Back to results
US 12,759,440 B2Granted
Child safety seat stabilizing device and method of use
OwnerRichard David McMulleninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A child safety seat stabilizing device enabling a child safety seat (CSS) to be installed in a cargo area of a vehicle includes a shell, which is rigid. Opposed sides of the shell are substantially triangular. A rear facet of the shell has a first angle that is complementary to a second angle defined by a rear surface of a passenger seat and a cargo bed of the vehicle. A front facet of the shell has a third angle that is complementary to a fourth angle defined by bottom and rear faces of the CSS. The shell is positionable between the passenger seat and the CSS to stabilize the CSS so that it can be securely fastened, using one or more straps, to anchors that are integral to the vehicle. The child safety device enables use of the CSS to transport a child in the cargo area.
Claims13
A child safety seat stabilizing assembly comprising:
- a shell defining an interior space, the shell being rigid, the shell having opposed sides, a rear facet, and a front facet, the opposed sides being substantially triangular, the rear facet and the front facet being substantially trapezoidal, the rear facet and a lower edge of each opposed side forming a first angle, the first angle being substantially complementary to a second angle defined by a rear surface of a passenger seat and a cargo bed of a vehicle, the front facet and the lower edge of each opposed side forming a third angle, the third angle being substantially complementary to a fourth angle defined by a bottom face and a rear surface of a child safety seat, wherein the shell is configured to be positioned between the passenger seat of the vehicle and the child safety seat to stabilize the child safety seat such that the child safety seat can be securely fastened, using one or more straps, to anchors integral to the vehicle, thereby enabling use of the child safety seat to transport a child in a cargo area of the vehicle;
- and
- wherein the opposed sides extend past the front facet defining a pair of side rails and a front recess positioned between the side rails of the pair of side rails, such that the child safety seat is partially nestable within the front recess, wherein the pair of side rails is configured to deter lateral movement of the child safety seat.
A child safety seat stabilizing assembly comprising:
- a shell defining an interior space, the shell being rigid, the shell having opposed sides, a rear facet, and a front facet, the opposed sides being substantially triangular, the rear facet and the front facet being substantially trapezoidal, the rear facet and a lower edge of each opposed side forming a first angle, the first angle being substantially complementary to a second angle defined by a rear surface of a passenger seat and a cargo bed of a vehicle, the front facet and the lower edge of each opposed side forming a third angle, the third angle being substantially complementary to a fourth angle defined by a bottom face and a rear surface of a child safety seat, wherein the shell is configured to be positioned between the passenger seat of the vehicle and the child safety seat to stabilize the child safety seat such that the child safety seat can be securely fastened, using one or more straps, to anchors integral to the vehicle, thereby enabling use of the child safety seat to transport a child in a cargo area of the vehicle;
- and
- wherein the opposed sides extend past the base defining a pair of bottom rails and a bottom recess, the bottom recess facilitating access to the one or more straps used in fastening the child safety seat to the anchors.
A child safety seat stabilizing assembly comprising:
- a shell defining an interior space, the shell being rigid, the shell having opposed sides, a rear facet, and a front facet, the opposed sides being substantially triangular, the rear facet and the front facet being substantially trapezoidal, the rear facet and a lower edge of each opposed side forming a first angle, the first angle being substantially complementary to a second angle defined by a rear surface of a passenger seat and a cargo bed of a vehicle, the front facet and the lower edge of each opposed side forming a third angle, the third angle being substantially complementary to a fourth angle defined by a bottom face and a rear surface of a child safety seat, wherein the shell is configured to be positioned between the passenger seat of the vehicle and the child safety seat to stabilize the child safety seat such that the child safety seat can be securely fastened, using one or more straps, to anchors integral to the vehicle, thereby enabling use of the child safety seat to transport a child in a cargo area of the vehicle;
- and
- wherein the shell has a void extending into said rear facet and said base, the void defining a vertical section and an angular section of the rear facet, such that a space exists between the vertical section and the rear surface of the passenger seat of the vehicle upon positioning of the angular section against the rear surface of the passenger seat, the space facilitating access to the one or more straps used in fastening the child safety seat to the anchors.
A child safety seat stabilizing assembly comprising:
- a shell defining an interior space, the shell being rigid, the shell having opposed sides, a rear facet, and a front facet, the opposed sides being substantially triangular, the rear facet and the front facet being substantially trapezoidal, the rear facet and a lower edge of each opposed side forming a first angle, the first angle being substantially complementary to a second angle defined by a rear surface of a passenger seat and a cargo bed of a vehicle, the front facet and the lower edge of each opposed side forming a third angle, the third angle being substantially complementary to a fourth angle defined by a bottom face and a rear surface of a child safety seat, wherein the shell is configured to be positioned between the passenger seat of the vehicle and the child safety seat to stabilize the child safety seat such that the child safety seat can be securely fastened, using one or more straps, to anchors integral to the vehicle, thereby enabling use of the child safety seat to transport a child in a cargo area of the vehicle;
- and
- a connector attached to the rear facet of the shell and being configured to removably attach the shell to the rear surface of the passenger seat, wherein the connector is configured to limit movement of the shell relative to the passenger seat during attachment of the child safety seat to the anchors.
A child safety seat stabilizing device comprising:
- a shell defining an interior space, the shell being rigid, the shell having opposed sides, a base, a rear facet, and a front facet, the opposed sides being substantially triangular, the base, the rear facet, and the front facet being substantially trapezoidal, the base, the rear facet, and the front facet being substantially rectangular, the rear facet and the base forming a first angle, the first angle being substantially complementary to a second angle defined by a rear surface of a passenger seat and a cargo bed of a vehicle, the front facet and the base forming a third angle, the third angle being substantially complementary to a fourth angle defined by a bottom face and a rear face of a child safety seat, wherein the shell is configured to be positioned between the passenger seat of the vehicle and the child safety seat to stabilize the child safety seat such that the child safety seat can be securely fastened, using one or more straps, to anchors integral to the vehicle, thereby enabling use of the child safety seat to transport a child in a cargo area of the vehicle;
- the opposed sides extending past the base defining a pair of bottom rails and a bottom recess, the bottom recess facilitating access to the one or more straps used in fastening the child safety seat to the anchors;
- the shell having a void extending into said rear facet and said base, the void defining a vertical section and an angular section of the rear facet, such that a space exists between the vertical section and the rear surface of the passenger seat of the vehicle upon positioning of the angular section against the rear surface of the passenger seat, the space facilitating access to the one or more straps used in fastening the child safety seat to the anchors;
- and
- a connector attached to the rear facet of the shell and being configured to removably attach the shell to the rear surface of the passenger seat, wherein the connector is configured to limit movement of the shell relative to the passenger seat during attachment of the child safety seat to the anchors, the connector comprising a hook element of a hook and loop fastener, wherein the hook element is configured to reversibly attach to a loop element of a hook and loop fastener or to loop carpeting attached to the rear surface of the passenger seat.
2 more elements
A method of mounting a child safety seat in a cargo area of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a seat stabilizing device including:
- a shell defining an interior space, the shell being rigid, the shell having opposed sides, a base, a rear facet, and a front facet, the opposed sides being substantially triangular, the base, the rear facet, and the front facet being substantially trapezoidal, the rear facet and the base forming a first angle, the first angle being substantially complementary to a second angle defined by a rear surface of a passenger seat and a cargo bed of a vehicle, the front facet and the base forming a third angle, the third angle being substantially complementary to a fourth angle defined by a bottom face and a rear face of a child safety seat;
- a ratcheting strap comprising a first section fitted with a first hook and a second section fitted with a second hook and a ratchet;
- positioning the shell between the passenger seat of the vehicle and the child safety seat to stabilize the child safety;
- attaching the first hook to one of the anchors and the second hook to another of the anchors;
- positioning the rear facet of the shell against the rear surface of the passenger seat;
- positioning the rear face of the child safety seat against the front facet of the shell;
- passing the first section of the ratcheting strap through a channel in the child safety seat;
- feeding the first section of the ratcheting strap into the ratchet;
- and
- manipulating the ratchet to tighten the ratcheting strap so that the child safety seat and the shell are fixedly positioned relative to the passenger seat.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.