Universal floatation child safety seat

• US 6,412,865 B1
• Filed: 03/24/2000
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Baby Life Seat, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Peter R. Bedard, Thomas V. Giacoponello
• Inventors: Bedard, Peter R.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARFIELD, ANTHONY DERRELL
• Application Number:
  US09/535,476
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 297/250.1, 297/130, 297/256.16, 114/363, 441/130
• US Class Current: 297/250.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 15/006 Floating seats floatable vessel furniture for life-saving B63C9/30
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2809 with additional tether connected to the top of the child seat and passing above the top of the back-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2821 having a seat and a base part
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2839 having a front guard or barrier
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2845 having handles
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/286 forward facing B60N2/2866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2029/043 Seats; Arrangements thereof on vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/30 Floatable furniture
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0612 specially adapted for children

Abstract

A universal floatable child safety seat for holding a child weighing generally between 10 pounds and 40 pounds so that the child is protected from injury in the event of sudden movements in both an automotive environment and a marine environment. The floatable child safety seat remains afloat in the water in the event of an emergency on board a water craft so that the head of the child remains above water level. The floatable child safety seat includes a safety seat that meets automotive code requirements for protecting children. The floatable child safety seat includes a mostly molded plastic support structure that includes a cradle that is secured to a base member. The base member defines a planar surface that is compatible with placing the floatable child safety seat either on the surface of a seat of a motor vehicle or on the surface of a water craft. Floatation is achieved by attaching floatation material in various area of the floatable portions of the child safety seat so that the child is maintained afloat in water with the head of the child positioned above water level. Alternatively, portions of the plastic cradle form hollow compartments to provide floatability. Ballast is attached to the floatable portions of the child safety seat so as to create a center of gravity of the floatable portion of the child safety seat in combination with the floatable material for maintaining the child safety seat upright in water. Floatable child safety seats can include those with cradles nonremovably secured to a base member and those with cradles removably secured to a base member.

Claims

1. A child safety seat, comprising,

safety seat means for belting to a surface or seat of a motor vehicle, aircraft or boat and for holding a child so that the child is protected from injury in the event of sudden movement in both an automotive environment and a marine or airplane environment including a safety strap for removably holding the child to said safety seat means,

said safety seat means including a cradle and a base member removably secured to said cradle, said base member having a planar surface compatible with placing said safety seat means on the surface or seat of a motor vehicle, aircraft, or water craft with said base member belted thereto;

non-corrosive ballast means connected to said safety seat means for providing said cradle with a center of gravity,

floatation means permanently secured to said cradle for floating same in water in arrangement with said ballast means so that the head of the child seated in said cradle is maintained above water level in combination with said ballast means, said floatation means including a floatation material made of a closed cell foam buoyant material, and said floatation material being arranged in relation with said ballast means so as to automatically self-right and maintain said center of gravity in water,

side arm bar means including side support bars oriented lateral to said cradle of said safety seat means and cross bar means oriented transverse to and connected to said side support bars, and said floatation means including floatation material supported by at least said cross bar means, and

said cradle includes a flat, planer seat bottom wall, a seat back wall connected to said seat bottom wall, and seat side walls connected to and extending vertically from said seat back wall and said seat bottom wall, said floatation material being secured to said seat bottom wall, said seat back wall and said seat side walls.

2. The child safety seat of claim 1, wherein said buoyant material is a low density material.

3. The child safety seat of claim 2, wherein said low density material is a closed cell polyurethane material.

4. The child safety seat of claim 2, wherein said low density material is a polystyrene material.

5. The child safety seat of claim 1, wherein said ballast means is connected to said base member.

6. The child safety seat of claim 1, wherein said cradle is removably secured to said base member.

7. The child safety seat of claim 1, wherein said non-corrosive ballast means is a non-corrosive metal material connected to said cradle.

8. The child safety seat of claim 7, wherein said non-corrosive ballast means is stainless steel.

9. The child safety seat of claim 7, wherein said non-corrosive material is lead.

10. The child safety seat of claim 7, wherein said base member includes means enabling the user to removably secure said safety seat means to a car or air/marine craft seat by use of a seat belt.

11. A child safety seat, comprising,

safety seat means for belting to a seat of a motor vehicle or air/marine craft and for holding a child so that the child is protected from injury in the event of sudden movement in both an automotive environment and an air/marine environment including strap means for removably holding the child to said safety seat means,

said safety seat means including a cradle with a flat seat bottom wall, and a base member removably secured to said cradle, said base member having a planar surface compatible with placing said safety seat means on the surface of a seat of a motor vehicle or on the surface of a seat of an air/marine craft with said base member belted to said seat,

non-corrosive ballast means connected to said base member for providing said cradle with a center of gravity, and

floatation means secured to said cradle for floating same in water in arrangement with said ballast means so that the head of the child seated in said cradle is maintained above water level in combination with said ballast means, said floatation means including a closed cell foam floatation material made of a buoyant material, and said floatation material being arranged with said ballast means so as to readily self right and to maintain said center of gravity in said water.

12. The child safety seat of claim 11, wherein said cradle further includes a seat back wall connected to said flat seat bottom wall, and seat side walls connected to and extending vertically from said seat back wall and said flat seat bottom wall, said floatation material being secured to said flat seat bottom wall, said seat back wall and said seat side walls.

13. The child safety seat of claim 11, wherein said buoyant material is a low density material.

14. The child safety seat of claim 13, wherein said closed cell foam is a low density polyurethane material.

15. The child safety seat of claim 14, wherein said non-corrosive ballast means material is a non-corrosive metal.

16. The child safety seat of claim 15, wherein said non-corrosive metal material is selected from the group consisting of lead and stainless steel.

17. The child safety seat of claim 13, wherein said low density material is a polystyrene material.

18. A child safety seat, comprising,

safety seat means for holding a child so that the child is protected from injury in the event of sudden movement in both an automotive/aircraft environment and a marine environment including body strap means for removably holding the child to said safety seat means,

said safety seat means including a molded plastic cradle and a molded plastic base member secured to said cradle, said base member having a planar surface compatible with placing said base member on the surface of a seat of a motor/aircraft vehicle or on a deck surface or seat of a water craft,

non-corrosive ballast means connected to said cradle for providing said cradle with a center of gravity,

floatation means associated with said cradle for floating same in water in arrangement with said ballast means so that the head of the child seated in said cradle is maintained above water level in combination with said ballast means, said floatation means including a floatation material made of a closed cell foam buoyant material, and said floatation material being arranged in relation with said ballast means so as to readily self right and maintain said center of gravity in water,

said floatation means including at least one floatation device with at least one hollow compartment, with said at least one floatation device being secured to said cradle, and

securing means for removably holding said safety seat means to the seat or floor surface of a motor/aircraft vehicle or to a seat or deck surface of a water craft.

19. The child safety seat of claim 18, wherein said cradle includes a seat bottom wall, a seat back wall connected to said seat bottom wall, and seat side walls connected to and extending vertically from said seat back wall and said seat bottom wall, said floatation material being secured to said seat bottom wall, said seat back wall and said seat side walls.

20. The child safety seat of claim 19, wherein said low density material is a closed cell polyurethane material.

21. The child safety seat of claim 19, wherein said low density material is a polystyrene material.

22. The child safety seat of claim 18, wherein said buoyant material is a low density material.

23. The child safety seat of claim 18, wherein said at least one hollow compartment is filled with said closed cell foam buoyant material.

24. The child safety seat of claim 18, wherein said buoyant material is a polyurethane.

25. The child safety seat of claim 24, wherein said ballast means is connected to said cradle.

26. The child safety seat of claim 25, wherein said ballast means is connected to said cradle.

27. The child safety seat of claim 18, wherein said closed cell foam buoyant material is a polystyrene.

28. The child safety seat of claim 18, wherein said cradle and said base member are non-removably connected.

29. The child safety seat of claim 18 wherein said cradle is removably secured to said base member.

30. The child safety seat of claim 18, wherein said non-corrosive ballast means is stainless steel.

31. The child safety seat of claim 18, wherein said non-corrosive ballast means is lead.

32. The child safety seat of claim 18, wherein said floatation means is a plurality of floatation devices each forming a hollow compartment, and said plurality of floatation devices being secured to said cradle.

33. The child safety seat of claim 32, wherein each of said plurality of floatation devices is filled with said closed cell foam buoyant material.