Heated child safety seat

• US 5,897,162 A
• Filed: 11/25/1997
• Issued: 04/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Linda A. Humes, William J. Humes
• Original Assignee: Linda A. Humes, William J. Humes
• Inventors: Humes, Linda A., Humes, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US08/978,086
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 297/250.1, 297/219.1, 297/180.12, 297/180.11, 297/180.1, 297/217.3, 297/256.15, 297/452.48, 297/452.58
• US Class Current: 297/180.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/28 Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2839 having a front guard or barrier
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2848 being convertible or adaptable to a preambulator, e.g. a baby-carriage or a push-chair
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/286 forward facing B60N2/2866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2872 provided with side rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5685 Resistance

Abstract

A child safety seat for a motor vehicle having an independent heating arrangement includes a seat body with a seat portion, a backrest portion and two side portions transverse to said seat and backrest portions. A child receiving recessed area is formed by the seat, backrest and side portions with an insulating padding disposed therein.

An electrical heating element is substantially disposed between the insulating padding and a protective cover substantially extending about at least the seat and backrest portions, so that in operation a substantial portion of the child receiving recessed area is heated by the electrical heating element.

Claims

1. A child safety seat for a motor vehicle having an independent heating arrangement comprising:

a child safety seat having a seat body, said seat body including a seat portion, a backrest portion and two side portions transverse to said seat and backrest portions, a child receiving recessed area formed by said seat, backrest and side portions;

an insulating padding disposed within said child receiving recessed area;

a protective cover;

an electrical heating element substantially disposed between said insulating padding and said protective cover and substantially extending about said seat and backrest portions, said electrical heating element is surrounded by an insulating layer and a heating block is formed in such a manner that said padding and said insulating layer with the heating element are enveloped by a sheath, so that in operation a substantial portion of said child receiving recessed area being heated by said electrical heating element.

2. The heated child safety seat of claim 1, further comprising a power arrangement for directing current to and energizing said electrical heating element, said power arrangement including a battery pack.

3. The heated child safety seat of claim 2, wherein said power arrangement further comprising a recharging circuit for recharging said battery pack, said recharging circuit being adapted for connection to said battery pack for recharging the same.

4. The heated child safety seat of claim 2, wherein said electrical heating element is a single electrical heating wire arranged in a serpentine manner.

5. The heated child safety seat of claim 2, wherein said electrical heating element comprises a plurality of electrical heating wires arranged in a serpentine manner.

6. A heated child safety seat of claim 2, further comprising a connection cable electrically connected to said electrical heating element for delivering electric current from said power arrangement to said electrical heating element.

7. The heated child safety seat of claim 2, further including a thermal switch operatably connected to said power arrangement for effectively switching a power source off in response to the temperature within said child receiving recessed area reaching a predetermined level and switching said power source on in response to the temperature within said child receiving recessed area falling below a predetermined level.

8. The heated child safety seat of claim 7, wherein said electrical heating element extends about said side portions, so that the entire child receiving recessed area is covered by said electrical heating element and said padding is fixedly attached to an interior of said child receiving recessed area and a peripheral portion of said electrical heating element is affixed to said insulating padding in such a manner that said electrical heating element is integrally bonded to said padding.

9. The heated child safety seat of claim 8, wherein said protective cover is a cushion member having an air permeable property so that a heat generated by said electrical heating element is transmitted to a child sitting in said safety seat.

10. The heated child safety seat of claim 9, wherein said seat body is formed with an oblong aperture positioned remotely from said child receiving recessed area and adapted for receiving a battery pack therein, said body further including a charge socket electrically connected to the power source to be recharged from an outside source of electrical energy.

11. A child safety seat for use in a motor vehicle having stationary seats provided therein, said child safety seat including a base for placement on the stationary seat of a motor vehicle, a restraining arrangement for securely connecting a child to the safety seat, and an anchor arrangement for connecting the base to the stationary seat of the motor vehicle, said child safety seat comprising:

a seat body, said seat body including a seat portion, a backrest portion and two side portions transverse to said seat and backrest portions, a child receiving recessed area formed by said seat, backrest and side portions, said child receiving recessed area having at least an interior part; and

a heating arrangement including an insulating padding made from a soft and flexible material, said insulating padding extending over said seat, side and backrest portions and formed having exterior and interior regions; and

an electrical heating element directed through said interior region of said insulating padding;

said heating arrangement being situated within said seat body;

whereby the child receiving recessed area is covered by said electrical heating element and said insulating padding is fixedly attached to said interior part of said child receiving recessed area, said electrical heating element is surrounded by an insulating layer and a heating block is formed in such a manner that said padding and said insulating layer with the heating element are enveloped by a sheath.

12. The heated child safety seat of claim 11, wherein said electrical heating element further extends about said side portions.

13. The heated child safety seat of claim 11 wherein a peripheral portion of said electrical heating element is imbedded into said insulating layer in such a manner that at least a portion of said electrical heating element and said insulating layer are integrally bonded to said insulating padding, and a protective cover in form of a cushion member having substantial air permeable property is provided to facilitate transmission of heat generated by said electrical heating element to a child sitting in said safety seat.

14. The heated child safety seat of claim 11, wherein said electrical heating element is a single electrical heating wire arranged in a serpentine manner.

15. The heated child safety seat of claim 11, wherein said electrical heating element comprises a plurality of electrical heating wires arranged in a serpentine manner.

16. The heated child safety seat of claim 11, wherein said seat body is formed with an interior cavity positioned remotely from said child receiving recessed area and receiving a battery pack therein, said battery pack forming a part of a power arrangement for directing current to and energizing said electrical heating element, said body further including a charge socket electrically connected to the power arrangement to be recharged from an outside source of electrical energy.

17. The heated child safety seat of claim 11, further comprising a power arrangement for directing current to and energizing said electrical heating element, said power arrangement including a battery pack and an arrangement for recharging said battery pack, at least a portion of said power arrangement being situated within an interior cavity provided within said seat body remotely from said child receiving recessed area.

18. The heated child safety seat of claim 17, further including a thermal switch operatably connected to said power arrangement for effectively switching a power source off in response to the temperature within said child receiving recessed area setting a predetermined temperature and switching said power source on in response to the temperature within said child receiving recessed area falling below the predetermined temperature.

19. A child safety seat for use in a motor vehicle having stationary seats provided therein, said child safety seat including a base for placement on the stationary seat of a motor vehicle, a restraining arrangement for securely connecting the child to the safety seat, and an anchor arrangement for connecting the base to the stationary seat of the motor vehicle, said child safety seat comprising;

a seat body, said seat body including a seat portion, a backrest portion and two side portions transverse to said seat and backrest portions, a child receiving recessed area formed by said seat, backrest and side portions;

a heating arrangement including an insulating padding made from a soft and flexible material, said insulating padding formed having exterior and interior regions; and

electrical heating element directed through said interior region of said insulating padding extending over at least said seat and backrest portions;

said heating arrangement being situated within said seat body; and

an interior cavity provided within said seat body remotely from said child receiving recessed area and receiving a battery pack therein, said electrical heating element being operably connected to said battery pack.