U.S. patent application number 09/767077 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-06 for seat cover for shopping cart child seat.
Invention is credited to Hartranft, Amy M..
Application Number | 20010048235 09/767077 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26873021 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010048235 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hartranft, Amy M. |
December 6, 2001 |
Seat cover For Shopping cart child seat
Abstract
A cover for child safety seats, particularly those attached to
shopping carts, preferably comprised of a rectangular padded
section and a similarly configured rectangular liner section of
liquid impervious material, the padded section consisting of a
central rectangular section and rear, front, and side flap sections
for securing the cover to the child seat, and preferably having
aperture for receiving a restraining strap or belt attached to a
child safety seat, padded covers for the safety straps of the seat,
and the rear and side flap sections are fitted with external
pockets designed for receipt of personal items of the infant, small
child, or parent or guardian.
Inventors: |
Hartranft, Amy M.;
(Whitehall, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Law Offices of Charles A. Wilkinson
68 East Broad Street
P.O. Box 1426
Bethlehem
PA
18016-1426
US
|
Family ID: |
26873021 |
Appl. No.: |
09/767077 |
Filed: |
January 22, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60177191 |
Jan 21, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
297/219.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62B 3/1448 20130101;
B62B 3/1444 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/219.12 |
International
Class: |
A47C 031/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A child or infant seat cushion and liner comprising: a generally
rectangular cover, said cover having a front and rear surface, a
central support area, and front, rear, and side flaps for securing
the cover to a child seat, said flaps extending along the outer
edges of the central support area, said cover being comprised of a
padded section and a liner section secured to the underside of the
padded section, the lined section having inner and outer perimeter
dimensions substantially identical to the padded section; and means
for releasably securing the cushion and liner to a child seat.
2. A child or infant seat cushion and liner according to claim 1
wherein the padded section is of a unitary construction.
3. A child or infant seat cushion and liner according to claim 1
wherein the padded section is comprised of first and second outer
layers and a inner layer comprised of a cushioning material.
4. A child or infant seat cushion and liner according to claim 3
wherein the surface of the padded section is stitched in a diagonal
or quilted pattern.
5. A child or infant seat cushion and liner according to claim 1
wherein the liner section is comprised of a liquid impervious
material.
6. A child or infant seat cushion and liner according to claim 1
wherein the central support area is additionally comprised of a
portion defining at least one aperture for passing a child seat
restraining strap for securing the child to the seat.
7. A child or infant seat cushion and liner according to claim 6
additionally comprising padded covers detachably securable around
the portion of a child seat restraining strap that makes contact
with a child as a portion of a safety belt or harness.
8. A child or infant seat cushion and liner according to claim 1
wherein said flaps are folded at the sides and secured to a child
seat using hook-and-loop type fasteners, and fastening straps
attached to opposing side edges of the front and rear flap sections
are releasably secured to cooperating patches attached to opposing
side edges of the side flap sections.
9. A child or infant seat cushion and liner according to claim 1
wherein at least one pocket is secured to the side flaps of the
cover.
10. A child or infant seat cushion and liner according to claim 1
additionally including child securing strap covers comprised of the
same contamination resistant material as the seat cover with
securing means to hold the strap covers in place about the
straps.
11. A child or infant seat cushion and liner according to claim 10
wherein the strap cover is bifurcated to conform to a bifurcated
safety strap.
12. A kit comprising: (a) a series of child safety seat covers,
each comprised of a seat cushion layer and a liner layer, the seat
covers having a substantially rectangular configuration with a with
flaps extending from the sides, said flaps being provided with
securing means at each corner for securing the edges of the flaps
together, (b) a series of safety seat strap covers adapted for
securing about safety seat straps with similar securing means, (c)
a container for containing the seat covers and strap covers prior
to use.
13. A kit in accordance with claim 12 wherein the strap covers have
a two-layer construction similar the seat cover.
14. A kit in accordance with claim 13 additionally comprising: (d)
directions for use and application of the seat cover.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/177,191, filed on Jan. 21, 2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to the field of
covers for child safety seats, and more specifically to child seat
covers that are releasably attached to a child safety seat attached
to a shopping cart in order to provide a sanitary and cushioned
seating surface for a child seated within such child safety
seat.
[0004] 2. Preliminary Discussion
[0005] Transporting infants and small children on a shopping trip
to a grocery store or similar retail enterprise often involves the
use of a shopping cart that is constructed with a folding or
collapsible child seat situated proximate to the push handle of
said cart. These child seats are designed essentially to support an
infant or small child in an upright position within the shopping
cart with few if any features designed to provide for the comfort
or hygiene of the infant or small child. A typical shopping cart is
generally manufactured of materials that satisfy the requirements
of relatively low acquisition and manufacturing cost, durability,
and high strength, such as metal rods, molded plastic components,
and the like. The particular characteristics of such materials that
allow them to meet these requirements, such as rigidity, do not
provide a particularly comfortable seating surface in the case of
the child seat. This situation is especially acute in the case of
shopping carts manufactured of metal rods spaced at predetermined
intervals, in which case the limbs, posterior, or back of the
infant or small child seated therein press against one or several
of such individual rods. The child reacts by squirming within the
seat in an attempt to reduce bodily contact with the seat or by
attempting to leave the seat altogether. This occurrence can be
especially troublesome to a parent or guardian who is attempting to
accomplish a sizable shopping chore.
[0006] One means of providing a more comfortable seating device for
a child within a shopping cart is the provision by the retailer of
a child safety seat that can be attached, adjusted or otherwise
used in conjunction with a conventional shopping cart. Normally,
such seats are manufactured of plastic and molded or constructed of
a shape similar to a child safety seat for vehicles in which an
infant or small child can be positioned in a generally recumbent
position. As such child safety seats are used repeatedly by a wide
variety of people and customers, it is inevitable that eventually
the child seats become soiled or contaminated by microbes,
infectious agents, or spilled food stuffs that may make contact
with the skin or clothing of an infant or small child later placed
in the seating device and engender a reaction by or, infection of
the infant or small child.
[0007] What is needed then to overcome the aforementioned
disadvantages of such child safety seats is the provision of a
child seat cover that a shopper can releasably attach to said child
safety seats. Such a cover might desirably be constructed of an
upper padded or cushioned section plus a lower section that is
impervious to liquids. The cover would preferably be further
constructed with a central area that substantially makes contact
with or supports the body of an infant or small child and flap
sections that can be folded around various components of the child
seat to at least partially secure said cover to the child safety
seat and shopping cart.
[0008] 3. Discussion of Related Art
[0009] Numerous designs for seat covers for child safety seats and
shopping cart seats have been provided in the prior art. Although
these designs may be suitable for the specific individual purposes
to which they are addressed, they would not be suitable for the
purposes of the present version of the invention. For instance,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,888, issued to Sowell et al. on Oct. 21,1997
discloses a shopping cart child seat cover comprised of a seat
section, back section, front section, and two side sections. The
cover is attached to an integral shopping cart and child seat by a
series of snap fasteners that are affixed to the various sections
of the cover and enable the edges of the cover to be snapped over
the structural components of the integral seat and shopping cart.
As disclosed, the cover is relatively cumbersome to attach to and
detach from the child seat section of a shopping cart.
Additionally, an infant or small child seated therein may feel
confined as the front section is formed with two leg apertures that
are designed to receive the legs of the infant or small child.
Additional seat covers for shopping cart seats in which the seat is
essentially an integral portion of the shopping cart and
constructed essentially as an extra shelf with surrounding
retainment members incorporated in the cart itself are also shown
in the following relatively recent references.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,293 issued to D. S. Gibson on Aug. 24,
1993 discloses an irregularly shaped seat cover with various
hook-and-loop type fastening means along the edges plus securing
straps, all of which make such cover relatively difficult to use as
well as not readily washable.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,165 issued Apr. 27,1999 to S. Kucharczyk
discloses a relatively simple hammock-type child seat attachable to
a shopping cart seat and attachable by hook-and-loop fasteners by
folding and snapping over the end sections of the integral shopping
cart seat. The arrangement provides a seating surface for a child
but does not effectively protect the child from contaminants upon
the seat left by prior users.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,418 issued Oct. 10, 2000 to J. Bergh et
al. discloses a cover incorporating a cushion for a shopping cart
seat. The arrangement is relatively bulky and difficult to
transport to a store location for individual use.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,264 issued Mar. 14, 2000 to T. N. Lucree
discloses a sanitary liner for a shopping cart infant seat which
more or less completely isolates a child from contact with a
shopping cart seat, but is not overly adaptable to various seating
arrangements.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,417 issued Oct. 10, 2000 to M.
Cohen-Fyffe discloses a shopping cart child seat essentially
providing pocket sections at the end to fit over the sides of the
seat structure and retain the seat in position with additional
flaps on the sides to cover the sides of the cart. The rear pocket
fits over the handle of the cart and thus protects the person using
the cart for shopping such as a child's mother as well as the child
from contamination left on the cart and seat structure by previous
users.
[0015] In recent years, retail establishments have begun using
child seats in shopping carts modeled after the now widely used
child car seat. Such seats are usually formed of some plastic
material and secured to the shopping cart by metal crosspieces.
Since these child seats are also used and indeed have more exposed
surface for possible contamination, there has been a need for
covering these seats to prevent contamination of such seats by
earlier users as well as to cushion the child from the bare
supporting surfaces of such seats.
[0016] An early and fairly complicated seat cover adapted for
covering car seats is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,701 issued to
J. J. Rankin et al. on Nov. 28, 1989, but this seat cover would not
be easily and comfortably securable to a child shopping cart seat
of the known type. The Rankin et al. seat cover is designed to be
inexpensive and replaceable when soiled and provides various
orifices to accommodate child retainment strapping and the like.
The seat cover is made from a material that will tend to retain its
shape but is still sufficiently flexible to accommodate itself to
the underlying child car seat. Slots are provided in the sides
rather than slits to accommodate car seat strapping so the seat
cover is more easily accommodated to such strapping or can be
slipped into the slots without having to thread the strapping
through slits in the cover.
[0017] Other more recently issued patents showing seat covers for
child safety seats specifically designed for use with the more
modern safety seats for shopping carts are the following:
[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,744 issued Nov. 23, 1999 to L. Franchak
comprises essentially a flat but foldable fabric covered resilient
element provided with an integral-retaining strap.
[0019] U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,721 issued Dec. 26, 2000 to M. M.
Latshaw et al. discloses a shopping cart child seat having a
somewhat similar arrangement to the Franchak seat cover or cushion,
but having a special configuration.
[0020] As such, it may be appreciated that there is a continuing
need for a new and improved seat cover for a child safety seat for
shopping carts that can be attached to and detached from a safety
seat with minimum exertion and that furthermore provides a
pleasing, comfortable seating surface for an infant or small child.
In these respects, the present version of the invention
substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of
the prior art, and in so doing, provides an apparatus that
substantially fulfills this need. Additionally, the prior patents
and commercial techniques do not suggest the present inventive
combination of component elements arranged and configured as
disclosed herein. The present invention achieves its intended
purposes, objects, and advantages through new, useful and unobvious
combinations of method steps and component elements, with the use
of a minimum number of functioning parts, at a reasonable cost to
manufacture, and by employing only readily available materials.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0021] The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises
a cover for child safety seats attached to shopping carts. More
specifically, the invention is concerned with child seat covers
that are releasably attached to the child safety seat of a shopping
cart in order to provide a sanitary and cushioned seating surface
for a child seated within a shopping cart. According to a typical
embodiment, the invention presents a seat cover comprised of a
rectangular padded section and a rectangular liner section of
liquid impervious material that is configured with the perimeter
dimensions of the padded section. The padded section is constructed
of outside layers that house cushioning material situated between
said outside layers and maintained therein by stitching of a
quilted or diagonal pattern. The padded section consists of a
central rectangular section and rear, front, and side flap
sections. The central section is formed with apertures that can, if
necessary, receive a restraining strap or belt attached to a child
safety seat, and the rear and side flap sections are fitted with
external pockets designed for receipt of personal items of the
infant, small child, or parent or guardian. Fastening straps are
attached to opposing side edges of the front and rear flap sections
and are releasably secured to cooperating patches attached to
opposing side edges of the side flap sections. The liner section is
attached to the underside of the padded section so that said liner
section makes contact with the child seat of a shopping cart and
prevents any liquid or contamination upon the child seat from
making contact with the padded section and eventually or ultimately
the infant or small child. Restraining strap covers are releasably
attached to the restraining straps of the child safety seat in
order to prevent the transmission of germs and the possibility of
chafing or abrasions caused by the restraining strap's making
contact with a child. The invention, therefore, resides not in any
one of these features per se, but rather in the particular
combination of all of them herein disclosed. It is distinguished
from the prior art in this particular combination of all of its
structures for the functions specified.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0022] It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to
provide a low-cost, easy-to-manufacture, and easy-to-market seat
cover for a shopping cart child safety seat.
[0023] A further object of the invention is to provide an
easy-to-use and versatile seat cover for a shopping cart child
safety seat.
[0024] A still further object of the invention is to provide a
cover for a modern child seat in a shopping cart.
[0025] A still further object of the invention is to provide a seat
cover for a shopping cart child safety seat that can be attached to
and detached from the child safety seat with minimal expenditure of
time and exertion.
[0026] A still further object of the invention is to provide a seat
cover having pockets or storage pouches on the outside of the seat
cover away from a child placed in the seat.
[0027] A still further object of the invention is to provide a seat
cover for a shopping cart child safety seat that is comprised of a
padded section and a liner section impervious to liquid in order to
prevent the transfer of liquids and contaminants to the padded
section of the seat cover during storage, transport, and use.
[0028] A still further object of the invention is to provide a seat
cover with matching strap covers for encapsulating and padding the
safety straps of a child shopping cart seat cover.
[0029] A still further object of the invention is the provision of
a relatively inexpensive disposable child seat cover.
[0030] Still other objects and advantages of the invention will
become clear upon review of the following detailed description in
conjunction with the appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a seat cover for a shopping
cart child safety seat in accordance with the present version of
the invention illustrating the padded and liner sections thereof,
disengaged from each other.
[0032] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a child safety seat
supported upon a typical shopping cart with the seat cover of the
shopping cart child safety seat configured for releasable
attachment to the child safety seat affixed to the shopping cart
shown directly above the safety seat ready for application to the
seat.
[0033] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the seat cover for a
shopping cart child safety seat of the present invention attached
to the child safety seat affixed to a shopping cart and fully
covering said safety seat.
[0034] Similar reference characters noted below denote
corresponding features consistently throughout the attached
drawings.
DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0035] 10 Seat Cover For Shopping Cart Child Seat
[0036] 12 Padded Section
[0037] 14 Liner Section
[0038] 16 Central Area of Padded Section
[0039] 18 Rear Flap
[0040] 20 Front Flap
[0041] 22a, b Side Flaps
[0042] 24 Aperture 10
[0043] 26 Aperture
[0044] 28 Rear Pocket
[0045] 30a, b Side Pockets
[0046] 32 Straps
[0047] 34 Patches
[0048] 36 Central Area of Liner Section
[0049] 38 Rear Flap
[0050] 40 Front Flap
[0051] 42a, b Side Flaps
[0052] 44 Aperture
[0053] 46 Aperture
[0054] 48 Seat Belt Cover
[0055] 50 Patches
[0056] 52 Patches
[0057] 54 Shopping Cart
[0058] 56 Shopping Cart Basket
[0059] 58 Push Handle
[0060] 60 Support Bar
[0061] 62 Rear Basket Bar
[0062] 64 Child Seat
[0063] 66 Child Safety Seat
[0064] 68 Restraining Strap
[0065] 70 Buckle
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0066] The following detailed description is of the best mode or
modes of the invention presently contemplated. Such description is
not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but to be an
example of the invention presented solely for illustration thereof,
and by reference to which in connection with the following
description and the accompanying drawings one skilled in the art
may be advised of the advantages and construction of the
invention.
[0067] Referring now to the drawings and, in particular, to FIG. 1
wherein there is illustrated a typical embodiment of the seat cover
10 for a shopping cart child safety seat.
[0068] The present version of the invention 10 is comprised of a
broadly rectangular padded section 12 (illustrating the upper or
top side thereof) and a broadly rectangular liner section 14 that
possesses identical inner and outer perimeter dimensions as that of
the padded section 12. The corners of the two rectangular sections
12 and 14 are preferably cut out or away as shown at each of the
corners. The padded section 12 is comprised of material that is
sufficiently cushioned and resilient in order to support the body
of an infant or small child situated upon the child seat of various
shopping carts and to prevent undue pressure of the body or various
limbs thereof from making direct and uncomfortable contact with
portions of the child safety seat, such as preformed plastic
components of such seat. The padded section 12 can be provided as a
unitary construction or as a construction of durable outer layers
that enclose an inner layer of cushioned material. In either case,
the padded section 12 is pierced with diagonally aligned stitching
20 resembling that of a quilt in order to augment the resilient and
shock absorbing nature of the material of construction. The liner
section 14, which is preferably attached to the under side of the
padded section 12, is comprised preferably of polyethylene plastic
or other like moisture impervious material and serves to prevent
the unwanted transfer of liquids and contaminants from a child seat
used in public shopping carts into the padded section 12 and
eventually to an infant or small child using the seat.
Additionally, the liner section 14 serves as a protective outer
layer when the cover 10 is folded as intended with the liner
section 14 disposed to the exterior when not in use. A carrying bag
(not shown) of suitable dimensions and material is provided to
house the cover 10 during storage and transport. The seat cover may
be in packages or kits of multiple disposable seat covers to be
used when visiting a supermarket or the like and then disposed
of.
[0069] Referring again to FIG. 1, the padded section 12 is
comprised of a central area or section 16, rear flap 18, front flap
20, and side flaps 22a and 22b. The central area 16 functions
primarily as the seat and back (in conjunction with the rear flap
18) of the cover 10. Two rectangular apertures 24 and 26 are formed
within the central area 16 of the padded section 12 and are
designed to receive or accommodate any safety belts, straps and the
like that may be attached to a child safety seat and used in
conjunction therewith. A pocket 28 is attached to the rear flap 18,
and pockets 30a and 30b are attached to the side flaps 22a and 22b,
respectively. Narrow, elongate straps 32 are attached to the side
edges of the rear flap 18 and front flap 20. Cooperating patches 34
are affixed to the side edges of the side flaps 22a and 22b. A
variety of fastening methods are intended to secure the flap
sections 18, 20, 22a and 22b to each other and over and around
portions of a child seat and shopping cart, such as hook-and-loop
fasteners (VELCRO.RTM.), snaps, buttons, and the like. The liner
section 14, which is constructed with dimensions and a perimeter
identical to that of the padded section 12 as referenced earlier,
is also comprised of a cooperating central area 36, rear flap 38,
front flap 40, side flaps 42a and 42b, and apertures 44 and 46. The
cover 10 is also provided with two rectangular restraining strap
covers 48 that are constructed of material identical or similar to
that of the padded section 12. While the strap covers 48 could be
formed of material of both rectangular sections 12 and 14, since
the straps are largely protected from the child seat itself by the
intervening material of the cover fitted about the seat, the use of
the lower sheet 14 is not so important. However, in order to
protect the child from any liquid contamination of the straps it is
desirable that the strap covers be not only padded but also
protected from moist contaminants by moisture-proof material. Each
cover 48 is fitted on a first side with a rectangular fastener
patch 50 and on a second side with a rectangular fastener patch 52
(shown in phantom lines) at opposing edges thereof, said fastener
patches 50 and 52 being comprised of VELCRO.RTM. or similar
material. With this construction, the covers 48 can be folded in a
tubular configuration around the portion of a child seat
restraining strap that may make contact with a child in order to
prevent the transmission of germs and the occurrence of abrasion,
chafing, or rubbing against the child situated therein.
[0070] Referring to FIG. 2, therein illustrated is the seat cover
10 configured for attachment to a child safety seat 66 affixed to a
shopping cart 54. The shopping cart 54 is of conventional design
constructed in part of a wire rod basket 56, push handle 58,
support bar 60, rear basket support bar 62, and integral child seat
portion 64. The child safety seat 66 is as shown a one-piece
construction of injection molded plastic, rubber, or the like
designed to house an infant or small child in a generally recumbent
or semi-reclining position. The child safety seat 66 can to be
permanently attached to the shopping cart 64 or releasably attached
thereto by a variety of means that are well known in the art and
current design. The infant or small child is secured therein by
means of a restraining strap 68 and buckle 70. Such strap is
conventionally split in the central section so that the two split
sections fit over the child's shoulders and then recombine into one
unitary strap again which buckles between the child's legs at the
groin. In a more modern arrangement, two straps are attached to the
upper portions of the child seat usually through two slots in the
bottom of the child seat and are then combined into a single
fitting and buckled to the seat between the child's legs. In the
usual case, therefore, the safety strap is bifurcated, but may be
bifurcated either only at one end or at both ends. In FIGS. 2 and
3, it can be seen that the safety strap is bifurcated in its upper
portion.
[0071] The rear flap 18, front flap 20, and side flaps 22a and 22b
of the cover 10 are folded downward in approximate perpendicular
relation to the central area or section 16 of the padded section
12. As the liner section 14 is attached to the underside of the
padded section 12, it is not visible in this display, but is to be
assumed or understood to be attached thereto in order to function
as a barrier against transfer of liquid, moisture, and
contamination to the padded section 12. The approximate junction of
the rear flap 18 and central area 16 is fitted over the front
(where the head of the infant is generally positioned) or leading
side edge of the seat 66, and the approximate junction of the front
flap 20 and central area 16 is fitted over the rear side edge
thereof.
[0072] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the side flaps 22a and 22b, once
positioned over the side edges of the seat 66, are secured to the
rear 18 and front 20 flap sections by affixing the straps 32 to
cooperating patches 34. If necessary, the restraining strap 68 and
buckle 70 can be passed through the apertures 24 and 26, and
complementary aperture of the liner section to secure the infant or
small child to the seat 66 and over the cover 10. Once a child is
secured therein, the restraining strap covers 48 are affixed as
described previously over the portions of the restraining strap 68
making contact with a child. Even more preferably, the strap covers
48 will be affixed over the straps 68 prior to positioning of the
child in the seat in order to protect such child from contamination
by the straps. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the strap
covers, while shown in FIG. 3 as covering the strap only near the
top, will extend over the entire retaining strap and will
themselves be split in the central section and/or their upper or
top sections so as to cover both sections of the strap separately
in the split section.
[0073] While the two side flaps 22a and 22b are shown in FIG. 1 as
being straight above the outer edges, they may actually be
contoured to accommodate the curved configuration of the child seat
and the usual deeper section of the seat in the center which would
if a straight bottom edge of the cover is to be attained on the
outside as shown require additional material at this point to
extend from the bottom of the inside to the bottom of the outside.
However, since all seats are of the same general configuration, it
has been found satisfactory to use a flat or square edge along all
the flaps. When the cover is placed over the child seat, therefore,
the cover will adjust to the exact configuration of the child seat
with the excess material extending from the bottom in a contour
depending upon the exact configuration of the seat, which, in an
ideal case, which is unlikely to be attained in many actual cases,
will allow a more or less parallel bottom configuration along the
sides. In actual use, the side flaps may extend only partially,
often halfway down, or over the sides of the child seat. In all
cases, however the child seat will end up completely encompassed or
covered on the inside and along at least the top of the outside by
the protective cover of the invention. Cutting the material of the
cover with the straight side edges as shown in FIG. 1 results in
lower total cost for the possibly disposable covers, an important
consideration in any disposable item and provides a perfectly
serviceable cover, although perhaps not a perfect fit. The covers
may be supplied in kits including both seat cover and strap covers
in packages of various amounts such as six principal covers in a
package with accompanying strap covers as required go together with
necessary instructions for assembly and use. Any such kit may also
include a carrying or storage bag or the bag itself may constitute
the original packaging.
[0074] While the cover of the invention is designed particularly
for use in covering and sanitizing a more modern separate plastic
child seat as illustrated, it will be found that the simplistic
design of the cover makes it also applicable for use with the more
old fashioned integral wire child seat of the prior art in which
the rectangular side flaps can be folded over the sides of the
child seat securing straps 32 and patches 34 can be secured
together to bring the seat cover into a covering for the child seat
portion of the shopping cart.
[0075] From the foregoing, it will be understood by persons skilled
in the art that an improved seat cover for shopping cart child
safety seat has been provided. The invention is relatively simple
and easy to manufacture, yet affords a variety of uses. While this
version of the invention has been illustrated and described in
detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be
considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it
being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown
and described and that all changes and modifications that come
within the spirit of the version of the invention are desired to be
protected. With respect to the above description then, it is to be
realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts
of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape,
form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are
deemed readily apparent and obvious and readily derivable to one
skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are
intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
[0076] While the present invention has also been described at some
length and with some particularity with respect to the several
described embodiments, it is not intended that it should be limited
to any such particulars or embodiments or any particular
embodiment, but it is to be construed with references to the
appended claims so as to provide the broadest possible
interpretation of such claims in view of the prior art and,
therefore, to effectively encompass the intended scope of the
invention.
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