, body straps  401  and  402  cross each other, which eliminates the need for a chest buckle  411  (see FIG.  39 ). Body straps  401  and  402  may be portions of a single elongated strap that wraps around the back of seat  270  and may be secured to seat  270  by any appropriate means, such as a bolt or adhesive. Crotch strap  403  is attached at one end to central guide member  405 , and at the other end to seat the seat portion of seat  270  by an end fitting  409 , which releasably engages latch  410  that is disposed between the legs of a child in seat  270 . A plurality of latches or buckles  408  and  410  are provided in the back portion and seat portion, respectively. The selection of the latch  408  is dependent upon the size of the child in seat  270 , wherein, for larger children, a higher and/or wider latch is selected. Thereby, no pre-adjustments of straps  401  and  402  are necessary before use, even if the child to be harnessed has never before been in seat  270 . 
     Referring to FIG. 36, seat  270  has apertures  310  that are used to secure seat  270  in an automobile without using a support base as described in further detail below. 
     Referring to FIGS. 37 to  42 , the system of the present invention is the combination of seat  270  and a support base  320 . Support base  320  is fastened to a seat in an automobile, watercraft, or aircraft, using any appropriate means, such as a seat belt or permanent fasteners. Seat  270  is held by support base  320 . As shown in the figures, support base  320  is particularly adapted for use in watercraft. Nonetheless, support base  320  may be adapted for use in any type of vehicle. In addition, support base  320  is preferably adapted to be reversible, particularly when used in an automobile or airplane, namely to selectively support seat  270  in the front-facing and rear-facing direction. 
     The system of the present invention includes a releasable latching system that comprises a latch assembly  381  in the support base, and a notched segment  277  for receiving resilient hook  381 , so that seat  270  is snapped into support base  320 . Latch assembly  381  comprises a hook  381 . Hook  381  is attached to a cam  383  by a bar  382 . Cam  383  has a handle  385 . Hook  381  is rounded on its upper side to allow seat  270  to easily slide into support base  320 . When seat  270  is fully set into support base  320 , hook  381  locks into notched segment  277  and prevents seat  270  from being removed. To release seat  270 , a user turns handle  385 , which rotates cam  383 , resulting in hook  381  being pulled out of notched segment  277 . In one embodiment of latch assembly  381 , the handle must be turn each time a user wants to unlatch seat  270  from support base  320 . In an alternative embodiment, the user selectively opens and closes latch assembly  381 . The support base for use in watercraft does not include latch assembly  381 . 
     For marine use, support base  320  has no latching system because seat  270  must be free to float out of support base  320  if the watercraft were to sink. Nonetheless, seat  270  must be secure in the horizontal plane. Perferably, support base  320  is adapted such that seat  270  must be lifted about 3 to 4 inches before seat  270  can be moved laterally or sideways or removed from support base  320 . 
     As stated above, in an emergency, seat  270  must be able to simply float off support base  320  unaided, even if the watercraft is listing at an angle of 10° to 15° or more. Base  278  and notched segment  277  are adapted to engage support base  320  so that seat  270  will freely float up and away from support base  320  when the watercraft is sinking at an angle. In particular, as best illustrated in FIGS. 32 and 39, rocker bars  279   a ,  279   b  of seat  270  are suitably tapered so as to enable seat  270  to float out of support base  320 . In addition, notched segment  277  is also preferably tapered wherein notched segment is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. By tapering rocker bars  279   a ,  279   b  and notched segment  277 , seat  270  retains the capability of floating out of support base  320  in response to a rising water level. The greater the angle of taper of rocker bars  279   a ,  279   b  and notched segment  277 , the more seat  270  can list while maintaining the capability of floating free of support base  320 . 
     Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will, of course, be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the form, details, and arrangements of the parts without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the following claims.