U.S. patent application number 10/723425 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-26 for removable car seat covers and methods for using.
This patent application is currently assigned to The Boppy Company. Invention is credited to Bartley, Nancy, Littlehorn, Sheila.
Application Number | 20050110315 10/723425 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34592264 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050110315 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Littlehorn, Sheila ; et
al. |
May 26, 2005 |
Removable car seat covers and methods for using
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide novel car seats, car seat
covers, and methods for their use. One exemplary embodiment
comprises a car seat cover for a car seat, which can comprise a
frame, a padding disposed over the frame, two shoulder straps and a
crotch strap. The car seat cover can comprise a fabric cover having
an outer periphery, which can be adapted to be coupled to the car
seat frame over the padding. The fabric cover may define a pair of
shoulder strap openings and a crotch strap opening, which can be
disposed so as to allow the shoulder straps and the crotch strap,
respectively, to be extended through the fabric cover. Thus, in
accordance with some embodiments, the shoulder straps and the
crotch strap can be used to secure a child in the car seat, with
the car seat cover being disposed between the child and the car
seat.
Inventors: |
Littlehorn, Sheila;
(Littleton, CO) ; Bartley, Nancy; (Golden,
CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TOWNSEND AND TOWNSEND AND CREW, LLP
TWO EMBARCADERO CENTER
EIGHTH FLOOR
SAN FRANCISCO
CA
94111-3834
US
|
Assignee: |
The Boppy Company
Golden
CO
|
Family ID: |
34592264 |
Appl. No.: |
10/723425 |
Filed: |
November 25, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/219.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/2812 20130101;
B60N 2/26 20130101; B60N 2/60 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/219.12 |
International
Class: |
A47C 031/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A car seat cover for a car seat comprising a frame, a padding
disposed over the frame, a first shoulder strap and a second
shoulder strap, each shoulder strap comprising a connector, an
upper anchor point and a lower anchor point, each anchor point
being attached to the frame, and at least one crotch strap, the
crotch strap comprising an anchor point attached to the frame and a
buckle, the buckle being configured to accept the connectors, the
car seat cover comprising: a fabric cover having an outer periphery
that is adapted to be coupled to the car seat frame over the
padding, the fabric cover defining a pair of shoulder strap
openings and a crotch strap opening, the shoulder strap openings
and the crotch strap opening being disposed so as to allow the
shoulder straps and the crotch strap to be extended through the
fabric cover; and a border portion disposed about the outer
periphery, wherein the border portion is adapted to secure the
cover about the car seat with the cover being disposed to allow the
shoulder straps to extend through the shoulder strap openings, the
crotch strap to extend though the crotch strap opening, and the
connectors to be inserted into the buckle, without detaching any of
the anchor points from the frame, such that the shoulder straps and
the crotch strap can be used to secure a child in the car seat,
with the car seat cover being disposed between the child and the
car seat.
2. A car seat cover as recited in claim 1, wherein the border
portion comprises an elastic material.
3. A car seat cover as recited in claim 1, wherein the border
portion comprises a drawstring.
4. A car seat cover as recited in claim 1, wherein the border
portion comprises an attachment mechanism for attaching the car
seat cover to a car seat.
5. A car seat cover as recited in claim 1, wherein the car seat
cover is configured to protect a child car seat.
6. A car seat cover as recited in claim 1, wherein the car seat
cover is configured to protect an infant carrier.
7. A car seat cover as recited in claim 1, further comprising a
support pillow attached to the fabric cover and disposed so as to
support the head of a child seated in the car seat.
8. A car seat cover as recited in claim 7, wherein the pillow is
removably attached to the fabric cover.
9. A car seat cover as recited in claim 8, wherein the pillow is
removably attached using a removable attachment mechanism.
10. A car seat cover as recited in claim 9, wherein the removable
attachment mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a
hoop-and-loop fastener, a snap, a button, a buckle, and adhesive
and a zipper.
11. A car seat cover as recited in claim 7, wherein the pillow is
configured to lie underneath the head of the child.
12. A car seat cover as recited in claim 7, wherein the pillow is
configured to cradle the head of the child.
13. A car seat cover as recited in claim 1, further comprising a
flap attached to the car seat cover and disposed so as to cover a
portion of at least one of the pair of shoulder strap openings,
thereby defining a plurality of strap openings through which one of
the pair of shoulder straps can extend.
14. A car seat cover as recited in claim 7, wherein the flap
comprises the same material as the fabric cover.
15. A car seat cover as recited in claim 7, wherein the flap is
substantially rectangular in shape.
16. A car seat cover as recited in claim 7, wherein at least a
portion of the flap is fixedly attached to the fabric cover.
17. A car seat cover as recited in claim 7, wherein at least a
portion of the flap is removably attached to the fabric cover.
18. A car seat cover as recited in claim 17, wherein the portion of
the flap is removably attached using an attachment mechanism.
19. A car seat cover as recited in claim 18, wherein the attachment
mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a hoop-and-loop
fastener, a snap, a button, a buckle, and adhesive and a
zipper.
20. A car seat cover as recited in claim 17, wherein the flap can
be removed entirely from the cover.
21. A car seat cover as recited in claim 1, wherein one of the pair
of shoulder strap openings has a length of between about fifteen
inches and about twenty-five inches.
22. A car seat cover as recited in claim 21, wherein one of the
pair of shoulder strap openings has a length of between about
sixteen inches and about nineteen inches.
23. A car seat cover as recited in claim 1, wherein one of the pair
of shoulder strap openings has a length of between about five
inches and about ten inches.
24. A car seat cover as recited in claim 23, wherein one of the
pair of shoulder strap openings has a length of between about six
inches and about eight inches.
25. A car seat cover as recited in claim 1, wherein the crotch
strap opening has a width of between about two inches and about six
inches.
26. A car seat cover as recited in claim 25, wherein the crotch
strap opening has a width of between about three inches and about
five inches.
27. A car seat cover as recited in claim 1, wherein the crotch
strap opening is substantially circular.
28. A car seat cover as recited in claim 1, wherein the crotch
strap opening is substantially rectangular.
29. A car seat cover as recited in claim 1, further comprising a
border portion disposed about a portion of the fabric cover
defining the crotch strap opening.
30. A car seat cover as recited in claim 1, wherein the fabric
cover has a width of between about twenty-four inches and about
forty inches.
31. A car seat cover as recited in claim 1, wherein the fabric
cover has a length of between about thirty-five inches and about
forty-five inches.
32. A car seat cover as recited in claim 1, wherein the fabric
cover comprises an absorbent material.
33. A car seat cover as recited in claim 1, wherein the fabric
cover comprises a stain-resistant material.
34. A car seat cover as recited in claim 1, wherein the fabric
cover comprises a material to which a water-resistant coating has
been applied.
35. A car seat cover as recited in claim 1, wherein the car seat
cover comprises a disposable material.
36. A car seat cover as recited in claim 35, wherein the disposable
material is paper.
37. A car seat cover for a car seat comprising a frame, a padding
disposed over the frame, a first shoulder strap and a second
shoulder strap, each shoulder strap comprising a connector, an
upper anchor point and a lower anchor point, each anchor point
being attached to the frame, and at least one crotch strap, the
crotch strap comprising an anchor point attached to the frame and a
buckle, the buckle being configured to accept the connectors, the
car seat cover comprising: a fabric cover having an outer periphery
that is adapted to be coupled to the car seat frame over the
padding the fabric cover defining a shoulder strap opening, and a
crotch strap opening, the shoulder strap opening and the crotch
strap opening being disposed so as to allow the shoulder straps and
the crotch strap to be extended through the fabric cover; a border
portion disposed about the outer periphery, wherein the border
portion is adapted to secure the cover about the car seat with the
cover being disposed to allow the shoulder straps to extend through
the shoulder strap opening, the crotch strap to extend though the
crotch strap opening, and the connectors to be inserted into the
buckle, without detaching any of the anchor points from the frame,
such that the shoulder straps and the crotch strap can be used to
secure a child in the car seat, with the car seat cover being
disposed between the child and the car seat; and a flap attached to
the fabric cover and disposed to substantially cover the shoulder
strap opening, the flap and the fabric cover collectively defining
a plurality of strap openings disposed so as to allow the shoulder
straps to extend though the strap openings.
38. A car seat comprising: a frame; a padding disposed over the
frame; a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap, each
shoulder strap comprising a connector, an upper anchor point and a
lower anchor point, each anchor point being attached to the frame;
a fabric cover having an outer periphery that is adapted to be
coupled to the car seat frame over the padding, the fabric cover
defining a pair of shoulder strap openings and a crotch strap
opening, the shoulder strap openings and the crotch strap opening
being disposed so as to allow the shoulder straps and the crotch
strap to be extended through the fabric cover; and a border portion
disposed about the outer periphery, wherein the border portion is
adapted to secure the cover about the car seat with the cover being
disposed to allow the shoulder straps to extend through the
shoulder strap openings, the crotch strap to extend though the
crotch strap opening, and the connectors to be inserted into the
buckle, without detaching any of the anchor points from the frame,
such that the shoulder straps and the crotch strap can be used to
secure a child in the car seat, with the car seat cover being
disposed between the child and the car seat.
39. A car seat as recited in claim 38, wherein the car seat is an
infant carrier.
40. A method of protecting a car seat comprising a frame, a padding
disposed over the frame, a first shoulder strap and a second
shoulder strap, each shoulder strap comprising a connector, an
upper anchor point and a lower anchor point, each anchor point
being attached to the frame, and at least one crotch strap, the
crotch strap comprising an anchor point attached to the frame and a
buckle, the buckle being configured to accept the connectors, the
method comprising: providing a car seat cover comprising: a fabric
cover having an outer periphery that is adapted to be coupled to
the car seat frame over the padding, the fabric cover defining a
pair of shoulder strap openings and a crotch strap opening, the
shoulder strap openings and the crotch strap opening being disposed
so as to allow the shoulder straps and the crotch strap to be
extended through the fabric cover; and a border portion disposed
about the outer periphery, wherein the border portion is adapted to
secure the cover about the car seat with the cover being disposed
to allow the shoulder straps to extend through the shoulder strap
openings, the crotch strap to extend though the crotch strap
opening, and the connectors to be inserted into the buckle, without
detaching any of the anchor points from the frame, such that the
shoulder straps and the crotch strap can be used to secure a child
in the car seat, with the car seat cover being disposed between the
child and the car seat; securing the car seat cover about car seat
by placing the border portion around an outside portion of the
frame; extending the shoulder straps through the shoulder strap
openings; and extending the crotch strap through the crotch strap
opening.
41. A method of protecting a car seat as recited in claim 40,
wherein the car seat is an infant carrier.
42. A method of protecting a car seat as recited in claim 40, the
method further comprising: placing a child in the car seat, such
that the shoulder straps secure the child's shoulders and the
crotch strap extends between the child's legs; and using the buckle
and the connectors, securing the shoulder straps to the crotch
strap.
43. A method of protecting a car seat as recited in claim 40, the
method further comprising: removing the car seat cover from the car
seat; washing the cover; and re-securing the cover about the car
seat.
44. A method of protecting a car seat as recited in claim 40, the
method further comprising: removing the car seat cover from the car
seat; and disposing of the car seat cover.
45. A method of protecting a car seat as recited in claim 40,
wherein the car seat cover further comprises a flap attached to the
car seat cover, the method further comprising disposing the flap so
as to cover a portion of at least one of the pair of shoulder strap
openings, thereby defining a plurality of strap openings through
which one of the pair of shoulder straps can extend.
46. A method of protecting a car seat comprising a frame, a padding
disposed over the frame, a first shoulder strap and a second
shoulder strap, each shoulder strap comprising a connector, an
upper anchor point and a lower anchor point, each anchor point
being attached to the frame, and at least one crotch strap, the
crotch strap comprising an anchor point attached to the frame and a
buckle, the buckle being configured to accept the connectors, the
method comprising: providing a car seat cover comprising: a fabric
cover having an outer periphery that is adapted to be coupled to
the car seat frame over the padding the fabric cover defining a
shoulder strap opening, and a crotch strap opening, the shoulder
strap opening and the crotch strap opening being disposed so as to
allow the shoulder straps and the crotch strap to be extended
through the fabric cover; a border portion disposed about the outer
periphery, wherein the border portion is adapted to secure the
cover about the car seat with the cover being disposed to allow the
shoulder straps to extend through the shoulder strap opening, the
crotch strap to extend though the crotch strap opening, and the
connectors to be inserted into the buckle, without detaching any of
the anchor points from the frame, such that the shoulder straps and
the crotch strap can be used to secure a child in the car seat,
with the car seat cover being disposed between the child and the
car seat; and a flap attached to the fabric cover; securing the car
seat cover about car seat by placing the border portion around an
outside portion of the frame; extending the shoulder straps through
the shoulder strap openings; extending the crotch strap through the
crotch strap opening; and disposing the flap to substantially cover
the shoulder strap opening, so that the flap and the fabric cover
collectively define a plurality of strap openings disposed so as to
allow the shoulder straps to extend though the strap openings.
47. A method of protecting a car seat as recited in claim 46,
wherein the car seat is an infant carrier.
48. A car seat cover for a car seat comprising a frame, a padding
disposed over the frame, a first shoulder strap and a second
shoulder strap, each shoulder strap comprising a connector, an
upper anchor point and a lower anchor point, each anchor point
being attached to the frame, and at least one crotch strap, the
crotch strap comprising an anchor point attached to the frame and a
connector, the buckle being configured to accept the connectors,
the car seat cover comprising: a fabric cover having an outer
periphery that is adapted to be coupled to the car seat frame over
the padding; a border portion disposed about the outer periphery,
wherein the border portion is adapted to secure the cover about the
car seat; and a canopy attached to the fabric cover and disposed to
cover at least a portion of a child seated in the car seat.
49. A car seat cover as recited in claim 48, wherein the fabric
cover defines a pair of shoulder strap openings and a crotch strap
opening, the shoulder strap openings and the crotch strap opening
being disposed so as to allow the shoulder straps and the crotch
strap to be extended through the fabric cover, and wherein the
cover is disposed to allow the shoulder straps to extend through
the shoulder strap openings, the crotch strap to extend though the
crotch strap opening, and the connectors to be inserted into the
buckle, without detaching any of the anchor points from the frame,
such that the shoulder straps and the crotch strap can be used to
secure a child in the car seat, with the car seat cover being
disposed between the child and the car seat.
50. A car seat cover as recited in claim 48, wherein the canopy
comprises a canopy body having an outer periphery, at least one
border portion disposed about at least a portion of the outer
periphery of the canopy body, and at least one support member
attached to the canopy body, the at least one support member
providing structural support to the canopy body.
51. A car seat cover as recited in claim 50, wherein the canopy
further comprises a coupling mechanism attached to at least one of
the canopy body, the support member and the border portion, the
coupling mechanism being configured to allow an object to be
attached to the canopy.
52. A car seat comprising: a frame; a padding disposed over the
frame; a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap, each
shoulder strap comprising a connector, an upper anchor point and a
lower anchor point, each anchor point being attached to the frame;
a fabric cover having an outer periphery that is adapted to be
coupled to the car seat frame over the padding; a border portion
disposed about the outer periphery, wherein the border portion is
adapted to secure the cover about the car seat; and a canopy
attached to the fabric cover and disposed to cover at least a
portion of a child seated in the car seat.
53. A car seat as recited in claim 52, wherein the canopy further
comprises at least one coupling mechanism configured to allow an
object to be coupled to the canopy.
54. A method of protecting a child, the method comprising:
providing a car seat, the car seat comprising: a frame; a padding
disposed over the frame; a first shoulder strap and a second
shoulder strap, each shoulder strap comprising a connector, an
upper anchor point and a lower anchor point, each anchor point
being attached to the frame; at least one crotch strap, the crotch
strap comprising an anchor point attached to the frame and a
connector, the buckle being configured to accept the connectors;
and a fabric cover comprising an outer periphery that is adapted to
be coupled to the car seat frame over the padding, a border portion
disposed about the outer periphery, wherein the border portion is
adapted to secure the cover about the car seat; and a canopy
attached to the fabric cover and disposed to cover at least a
portion of a child seated in the car seat; and extending the canopy
to cover at least a portion of a child seated in the car seat.
55. A method as recited in claim 54, wherein the car seat further
comprises a coupling mechanism attached to the canopy and
configured to allow an object to be coupled to the canopy, the
method further comprising coupling an object to the canopy.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Both common sense and the laws of many states dictate that a
child, when riding in motor vehicles, should be restrained by an
appropriate child restraint system. The U.S. Department of
Transportation has promulgated regulations establishing performance
criteria for such systems. See, e.g., 49 C.F.R. .sctn. 571.213
(2003). To meet these criteria, many manufacturers have begun in
recent years to manufacture child restraint systems having a "five
point" belt configuration originally developed for military planes
and racecars.
[0002] Five point belt systems are effective in restraint systems
because they feature five anchor points, where the belts are
attached to the frame of the restraint system (usually a child car
seat, or in the case of infants, a bassinet-style carrier).
Typically, the five anchor points are arranged in the following
manner: left and right shoulder anchor points, left and right hip
anchor points, and a crotch anchor point. The left shoulder and hip
anchor points serve to anchor either end of a left shoulder belt to
the underlying device, while the right shoulder and hip anchor
points likewise anchor either end of a right shoulder belt. Each of
the shoulder belts includes a connector, which can be mated to a
buckle attached to the free end of a crotch strap, which is
anchored to the underlying device via the crotch anchor.
[0003] Those skilled in the art will recognize that child restraint
systems often include padding and/or a fabric cover over the frame
of the system, in order to enhance the safety and comfort of the
system. Often, the padding and cover will be integrated into a
single, padded cover, and the cover generally will have at least
five holes, corresponding to the anchor points, to allow the belts
to be fed through the padding and/or cover and anchored to the
frame.
[0004] Recognizing that children are not the cleanest of creatures,
the manufacturers of child restraint systems often make the covers
washable, to remedy the unavoidable occasional spill.
Unfortunately, with the advent of five point belt systems, it has
become difficult to remove the cover for washing. As noted above,
the covers known in the art define five (or more) separate holes,
to correspond to each anchor point. Because the shoulder belts each
are anchored at two points, however, one of the anchors must be
released in order to allow the cover to be removed from the frame.
This presents a problem, because common child restraint systems are
manufactured in a way that requires.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Embodiments of the invention provide novel car seats, car
seat covers, and methods for their use. For example, one exemplary
embodiment comprises a car seat cover for a car seat, which can
comprise a frame, a padding disposed over the frame, a first
shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap. Each shoulder strap may
comprise a connector, an upper anchor point and a lower anchor
point, such that each anchor point may be attached to the frame.
The car seat can further comprise at least one crotch strap, which
can include an anchor point attached to the frame and a buckle, the
buckle being configured to accept the connectors.
[0006] The car seat cover can comprise a fabric cover having an
outer periphery, which can be adapted to be coupled to the car seat
frame over the padding. The fabric cover may define a pair of
shoulder strap openings and a crotch strap opening, which can be
disposed so as to allow the shoulder straps and the crotch strap,
respectively, to be extended through the fabric cover. In some
cases, the car seat cover can further comprise a border portion
disposed about the outer periphery, and the border portion can be
adapted to secure the cover about the car seat with the cover being
disposed to allow the shoulder straps to extend through the
shoulder strap openings, the crotch strap to extend though the
crotch strap opening, and the connectors to be inserted into the
buckle, without detaching any of the anchor points from the frame.
Thus, in accordance with some embodiments, the shoulder straps and
the crotch strap can be used to secure a child in the car seat,
with the car seat cover being disposed between the child and the
car seat.
[0007] In particular embodiments, the cover can be configured to
protect a child car seat and/or an infant carrier. In other
embodiments, the cover may have a support pillow fixedly and/or
removably attached to the fabric cover and/or disposed to support
the head of a child seated in the car seat. In yet further
embodiments, the car seat cover can comprise a flap disposed so as
to cover a portion of at least one of the pair of shoulder strap
openings. The flap, therefore, can defining a plurality of strap
openings through which at least one of the pair of shoulder straps
can extend. At least a portion of the flap may be fixedly and/or
removable attached to the fabric cover and/or the flap can be
removed entirely from the cover.
[0008] The fabric cover can comprise an absorbent and/or
stain-resistant material, and/or a material to which a
water-resistant coating has been applied. In certain embodiments,
the car seat cover can comprise a disposable material, which can be
paper, etc. In accordance with certain embodiments, a canopy can be
attached to the fabric cover and disposed to cover at least a
portion of a child seated in the car seat. Merely by way of
example, the canopy can include a canopy body having an outer
periphery, at least one border portion disposed about at least a
portion of the outer periphery of the canopy body, and at least one
support member attached to the canopy body. The at least one
support member providing structural support to the canopy body. The
canopy, cover and/or car seat can further include at least one
coupling mechanism for attaching objects to the bar. The coupling
mechanism(s) may be included with a bar attachable to the canopy,
cover and/or car seat.
[0009] Another set of embodiments provides car seats. One exemplary
car seat (which can be an infant carrier, a child car seat, etc.)
can comprise a frame, a padding disposed over the frame and a
fabric cover. The car seat can further include a first shoulder
strap and a second shoulder strap, each shoulder strap comprising a
connector, an upper anchor point and a lower anchor point. Each
anchor point can be attached to the frame. In some embodiments, the
fabric cover can have an outer periphery that is adapted to be
coupled to the frame over the padding and/or the fabric cover can
define a pair of shoulder strap openings and a crotch strap
opening; the shoulder strap openings and the crotch strap opening
may be disposed so as to allow the shoulder straps and the crotch
strap to be extended through the fabric cover.
[0010] Embodiments of the car seat may also comprise a border
portion disposed about the outer periphery, and the border portion
can be adapted to secure the cover about the car seat. Thus, the
cover can be disposed to allow the shoulder straps to extend
through the shoulder strap openings, the crotch strap to extend
though the crotch strap opening, and the connectors to be inserted
into the buckle, without detaching any of the anchor points from
the frame. In this and other ways, the shoulder straps and the
crotch strap can be used to secure a child in the car seat, with
the car seat cover being disposed between the child and the car
seat.
[0011] Another set of embodiments provide methods for protecting
car seats and/or children. One exemplary method can protect a car
seat, such as one described above, and can comprise providing a car
seat cover. The car seat cover can include a fabric cover having an
outer periphery that is adapted to be coupled to the car seat frame
over the padding. The fabric cover also can define a pair of
shoulder strap openings and a crotch strap opening disposed so as
to allow the shoulder straps and the crotch strap, respectively, to
be extended through the fabric cover. The cover can further
comprise a border portion disposed about the outer periphery,
wherein the border portion is adapted to secure the cover about the
car seat, allowing the shoulder straps to extend through the
shoulder strap openings, the crotch strap to extend though the
crotch strap opening, and the connectors to be inserted into the
buckle, without detaching any of the anchor points from the frame.
Thus, the shoulder straps and the crotch strap can be used to
secure a child in the car seat, with the car seat cover being
disposed between the child and the car seat.
[0012] The method can further include securing the car seat cover
about car seat by placing the border portion around an outside
portion of the frame, extending the shoulder straps through the
shoulder strap openings, and extending the crotch strap through the
crotch strap opening. In other embodiments, the method can also
include placing a child in the car seat, such that the shoulder
straps secure the child's shoulders and the crotch strap extends
between the child's legs, using the buckle and the connectors,
securing the shoulder straps to the crotch strap. The car seat
cover may be removed from the car seat, washed, and re-secured
about the car seat. Alternatively, the car seat cover may be
removed and discarded.
[0013] In some embodiments, the car seat and/or car seat cover can
include a canopy, and the method can further comprise extending the
canopy to cover at least a portion of a child seated in the car
seat. Further, a bar may be attached to the canopy. The bar can
comprise one or more coupling mechanisms to allow an object to be
coupled to the bar, and the method can include coupling an object
to the bar.
[0014] The invention has been briefly described above. Additional
features and advantages may be realized by reference to the
appended figures and the detailed description below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the
present invention may be realized by reference to the figures,
which are described in remaining portions of the specification. In
the figures, like reference numerals are used throughout several to
refer to similar components. In some instances, a sub-label
consisting of a lower case letter is associated with a reference
numeral to denote one of multiple similar components. When
reference is made to a reference numeral without specification to
an existing sub-label, it is intended to refer to all such multiple
similar components.
[0016] FIG. 1 is a drawing of a removable car seat cover in
accordance with various embodiments of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a front perspective drawing of a child car seat
with a removable car seat cover in accordance with various
embodiments of the invention.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective drawing of the car seat with a
removable car seat cover as illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0019] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the car seat and removable car
seat cover of FIG. 2.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a detail view of a removable car seat cover
disposed in accordance with various embodiments of the
invention.
[0021] FIGS. 6 and 7 are a detail views of a removable car seat
cover with a flap in accordance with various embodiments of the
invention.
[0022] FIG. 8 is a top perspective drawing of an infant carrier
with a removable infant car seat cover in accordance with
embodiments of the invention.
[0023] FIG. 9 is a side perspective drawing of the infant carrier
and removable car seat cover illustrated in FIG. 8.
[0024] FIG. 10 illustrates a car seat cover comprising a support
structure for supporting a child's head, in accordance with various
embodiments of the invention.
[0025] FIG. 11 illustrates a car seat cover comprising a canopy, in
accordance with various embodiments of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] Various detailed embodiments of the present invention are
disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which
may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural
and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted
as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a
representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to
variously employ the present invention in virtually any
appropriately detailed structure.
[0027] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that child
restraint devices are offered in a variety of configurations. For
very young children, parents often prefer to use a combination
infant carrier/car seat, which can be used both to carry the child
and can be secured within a vehicle, often by the use of a base
(secured by the vehicles seat belts) to which the infant carrier
can be attached. Some such systems can also the infant carrier to
be used with a stroller, usually via a similar base attached to a
stroller body. Some exemplary infant carriers are described in
detail in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,331,032 and 6,454,350, the
complete disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference
for all purposes. Older children, by contrast, often ride in a more
upright, bucket-type seat, facing either to the front or to the
rear of the vehicle, depending on the age and size of the child.
Some bucket-type seats are described in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,508,510, 6,378,950 and 5,957,531, the complete disclosures of
which are incorporated herein by reference for all purpose. The
term "car seat" is used herein to refer collectively to both of
these types of child restraint devices, unless the context
specifically indicates otherwise.
[0028] Various embodiments of the invention provide removable car
seat covers and methods for using them. Other embodiments of the
invention provider car seats with removable car seat covers. One
set of embodiments is exemplified by the car set cover 100
illustrated in FIG. 1. The car seat cover 100 can be used to cover
and protect a car seat (including, for instance, a child's car
seat). The car seat cover 100 can be configured generally to be
secured to a seating surface of a car seat. Thus, the car seat
cover 100, in accordance with some embodiments, can be patterned to
conform to the shape of a child car seat and/or infant carrier. The
exemplary car seat cover 100 comprises a fabric cover 104, which
can, in accordance with some embodiments, include an elasticized
outer portion 108. Those skilled in the art will recognize that car
seats often are subjected to a variety of spills and stains
resulting in part from their frequent proximity to children. In
accordance with certain embodiments, therefore the fabric cover 104
can comprise an absorbent material, such as natural (e.g., cotton,
wool, etc.) or synthetic (e.g., polyester, nylon, etc.) padding,
such that any liquid spilled on the car seat will be absorbed by
the car seat cover. Advantageously, the car seat cover 100 easily
may be removed from the car seat, as described more fully below,
and washed, to remedy any spills.
[0029] In accordance with other embodiments, the fabric cover 104
can comprise a stain- and/or liquid-resistant material, such as
nylon, etc. One such material is commercially-available under the
Gore-Tex.TM. brand. In addition, the fabric cover can be coated
with any of several commercially-available waterproofing coatings,
such as those marketed under the ScotchGuard.TM. brand. Generally,
the exterior of the fabric cover 104 can also comprise a material
that is comfortable, as it may come into contact with a person's
skin. Thus, in accordance with some embodiments, the fabric cover
104 may be multilayered. Merely by way of example, the cover can
have a comfortable and/or absorbent outer layer and a waterproof
(e.g., rubberized, coated, etc.) inner layer, to provide a
combination of comfort for the rider and protection for the
underlying car seat. In accordance with certain embodiments, the
fabric cover 104 can comprise a stretchable material (including,
for instance, any of a variety of commercially-available elastic
woven fiber materials, such as, for example, the materials
generally available under the Lycra.TM. brand name) to allow the
fabric cover to conform more closely to the contours of the car
seat/infant carrier to which it is secured. Other materials can be
used as well, to accommodate ergonomic and/or aesthetic
considerations. Some such exemplary materials include leather,
wool-like materials, and the like. In certain aspects, therefore,
covers in accordance with embodiments of the invention can be used
to provide an easy way to change the aesthetic and/or ergonomic
characteristics of a car seat.
[0030] In accordance with some embodiments, the car seat cover 100
can have a border portion 108 disposed about the outer periphery of
the fabric cover 104. In certain embodiments, the border portion
108 can comprise an elastic material (e.g., any material capable of
maintaining elastic properties under normal operating conditions).
Thus, merely by way of example, the border portion 108 can comprise
a relatively narrow rubber or rubberized band of material. In other
embodiments, the elastic material can comprise an outer portion of
the stretchable material described above, perhaps attached to an
inner portion of relatively less-stretchable material. The elastic
material can, in some cases, describe a perimeter that is generally
smaller than the perimeter of the fabric cover 104. In operation,
therefore, the elastic material can be stretched to be placed over
an outer periphery of a seating surface of a child car seat (or
infant carrier) and then released. When allowed to contract, the
elastic material thus can function to secure the cover 100 to the
car seat. Alternatively, the border portion 108 can comprise a
portion of material (e.g., a tunnel and/or series of loops) that
may include, for example, a drawstring that can be used to cinch
the border portion around the outer periphery of a seating surface
(similar in effect to that of the elastic material, discussed
above), thereby securing the cover 104 to a car seat. In some
cases, the border portion 108 can be reinforced with additional
and/or more stress-resistant material. Additionally, the border
portion 108 can include one or more attachment mechanisms, as
described more fully below, for attaching the cover 100 to a car
seat. Likewise, the car seat may have corresponding attachment
mechanism(s) for allowing such attachment.
[0031] Car seat covers in accordance with embodiments of the
invention can have a variety of dimensions, according to the
dimensions of the car seats they are to protect. In some
embodiments, for instance, the fabric cover 104 can be generally
elliptical, round or rectangular in shape. Optionally, the border
portion 108 can function to further define the shape of the cover
100, for instance, by gathering certain portions of the perimeter
of the fabric cover 104. In accordance with some embodiments, the
fabric cover 104 can have an overall length (top-to-bottom, as it
is placed on the car seat) of between about thirty and about fifty
inches, and in particular of between about thirty-five and about
forty-five inches. In other embodiments, the fabric cover 104 can
have an overall length of between about sixteen and about
forty-five inches, and in particular between about twenty-four and
about forty inches.
[0032] The exemplary car seat cover illustrated in FIG. 1 can have
one or more shoulder strap openings 112 and/or crotch strap
openings 116. As described in more detail below, the car seat's
straps can extend through the openings 112, 116 when in use,
allowing the straps to secure a child in the car seat while the
cover 100 is in place. In accordance with certain embodiments, one
or more of the openings 112, 116 can be bordered by a border
portion (similar in form and/or function to the border portion 108
bordering the exterior of the cover 100) and/or can be reinforced
with tear resistant material, an extra layer of material, extra
stitching, and/or the like, in order to maintain the size of the
openings 112, 116 and/or prevent accidental enlargement of the
openings 112, 116 through tearing.
[0033] In some cases, the shoulder strap openings 112 can be
elongate and can have a length of between about fifteen inches and
about twenty-five inches, and in particular of between about
sixteen inches and about nine inches. In other cases, for example,
covers designed to fit on smaller car seats and/or infant carriers,
the openings 112 can have a length of between about five inches and
about ten inches, and in particular of between about six inches and
about eight inches. The shoulder strap openings 112 can have a
variety of widths; in some embodiments, the openings 112 can be a
slit in the cover 100, so that the effective width of the opening
is relatively narrow, although the opening can be widened as
necessary as the cover 100 is placed under tensile stress (for
instance, when secured to a car seat) or when manipulated as the
straps are extended through the opening. In other cases, the
openings 112 can be wider, for instance between about one-quarter
inch and two inches, and in particular between about one-half inch
and one inch when the cover 100 is under no tension. In still other
cases, such as those described in detail below, the opening 112 can
be even wider, for instance to accommodate two shoulder straps
extended through a single opening.
[0034] The crotch strap opening 116 can be any of a variety of
shapes. In some embodiments, the crotch strap opening is elongate,
to accommodate the width of a buckle attached to the crotch strap.
In other embodiments, the crotch strap opening 116 can be
substantially circular, substantially rectangular, substantially
triangular, or another shape. In particular embodiments, the crotch
strap opening can be between about two inches and about six inches
wide, and in particular between about three inches and about five
inches.
[0035] FIGS. 2-4 illustrate a car seat 200 with a cover 100 in
accordance with certain embodiments of the invention. The car seat
200 comprises a frame 204, which usually is fabricated from a
relatively rigid, high-impact material such as ABS plastic, metal
and/or the like. The frame generally comprises a "front" face on
which the child sits and a "rear" face, which often is disposed
against a vehicle seat. (The term "front" face refers to the
portion of the car seat on which the child sits. In some cases,
particularly with rear-facing car seats, the front face in fact may
not be oriented toward the front of the vehicle.) In many cases,
the front face of the frame 204 is molded or otherwise crafted to
fit the general anatomical contours of a child in a seated
position. Between the front face of the frame 204 and the occupant
of the seat 200 is disposed one or more layers of padding 208. The
padding 208 can comprise a relatively firm material, such as that
commercially available from Dow Corporation under the trade name
Styrofoam, and/or a relatively soft material, such as
cotton/synthetic batting. In many cases, the padding 208 comprises
a plurality of layers, each of which may be relatively firm or
relatively soft, in order to enhance both comfort and safety.
[0036] In accordance with embodiments of the invention, cars seats
can include one or more safety belts, which can be used to secure a
child in a car seat. In the illustrated embodiment, for example,
the car seat 200 includes two shoulder straps 212, which can be
attached to the frame 204 with a plurality of anchor devices 216.
The anchor devices 216 can comprise any mechanism capable of
attaching the shoulder straps 212 to the frame 208. Merely by way
of example, an anchor device 216-1 can comprise a flat washer
affixed to a loop at one end of the strap 212-1, and the frame 204
can define a slot through which the washer may be inserted from the
front. When the strap 216-1 is extended from the frame 208, the
washer is pulled flat against the rear of the frame, securing the
strap 212-1 to the frame. Alternatively, an anchor device 216 can
comprise a fastener system, such as a bolt and nut, for attaching
the strap 212 to the frame; other secure attachment fixtures can be
used as well. In some cases, one or more of the anchors 216 can be
designed to allow the straps 212 to pass through the anchors 216,
and optionally, to lock the straps 212 in place, allowing for the
tension of the shoulder straps 212 to be adjusted, providing for a
customizable fit for a child placed in the seat 200. As well, some
of the anchors 216 (in particular embodiments, the upper anchors
216-3, 216-4) can be positionally adjusted, to accommodate children
of different heights.
[0037] In accordance with various embodiments, both ends of each of
the shoulder straps 212 are attached to the frame with anchors 216,
forming a pair of loops through which a child's arms may be
extended, such that the straps 212 secure the child's shoulders to
the car seat. Each strap 212 can comprise a connector 220. The car
seat 200 further comprises one or more crotch straps 224, which can
be attached to the frame with an anchor device 228, which may be
similar in form and/or function to the anchor devices 216 discussed
above. The crotch strap 224 can further comprise a buckle 232,
which may be coupled with the connectors 220, in order to secure a
child in the car seat. When the buckle 232 is coupled with the
connectors, the belts 216, 224 can define a "five point" (or, in
embodiments with two crotch straps, a "six point") harness,
recognized by those skilled in the art as providing a relatively
safe child restraint system.
[0038] The padding 208 can define one or more openings 236 through
which the shoulder straps 212 can be threaded. In accordance with
certain embodiments, the openings 236 can be arranged to
accommodate the positional adjustment of the anchors 216. The
padding 208 can further define a crotch strap opening 240, through
which the crotch strap 224 can be threaded.
[0039] In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the cover
100 can be placed over the front face of the frame 204 and padding
208, in the manner indicated above. In particular embodiments, when
the cover 100 is in place on the seat 200, the openings 112 in the
cover 100 are disposed so that the shoulder straps 212 may be
extended through the cover 100 while all of the anchors 216 remain
attached to the frame 204. In other words, the shoulder straps 212
do not need to be threaded through the openings 212; the loop
formed by the strap 212-1 when attached to the frame 204 can itself
be extended through the opening 112-1, and the loop formed by the
strap 212-2 can be extended through the other opening 112-2. In
this way, the cover 100 easily can be secured to the frame 204
and/or removed from the frame 204, without having to detach any of
the anchors 216 from the frame 204. As well, the crotch strap 224
can be extended through the crotch strap opening 116 while the
anchor 228 remains attached to the frame 204. FIG. 5 illustrates in
detail the straps 212 and 224 extending through the openings 112,
116 in the cover 100.
[0040] In accordance with embodiments of the invention, therefore,
the cover 100 quickly and easily may be removed from the frame 204
for washing and then resecured to the frame 204, allowing for more
convenient (and therefore more frequent) cleaning of the cover. In
other embodiments, the cover 100 can comprise a disposable
material, as described above; thus, the cover 100 can be removed
quickly and discarded, and a new cover can be secured to the frame
204, providing an additional, hygienic way to protect the car seat
200 from soiling. In accordance with some embodiments, a washable
cover can be secured to the frame 204, and an additional,
disposable cover can be secured over the washable cover, providing
additional convenience and protection.
[0041] Other embodiments of the invention can feature different
configurations of strap openings. Merely by way of example, car
seat covers according to some embodiments can feature one or more
flaps that cover at least part of a shoulder strap opening. Thus,
the flaps can cover a substantial portion of the opening,
effectively defining a plurality of openings for the strap to pass
through and thereby reducing the overall area of the opening and
reducing the chances that the portion of the car seat otherwise
exposed by the opening might be soiled. In addition, the flaps can
provide structural integrity for the cover, protecting the
opening(s) from excessive lateral strain, which possibly could
cause tearing of the openings. In some cases, the flap can comprise
a material similar to the material from which the cover is
constructed.
[0042] Merely by way of example, FIG. 6 illustrates a detail view
of a car seat cover 600 in accordance with certain embodiments of
the invention. The car seat cover features a pair of shoulder strap
openings 112 and a crotch strap opening 116, similar to the cover
100 described above. The cover 600 also features a flap 604, which
can be used to cover at least a portion of one of the openings 112.
In some embodiments, the flap 604 can be substantially rectangular
in shape. In other embodiments, the flap 604 can be elliptical,
round, triangular, or other shapes.
[0043] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the flap can be configured so that
the straps 112 extend through portions of the openings 112 that are
not covered by the flap 604, when the flap 604 is in place. In the
illustrated embodiment, one portion of the flap 604 is fixedly
attached to the cover 112 via a fixed attachment mechanism 608
(such as stitching, heat welding or the like) and another portion
of the flap 604 is removably attached to the cover via a plurality
of removable attachment mechanisms. Thus, in certain embodiments,
the cover 600 can comprise one component 612 of a removable
attachment mechanism, and the flap 604 can comprise a complementary
component 616 of the removable attachment mechanism. Merely by way
of example, the removable attachment mechanisms can comprise
fasteners, such as the hook-and-loop fasteners commercially
available under the trade name Velcro.TM.. Of course, other
fasteners could be used as well, including buckles, snaps, buttons,
zippers, adhesives, ties, hooks, and the like. In other
embodiments, both portions of the flap 604 can be removably
attached to the cover 600, allowing the flap 604 to be removed in
its entirety from the cover 600.
[0044] In operation, once the shoulder straps 212 have been
extended through the openings 112, as described above, the flap 604
can be closed, allowing the complementary components 612, 616 of
the removable attachment mechanism to engage one another, removably
attaching the flap 604 to the cover 600. Thus, while the straps 212
remain extended through the openings 112, a substantial portion of
each of the openings 212 can been covered. To remove the cover 600,
one can simply detach a portion of the flap 604 from the cover 600,
retract the straps 212, 224 through the openings 112, 116,
respectively, and remove the cover 600 from the frame of the car
seat (not shown in FIG. 6), as described above.
[0045] In some embodiments, the flap 604 can have a width (running
perpendicular to the length of the openings 212) of between about
two inches and about five inches, and in particular between about
three inches and about four inches. In other embodiments, the flap
604 can have a width between about five inches and about eighteen
inches, and in particular, between about six inches and about ten
inches. The flap can have a length of between about two inches and
about twenty-four inches, and in particular between about three
inches and about eight inches. In some cases, the dimensions of the
flap 604 can depend upon the dimensions of the shoulder strap
opening(s) 212 that the flap 604 covers.
[0046] Other embodiments feature different configurations of
openings and/or flaps. Merely by way of example, FIG. 7 illustrates
a cover 700 that includes a single opening 704, through which both
shoulder straps (not shown in FIG. 7) may be extended. The length
of the opening 704 can be similar to the lengths of the openings
described above, but the width can be wider than those described
above. Merely by way of example, in some embodiments, the width of
the opening 700 can be from about four inches to about eighteen
inches, and in particular, from about six inches to about twelve
inches. Because the opening 704 accommodating both shoulder straps
often will be wider than an opening for a single strap, the
embodiments illustrated by FIG. 7 often feature a flap 708, which
can be similar in configuration and/or function to the flap 604
described with respect to FIG. 6 above. Thus, a portion of the flap
704 can be fixedly and/or removably attached to the cover 700, and
another portion of the flap 704 can be removably attached to the
cover 700, for example, with one or more attachment mechanisms,
which can have multiple, engaging components 716, 720, similar to
the components 612, 616 described above.
[0047] Certain embodiments of the invention specifically comprise
infant carriers and covers for such carriers. An exemplary
embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, which illustrate an
infant carrier 800. Similar to the car seats described above, the
infant carrier 800 can comprise a frame 804, and padding 808
disposed on the front face of the frame 804. The carrier 800 can
further comprise a pair of shoulder straps 812 attached to the
frame by anchors 816 and comprising connectors 820, similar to
their counterparts discussed above. Likewise the carrier 800 can
have one or more crotch straps 824 attached by anchors 824 to the
frame 804. The crotch strap(s) 824 can include a buckle 832, which
can accept the connectors 820, as discussed above. The carrier 800
can further comprise a handle 836 to facilitate carrying of the
carrier 800.
[0048] The carrier 800 can further include a cover 840. The cover
840 can comprise a fabric cover 844 and border portion 848, similar
to the components described in detail above. The cover 840 can
define one or more shoulder strap openings 852 through which the
shoulder straps 812 can be extended, and a crotch strap opening
856, through which the crotch strap can be extended. The openings
852, 856 can be similar to those described above. Optionally, the
cover 840 can be contoured to accommodate the handle 836 and/or can
include one or more straps 860 to secure the cover 840 around the
handle 836. One portion of the strap 860 can be fixedly and/or
removably attached to the cover 840, and another portion of the
strap can be removably attached to the cover 840, for instance with
any of the attachment mechanisms discussed above.
[0049] Other embodiments of the invention provide car seats and/or
infant carriers with covers having support structures configured to
support the head of a child riding in the car seat. For instance,
FIG. 10 illustrates a car seat with a cover 100 including a support
pillow 1000 for supporting a child's head. The support pillow 1000
can be fixedly attached to the cover and/or integrated with the
cover. Merely by way of example, the support pillow 1000 can
comprise an additional portion of material perimeter stitched onto
the cover 100, with stuffing material disposed between the
additional portion and the cover 100.
[0050] In other embodiments, the support pillow 1000 can be a
separate pillow, for instance one of the pillows described in
commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,403 entitled "Pressure Relief
Pillow and Methods," and issued Nov. 27, 2001 to Matthews, the
entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for
all purposes. The support pillow can be fixedly attached to the
cover 1000, for instance, by stitching, welding, etc. Optionally,
the support pillow can be removably attached to the cover, for
example, using any of the removable attachment mechanisms described
above, to allow for repositioning of the support pillow to
accommodate different sizes of children and/or to allow for easy
removal for cleaning, etc.
[0051] Another set of embodiments provides car seat covers with
attached canopies. FIG. 11 illustrates one such exemplary
embodiment. The illustrated embodiment comprises a car seat 1100,
which can be similar in configuration and/or features to the
exemplary car seats and/or infant carriers discussed above. In
particular embodiments, the car seat 1100 can include a cover 1104,
which also can be similar to those discussed above. In particular,
the cover 1104 may be (but need not be) designed to be easily
removable from the car seat 1100. The cover 1104 may further
comprise a canopy 1108, which can be used to shield a child in the
seat from light, insects, adverse weather, public exposure,
etc.
[0052] In accordance with some embodiments, the canopy 1108 may
comprise a canopy body 1112, one or more border portions 1116, and
one or more structural support members 1120. In some cases, the
canopy body 1112 can comprise materials similar to those from which
the cover 1104 is constructed. In other cases, different materials
may be used, depending on the implementation. Merely by way of
example, the body 1112 may comprise a mesh material, for instance
to allow light and fresh air to reach the child, while protecting
the child from insects, etc. Alternatively, the body 1112 may
comprise a relatively clear plastic material, which can allow light
to reach the child while providing protection from inclement
weather. In still other embodiments, the body 1112 may comprise a
plurality of panels, which may be attached to one another via any
of the attachment methods discussed herein, and each of the panels
may comprise similar and/or different materials. Merely by way of
example, FIG. 11 illustrates a fabric canopy body 1112 comprising a
panel 1124, which may be clear plastic, so that, for instance, a
parent may quickly an easily view a child underneath the canopy
1108. In some embodiments, the body 1112 is sized to extend over
only a portion of the seat 1100. In other embodiments, the body
1112 can be sized to extend over the entire front portion of the
seat 1104, effectively enclosing the child between the seat 1100
and the cover 1108. In some such embodiments, the cover 1108 can be
retracted if desired, so that it covers only part of the front
portion of the seat 1100.
[0053] The border portion(s) 1116 may be disposed about the outer
periphery of the fabric cover 104, similar to the border portion
108 discussed above. The border portion(s) 1116 likewise may
comprise an elastic material, which can define the shape of the
canopy 1108 and/or a reinforcing material, and the border
portion(s) 116 may include a drawstring, as discussed above. In
particular embodiments, a first border portion 1116a may be
elasticized and configured fit around a top portion (i.e., the
portion toward which the child's head would rest) of the car seat
1100, thereby securing the canopy 1108 to the seat 1100.
Alternatively and/or in addition, the canopy 1108 and/or car seat
1100 may feature a removable attachment mechanism, which can
include without limitation those mentioned above, such as Velcro,
snaps, buckles and/or the like, to secure the canopy 1108 and/or
the border portion 1116a to the car seat 1100.
[0054] Optionally, a second border portion 1116b (which may but
need not comprise a material similar to the first border portion
1116a) may extend around the periphery of the body 1112 away from
the top portion of the car seat 1100. (In embodiments in which the
canopy 1108 is designed to cover the entire front portion of the
seat 1100, the second border portion 1116b may be similar to the
first border portion 1116 and/or the canopy 1108 can feature an
attachment mechanism for securing the canopy 1108 to the bottom of
the car seat 1100.) In some cases, the first and second border
portions 1116a, 1116b, respectively, may be embodied in a single
border portion, which can extend around the entire periphery of the
body 1112.
[0055] The support members 1120, which can, in some embodiments,
extend in roughly semi-circular fashion from each side of the seat
1100 to provide structural support for the body 1112. The support
members can comprise any suitably rigid material, including merely
by way of example, plastic, aluminum or some other metal,
fiberglass, and/or the like. The support members 1120 may,
depending on the embodiment, be sown into the body 1108, be
attached to the body 1108 by attachment mechanisms, etc. In
particular embodiments, the support members 1120 may be threaded
through loops and/or tunnels incorporated in and/or affixed to the
cover 1108.
[0056] In certain embodiments, the support members 1120 can be
relatively thin rods that are flexed (perhaps by tension from the
body 1112) into a desired shape for the canopy 1108. In some cases,
the support members 1120 can be attached to the sides of the seat
1100. In other cases, the support members may be movable, such that
they may be drawn relatively together (perhaps near the top and/or
bottom portion of the seat 1100), to allow the canopy 1108 to be
retracted (e.g., to allow easy access to a child in the seat 1100).
Merely by way of example, the support members 1120 may be attached
to the car seat 1100 in such a way as to allow the support members
1120 to rotate about an axis running from one side of the seat 100
to the other side. In certain embodiments, the material comprising
the body 112 may have sufficient rigidity that the support members
are unnecessary.
[0057] Optionally, the canopy 1108 may comprise one or more
coupling mechanisms 1132 for attaching toys and/or other objects.
In some embodiments, the coupling mechanisms 1132b may be attached
to (and/or integrated with) the canopy body 1108, a border portion
1116b and/or a support member 1120c. In some cases, the coupling
mechanisms may be attached using any of the attachment mechanisms
discussed herein. One or more objects (e.g., toys, pacifiers, etc.)
may be suspended from and/or attached to the canopy via the
coupling mechanisms, which can comprise, inter alia, fabric straps,
strings, chains, snaps, buckles, Velcro fastener materials and the
like. The length of the coupling mechanism(s) can be adjustable to
suspend the object(s) at a desirable height over the seat 1000
(and/or a child seated therein), and/or the coupling mechanisms may
be elastic to permit objects to be grasped and/or pulled down to
the child.
[0058] In particular embodiments, the coupling mechanisms 1132 may
be attached to the canopy 1108 via a bar and/or directly. For
example FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment having a plurality of
coupling mechanisms 1132. In accordance with some embodiments, one
or more coupling mechanism(s) 1132a may be attached to (and/or
incorporated with) a bar 1128, which can be used to suspend toys.
The bar 1128 can be attached to the body 1112, a border portion
1116 and/or a structural member 1120 using any attachment mechanism
discussed herein. Merely by way of example, commonly-owned U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 09/802,097, entitled "Support Pillow
Kit with Toy Bar" and filed Mar. 8, 2001 by Matthews-Brown, the
entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for
all purposes, describes in detail bars that may be used in
accordance with embodiments of the invention.
[0059] Merely by way of example, the bar 1128 may be attached to
one or more points relatively near an apex of the canopy 1112
(which may be formed by a structural member 1120c and/or a border
portion 1116b), so that the bar 1128 hangs from the canopy 1108. In
some embodiments, the toy bar may be attached to the canopy 1108 at
a plurality of points relatively closer to the seat 1100, so that
the toy bar spans a substantial portion of the width of the canopy
1108. One or more objects (e.g., toys, pacifiers, etc.) may be
suspended from and/or attached to the toy bar via coupling
mechanism(s) 1132, which can comprise, inter alia, fabric straps,
strings, chains, snaps, buckles, Velcro fastener materials and the
like. The length of the coupling mechanism(s) can be adjustable to
suspend the object(s) at a desirable height over the seat 1000
(and/or a child seated therein), and/or the coupling mechanisms may
be elastic to permit objects to be grasped and/or pulled down to
the child.
[0060] In some embodiments, a least a portion of the canopy 1108
may be fixedly and/or removably attached to the cover 1104. Merely
by way of example, the border portion 1116a can comprise an
attachment mechanism for attaching the canopy 1108 to the cover
1104. Alternatively, the border portion 1116 a may be stitched
and/or incorporated in to the cover, such that the cover 1104 and
the canopy 1108 effectively share a border portion, which may be
the border portion 108 of the cover 104, as discussed above. Thus,
depending on the embodiment, the canopy 1108 may be designed to be
washed with the cover. In such embodiments, the structural members
1120, and/or toy bar 1124 may be removed before washing.
Alternatively, the canopy 1108 may be designed to be removed from
the cover 1104 before the cover 1104 is washed.
[0061] In this way, embodiments of the invention provide novel car
seats, car seat covers and methods for their use. The description
above identifies certain exemplary embodiments for implementing the
invention, but those skilled in the art will recognize that many
modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the
invention. The invention, therefore, is defined only by the claims
set forth below.
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