Chairs and seats – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-18
2001-06-05
Nelson, Jr., Milton (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Combined
C297S188200, C297S188060
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241313
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a portable child seat and, more specifically, to a child seat which is removably attachable to the side of a suitcase or other luggage piece, wherein the suitcase can be transported across a floor surface, with the seat attached, while a child is secured in the seat.
2. Description of the Related Art
Every parent has experienced the frustrations of traveling with small children, particularly, when carrying several pieces of luggage. As small children are unable to walk longer distances, at a relatively fast pace, many times parents find themselves having to carry their children along with their belongings. Moreover, it is highly advisable for parents to hold onto their children when traveling through congested areas, such as airports. Thus, it is not surprising that strollers have become a popular travel accessory. In fact, many airlines permit passengers to wheel their children all the way to the gate, in spite of the fact that the stroller is too large to be carried on the plane. Typically, airline personnel will take baby strollers from passengers, just prior to boarding the plane, and stow the strollers in the aircraft's cargo compartment. When the plane arrives at its destination, the strollers are carried up the stairs of the jet way and returned to passengers as they deboard the plane. Often, this results in some delay and passenger congestion at the exit of the plane as parents wait for their strollers. It can therefore be appreciated that, notwithstanding their general usefulness, baby strollers can present a significant inconvenience, especially when traveling by airline.
In the past, others have proposed specifically designed suitcases in an effort to overcome the problems encountered when traveling with small children. In particular, the U.S. patent to Henkel, No. 5,988,657, discloses a multi-purpose suitcase having a base compartment and a movable upper compartment. The suitcase is adapted to be quickly reconfigured to form a seat on which a child can be seated. A harness secures a child in the seat. The U.S. patent to Alper, et al., No. 5,407,039, discloses a wheeled luggage case which is specifically structured to allow a child seat to be fastened to the case. These and other proposed solutions involve use of a specifically designed suitcase, thus requiring the user to purchase a new article of luggage. For obvious reasons, these specifically designed suitcases are not practical for the average traveler. In particular, a specifically designed luggage piece of this nature can be considerably expensive. Moreover, many travelers already have a set of matching luggage and it is not desirable to purchase a separate suitcase which does not match the previously purchased luggage set. Additionally, the proposed suitcases, with means for seating a child thereon, are for the most part bulky and aesthetically unappealing.
In view of the foregoing difficulties associated with traveling with small children, there still exists a need for a convenient and effective means of carrying one's children and luggage without having to transport a large, cumbersome baby stroller. Furthermore, there is a need for an inexpensive, lightweight child seat which is adapted for universal attachment to existing articles of luggage, thereby enabling a parent to quickly and conveniently adapt their existing luggage to accommodate a securely seated child thereon.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a child seat for removable attachment to a suitcase, so that the suitcase and a child within the seat can be rolled along a floor surface as an integral unit. The child seat comprises a collapsible frame structure which is formed and configured to provide a seat base frame, a back rest frame, opposite arm rest frames, and a front leg support extending downwardly from the seat base frame. Fabric panels may be fitted to the seat base frame and the back rest frame to provide a seat base and a back rest, respectively. Arm rests may be fitted to the arm rest frame portions for providing a comfortable resting surface for the child's arms.
Harness means are provided for securing the child in the seat. The child seat further includes means for removably securing the child seat to a suitcase including strap members which secure about the suitcase.
When not in use, the child seat folds to a collapsed position, much like a conventional beach chair, thereby assuming a low profile configuration, lying flat against the front panel of the suitcase. In use, the seat base, arm rests, and front leg support swing outwardly away from the suitcase, assuming an operative position so that a child can be seated therein.
The present invention is particularly adapted for use with a suitcase of the type including wheels on a bottom end and an extendable tote handle on the top end. With the back rest of the child seat placed against the front panel of the suitcase, an upper pair of straps extend over the top end of the suitcase and about the tote handle. A lower pair of straps extend about the body of the suitcase, at an approximate mid zone thereof. Size adjustment fittings on the straps permit tightening of the straps about the tote handle and suitcase body to tightly secure the child seat to the suitcase. A wrist strap may further be provided for securing the tote handle to the wrist of the person carrying the suitcase for preventing accidental dropping of the suitcase, thereby avoiding injury to a child carried in the child's seat.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a convenient, lightweight and collapsible child seat which enables a parent to effectively carry their child and luggage without the use of a cumbersome baby stroller.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a lightweight, collapsible child seat which is removably attachable to a suitcase of the type having wheels and a tote handle, and wherein the child seat is collapsible against the front panel of the suitcase to assume a low profile, stowed position.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a lightweight, collapsible child seat which is removably attachable to a conventional luggage piece, of the type including wheels and an extendable tote handle, and wherein the child seat is easily removable and attachable to the luggage piece.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a lightweight, collapsible child seat which is specifically adapted for removable attachment to a luggage piece, wherein the luggage piece includes wheels and a tote handle and is of a size which can be carried on a commercial airliner so that the child seat and luggage piece can be stowed, as an integral unit in an overhead compartment of the airliner.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent with reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 290344 (1883-12-01), Morris
patent: 820125 (1906-05-01), Pennington
patent: 2724429 (1955-11-01), Warner
patent: 2875816 (1959-03-01), Langefeld
patent: 3506280 (1970-04-01), Coupe
patent: 5374073 (1994-12-01), Hung-Hsin
patent: 5507508 (1996-04-01), Liang
patent: 5642917 (1997-07-01), Geiger
patent: 5695246 (1997-12-01), Tsai
patent: 5868463 (1999-02-01), MacKenzie et al.
patent: 5988657 (1999-11-01), Henkel
patent: 1073861 (1954-09-01), None
patent: 100110 (1962-06-01), None
Lenz Darryl H.
Lenz Randall G.
Downey P.A. Robert M.
Jr. Milton Nelson
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