Convertible child safety seat

A convertible child safety seat comprising:

• a frame having a first end, a second end, a height and a width;
• a first cradle;
• a locking mechanism removably securing said cradle to an appendage of said frame wherein said first cradle is within said frame;
• an air bag deflector disposed at said second end of said frame, said airbag deflector comprising a surface extending substantially along said width of said cradle and extending substantially along said height of said cradle, said airbag deflector operative to deflect an expanding airbag over said cradle and away from direct contact between said expanding airbag and an occupant disposed within said cradle;
• and
• a pair of single-handed release mechanisms either one able to disengage said locking mechanism, each single-handed release mechanism comprising:
• an enabling mechanism wherein, when said enabling mechanism is in a first position, said locking mechanism is unable to release from said appendage and when said enabling mechanism is in a second position, said locking mechanism can be made to release from said appendage;
• and
• a release mechanism to release said locking mechanism, from said appendage if said enabling mechanism has first been placed in said second position;
• wherein an activation of only one of said enabling mechanism or said release mechanism does not release said locking mechanism.

A convertible child safety seat comprising:

• a frame having a first end, a second end, a height and a width;
• a shock absorbent canopy deflector disposed at the second end of said frame, extending substantially along the width of said frame and extending substantially along the height of said frame, defining a space between a cradle and an outermost extent of said second end of said frame, said shock absorbent canopy comprising:
• a compound curve back surface for deflecting said air bag energy;
• an inner panel having a smooth inner surface and incorporating honey comb vertical tubes and orthogonal ribbing on a side facing said compound curve back surface;
• and
• an expanded foam fill disposed between said compound curve back surface and said inner panel, said shock absorbent canopy operative to deflect an expanding airbag over said cradle and away from direct contact between said expanding airbag and said occupant disposed within said cradle and operative to translate a shock pulse from said air bag energy and an impact energy into a structure of said canopy, decreasing the overall amplitude of a force seen by an occupant;
• a first cradle having a handle, wherein said first cradle is utilized with an opening either facing away from said shock absorbent canopy and facing said shock absorbent canopy;
• a locking mechanism removably securing said cradle to an appendage of said frame wherein said first cradle is within said frame;
• and
• a second cradle, operative to be substituted for said first cradle, wherein said second cradle is used oriented facing said shock absorbent canopy, wherein said first cradle is adapted to accommodate a smaller child and said second cradle is larger than said first cradle.