Vehicle restraint system for a child

• US 6,938,915 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2003
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Go-Go Babyz Corporation
• Original Assignee: Go-Go Babyz Corporation
• Inventors: Bischoff, Robert C., Williams, Kerry Ellen, Maxfield, Melinda Elisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Swenson, Brian
• Application Number:
  US10/448,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20040239079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 280/657, 280/658, 280/47.25, 280/63, 280/87.051, 297/256.1, 297/256.16
• US Class Current: 280/658
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2806 for securing the child seat to the vehicle
• 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: B60N 2/2854 Children's cots; Hammocks

Abstract

A vehicle restraint system for a child includes a child car seat having a body with a back and a bottom, the bottom having one or more openings. A base unit that fits in a passenger seat of a vehicle has a top with one or more members, each of which is adapted for mated insertion into the one or more openings. A resilient insertion member locks the child car seat to the base unit. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. A child car seat system, comprising:

a child car seat that includes;

a body having a recessed seat, a back, and a bottom surface;

a handle assembly affixed to the back of the body; and

a plurality of wheels, the plurality of wheels being rotatably attached only to the back near the bottom surface;

a base unit that fits in a passenger seat of a vehicle, the base unit having a top with one or more members each of which is adapted for secured attachment to the bottom surface of the body;

wherein in a mobile position disengaged from the base unit, the child car seat resting on the wheels with the bottom lifted off a ground surface, and in a stationary position disengaged from the base unit the child car seat resting upon at least a portion of the bottom surface.

2. The child car seat system of claim 1 wherein the handle assembly comprises a gripping portion attached to a pair of rods telescopically coupled with a corresponding pair of outer tubes, the outer tubes being affixed to the back.

3. The child car seat system of claim 1 wherein the handle assembly is integral with the body.

4. The child car seat system of claim 1 wherein the body comprises a molded shell of thermoplastic material.

5. The child car seat system of claim 2 wherein the handle assembly further comprises a locking mechanism to lock the rods in a fixed position with respect to the outer tubes.

6. The child car seat system of claim 1 wherein an obtuse angle exists between the back and the bottom surface.

7. The child car seat system of claim 1 further comprising a retaining bar attached to opposite sides of the body.

8. The child car seat system of claim 1 wherein the wheels and the handle are mounted to an external surface of the back.

9. The child car seat system of claim 1 further comprising one or more openings on the bottom surface of the body adapted to receive corresponding interlocking members of a base unit.

10. A vehicle restraint system for a child, comprising:

a child car seat that includes a body with a back and a bottom, the bottom having one or more openings;

a base unit that fits in a passenger seat of a vehicle, the base unit having a top with one or more members each of which is adapted for mated insertion into the one or more openings;

means for locking the child car seat to the base unit, the locking means including a resilient plate connected to a mechanical linkage affixed to an inside surface of the base unit, the mechanical linkage for raising and lowering the resilient plate through a transverse slot in the top of the base unit, the bottom of the child car seat having a corresponding transverse slot to receive the resilient plate when in a raised position; and

means for securing the base unit to the passenger seat.

11. The vehicle restraint system of claim 10 wherein the transverse slot of the top of the base unit extends at least partially through the one or more members.

12. The vehicle restraint system of claim 10 wherein the securing means comprises one or more brackets disposed on the top of the base unit to receive a seat belt.

13. The vehicle restraint system of claim 10 wherein the one or more members comprise a pair of trapezoidal-shaped members.

14. The vehicle restraint system of claim 10 wherein the body comprises a molded shell of thermoplastic material.

15. The vehicle restraint system of claim 10 wherein the one or more openings of the child car seat are adapted to be slidably coupled with the one or more members of the base unit.

16. The vehicle restraint system of claim 10 further comprising a handle assembly affixed to the back of the body.

17. The vehicle restraint system of claim 10 further comprising:

a sidewall panel hinged to a side of the base unit;

end

a panel locking mechanism to hold the sidewall panel in a raised position in which an edge of the sidewall panel substantially adjoins a top surface of the one or more members so as to prevent the child car seat from sliding off the base unit.

18. The vehicle restraint system of claim 10 wherein the child car seat further includes a pair of wheels rotatably attached to the back of the body near the bottom, the pair of wheels for moving the child car seat over a ground surface when the child car seat is disengaged from the base unit.

19. A vehicle restraint system for a child, comprising:

a child car seat that includes a body with a back and a bottom, the bottom having one or more openings, and a pair of wheels rotatably attached to the back proximate the bottom, the wheels for moving the child car seat over a ground surface when the child car seat is disengaged from the base unit;

a base unit that fits in a passenger seat of a vehicle, the base unit having a top with one or more members each of which is adapted for mated sideways insertion into the one or more openings; and

a resilient insertion member to lock the child car seat to the base unit.

20. The vehicle restraint system of claim 19 further comprising a bracket disposed on the top of the base unit to receive a lap seat belt.

21. The vehicle restraint system of claim 19 wherein the one or more members comprise a pair of trapezoidal-shaped members.

22. The vehicle restraint system of claim 19 wherein the body comprises a molded shell of thermoplastic material.

23. The vehicle restraint system of claim 19 wherein the one or more openings of the child car seat are adapted to be slidably coupled with the one or more members of the base unit.

24. The vehicle restraint system of claim 19 further comprising a handle assembly affixed to the back of the body.

25. The vehicle restraint system of claim 19 further comprising:

a sidewall panel hinged to a side of the base unit; and

a panel locking mechanism to hold the sidewall panel in a raised position in which an edge of the sidewall panel substantially adjoins a top surface of the one or more members so as to prevent the child car seat from sliding off the base unit.

26. The vehicle restraint system of claim 19 wherein the resilient insertion member comprises a rigid plate connected to a mechanical linkage affixed to an inside surface of the base unit, the mechanical linkage for raising and lowering the rigid plate through a transverse slot in the top of the base unit, the bottom of the child car seat having a corresponding transverse slot to receive the rigid plate when in a raised position.

27. The vehicle restraint system of claim 26 wherein the transverse slot of the top of the base unit extends at least partially through the one or more members.

28. A vehicle restraint system for a child, comprising:

a child car seat that includes a body with a back and a bottom, the bottom having one or more openings;

a base unit that fits in a passenger seat of a vehicle, the base unit and the child car seat each having a substantially identical width, the base unit having a top with one or more members each of which is adapted for mated, slidable insertion into the one or more openings in a sideways direction; and

means for locking the child car seat to the base unit; and

wherein the child car seat further includes a pair of wheels rotatably attached to the back of the body near the bottom, the pair of wheels for moving the child car seat over a ground surface when the child car seat is disengaged from the base unit.

29. The vehicle restraint system of claim 28 further comprising a bracket disposed on the top of the base unit to receive a lap seat belt.

30. The vehicle restraint system of claim 28 wherein the one or more members comprise a pair of trapezoidal-shaped members.

31. The vehicle restraint system of claim 28 wherein the body comprises a molded shell of thermoplastic material.

32. The vehicle restraint system of claim 28 further comprising:

a sidewall panel hinged to a side of the base unit; and

a panel locking mechanism to hold the sidewall panel in a raised position in which an edge of the sidewall panel substantially adjoins a top surface of the one or more members so as to prevent the child car seat from sliding off the base unit.

33. The vehicle restraint system of claim 28 wherein the means comprises a rigid plate connected to a mechanical linkage affixed to an inside surface of the base unit, the mechanical linkage for raising and lowering the rigid plate through a transverse slot in the top of the base unit, the bottom of the child car seat having a corresponding transverse slot to receive the rigid plate when in a raised position.

34. The vehicle restraint system of claim 33 wherein the transverse slot of the top of the base unit extends at least partially through the one or more members.

35. The vehicle restraint system of claim 28 further comprising a handle assembly affixed to the back of the body.

36. The vehicle restraint system of claim 35 wherein the handle assembly comprises a gripping portion attached to a pair of rods telescopically coupled with a corresponding pair of outer tubes, the outer tubes being affixed to the back.

37. A vehicle restraint system for a child, comprising:

a child car seat that includes a body with a back and a bottom, the bottom having one or more openings, and a plurality of wheels attached only to the back proximate the bottom;

a base unit that fits in a passenger seat of a vehicle, the base unit having a top with one or more members each of which is adapted for mated, slidable insertion into the one or more openings in a sideways direction, the one or more members and the one or more openings having interlocking shapes so as to secure the child car seat to the base unit in all directions except the sideways direction; and

a mechanism to lock the child car seat to the base unit, thereby preventing movement of the child car seat relative to the base unit in the sideways direction.

38. The vehicle restraint system of claim 37 wherein the base unit further includes one or more brackets to receive a seat belt for securing the base unit to the passenger seat.

39. The vehicle restraint system of claim 37 wherein the mechanism comprises a resilient plate connected to a mechanical linkage affixed to an inside surface of the base unit, the mechanical linkage for raising and lowering the resilient plate through a transverse slot in the top of the base unit, the bottom of the child car seat having a corresponding transverse slot to receive the resilient plate when in a raised position, the transverse slot extending at least partially through the one or more members.

40. The vehicle restraint system of claim 37 wherein the one or more members comprise a pair of trapezoidal-shaped members.

41. The vehicle restraint system of claim 37 wherein the base unit and the child car seat each have a width that is substantially the same.

42. The vehicle restraint system of claim 37 wherein the one or more members and the one or more openings have interlocking shapes so as to secure the child car seat to the base unit in all directions except sideways.

43. A vehicle restraint system for a child, comprising:

a child car seat that includes a body with a back and a bottom, the bottom having one or more openings, and a plurality of wheels attached only to the back proximate the bottom;

a base unit that fits in a passenger seat of a vehicle, the base unit having a top with one or more members each of which is adapted for mated sideways insertion into the one or more openings;

a sidewall panel hinged to a side of the base unit; and

a panel locking mechanism to hold the sidewall panel in a raised position in which an edge of the sidewall panel substantially adjoins a top surface of the one or more members so as to prevent the child car seat from sliding sideways off the base unit.

44. A vehicle restraint system for a child, comprising:

a child car seat that includes a body with a back and a bottom, the bottom having one or more openings, and a plurality of wheels attached only to the back proximate the bottom;

a base unit that fits in a passenger seat of a vehicle, the base unit having a top with one or more members, the child car seat being secured to the base unit by slidable sideways insertion of the one or more members into the one or more openings, the one or more members and the one or more openings having interlocking shapes so as to secure the child car seat to the base unit in all directions except a sideways direction; and

a mechanism to keep the child car seat from sliding off the base unit in the side sideways direction.

45. The vehicle restraint system of claim 44 wherein the base unit and the car seat each have a width that is substantially the same.

46. The vehicle restraint system of claim 44 further comprising:

a sidewall panel hinged to a side of the base unit; and

a panel locking mechanism to hold the sidewall panel in a raised position in which an edge of the sidewall panel substantially adjoins a top surface of the one or more members so as to prevent the child car seat from sliding off the base unit.