GB2505536A

GB2505536A - Child seat

Info

Publication number: GB2505536A
Application number: GB1302005.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephanie Rohl
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-09-04
Filing date: 2013-02-05
Publication date: 2014-03-05
Also published as: EP2892790A1; WO2014037177A1; HK1210605A1; GB201302005D0; GB201215739D0

Abstract

A child seat comprising a base 11, a resilient seating member or ball 12, and a retaining frame 13 pivotably connected to the base and configured so that the resilient seating member can be retained between the base and the retaining frame. Also, a bracket for coupling a child seat to an object or device, such as an auxiliary wheeled platform P of a pushchair. The bracket comprises first and second members which are adjustably connected so that the distance between the members can be adjusted to secure the bracket to the object or device. One of the members includes a coupling element to receive a cooperating coupling member of a child seat to be attached to the bracket.

Description

Child Seat

Description

The present invention relates to a child seat, including a child seat that is attachable to a pushchair to enable the pushchair to accommodate and convey an additional child.

The invention also relates to a child seat for alternative uses such as a bicycle attachment, booster seat, primary pushchair seat, toy car or tricycle seat, or side car for a push chair or wheel chair. An example of a use of the child seat of the invention is for attachment to a wheeled platform secured to a pushchair. The present invention also relates to a device for connecting a child seat to any such device, vehicle or object.

It is often the case with parents having more than one child that the age gap between the children is such that the older child is not fully able to walk by the time the second i child is born or is reluctant or unable to do so for an extended period of time. During the first child's initial years, the parents will most probably have bought a single seat pushchair to transport the child. Modern pushchairs can be an expensive outlay and therefore, when the second is born, the parents find themselves requiring another pushchair to enable both children to be transported together, requiring either another single seat pushchair to be bought, which means having to use two pushchairs each time both children are to be taken out together, or buy a new double-seat pushchair which means the original single seat pushchair is then redundant. In either case, it invcilves a further significant financial outlay for the parent.

Solutions to the above problem have been proposed which include an add-on device attachable to the single seat pushchair to adapt it to be able to carry both children simultaneously. Such devices include a wheeled platform that attaches to the rear of the pushchair on which the elder child can stand whilst the other child is seated, or a side-car type device attachable to the side of the pushchair frame to enable two children to be seated side-by-side.

Known auxiliary wheeled platform devices suffer a drawback that the elder child is required to remain standing whilst being transported which can quickly become tiring and uncomfortable. A further drawback of known add-on pushchair devices is that the attachment seat and/or add-on platform, by their construction and design, can tend to provide a jarring and uncomfortable ride for the child conveyed thereon, thereby making it uncomfortable and impractical to transport the child for anything more than short periods of time or short distances. This latter drawback of lack of comfort is applicable to child seats of many other known devices in addition to add-on pushchair devices. Furthermore, known child seats are generally large and cumbersome, and are not easy or convenient to can)' when not in use.

The present invention seeks to provide a child seat to substantially overcome or alleviate one or more of the problems mentioned above. The present invention also seeks to provide a device for mounting a child seat to an object or device, which may, io for example only, be a wheeled platform for attachment to a pushchair.

Accordingly, the present invention comprises a child seat comprising a base, a resilient seating member, and a retaining frame pivotably connected to the base and configured so that the resilient seating member can be retained between the base and the retaining frame.

The resilient seating member may be clamped between the base and the retaining frame.

The resilient seating member may comprise a gas-filled member, which may be a gas-filled ball, and which may be inflatable. The inflation of the seating member may be adjustable to control the seating height of the child seat. The seating member may be made of foam.

The base may include a recess to receive the resilient seating member.

The child seat may further comprise a backrest connected to the retaining frame, and the backrest may be pivotably connected to the retaining frame. The backrest may include a ocking &ement to retain the backrest in an erect operative position re'ative to the retaining frame, and the locking element may comprise a resilient tab securable to the retaining frame.

At least one arm rest may be connected to the back rest, and may be pivotably connected to the backrest. The backrest may comprise a plurality of strengthening elements configured to increase the rigidity of the backrest.

The child seat may further comprise a coupling to receive a corresponding connector of a bracket to couple the child seat to an auxiliary auxiliary object or device. Such device may include a wheeled pthtform of a pushchair.

The coupling may comprise a pair of spaced arms defining a gap therebetween to receive a post of a connector bracket, or the coupling may comprise a post configured to be received in a gap defined between a pair of spaced arms of a connector bracket or in an aperture of a connector bracket. The post may comprise a recess to receive a locking member of a connector bracket. The post may be pivotally mounted to the child seat. I0

Each arm may comprise an aperture, the apertures being coaxially aligned. The coupling may comprise a recess to receive a post of a connector bracket.

The child seat may be pivotably connectable to a connector bracket.

The coupbng may comprise at least one eg depending from the base and configured to be received in an aperture of a connector bracket.

The at least one leg may include a recess to receive a locking member of a connector bracket to lock the leg within the aperture.

The child seat may be configured for attachment to an auxiliary wheeled platform of a pushchair.

The child seat may further comprise a connecting member connectable between the base and the retaining frame to hold the retaining frame against the resilient seating member. The connecting member may comprise a strap and may include a releasable coupling to releasably attach the connecting member to the base and/or retaining frame.

The present invention a'so provides a bracket for coupling a child seat to an object or device, the bracket comprising first and second members which are adjustably connected so that the distance between the members can be adjusted to secure the bracket to the object or device, one of the members including a coupling element to receive a cooperating coupling member of a child seat to be attached to the bracket.

The first and second members may be configured to clamp around an edge of a platform, which may be a wheeled platform of a pushchair attachment device.

The first and second members may be t&escopically coup'ed together. One of the first and second members may include one or more aims, and may comprise at least two arms which may diverge away from each other, and may form a generally Y-shaped configuration. At least one arm may include a generally hooked portion, and may include an adjustment bolt extending therethrough to secure the bracket to the object or device to which it is to be attached. I0

The couphng element of the bracket may comprise a post configured to be received in a gap or aperture of a coupling member of a child seat.

The coupling element of the bracket may comprise a gap or aperture to receive a post of a couphng member of a child seat.

The couphng element may comprise a pair of spaced arms defining a gap therebetween, and each arm comprises an aperture, the apertures being coaxially aligned.

The bracket may further comprise a locking mechanism to lock a post of a child seat within the aperture in the bracket.

The locking mechanism may comprise a lever with a locking element which can be pivoted so that the locking element projects into the aperture to be received in a corresponding recess in the post.

The bracket may comprise an anchoring hole to receive a leg of a child seat to be attached to the bracket.

The anchoring hole may indudes a locking mechanism configured to releasahly ock the leg of the child seat within the anchoring hole.

The ocking mechanism may comprise a locking element that projects into the anchoring hole to be received in a corresponding recess in the leg of the child seat.

The bracket may comprise a projecting leg to be received in a corresponding anchoring hole of a child seat to be attached to the bracket.

The invention &so provides a bracket as described above in combination with a chfld seat as described above.

The child seat may be configurable between an erect configuration in which a child can sit on the seat, and a collapsed configuration, and wherein the base and the back rest act as a carry case in the collapsed configLiration.

The resilient seating member maybe retained within the carry case defined by the back rest and the base in the collapsed configuration.

The base and the retaining frame, and/or the base and the back rest, may define a generafly clamshell configuration of the child seat when in the coflapsed configuration.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, byway of examp'e only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a child seat of a first embodiment of the invention in an erected state; Figure 2 shows a rear perspective view of the device of figure 1, Figure 3 shows a front perspective view of the child seat of figure 1 with the seating member removed and the seat in a collapsed, storage configuration; Figure 4 shows a rear perspective view of the device of figure 3; Figure 5 shows an underside perspective view of the device of figure 3; Figure 6 shows a perspective view of an attachment bracket of a second embodiment of the invention; Figurc 7 shows an underside view of the bracket of figure 6; Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the bracket of figure 6 attached to a wheeled board for attachment to a pushchair; Figure 9 shows a perspective underside view of the bracket and wheded board of figure 8; Figure 10 shows a front perspective view of the child seat of figure 1 about to be coupled to the bracket of figure 6 which is connected to a wheeled pushchair board; Figure 11 shows an enlarged view of the child seat base of figure 1 coupled to the bracket of figure 6; Figure 12 shows a locking portion of the bracket of figure 6 in an unlocked position; Figure 13 shows a locking portion of the bracket of figure 6 in a ocked position; Figure 14 shows a cross-sectional view of the child seat, bracket and wheeled board of figure 8; Figure 15 shows a child seat of a third embodiment of the invention in an erected state; Figure i6 shows a rear perspective view of the child seat of figure 15; Figure 17 shows a perspective view of the child seat of figure 16 coupled to an Jo attachment bracket of a fourth embodiment of the invention; Figure 18 shows a side view of the child seat and bracket of figure i; Figure 19 shows an underside view of the child seat and bracket of figure i; Figure 20 shows a perspective view of the bracket of figures 17 -19 attached to a wheeled board for attachment to a pushchair; and Figure 21 shows a perspective view of the child seat of figure 15 attached to the bracket and wheded board of figure 20.

A child seat to of a first embodiment of the invention is shown in figures 1 -2 and comprises a base 11, a seating member 12 in the form of an inflatable ball, a retaining frame 13, a backrest 14 secured to the retaining frame 13, and a pair of arm rests 15 projecting forwardly from the sides of the backrest 14. The retaining frame 13 is pivotably attached to the base 11 at a projecting boss 16 which projects forwardly from the base ii.

The seating member 12 is received in a central dished cavity 17 in the base ii and is held in place by the retaining frame 13. The retaining frame 13 is generally circular and has two forwardly projecting arms i8 which are coupled to hinged sleeves 19 which are hingedly connected to the projecting boss 16 to enable the retaining frame 13 to pivot relative to the base 11. The retaining frame 13 can be secured in place clamping the seating member 12 on the base iibya strap 20 (see figure 2) connected between the retaining frame 13 and the base ii. The strap 20 maybe secured to the base iibya releasable dip 21 on one end of the strap 20 being received in a corresponding slot 22 in the base 11. The strap may &so be adjustable to compensate for different seating member sizes/degrees of inflation. Furthermore, when in the collapsed configuration, the retaining strap can be wrapped around the backrest 14 and clipped into the base ii to retain the child seat loin the collapsed configuration. Yet further, if the child seat is to be used on its own as a booster seat on a chair, the strap 20 can be secured around the back rest of the chair and the clip attached to the slot 20 to hold the child seat 10 securely onto the chair.

The diameter of the circular part of the retaining frame 13 is less than the outer diameter of the inflatable seating ball 12 so that the retaining frame 13 does not pass entirely over the inflatable seating ball 12, but rests against an upper portion of the inflatable seating ball 12.

io The backrest 14 is pivotably mounted to the retaining frame 13 by a pair of hinged brackets 23 and can be pivoted fonvards relative to the retaining frame 13. The arm rests 15 are also pivotable relative to the backrest 14 and can tilt from their operative position, shown in figures 1 and 2, upwardly to a folded stowage position, as will be described later.

The inflatable seating ball 12 includes a valve (not shown) to allow a user to manually inflate or deflate the inflatable seating ball 12 as required.

Figures 1 and 2 show the child seat in an erected operative position. However, for ease of transportation and storage, the child seat can be configured into a collapsed stowage configuration as shown in figures 3 to 5 by first releasing the strap 20 and pivoting the retaining frame 13 upwardly so that the inflatable seating ball 12 can be removed from the central dished cavity 17 in the base 11 and stored separately. Alternatively, the inflatable seating ball 12 may be deflated and left in place in its deflated and folded state (not shown) within the central dished cavity 17. The retaining frame 13 is then pivoted down against the base ii and the arm rests 15 are pivoted upwards to lie substantially parallel to the backrest 14. The backrest 14 is pivoted relative to the retaining frame 13 about the hinged brackets 23 and folded flat against the retaining frame 13. The child scat is then in its frifly stowed configuration shown in figures 3 to 5.

The base ii and backrest 14 form a generally "clamshell" configuration and thereby comprise a hinged carry case arrangement which is a closed case in the stowed configuration shown in figures 3 to 5. One advantage of this is that the carry case parts form parts of the child seat itself, and so no separate carry case is required for storage or transportation when the child seat is not in use. The upper portion of the backrest 14 includes a handle hole 24 to aid carrying of the child seat in the stowed configuration.

Means maybe provided to retain the child seat in its collapsed configuration, such as a clip, hook or carabiner, for example. Such means may also allow the collapsed child seat to be connected to a pushchair for ease of carrying when not in use.

In the erected configuration shot in figures 1 and 2, the child seat is intended for a child to sit on the inflatable seating ball 12 with their back against the backrest and arms on or holding the arm rests 15. The resilience of the inflatable seating ball 12 provides a comfortable seat and a degree of "suspension" to provide a smoother and more comfortable ride for the child. This preferred configuration is also good for the io child's posture. Another advantage of the embodiment is that the pressure at which the seating member 12 is inflated may be adjusted by a user to control both the amount of "suspension" provided by the seat, and also the height of the seat dependent on the size of the child who is to use the seat.

The base ii of the child seat includes four legs 25, two front legs 25 and two rear legs 25b. The legs 25 enable the child seat 10 to sit stably on a flat surface when not being used as a pushchair attachment seat. For example, the child seat can be detached from a pushchair attachment (described in more detail below) if the parents go to a café or restaurant, and placed on a chair to act as a booster seat for the child. The two rear legs 25b include an annular recess 26 which enable the child seat 10 to be locked to an associated mounting bracket, as described in more detail below. Mso for this purpose, the base ii includes a mounting post 27 which is pivotally connected to the projecting boss 16. The mounting post 27 is pivotable between an operative position (as shown in figure io) and a retracted position (as shown in figure). The mounting post 27 is folded into the retracted position during stowage, when being carried, and when the child seat 10 is to be used on a flat surface so that it does not foul the ground/surface on which the child seat is placed and thereby destabilise the child seat. The mounting post includes an arcuate recess 28 in one face.

As discussed above, the child seat of the invention is intended to be able to be connected to knosm wheeled pushchair attachment platforms, and in order to achieve this, an attachment bracket 101 is provided. The attachment bracket 101 comprises a second embodiment of the invention and is shown in figures 6 and 7, and in combination with the above-described child seat 10 in figures 10, 11 and 14. The attachment bracket 101 comprises a first, generally Y-shaped element 102 having a pair of diverging arms 103, each with a hooked portion 104 at a distal end. A second element 105 is telescopically received in the first element 102 and also includes a hooked portion 106 at its distal end. The second element further includes an aperture 107 configured to receive the mounting post 27, and a locking lever io8 connected to an eccentric cam 109 so that moving the lever 108 moves the cam into and out of the aperture 107.

The hooked portions 104 of the first element 102 each include an aperture 110 configured to receive a rear leg 25b of the base ii of the child seat to, and a sliding locking plate in configured to lock the rear legs 25b in the respective aperture 110. The io sliding locking plate includes overlapping larger and smaller holes 112, 113 formed therein These are shown in more detail in figures 12 and 13, in which figure 12 shows a locking plate in in an unlocked position in which the larger diameter hole 112 in the locking plate in is aligned with the aperture 110 in the hooked portion 104, and figure 13 shows the locking plate 111 in a locked position in which an outer edge of the smaller is diameter hole 113 in the locking plate extends into the aperture 110 in the hooked portion.

In use, the bracket 101 is secured to a wheeled platform P as shown in figures 8 and 9 by the hooked portions 104 of the first element 102 being hooked around one edge of the platform P, and an adjustment bolt 114 of the bracket being tightened to bring the hooked portion 106 of the second element 105 into engagement with an opposite edge of the platform F, thereby locking the bracket 101 to the platform P. Optionally, the bracket 101 may include additional securing bolts 115 which extend from the underside of the first element 102 though to the upper side and can be tightened against the underside of the wheeled platform P to pull the hooked portions 104, io6 of the first and second elements 102, 105 into tighter engagement with the upper surface of the wheeled platform P. The bracket 101 may also include adjustment bolts n6 in each hooked portion 104 of the first element 102 and which extend though the hooked portion 104, and which can be tightened once the bracket is in p'ace on the wheeled o platform P. This further helps the bracket 101 be universally attachable to different shaped pushchair attachment platforms currently available.

The child seat 10 is then secured to the bracket 101 by the mounting post 27 being inserted into the aperture 107 in the second element io, and, with the sliding locking plates 111 in the unlocked position, the rear legs 25b of the base ii being inserted into the respective apertures 110 of the first element 102. The locking lever 108 is then -10-rotated so that the eccentric cam 109 locates in the arcuate recess 28 in the locking post 27, thereby locking the locking post 27 in position. The locking plates 111 are moved into the ocked position so that the edge of the smaller apertures 113 locate in the annular recesses 26 of the rear legs 25b, locking them in position. The wheeled platform P may then be coupled to a pushchair in a known manner.

The locking plates may be spring biased into the locked position. The child seat 10 is detached from the bracket 101 by simply moving the locking plates iii and locking lever 108 to the unlocked positions and lifting the child seat off the bracket 101. I0

The bracket 101 is configured such that minimal upper surface area of the platform is taken up by the mounting bracket so that the pushchair child seat can occupy the majority of the upper surface area of the platform. Also, this enables the platform P to be used in a conventional manner for the child to stand on by detaching the child seat 10, without the bracket 101 obstructing the area where the child stands. In addition, the bracket is configured such that it, and thereby the child seat 10, can be universafly attachabk to a number of auxiliary wheeled pushchair pthtforms currenfly available without requirement for any manufacturer-specific connectivity or interconnecting features.

The child seat 10 may include a number of additional features, including seat straps or harness (not shown) extending between the backrest 14 and the base 11. Slots 29 may be provided in the backrest 14 to accommodate such straps, to enable a child to be secured in place. The base 11 may also include securing slots 31 for attachment of the seat straps or harness. The slots 31 are shown in the exemplary embodiment in the fIgures around the perimeter edge of the base ii. The seat straps could additionally be used to retain the child seat 10 in the collapsed configuration when not in use, or may be used to secure the child seat 10 to a chair when being used as a booster seat.

Furthermore, the slots 31 may receive ends of webbing straps (not shown) that may extend over the seating member 12 to hold it in place on the base ii independenfly of the retaining frame 13. The retaining frame 13 could then rest on top of the seating member 12 and webbing straps. These webbing straps could also act to extend over the backrest 14 to ho'd the child seat 10 in the collapsed position for stowage/carriage, and/or could be used to secure the child seat 10 to a chair when being used as a booster seat.

-11 -Although the retaining frame 13 is described as having an open central aperture, the frame 13 may alternatively include a flexible cover (not shown) such as cloth, plastic, mesh, etc. that is able to sit over the upper surface of the inflatable seating member 12 when the pushchair child seat device mis in its erected state.

The child seat 10 is shown as including a round inflatable seating ball as the seating member 12, although the invention is not intended to be limited to this configuration and variations are intended within the scope of the invention, for example, a non- spherical inflatable seating member, and/or a gas-filled seating member that is pre- io inflated and seated, and is not inflatable by the end user. Also, resilient but not gas-filled seating members may be provided in place of the inflatable ball 12, for example a foam or rubber seating member. Different sized seating members 12 may be interchanged in the child seats 10, 210 to provide different levels of suspension or comfort, or seating height for the child.

The backrest 14 is preferable formed with a plurality of ribs 30 which give it increased strength and rigidity.

Although the means for coupling the child seat 10 to the bracket 101 comprises a mounting post 27 on the child seat 10 and a corresponding aperture 107 on the mounting bracket 101, these components could be reversed so that the mounting post is provided on the bracket 101 and the aperture is provided on the child seat 10.

The child seat 10 is shown in figures 3 to 5 in a first collapsed stowed configuration in which the inflatable seating member 12 is removed or deflated so that the backrest 14 can be folded flat against the base 11 in a closed clamshell configuration. However, it is intended that the child seat 10 may also be folded into a second collapsed stowed configuration (not shown) in which the inflatable seating member 12 is not deflated or removed but instead is retained in place in the dished cavity 17 in the base ii, the arms 15 are folded upwards and the back rest 14 is folded down into contact with the inflatable seating member 12. The stowed pushchair child seat 10 can then be easily and convenienfly transported by carrying with the handle 26. This configuration has the advantage of a user not having to deflate the inflatable seating member 12, or having to remove the inflatable seating member 12 and store/carry it separately to the rest of the child seat 10.

-12 -The child seat 10 may easily be connected to, or disconnected from, a wheeled platform as and when required, depending if the child wishes to stand or sit during transit.

When the child wishes to stand, the child seat 10 can quickly and easily be collapsed into one of the stowed positions as described above and carried separately or secured to a pushchair to be carried thereon. The child seat 10 may include additional mounting means (not shown) to enable the stowed device to be coupled to, and carried on, a pushchair, such as a suitable clamp, hook or carabiner. Such means may also be used to retain the backrest 14 and base ii together in the stowed positions.

io The child seat 10 is described above as being connectable to a wheeled platform 1 using the bracket 101. Additional securing means (not shown) may also be provided to further secure the child seat 10 in place, such as additional straps or webbing. Also, although the bracket 101 is described as being used to connect the child seat 10 to a wheeled platform P for attachment to a pushchair, the bracket 101 can be used to connect the child seat 10 to many other objects/vehicles, such as a chair at a lunch/dining table for the child seat 10 to be used as a booster seat, a bicycle for the child seat 10 to be used as an add-on child seat, or any other type of add-on pushchair attachment device, e.g. a side car chassis.

A child seat 210 of a third embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 15 -19 and comprises many features of the first embodiment described above. Like features retain the same reference numerals and a detailed description of these same features will not be repeated. Differing features between the child seats of the first and third embodiments of the invention 10, 210 are described below.

The projecting boss i6 of the third embodiment of the invention 210 comprises a pair of parallel spaced arms 220 defined gap 221 therebetween. Each arm 220 includes a circular aperture 222, the apertures 222 being coaxially aligned.

The bottom edge of the backrest 14 includes resilient snap tab 224 which secures around the rear of the retaining frame 13 and snaps in place to hold the backrest 14 in the erected configuration shown in figures 15 to 18. The snap tab 224 can be released from the retaining frame 13 by being deformed outwardly and the backrest 14 tilted forwards so the snap tab 24 is out of engagement with the retaining frame 13 to allow the backrest 14 to be freely pivoted relative to the retaining frame 13.

-13 -The base 11 generally comprises a peripheral flange 225 surrounding the central dished cavity 17, and a rear-most portion of the peripheral flange 225, remote from the projecting boss i6, includes an dongate handle h&e 226 to enable a user to easily carry the collapsed child seat 210.

The child seat 210 is similarly intended to be connectable to known wheeled pushchair attachment platforms, and in order to achieve this, an attachment bracket 301 of a fourth embodiment of the invention is provided. The attachment bracket 301 is shown attached to a known wheeled platform P in figure 20, and in combination with the child io seat 210 in figures 17-19 and 21. The attachment bracket 301 comprises upper and lower clamping jaws 302,303, the upperjaw 102 comprises a plate 304 w]th a lug 305 at one end thereof depending downwardly from the upper plate 304. The lower jaw 303 comprises a lower plate 306 with a lower lug 307 depending upwardly from one end thereof. The lower lug 307 is slidably receivable in a cavity in the tipper lug 305 so that the upperjaw 302 and owerjaw 303 can be adjusted towards and away from each other. The upperjaw 302 and owerjaw 303 are connected by b&ts 308 which extend through aligned apertures in the upper and lower lugs 305, 307 and are secured at the underside of the lower lug 307 by retaining nuts 309. Therefore, movement of the upper jaw 302 relative to the lower jaw 303, and thereby the clamping function of the bracket 301, can be controlled by screwing or unscrewing the bolts 308 with the nuts 309.

The attachment bracket 301 includes an upwardly-projecting post 310 sized of a width just slightly smaller than the gap 221 between the spaced arms 220 of the projecting boss i6. The post 310 includes sprung lock buttons 311 which are biased outwardly from the post 310 to project from the sides of the post 310. The child seat 210 is secured to the attachment bracket 301 by the lock buttons 311 being pushed inwards, and the spaced arms 220 being positioned either side of the post 310 until the sprung ock buttons 311 locate in the apertures 222 in the spaced arms 220 and spring outwardly into the apertures 222 to retain the child seat 210 on the attachment bracket 301. To avoid a user having to push the lock buttons 311 inwardly to attach the child seat 210 to the post 310, the spaced arms 220 may include ramped portions 220a to guide the lock buttons 311 inwards to the post 310 as the child seat 210 is towered onto the post 310. It will appreciated that to release the child seat 210 from the attachment bracket 301, the lock buttons 311 are pushed inwardly so that they are flush with the sides of the post 310 and thereby disengaged from the apertures 222 in the spaced arms 220 of the projecting boss 16, to enable die child seat 210 to be lifted off the attachment clamp 301.

The combined assembly of the child seat 210, attachment bracket 301 and wheeled platform P is shown in figure 21. The bracket 301 is clamped onto a front edge of the wheeled platform P and secured by tightening the bolts 308 in the nuts 309 as described above. The child seat 210 is then coupled to the bracket 301 as described above, and the base ii rests on the platform P. It will be appreciated that the mechanism by which the child seat 210 couples to the bracket 301 allows the child seat Jo 210 to be pivoted relative to the bracket 301 downwards until the underside of the base ii contacts and rests upon the upper surface of the wheded platform P. The wheeled platform P can then be coupled to a pushchair (not shown) in a known manner.

Furthermore, the bracket 301 of the fourth embodiment, as with the bracket 101 of the first embodiment, is configured such that minimal tipper surface area of the wheeled pthtform P is taken up by the mounting bracket 301, to provide the same associated benefits and advantages described above.

The backrest 14 is described as including the snap tab 224 to retain the backrest 14 upright on the retaining frame 13. However, although this is preferable to hold the backrest 14 upright, it may be omitted in an alternative embodiment of the invention and the backrest may be held upright by the child leaning on it in use.

Although the means for coupling the child seat 210 to the bracket 301 comprises a post 310 on the bracket 301 and a pair of spaced arms 220 on the boss i6 of the child seat 210, these components could be reversed so that the post 310 is provided on the boss i6 of the child seat 210 and the pair of spaced arms 220 are provided on the bracket 301.

Both configurations of bracket 101,301 and child seats 10, 210 are such that when the bracket is secured to a wheekd platform P of a pushchair, thc child scat 10,210 can be coflapsed into the storage configuration and pivoted upwards to an upright position out of the way against the back for the pushchair to which is it attached, to allow the child to stand on the platform P. When the child wishes to sit again, the child seat 10, 210 can simply be pivoted downwards onto the wheeled pthtform P upper surface and erected into the position again.

-15 -Although the child seats 10, 210 of the invention are described above for use as attached to an auxiliary wheeled platform P of a pushchair, the invention is not intended to be limited to this configuration and may akernatively be used in many other devices which require child seating. One examp'e is an add-on pushchair device capable of being connected to the side of a pushchair to enable two children to be seated side by side. In this case, a suitable side chassis may be provided to be connected to the side of the pushchair, to which the child seats of the invention may be attached. In addition, the child seats of the invention may be implemented in many other applications, such as a seat for a child's bicycle or tricycle, or other toy or means of transport, or as described io above, as a booster seat on a chair at a lunch or dining table. Furthermore, the child seats 10, 210 of the invention may be used as an auxiliary child seat attached to an adifit bike, either in front or behind the parent's saddle, with a suitable attachment chassis, so that a child may be taken on rides with the parent.

Claims

Claims 1. A child seat comprising a base, a resilient seating member, and a retaining frame pivotably connected to the base and configured so that the resilient seating member can be retained between the base and the retaining frame.
2. A child seat according to claim 1 wherein the resilient seating member is clamped between the base and the retaining frame.

Jo
3. A child seat according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the resilient seating member comprises a gas-filled member.
4. A child seat according to claim 3 wherein the resilient seating member comprises a gas-filled ball.
5. A child seat according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the resilient seating member is inflatable.
6. A child seat according to claim 5 wherein the inflation of the seating member can be adjusted to control the seating height of the child seat.
7. A child seat according to any preceding claim wherein the base includes a recess to receive the resilient seating member.
8. A child seat according to any preceding claim further comprising a backrest connected to the retaining frame.
9. A child seat according to claim 8 wherein the backrest is pivotably connected to the rctaining frame. 3°
10. A child seat according to claim 9 wherein the backrest inchides a ocking dement to retain the backrest in an erect operative position rethtive to the retaining frame. -17-ii. A child seat according to claim 10 wherein the locking element compnses a resilient tab securable to the retaining frame.12. A chfld seat according to any of claims 8 -ii wherein at east one arm rest is connected to the back rest.13. A child seat according to c'aim 12 wherein the at east one arm rest is pivotably connected to the backrest.Jo 14. A child seat according to any of claims 8 -13 wherein the backrest comprises a pluraBty of strengthening dements configured to increase the rigidity of the backrest.15. A child seat according to any preceding claim further comprising a coupling to receive a corresponding connector of a bracket to coup'e the child seat to an auxiliary object or device.16. A child seat according to claim 15 wherein the coupling comprises a pair of spaced arms defining a gap therebetween to receive a post of a connector bracket.17. A child seat according to claim 15 wherein the coupling comprises a post configured to be received in a gap defined between a pair of spaced arms of a connector bracket.i8. A child seat according to c'aim 15 wherein the coupling comprises a post configured to be received in an aperture of a connector bracket.19. A child seat according to daim 18 whercin the post comprises recess to receive a oc1dng member of a connector bracket.20. A chfld seat according to any of claims 17-19 wherein the post is pivotay mounted to the child seat. -18-21. A child seat according to claim 16 wherein each arm compnses an aperture, the apertures being coaxially aligned.22. A child seat according to claim 15 wherein the coupling compises a recess to receive a post of a connector bracket.23. A child seat according to any of claims 15 to 22 wherein the child seat is pivotably connectable to a connector bracket.Jo 24. A child seat according to any of claims 15-23 wherein the coupling comprises at east one leg depending from the base and configured to be received in an aperture of a connector bracket.25. A child seat according to claim 24 wherein the at least one leg includes a recess to receive a ocking member of a connector bracket to lock the leg within the aperture.26. A child seat according to any preceding claim configured for attachment to an auxiliary wheeled platform of a pushchair.27. A child seat according to any preceding claim, further comprising a connecting member connectable between the base and the retaining frame to hold the retaining frame against the resilient seating member.28. A child seat according to claim 27 wherein the connecting member comprises a strap.29. A child seat according to claim 27 or claim 28 wherein the connecting member includes a reicasable coupling to relcasably attach the connecting member to the base and/or retaining frame.30. A bracket for coupling a child seat to an object or device, the bracket comprising first and second members which are adjustably connected so that the distance between the members can be adjusted to secure the bracket to the object or device, one of the members including a coupling element to receive a cooperating coupling member of a child seat to be attached to the bracket.31. A bracket according to claim 20 wherein the first and second members are configured to clamp around an edge of a platform.32. A bracket according to claim 30 or claim 31 wherein the first and second members are telescopically coupled together.Jo 33. A bracket according to any of claims 30 -32 wherein the couphng dement of the bracket comprises a post configured to be received in a gap or aperture of a coupling member of a child seat.34. A bracket according to any of claims 30 -32 wherein the coupling element of the bracket comprises a gap or aperture to receive a post of a coupling member of a child seat.35. A bracket according to claim 34 wherein the coupling element comprises a pair of spaced arms defining a gap therebetween, and each arm comprises an aperture, the apertures being coaxially aligned.36. A bracket according to 34 wherein the bracket further comprises a locking mechanism to lock a post of a child seat within the aperture in the bracket.37. A bracket according to claim 36 wherein the locking mechanism comprises lever with a locking element which can be pivoted so that the locking element projects into the aperture to be received in a corresponding recess in the post.38. A bracket according to any of claims 30 -37 comprising an anchoring hole to receive a eg of a child seat to be attached to the bracket.39. A bracket according to claim 38 wherein the anchoring h&e inchides a locking mechanism configured to releasably lock the leg of the child seat within the anchoring hole.40. A bracket according to claim 39 wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking element that projects into the anchoring hole to be received in a corresponding recess in the eg of the child seat.41. A bracket according to any of claims 30 -37 comprising a projecting leg to be received in a corresponding anchoring hole of a child seat to be attached to the bracket.42. A bracket of any of ciaims 30 -41 in combination with a child seat of any of claims 1-29.43. A child seat according to claim 8 or any of claims 9 -29 when dependent on claim 8, wherein the child seat is configurable between an erect configuration in which a child can sit on the seat, and a collapsed configuration, and wherein the base and the back rest act as a carry case in the collapsed configuration.44. A child seat according to claim 43 wherein the resilient seating member can be retained within the carry case defined by the back rest and the base in the collapsed configuration.45. A child seat according to any of claims 1 to 29 or claims 43 -44 wherein the base and the retaining frame, and/or the base and the back rest define a generally clamshell configuration of the child seat when in the collapsed configuration.