Infant carrier and receiving base

• US 7,658,446 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2005
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meeker R&D, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Meeker R&D, Inc.
• Inventors: Gibson, William R., Meeker, Paul K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown; Peter R.
• Application Number:
  US10/906,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20050110318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,827 Days
• Field of Search: 297/183.2, 297/183.3, 297/183.4, 297/250.1, 297/256.13, 297/256.16, 297/484, 297/465, 297/410
• US Class Current: 297/250.1
• 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 2/2875 inclinable, as a whole or partially

Abstract

An infant carrier and car seat combination is illustrated which provides releasable lockability between the carrier and its base, infant seat belt tensioning and height adjustment, improved handle movement which resists twisting and carrier base adjustment through a movable base within the carrier base.

Claims

1. An infinitely variable means for adjusting an angle of a movable foot within a fixed base by translating rotational axial movement into vertical axial movement which comprises:

(a) at least a partially threaded rod inside said fixed base, said rod penetrating through said base and having a knob disposed at said penetrating end;

(b) a follower for axial movement on said rod at said threaded end

(c) at least one follower extension on said follower; and

(d) an inclined surface for impingement with said at least one follower extension, and wherein

(e) said movable foot has at least one laterally extending projection on each side of said movable foot for insertion into a mating groove in said fixed base, thereby defining a vertical axis within a defined range of travel.

2. The infinitely variable means for adjusting said angle of claim 1 wherein

(a) said at least one follower extension is at least two follower extensions on essentially opposed sides of said follower.

3. A handle adjustment means which comprises:

(a) an outwardly-biased sliding plate having a sliding plate elongated aperture and a non-elongated sliding plate aperture disposed therein;

(b) a fixed guide plate having a fixed guide plate elongated aperture and a non-elongated fixed guide aperture disposed therein, said fixed guide plate adjacent said sliding plate;

(c) a gear segment having at least two slotted positions therein, said gear segment adjacent said fixed guide plate;

(d) an axle shaft for rotation of said handle thereabout, said axle extending through said sliding plate elongated aperture and said non-elongated fixed guide plate aperture; and

(e) a protruding pin attached to said sliding plate in said non-elongated sliding plate aperture and in said elongated fixed plate aperture for positioning into said at least two slotted positions.

4. The handle adjustment means of claim 3 which further comprises

(a) a spring operatively positioned at an end of the sliding plate outwardly-biasing the sliding plate;

and

(b) a button projecting from an end of said sliding plate opposed to said spring-biased end.

5. A shoulder belt height adjustment panel for a carrier which comprises:

(a) a panel having two openings disposed therein for positioning of a carrier shoulder harness;

(b) said panel slidable between a pair of essentially parallel rails positioned on a rear surface of said carrier;

(c) said slidable panel movable between at least a first and a second position by overcoming an inwardly biased pull knob by the application of an opposing pulling force by a user using one hand, said pull knob comprising a spring operatively positioned between an inner portion of said pull knob and an inner side of said panel, said at least first and second positions are defined by at least two openings on a rear panel of said carrier into which at least one protrusion on an inner side of said inner portion of said pull knob is biased, said pull knob adapted to be pulled outwardly from adjacent an outer face of said panel by a user with said one hand and compressing said spring for sliding panel movement between said at least two distinct positions on the rear panel; and

(d) an inner face of said panel in adjacency with an outer face of said carrier.

6. The panel of claim 5 wherein

(a) at least a portion of said inwardly biased pull knob is positioned adjacent an outer face of said panel outwardly above said pair of openings.

7. An infant seat carrier comprising:

(a) a seat with a seating surface and a back surface having two openings therein;

(b) a restraining harness comprising a crotch strap, two shoulder straps and a buckle removably connected to said shoulder straps and said crotch strap and wherein

(i) said two shoulder straps passing through said openings in said back surface, and wherein said openings are elongated to allow said shoulder belts to pass through said back surface at multiple distances from said seating surface;

(c) an adjusting means controlling said multiple distances wherein said adjusting means comprises;

(i) a panel slidably attached to a rear of said back surface, said panel moveable parallel to said back surface toward or away from said seating surface, said panel having at least one opening for passage of said two shoulder straps;

(ii) a means to locate said panel in at least two distinct positions comprising a pull knob comprising a biased plunger between an inner side of said panel and said back surface and a spring operatively positioned between said biased plunger and the inner side of said panel and having at least one protrusion on an inner side of said knob and at least two openings on a rear panel of said carrier for insertion of said at least one protrusion on said knob thereby controlling a height of said shoulder belts from said seating surface, said pull knob adapted to be pulled outwardly from adjacent an outer face of said panel by a user with one hand and compressing said spring for sliding panel movement between said at least two distinct positions on the rear panel.

8. The carrier of claim 7 wherein

(a) said means to locate said panel comprises the biased plunger engaging said back surface and capable of securing said panel in at least two distinct positions.

9. The carrier of claim 8 wherein

(a) said panel is captured within a track.

10. The carrier of claim 9 wherein

(a) a first face of said track is formed by a rear of said back surface and a second face of said track is formed by a surface opposing said first face.

11. The carrier of claim 10 wherein

(a) said attachment of said panel is entirely behind said back surface.

12. The carrier of claim 11 wherein

(a) at least a portion of said pull knob is positioned adjacent an outer face of said panel and said plunger is above said at least one opening in said panel.