IL299780A - Convertible baby safety car seat assembly - Google Patents

Description

CONVERTIBLE BABY SAFETY CAR SEAT ASSEMBLY TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD This invention relates to a baby safety car seat assembly, which can be used as a baby carrier and can be converted to become rollable for use, for example, as a stroller.

BACKGROUND A baby safety car seat assembly of the kind, to which the presently disclosed subject matter refers, is disclosed, for example, in US 8434781. It generally comprises a and legs having distal ends with wheels and is manipulable between a storage state in which the seat is configured to be mounted within a car, and an operational state allowing the seat assembly to be rolled by means of the wheels.

US9629476 discloses a device that can be converted from an infant sleeping bassinet to an infant or child seat. The device has a frame assembly and a seat structure supported by the frame assembly. The seat structure defines a seating surface and is movable between at least an inclined seating position and a reclined sleeping position.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION In accordance with one aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter there is provided a convertible baby safety car seat assembly comprising a seat having a backrest portion and a feet portion, the seat being manipulable between an upright state, in which the backrest and feet portions form a first angle therebetween, and an extended state, in which the backrest and feet portions form a second angle therebetween greater than the first angle; the assembly further comprising legs having distal ends with wheels and manipulable between a storage state which is combinable only with the upright state of the seat allowing the seat assembly to be mountable in a car at a position suitable for securing an infant therein, and an operational state allowing the seat assembly to be rolled by means of said wheels.

The above seat assembly further comprises a handlebar pivotable between different positions and having an adjustable length, allowing the handlebar to take a number of states in accordance with the mode, in which the safety car seat assembly is to be used. More particularly, the handlebar can take at least a carrier state, in which it is oriented generally vertically and a stroller state, in which it extends frontward and can have a length greater than in the carrier state. Optionally, the handlebar can further take a storage state, in which is oriented rearwardly and is positioned adjacent the backrest portion of the seat. Thus, the seat assembly can be used in at least the following modes: - a car seat mounting mode, which can also constitute a storage mode of the assembly, in which the seat is in its upright state, the legs are in the storage state, and the handle is in any position suitable for the car in which it is to be mounted (e.g. it can be in the storage state or it can have the same orientation as in the stroller state but have a shorter length); - a rollable carrier mode, in which the seat is in its upright state, the legs are in the storage state and the handle is in the carrier state; - an upright stroller mode, in which the seat in in its upright state, the legs are in the operational state, and the handle is in the stroller mode; and - an extended stroller mode, in which the seat is in its extended state, the legs are in the operational state and the handle is in the stroller state. According to a further aspect of the presently discloses subject matter, the extended state of the seat being combinable only with the operational state of the legs in a second mode of the seat assembly, whilst the operational state of the legs and the upright state of the seat being also combinable at least with each other. Optionally, the operational state of the legs is combinable with the upright state of the seat in a third mode of the seat assembly, and the seat assembly can be brought into its first and second modes only from its third mode. Optionally, the convertible baby safety car seat assembly is configured so that the manipulation of the legs in the second mode of the seat assembly is prevented at least indirectly by the seat being in the extended state. The manipulation of the seat in the first mode of the seat assembly can be prevented at least indirectly by the legs being in the storage state.

Alternatively, or in addition, the convertible baby safety car seat assembly can further comprise a seat manipulation prevention arrangement configured to prevent manipulation of the seat from the upright state to the extended state at least when the legs are in the storage state. Thus, according to further aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there in a convertible baby safety car seat assembly comprising a seat having a backrest portion and a feet portion, there is provided a seat manipulation mechanism operable to manipulate the seat between an upright state, in which the backrest portion and the feet portion form a first angle therebetween, and an extended state, in which the backrest portion and the feet portion form a second angle therebetween, greater than the first angle; and a seat manipulation prevention arrangement configured to prevent manipulation of the seat from the upright state to the extended state at least when the legs are in the storage state. In any of the above aspects, the convertible baby safety car seat can further comprise a leg manipulation prevention arrangement configured to prevent manipulation of the legs from the operational state to the storage state at least when the seat is in the extended state. Thus, according to a still further aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a convertible baby safety car seat assembly, comprising a leg manipulation mechanism operable to manipulate the legs between their storage state and operational; and a leg manipulation prevention arrangement configured to prevent manipulation of the legs from the operational state to the storage state at least when the seat is in the extended state. The convertible baby safety car seat assembly of the this aspect can also comprise the seat manipulation prevention arrangement of the previously described aspect. Regarding the seat manipulation prevention arrangement in a convertible baby safety car seat in accordance with any of the above aspects, it can have one or more of at least the following features in any combination thereof: - the seat manipulation prevention arrangement can be configured to change states thereof between a locking state, in which the seat manipulation prevention arrangement prevents the manipulation of the seat towards the extended state, and an unlocking state, in which the seat manipulation prevention arrangement enables manipulation of the seat between the upright state and the extended state; - the seat manipulation prevention arrangement can be configured to prevent, in the locking state, the manipulation of the seat towards the extended state by arresting the seat; - the seat manipulation prevention arrangement can be configured to prevent, in the locking state, the manipulation of the seat towards the extended state by arresting the seat manipulation mechanism; - the seat manipulation prevention arrangement can be configured to arrest the seat manipulation mechanism only when the seat is in its upright state; - the seat manipulation prevention arrangement can be constituted by the legs in their storage state, e.g. .by the distal ends of the legs; - when the backrest portion of the seat, in the upright state, is positioned at a first rear angle to a base plane, and in the extended state, is positioned at a second rear angle smaller than the first rear angle, and the backrest is manipulable rearwardly from the upright state to the extended state, the distal ends of the legs can be configured to be firmly positioned, in the storage state of the legs, in contact with a rear surface of the backrest portion of the seat so as to block the rearward manipulation of the backrest portion, thereby preventing manipulation of the seat from the upright state to the extended state at least when the legs are in the storage state. Regarding the leg manipulation prevention arrangement in a convertible baby safety car seat in accordance with any of the above aspects, it can further have one or more of at least the following features in any combination thereof: - the leg manipulation prevention arrangement can be configured to prevent manipulation of the legs from the operational state to the storage state at least when the seat is in the extended state; - the leg manipulation prevention arrangement can be configured to change its state between a locking state, in which the leg manipulation prevention arrangement prevents the manipulation of the legs towards the storage state, and an unlocking state, in which the leg manipulation prevention arrangement enables manipulation of the legs between the storage state and the operational state; - the leg manipulation prevention arrangement can be configured to prevent, in the locking state, the manipulation of the legs towards the storage state by arresting the legs; - the leg manipulation prevention arrangement can be configured to prevent, in the locking state, the manipulation of the legs towards the storage state by arresting the leg manipulation mechanism; - the leg manipulation prevention arrangement can be configured to arrest the leg manipulation mechanism when the legs are in their operational state; - the leg manipulation prevention arrangement can be constituted by the seat in its extended state, e.g. by the backrest portion of the seat. When a convertible baby safety car seat assembly according to any of the above aspects comprises a seat manipulation mechanism and a leg manipulation mechanism as described above, it can further comprise a seat manipulation actuator configured to enable a user to manipulate the seat manipulation mechanism, and a leg manipulation actuator configured to enable a user to manipulate the leg manipulation mechanism, the seat and the leg manipulation actuators being positioned one at a location associated with a front portion of the seat assembly and the other one - at a location rearwardly spaced from the front portion of the seat assembly. For example, the seat manipulation actuator can be positioned at the front portion of the lower support.

Thus, in accordance with a still further aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a convertible baby safety car seat assembly comprising a seat with a backrest portion and feet portion, legs, a leg manipulation mechanism operable to manipulate the legs between the storage state and the operational state, and a seat manipulation mechanism operable to manipulate the seat between an upright state, in which the backrest portion and the feet portion form a first angle therebetween, and an extended state, in which the backrest portion and the feet portion form a second angle therebetween larger than the first angle, the seat assembly further comprising: a seat manipulation actuator configured to enable a user to manipulate the seat manipulation mechanism, and a leg manipulation actuator configured to enable a user to manipulate the leg manipulation mechanism, the seat and the leg manipulation actuators being positioned one at a location associated a front of the assembly and the other one at a location spaced longitudinally therefrom to reduce the risk of them being mixed up. For example, the seat manipulation actuator can be positioned adjacent to the feet portion and the leg manipulation actuator can be positioned adjacent to the backrest portion. More particularly, the seat manipulation actuator can be in the form of a seat handle positioned at the frontmost of the feet portion and the leg manipulation actuator can be in the form of a leg handle positioned at a top rear side of the backrest portion. In a convertible baby safety car seat assembly according to any of the above aspects or according to a still further aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, proximal portions of the legs can be articulably connected to opposite lateral sides of the seat and the assembly can further comprise at least one side protection module having a first portion at which the module is fixedly connected, at least indirectly, to one of the legs and a second portion configurable between a retracted state which the second portion can take at least when the legs are in their operational state, and in which the second portion laterally extends from the first portion to a first extent and a deployed state which the second portion can take at least when the legs are in their storage state and in which the first portion contacts the seat and the second portion laterally extends from the first portion to a second extent which is greater than the first extent and is such as to cause the second portion to constitute a laterally outermost portion of the seat assembly at the corresponding side of the seat. A convertible baby safety car seat with the above side protection module can further have one or more of at least the following features in any combination thereof: - front or rear legs can be connected by a connecting bar adjacent to their distal end portions, and the side protection module can be mounted to the connecting bar proximate to one of the legs; - the seat can comprise at least one protrusion that protrudes laterally from the same lateral side of the seat, to which the leg associated with the side protection module is connected, and the first portion of the side protection module is configured to abut and/or engage the protrusion, at least partially, when in the deployed state thereof; - when the seat comprises a lower support, and the protrusion can protrude laterally from the lower support at the corresponding lateral side of the seat. - the protrusion can protrude laterally outwards from the backrest at the corresponding lateral side of the seat; - the side protection module can be in the form of a lever assembly, in which the first portion can comprise a securing member secured to the connecting bar and a lever pivotable outwardly away from the securing member for the side protection module to assume the deployed state, and inwardly toward the securing member for the side protection module to assume the retracted state; the lever can optionally have a shape allowing it to be grasped by a user for pivoting the lever between the retracted and deployed states; - the side protection module can be configured for engagement of the securing member with the corresponding protrusion of the seat, when the side protection module is brought into the deployed state. In all the above aspects, the seat can optionally comprise an upper seat and a lower support, which the upper seat is articulated to and mounted on, so as to allow the upper seat to take the above described upright and extended states in the corresponding modes of the seat assembly. In addition or alternatively, the backrest portion of the seat, or of the upper seat in case the seat comprises also the lower support, can comprise an intermediate portion, to which the feet portion is connected and which is movable about a vertical axis upon manipulation of the seat or the upper seat between the upright state and the extended state.

In all the above aspects, the backrest portion of the seat can comprise a shell having an upper edge, the shell or at least a portion thereof close to the upper edge being made of a plastic material and being configured for sewing thereto adjacent to the upper edge, at least one zipper for attaching to the shell a fabric for covering at least the backrest portion and/or a canopy. Thus, according to a still further aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a baby seat comprising at least in use: a shell made of a plastic material and having an external side facing an exterior and an internal side at which a fabric cover of the seat can be attached to the shell, the shell having a back wall and two sidewalls, each having corresponding inner and outer surfaces merging at respective upper edges, the upper edges of the back wall and sidewalls merging continuously and constituting a shell upper edge, the fabric cover for covering at least the internal side of the shell when the fabric cover is detachably connected thereto; a canopy; and a zipper arrangement for detachably connecting the cover and the canopy to the shell adjacent the shell upper edge, the zipper arrangement comprising a canopy zipper and a cover zipper, each of the zippers being of a separating type and comprising a zipper box and a zipper pin and having a shell zipper half with one of the zipper box and the zipper pin, sewn to the shell adjacent to the shell upper edge, at the outer surfaces of the back wall and the sidewalls at least along portions thereof adjacent to the back wall, and a matching zipper half with the other of the zipper box and the zipper pin, the matching zipper half of the first zipper being sewn to said cover and the matching zipper half of the second zipper being sewn to said canopy.

Optionally, the zipper box can be located on the shell zipper half and the zipper pin can be located on the matching zipper half.

The above baby seat including any of its optional features listed below, can constitute a part of the convertible baby safety car seat assembly in accordance with each one of the previously described aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter, as well as any other baby safety car seat assembly. It can also constitute a part of any other baby carrier or stroller or the like. The baby seat according to this aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter can comprise one or more of at least the following features in any combination thereof: - the shell zipper half of each of the zippers can have a base portion at which the shell zipper half is sewn to the shell and a flapping portion with zipper teeth, and both shell zipper halves of the two zippers can be sewn to the shell, at the base portions of the shell zipper halves, so that the flapping portions of the shell zipper halves can be manipulated separately and independently from each other when engaging the corresponding matching halves of the zippers; - the shell zipper half of the cover zipper can be spaced from the upper edge of the shell to a first extent and the shell zipper half of the canopy zipper can be spaced from the upper edge of the shell to a second extent that is less than the first extent; - the shell zipper half of the cover zipper can extend along at least a portion of the upper edge of the shell, and the shell zipper half of the canopy zipper can extend along a portion of the shell zipper half of the cover zipper; - when both the cover and the canopy are zipped to the shell, the canopy zipper can overly the cover zipper along the length of the canopy zipper. - the zipper boxes of the shell halves of the two zippers can be located at or adjacent different side walls of the shell, enabling the cover zipper to be fastened in a direction opposite to that of the canopy zipper; - - both of the shell zipper halves can be sewn to the shell together, at least indirectly, by at least one common sewing seam; - the shell upper edge can comprise a stepped, zipper-receiving recess having a first wall at which the shell halves of the zippers are sewn to the shell and a second wall oriented transversely to the first wall and having a height defining a depth of the recess; - the zipper arrangement can further comprise a fabric binding accommodating the base portions of the shell halves and sewn to the shell therewith by the at least one common sewing seam; in this case the binding with the base portions of the shell zipper halves can have a thickness corresponding to the depth of the zipper-receiving recess; - the base portions of the shell zipper halves can be connected to each other by a pre-formed connection in addition to the at least one common sewing seam, said pre-formed connection can optionally be formed by welding and or by sewing; - the cover zipper can be longer than the canopy zipper and extend further down along each of the two sidewalls of the shell relative to the canopy zipper; - when the canopy is fastened, only the canopy zipper can be unfastened, and the cover zipper remains at least partially inaccessible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D illustrate a side view of a baby safety car seat assembly according to one example of the presently disclosed subject matter in a respective car seat mounting or storage mode, extended stroller mode, upright stroller mode, and rollable carrier mode, which the assembly can be used in; Fig. 1E is a diagram illustrating possible transitions between the modes shown in Figs. 1A to 1C/1D; Fig. 2A is a front perspective view of a lower support, which can be used in a baby safety car seat assembly according to one example of the presently disclosed subject matter; Fig. 2B is a view of one side wall of the lower support shown in Fig. 2A, taken along the direction A-A in Fig. 2A perpendicular to the side wall’s inner surface; Fig. 3A is a front perspective view of an upper seat without a covering, which can be used together with the lower support shown in Figs. 2A and 2B, in a baby safety car seat assembly according to one example of the presently disclosed subject matter, the upper seat being in its upright state; Fig. 3B is a side view of the upper seat of Fig. 3A; Fig. 3C is a perspective cutaway side view of the upper seat shown in Fig. 3A as seen in the direction B-B in Fig. 3A, which is perpendicular to the cutting-away plane; Fig. 3D is a front perspective view of the upper seat shown in Figs. 3A to 3C, the upper seat being in its extended state; Fig. 3E is a side view of the upper seat of Fig. 3D; Fig. 4A is a top perspective view of a seat assembly having the upper seat shown in Figs. 3A to 3E mounted to the lower support shown Figs. 2A and 2B, the upper seat being in the upright state shown in Figs. 3A to 3C with the feet portion thereof removed to simplify the illustration; Fig. 4B is an enlarged perspective view of an area 4B of the seat assembly shown in Fig. 4A, comprising a seat manipulation mechanism and a seat manipulation prevention arrangement, and having the feet portion of the upper seat removed to simplify the illustration; Fig. 4C is an enlarged view of an area 4C of the seat assembly shown in Fig. 4B; Fig. 4D is an enlarged view of an area 4D of the seat assembly shown in Fig. 4A; Fig. 4E illustrates the area shown in Fig. 4D, when the upper seat of the seat assembly is in its extended state, as shown in Figs. 3D and 3E; Fig. 4Fis a close-up view of a proximal end of a leg of a baby safety car seat assembly according to one example of the presently disclosed subject matter, the leg shown in the operational state thereof; Fig. 4Gis the proximal end of the leg of Fig. 4F, the leg shown in the storage state thereof; Fig. 5A is a rear perspective view of the seat assembly shown in Fig. 4A; Fig. 5B is an enlarged view of an area 5B in Fig 5A, comprising a leg manipulation mechanism and a leg manipulation prevention arrangement; Fig. 5C illustrates the area 62 of the seat shown in Fig. 5B, when the upper seat of the seat assembly is in its extended state; Fig. 6 is a rear perspective view of a seat assembly of Fig. 4A, illustrating a seat manipulation prevention arrangement according to another example of the presently disclosed subject matter; Fig. 7A is a front perspective view of a baby safety car seat assembly in an upright operational mode according to one example of the presently disclosed subject matter can have, with a side protection module in a retracted state; Fig. 7B is a rear perspective view of the baby safety car seat assembly of Fig. 7A in an storage mode, with a side protection module in a deployed state; and Fig. 8A is a front perspective view of a seat assembly according to one example of the presently disclosed subject matter, with a canopy attached thereto; Fig. 8B is a close-up view of a side protection module of the seat assembly of Fig. 8A, in the deployed state of the module; Fig. 9is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of an upper seat with a zipper arrangement in a seat assembly according to one example of the presently disclosed subject matter, wherein a fabric cover is zipped thereto along a majority of zipper length; Fig. 10is the same view as in Fig. 9, without the fabric cover; and Fig. 11is a schematic cross-sectional view, which a zipper arrangement can have, for mounting a fabric cover and a canopy to a backrest of a baby seat according to further example of the presently disclosed subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS A convertible baby safety car seat assembly, according to one example of the presently disclosed subject matter can be any seat assembly configured for use in modes of operation as illustrated in Figs. 1A-1D. These modes of operation are a car seat mounting mode shown in Fig. 1A, which hereinafter will be referred to as a storage mode 20; an extended stroller mode shown in Fig. 1B, which hereafter will be referred to as an extended operational mode 24; an upright stroller mode shown in Fig. 1C and a rollable carrier mode shown in Fig. 1D, which both hereinafter will be referred to as an upright operational mode 22. In the present example, the convertible baby safety car seat assembly shown in Figs. 1A to 1D, is designated as 10 and it comprises a lower support 30, an upper seat articulated to and mounted on the lower support 30, legs 70 having distal ends associated with wheels and proximal ends 72 pivotally articulated to the lower support 30, and a handlebar 12 configured to be pivoted between a plurality of positions as shown in Figs. 1A to 1D. The handlebar can have an adjustable length, allowing the handlebar to take a number of states in accordance with the mode, in which the safety car seat assembly is to be used. The handlebar 12 of the present example can take at least a carrier state (Fig. 1D), in which it is oriented generally vertically (Fig. 1D), a stroller state (Figs. 1B and 1C), in which it extends frontward and can have a length greater than in the carrier state, and a storage state, in which is oriented rearwardly (Fig. 1A). The lower support 30 comprises a seat lowermost area 32 configured to contact a supporting surface 26, which can be a vehicle seat (not shown) or the ground, onto which the seat assembly is configured to be used as a safety seat. The supporting surface being suitable for mounting the seat assembly 10 thereon when in the storage mode 20. The seat lowermost area 32 defines an imaginary horizontal base plane 34 and further comprises two leg attachment areas 42 to which proximal ends 72 of the legs are pivotally articulated between the following two states: (a) a storage state (Fig. 1A), in which the distal ends of the legs are positioned on or above the horizontal base plane 34 such that the seat lowermost area 32 of the seat assembly 10 can contact the supporting surface 26, to which the seat assembly is to be mounted; and (b) an operational state (Figs. 1B, 1C and 1D), in which the seat assembly can be rolled by the wheels, which are positioned below the horizontal base plane 34, on the supporting surface 26. The upper seat 50 comprises a rear backrest portion 52 and a front feet portion which is spaced to a smaller distance from the horizontal base plane 34 than the backrest portion 52. The backrest portion 52 is configured to support the head and back of an infant seated on the seat assembly 10 and to better support the head it can be provided with a headrest assembly 53 configured to be adjusted between a default position and a lifted position, as known in the art. The upper seat 50 is manipulable between the following two states: (a) an upright state (Figs. 1A, 1C and 1D) enabling a seated position for an infant secured to the upper seat 50, in which the backrest portion 52 has a first orientation and forms a first angle α with the feet portion 54; and (b) an extended state (Fig. 1B) enabling a lie-flat position for an infant secured to the upper seat 50, in which the backrest portion 52 has a second orientation closer to a horizontal orientation than the first orientation and forms with the feet portion 54 a second angle β greater than the first angle α.

Specifically, the first angle α can be about 90-130 degrees and the second angle β can be about 140-170 degrees. In general, the seat assembly can be configured to enable a plurality of combinations between the above states of the upper seat and the legs, while preventing at least one such combination. For example, such prevented combination can be that between the storage state of the legs and the extended state of the upper seat, by virtue of which the possibility in which the seat assembly will be inserted into a car with a baby lying thereon is excluded. In accordance with the latter example, and as illustrated in Fig. 1E, the seat assembly 10 is configured to enable the combination of the extended state of the upper seat 50 only with the operational state of the legs 70. As such, the seat assembly is configured to enable manipulation of the upper seat 50 between the upright state and the extended state only when the legs 70 are in their operational state. Such manipulation can occur in the transition between the upright operational mode 24 and the extended operational mode 22. The seat assembly 10 is also configured to enable combination of the storage state of the legs 70 only with the upright state of the upper seat 50. As such, the seat assembly is configured to enable manipulation of the legs 70 between the operational state and the storage state only when the upper seat 50 is in its upright state. Such manipulation can occur in the transition between the upright operational mode and the storage mode 20.

Hence, in the upright operational mode 24 of the seat assembly, the operational state of the legs 70 is combinable with the upright state of the upper seat 50, and the seat assembly can be brought into its first, storage mode 20 and second, extended operational mode 22, only from its third, upright operational mode 24. Non-limiting examples of structures of the lower support 30 and the upper seat and their assembly and manner of operation, allowing the above combinations of the states of the legs and the upper seat, will now be described in detail below, with reference to the corresponding drawings. In general, the basic structure of the lower support can comprise at least one articulation portion, to which at least a part of the upper seat is configured to be articulated so as to allow the change of its state between the upright and extended states. The lower support can comprise rear and front articulation portions to which the backrest and feet portions of the upper seat can be articulated, respectively. The articulation portion/s can be configured to provide the same or different kinds of articulation to the associated portion/s of the upper seat, i.e., they both can be configured to provide a pivotal or linear articulation or rather one of them can provide pivotal and the other one - linear articulation of the associated portion of the upper seat. More particularly, the lower support can comprise a rear articulation portion at the rear of the lower support, to which the backrest portion is configured to be pivotally articulated, and a front articulation portion at the front of the lower support, to which the feet portion of the upper seat is configured to be slidably articulated. The lower support can be in the form of an asymmetric bowl comprising a bottom, a high rear wall and a low front wall spaced from each other along a longitudinal axis of the lower portion, and two side walls extending therebetween generally parallel to this axis as best seen in a side view of each side wall taken perpendicular to its inner surface. The rear and front walls can generally extend away from each other, as seen in the side view of the lower support, so that a distance between them along the longitudinal axis increases in the direction away from the bottom of the lower support. The rear articulation portion can be located at rear areas of the side walls of the lower support, e.g., closer to the side walls' top than to the bottom of the lower support, and the front articulation portion can be located at the front wall of the lower support. The backrest portion of the upper seat can thus be configured to be pivotally articulated to the rear articulation portion about an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal direction D of the lower support, and the feet portion of the upper seat can be configured to be slidably articulated to the front articulation portion along the longitudinal direction. In the present example, the lower support 30 shown in detail in Figs. 2A and 2B, comprises a bottom 33 constituting its lowermost area, a high rear wall 36, a low front wall 37, the front and rear walls extending away from the bottom and away from each other in the longitudinal direction D of the lower support 30, and two side walls oriented generally parallel to the direction D and having top rear areas 31. The lower support 30 further comprises a rear articulation portion 38 at the top rear areas 31 of the side walls 35, to which the backrest portion 52 is configured to be pivotally articulated about a pivot axis (not shown) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction D of the lower support, and a front articulation portion 39 at the front wall 37, to which the feet portion 54 of the upper seat 50 is configured to be slidably articulated along the longitudinal direction. More particularly, in the present example, the rear articulation portion 38 is in the form of articulation recesses positioned in the top rear areas 31 of the side walls 35 and configured to freely receive therein one or more articulable elements of the backrest portion 52 of the upper seat 50, so as to allow pivoting of these elements with the backrest about the pivot axis, and the front articulation portion 39 is in the form of elongated articulation slots 39A and 39B extending parallel to longitudinal direction D and configured to slidably receive therein a corresponding articulable element of the feet portion 54 of the upper seat 50. As indicated above, the lower support 30 comprises two leg attachment areas (one of which is shown in Figs. 2A and 2B), to which proximal ends 72 of the legs 70 are pivotally articulated between the operational and storage states of the legs 70 and a leg manipulation mechanism (not shown in Figs. 2A and 2B) configured to lock the legs in either one of their storage state and operational state and to unlock them to enable their manipulation between the states. Different constructions of the leg manipulation mechanism providing the above locking arrangement can be used, including but not limited to any one of those described e.g., in the Applicant's US8469389 and US9505321, and the description of these constructions therefrom is incorporated herein by reference. The upper seat of a seat assembly according to the presently disclosed subject matter has a construction enabling at least a part thereof to be articulated to the one or more of the articulation portion/s of the lower support as described above, to allow the change of the state of the upper seat between the upright and extended states. More particularly, when the lower support comprises rear and front articulation portions, the backrest and feet portions of the upper seat can have articulable elements respectively configured to be articulated to the articulation portions of the lower support as desired. For example, an articulable element of the backrest portion of the upper seat can be configured to be pivotally articulated to the rear articulation portion of the lower support, and an articulable element of the feet portion of the upper seat can be configured to be slidably articulated to the front articulation portion of the lower support. The backrest portion and the feet portion of the upper seat can also be articulately connected to each other, so that the movement of one of them will induce manipulation to the other one. Figs. 3A to 3E illustrate an upper seat without a covering, which can be used together with the lower support shown in Figs. 2A and 2B. In Figs. 3A, 3B and 3D, 3E, the backrest portion of the upper seat is shown in the respective upright and extended states with the respective first angle α and second angle β referred to above with reference to Figs. 1B, 1C and 1D. In Figs. 3A to 3E, an articulable element of the backrest portion 52 of the upper seat 50 is constituted by a rear pivot axle 38A unitarily formed or assembled with the backrest portion and having ends freely received in the recesses of the rear articulation portion 38 of the lower support 30 so as to allow pivoting of the axle with the backrest portion between its close-to-vertical orientation (i.e. upright state) and close-to-horizontal orientation (i.e. extended state). An articulable element of the feet portion 54 of the upper seat 50 is constituted by a sliding bar 56 unitarily formed or assembled with the feet portion 54 and slidably received within the articulation slots 39A and 39B of the lower support 30, so as to allow movement of the sliding bar 56 with the feet portion 54 between extreme positions of the sliding bar 56 within the slots 39A and 39B, corresponding to innermost and outermost positions of the feet portion 54. The close-to-vertical orientation of the backrest portion 52 and innermost position of the feet portion 54, and close-to-horizontal orientation of the backrest portion 52 and outermost position of the feet portion correspond, respectively, to the upright and extended states of the upper seat 50. In general, the backrest and the feet portions of the upper seat can be directly or indirectly connected to each other. Alternatively, the backrest and the feet portions can be separately connected to lower support without being connected to each other. In case the backrest and the feet portions are connected to each other, they can be articulately connected directly, or indirectly via an intermediate backrest portion, to enable rotation/manipulation of one of the portions while the other portion is being manipulated/rotated. Also, the backrest and the feet portions can be fixedly connected to each other in order to induce manipulation of one portion by manipulating the other portion. In the present example, the upper seat 50 also comprises an intermediate portion fixedly connecting the backrest and the feet portions 52 and 54, to each other. Specifically (as best shown in Fig. 3C), the intermediate portion 57 is constituted as a bottom part of the backrest portion 52, extending forward from a lower edge 58 thereof and being configured to be fixedly connected at a front edge 59 thereof to the feet portion 54. The intermediate portion 57 is concave and configured to receive the bottom of an infant seated on the upper seat 50. The intermediate portion 57 is formed from a flexible material, so as to enable it to be flexed upon manipulation of the upper seat 50 to the extended state, in which the intermediate portion 57 is less concaved then in the upright state. The backrest portion 52 and the feet portion 54 are also pivotally connected to each other by an articulable element constituted by a front pivot axle (not shown) having ends freely received in lateral intermediate apertures 38B formed in the side walls 35 of the lower support 30. This pivotal connection defines a horizontal axis X interconnecting the lateral intermediate apertures 38B about which the backrest portion 52 and the feet portion 54 pivot. In general, the upper seat can further comprise a seat manipulation mechanism operable to induce the upper seat to change its state between the upright and extended states, as described above with reference to Figs. 1A to 1D. This mechanism can be configured to induce the manipulation of only the backrest portion of the upper seat while maintaining the position of the feet portion unchanged (in order to provide different orientations of the backrest in the upright state of the upper seat), and/or to cause each of the backrest portion and the feet portion to move, or to cause movement of the feet portion which in turn induces the movement of the backrest portion (in both latter cases - to change the state of the upper seat between its upright and extended states). The seat manipulation mechanism can comprise a seat manipulation actuator positioned at a location available to be actuated by a user.

In the present example illustrated in Figs. 4A-4C, the seat manipulation mechanism of the upper seat 50 is designated as 60 and comprises a seat manipulation actuator 61, for actuating the manipulation of the upper seat 50 so as to change its state, and a seat locking mechanism 63, for preventing the upper seat from changing its state. The seat manipulation actuator 61 is constituted by a seat handle 62 disposed at the frontmost portion of the feet portion 54. The seat handle 62 comprises a seat handle exterior portion 62A configured to enable a user to grab the seat handle 62 and a seat handle interior portion 62B movably connected to the feet portion 54 so as to allow the movement of the feet portion 54 between its innermost and outermost positions, and respective movement of the backrest portion 52 between the upright state and the extended state respectively, by the user's applying respective pushing and pulling forces to the handle. In general, the seat manipulation mechanism can further comprise a seat locking mechanism configured to selectively prevent the upper seat from changing its state between the upright and extended states. More particularly the seat locking mechanism can have a locking state, in which the seat locking mechanism prevents the upper seat from movement and thus from changing its state, and an unlocking state, in which the seat locking mechanism allows the upper seat to move and thus change its state. The seat locking mechanism can be configured to selectively lock at least one portion of the upper seat to at least one portion of the lower support, and more specifically, to at least two different portions of the lower support. The seat locking mechanism can be configured with a first locking portion positioned at the lower support and a second locking portion positioned at a matching position at the backrest portion configured to interact with the first locking portion for selectively locking the backrest portion to the lower support. The lower support can be configured with more than two different portions, to which the upper seat is to be locked, for enabling the upper seat to be gradually manipulated between its upright and extended states by the seat locking mechanism while allowing the upper seat to be fixed relative to the lower support in a plurality of states between, and including, the upright state and the extended state. With reference to Figs 4A, 4D and 4E, the seat locking mechanism 63 is configured for selectively locking the upper seat 50 to the lower support 30, so as to prevent it from changing its state. For this purpose, the seat locking mechanism comprises a first locking portion 63A positioned at the lower support 30 and a second locking portion 63B positioned at the backrest portion 52 configured to interact with the first locking portion 63A for selectively locking the backrest portion 52 to the lower support 30. More particularly, the first locking portion 63A of the seat locking mechanism comprises an elongated guiding slot 41 and a plurality of fixation apertures 42A-42C, all formed on an inner surface 35A of each of the side walls 35. (An outer surface of the side walls 35 is generally designated at 35B). The apertures 42A-42C are spaced from each other along a direction parallel to the elongated guiding slot 41. The elongated guiding slot 41 is formed in a curved manner having similar curvature to the curvature the lower edge 58 of the backrest portion travels along the movement thereof between the upright and the extended states. The elongated guiding slot 41 is configured to slidably receive therein a corresponding guiding element of the second locking portion 63B allowing it to take different positions along the slot, and the apertures 42A-42D are configured to receive therein a corresponding locking element of the second locking portion 63B when the guiding element takes the respective position in the elongated guiding slot 41, in order to lock the upper seat 50 to the lower support. The apertures 42A-42D of the first locking portion 63A are also configured to provide the upper seat with at least one, and in the present example two, additional intermediate states between the upright state and the extended state, so as to provide further orientations. The second locking portion 63B of the seat locking mechanism 63, positioned on the upper seat 50, comprises two pin holders 64 (only one being seen) attached to the backrest portion 52 between the backrest portion 52 and the bottom 33 of the lower support and located adjacent to inner surfaces 35A of different side walls 35, being configured to operate concurrently upon actuation of the actuator 61. Each pin holder comprises a guiding pin 66 and a locking pin 68 traversing the pin holder 64 generally perpendicularly to the direction D and in parallel to each other. Each guiding pin 66 and locking pin 68 comprises an actuated portion 67A extending from an internal side of the corresponding pin holder 64 (i.e., away from the closest side wall 35), and a lockable portion 67B extending from an external side of the pin holder 64 (i.e. towards the closest side wall 35) and configured to interact with the first locking portion 63A. The lockable portion 67B of the guiding pin 66 is configured to be at least partially positioned inside the elongated guiding slot 41 and configured to be slidably moved therein, for guiding the manipulation of the backrest portion 52 between the states. In the present example, the lockable portion 67B of the guiding pin 66 is maintained within the elongated guiding slot 41. The locking pin 68 is positioned and configured to be inserted into and removed from any one of the plurality of apertures 42A-42C for fixing the backrest portion 52 in each one of the states of the upper seat 50 including the upright state (i.e. when the lockable portion 67B of the locking pin 68 is in the aperture 42A), the extended state (i.e. when the lockable portion 67B of the locking pin 68 is in the aperture 42C), and at least one intermediate state therebetween (i.e. when the lockable portion 67B of the locking pin 68 is in aperture 42B). In the present example, the pin holders 64 are configured to be actuated by the seat actuator 61 to change the state of the seat locking mechanism to the unlocking state, and by doing so, releasing the upper seat 50 from being arrested to the lower support 30. For that purpose, the pin holders 64 are configured to be manipulated along a route perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction D between a fixing position, in which at least the lockable portion 67B of the locking pin 68 is inserted into one of the plurality of apertures 42A-42C, and a remote position, in which the lockable portion 67B of the locking pin is external of the apertures 42A-42C. Thus, upon actuation of the seat actuator 61, the pin holders 64 are manipulated towards the remote position thereof, thereby pulling the lockable portion 67B of the locking pin 68 out from one of the apertures 42A-42C. Regarding the legs of a seat assembly according to the presently disclosed subject matter, with reference to the legs and leg locking arrangement as described in US 95053(which description is incorporated herein by reference as indicated above), the legs can be configured to be manipulated by a leg manipulation mechanism comprising a leg manipulation actuator positioned at a location available for a user, and a leg locking mechanism. The legs are manipulatable between their storage and operational states. With reference to Figs. 5A to 5C, a leg manipulation mechanism 90 of the seat assembly 10 of the present example comprises a leg manipulation actuator 91 for actuating the manipulation of the legs 70 and a leg locking mechanism (not shown) for activating the leg locking arrangement to arrest the legs in either one of the storage state and the operational state. In the present example, the leg manipulation actuator 91 is constituted by a leg handle 92 positioned at the top rear side of the backrest portion for enabling easy access to a user. The leg handle 92 comprises a leg handle exterior portion 92A configured to enable a user to grab the leg handle 92, and a leg handle interior portion 92B fixedly connected to the backrest portion 52. The leg handle 92 is operably connected to the leg locking mechanism so as to unlock the locking arrangement and allow the movement of the legs 70 between their storage and operational states, by the user's applying respective forces to the handle 92. Whilst in the present example as described above, the seat handle 62 is positioned at the frontmost of the feet portion 54 and the leg handle 92 is position at the top rear side of the backrest portion 52, their positions can be different as long as they are spaced from each other to reduce the risk of them being mixed up. As aforementioned, the seat assembly can be configured to prevent at least the combination between the storage state of the legs and the extended state of the upper seat, by virtue of which the possibility in which the seat assembly will be inserted into a car with a baby lying thereon is excluded. More particularly, the seat assembly can be configured to prevent the manipulation of either one of the upper seat or legs if such manipulation would result in a state in which the legs are in their storage state and the upper seat is in its extended state. In some cases, the seat assembly can be configured such that a certain state of either one of the legs or upper seat can cause prevention of the manipulation of the other. In some cases, the seat assembly can comprise at least one manipulation prevention arrangement configured to identify a certain state of at least one of the upper seat and legs and prevent the other from manipulation while the certain state is maintained. Such manipulation prevention arrangement can comprise either a mechanical or an electrical mechanism. Even more particularly, the seat assembly can comprise a manipulation prevention arrangement for each of the upper seat and legs, each configured to identify a certain state of their respective part. The manipulation prevention arrangement can be configured to prevent manipulation of either the upper seat or the legs as long as the other of the upper seat or the legs is not in a certain state. For example, the manipulation prevention arrangement may be configured to prevent manipulation of the seat from the upright state to the extended state if the legs are in the storage state. In another example, the manipulation prevention arrangement may be configured to prevent manipulation of the legs from the operational state to the storage state if the seat is in the extended state. The manipulation prevention arrangement can be configured to prevent the manipulation of either the upper seat or the legs by respectively arresting the upper seat or the legs, or by respectively arresting the seat manipulation mechanism or the leg manipulation mechanism. The manipulation prevention arrangement can have an identifying component, such as a trigger portion, configured to identify the state of the upper seat or the legs of the seat assembly, and an arresting portion, configured to be actuated or triggered by the trigger portion to selectively arrest the respective seat or leg manipulation mechanism. The trigger portion and/or the arresting portion of the manipulation prevention arrangement can be positioned on or constituted by a different part of the seat assembly. In some cases, the manipulation prevention arrangement can be configured to arrest the manipulation mechanism of the upper seat or the legs in a manner similar to that of the respective locking mechanisms, or the manipulation prevention arrangement can be constituted or integrated therewith. For example, a seat assembly according to the presently disclosed subject matter can comprise a seat manipulation prevention arrangement configured to prevent manipulation of the upper seat from the upright state to the extended state at least when the legs are in the storage state. In one example, the seat manipulation prevention arrangement is configured to prevent manipulation of the upper seat to the extended state unless the seat manipulation prevention arrangement is triggered by the legs in the operational state thereof. The seat manipulation prevention arrangement can be configured to change states between a locking state, in which the seat manipulation prevention arrangement prevents the manipulation of the upper seat towards the extended state, and an unlocking state, in which the seat manipulation prevention arrangement enables manipulation of the upper seat between the upright state and the extended state. In the present example, the seat manipulation prevention arrangement is designated as 100 in Fig 4B. When the legs 70 are in their storage state, the seat manipulation prevention arrangement 100 is configured to prevent manipulation of the upper seat 50 from the upright state to the extended state. The seat manipulation prevention arrangement 100 is configured to be triggered by the legs 70 when the legs are in their operational state, which triggering changes the state of the seat manipulation prevention arrangement 100 from the locking state to the unlocking state such that the upper seat 50 can be manipulated between the upright and extended states thereof.

In some cases, the seat manipulation prevention arrangement is configured to prevent, while being in the locking state, manipulation of the upper seat from the upright state towards the extended state by arresting the seat manipulation mechanism. More specifically, the seat manipulation prevention arrangement can be configured to arrest the seat manipulation mechanism when the legs are in their storage state. The seat manipulation prevention arrangement can also be configured to release said arresting of the seat manipulation mechanism when the legs are in their operational state. As such, the seat manipulation prevention arrangement 100 is configured to arrest the seat manipulation mechanism only when the upper seat 50 is in its upright state. In some cases, the seat manipulation prevention arrangement comprises a seat trigger member and a seat arresting member. The seat trigger member may be configured to operate the seat arresting member upon being triggered by the legs when the legs are in the operational state thereof. The seat arresting member is operable by the seat trigger member so to be manipulated, upon operation thereof, from an arresting state, in which the seat arresting member arrests the seat manipulation mechanism to prevent manipulation of the upper seat from the upright state to the extended state, to a releasing state, in which the seat manipulation mechanism is released from said arresting such that manipulation of the upper seat between the upright and extended states is enabled. In a particular example, wherein the legs are configured to trigger the seat trigger member only when the legs are in their operational state. Figs. 4B and 4C depict an exemplary embodiment of the seat manipulation prevention arrangement 100 comprising a seat trigger member 102 and a seat arresting member 110. The seat trigger member 102 is configured to be triggered by the legs only when they are in their operational state and to operate the seat arresting member 1as a result. The seat trigger member 102 is also configured to maintain operation of the seat arresting member 110 while the legs 70 are in their operational state. The seat arresting member 110 is configured to have an arresting state, in which the seat arresting member 110 arrests the seat manipulation mechanism 60 to prevent manipulation of the upper seat 50 from the upright state to the extended state, and a releasing state, in which the seat manipulation mechanism 60 is released from said arresting by the seat arresting member 110 so as to enable manipulation of the upper seat 50 between the upright and extended states.

In general, the seat trigger member may be disposed on the lower support of the seat assembly, adjacent to at least one of the leg attachment areas thereof. In such cases, at least one of the legs may comprise a frontal protrusion positioned about a proximal end thereof, wherein the frontal protrusion is configured to trigger the seat trigger member when the legs are in their operational state. In other words, when the legs are moved to or are in their operational state, the frontal protrusion thereof triggers the seat trigger member, causing the seat trigger member to operate the seat arresting member, which operation manipulates the seat arresting member from its arresting state to its releasing state such that the seat arresting member releases arrestment of the seat manipulation mechanism so as to enable manipulation of the upper seat between the upright and extended states. Correspondingly, when the legs are not in the operational state (i.e., the legs are moved to or toward the storage state), the frontal protrusion thereof no longer triggers the seat trigger member, in which case the seat arresting member assumes its arresting state so as to arrest the seat manipulation mechanism and thus prevent manipulation of the upper seat from the upright state to the extended state. In the present example, and with reference to Figs. 4B, 4C, 4F and 4G, the seat trigger member 102 comprises a trigger body 103 disposed on the lower support 30 in front of and adjacent to at least one of the leg attachment areas 42. In some cases, the seat trigger member 102 is disposed within one of the side walls 35 or projects laterally therefrom. A movable member 104 extends through a length of the trigger body 103, having a sufficient length to reach and contact at least a part of one of the legs 70, and more specifically a front side of the proximal end 72 of that leg 70 when the legs 70 are in their operational state. The proximal end 72 of at least the leg 70 that triggers the seat trigger member 102 comprises a frontal protrusion 105 extending forwards therefrom configured to press against the movable member 104 when the legs are in the operational state thereof. The seat trigger member 102 is operably connected, either mechanically or electrically, to the seat arresting member 110. In the Figures, the movable member 104 is operably connected, via cable 101, to the seat arresting member 110 so as to operate the seat arresting member 110 when pressed by the frontal protrusion 105 when the legs are in their operational state. As such, in the unlocking state of the seat manipulation prevention arrangement 100 (Fig. 4F), the movable member 104 of the seat trigger member 102 is pressed against the trigger body 103 by the frontal protrusion 105 of one of the legs 70 when the legs 70 are in the operational state. Said pressing of the seat trigger member 102 operates the seat arresting member 110 such that it is manipulated from the arresting state to the releasing state, thereby releasing the seat manipulation mechanism such that the upper seat 50 can be manipulated between the upright and extended states. Correspondingly, in the locking state of the seat manipulation prevention arrangement 100 (Fig. 4G), the movable member 104 of the seat trigger member 102 is not pressed by the frontal protrusion of one of the legs 70 when the legs 70 are not in the operational state. As such, the seat trigger member 102 is not triggered by the legs 70 and thus the seat trigger member 102 does not operate the seat arresting member 110. The seat arresting member 110 thus assumes its arresting state wherein it arrests the seat manipulation mechanism 60 such that the upper seat 50 is prevented from being manipulated from the upright state to the extended state. Thus, the legs 70 of the seat assembly 10 are generally configured to change the state of the seat manipulation prevention arrangement 100 between the locking state and the unlocking state. As such, the seat manipulation prevention arrangement is generally constituted by the legs. In particular, the locking state of the seat manipulation prevention arrangement is generally constituted by the legs in their storage state, and the unlocking state of the seat manipulation prevention arrange is generally constituted by the legs in their operational state. The seat arresting member 110 is configured to be operated by the seat trigger member 102 upon triggering thereof by the legs 70 in their operational state. The seat arresting member 110 is manipulable between an arresting state, associated with the locking state of the seat manipulation prevention arrangement 100, and a releasing state, associated with the unlocking state of the seat manipulation prevention arrangement 100. In the arresting state, the seat arresting member 110 arrests the seat manipulation mechanism 60 from manipulation and in the releasing state, the seat arresting member 110 releases arrestment of the seat manipulation mechanism 60 so as to allow manipulation thereof. In the present example, the seat arresting member 110 comprises a pawl pivotally connected to the lower support 30 and/or the feet portion 54 by a pivot pin 114 and is positioned adjacent to the seat handle interior portion 62B. The seat arresting member 110 comprises an engaging portion 111 at one end and a lever portion 112 at the other end thereof. The lever portion 112 is either directly or indirectly connected to the movable member 104 of the seat trigger member 102, such that movement of the movable member 104 actuates the seat arresting member 110 to pivot about the pivot pin 114. In the depicted example, the lever portion 112 is operably connected to the movable member 104 via cable 101. The seat arresting member 110 can further have a compression spring (not shown) configured to bias the seat arresting member 110 towards the arresting state thereof. In the arresting state of the seat arresting member 110, the engaging portion 111 is configured to be in mechanical communication with at least a portion of the seat handle so as to prevent the seat handle 62 from being used to manipulate the seat manipulation mechanism 60. In the present example, the seat handle interior portion 62B further comprises a seat handle depression 115 and the engaging portion 111 having an arresting tooth 116 protruding laterally forward about the rear end thereof. The arresting tooth 1is formed to be received in the seat handle depression 115 of the seat handle 62 such that when the arresting tooth 116 is received therein, the seat arresting member 110 arrests the seat handle 62, and thus the seat manipulation mechanism 60, from being operated by a user to manipulate the upper seat 50 from the upright state to the extended state thereof. In operation, when the seat trigger member 102 is triggered by legs 70 in the operational state thereof, the movable member 104 is moved by the frontal protrusion 105, which in turn causes the seat arresting member 110 to pivot in a first direction away from the seat handle depression 115 such that the arresting member 110 assumes the releasing state thereof. When the seat trigger member 102 ceases being triggered by the legs 70, (i.e. when the legs 70 are manipulated away or out of the operational state and towards the storage state), the movable member 104 moves back towards the corresponding leg attachment area 42, causing the seat arresting member 110 to pivot in a second direction opposite to the first direction and resulting with the insertion of the arresting tooth 116 into the seat handle depression 115, thus bringing the seat arresting member 110 to its locking state. In other cases (not shown), the seat manipulation prevention arrangement is configured to prevent, in the locking state thereof, the manipulation of the upper seat towards the extended state by arresting the upper seat. In such cases, in the arresting state, a seat arresting member of the seat manipulation prevention arrangement can be configured to abut the upper seat so as to prevent manipulation thereof. For example, the seat arresting member can be constituted by a bolt which is directly or indirectly connected to the seat trigger member 102. In the arresting state, such a seat arresting member can be configured to be positioned within a corresponding bore located on the feet portion 54 of the upper seat 50 so as to arrest the upper seat 50 from manipulation, and in the releasing state, the seat arresting member can be configured to be removed from the bore when the seat trigger member 102 is triggered by the legs 70. In yet other cases, the seat manipulation prevention arrangement can be constituted by the legs and/or structures associated therewith. In one example, the seat manipulation prevention arrangement can be constituted by the distal ends of the legs. In general, when the upper seat of the seat assembly is manipulated from the upright state to the extended state, the corresponding backrest portion of the upper seat is moved from a first position in which the backrest portion is positioned at a first rear angle to a base plane, to a second position in which the backrest portion is positioned at a second rear angle that is smaller than the first rear angle. This manipulation of the backrest from the first rear angle to the second rear angle, associated with the upright and extended states of the upper seat, respectively, can be understood to form a rearward manipulation of the backrest portion. The seat manipulation prevention arrangement may be configured to selectively block the rearward manipulation of the backrest portion. For example, in cases where the distal ends of the legs constitute the seat manipulation prevention arrangement, the distal ends of the legs may be configured to be firmly positioned, in the storage state thereof, in contact with a rear surface of the backrest portion so as to block a rearward manipulation of the backrest portion, thereby preventing manipulation of the upper seat from the upright state to the extended state. In one example, and with reference to Fig. 6, the seat manipulation prevention arrangement can comprise a rear bar 84 interconnecting distal ends 71 of the rear leg supports 76. When the legs 70 are in their storage state, the rear bar 84 is configured to be firmly positioned against a rear surface of the backrest portion 52 when in the upright state thereof. As such, the rear bar 84 physically blocks the backrest portion 52 from being manipulated rearwardly, and thereby prevents manipulation of the upper seat 50 from the upright state to the extended state. It is envisaged that a front bar 82 (seen in FIG. 5A) interconnecting distal ends 71 of the front leg supports 74 may also be configured to block the backrest portion 52 from rearward manipulation, thereby preventing the upper seat from being manipulated from the upright state to the extended state. As shown in FIG. 5A, in addition to the front bar 82 interconnecting the distal ends of the front leg supports, a front bar 80 interconnects the front leg supports 74 at locations thereof between the distal and proximal ends of the leg supports,. The manipulation prevention arrangement of the present seat assembly may alternatively or additionally comprise a leg manipulation prevention arrangement configured to prevent manipulation of the leg manipulation mechanism. In the present example, the seat assembly 10 comprises a leg manipulation prevention arrangement 1configured to prevent manipulation of the legs 70 from the operational state to the storage state at least when the upper seat 50 is in the extended state. Analogous to the seat manipulation prevention mechanism, the leg manipulation prevention arrangement 1is also configured to change its state between a locking state, in which it prevents the manipulation of the legs 70 towards the storage state, and an unlocking state, in which it enables manipulation of the legs 70 between the operational state and the storage state. In some cases, the leg manipulation prevention arrangement 120 is configured to prevent, while in the locking state, manipulation of the legs 70 towards the storage state by arresting the leg manipulation mechanism 90. In particular, the leg manipulation prevention arrangement 120 is configured to arrest the legs 70 from manipulation towards the storage state when the upper seat 50 is in its extended state. As such, the leg manipulation prevention arrangement 120 is configured to arrest the leg manipulation mechanism 90 when the legs 70 are in their operational state. In general, the leg manipulation prevention arrangement can comprise a leg trigger member and a leg arresting member. The leg trigger member may be configured to operate the leg arresting member upon being triggered by the upper seat when in the upright state thereof. Said operation of the leg arresting member by the triggered leg trigger member manipulates the leg arresting member from an arresting state to a releasing state, in which the leg arresting member releases the leg manipulating manipulation mechanism from arrestment thereby. In some cases, the upper seat is configured to trigger the leg trigger member only when the upper seat is in the upright state. The leg trigger member can also be configured to maintain operation of the leg arresting member while the upper seat is in its upright state. In the present example, best shown in Figs. 4D and 4E, the leg trigger member is connected to the upper seat 50 and constituted as a portion of the seat manipulation mechanism 60, wherein upon manipulation of the upper seat 50 to the upright state, the leg trigger member is configured to maintain the upper seat 50 in the upright state. More specifically, the leg trigger member may be constituted by the seat locking mechanism 63, and even more specifically by the guiding pin 66 of the upper seat 50 and the elongated guiding slot 41 of the lower support 30. For that purpose, the elongated guiding slot further comprises a slot internal frame 123 extending through the length of the elongated guiding slot 41 in an inner portion thereof. The slot internal frame 123 is configured to form depth differences from a frontmost edge of the elongated guiding slot 41 up to a distance from a rearmost edge thereof, such that the guiding pin 66 can only be partially inserted into the elongated guiding slot 41 while positioned against the slot internal frame 123. At the rearmost edge, the slot internal frame 123 defines a slot depression 124 having a greater depth then the slot internal frame 123. The slot depression 124 is configured to receive therein a larger portion of the lockable portion 67B of the guiding pin 66 than the rest of the elongated guiding slot 41. Thus, the leg trigger member is configured to ‘identify’ a state of the upper seat based on the depth to which the guiding pin 66 is inserted into the elongated guiding slot 41. In particular, when the upper seat 50 is in its upright state, which is associated with the unlocking state of the leg manipulation prevention arrangement 120, the leg trigger member is inserted within the slot depression 124 (Fig. 4D), which insertion triggers the leg trigger member to operate the leg arresting member to manipulate it to its releasing state such that the legs 70 can be manipulated between the operational and storage states. Correspondingly, when the upper seat 50 is not in its upright state, which is associated with the locking state of the leg manipulation prevention arrangement 120, the leg trigger member is inserted within the elongated guiding slot 41 against the slot internal frame 123 (e.g., Fig. 4E), wherein the leg trigger member is not triggered by the upper seat 50 and thus does not operate the leg arresting member and thus the legs are prevented from manipulation towards the extended state. As such, when the upper seat is in the upright state, the leg manipulation prevention arrangement 120 is in its unlocking state and thus the legs are manipulable between the operational and storage states When the upper seat 50 is not in the upright state (e.g., it is in the extended state), the leg manipulation prevention arrangement 120 is in its locking state and thus the legs are prevented from manipulation to the operational state. A leg arresting member 130 of the leg manipulation prevention arrangement 1is configured to have an arresting state, in which the leg arresting member 130 arrests the leg manipulation mechanism 90, and a releasing state, in which the leg manipulation mechanism 90 is released from the arresting of the leg arresting member 130. The leg arresting member 130 is configured to change states via operation by the leg trigger member, to which it is connected either directly or indirectly. The leg arresting member 130 is manipulable between an arresting state associated with the locking state of the leg manipulation prevention arrangement 120, and a releasing state associated with the unlocking state of the leg manipulation prevention arrangement 120. In the arresting state, the leg arresting member 130 arrests the leg manipulation mechanism 90 from manipulation and in the releasing state, the leg arresting member 130 allows manipulation of the leg manipulation mechanism 90. In the present example, shown in Fig. 5B, the seat assembly 10 comprises a pair of leg arresting members 130, each designed similarly to the seat arresting member 110, being formed by a pawl having an engaging portion 131 at one end and a lever portion 132 at a second end thereof. The leg arresting members 130 are pivotally connected to the upper seat 50, and specifically to the backrest portion 52 by a pivot axis 134 located at the respective centers thereof. Each leg arresting member 130 is also connected, at the lever portion 132 thereof, either directly or indirectly to the holder portion 67A of the guiding pin 66 (i.e., the leg trigger member). The leg arresting members 130 are connected to the holder portion 67A such that manipulation of the holder portion 67A, i.e., by sliding the guiding pin 66 along the elongated guiding slot 41, results in pivoting of the leg arresting members 130. In some cases which are not illustrated herein, the leg arresting members 130 can further comprise an arresting spring (not shown) designed to bias the leg arresting members 130 to the arresting states thereof. In general, in the arresting state, the engaging portion 131 of a leg arresting member 130 is designed to abut/contact at least a portion of the leg handle 92 so as to prevent the leg handle 92 from being used to manipulate the leg manipulation mechanism 90. In the present example, the leg handle interior portion 92B further comprises a leg handle depression 135 and the engaging portion 131 having an arresting tooth 1protruding laterally forward about the rear end thereof. The leg handle depression 135 is formed to receive the arresting tooth 136 of the engaging portion 131 of the leg arresting member 130, such that when it is received inside the leg handle depression 135, the leg arresting member 130 arrests the leg handle 92, and thus the leg manipulation mechanism 90, from being operated by a user to manipulate the legs 70 from the operational state to the storage state thereof. In operation, when the leg trigger member is triggered by the upper seat 50, (i.e. when the upper seat 50 is manipulated to the upright state thereof), the guiding pin 66 is inserted into the slot depression 124 (by the compression forces applied thereon by the pin holder 64), thus causing the leg arresting member 130 to pivot in a first direction away from the leg handle depression 135 such that the leg arresting member 130 assumes the releasing state thereof. When the leg trigger member is withdrawn from the slot depression 124 and slid along and within the elongated guiding slot 41 (i.e. when the upper seat 50 is manipulated from the upright state thereof), the holder portion 67A is distanced from the pin holder 64 causing the leg arresting member 130 to pivot in a second direction opposite the first direction and into the leg handle depression 135, thus bringing the leg arresting member 130 to the locking state thereof. Thereby the leg arresting member 130 arrests the leg handle 92 to prevent a user from operating the leg manipulation mechanism 90 to manipulate the legs 70. In other cases (not shown), the leg manipulation prevention arrangement 120, in the locking state thereof, can be configured to prevent the manipulation of the legs towards the storage state by arresting the legs 70. In such cases, in the arresting state thereof, the leg arresting member 130 can be configured to abut/contact the legs 70 so as to prevent manipulation thereof. In such cases the leg arresting member 130 can be constituted by the upper seat 50 in its extended state, and more specifically, by the backrest portion 52 thereof. For example, in the extended state thereof, the backrest portion can physically prevent manipulation of the legs 70 to the storage state by blocking at least a portion thereof from moving to its position in the storage state. In this example, the backrest portion 52 can be used to prevent the rear bar 84 of the pair of rear leg supports 76 from reaching to the position thereof in the storage state, and thus forcing the legs 70 to be maintained in the operational state thereof. The convertible baby safety car seat assembly according to the presently disclosed subject matter can comprise one or more side protection modules configured to provide the seat assembly with side impact protection. The side protection modules can be manipulable between a retracted state, in which they extend away from the seat to a first extent, and a deployed state, in which they extend away from the seat to a second extent that is larger than the first extent. For example, the side protection module/s can be pivotable between the retracted and the deployed states. In the deployed state, the side protection modules can extend laterally away from the seat such that each side protection module constitutes the laterally outermost portion of the seat assembly. As such, when the seat assembly is in the first mode and fitted to a left or right side of a seat of a vehicle, one of the side protection modules extends laterally outwardly such that it defines the portion of the seat assembly that is closest to the corresponding side door of the vehicle so that the seat is spaced from the corresponding door at least by the side protection module. The at least one side protection module can be configured to the retracted state when side impact protection is not required (for example, when the seat assembly is being used as a stroller and rolled by means of wheels at distal ends of the legs). In the retracted state, the at least one side protection module extends laterally away from the seat to a lesser extent than in the deployed state. In one example, where there are two side protections modules, one associated with each lateral side of the seat, when the side protection modules are in the retracted state, they substantially do not extend laterally away from the seat assembly. As such, the maximum width of the seat assembly when the side protection modules are in the retracted state is less than the maximum width of the seat assembly when the side protection modules are in the deployed state. Retraction of the side protection modules thus allows the effective width of the seat assembly to be reduced, as compared with when the side protection modules are in the deployed state, thereby potentially increasing the maneuverability of the seat assembly (e.g., through narrow spaces). One or more legs of the seat can each be associated with a side protection module such that a portion of each side protection module, when in at least one of the deployed and retracted states, contacts the seat only when the legs are in the storage state. For example, each side protection module can extend laterally away from the seat, wherein a portion thereof contacts the seat when each side protection module is in the deployed state. The side protection modules are manipulable to the deployed state such that they extend laterally away from the seat and a portion of the side protection modules contacts the seat. The side protection modules are also manipulable to the retracted state such that they are substantially retracted toward the seat rather than extend laterally away from the seat.

In one example, each side protection modules may be directly secured to a respective leg of the seat assembly. In another example, the seat assembly may comprise a connecting bar which interconnects the respective legs, and the side protection modules may be secured to the connecting bar. For example, each side protection module may be secured adjacent opposed lateral ends of the connecting bar such that each module is proximate to respective legs of the seat assembly. In this way, when the legs are moved into the storage state, the connecting bar is correspondingly moved rearwardly such that it is proximate to or braces against and across a rear upper section of the seat. In this configuration, a portion of each side protection module is positioned adjacent to or may be in direct contact with respective outer lateral sides of the seat, whereby manipulation of the modules to the deployed state provides side protection to the seat. The seat can comprise one or more protrusions configured to be at least partially engaged by respective side protection modules when they are in the deployed state. The protrusions may protrude laterally outwardly from the seat. In one example, the seat comprises a lower support and the protrusions are configured to protrude laterally outwardly from the lower support at respective lateral sides thereof. In another example, the or each protrusion protrudes laterally outwardly from the backrest at respective lateral sides thereof. In use, and when the legs are in the storage state, deployment of the side protection modules effects engagement between each module and a respective protrusion such that each module is in mechanical communication with the seat via the respective protrusions. Each side protection module can comprise a lever assembly having a securing member that is securable to the seat assembly and a lever pivotably associated with the securing member. The securing member may be secured directly to a respective leg and/or the connecting bar of the seat assembly. The corresponding lever may be pivoted about a pivot axis defined by the securing member. The lever may be pivoted outwardly such that it generally extends laterally away from the seat, wherein the side protection module assumes the deployed state to provide side impact protection. In the deployed state, the securing member, or at least a rear or inner surface thereof, is configured to abut against and engage a respective protrusion of the seat such that there is mechanical communication between the seat and the respective side protection module. The lever may also be pivoted inwardly toward the seat, wherein the side protection module assumes the retracted state. In the retracted state, the securing member may disengage from the respective protrusion, or least engage the protrusion less firmly than when the side protection module is in the retracted state. In the present example illustrated by Figs. 7A to 8B, the seat assembly 210 has a seat 202 with a first lateral side 204A and an opposite, second lateral side 204B, and a backrest 252. The seat assembly 210 also comprises first legs 270A and second legs 270B associated with the corresponding lateral sides 204A and 204B, the legs constituting right and left pairs of rear and front legs. Each leg has a proximal portion 272 articulably connected to the seat 202 at the first and second lateral sides 204A, 204B of the seat 202, respectively, and a distal portion 271 with a respective wheel. As illustrated in Fig. 1A, the seat assembly 210 is similarly associated with a horizontal reference plane 34 that passes through a lowermost area of the seat 202. The legs 270A, 270B of the seat assembly 210 are manipulable between a storage state, in which the distal portions 2of the legs are positioned above the horizontal base plane 34, and an operational state, in which the distal portions 271 of the legs are positioned below the horizontal base plane 34, thereby allowing the seat assembly 210 to be rolled by means of the wheels. In general, each rear or each front leg of the seat assembly can be associated with the a side protection module. In the present example, each of the first and second rear legs is associated with a side protection module 206. In particular, the rear legs 270A and 270B are connected about their distal end portions 271 by a connecting bar 284, and each side protection module 206 is positioned on the connecting bar 284 proximate to a respective leg 270A, 270B. The aforementioned rear bar 84 can constitute the connecting bar 284 of the present example of the car seat assembly 210. Fig. 7A illustrates the seat assembly 210 in the upright operational mode 24. The right-hand side seat protection module 206A is visible, proximate to the first rear leg 270A and in the retracted state. The left-hand side protection module 206B is not visible in Fig. 7A, though is similarly positioned on the connecting bar 284 proximate to the second rear leg 270B. When the present seat assembly 210 is in the upright operational mode 24, it can be advantageous to configure the seat protection modules 206A, 206B to the retracted states so that they substantially do not extend laterally outwardly away from the seat assembly 210, thereby reducing the effective width of the seat assembly 210 such that it can be wheeled through narrower spaces. Figs. 7B and 8A illustrate the seat assembly 210 in the storage mode 20. The first and second legs 270A, 270B are in their storage state such that the connecting bar 284 is proximate and/or braces against a rear of the seat 202, and at least a portion of the side protection modules 206 contact the seat 202. Fig. 7B illustrates the left-hand side protection module 206B being movable between the deployed state B1 and the retracted state B2. In at least the deployed state B1, at least a portion of the side protection module 206B is in contact with the seat 202. Fig. 8A illustrates the seat assembly 210 in the storage mode 20. Referring also to Fig. 8B, first and second protrusions 208 protrude laterally outwardly from the first and second lateral sides 204A, 204B (not seen) of the seat 202. The protrusions 208 are configured to at least partially engage respective side protection modules 206 when they are in the deployed state. As such, when the seat assembly 210 is in the upright operational mode 24, and when the side protection modules 206 are deployed, each side protection module 206 is configured to engage against respective protrusions 208 protruding outwardly from respective lateral sides 204A, 204B of the seat 202. In one example (not shown), each protrusion can protrude from an outer rear portion of a lower support 2of the seat assembly 210. In the depicted example, each protrusion 208 protrudes from an outer rear portion of an upper seat 250 of the seat assembly 210. In the present example, each side protection module 206 comprises a lever assembly 214 fixed to respective lateral ends of the connecting bar 284. The lever assembly 214 includes an engagement member 215 having a generally ‘U’-shaped cross-sectional form. A ‘base’ of the ‘U’ is formed with a through-hole through which the connecting bar 284 can be fixedly received. An inward facing portion 211 of the engagement member 215 (i.e., the innermost portion that generally faces the seat 202) is configured to engage against the corresponding protrusion 208 of the seat assembly 2in the provision of side impact protection. Opposed lateral ‘arms’ 217 of the U-shaped engagement member 215 define opposed pivot points, each arm 217 having an opening 218 for pivotally receiving a first end of a manually operable lever 219 which forms part of the lever assembly 214 and thus side protection module 206. The lever 219 generally has an elongate body that is manually pivotable, about the aforementioned pivot points, to configure the corresponding side protection module 206 between the retracted state and the extended state. To configure the side protection module 206 to the retracted state from the extended state, the extended lever 219 can be manually grasped and urged toward the seat 202 such that an upper/inner face 221 of the lever is brought towards the connecting bar 284. In the present example, when the lever 219 is in the retracted state, the upper face 221 of the lever 219 is at least partially if not substantially engaged against the connecting bar 284. To configure the side protection module 206 to the extended state from the retracted state, the retracted lever 219 can be manually grasped and urged away from the seat 202 such that the lever 219 extends laterally outwardly away from the seat 202. The lever assembly 214 can be configured such that the lever 219 is releasably lockable in one or both of the extended and retracted states. For example, each engagement member 215 and the corresponding lever 219 may be correspondingly configured such that the engagement members 215 bias the respective levers 219 to one or both of the deployed and retracted states. As such, a sufficient amount of deliberate and directed manual force is required to manipulate the levers 219 from one state to the other state, thereby reducing the likelihood that the side protection modules 2inadvertently assume one state instead of the other. The convertible baby safety car seat assembly according to the presently disclosed subject matter can comprise a zipper arrangement which enables both a fabric cover and a canopy to be independently zipped to a backrest portion thereof. In fact, the zipper arrangement can be used with any baby seat having detachably connectable fabric cover and canopy and the description below should thus be considered as applicable to any such seat having a backrest portion comprising a shell made of plastic and having an external side and an internal side to which a fabric cover can be applied so as to at least partially cover the internal side of the shell. The plastic shell of the seat can comprise a back wall and two sidewalls, each of these three walls having corresponding inner and outer surfaces which merge at respective upper edges. Together, the respective upper edges of the back wall and the sidewalls merge to form a continuous upper edge of the shell. In other words, the continuous upper edge of the shell is defined by the upper edges of the respective backwall and sidewalls. The zipper arrangement can comprise two zippers, each being of separating zipper type. The zipper arrangement can include a cover zipper and a canopy zipper, each having a shell zipper half sewn to the shell, e.g. along and adjacent at least a portion of the shell upper edge, and a matching zipper half, the matching zipper half of the cover zipper being sewn to the fabric cover, and the matching zipper half of the canopy zipper being sewn to the canopy. As such, the fabric cover and the canopy can both be zipped, with their zipper parts to the respective ones of the shell zipper halves sewn to the shell. Each of the two halves of each of the canopy and cover zippers has a teethed portion with zipper teeth and a base portion free of such teeth, the base portions being used for sewing the zipper half to the shell or to the cover/canopy, while leaving the teethed portions flappable. The shell zipper half of each of the cover and canopy zippers is sewn to the shell at the base portion thereof by means of at least one sewing seam. This allows the teethed portions of the shell halves of the cover and canopy zippers to be flappable independently from each other so that they can be spaced apart when attaching the cover and the canopy. The base portion of the shell zipper half of the canopy zipper can be located at least partially between the shell outer surface and the shell zipper half of the cover zipper, e.g. the base portion of the cover zipper. Optionally, the shell zipper halves of the two zippers can be sewn to the shell together, i.e. by at least one common sewing seam. The teeth of the teethed portions of the shell halves of the two zippers can be spaced from the shell upper edge to about the same or different distances. In the latter case, the teeth of the shell zipper half of the cover zipper can be spaced from the upper edge of the shell to a greater distance than that of the canopy zipper. In any case, the teeth portions of the shell halves of the two zippers can be generally parallel to one another and to the shell upper edge. In some cases, the two zippers can be configured to be fastened in opposite directions, for example the canopy zipper is configured to be fastened from a first side wall of the shell towards the second side wall of the shell, and the cover zipper can be configured to be fastened from the second side wall of the shell towards the first side wall. Such arrangement, in which each of the zippers is fastened from a different direction, may facilitate use, e.g. upon connecting or removing the canopy or the cover. In some cases, the zippers differ in length. The canopy zipper may extend to a shorter length than the cover zipper, with the cover zipper extending further along the two sidewalls of the shell. Optionally, the canopy zipper, when fastened, is at least partially layered above the fastened cover zipper, so that when the canopy is connected to the seat, only the canopy zipper is visible from the exterior of the seat. When the canopy is connected, the cover zipper is not accessible at least along a portion of its length. This may reduce a likelihood of unintended removal of the cover from the seat, and may prevent removal of the cover before the canopy had been removed. The cover zipper can be located at the backrest portion of the seat, without extending further (for example the cover zipper does not extend to the feet portion). This may provide a potential manufacturing advantage in that the cover zipper is sewn to the shell along a shorter distance than would have been required if the zipper was to extend to the feet portion as well. Referring to Figs. 7A, 8A and 9, in the depicted example of the seat assembly 210, the upper seat 250 comprises a backrest 252 having a shell 255 made of plastic, to which a fabric cover 223 is removably applicable. The plastic shell 255 of the backrest 2generally comprises three walls: a back wall 213 and two opposed sidewalls 204A, 204B integrally formed to define a generally continuous and contoured body of the shell 255. Each of the back wall 213 and the sidewalls 204 has corresponding inner and outer surfaces, which surfaces respectively merge to define a continuous outer or upper edge 204’, 213’ of the respective walls 204A, 204B, 213. Together, the upper edges 204’, 213’ of the respective walls 204A, 204B, 213 merge to form a generally continuous outermost upper edge of the shell 255. Fig. 9 shows a portion of the shell 255 with a part of a zipper arrangement 200 by which a canopy 150 (not seen) and a fabric cover 223 can be independently zipped thereto along the upper edge of the shell 255. The upper edge (not seen) extends along a first sidewall 204A, up to the top of the back wall 213, and then down the opposite sidewall 204B. The zipper arrangement 200 is sewn to the shell 255 such that it extends alongside and runs adjacent to the upper edge thereof, or at least along a substantial portion thereof. In the depicted example, a part of the zipper arrangement 200 is shown. One half 200A of a first zipper is configured to be matched with a corresponding half of the first zipper (not seen) sewn to the canopy 150, and one half of a second zipper 200C is configured to be matched with a corresponding half of the second zipper 200D that is sewn to the fabric cover 223. These two halves 200A, 200C of the zipper arrangement 200 may be referred to as the “shell zipper halves” 200A, 200C since they are sewn to the upper seat 250 and are configured to respectively provide a zipping connection to the canopy 150 and to the fabric cover 223. The cover zipper is illustrated at a partially fastened stated, whereby at a portion configured above a puller 290 of the zipper, half 200C and half 200D are zipped together, with their teeth intermeshed. Below the puller, the two halves are separate from each other. For the canopy zipper, only the shell half 200A of the zipper is shown, extending to a shorter distance than the cover zipper (such as a shorter distance along sidewall 204A). A puller 292 of the canopy zipper is shown at the start of the zipper teeth, where a starter box 294 of the zipper is located. The zipper half 200A that is configured to be matched to the canopy 150 can be sewn closest to the upper edge of the shell 255 such that the zipper half 200A extends along a length and path that is directly adjacent and parallel to the upper edge of the shell 255. The zipper half 200C that is configured to be matched to the fabric cover 223 can be spaced inwardly from the shell zipper half 200A. In an example configuration of the zipper arrangement, both halves of the first and second zippers which are sewn to the shell may themselves be sewn together. In Fig. 9, the shell zipper half 200C of the cover and the shell zipper half 200A of the canopy are sewn together via a generally continuous strip of fabric such that the shell zipper halves 200A, 200C are generally adjacent one another along their lengths. In such configuration, each of these shell zipper halves 200A, 200C are spaced apart from one another along their lengths such that they travel along respective paths that are generally parallel to one another and the upper edge of the shell 255 of the upper seat 250. The shell zipper half 200C which zips to the fabric cover 223 is inwardly spaced from the shell zipper half 200A which zips to the canopy 150. The shell zipper halves may differ in length. For example, the shell zipper halves do not have to extend along the upper edge of the seat to the same extent. For example, the shell zipper half that is configured to be matched with the zipper half of the cover may extend along the upper edge of the shell to a first extent, which extent may be the substantial or entire length of the upper edge. Meanwhile, the shell zipper half that is configured to be matched with the zipper half of the canopy may extend along the upper edge of the shell to a second extent, wherein the first extent is larger than the second extent. In other words, the zipper half that is configured to be zipped to the canopy may be shorter in length than the zipper half that is configured to be zipped to the fabric seat cover. This difference in zipper length corresponds with the sizing and placement of the fabric cover and canopy.

Referring again to Fig. 9, the internal side of the upper seat 250 is configured to be substantially covered by the fabric cover 223 applied thereto. As such, the shell zipper half 200C that is sewn to the upper seat 250 and configured to zip to the fabric cover 2is configured to extend substantially around the entire upper edge of the shell 255 so that the fabric cover 223 can be zipped along the entire length of the shell zipper half 200C so as to cover the internal side of the upper seat 250. The canopy (not shown) 150, which is configured to provide sun and/or rain protection, may be arranged such that it extends outwardly generally from an upper region of the upper seat 250 such that it extends over and shields at least the head, if not at least a portion of the body of the infant in the upper seat 250. As such, and with reference to Fig. 9, the shell zipper half 200A which zips to the canopy 150 starts slightly higher up along the upper edge 204’ of the sidewalls 204 of the shell 255. By comparison, the shell zipper 200C half which zips to the fabric cover 223 starts substantially at the lower most region of the upper edge 204’ of the sidewalls 204 of the shell 255. In other words, the shell zipper half 200A that is configured to zip to the canopy 150 extends along the upper edge 213’ of the back wall 213 and down the respective upper edges 204’ of each sidewall 204. At the very least, the shell zipper half 200A which connects to the zipper half of the canopy does not extend down the upper edges 204’ of the sidewalls 204 as much as the shell zipper half 200C that is configured to zip to the fabric cover 223. As such, the shell zipper half 200A that is configured to be zipped to the canopy 150 is sewn to the shell 255 such that it is directly adjacent the upper edge of the shell 255. Meanwhile, the shell zipper half 200C that is configured to be zipped to the fabric cover 223 is sewn to the shell zipper half 200A such that it is spaced inwardly from the shell zipper half 200A along its length, and thus the zipper half 200C extends along a length that is directly adjacent to and inwardly spaced from the shell zipper half 200A. The cover zipper and the canopy zipper of the zipper arrangement are configured so that their fastening is in opposite directions. In the example shown, a puller of the canopy zipper is configured to be pulled starting from sidewall 204A towards sidewall 204B (not shown in this figure), in order to zip the canopy zipper closed; while a puller of the cover zipper is configured to be pulled in the opposite direction, from sidewall 204B towards sidewall 204A, in order to zip the cover zipper closed. Therefore, a start box of the canopy zipper is configured at the start of the canopy zipper teeth at sidewall 204A; and a start box of the cover zipper is configured at the start of the cover zipper teeth at sidewall 204B. The zipper arrangement is further illustrated at Fig. 10 . Shell zipper half 200A of the canopy zipper extends at least partially along the outermost upper edge of the shell 255. Shell zipper half 200C of the cover zipper is parallel to and spaced inwardly from shell zipper half 200A, and extends a longer distance along the sidewalls (sidewall 204A is shown herein). Shell zipper halves 200A, 200C are seamed to the plastic shell 255. Each zipper half is generally comprised of a flappable teeth portion 300, and a base portion (not visible) via which the zipper half is attached to the shell. In Fig. 10, seams 302 are shown to extend under the flappable portions of the zipper halves and parallel to the outermost upper edge of the shell. (In the present example, the flappable portion of shell half zipper 200A is partially folded about the seams, so that the seams are visible above and below the folded flappable portion.) Optionally, the base portions of the shell zipper halves are at least partially bound together by a binding, for example, a fabric binding. In some embodiments, an arrangement of the bound together shell zipper halves and their binding is fitted within a designated recess, for example, a stepped recess, formed along the shell adjacent its upper edge. In such structure, the binding can be aligned with the shell upper edge, such that it does not protrude above the outer surface of the shell. The binding together with the shell zipper halves can be connected to the shell by at least one common sewing seam. Having the binding placed within a recess may further be advantageous in that a sewing seam which attaches the binding to the plastic shell is made through a relatively thin layer of plastic (defined by the stepped recess). In the present example, the above structure is illustrated in Fig. 10 , showing a cross sectional view along the length of the backrest, including a part of the zipper arrangement. The shell zipper half 200A of the canopy zipper and the shell zipper half 200C of the cover zipper are shown. Each of the shell zipper halves comprises a flappable teeth portion 300 (only a single tooth of each appears in this cross-sectional view), and a base portion 304. Both base portions are bound together by a binding 306 (for example, a fabric binding, a ribbon or a tape). Optionally, the base portions are welded to each other.

The arrangement of the bound together shell zipper halves is fitted within a designated stepped recess 308 formed in the plastic material of shell 255, such that the arrangement does not protrude beyond a surface of the shell, defining a smoothed outer profile. Recess 308 may extend along the length of the outermost upper edge of the shell. The arrangement of the bound together shell zipper halves is sewn to the plastic material of the shell by one or more sewing seams, not shown in Fig. 11. The stepped recess 308 as shown includes a first wall 309 through which the zipper arrangement (along with the binding) is sewn to the shell, such as via one or more sewing seams, and a second wall 311 transverse to the first wall, which defines a height that sets a depth of the recess with respect to an outer, back facing surface of the shell. The thickness of the binding inclusive of the shell zipper halves may be similar to or small than the depth defined by the recess, so that the binding does not protrude outwardly from the shell surface. Further, since a thickness of the shell is reduced along the first wall of the recess, sewing the zipper arrangement to the plastic material of the shell at that wall may be facilitated. Reverting to Fig. 11 , in this example seams 302 are constituted of two seams, where a first inner seam holds the binding and the base portions of the shell zipper halves together, and a second outer seam holds the arrangement of the bound together shell zipper halves to the plastic material of the shell, at the recess.

Claims (22)

- 43 - CLAIMS:

1. A convertible baby safety car seat assembly comprising: a lower support having front and rear portions and a reference plane horizontally passing through a lowermost area of the lower support; an upper seat articulably connected to said lower support and having a backrest portion associated with the rear portion of the lower support and a feet portion associated with the front portion of the lower support; legs having wheels, the legs being manipulable between a storage state, in which at least the wheels are located above the reference plane and the assembly is mountable in a car at a position suitable for securing an infant therein, and an operational state, in which at least the wheels are located below the reference plane so as to enable the seat assembly to be rolled by means of said wheels; a leg manipulation mechanism operable to manipulate the legs between the storage state and the operational state; a seat manipulation mechanism operable to manipulate the upper seat between an upright state, in which the backrest portion and the feet portion form a first angle therebetween, and an extended state, in which the backrest portion and the feet portion form a second angle therebetween larger than the first angle; a seat manipulation actuator configured to enable a user to manipulate the seat manipulation mechanism and a leg manipulation actuator configured to enable a user to manipulate the leg manipulation mechanism, the seat and the leg manipulation actuators being positioned one at a location associated with the front portion of the lower support and the other one at a location rearwardly spaced from the front portion of the lower support.

2. A convertible baby safety car seat assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the seat manipulation actuator is positioned at the front portion of the lower support.

3. The convertible baby safety car seat assembly according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the storage state of the legs is combinable only with the upright state of the upper seat, defining a first mode of the seat assembly; the extended state of the upper seat is combinable only with the operational state of the legs, defining a second mode of the seat - 44 - assembly; and the operational state of the legs and the upright state of the upper seat are also combinable at least with each other, defining a third mode of the seat assembly.

4. The convertible baby safety car seat assembly according to Claim 3, wherein the seat assembly can be brought into its first and second modes only from its third mode.

5. The convertible baby safety car seat assembly according to Claim 3 or 4, configured so that the manipulation of the legs in the second mode of the seat assembly is prevented at least indirectly by the upper seat being in the extended state.

6. The convertible baby safety car seat assembly according to any one of Claims to 5, further configured so that the manipulation of the upper seat in the first mode of the seat assembly is prevented at least indirectly by the legs being in the storage state.

7. The convertible baby safety car seat assembly according to any one of Claims to 6, further comprising a leg manipulation prevention arrangement configured to prevent manipulation of the legs from the operational state to the storage state at least when the upper seat is in the extended state.

8. The convertible baby safety car seat assembly according to any one of Claims to 7, further comprising a seat manipulation prevention arrangement configured to prevent manipulation of the upper seat from the upright state to the extended state at least when the legs are in the storage state.

9. The convertible baby safety car seat assembly according to Claim 8, wherein the seat manipulation prevention arrangement is configured to change states between a locking state, in which the seat manipulation prevention arrangement prevents the manipulation of the upper seat towards the extended state, and an unlocking state, in which the seat manipulation prevention arrangement enables manipulation of the upper seat between the upright state and the extended state. - 45 -

10. The convertible baby safety car seat assembly according to Claim 9, wherein the seat manipulation prevention arrangement is configured to prevent, in the locking state, the manipulation of the upper seat towards the extended state by arresting the upper seat.

11. The convertible baby safety car seat assembly according to Claim 9 or 10, wherein the seat manipulation prevention arrangement is configured to prevent, in the locking state, the manipulation of the upper seat towards the extended state by arresting the seat manipulation mechanism.

12. The convertible baby safety car seat assembly according to Claim 10 or 11, wherein the seat manipulation prevention arrangement is configured to arrest the seat manipulation mechanism only when the upper seat is in its upright state.

13. The convertible baby safety car seat assembly according to any one of Claims to 12, wherein the seat manipulation prevention arrangement comprises the legs in their storage state.

14. The convertible baby safety car seat assembly according to Claim 13, wherein the seat manipulation prevention arrangement comprises the distal ends of the legs.

15. The convertible baby safety car seat assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the backrest portion of the upper seat is manipulable rearwardly from the upright state to the extended state.

16. The convertible baby safety car seat assembly according to Claim 15, wherein distal ends of the legs are configured to be firmly positioned, in the storage state of the legs, in contact with a rear surface of the backrest portion of the upper seat so as to block the rearward manipulation of the backrest portion, thereby preventing manipulation of the upper seat from the upright state to the extended state at least when the legs are in the storage state. - 46 -

17. The convertible baby safety car seat assembly according to Claim 7 and any one of Claims 8 to 16 dependent directly or indirectly on Claim 7, wherein the leg manipulation prevention arrangement is configured to change its state between a locking state, in which the leg manipulation prevention arrangement prevents the manipulation of the legs towards the storage state, and an unlocking state, in which the leg manipulation prevention arrangement enables manipulation of the legs between the storage state and the operational state.

18. The convertible baby safety car seat assembly according to Claim 17, wherein the leg manipulation prevention arrangement is configured to prevent, in the locking state, the manipulation of the legs towards the storage state by arresting the legs.

19. The convertible baby safety car seat assembly according to Claim 17 or 18, wherein the leg manipulation prevention arrangement is configured to prevent, in the locking state, the manipulation of the legs towards the storage state by arresting the leg manipulation mechanism.

20. The convertible baby safety car seat assembly according to Claim 19, wherein the leg manipulation prevention arrangement is configured to arrest the leg manipulation mechanism when the legs are in their operational state.

21. The convertible baby safety car seat assembly according to Claim 7 or any one of Claims 8 to 20, when dependent on Claim 7 directly or indirectly, wherein the leg manipulation prevention arrangement is constituted by the upper seat in its extended state.

22. The convertible baby safety car seat assembly according to Claim 21, wherein the leg manipulation prevention arrangement comprises the backrest portion of the upper seat.