Cover for child car seat

Abstract

A seat cover for a child safety seat in the nature of a slipcover utilizes a multiple ply cover material having a plurality of separated panels extending from a central expanse of cover material. A back panel and a seat panel extend along a central vertical axis, and a pair of wing panels extend laterally therefrom. A plurality of hook and loop fasteners are attached to adjacent, separated panels along opposing panel sides. Restraining safety belts such as are included in five-point harness systems may be selectively received between adjacent separated panels and may be releasably restrained from removal therefrom upon the fastening together of adjacent panels. Upon such fastening the seat cover extends in a substantially continuous manner over a surface of the child safety seat, protecting this surface from soilage during use of the safety seat by a child.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 848,893, filed Oct. 3, 2006.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present invention relates to protective seat covers and, more particularly, to such protective covers as are useful for child car seats. More specifically, the present invention relates to protective covers for use with infant and child car seats of a variety of different sizes and shapes.BACKGROUND ART[0003]The use of infant and child car seats is now required by law in most states. The majority of such seats consist of a molded, hard plastic frame shaped to resemble a chair, having a seat and a seat back. This seat frame is then attached to a base frame that is designed to be placed in the seat of a vehicle (car, airplane, bus, etc.), and make use of the existing seat and shoulder restraints, as well as additional LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) devices, to securely anchor the base fra...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]One advantage of the invention is the slip cover does not interfere with existing fabric installation of child car seats, their harness structures or tethering devices. The car seat cover is water proof and can be placed on any child car seat device by protecting the integrity of the car seat materials, structure and installation to vehicle positioning.

[0013]Of current covers available the consumer must first pry any removable fabric from plastic fastening parts that may break if too much pressure is applied to remove it. With some car seat fabrics installed by child car seat manufacturer, the car seat must first be removed from the car then disassembled with tools.

[0014]With either removal, the integrity of the car seat—in terms of both its positioning apparatus and the internal parts and mechanisms can easily be compromised. Plastic parts can break off or the car seat can be refastened to the car in an unsafe manner. Although some child car seat manufacturers claim their seat covers are removable and washable, it is only in fine print that the consumer learns that removability of the factory installed cover requires removal of the car seat from the vehicle and / or disassembly of the child car seat itself or only the seat portion can be removed.

[0015]Another advantage of the invention is that this invention is waterproof, reversible and allows for few application instructions (instruction through illustration only in most cases or written).

[0016]A third advantage of the invention includes a unique method of application for maintaining the integrity and safety features of all child car seats. Child car seats need to be installed so as to prevent injury to the passenger. Nevertheless, one should expect to be able to keep the car seat tidy to lessen bacteria causing odor in the provided manufacturer's fabric of the car seat.

[0017]It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components described hereinafter and illustrated in the drawing figures. Those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.

Problems solved by technology

The cushioning is provided with slots, slits or other openings to accommodate the restraining strap system, and even when it is designed to be removable for cleaning, the process of removal and installation is physically difficult.

Infant car seats are subject to spills of food and beverages, as well as other soiling agents.

The difficulty in removing the decorative fabric cushions results in a tendency for users to leave them in place and rely upon surface cleaning efforts to address soiling problems.

The slots, slits, and crevices make such cleaning particularly difficult, resulting ultimately in the disposal of the entire car seat—and expensive cleaning solution.

Efforts at utilizing replaceable or disposable protective liners have enjoyed limited success.

The variations in child and infant seat configuration have required custom sizing of the liners, limiting availability and resulting in higher consumer prices.

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