Automotive Vehicle Safety Seat

• US 20090026819A1
• Filed: 07/24/2007
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chirine Marie Zahar
• Original Assignee: Chirine Marie Zahar
• Inventors: Zahar, Chirine Marie
• Granted Patent: US 7,984,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/256.160
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2806 for securing the child seat to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2821 having a seat and a base part

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to child and infant safety seats for automotive vehicles. In one embodiment, a safety seat apparatus includes a base unit that may be secured to a vehicle seat, a coupling unit extendably and retractably coupled to the base unit, and a safety seat pivotally and removably coupled to the coupling unit.

Claims

1. A vehicle safety seat apparatus comprising:

a base unit configured to be secured to a vehicle seat;

a coupling unit, the coupling unit configured to be extendably and retractably coupled to the base unit, wherein the coupling unit includes a substantially circular channel on its top surface; and

a safety seat, the safety seat configured to be pivotally and removably coupled to the coupling unit, wherein the safety seat includes a substantially circular protrusion that is configured to rotate within the circular channel of the coupling unit.

2. The vehicle safety seat apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base unit comprises a substantially linear slot configured to receive a rail portion of the coupling unit.

3. The vehicle safety seat apparatus of claim 2, wherein the substantially linear slot comprises a T-shaped slot and the rail portion of the coupling unit comprises a T-shaped rail portion.

4. The vehicle safety seat apparatus of claim 3, wherein the substantially circular protrusion comprises an opening and the coupling unit comprises a moveable bolt configured to secure the safety seat by extending into the opening when the safety seat is in a locked position.

5. The vehicle safety seat apparatus of claim 1, wherein the safety seat comprises a safety seat designed for an infant.

6. The vehicle safety seat apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle safety seat apparatus is configured to attach to a vehicle by a Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system.

7. The vehicle safety seat apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substantially circular protrusion comprises a tab that couples with a notch in the coupling unit and along the circular channel, wherein the notch extends around about 180 degrees of the circular channel.

8. A vehicle safety seat apparatus comprising:

a base unit configured to be secured to a vehicle seat, wherein the base unit includes a substantially linear slot on a surface opposite the vehicle seat;

a coupling unit, the coupling unit configured to be extendably and retractably coupled to the base unit, wherein the coupling unit includes a rail portion coupled with the substantially linear slot, a substantially circular channel, and a moveable bolt; and

a safety seat, the safety seat configured to be pivotally and removably coupled to the coupling unit, wherein the safety seat includes a substantially circular protrusion configured to rotate within the substantially circular channel of the coupling unit and an opening configured to accept the moveable bolt when the safety seat is in a locked position.

9. The vehicle safety seat apparatus of claim 8, wherein the linear slot comprises a T-shaped slot and the rail portion of the coupling unit comprises a T-shaped rail portion.

10. The vehicle safety seat apparatus of claim 8, wherein the substantially circular protrusion comprises a tab that couples with a notch in the coupling unit and along the circular channel, and wherein the notch extends around about 180 degrees of the substantially circular channel.

11. The vehicle safety seat apparatus of claim 8, wherein the safety seat comprises a safety seat designed for an infant.

12. The vehicle safety seat apparatus of claim 8, wherein the vehicle safety seat apparatus is configured to attach to a vehicle by a Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system.

13. A vehicle safety seat apparatus comprising:

a base unit configured to be secured to a vehicle seat; and

a safety seat including a support block below a seat portion of the safety seat, the support block configured to be pivotally and removably coupled to the base unit, wherein the safety seat and the base unit are configured such that the safety seat may pivot around a vertical axis substantially at an edge of the base unit and the support block.

14. The vehicle safety seat of claim 13, wherein the base unit comprises a post and the support block comprises a slot configured to receive the post.

15. The vehicle safety seat of claim 14, wherein the support block comprises a tab and the base unit comprises a substantially curved groove configured to receive the tab.

16. The vehicle safety seat of claim 15, wherein the base unit has a substantially rectangular shape and the vertical axis is at a corner of the base unit.

17. The vehicle safety seat of claim 15, wherein the base unit has a substantially circular shape.

18. The vehicle safety seat of claim 13, wherein the support block comprises a moveable bolt and the base unit comprises a hole configured to receive the bolt when the safety seat is in a locked position.

19. The vehicle safety seat apparatus of claim 13, wherein the safety seat comprises a safety seat for a toddler.

20. The vehicle safety seat apparatus of claim 13, wherein the vehicle safety seat apparatus is configured to attach to a vehicle by a Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system.