Chairs and seats – Supplemental seat – Having a front guard or barrier
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-24
2001-05-29
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3624)
Chairs and seats
Supplemental seat
Having a front guard or barrier
C297S256160, C297S250100, C297S184130
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237999
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally concerns car seats for children and particularly relates to car seats of the type that can be installed in an automobile in order to secure a child who is too small to effectively utilize the seat belts and other safety mechanisms ordinarily provided in an automobile.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A number of different child car seats presently are in use. Typically, such conventional child car seats are installed in the back seat of an automobile which can make installation difficult, particularly if the automobile is a two-door, rather than a four-door car.
In addition, most conventional child carseats are installed so as to face rearward. That is, when a child is seated in the car seat, the child faces toward the back of the car. It is often the case that a parent or other care giver is alone with the child in the car. In this situation, monitoring the child's activities and comfort can often be very difficult when the child is facing toward the back of the car. In fact, when a child is facing rearward in the back seat of the automobile, often the back of the child car seat will completely obscure any view of the child at all.
Moreover, while the child is in this position, the child's only view typically is of the back seat of the car. This lack of visual stimulation, as well as accompanying feelings of isolation and abandonment, are further disadvantages of conventional car seats.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the foregoing problems by providing a child car seat assembly that can be installed at a right angle to the automobile seat. Accordingly, a child car seat according to this aspect of the invention often can be installed in the front passenger seat of the automobile, with the child facing toward the driver seat. In this orientation, installation typically is much easier because the driver often only needs to enter through a single door of the car and typically does not need to enter the back seat of the automobile at all. This can be particularly advantageous where the automobile is a two-door car. In addition, with the child facing toward the driver's seat, it is frequently much easier to monitor the child. At the same time, the child can have direct visual contact with the driver, providing visual stimulation and a better sense of security.
Thus, in one aspect the invention concerns a child car seat assembly for installation on an automobile seat using the seat belt provided with the automobile seat. The assembly includes a child seat having a front, a back, a first side and a second side, such that when a child is seated in the child seat the child faces the front of the child seat. Also included is a first side panel adjacent to the first side of the child seat, the first side panel having means for attaching the child car seat assembly to the automobile seat using the seat belt, such that when the seat belt is tightened as much as possible, the child seat is oriented at a right angle to the automobile seat.
In a further aspect, the invention concerns installation of a child car seat assembly on an automobile seat using the seat belt provided with the automobile seat, in which the child car seat assembly is oriented at a right angle to the automobile seat. Then, while the child car seat assembly is so oriented, the child car seat assembly is strapped to the automobile seat using the seat belt. Finally, the seat belt is tightened.
The present invention also addresses the foregoing problems in the prior art by providing a child car seat assembly with a hook and strap for hooking to the underside portion of the automobile seat. When such a hook and strap assembly is used in combination with other securing means, such as means which utilize the automobile seatbelt, the child car seat often can be sufficiently secured to resist much of the jarring force which occurs in the event an automobile airbag is deployed.
Thus, in a still further aspect, the invention concerns a child car seat assembly for installation on an automobile seat using the seat belt provided with the automobile seat. The assembly includes a child seat having a front, a back, a first side and a second side, such that when a child is seated in the child seat the child faces the front of the child seat. A first side panel is adjacent to the first side of the child seat, the first side panel having means for attaching the child car seat assembly to the automobile seat using the seat belt, such that when the seat belt is tightened as much as possible, the child seat is oriented at a right angle to the automobile seat. A second side panel is adjacent to the second side of the child seat, the second side panel being sized and shaped to shield a child in the child seat from deployment of an automobile air bag. An adjustable strap is attached at one end to the second side panel and attached at its other end to a rigid hook.
Use of such a side panel often can shield a child seated in the child car seat from the impact resulting from deployment of an automobile air bag. Similarly, use of such a strap and hook assembly can provide additional stability and thereby often can prevent the entire assembly from tilting or rocking too much in the event an airbag is deployed. Thus, both additional features of the invention frequently can facilitate installation of the child car seat assembly in the front seat of an automobile.
In a still further aspect, the invention concerns installation of a child car seat assembly on an automobile seat using the seat belt provided with the automobile seat and a strap connected at one end to the child car seat assembly and connected at the other end to a hook. The child car seat assembly is oriented at a right angle to the automobile seat and the following steps are performed while the child car seat assembly is so oriented: the child car seat assembly is strapped to the automobile seat using the seat belt; the hook is hooked to the underside portion of the automobile seat; the seat belt is tightened; and the strap is tightened.
In a still further aspect, the invention concerns installation of a child car seat assembly on an automobile seat using a hook connected to the child car seat assembly, the length of the connection between the hook and the child car seat assembly being adjustable. The child car seat assembly is secured to the automobile seat, and the hook is hooked to an underside portion of the automobile seat. The length of the connection between the hook and the child car seat assembly is then adjusted.
The foregoing summary is intended merely to provide a quick understanding of the general nature of the present invention. A more complete understanding of the invention can only be obtained by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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Cuomo Peter M.
Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP
White Rodney B.
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