Infant car seat and stroller system

• US 7,040,694 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2004
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Baby Trend Incorporated (Alpha Group)
• Original Assignee: Baby Trend Incorporated (Alpha Group)
• Inventors: Sedlack, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): BARFIELD, ANTHONY DERRELL
• Application Number:
  US10/853,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20040212232A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 297/130, 297/440.22, 297/256.16, 280/47.38 X
• US Class Current: 297/130
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 1/10 capable of being suspended from, or attached to, tables or other articles
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 13/02 Baby-carriers; Carry-cots
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 13/027 Baby-carriers with rigid frames
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2812 for securing the child to the child seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2816 with additional belt accessories, e.g. belt tension detectors
• 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 2/2851 provided with head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2875 inclinable, as a whole or partially
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2887 Fixation to a transversal anchorage bar, e.g. isofix
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/2815 with additional belt accessories, e.g. a belt tension detector
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 7/145 the body being a rigid seat, e.g. a shell
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 9/245 Removable front guards, e.g. with a tray
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4088 One-piece

Abstract

An improved infant car seat can be attached to and detached from a car seat base and a stroller. The stroller can be used with or without the infant car seat. The infant car seat connects to the stroller frame through a bar that supports a tray at the front of the stroller. The tray slides out of the way for car seat attachment.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an infant car seat, comprising;

a first support having a first recess therein;

a second support having a second recess therein;

a first mounting hook including a first leg and a second leg connected to said first leg, said first leg having a barb extending therefrom, said barb extending into said first recess;

a second mounting hook including a first leg and a second leg connected to said first leg, said first leg having a barb extending therefrom, said barb extending into said second recess;

a first strap connecting said release handle to said first leg of said first mounting hook; and

a second strap connecting said release handle to said first leg of said second mounting hook; and

a stroller, comprising;

a stroller frame having a first side and a second side; and

a bar extending from the first side of the stroller frame to the second side of the stroller frame, said bar including a first opening, a first engagement surface, a second opening, and a second engagement surface, said first and second supports extending into said first and second openings when said car seat is situated on said bar, and said barbs engaging said first and second engagement surfaces to lock said car seat to said stroller.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein movement of said release handle causes said first and second straps to pull said first legs of said mounting hooks away from said second legs, releasing said barbs from said engagement surfaces.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second recesses are generally wedge-shaped and said first and second mounting hooks surround said recesses.

4. An apparatus, comprising:

an infant car seat, comprising;

a first support having a first recess therein;

a second support having a second recess therein;

a first mounting hook including a first leg and a second leg connected to said first leg, said first leg having a barb extending therefrom, said barb extending into said first recess;

a second mounting hook including a first leg and a second leg connected to said first leg, said first leg having a barb extending therefrom, said barb extending into said second recess;

a first strap connecting said release handle to said first leg of said first mounting hook; and

a second strap connecting said release handle to said first leg of said second mounting hook; and

a stroller, comprising;

a stroller frame; and

a bar connected to said stroller frame, said bar including a first opening, a first engagement surface, a second opening, and a second engagement surface, said first and second supports extending into said first and second openings when said car seat is situated on said bar, and said barbs engaging said first and second engagement surfaces to lock said car seat to said stroller, wherein said first and second openings have stepped side walls that corresponds with stepped side walls of said first and second supports to prevent rotation of said car seat relative to said bar.

5. An apparatus, comprising:

an infant car seat, comprising;

a first support having a first recess therein;

a second support having a second recess therein;

a first mounting hook including a first leg and a second leg connected to said first leg, said first leg having a barb extending therefrom, said barb extending into said first recess;

a second mounting hook including a first leg and a second leg connected to said first leg, said first leg having a barb extending therefrom, said barb extending into said second recess;

a first strap connecting said release handle to said first leg of said first mounting hook; and

a second strap connecting said release handle to said first leg of said second mounting hook; and

a stroller, comprising;

a stroller frame;

a bar connected to said stroller frame, said bar including a first opening, a first engagement surface, a second opening, and a second engagement surface, said first and second supports extending into said first and second openings when said car seat is situated on said bar, and said barbs engaging said first and second engagement surfaces to lock said car seat to said stroller; and

a tray supported by said bar, said tray covering said first and second openings.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said tray includes one or more runners on an underside thereof, each of said runners having an elongated slot therein.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a rod connected to said bar and extending through said slots in said runners, said tray being pivotable about said rod, and said rod being slideable through said slots, to expose said first and second openings.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

an infant car seat, comprising;

a first support having a first recess therein;

a second support having a second recess therein;

a first mounting hook including a first leg and a second leg connected to said first leg, said first leg having a barb extending therefrom, said barb extending into said first recess;

a second mounting hook including a first leg and a second leg connected to said first leg, said first leg having a barb extending therefrom, said barb extending into said second recess;

a first strap connecting said release handle to said first leg of said first mounting hook; and

a second strap connecting said release handle to said first leg of said second mounting hook; and

a stroller, comprising;

a stroller frame;

a bar connected to said stroller frame, said bar including a first opening, a first engagement surface, a second opening, and a second engagement surface, said first and second supports extending into said first and second openings when said car seat is situated on said bar, and said barbs engaging said first and second engagement surfaces to lock said car seat to said stroller; and

a retractable support including a ring portion clasping said stroller frame and a finger portion pivotably connected to said ring portion, said finger portion pivotable away from said frame to support said seat shell when said car seat is situated on said stroller.