An infant travel lap seat device

Abstract

An infant travel lap seat device 99 includes a rectangular fabric panel 4. The sheet 4 has an infant harness 5, 8, 9, 10, 11 on a front face and a user harness (1, 14, 16, 18, 19, figure 2) on an opposed rear face. The baby holding means 5, 8, 9, 10, 11 is a five-point harness. The back face of the device 99 has a pocket (13, figure 2) in which the device is arranged to be stowed once rolled and folded. A head support 2, optionally including two hinged wings 3, may be located on the front face. The user harness may comprise a shoulder strap or a waist belt. The pouch (13, figure 2) may have a closure means, such as a button, hook and loop portions, a press stud, a zipper or ferromagnetism.

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an infant travel lap seat device, in particular a device for letting the infant sit in a user’s lap during travelling; more particularly but not exclusively a safe and comfortable seat for the infant, purely while the user is seated. Background In many societies across the world it is increasingly common for parents and carers to wish to ensure that their infant’s are close to them at all times, so they may be comforted, entertained or controlled. । This can be particularly relevant for travel situations, and also when the user is seated, either during travel or at home. Keeping an infant in a single location and being free to use arms and hands can be problematic. Prior Art US 2014 0 101 859 (TESTA et al) discloses a foldable lap seat including a back support, two side walls, a bottom support and multiple straps, include a set of functionally distinct but interconnected panels which are permanently connected together along certain junctions and which also may be selectively connected together or disconnected along various edges, or may be configured for use by connecting certain edges together; configured a substantially flat structure by disconnecting selected edges and the seat may be stored or transported when not in use in a very compact folded configuration. US 5 628 548 (LACOSTE) discloses a safety restraint system for airplanes, comprising: a) a primary support harness, comprising: i) an upper support portion for securing to an upper portion of an airline seat; ii) a lower support portion secured to the upper support portion, so that the lower portion extends across a torso of an adult person seated in the airline seat; iii) first loops on ends of the lower support portion for accepting an airline safety seat belt, so that securing of the airline seat belt secures the primary support harness against the torso of the person on the seat; b) a secondary support harness comprising at least: i) shoulder straps and a waist belt for positioning upon a child seated on the adult's lap; ii) second loops on ends of the lower support portion for threading the waist belt therethrough and engaging upon itself around the child, so that the waist belt secures the child in place on the adult's lap. US 2015 0 115 002 (HYPPOLITE) discloses a lap seat for a small child, comprising: a harness having a first portion that secures the harness to a seated adult, and a second portion that secures the child in a seated position; a substantially planar back portion situated between the adult and the child; and a lap portion attached to the harness so as to rest on top of the lap of the adult and on which the child sits when in the harness; wherein the back portion and the lap portion form a single monolithic piece. Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided an infant travel lap seat device comprising a rectangular fabric panel having an infant harness on a front face and a user harness on the opposed rear face, wherein the infant harness is a five point harness, the device is arranged to be rolled and folded and the rear face comprises a pocket for receipt of the rolled and folded device. In this way it may be envisaged that the infant may be seated in the device, and the device attached to the user, such that when the user is seated the infant is seated in the user’s lap, comfortably for both user and infant, and unable to leave. In some embodiments of the device the device comprises a head support on the front face, such that an infant’s head may be supported when in use, meaning that the infant may for example sleep. > In some such embodiments of the device the head support comprises two hinged wings, extending to either side of the infant’s head in use, so as to prevent lolling and discomfort. In some embodiments of the device the panel comprises one orpore slots for passage of a seat-belt, for example such that a user of the device may be enabled to strap the device into a seat-belt such as an airline seat-belt or similar. In some embodiments of the device the panel comprises padding, which may increase comfort for the user and / or infant, for example on the user’s lap. The padding may extend on the hamess(es). In some embodiments of the device the user harness comprises one or more shoulder strap, envisaged to pass over the user’s shoulder to prevent; the device and infant tipping forward in use. In some embodiments of the device the user harness comprises one or more waist strap envisaged to pass around the user’s waist to prevent the device and infant moving forward in use. In some embodiments of the device the user harness comprises a securement mechanism, such as a buckle or clip means, which may be envisaged to be active or accessible behind the user. Such securement mechanism may be envisaged to be adjustable as is known in the art, so as to accommodate different sizes of user. It may be envisaged that the infant harness comprises a standard five-point harness, with a central locking means, clip or buckle. In some embodiments of the device the pocket comprises a closure means, which may comprise a button, hook and loop portions such as Velcro (RTM), a press-stud, a zipper or ferromagnetism. In some embodiments of the device the pocket includes a handle, which may be envisaged to be located within the pocket such that after the device is folded, the pocket is reversed and the folded device inserted into the pocket, the handle then stands away from the device for carriage purposes. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which: Brief Description of Figures Figure 1 shows a front view of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention, with the panel stretched out; Figure 2 shows a rear view of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a rear view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1, with panel folded for lap use; Figure 4 shows a rear view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1, folded for package; Figure 5 shows a front view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1, folded for package; and ! Figures 6 show front and rear views, respectively, of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1, folded and packed. Detailed Description of Figures With reference to the figures there is shown an embodiment of a portable infant travel lap seat device 99 generally comprising a rectangular fabric panel 4 having an infant harness 5,8,9,10,11 on a front face and a user harness 1,14,16,18,19 on the opposed rear face, wherein the infant harness is a five point harness, the device is arranged to be rolled and folded and the rear face comprises a pocket 13 for receipt of the rolled and folded device. i In particular reference to the pictured embodiment the embodiment comprises a fabric rear panel 4, that is substantially rectangular, having rounded corners. The rectangular form extends longitudinally with the infant’s head near its top edge and legs towards its bottom edge. The panel comprises two layers of fabric, which may be waterproof, and an intermediate layer of closed cellular foam padding, ensuring the he infant’s weight is absorbed on the user’s lap. The infant’s head is supported by a head support 2, comprising two laterally extending wings 3, which are hinged to a central panel, stitched to the main rear panel 4. The infant harness comprises two shoulder straps 11 of Nylon (RTM) or cotton canvas webbing, with padded sleeves 5. These are arranged to connect with two waist straps 8 which extend from the perimetric seams of the panel 4, and a crotch strap 10, with a padded sleeve 9. To rear of the panel 4 there is provided the user harness. The user harness comprises two padded shoulder straps 1, which are secured at the top seam of the panel 4, and two padded waist straps 7 which are secured at the side seams of the panel 4. The shoulder and waist padded straps are continued by webbing straps 16,19 respectively which terminate in buckles 17 for the waist straps, and loops (not shown) through which the waist straps pass in relation to the shoulder straps. The waist straps have sliding buckle 18 length adjustment, and the shoulder straps having sliding buckle 14 length adjustment. The rear of the panel shows two vertical slots 15, which allow passage of a seat-belt, for example aeroplane seat-belt. With reference to the second embodiment the embodiment comprises shoulder padding 21, and continuous webbing straps, which have sliding buckle 24 length adjustment. The waist straps have wide padding 27 and webbing straps 29, with a clip buckle closure 28. The shoulder straps also have a lateral connecting webbing strap 26, with a clip buckle closure 28. The pockets 13,23 in the two embodiments both contain internal handles 33, which are sewn into the internal end seam of the panel 4. The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of protection as defined by the claims. For purposes of clarity, not every component is labelled in every figure and nor is every component of each 5 embodiment where illustration is not necessary to allow those of ordinary skill in the art to understand.

Claims

1. An infant travel lap seat device comprising a rectangular fabric panel having an infant harness on a front face and a user harness on the opposed rear face, wherein the infant harness is a five point harness, the device is arranged to be rolled and folded and the rear face comprises a pocket for receipt of the rolled and folded device.

2. An infant travel lap seat device according to claim 1 comprising a head support on the front face.

3. An infant travel lap seat device according to claim 2 wherein the head support comprises two hinged wings.

4. An infant travel lap seat device according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the panel comprises one or more slots for passage of a seat-belt.;5. An infant travel lap seat device according to any preceding claim wherein the panel comprises padding.

6. An infant travel lap seat device according to any preceding claim wherein the user harness comprises one or more shoulder strap.

7. An infant travel lap seat device according to any preceding claim wherein the user harness comprises one or more waist strap.

18. An infant travel lap seat device according to any preceding claim wherein the user harness comprises securement mechanism.

9. An infant travel lap seat device according to any preceding claim wherein the pocket comprises a closure means.

110. An infant travel lap seat device according to claim 9 wherein the closure means comprises a button.

111. An infant travel lap seat device according to claim 9 wherein the closure means comprises hook and loop portions.

12. An infant travel lap seat device according to claim 9 wherein the closure means comprises a press-stud.

13. An infant travel lap seat device according to claim 9 wherein the closure means 5 comprises a zipper.

14. An infant travel lap seat device according to claim 9 wherein the closure means is ferromagnetic. '10 15. An infant travel lap seat device according to any preceding claim wherein thepocket includes a handle. ;

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