Chairs and seats – Supplemental seat – Adjustable to plural operative positions
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-17
2001-11-20
Nelson, Jr., Milton (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Supplemental seat
Adjustable to plural operative positions
C297S256160
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318799
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a base for an infant car seat. More particularly, this invention relates to an infant seat base which is adjustable to accommodate the varying incline of the automobile seat which supports the infant car seat base and attached infant carrier. Specifically, this invention relates to an infant car seat base which has an easily accessed adjustment mechanism for raising and lowering one end of the car seat base.
BACKGROUND ART
Child or infant car seats are especially designed to carry an infant or toddler in a vehicle. Child car seats serve two primary purposes. First, the child car seat retrains and prevents injury to the child in the event of an accident. Secondly, the child car seat holds the child in a comfortable manner so that the child does not move about the car while it is being driven.
Car seats are secured to an automobile seat by either a lap or lap/shoulder seat belt. Typically, infants that weigh up to 22 pounds are placed in a rear-facing position. A rear-facing position is employed for infants so as to better support their head and neck during transport and in a crash. Proper recline is important for very young infants who lack the muscular strength to hold their head up or to address the potential of positional asphyxia. Alternatively, a car seat base may be secured to the vehicle seat by the seat belt. The infant car seat is then latched to the base. This eliminates having to always thread a belt through the car seat when traveling from one place to another.
Unfortunately, known car seats, by themselves, are unable to accommodate varying inclines of the supporting automobile seat on which it is placed. The car seats which do provide an adjustment feature only provide two or three coarse adjustment levels. As such, it may not provide the necessary fine adjustment to allow for support of the child's head and neck.
Thus, the need exists for an infant car seat base which accommodates the various inclines of supporting automobile seats.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an infant car seat base with an infinite level adjustment feature.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a car seat base, as above, that includes a vehicle belt path at one end for receiving a seat belt, wherein latching of the belt secures the car seat base to an automobile car seat. The car seat base detachably receives an infant carrier in the rearward-facing direction for the safety and comfort of the infant.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a car seat base, as above, in which an adjustable foot is provided that raises and lowers the base with respect to the automobile seat surface, thus ensuring optimal position of the infant carrier and the infant.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a car seat base, as above, in which a rotatable knob is located at or near the end of the car seat base adjacent the vehicle seat back, the rotation of the knob allowing for adjustment of the foot position.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a car seat base, as above, in which an underside of the base has downwardly-extending towers that align and are slidable within guide channels provided by the foot.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a car seat base, as above, in which the foot is provided with an internal thread.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a car seat base, as above, in which the rotatable knob is connected to a universal joint having external threads that mesh with the internal thread of the base whereby rotation of the knob raises and lowers the foot with respect to the base depending upon the knob's direction of rotation.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a car seat base, as above, which provides for optimal positioning of the infant and wherein raising of the car seat base allows for further tightening of the belt.
These and other objects of the present invention, as well as the advantages thereof over existing prior art forms, which will become apparent from the description to follow, are accomplished by the improvements hereinafter described and claimed.
In general, a car seat support made in accordance with the present invention includes a base adapted to rest on an automobile car seat. The base includes an adjustment end and a foot is coupled to the adjustment end and an adjustment mechanism is connected to the foot. The foot can be moved with respect to the adjustment end to change the level of the base with respect to the automobile seat.
The preferred infant car seat base incorporating the concepts of the present invention is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings without attempting to show all the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied, the invention being measured by the appended claims and not by the details of the specification.
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Century catalog, 6 pages, (1995).
Graco “Infant Safety Seat/Carrier” Owner's Manual, 49 pages, (1998).
Instruction Manual & Brochure, “On MY Way™ Position Right™ Rear Facing Infant Car Seat,” Evenflow®, 8 pp. (Dec. 1998).
Greger Jeff G.
Longenecker Michael L.
Foley & Lardner
Graco Children's Products Inc.
Jr. Milton Nelson
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