Patent Document

PRIORITY INFORMATION &amp; CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/748,452, filed May 14, 2007, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/291,431, filed Dec. 1, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,422,278, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/818,759, filed Apr. 6, 2004, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/136,507, filed May 1, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,786,546, the entire contents of all of these applications being hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates generally to seat covers, and more particularly to an improved, two-stage seat cover which transitions from a one-piece system for accommodating a rear-facing child safety chair to a two-piece system for accommodating a forward-facing one to prevent a seat from being soiled and permanently compressed thereby. 
     Child safety chairs have been marketed throughout the world for many years. It is now mandatory within the United States for parents to employ child safety chairs when traveling in vehicles so that their children are safe in case an unfortunate event such as a car accident should occur. 
     Child safety chairs on seats are typically positioned in two directions depending upon the age and/or weight of the child using it. The safety chair is typically placed to face toward the vehicle&#39;s rear when it is used upon a small infant generally up to six months of age. As the infant matures in age and weight (i.e., six months up to eight years or eighty pounds in weight), the child safety chair is usually turned around so that it faces toward the front of the vehicle. 
     Existing safety restraints such as lap and shoulder belts are typically utilized to harness the child safety chairs to the vehicular seats. However, a significant problem exists in that the weight of these chairs are continuously applied upon the vehicular seats, thereby often causing permanent compression damages thereto. The degree of permanent compression damage can drastically increase given the fact that the weight of infant or child has to be accounted for in addition to the safety chair&#39;s weight. Most parents have found such damage to be simply unacceptable as they permanently deforms the seats of their vehicles. 
     Further marring to the vehicular seats can occur when infants or children using the child safety chairs inadvertently soil the seats, for example, by diaper leaks on accidental spilling of their drinks and/or food. 
     To alleviate these problems, many parents resort to using seat coverings such as plastic sheets, rubber mats and foam padded blankets between the vehicular seats and the child safety chairs. Though these seat coverings generally achieve their primary objective of protecting vehicular seats, they possess certain deficiencies which detract for their overall utility. 
     Perhaps the greatest deficiency of such coverings is their inability to protect the entirety of the vehicular seats. Specifically, plastic sheets, rubber mats and padded blankets are essentially tailored to cover only the seating portions of the vehicular seats and may be useful when accommodating a rearward-facing safety chair as it distributes weight solely on the seating portion of the vehicular seat. However, when the chair is repositioned to be forward-facing, these coverings typically cannot prevent the chair from further contacting the exposed seat-back portion of the vehicular seat thereby inevitably dispersing its weight thereto. Although multiple layers of plastic sheets, rubber mats or padded blankets may theoretically be spread over the seats, such arrangement will be aesthetically unpleasing, not to mention being awkward and difficult to maintain as they are not designed for such use. 
     In view of the above-described shortcomings of conventional vehicular seat coverings, there exists a need in the art for a vehicular seat cover that can optimally accommodate both rearward and forward facing child safety chairs, the directions of which are critical at various stages of a child&#39;s growth. More specifically, there exists a need for a vehicular seat cover which can prevent vehicular seats from becoming soiled and permanently compressed irrespective of the orientations that the child safety chairs take. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention specifically addresses and alleviates the above-referenced deficiencies associated with the use of the seat coverings of the prior art. More particularly, the present invention is an improved, two-stage seat cover which may easily alternate between one-piece and two-piece configurations so as to accommodate both rear and forward facing child safety chairs. As will be demonstrated below, the present seat cover&#39;s adaptability to transition between such configurations allows an infant and/or child to be safely carried within a vehicle, while preventing the vehicular seats from being damaged by accidental soiling or permanent compressions caused by the weight-bearing child safety chairs. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a two-stage seat cover for preventing a vehicular seat from being soiled or permanently deformed by a child safety chair which continuously applies its weight thereupon. The seat cover of the present invention comprises a lower rigid/semi-rigid protective member which is disposable upon a seating portion of the vehicular seat. The lower protective member is specifically designed for accommodating a rearward-facing safety chair as it is solely the chair&#39;s base section that contacts and thus applies weight to the seat at the seating portion. By using the lower protective member between the safety chair and the seating portion, the weight of the chair is distributed over the entire surface area of the protective member to thereby reduce any force generated by the weight from deforming the seating portion. Hence, the seating portion is prevented from suffering any permanent compression deformation. 
     The lower protective member additionally includes a lower peripheral edge which forms a ridge-like configuration substantially therearound. This ridge may be formed by shaping the lower peripheral edge in that configuration, or alternatively, by selectively extending an elongate strip around the lower peripheral edge. If the latter step is taken, the strip should be fabricated from a rigid or semi-rigid material (e.g., rubber) so that a configuration of a ridge is maintained at all times. By providing the ridge, any spills such as spilled drinks or diaper leaks originating from the child safety chair are maintained within the ridge and on the top surface of the protective member to prevent them from contacting and soiling any part of the seat and/or vehicular interiors. 
     Optionally, at least one pocket may be provided on the lower forward edge part of the lower protective member. Such pocket(s) may be any type which can adequately hold various items (e.g., baby bottles, toys, etc.) therein such as a mesh pocket, for example. The pocket may be attached to the lower forward edge by multiple means such as hook-and-loop strips (commonly called the Velcro) or by simply using permanent fasteners. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the seat cover also features an upper protective member which is selectively attachable to the lower protective member and is disposable against a seat-back portion of the vehicular seat. The upper protective member is specifically designed to be used in combination with the lower protective member for accommodating a forward-facing safety chair as it further applies its weight to the seat-back portion of the seat in addition to the seating portion. By providing the upper protective member when desired, the force generated by the weight of the forward-facing chair may similarly be more evenly distributed thereby so as to replace localized compression forces on the seat-back portion of the vehicle seat. Thus, the seat-back portion, as well as the seating portion, can be protected from becoming permanently deformed by the continuous weight imposed by the child safety chair. 
     The upper and lower protective members may be releasibly attached to each other through one of many known conventional methods. One of such preferred methods is employing the hook-and-loop fastening (commonly called Velcro). More specifically, a hook strip can be formed adjacent the upper bottom edge of the upper protective member, whereas a loop strip can be formed adjacent the lower rear edge of the lower protective member. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that an alternate arrangement may also be possible where the hook strip is defined adjacent the lower rear edge and the loop strip is defined adjacent the upper bottom edge. By utilizing this hook-and-loop arrangement, the upper protective member can easily and conveniently be attachable and detachable with respect to the lower protective member. 
     In operation, the present two-stage seat cover is used according to a child&#39;s growth progression for the purpose of accommodating a child safety chair upon a vehicular seat. As mentioned above, a parent typically utilizes the safety chair in a rearward-facing direction when his or her child is in the infant stage (i.e., below six months of age). To accommodate the rearward-facing safety chair, the parent may solely lay the lower protective member on the seat&#39;s seating portion such that the rearward-facing safety chair can be accommodated thereupon substantially within its formed ridge-like configuration. In this respect, the risk of permanent compression damage to the seating portion is significantly mitigated as the force generated by the chair&#39;s weight is more uniformly distributed by the lower protective member. Of course, any spillage originating from the safety chair will be contained within the vertical barrier formed by the lower member&#39;s ridge configuration. 
     When the infant matures in age and weight (i.e., six months up to eight years or eighty pounds in weight), the child safety chair must be turned around so that it now faces the front of the vehicle. In order to further prevent the weight of the forward-facing chair from being directly applied to the seat&#39;s seat-back portion, the upper protective member is disposed therebetween. More particularly, the upper member&#39;s hook strip can be abutted to the lower member&#39;s loop strip for releasible attachment between the upper and lower protective members. By doing so, further weight applied to the seat-back portion by the forward-facing chair is sufficiently distributed by the upper protective member so as to protect against permanent compression damage. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These as well as other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a two-stage seat cover constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention disposed upon a vehicular seat; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a lower protective member of the seat cover shown in  FIG. 1  and illustrating its placement on the seat&#39;s seating portion to accommodate a rearward-facing child safety chair thereupon; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the seat cover of  FIG. 1  formed by attaching an upper protective member to the lower protective member of  FIG. 2  and illustrating a forward-facing child safety chair which is accommodated thereupon; and 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the seat cover of  FIG. 1  and illustrating its hook and loop strips for releasibly attaching the lower and upper protective members together and attaching an optional storage pocket. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and not for purposes of limiting the same,  FIG. 1  perspectively illustrates a two-stage seat cover  10  constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As indicated above, the present seat cover  10  can easily alternate between one-piece and two-piece configurations for accommodating both rear and forward facing child safety chairs  12 ,  14 . As will be come more apparent infra, this ability to transition between such configurations helps prevent a vehicular seat  16  such as a car seat from being damaged by accidental soiling or permanent compressions caused by the weight-bearing child safety chairs  12 ,  14 . It is recognized herein that the present seat cover  10  may be utilized with other types of seats other than vehicular seats  16 . 
     Referring more particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the seat cover  10  of the present invention is comprised of a lower protective member  18  and an upper protective member  20 . Although those figures specifically show the lower and upper protective members  18 ,  20  as being generally rectangular, it will be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art that any shapes, configurations, sizes and/or geometries that can substantially accommodate the safety chair  12  or  14  thereupon are contemplated herein. Additionally, the lower and upper protective member  18 ,  20  may provide a variety forms of textures. However, it is preferred that the lower and upper protective members  18 ,  20  are each fabricated from a rigid or semi-rigid material that additionally possesses tactile frictionally grip properties, and/or provides at least some degree of cushioning to, the child safety chair  12  or  14 . An exemplary material for this purpose is a polymer, foamed polymer and/or foam rubber, but other foamed polymer and/or materials are expressly contemplated herein. Optionally, a washable protective cover  22  such as the one made of a nylon fabric may encapsulate the lower and upper protective members  18 ,  20  so as to protect their materials from being soiled by a spillage for example. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2  only, the lower protective member  18  is adapted to be disposed upon a seating portion  24  of the vehicular seat  16 . The lower protective member  18  accommodates a rearward-facing safety chair  12  by itself as it is only the chair&#39;s base section  26  which contacts and thus applies weight to the seating portion  24 . By being placed between the safety chair  12  and the seating portion  24 , the lower protective member  18  operates to more uniformly distribute the chair weight and infant weight across the surface area of the seating portion  24 . Hence, the risk of permanent compression damage to the seating portion  24  is significantly mitigated. 
     The lower protective member  18  preferably includes a lower peripheral edge  28  which defines the outer boundaries thereof. The lower peripheral edge  28  is generally formed by a lower forward edge  30  (disposed away from the upper protective member  20 ), a lower rear edge  32  (disposed toward the upper member  20 ) and two lower side edges  34  interconnecting them. Although not mandatory, the lower peripheral edge  28  forms a ridge-like configuration  36  substantially therearound (i.e. except its lower forward edge  30 ). However, an alternate configuration forms the ridge  36  around the entirety of the lower peripheral edge  28 . 
     The ridge  36  may be integrally having various heights with the lower protective member  18 . Alternatively, an elongate strip  38  may be selectively extended around the lower peripheral edge  28  to form the desired ridge  36 . In this latter embodiment, such strip  38  is preferably constructed from a rigid or semi-rigid material (e.g., polymer on rubber) so that the configuration of a ridge  36  can be sustained irrespective of various pressures impacting the same. By providing this ridge  36 , any spills such as spilled drinks or diaper leaks originating from the child safety chair  12  or  14  can be contained within the boundary set thereby to prevent them from flowing out and soiling any part of the seat  16  and/or vehicular interior. 
     Optionally, the lower protective member  18  may have at least one storage pocket  40  which may be extended from its lower forward edge  30 . The pocket(s)  40  may be any type of pocket which can adequately hold various items (e.g., baby bottles, toys, etc.) therein. One example of such pocket may be a mesh pocket which defines from one to any number of sufficiently deepened pouches. The pocket(s)  40  may be remarkably mounted to the lower forward edge  30  in any conventional manner such as using hook-and-loop or fasteners and/or snaps or zippers. Furthermore, the lower protective member  18  may optionally include at least one folding line  42  which extends between the two lower side edges  34 . This folding line(s)  42  allows the lower protective member  18  to be folded so as to facilitate carrying thereof when it is not in use and further better accommodate any curvature the seat portion  24 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 , the upper protective member  20  is configured to be disposed against a seat-back portion  44  of the vehicular seat  16 . The upper protective member  20  is used in combination with the lower protective member  18  so that a forward-facing child safety chair  14  can be accommodated collectively thereby. The upper protective member  20  is adapted to be generally contiguous with the surface of the seat-back portion  44 . In this regard, when the child safety chair  14  is placed in the forward-face direction, the chair&#39;s top section  46  further contacts and thus applies its weight thereto in addition to the chair&#39;s base section  26  applying weight to the seating portion  24 . 
     It is preferred that the upper protective member  20  can be selectively attachable with and detachable from the lower protective member  18 . By providing the upper protective member  20  when desired, the compressive force generated by the weight of the forward-facing chair  14  may be more uniformly distributed upon the entire surface area of the seat portion  44  so as to lessen the continuous impact of the chair  14  at the seat-back portion  44 . Therefore, the seat-back portion  44  of the vehicular seat  16 , as well as its seating portion  24 , can be adequately protected from becoming permanently deformed by the continuous weight respectively imposed by the top and base sections  46 ,  26  of the forward-facing child safety chair  14 . 
     The upper protective member  20  has an upper peripheral edge  48  defining the outer boundaries thereof. The upper peripheral edge  48  is characterized by an upper top edge  50  (disposed away from the lower protective member  18 ), an upper bottom edge  52  (disposed toward the lower protective member  18 ) and two upper side edges  54  interconnecting them. The upper protective member  20  may optionally have at least one folding line  56  that can extend between the two upper side edges  54  which allows it to similarly be folded for ease of carrying and conform to the curvature of the seat portion  44 . Further optional is a trimming  58  which may be extended between the upper side edges  54  through the upper top edge  50 . Although this trimming  58  may be any type or form, it is preferably a nylon fabric trimming. Moreover, a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that a variety of indicia such as company names, designs or logos may be inscribed within the upper peripheral edge  48 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the upper and lower protective members can be releasibly attached to each other by preferably employing the hook-and-loop strips (commonly called the Velcro) formed therebetween. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will realize that such releasible attachment may be accomplished via other known conventional methods (e.g., releasible pins, buttons, etc.). In particular, a hook strip  60  is formed adjacent the upper bottom edge  52  of the upper protective member  20 . A loop strip  62  is formed adjacent the lower rear edge  32  of the lower protective member  18 . It is easily contemplated, however, that the positioning of the hook and loop strips  60 ,  62  be reversed such that the hook strip  60  is formed adjacent the lower rear edge  32  and the loop strip  62  is formed adjacent the upper bottom edge  52 . By utilizing this hook-and-loop arrangement, the upper protective member  20  can easily and conveniently be attached and detached with respect to the lower protective member  18 . 
     In operation, the present two-stage seat cover  10  is used according to a child&#39;s growth progression and accommodates a child safety chair  12 ,  14  upon a vehicular seat  16  without inflicting any damage thereto. Typically, a parent positions the safety chair  12  in a rearward-facing direction when his or her child is in the infant stage (i.e., below six months of age). In this scenario, the lower protective member  18  is used without the upper protective member  20  and is placed upon the seating portion  24 . The rearward-facing child safety chair  12  may then be set upon the lower protective member  18  substantially within its formed ridge-like configuration  36 . By doing so, the risk of permanent compression damage to the seating portion  24  is significantly reduced as the force generated by the chair&#39;s weight is more uniformly distributed by (i.e. disbursed) the lower protective member  18 . Of course, any spillage (i.e., spilled drinks, diaper leakage) coming from the child safety chair  12  or  14  will be contained within ridge  36  as it forms a vertical substantially around the lower peripheral edge  28 . 
     As the infant matures in age and weight (i.e., six months up to eight years or eighty pounds in weight), the child safety chair  14  must be turned around so that it now faces the front of the vehicle. The upper protective member  20  is placed between the chair&#39;s top section  46  and the seat-back portion  44  to alleviate the weight of the forward-facing chair  14  from being directly applied to the seat-back portion  44 . To accomplish such end, the upper member&#39;s hook strip  60  is releasibly attached to the lower member&#39;s loop strip  62 . In this respect, weight applied to the seat-back portion  44  by the forward-facing chair  14  can be sufficiently distributed by the upper protective member  20  in order to protect against permanent compression damages. The upper protective member  20  is easily detachable for adaptation toward the rearward-facing chair  12  so that the present seat cover  10  can be reused for other infants (e.g., younger siblings). 
     Additional modifications and improvements of the present invention may also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, the particular combination of parts described and illustrated herein is intended to represent only certain embodiments of the present invention, and is not intended to serve as limitations of alternative devices within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 7