Infant carrier loading device

• US 6,283,545 B1
• Filed: 04/12/2001
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Susan Lynn Ernst
• Original Assignee: Susan Lynn Ernst
• Inventors: Ernst, Susan Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Peter R.
• Application Number:
  US09/833,472
• Time in Patent Office: 145 Days
• Field of Search: 297/130, 297/250.1, 297/256.1, 297/256.12, 297/256.16
• US Class Current: 297/256.16
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/062 transversally slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2821 having a seat and a base part
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2845 having handles
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2857 characterised by the peculiar orientation of the child B60N2/2869 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/286 forward facing B60N2/2866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2869 rotatable about a vertical axis

Abstract

An infant carrier loading device for facilitating the loading and unloading of an infant carrier. The infant carrier loading device includes a pair of rails integrally coupled to a bottom surface of an infant carrier. A base member is positioned on a car seat and includes a rigid panel having a top surface with a pair of elongate grooves therein for receiving the rails. A slide member has a size and shape substantially equal to the panel of the base member. The slide member has a pair of slots therein extending from a first side edge to a second side edge. The slide member is abutted against the base member and the slots aligned with the grooves so that the rails on the carrier may be moved along the slots and the grooves and slid onto or off from the base member.

Claims

1. An infant carrier loading apparatus for loading an infant carrier onto a base member, the base member being positioned on a car seat and being secured by a seatbelt, a pair of rails being integrally coupled to a bottom surface of a bottom wall of the infant carrier and being spaced from each other and orientated generally parallel to each other, each of said rails being orientated generally perpendicular to a front edge of the carrier, said base member including a rigid panel having a top surface having a pair of elongate grooves therein extending from a first side edge to a second side edge of the base member and each positioned to receive one of said rails, said apparatus comprising:

a slide member for sliding said carrier onto said base member, said slide member comprising a substantially rigid plate having a size and shape substantially equal to a size and shape of said panel of said base member, said slide member having a pair of slots therein extending from a first side edge to a second side edge; and

wherein said second side edge of said slide member may be abutted against said first side edge of said base member such that said slots are generally aligned with said grooves, wherein said rails on said carrier may be moved along said slots and said grooves for positioning on and removing said carrier from said base member.

2. The infant carrier loading apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said second side edge of said slide member has a pair of brackets thereon, each of said brackets being removably attachable to said first side edge of said base member such that each of said slots in said slide member are aligned with one of said grooves in said base member.

3. The infant carrier loading apparatus as in claim 2, wherein a top surface of said slide member has a disc rotatably positioned therein such that said slots extend through said disc, wherein said carrier may be rotated when said rails are positioned on said disc.

4. The infant carrier loading apparatus as in claim 1, wherein a top surface of said slide member has a disc rotatably positioned therein such that said slots extend through said disc, wherein said carrier may be rotated when said rails are positioned on said disc.

5. An infant carrier loading system for positioning a child on a car seat and being secured by a seatbelt, said system including:

an infant carrier having a pair of rails being integrally coupled to a bottom surface of a bottom wall of the infant carrier and being spaced from each other and orientated generally parallel to each other, each of said rails being orientated generally perpendicular to a front edge of the carrier;

a base member being positioned on the car seat and being secured by the seatbelt, said base member including a rigid panel having a top surface having a pair of elongate grooves therein extending from a first side edge to a second side edge of the base member and each positioned to receive one of said rails;

a slide member for sliding said carrier onto said base member, said slide member comprising a substantially rigid plate having a size and shape substantially equal to a size and shape of said panel of said base member, said slide member having a pair of slots therein extending from a first side edge to a second side edge; and

wherein said second side edge of said slide member may be abutted against said first side edge of said base member such that said slots are generally aligned with said grooves, wherein said rails on said carrier may be moved along said slots and said grooves for positioning on and removing said carrier from said base member.

6. The infant carrier loading apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said second side edge of said slide member has a pair of brackets thereon, each of said brackets being removably attachable to said first side edge of said base member such that each of said slots in said slide member are aligned with one of said grooves in said base member.

7. The infant carrier loading apparatus as in claim 6, wherein a top surface of said slide member has a disc rotatably positioned therein such that said slots extend through said disc, wherein said carrier may be rotated when said rails are positioned on said disc.

8. The infant carrier loading apparatus as in claim 5, wherein a top surface of said slide member has a disc rotatably positioned therein such that said slots extend through said disc, wherein said carrier may be rotated when said rails are positioned on said disc.

9. An infant carrier loading system for positioning a child on a car seat and being secured by a seatbelt, comprising:

an infant carrier having a bottom wall and a pair of side walls extending upwardly from said bottom wall, said bottom wall having a generally rectangular shape and having a front edge and a back edge, said bottom wall being arcuate from said front edge to said back edge such that said front ant back edges extend upwardly, a pair of rails being integrally coupled to a bottom surface of said bottom wall and being spaced from each other and orientated generally parallel to each other, each of said rails being orientated generally perpendicular to said front and back edges;

a base member for holding said infant carrier to the car seat, said base member comprising a rigid panel having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front edge, a back edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, a first wall extending upwardly from said front edge, a second wall extending upwardly from said second side edge, said top surface having a size and shape adapted for receiving said bottom wall such that said front edge of said bottom wall abuts said first wall, said top surface having a pair of elongate grooves therein extending from said first side edge to said second side edge, said grooves being orientated parallel to each other and being positioned to receive one of said rails, said first side edge having a pair of channels therein extending from said top surface to said bottom surface, each of said channels generally having a T-shape, at least one hook member being attached to said bottom wall for removably receiving the seatbelt;

a slide member for sliding said carrier onto said base member, said slide member comprising a substantially rigid plate having a size and shape substantially equal to a size and shape of said panel of said base member, said slide member having a pair of slots therein extending from a first side edge to a second side edge, said second side of said slide member having a pair of brackets thereon, each of said brackets having a shape adapted for extending into and releasably engaging one of said channels such that each of said slots in said slide member are aligned with one of said grooves in said base member, a top surface of said slide member having a disc rotatably positioned therein such that said slots extend through said disc; and

wherein said rails on said carrier may be moved along said slots and said grooves for positioning on and removing said carrier from said base member, wherein said carrier may be rotated when said rails are positioned on said disc.