GB2301278A

GB2301278A - Sunshade for an infants car seat

Info

Publication number: GB2301278A
Application number: GB9517139A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gaynor Marie Fisher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-08-09
Filing date: 1995-08-22
Publication date: 1996-12-04
Also published as: GB9517139D0; GB9516322D0

Abstract

A sunshade for an infant car seat of the type which has a carrying handle. The sunshade 8 has a top cover and two side screens 6 and is characterised in that it is mounted over the seat without recourse to using the handle as part of the supporting means. In the example shown, a pocket 4 at the back of the shade engages over the back of the child seat and a stretch strap 5 loops around the back of the head restraint 9 of the main vehicle seat. In an alternative embodiment the cover is partially supported by means of a clip which is attachable to the upper run of the adult seat belt.

Description

SUNSHADE This invention relates to a sunshade for a first stage rearward facing baby or infant car seat.

First stage car seats for babies are known which generally fit babies of 0-9 months of age and which are adapted to face the rear of the car when in use. They are held in the rearward facing position by means of the regular passenger car seat belt passing through slots in the baby car seat. Such car seats are preferably used, particularly when the baby's mother is driving, on the front passenger seat of the car.

In sunny weather, the baby is thereby exposed to sunshine coming through cardoor windows, and also through the rear and front windscreens. Devices to shade the baby from the heat and brightness are known to include stick-on sun blinds which can be affixed to the cardoor windows and optionally to the rear windscreen. However, they clearly cannot be used to block sunshine from the front windscreen, and even their use on the rear windscreen can obscure the driver's field of vision.

The sunshade of this invention was created because of a need for an effective means to protect the baby from all round sunshine, especially that coming through the car windscreen. A sunshade for an infant carrier or car seat is disclosed in US patent specification no. 4,997,231 which includes: a cloth top portion detachably connectable to the handle and extendible from a top of the handle to the head portion, the top portion having a gap at its centre at a top of the handle providing access to the handle for carrying; and two mesh portions, one connected to each side of the top portion and extendible along the respective side of the carrier, each mesh portions being detachably connectable to a respective side of the handle.

However, for safety reasons, this sunshade is not of practical use in a car since the baby car seat handle must lre folded back or lowered behind the haby's head. his would have the effect of also folding back the sunshade, thereby exposing the baby to sunshine.

AccorrGjng to this invention there is therefore provided a sunshade suitable for an infant car seat inclucling a carrying handle in use in a car passenger seat, vJhicll sunshacie comprises an overhead cover from which depend two opposing side covers and support means for supporting the overhead cover above the infant's head wherein the support means are independent of the carrying handle.

wreferres sunshades are those having attachment means for attached the sunshine to the infant car seat. Conveniently, the support means are adapted to co-operate with a standard part of the car interior such as the car passenger seat in which the infant car seat is to be used. The support means may comprise fastening means to enable the support means to cooperate with, for example, a headrest or seat belt associated with the car passenger seat.

More preferably, the support means comprises soft fabric, especially elasticated or other stretch fabric.

specially suitable support means comprises a length of elastic attached at each end to the rearward end of the overhead cover adjacent to the point of attachment of the two side covers. In this way, in use, the elastic can be fitted around a headrest fitted to the passenger seat to ensure the overhead cover remains in position, whether the carrying handle is in the raised or lowered position. RElternatively, the support means comprises a gripper or clip for gripping or clipping onto the car passenger seat belt. In this way, in use, the gripper or clip can be fastened to the passenger seat belt, therehy keeping the overhead cover in position, regardless of the position of the carrying handle.

Preferahly, the attachment means comprise a pocket or stretch fabric to enable the frontward part of the sunshade to co-operate with the head portion of the infant car seat. ore preferably, the attachment means are also attached to the two opposing side covers, assisting them to remain in a vertical plane. More preferably, the side covers are trapezoidal in shape, having a longer vertical length to the rearward end of the sunshade compared with that to the frontward end thereof.

The covers can comprise any lightweight, soft fabric such as cotton, linen, nylon, polyester, or a mixture thereof, or the like. More preferably, the two side covers and optionally also the overhead cover and/or the attachment means comprise a soft fabric mesh or netting. The netting is preferably dense enough to provide shade but still allows the infant to see outside the sunshade and other car occupants to see the infant. specially preferred is when the two side covers comprise netting overlaid with a flap of lightweight, soft fabric. Ideally, the same fabric is used as for the overhead cover.Conveniently, at least the flap portion of the side cover adjacent the driver is adapted to be lifted up and held in position, such as by hook and loop fasteners (for example, Velcro (Registered Trade Mark)), to enable the driver to see the baby trouh the mesh or netting The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying @rawings in which.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sunshace according to the invention. i r e: tl.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the embodiment of Figure 1 showing netting.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of another sunshade according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings, a car passenger seat (1) supports baby carseat (2), (40) with sunshade (8), (10) fitted. Other side view corresponds. In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, elasticated pocket (4) to the frontward end of the sunshade secures the rear of the sunshade (8) to the rear (frontward) part of the baby carseat (2). Stretch strap (5) attached to the rearward end of the sunshade secures the front of the shade (2) by passing around the rear of a headrest (9) affixed to the car passenger seat (1). In use, the sunshade (3) simply slips by means of pocket (4) over the back of the baby car seat (2), and the stretch strap (5) is pulled over the passenger headrest (9) to secure. The sunshade (8) is formed from soft polyester/cotton printed fabric (print now shown) comprising an overhead canopy portion (3) and two side portions (6) attached to the overhead canopy portion (3). Shade side cover flap (6) may be folded up to show mesh (7) to enable the driver and baby to see each other (Figure 2). There is the possibility of reversihility or left-hand driven vehicles.

in the example in Figure 3, the sunshade (10) is supported in place over carseat (40) and attached to diagonal car passenger seat belt (20) by means of a grip or clip (30) which itself is sewn into or clipped to the rearward portion of sunshade (10). In this example, the sunshade (10) takes the form of a drape.

Claims

1. A sunshade suitable for an infant car seat including a carrying handle for use in a car passenger seat, which sunshade comprises an overhead cover from which depend two opposing side covers and support means for supporting the overhead cover about the infant's head wherein the support means are independent of the carrying handle.

2. A sunshade according to claim 1 having attachment means for attaching the sunshade to the infant car seat.

3. A sunshade according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the support means is adapted to co-operate with a standard part of the car interior.

4. A sunshade according to any preceding claim wherein the support means comprises fastening means to enable the support means to co-operate with a standard part of the car interior.

5. A sunshade according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the standard part is a car passenger seat in which the infant car seat is to be used.

6. A sunshade according to any preceding claim wherein the support means is adapted to cooperate with a headrest or seat belt associated with a car passenger seat.

7. A sunshade according to any preceding claim wherein the support means comprises soft fabric.

8. A sunshade according to any preceding claim wherein the support means comprises a length of stretchable material attached at each end thereof to the rearward end of the overhead cover adjacent to the point of attachment of the two side covers.

9. A sunshade according to any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the support means comprises a gripper or clip for gripping or clipping the overhead cover onto the car passenger seat belt.

10. A sunshade according to any of the claims 2 to 9 wherein the attachment means comprises a pocket of stretch fabric to enable the frontward part of the sunshade to cooperate with the head portion of the infant car seat.