GB2459876A - Freestanding support for an infant car seat - Google Patents

Freestanding support for an infant car seat Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2459876A
GB2459876A GB0808347A GB0808347A GB2459876A GB 2459876 A GB2459876 A GB 2459876A GB 0808347 A GB0808347 A GB 0808347A GB 0808347 A GB0808347 A GB 0808347A GB 2459876 A GB2459876 A GB 2459876A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
support
car seat
base portion
mount portion
infant
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0808347A
Other versions
GB0808347D0 (en
Inventor
Angela Ward
Mark Smith
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB0808347A priority Critical patent/GB2459876A/en
Publication of GB0808347D0 publication Critical patent/GB0808347D0/en
Publication of GB2459876A publication Critical patent/GB2459876A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47D—FURNITURE SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CHILDREN
    • A47D1/00—Children's chairs
    • A47D1/10—Children's chairs capable of being suspended from, or attached to, tables or other articles
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47D—FURNITURE SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CHILDREN
    • A47D1/00—Children's chairs
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47D—FURNITURE SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CHILDREN
    • A47D13/00—Other nursery furniture
    • A47D13/02—Baby-carriers; Carry-cots
    • A47D13/025—Baby-carriers; Carry-cots for carrying children in seated position
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/24—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles
    • B60N2/26—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles for children
    • B60N2/28—Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
    • B60N2/2803—Adaptations for seat belts
    • B60N2/2812—Adaptations for seat belts for securing the child to the child seat
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/24—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles
    • B60N2/26—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles for children
    • B60N2/28—Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
    • B60N2/2821—Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle having a seat and a base part
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/24—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles
    • B60N2/26—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles for children
    • B60N2/28—Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
    • B60N2/2842—Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle adapted to carry the child, when dismounted from the vehicle
    • B60N2/2845—Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle adapted to carry the child, when dismounted from the vehicle having handles

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Child & Adolescent Psychology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Seats For Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

A freestanding support 1 for a universal infant car seat 50 comprises a base portion 11 and a mount portion 20 which is supported by the base portion and is arranged to receive the infant car seat 50. The mount portion 20 has at least one formation, e.g. upstanding blades 21,22,23, configured to engage a complementary formation of the infant car seat, e.g. the recesses typically provided on the underside of the seat. The support 1 allows the infant car seat to be supported at least 20cm above the ground thus making it suitable for use in restaurants etc. The mount portion may be detachably connected to the base by a snap fit connection. A strap may be provided to secure the infant seat to the support.

Description

SEAT SUPPORT
The present invention relates to a seat support. In particular but not exclusively the invention relates to a support for a portable infant car seat.
It is known to provide a portable car seat for an infant. Such seats are typically provided in the form of a moulded plastics seat portion configured to be strapped to a seat of a vehicle by means of the vehicle's seat belt system. The infant car seat is typically provided with straps operable to strap the infant to the infant car seat.
Infant car seats are also used to carry infants when not in the vehicle. Portability of the car seat in this manner is advantageous. For example, it is often undesirable to disturb an infant by removing them from the car seat at the end of a journey. Furthermore, it is convenient not to be required to unstrap an infant from a seat when a further journey will commence shortly after the end of a first journey.
In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a freestanding support for an infant car seat comprising: a base portion; and a mount portion arranged to be supported by the base portion, the mount portion comprising at least one formation configured to engage a complementary formation of the infant car seat whereby the infant car seat may be supported at a height above ground of at least 20cm.
Embodiments of the invention are configured to support a standard (or universal) infant car seat.
Embodiments of the invention have the advantage that the car seat can be stably supported above ground at a convenient and safe location with the infant inside.
This overcomes the problem of safe and convenient storage of an occupied infant car seat, for example when a carer enters a public place such as a restaurant. Such environments present a number of potential hazards. For example, if the infant car seat is placed on the floor it presents a trip hazard since the presence of the car seat may not be obvious to a person walking or standing nearby. Furthermore, a risk exists that an object will fall into the car seat and impinge upon the infant, with the result that suffering or death may be caused.
If the infant car seat is placed on a surface such as a table, the risk exists that the infant car seat will be knocked from the table, risking injury and distress to the infant and associated carer.
Preferably the mount portion of the support comprises a protruding blade element and the complementary formation comprises a recessed portion of a body portion of the car seat.
This has the advantage that the support may be used with a majority of car seats already available on the market. Such car seats are typically provided with moulded recessed portions on an underside of a body portion of the car seat in the vicinity of handles used for carrying the car seat.
Furthermore, since there is no requirement to provide a latch or other mechanism for locking the car seat to the support, the seat may be readily placed on and removed from the support.
Preferably the mount portion comprises a plurality of protruding blade elements.
This has the advantage that the car seat may be more stably supported.
Preferably a pair of blade elements are arranged to engage recessed portions provided on opposite sides of the car seat.
Preferably two pairs of blade elements are provided and are arranged to engage recessed portions provided on the same pair of opposite sides of the car seat.
This has the advantage that support of the seat may be made still further secure and
stable.
More preferably the support further comprises a blade element configured to support a front portion or rear portion of the car seat.
Still more preferably the support comprises a blade element configured to support a front portion of the car seat and a blade element configured to support a rear portion of the car seat.
This has the advantage that a risk of a pitching action of the car seat in a forward or rearward direction is reduced when the seat is mounted on the support.
The base portion may be configured to be anchored to a surface.
Preferably the base portion comprises anchor means configured to allow anchoring of the base portion to a surface.
The anchor means may comprise at least one aperture through which a fixing element may be passed.
The base portion may be configured to be mounted to the ground.
The base portion may be configured to be mounted to a wall.
The base portion may comprise an arm portion, the arm portion being operable to support the mount portion away from a wall.
The arm portion may be operable to support the mount portion at a distance from the wall which distance may be changed by a user.
Preferably the support is configured to support an infant car seat at a height above ground of from around 20cm to around 200cm.
More preferably the support may be configured to support an infant car seat at a height above ground of around 30cm.
Still more preferably the support is configured to support an infant car seat at a height above ground of from around 50cm to around 100cm.
Preferably the support further comprises a strap member operable to secure a car seat to the support.
Preferably the support further comprises a member configured to support an undersurface of a car seat.
In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a freestanding support for an infant car seat comprising: a base portion; and a mount portion arranged to be supported by the base portion, the mount portion comprising at least one formation configured to engage a complementary formation of the infant car seat, wherein the formation of the mount portion comprises a protruding blade element and the complementary formation comprises a recessed portion of a body portion of the car seat.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a car seat support according to a first embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of (a) a base portion of a support according to a second embodiment, and (b) the base portion of the second embodiment in combination with a mount portion; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a support according to a third embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 4 is a side view of a support according to the first embodiment with a car seat mounted on the support; FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a mount portion of a support according to an embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 6 is a side view of a mount portion of a support according to an embodiment of the invention; and FIGURE 7 shows (a) front and (b) rear views of a mount portion of a support according to an embodiment of the invention.
According to a first embodiment of the invention an infant car seat support shown generally at 1 in FIG. 1 has a base portion 10 and a mount portion 20.
The base portion 10 is in the form of a generally hollow frusto-conical base member 11 having a generally flat rim portion 12 arranged to contact ground. Four leg elements 13 are located generally symmetrically around an outer surface of the base member to provide stability to the support 1.
The mount portion 20 is integrally formed with the base member 11 and when viewed with the support in a normal upright orientation (as shown in FIG. 1) the mount portion is shaped to rise above the base portion to present three pairs of blade elements 21, 22, 23 to an underside of a car seat placed above the support 1. The blades elements are provided around a rim 20A of the mount portion 20.
As shown in FIG. 1, a first and second pair of blade elements 21, 22 are arranged such that each pair has a blade on each of a first pair of opposed sides 24 of the mount portion 20 whilst a third pair of blade elements 23 are arranged so that one blade is on each of a second pair of opposed sides 25.
The first and second pairs of blade elements 21, 22 are arranged to engage respective pairs of recesses (not shown) provided in an underside of a standard car seat 50 (FIG.
4). The recesses are generally provided in the vicinity of a handle 55 of the car seat by the manufacturer of the car seat 50.
The third pair of blade elements 23 are arranged to support front and rear portions of the car seat 50.
Each of the blade elements 23 are arranged to fit behind a lip portion provided at front and rear portions of a standard car seat 50.
The second pair of opposed edges 25 of the mount portion 20 are arranged to be generally orthogonal to the first pair of opposed edges 24.
The support is formed from a plastics material. Other materials are also useful such as a glass reinforced plastics material, metal, an alloy of two or more metals, or any other suitable material such as a wood. The mount portion 20 is formed to have a wall thickness of around 5mm. Other wall thicknesses are also useful. In variations of the first embodiment the wall thickness is from around 2 to around 10mm.
In some embodiments (see e.g. FIG. 4) a strap member 30 is provided to removably attach the car seat to the mount portion 20. The strap member is in the form of two strap elements 31, 32 provided on opposite sides of the mount portion 20, the strap elements 31, 32 having complementary interengaging fastener elements 33, 34 at respective free ends of the strap elements 31, 32. The strap is arranged to be wrapped around a car seat 50 mounted to the mount portion 20 thereby to prevent inadvertent detachment of the car seat 50 from the mount portion 20.
A second embodiment of the invention is a variation of the first embodiment and has a base portion 111 removably attachable to a mount portion 112 (FIG. 2). The mount portion is removably attachable by means of a snap-catch mechanism. However it will be appreciated that in some embodiments of the invention different removable attachment elements are used. In preferred embodiments quick-release attachment elements are used. In further preferred embodiments tamper-proof quick-release attachment elements are used. In some embodiments tamper-proof non quick-release attachment elements are used such as tamper-proof bolts or tamper-proof screws.
A variation on the first embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 3. In the embodiment of FIG. 3 a car seat support comprises a generally tubular base portion 211 and generally square mount portion 212.
A mount portion according to a further embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 5.
The mount portion is similar to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 4 except that an undersurface support member 60 is provided. The undersurface support member 60 is arranged to provide a platform upon which an undersurface of a car seat 50 is able to rest. In some embodiments of the invention this feature provides increased stability for a car seat 50.
FIG. 6 shows a side view of a mount portion 20 according to the embodiment of FIG. 5 with a car seat 50 strapped to the mount portion 20. It can be seen that the first and second pairs of blade elements 21, 22 tuck under a flange portion 52 of the car seat 50.
FIG. 7 shows (a) a front view and (b) a rear view of a mount portion 20 of the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6. The blade elements 23 at front and rear sides of the mount portion 20 are configured to abut portions of the car seat on an undersurface of the seat 50 at front and rear ends of the seat 50.
The diameter and weight of the base portion may be varied in order to provide a support of increased stability. It will be understood that in general a base portion having a larger diameter and/or increased weight may show increased resistance to tipping.
Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of the words, for example "comprising" and "comprises", means "including but not limited to", and is not intended to (and does not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps.
Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.
Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith.

Claims (20)

  1. CLAIMS: 1. A freestanding support for an infant car seat comprising: a base portion; and a mount portion arranged to be supported by the base portion, the mount portion comprising at least one formation configured to engage a complementary formation of the infant car seat whereby the infant car seat may be supported at a height above ground of at least 20cm.
  2. 2. A support as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mount portion of the support comprises a protruding blade element and the complementary formation comprises a recessed portion of a body portion of the car seat.
  3. 3. A freestanding support for an infant car seat comprising: a base portion; and a mount portion arranged to be supported by the base portion, the mount portion comprising at least one formation configured to engage a complementary formation of the infant car seat, wherein the formation of the mount portion comprises a protruding blade element and the complementary formation comprises a recessed portion of a body portion of the car seat.
  4. 4. A support as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the mount portion comprises a plurality of protruding blade elements.
  5. 5. A support as claimed in claim 4 wherein a pair of blade elements are arranged to engage recessed portions provided on opposite sides of the car seat.
  6. 6. A support as claimed in claim 5 comprising two pairs of blade elements arranged to engage recessed portions provided on the same pair of opposite sides of the car seat.
  7. 7. A support as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a blade element configured to support a front portion or a rear portion of the car seat.
  8. 8. A support as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a blade element configured to support a front portion of the car seat and a blade element configured to support a rear portion of the car seat.
  9. 9. A support as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the base portion is configured to be anchored to a surface.
  10. 10. A support as claimed in claim 9 wherein the base portion comprising anchor means configured to allow anchoring of the base portion to a surface.
  11. 11. A support as claimed in claim 10 wherein the anchor means comprises at least one aperture through which a fixing element may be passed.
  12. 12. A support as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the base portion is configured to be mounted to the ground.
  13. 13. A support as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the base portion is configured to be mounted to a wall.
  14. 14. A support as claimed in claim 13 wherein the base portion comprises an arm portion, the arm portion being operable to support the mount portion away from a wall.
  15. 15. A support as claimed in claim 14 wherein the arm portion is operable to support the mount portion at a distance from the wall which distance may be changed by a user.
  16. 16. A support as claimed in any preceding claim configured to support an infant car seat at a height above ground of from around 20cm to around 200cm.
  17. 17. A support as claimed in claim 16 configured to support an infant car seat at a height above ground of from around 50cm to around 100cm.
  18. 18. A support as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a strap member operable to secure a car seat to the support.
  19. 19. A support as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a member configured to support an undersurface of a car seat.
  20. 20. A support substantially as hereinbef ore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB0808347A 2008-05-08 2008-05-08 Freestanding support for an infant car seat Withdrawn GB2459876A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0808347A GB2459876A (en) 2008-05-08 2008-05-08 Freestanding support for an infant car seat

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0808347A GB2459876A (en) 2008-05-08 2008-05-08 Freestanding support for an infant car seat

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0808347D0 GB0808347D0 (en) 2008-06-18
GB2459876A true GB2459876A (en) 2009-11-11

Family

ID=39570982

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0808347A Withdrawn GB2459876A (en) 2008-05-08 2008-05-08 Freestanding support for an infant car seat

Country Status (1)

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GB (1) GB2459876A (en)

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5248181A (en) * 1992-06-23 1993-09-28 Efthimiou Peter S Cradle for infant car seat
US5564778A (en) * 1994-03-25 1996-10-15 Safe-Strap Company, Inc. Combination highchair for infants and infant carrier
US6017088A (en) * 1996-12-27 2000-01-25 Evenflo Company, Inc. Convertible infant carrier/restraint system
EP1061833A1 (en) * 1998-02-17 2000-12-27 John A. Helmsderfer Child support device with displaceable seat element
US20040239079A1 (en) * 2003-05-30 2004-12-02 Bischoff Robert C. Vehicle restraint system fo a child
GB2407489A (en) * 2003-10-31 2005-05-04 Michael Julian Pope Chair receptacle adapted to receive a child car seat or high chair seat
US20080135693A1 (en) * 2006-12-05 2008-06-12 Sarah Naporano Snap safe

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5248181A (en) * 1992-06-23 1993-09-28 Efthimiou Peter S Cradle for infant car seat
US5564778A (en) * 1994-03-25 1996-10-15 Safe-Strap Company, Inc. Combination highchair for infants and infant carrier
US6017088A (en) * 1996-12-27 2000-01-25 Evenflo Company, Inc. Convertible infant carrier/restraint system
EP1061833A1 (en) * 1998-02-17 2000-12-27 John A. Helmsderfer Child support device with displaceable seat element
US20040239079A1 (en) * 2003-05-30 2004-12-02 Bischoff Robert C. Vehicle restraint system fo a child
GB2407489A (en) * 2003-10-31 2005-05-04 Michael Julian Pope Chair receptacle adapted to receive a child car seat or high chair seat
US20080135693A1 (en) * 2006-12-05 2008-06-12 Sarah Naporano Snap safe

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0808347D0 (en) 2008-06-18

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