Infant's restraining seat

• US 6,505,887 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2000
• Issued: 01/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lewis E. Hampton
• Original Assignee: Lewis E. Hampton
• Inventors: Hampton, Lewis E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US09/725,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20020053823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 297/256.12, 297/250.1, 297/256.16, 297/256.1, 297/344.24, 297/344.22, 297/254, 296/65.01, 296/65.06, 296/65.11
• US Class Current: 297/256.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/245 for handicapped persons
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2806 for securing the child seat to the vehicle
• 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

A unique construction for a base of an infant'"'"'s restraining cushioned seat providing a slide for supporting the cushioned seat, a laterally pivotal guide for the slide, a lateral pivot position and longitudinal slide position locking device for the guide, whereby the slide and cushioned seat attached thereto can be moved to a rearward position adjacent the back of a vehicle seat and locked into position thereon, wherein the locking device can be released and the slide moved to a forward position on the vehicle seat, and whereby thru pivoting of the guide the cushioned seat can be aligned with and positioned adjacent a door opening of the vehicle for providing easy and safe access to the cushioned seat by a person standing substantially outside the vehicle.

Claims

1. A unique construction for an infant'"'"'s restraining seat for use in a vehicle, said construction providing platform means adapted to be secured in a stable position on a vehicle seat, elongated slide guide means having a rearward end and a forward end and a longitudinal slide axis and being laterally pivotally mounted as its said rearward end on said platform means, slide means adapted to support an infant'"'"'s restraining seat and being slidably mounted on said guide means for axial movement thereon, and position locking means for said slide means whereby said slide means can be locked in a non-pivotal and rearward travel position adjacent the back of a vehicle seat and then unlocked and moved axially and pivoted laterally to a forward loading position on said vehicle seat whereby, thru pivoting of said guide means a restraining seat can be aligned with and positioned adjacent a door opening of a vehicle for providing easy and safe access to a restraining seat by a person standing substantially outside said vehicle.

2. The construction of claim 1 wherein a remotely operable lock operating mechanism is provided and extends from said locking means to adjacent the front of said slide means for releasing said locking means for moving said slide means and a cushioned seat mounted thereon to a desired longitudinal and pivoted position on said vehicle seat.

3. The construction of claim 1 wherein longitudinally extending first shoulder means is provided on said guide means, and longitudinally extending second shoulder means is provided on said slide means and interlocking with said first shoulder means to allow relative longitudinal motion but not significant vertical or lateral motion therebetween.

4. The construction of claim 3 wherein a remotely operable lock operating mechanism is provided and extends from said locking means to adjacent the front of said slide means for releasing said locking means for moving said slide means and a cushioned seat to a desired longitudinal and pivoted position on said vehicle seat.

5. The construction of claim 1 wherein said locking means is provided with a release mechanism construction selected from the group consisting essentially of a pull cord device, a twist rod device, or a push rod device.

6. The construction of claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises a first guide section which is directly pivotally mounted on said platform means, and a second guide section which is axially slidable on said first section, and wherein said slide means is slidably mounted on said second guide section to thereby extend the maximum length of axial travel of said slide means.

7. The construction of claim 6 wherein cooperating elements of stop means are provided on said slide means and said guide means for preventing inopportune separation of said slide means from said guide means, or said first and second sections from each other.

8. The construction of claim 1 wherein said slide means and restraining seat are individual constructions wherein attachment means is provided for removably securing said restraining seat to said slide means by automotive type seat belt means.

9. The construction of claim 1 wherein said platform means is adapted to be removably secured to a vehicle by automotive type seat belt means.

10. The construction of claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises positioning pin means generally laterally reciprocatable mounted on said slide means, and pin receiving recess means provided on said platform means.

11. The construction of claim 10 wherein said slide means is formed generally with a seat shape having a back portion which is provided with laterally spaced axially oriented apertures, wherein said platform means is also formed generally with a seat shape having the back portion provided with axially oriented stud means which are laterially spaced to slide thru said apertures when said slide means is axially moved to its rearward position on the vehicle seat, and wherein said recess means are formed generally laterally in said stud means for receiving said pin means.

12. The construction of claim 11 wherein said locking means is provided with a release mechanism construction selected from the group consisting essentially of a pull cord device, a twist rod device, or a push rod device, each said device having an inner end and an outer end, wherein said inner end is connected to said pin means, and said outer end is positioned adjacent an outer end of said guide means, whereby release of said locking means can be performed by hand actuation of the device at a remote and readily accessible location.

13. The construction of claim 1 wherein a restraining seat is mounted on said slide means and said seat and slide means are constructed as a unit.

14. The construction of claim 1 wherein said platform means and slide means each have a floor section and a back section having opposing spaced side edge portions, wherein said edge portions of said back sections are adapted to lie proximate each other when said slide means is positioned in its most rearward position, and wherein said locking means comprises cooperating elements of latch means mounted on said edge portions of said back sections.

15. An infant'"'"'s restraining seat construction having base means comprising slide means having a longitudinal axis and adapted to support an infant'"'"'s cushioned seat, platform means being adapted to rest on a vehicle seat, securement means on said platform means adapted to attach said platform means to a stationary section of a vehicle whereby said platform means can be substantially stabilized in position on said vehicle seat adjacent the back thereof, slide guide means also having said longitudinal axis and a lateral pivot plane, said guide means being pivotally connected to said platform means for pivoting on said platform means substantially in said lateral plane, longitudinally extending first shoulder means on said guide means, longitudinally extending second shoulder means on said slide means an interlocking with said first shoulder means to allow relative longitudinal motion but not significant vertical or lateral motion therebetween, and cooperating releasable locking structures on said slide means and said platform means whereby said slide means can be locked in a rearward position adjacent the back of said vehicle seat and, upon release of said locking means, moved forward on said guide means to a forward position on said vehicle seat, and whereby thru pivoting of said guide means on said platform means and slide means and cushioned seat can be aligned with and positioned adjacent a door opening of said vehicle for easy and safe access thereto by a person standing substantially outside said vehicle.

16. The construction of claim 15, wherein a pull or twist mechanism is provided for operating said locking means from a remote location for allowing said slide means to be moved to desired longitudinal position on said guide means and said vehicle seat.

17. The construction of claim 16 wherein said twist mechanism comprises cooperating elements of spring urged positioning pin means and bore means therefor in said slide means and platform means, and rotatable retractor lever means is affixed to said pin means for pulling said pin means out of said bore means to allow said slide means to slide along said guide means.

18. The construction of claim 15 wherein said guide means comprises an elongated member having longitudinally extending slot means therein, and wherein said slide means is provided with third shoulder means for contacting edge portions of said slot means maintaining an axial orientation of said slide means with respect to said guide means.

19. A unique construction for an infant'"'"'s restraining seat for use in a vehicle, said construction providing a platform structure adapted to be secured in a stable position on a vehicle seat, elongated slide guide structure having a rearward end and a forward end and a longitudinal slide axis and being laterally pivotally mounted at its said rearward end on said platform structure, a slide structure adapted to support an infant'"'"'s cushioned seat and being slidably mounted on said guide structure for axial movement thereon, and cooperating elements of a position locking structure on said slide structure and platform structure whereby said slide structure and a cushioned seat mounted thereon can be locked in a non-pivotal and rearward position adjacent a back of a vehicle seat and then unlocked and moved axially and pivoted laterally to a forward position on said vehicle seat and whereby thru said pivoting, said cushioned seat can be aligned with and positioned adjacent a door opening of said vehicle for providing easy and safe access to said cushioned seat by a person standing substantially outside said vehicle.

20. The construction of claim 19 wherein a remotely operable lock operating mechanism is provided and extends from said locking structure to adjacent the forward end of said slide structure for releasing said locking structure for moving said slide structure and a cushioned seat mounted thereon to a desired longitudinal and pivoted position on said vehicle seat.