Infant travel system

• US 7,597,396 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2005
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Artsana USA Incorporated (Artsana Group SPA)
• Original Assignee: Chicco USA Incorporated (CHICCO)
• Inventors: Williams, Bruce L., Longenecker, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr.; Milton
• Application Number:
  US11/108,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20050264062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,632 Days
• Field of Search: 297/253, 297/256.16, 297/216.11, 297/250.1, 297/256.13, 297/464
• US Class Current: 297/253
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/28 Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2806 for securing the child seat to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2812 for securing the child to the child seat
• 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 2/2863 backward facing
• 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 2/289 coupled to the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/32 convertible for other use
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 7/142 Means for securing the body to the frame
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 7/145 the body being a rigid seat, e.g. a shell
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 9/12 involving parts that are adjustable, attachable or detachable B62B9/102, B62B9/14 take precedence

Abstract

An infant travel system which include an infant travel seat that is adapted to be mounted to a stationary or mobile base. The base includes a restraint system for securing the base to a vehicle seat and a leveling system for positioning the base. The travel seat includes an adjustable carrying handle assembly having a locking mechanism adapted to engage the seat in a variety of positions. A multi-point locking system is used to secure the infant travel seat to the complimentary base.

Claims

1. An infant travel seat base comprising:

a frame dimensioned to rest upon a vehicle seat and defining front and rear portions and a center line;

an adjustment assembly that is coupled to the frame and includes a locking element, the adjustment assembly is positioned at a selected one of the front and rear portions of the frame; and

a Y-shaped tether including a central leg end which is releasably secured in the locking element of the adjustment assembly, and two divergent ends which are removably securable to an anchor mounted within the vehicle;

wherein movement of the central leg end through the locking element adjusts the position of the divergent ends with respect to the frame.

2. The base of claim 1, wherein the frame defines upper and lower planes and the adjustment assembly is positioned between the planes.

3. The base of claim 2, wherein the adjustment assembly is positioned on the center line of the frame.

4. The base of claim 1, wherein the adjustment assembly is positioned on the center line of the frame.

5. The base of claim 1, wherein the Y-shaped tether further comprises a connection portion that is contained within the frame and joins the central leg end to the divergent ends.

6. The base of claim 1, wherein the locking element is spring biased and positioned on the center line of the frame.

7. The base of claim 6, wherein the length of an exposed portion of the divergent ends is adjusted by movement of the central leg end of the Y-shaped tether away from the frame.

8. The base of claim 1, wherein the central leg end of the Y-shaped tether is moveable within the adjustment assembly to adjust an exposed length of the divergent ends of the Y-shaped tether.

9. The base of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises a cavity sized to receive an excess length of the central leg end of the tether.

10. The base of claim 1, wherein the Y-shaped tether has a width within a range of 1-1½

inches.

11. The base of claim 1, wherein each divergent end includes a locking member which is removably securable to the anchor mounted within the vehicle.

12. The base of claim 11, wherein the locking element is spring biased and positioned on the center line of the frame.

13. The base of claim 12, wherein the length of an exposed portion of the divergent ends is adjusted by movement of the central leg end of the Y-shaped tether away from the frame.

14. The base of claim 11, further comprising a cavity positioned at the rear portion of the frame adapted to receive the locking members.

15. The base of claim 11, wherein the frame further comprises a cavity proximate to the adjusting assembly and sized to receive the central leg end of the Y-shaped tether.

16. A carseat restraint system comprising:

a frame dimensioned to rest upon a vehicle seat and defining front and rear portions and a center line;

an adjustment assembly that is coupled to the frame, the adjustment assembly is positioned at a selected one of the front and rear portions of the frame; and

a tether having first, second, and third ends, the first end of the tether is releasably secured in the adjustment assembly, the second and third ends of the tether are removably securable to an anchor mounted within the vehicle;

wherein movement of the first end through the adjustment assembly adjusts the length of the second and third ends with respect to the frame.

17. A restraint system for an infant travel seat comprising:

an infant travel seat base that is dimensioned to rest upon a vehicle seat and defines front and rear portions, upper and lower planes, and a center line;

at least one adjustment assembly that is coupled to the base and positioned at a selected one of the front and rear portions of the base, the adjustment assembly including a locking element; and

a Y-shaped tether including a central leg portion releasably secured in the locking element and two divergent end portions adapted to be secured to an anchor mounted within the vehicle so that movement of the tether through the locking element adjusts the position of the divergent end portions with respect to the base.

18. A restraint system for an infant travel seat comprising:

a base that is dimensioned to rest upon a vehicle seat and defines front and rear portions, upper and lower planes, and a center line;

at least one retractor assembly coupled to the base and positioned at a selected one of the front and rear portions of the base, the retractor assembly including a locking element; and

at least one tether including a central portion releasably secured in the locking element and two end portions adapted to be secured to an anchor mounted within the vehicle so that movement of the tether through the locking element adjusts the position of the end portions with respect to the base;

wherein the retractor assembly is biased to automatically draw the central portion of the tether towards the retractor assembly and adjust a length of the two end portions of the tether with respect to the base.

19. A carseat restraint system comprising:

a frame dimensioned to rest upon a vehicle seat and defining front and rear portions and a center line;

an adjustment assembly that is coupled to the frame, the adjustment assembly is positioned at a selected one of the front and rear portions of the frame; and

a Y-shaped tether having a central leg end releasably secured in the adjustment assembly, and two divergent ends removably securable to an anchor mounted within the vehicle;

wherein movement of the central leg end through the adjustment assembly adjusts the length of the divergent ends with respect to the frame.