Patent ID: 12246628

DESCRIPTIVE KEY

100child car seat head retainer200retainer strap202front side204rear side210first strap segment212first car seat fastener214first coupling fastener216storage fastener218decoupling handle220second strap segment222second car seat fastener224second coupling fastener902child's head910car seat

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a child car seat head retainer (herein described as the “invention”)100. The invention100may comprise a two-part retainer strap200. The retainer strap200may be adapted to couple to a car seat910occupied by a child in order to retain the child's head902in an upright position while the child sleeps. The retainer strap200is not meant to be a safety device to prevent injury during a collision. The retainer strap200is meant only to minimize head movement while the child sleeps in the car seat910. The retainer strap200may comprise a first strap segment210and a second strap segment220. The left end of the first strap segment210may couple to the left side of the car seat910. The right end of the second strap segment220may couple to the right side of the car seat910. The right end of the first strap segment210and the left end of the second strap segment220may be adapted to overlap and couple to each other in front of the child's forehead to retain the child's head902.

The retainer strap200may comprise a front side202and a rear side204. The front side202may be defined to be the side of the retainer strap200that is away from the child. The rear side204may be defined to be the side of the retainer strap200that contacts the child.

Where reference is made to a hook portion and a loop portion, the hook portion and the loop portion refer to the two (2) halves of a hook-and-loop fastener. The hook portion comprises miniature hooks that are often made of nylon. A characteristic of the hook portion is that the hook portion tends to adhere to craggy fabric that the hook portion comes into contact with. The loop portion comprises miniature loops that are often also made of nylon. A characteristic of the loop portion is that unlike the hook portion, the loop portion tends to feel soft to the touch and does not adhere to craggy fabric that it comes into contact with.

The first strap segment210may be a rectangular strap made of a flexible material. The first strap segment210may comprise a first car seat fastener212coupled to the front left of the first strap segment210. The first car seat fastener212may be the hook portion of a hook-and-loop fastener. The first car seat fastener212may be operable to couple to the left side of the car seat910. Because the first car seat fastener212is located on the front side of the first strap segment210, the left end of the first strap segment210must be curled under to expose the first car seat fastener212to the car seat910.

The first strap segment210may comprise a first coupling fastener214coupled to the rear right of the first strap segment210. The first coupling fastener214may be the loop portion of a hook-and-loop fastener. The first coupling fastener214may be operable to couple to a second coupling fastener224located on the front left of the second strap segment220.

The first strap segment210may comprise a storage fastener216coupled to the front right of the first strap segment210. The storage fastener216may be the hook portion of a hook and loop fastener. The storage fastener216may be operable to hold the right end of the first strap segment210out of the way when the retainer strap200is not in use by coupling the right end of the first strap segment210to the car seat910. The second coupling fastener224on the second strap segment220may likewise couple to the car seat910when the retainer strap200is not in use in order to hold the left end of the second strap segment220out of the way when the retainer strap200is not in use.

The second strap segment220may be a rectangular strap made of a flexible material. The second strap segment220may comprise a second car seat fastener222coupled to the front right of the second strap segment220. The second car seat fastener222may be the hook portion of a hook-and-loop fastener. The second car seat fastener222may be operable to couple to the right side of the car seat910. Because the second car seat fastener222is located on the front side of the second strap segment220, the right end of the second strap segment220must be curled under to expose the second car seat fastener222to the car seat910.

The second strap segment220may comprise the second coupling fastener224coupled to the front left of the second strap segment220. The second coupling fastener224may be the hook portion of a hook-and-loop fastener. The second coupling fastener224may be operable to couple to the first coupling fastener214located on the rear right of the first strap segment210.

The first strap segment210may be coupled to the second strap segment220by placing the right end of the first strap segment210in front of the left end of the second strap segment220and pressing the first coupling fastener214and the second coupling fastener224together.

The right end of the first strap segment210may comprise a decoupling handle218. The decoupling handle218may be a loop of material that may be adapted to be grasped and pulled by a user to assist in separating the first coupling fastener214and the second coupling fastener224. As non-limiting examples, the decoupling handle218may be made of fabric, plastic, or metal.

The first strap segment210and the second strap segment220may be made of a flexible, flame-resistant material. As non-limiting examples, the first strap segment210and the second strap segment220may be made from nylon, neoprene, polyester, or any combination thereof.

Although this disclosure describes the features of the invention in terms of directional terms left and right, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that an alternative mirror-image embodiment of the invention that reverses left and right falls within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the claims.

In use, the user may place the child into the car seat910and may secure the retainer strap200across the child's forehead to minimize head movement while sleeping. To secure the retainer strap200across the child's forehead, the user may couple the first car seat fastener212of the first strap segment210to the left side of the car seat910and may couple the second car seat fastener222of the second strap segment220to the right side of the car seat910. The user may then place the left end of the second strap segment220in front of the child's forehead, may place the right end of the first strap segment210in front of the second strap segment220, and may press the first coupling fastener214and the second coupling fastener224together to join the first strap segment210and the second strap segment220.

When no longer needed, the retainer strap200may be released by pulling on the decoupling handle218to separate the first coupling fastener214and the second coupling fastener224. The loose ends of the first strap segment210and the second strap segment220may then be secure out of the way by pressing the storage fastener216on the first strap segment210and the second coupling fastener224on the second strap segment220against the car seat910.

The exact specifications, materials used, and method of use of the invention100may vary upon manufacturing. The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.