# US 11,440,445 B2 · Ergonomic infant safety seat > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,445 B2 - Document ID: US11440445B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/172,908 - Filed: 2021-02-10 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-27 - Applicants: Spring Design, LLC - Inventors: Andrew Kloosterman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440445B2 ## CPC - A47D 13/025: {for carrying children in seated position} - A45C 13/26: Special adaptations of handles (A45C13/22 takes precedence) - A47D 13/027: {Baby-carriers with rigid frames} - B60N 2/2845: {having handles} - A47D: FURNITURE SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CHILDREN (school benches or desks A47B39/00, A47B41/00) - A45C: PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract Infant car seats with improved handles and other features are described. An infant car seat and associated handle may collectively include multiple supports, including a lower support configured to engage a hand of a user and an upper support configured to engage an arm of the user. Examples of lower supports include an opening in a seat shell, a tubular member, or a hinged handle. Examples of upper support mays include a semicircular portion or a loop included in the handle and configured to at least partially encircle or otherwise engage an arm of the user. These and other features may increase the ease and comfort with which the user may carry the infant car seat. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An infant safety seat, comprising: a seat shell comprising a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall, wherein a hinged handhold is coupled with the first sidewall and operable to rotate away from the first sidewall towards the second sidewall; and a handle comprising: a first leg coupled with the first sidewall of the seat shell and a second leg coupled with the second sidewall of the seat shell; and a lateral portion coupled with the first leg and the second leg, the lateral portion comprising an arm support. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The infant safety seat of claim 1, wherein the hinged handhold is coupled with an inner surface of the first sidewall, the inner surface facing towards the second sidewall. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The infant safety seat of claim 1, wherein the hinged handhold is operable to rotate about an axis that is substantially parallel to the first sidewall. ### Claim 4 An infant safety seat, comprising: a seat shell comprising a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall; and a handle comprising: a first leg coupled with the first sidewall of the seat shell and a second leg coupled with the second sidewall of the seat shell; and a lateral portion defined by a first closed loop coupled directly to an upper end of the first leg and a second closed loop coupled directly to an upper end of the second leg, wherein the first closed loop and the second closed loop form a substantially flat frame that spans substantially completely between the first leg and the second leg, wherein the substantially flat frame is substantially orthogonal to a lengthwise extension of the first and second legs, and wherein the lateral portion comprises a member that is common to both of the first and second closed loops. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The infant safety seat of claim 4, wherein the member comprises a handgrip positioned between the first leg and the second leg. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The infant safety seat of claim 4, wherein the member runs substantially parallel to the first sidewall and the second sidewall. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The infant safety seat of claim 4, wherein at least of portion of an inner surface of the first closed loop comprises a planar surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The infant safety seat of claim 4, wherein the first closed loop and the second closed loop form a substantially figure eight configuration. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The infant safety seat of claim 4, wherein the first sidewall comprises an opening configured to provide a handhold. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The infant safety seat of claim 4, further comprising: a tubular member extending between a first point on the first sidewall and a second point on the first sidewall, wherein the tubular member is configured to provide a handhold. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The infant safety seat of claim 4, further comprising: a hinged handhold configured to fold out from the first sidewall. ### Claim 12 An infant safety seat, comprising: a seat shell comprising a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall; and a handle comprising: a first leg coupled with the first sidewall of the seat shell and a second leg coupled with the second sidewall of the seat shell; and a lateral portion coupled with the first leg and the second leg, the lateral portion comprising a first J-shaped hook structure having a first curved portion that opens inwardly toward a center of the lateral portion and has a first free end and a second J-shaped hook structure having a second curved portion that opens inwardly toward the center of the lateral portion and has a second free end. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The infant safety seat of claim 12, wherein the handle further comprises a member between the first J-shaped hook structure and the second J-shaped hook structure, wherein the member runs substantially parallel to the first sidewall and the second sidewall. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The infant safety seat of claim 12, wherein: the first J-shaped hook structure comprises a first semicircular portion that extends from a first point on the lateral portion of the handle, the first semicircular portion comprising a first termination that extends towards the second sidewall; and the second J-shaped hook structure comprises a second semicircular portion that extends from a second point on the lateral portion of the handle, the second semicircular portion comprising a second termination that extends towards the first sidewall. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The infant safety seat of claim 14, wherein: the first semicircular portion extends towards a front portion of the seat shell; and the second semicircular portion extends towards a rear portion of the seat shell. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The infant safety seat of claim 15, wherein the lateral portion of the handle further comprises a handgrip positioned between the first point and the second point, and wherein the handgrip has a length that runs substantially parallel to the first sidewall and the second sidewall. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The infant safety seat of claim 14, wherein: the first semicircular portion and the second semicircular portion both extend towards a front portion of the seat shell; or the first semicircular portion and the second semicircular portion both extend towards a rear portion of the seat shell. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The infant safety seat of claim 17, wherein the lateral portion of the handle further comprises a handgrip positioned between the first point and the second point, and wherein the handgrip has a length that runs substantially perpendicular to the first sidewall and the second sidewall. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The infant safety seat of claim 12, wherein the first sidewall comprises an opening configured to provide a handhold. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The infant safety seat of claim 12, further comprising: a hinged handhold configured to fold out from the first sidewall.