Infant self-righting flotation seat/carrier

[0002] This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/304,801 filed May 4, 1999, now abandoned. This application also claims the benefit of U.S, Provisional Application Serial No. 60/084,372 filed May 5, 1998.

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] This invention relates generally to a child carrier and more particularly to a floatable child seat/carrier with low density material spaced from the center of gravity of the seat/carrier to provide a torsion force on the seat/carrier when the seat/carrier is immersed in water to urge the seat/carrier to an upright position.

[0005] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0006] Common problems of the known devices of the conventional types are the need for a ballasting material contained within or attached to the structure or components of the child carrier. This can render the carrier subject to misuse as the weight can be excessive and may lead to the heavy ballast components being detached or emptied which can hinder or completely disable the carrier's ability to float or upright itself and the child contained within.

[0007] Various carrier devices have been constructed for protecting a child from total immersion in a body of water; however none of the known prior art devices offer all of the new and unique features of the present invention in combination.

[0008] Applicant is aware of the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 3,620,570; 4,516,806; 4,725,253; 4,798,551; 4,799,910; 5,279,237; 5,409,411; 5,514,020; 5,733,003; 6,036,563; and, 6,059,360. Applicant is also aware of French Patent Nos. 1,390,534 and 2,532,907.

[0009] Many combinations of child carriers have been constructed to provide for a carrier that provides protection to the child from total immersion and or drowning. Most require a form of ballast that serves to upright and stabilize the carrier once it has entered a body of water. These ballasts are typically of a high-density material such as sand, gravel, metal or water which are contained in, or attached to the structure of the carrier. Some ballasts weigh upwards of 30 pounds which can make the carrier too heavy to readily move about from place to place. The possibility exists that the ballast container may be emptied or various weights attached to handles or other parts of a carrier may be detached or moved to an improper position by user's of the carriers because the heavy ballast components are in the way of easy portability and use. This can lead to a non-functional self-righting carrier at the very time it is needed most.

[0010] The present invention is brought forth as a combination of features that are light weight, permanently attached and utilize water as a ballast for self righting but do not require the heavy ballast water to be contained in the carrier except when the carrier should fall into a body of water. At the time of immersion a chamber will fill with water and provide a self-righting rotational force in addition to that gained from a unique arrangement of flotation materials.

[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved infant flotation seat/carrier.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide an infant flotation seat/carrier that will quickly right itself to a normal upright position from any other position in the water without the use of ballast weight being built into the structure of the carrier.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide an infant flotation seat/carrier that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and simple and efficient to use.

[0014] With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an infant flotation seat/carrier according to the invention.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a top view of the seat/carrier according to the invention.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a side view of the seat/carrier according to the invention.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the seat/carrier according to the invention.

[0019] FIG. 5 is a front view of the seat/carrier according to the invention.

[0020] Now with more particular reference to the drawings, shown is infant flotation seat/carrier 10 that can be manufactured by injection, blow or roto molding of thermoplastic or other like material.

[0021] Infant flotation seat 10 is made up of a shell 11 having an interior 15, an exterior 23, an upper end 19, a bottom 22, two spaced side members 12, 14 that have attached a seat member 17 and a back member 18 and a shape of a truncated bird's egg. A baby pad 20 is attached to the seat member 17 and back member 18.The baby-pad 20 is made of a thin plastic or vinyl type material and filled with a soft latex or plastic foam. The baby pad has clearance cutouts 21 at various locations to provide clearance to the seat drain holes 27 and seat belt mounting slots 44 which are cut into the seat member 17 and back member 18. Shell 11 is formed into a shape resembling a bird's egg with a portion removed at the top.

[0022] Stabilizing feet members 16 underlie the bottom 22 and extend up the exterior 23 of shell 11 to support the seat on any chosen flat surface such as a car or boat seat or table or floor. Upper end 19 of side members 12, 14 and back member 18 extends outwardly and downwardly forming space 24 extending from the front of the seat and around the back of the seat. Upper end 19 is in the shape of a peripheral flange, which extends outwardly and downwardly around the entire upper edge of the seat along the upper edge of the side members and back member. The flange provides a convenient place to mount the low density flotation material 50 that extends from the upper end 19 of the shell 11 to approximately half way above the bottom 22 and completely around the periphery. A set of vehicle seat belt locks 26 are provided on the upper end 19 located just forward of the handle lower end 36 mounting point. These seat belt locks 26 can be used with the seat belts found in a car or other similar vehicle or a boat or other watercraft to restrain a child while the vehicle or vessel is in motion. A set of seat belts 38 comprising a waist belt 41 and a three point chest and crotch belt 42 are attached to the seat member 17 and back member 18 which restrain the child while it is in the infant flotation seat carrier. These seat belts 38 serve to protect the child by holding it firmly within the shell 11 while being transported by hand, vehicle or vessel or if the child and carrier should fall into a body of water.

[0023] Asymmetric shaped handle 30 extends upwardly from side members 12, 14 and crosses the seat at the midpoint thereof. The asymmetric handle 30 has an internal frame 34, which is formed with a curved portion 31 and a squared corner portion 33. The asymmetric handle 30, lower ends 36 are fixed to sides 12,14 at the upper end 19 of shell 11. A center handgrip 32 is formed by the internal frame 34 having a center portion not covered in the low-density flotation material 50 which otherwise is attached to the curved 31 and square corner 33 of the handle 30. The low-density flotation material 50 helps to turn the seat to a normal floating position from an inverted or other capsized position in the water. The square corner portion 33 of the handle 30 provides a slightly longer moment arm and greater flotation than that of curved portion 31 thereby increasing the rate and providing a consistent direction of rotation about the center of gravity for a quicker uprighting from an inverted or capsized position in the water.

[0024] When child carrier 10 is immersed in water in an inclined and upright position, the flotation material is so distributed on carrier 10 that it exerts a positive force on the chair in relation to the surface of the water. The force is spaced from the center of gravity of carrier 10 and the torsional force exerted on carrier 10 will be equal to the distance of the force from the center of gravity times the floatational force. This force will tend to force the carrier 10 to an upright position from an inverted or capsized position as well as remain in the upright position.

[0025] The flotation material is distributed on the child carrier so that the carrier will float in a normal position, but if carrier 10 is inclined from the normal position, flotation material 50 will exert forces on the carrier to bring it to a normal position. By having low density flotation material on the upper exterior of the shell 23 as well as on the handle 30, the flotation force increases as the carrier 10 rotates further away from the upright position. A series of ballast ports 28 are cut through the shell 11 so that the space 37 formed by the bottom of the seat member 17 and back member 18 and the interior of the shell 15 will fill with water if the child carrier should fall into a body of water. This ballast water will help to keep the child carrier 10 upright by lowering the center of gravity in relation to the surface of the water thereby stabilizing the carrier when waves or other forces tend to over turn the carrier. The ballast ports also help to upright the child carrier 10 if it should fall into the water in an inverted or capsized position. The space 37 will fill with water and exert a negative (in relation to the surface of the water) torsional force one hundred and eighty degrees opposite to the positive torsional force provided by the asymmetrical handle's 30 low density flotation material 50 thereby further increasing the rotation rate about the center of gravity.

[0026] The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred, practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.