Safety seat for a marine craft or other vehicle

Abstract

A safety seat assembly including a seat or like occupant support structured to maintain an occupant, such as a child or infant, in a predetermined, substantially upright orientation relative to the vehicle during travel thereof. A stabilization assembly includes an orientation portion moveable with the vehicle relative to the occupant support throughout a substantially universal range of orientations so as to compensate for any movement of the vehicle including lateral sway, turning, acceleration, de-acceleration, etc, which would tend to displace the occupant and occupant support from the preferred orientation. In one embodiment, the occupant support includes a floatation assembly as well as a ballast structure, wherein the occupant support is removably mounted on a water craft and is structured to maintain an occupant in an above surface, floating orientation in the water in the event of an emergency.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY [0001] The present application is a Continuation-In-Part application of United States Patent Application having Ser. No. 10 / 389,698, filed on Mar. 14, 2003 incorporated herein by reference, which matured into U.S. Pat. No. 6,863,017 on Mar. 8, 2005.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a safety seat assembly including an occupant support structure particularly, but not exclusively, intended for use in maintaining a child on a marine craft or other type of vehicle. An included stabilization assembly is structured to overcome forces to which the occupant support is exposed, while maintaining the occupant in a preferred, substantially upright orientation regardless of the extreme movements of the vehicle during its travel. A floatation assembly may also be included to maintain the occupant in an above surface, floating position when placed in the water during an emergency situation. [0004] 2. Description o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The safety seat assembly effectively maintains the occupant in a preferred orientation during vehicle movements and provides floatation and visibility in emergency situations, enhancing protection and rescue chances in marine environments.

Problems solved by technology

In any of the above noted situations such unusual or extreme movement results in forces being exerted on the seat assembly or occupant support in which the occupant is disposed.

Such forces, while not being sufficient to expel the occupant from the seat assembly, would frequently cause the swaying or tilting of the seat assembly and / or the occupant out of what may be referred to as a preferred and “predetermined orientation”.

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