Infant carrier mounting system

• US 6,331,032 B1
• Filed: 02/22/2000
• Issued: 12/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Graco Children's Products, Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Graco Children's Products, Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Haut, Robert E., Pike, Robert T., Longenecker, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Assistant Examiner(s): EDELL, JOSEPH F
• Application Number:
  US09/510,336
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 297/130, 297/256.16, 297/484, 297/135, 297/256.15, 297/217.1, 280/30, 280/31, 280/650
• US Class Current: 297/130
• 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 2/2848 being convertible or adaptable to a preambulator, e.g. a baby-carriage or a push-chair
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2205/24 to hold in the folded position
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 7/145 the body being a rigid seat, e.g. a shell

Abstract

An infant carrier includes provisions that allow the infant carrier to easily and conveniently mount to either a stroller or a base. The infant carrier also includes an actuator that operates both the stroller and base releasing mechanisms.

Claims

1. A combination stroller and an infant carrier juvenile product comprising:

a stroller including a frame, a seat, and a child restraining member connected to the frame to prevent a child from falling from the seat; and

an infant carrier having a frame, a connection mechanism, and an actuator carried by the infant carrier frame, the connection mechanism including first and second latches, the first latch being adapted to latch to the child restraining member and the second latch being adapted to latch to a structure other than the stroller, the first and second latches each being movable between a locked position to secure the infant carrier to the child restraining member and an unlocked position to allow the infant carrier to be removed from the stroller,

wherein the actuator actuates both the first and second latches to the unlocked position.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the child restraining member is a stroller tray.

3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein the tray includes a notch that engages the first latch.

4. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the infant carrier frame includes support extensions adapted to cooperate with the stroller frame to support and stabilize the infant carrier.

5. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the first latch is pivotally mounted about an axis to the infant carrier and includes a leaf spring that biases the first latch to the locked position.

6. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a central arm operably connected to the first latch and a pair of side arms operably connected to the second latch.

7. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is disposed proximate a head portion of the infant carrier and proximate a grasping portion of the infant carrier, and wherein the actuator is designed to allow an operator to grasp the infant carrier with a first hand and operate the actuator with the first hand.

8. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the latch is biased to a locked position and wherein the latch automatically moves to the locked position when the infant carrier is installed on the stroller.

9. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the actuator moves between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein moving the actuator from the retracted position to the extended position moves both the first and second latches from the locked position to the unlocked position.

10. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the connection mechanism includes a first biasing member that biases the first latch to the locked position and a pair of spring members that bias the second latch to the locked position.

11. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the second latch comprises first and second engaging portions adapted to engage hooks of a base.

12. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the actuator includes a center arm operably connected to the first latch and a pair of side arms operably connected to the second latch.

13. The combination according to claim 12, wherein the actuator includes a flexible member connecting to the second latch and each of the side arms.

14. The combination according to claim 13, wherein the second latch comprises a bent wire having the first and second engaging portions.

15. The combination according to claim 14, wherein each flexible member connects to one end of the bent wire.

16. The combination according to claim 15, wherein the first latch is pivotally mounted to the infant carrier and includes a leaf spring that biases the latch to the locked position.

17. The combination according to claim 16, wherein the actuator pivots the first latch from the locked position to the unlocked position.

18. The combination according to claim 17, wherein the actuator includes a finger pull member.