Versatile Canopy for a Child Seating Device
A child seating device has a seat with spaced apart sides, a seat back part, a seat bottom part terminating at a front edge, and a seating surface defined by the seat back and seat bottom parts. A canopy has a hood with an open front end, a plurality of sections, and a pair of canopy sides positioned adjacent the sides of the seat. The hood extends above and is positionable to cover the seat back part of the seating surface. A privacy screen has a perimeter with an extendable portion and an attachment portion, which removably attaches the privacy screen to the canopy near the open front end. The privacy screen can be extended forward from the open front end to a deployed position above and covering the seat bottom part of the seating surface. The extendable portion of the perimeter can be pulled forward and secured to the front edge of the seat.
Latest Graco Children's Products Inc. Patents:
1. Field of the Disclosure
The present invention is generally directed to child seating devices, and more particularly to a child seating device with a versatile canopy.
2. Description of Related Art
Various child seating devices are known to include a seat on which a child can sit or rest. Such devices are also known to often include a canopy that can be positioned over a portion of the seat. A typical canopy is provided to offer shade from direct sunlight and/or privacy for a child seated in the seat. A typical canopy can also be used to minimize or reduce external visual stimulation to a child seated in the seat so the child can rest comfortably.
These types of canopies typically have a number of bows and hood sections supported by the bows. The bows are very often connected to one another at their respective ends at a pivot point and can be pivoted toward and away from one another to increase or decrease the dimensions of the canopy. The hood sections are typically made of a flexible material such as a fabric and can expand or fold as the canopy is extended or retracted.
Conventional canopies of this type are open in a forward facing direction so that a caregiver can see their child seated in the seat and so that the child has a field of vision when seated in the seat. Many canopies of this type can be pivoted at the pivot point, which is located where the canopy is mounted to the child seating device. Thus, such a canopy is sometimes positionally adjustable as a unit forward or rearward as well as being extendable and foldable or collapsible.
SUMMARYIn one example according to the teachings of the present invention, a child seating device has a seat with spaced apart sides, a seat back part, a seat bottom part terminating at a front edge, and a seating surface defined by the seat back and seat bottom parts. A canopy has a hood with an open front end, a plurality of sections, and a pair of canopy sides positioned adjacent the sides of the seat. The canopy hood extends above and can be positionable to cover the seat back part of the seating surface. A privacy screen has a perimeter with an extendable portion and an attachment portion that removably attaches the privacy screen to the canopy near the open front end. The privacy screen can be extended forward from the open front end to a deployed position above and covering the seat bottom part of the seating surface. The extendable portion of the perimeter can be pulled forward and secured to the front edge of the seat.
In one example, the canopy can have a plurality of bows that are curved upwardly from and that can interconnect the canopy sides and that can differentiate the plurality of sections from one another.
In one example, the child seating device can have a window section as one of the plurality of sections.
In one example, a shade flap can be secured to the hood and can be movable between a blocking position covering part of the window section and a stowed position exposing the window section.
In one example, the plurality of sections can include a visor section at the open front end of the hood, a top panel section immediately rearward of the visor section, and/or a window section immediately rearward of the top panel section.
In one example, a shade flap can be secured to the hood and can be movable between a blocking position lying over part of a window section and a stowed position lying on an adjacent section and exposing the window section
In one example, a shade flap can rest on a top panel section in a stowed position and can rest on a window section adjacent the top panel section in a blocking position.
In one example, the extendable portion of the perimeter on the privacy screen can include an elastic band.
In one example, the attachment portion of the privacy screen perimeter can include a first part of a fastener and the hood can include a complimentary second part of a fastener that can be joined to attach the privacy screen to the canopy.
In one example, the attachment portion can include a zipper part and the hood can include a zipper part, whereby the privacy screen can be zipped to the canopy.
In one example, one of the plurality of sections can be a perforate mesh window section and can have a top part extending over a top of the hood and side parts extending down along the canopy sides of the hood.
In one example, a shade flap can be secured to the hood and can be movable between a stowed position exposing a window section and a blocking position covering a top part of the window section while leaving side parts of the window section exposed.
In one example according to the teachings of the present invention, an infant carrier has a seat shell with a seat bounded by a perimeter edge. The seat can have a seat back part and a seat bottom part and the perimeter edge can have a front edge on the seat bottom part and an upper edge on the seat back part. A canopy is coupled to the seat shell and can have opposed canopy sides. The canopy can have a hood extending between the opposed canopy sides above the seat back part of the seating surface. The hood can have an open front end and can include a first section near the open front end, a second section, and a third section between the first and second sections. A window can be provided in one of the first, second, or third sections. A shade flap can be coupled to the fabric hood and can be movable between a blocking position lying over the window and a stowed position lying over one of the other of the first, second, or third sections and exposing the window. A privacy screen can have a perimeter with an attachment portion removably attachable to the canopy near the open front end and an extendable portion being elastically resilient and stretchable over the front end of the perimeter edge on the seat to be positioned above the seat bottom part of the seat.
In one example, a window can be in the third section.
In one example, a shade flap can be positioned between the first and third sections and can be flipped between the blocking and stowed positions.
In one example, the window can be a perforate mesh material.
In one example, the infant carrier can include a visor section extendable forward from the first section of the canopy and can be repositionable under the first section.
In one example, a privacy screen can, while attached to the canopy, be rolled up and stowed under the first section above a visor section attached to and movable relative to the first section.
In one example, a privacy screen can, while attached to the canopy, be pulled rearward over and stowed on top of the hood.
In one example, an attachment portion of a privacy screen can be detached from the canopy and the privacy screen can be stowed separately from the infant carrier.
Objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which:
A versatile canopy for a child seating device is disclosed and described herein. In one example, the versatile canopy has a privacy screen that can be attached to and detached from the canopy. In one example, the privacy screen can be moved, when attached to the canopy, between a deployed position and a stowed position. In one example, the deployed privacy screen covers an open portion of the seating area or surface of the child seating device that is left open or uncovered by the hood of the versatile canopy. In one example, the privacy screen can be stowed in more than one optional location or position. In one example, the versatile canopy also includes a window section formed in a portion of the canopy hood. In one example, a shade flap can be moved between a blocking position covering at least a portion of the window section and a stowed position exposing the window section.
Turning now to the drawings,
In general, the infant carrier 22 can be constructed having a plastic seat shell that defines both the base section 26 and an under-structure of the seat 24. Soft goods 30 are commonly used to cover the hard plastic under-structure material of the seat 24, as is known in the art. The seat 24 generally has a pair of spaced apart sides 32, a seat back part 34, and the seat bottom part 36. The seat back and seat bottom parts 34, 36 meet one another at a seat bight region 38 of the seat 24. The seat back part 34 terminates at a rear or upper edge 40 of the seat 24 and the seat bottom part 36 terminates at a forward edge 42 of the seat. Together, the seat back and seat bottom parts 34, 36 create a seating surface 44 between the sides 32 and the upper and front edges 40, 42 of the seat.
As will be evident to those having ordinary skill in the art, the configuration and construction of the infant car seat or carrier 22, and in particular the seat 24, can vary within the spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, the child seating device need not be an infant carrier or infant car seat, but instead can be a stroller seat or a seat on another type of device such as a child motion device, swing, orbital motion device, or the like. The disclosed versatile canopy 20 can be utilized on a child seating device other than an infant carrier, though only an infant carrier 22 is shown and described herein.
The versatile canopy 20 in this example has several features that provide a significant improvement over prior art canopies for these types of seating devices. Again with reference to
The hood 50 in this example has a plurality of panels or sections that are separated from one another by the bows 60. With reference to
In this example, the visor section 62, top panel section 64, and window section 66 each have a wider central section and narrower, tapering width opposed ends 69. The ends 69 meet, respectively, at the terminal ends of the bows 60 adjacent the corresponding hub 58 on each side of the versatile canopy 20. The rear section 68 takes on a different configuration in this example in order to close off the rear end 56 of the canopy 20. In an alternate example, the rear section can be shaped similarly to the other sections 62, 64, and 66 defining a rear open end on the versatile canopy 20, similar to the front open end 52 in this example. Such a rear open end would cover the upper edge 40 of the seat back part 32 when the versatile canopy is pivoted to a rearward most position. The rear open end would be closed off by bearing against the perimeter of the seat back part.
As is known in the art, the hood 50 can be formed from one or more flexible or pliable materials such as thin plastic or fabric. Such a fabric material can be synthetic, natural, or a blend of both fabric types. The material of the hood 50 can also be water resistant or waterproof. The hood material can also be relatively opaque or completely opaque, if desired, in order to provide the shading characteristics intended of a typical canopy. Also as is known in the art, the bows 60 can pivot toward and away from one another allowing the canopy to be extended to a fully deployed configuration as depicted in
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the versatile canopy 20 has a privacy screen 70 that is removable from and attachable to the hood 50 or some other part of the versatile canopy. In this example, a privacy screen 70 is formed of a perforate mesh material that is flexible. The mesh material can be plastic, fabric, or some other material as long as the privacy screen 70 is capable of folding, rolling, or the like. The privacy screen 70 is also perforate to permit air to pass through the screen as well as some light. The screen thus can allow a child to breathe fresh air and yet provide some privacy. The size and density of the perforations and the thickness and color of the grid of the mesh material can be altered to achieve a desired air exchange capability as well as light emitting or blocking capability.
With reference to
As represented in
With reference to
In the disclosed example, a shade flap 90 is provided and secured to the outside of the hood 50. The disclosed shade flap 70 has a semi-circular configuration with a linear edge 92 sewn or otherwise attached to the hood 50. In this example, the linear edge 92 is secured to the hood 50 along a seam or location of a bow 60 between the top panel section 64 and the window section 66. Alternatively, the shade flap can be secured to the rear seam between the window section 66 and the rear section 68. The remaining perimeter on the shade flap 90 is a curved edge 94 and is not secured to any part of the hood 50 or versatile canopy 20. The shade flap 90 can be flipped or pivoted about the linear edge 92 in the direction of the arrow S to lie on top of the top panel section 64. In this stowed position depicted in
The size, location, and configuration of the shade flap 90 and the pertinent part of the window section 66 can be altered to change how much or how little of the window section is blocked by the shade flap in the blocking position. The width of the shade flap 90 can be altered to extend more or less across the width of the hood 50 in order to block more or less of the window section 66 as well. The front-to-back depth or length of the shade flap 90 can also be altered, as can the contour of the curved portion 94. In the disclosed example, the shade flap 90 covers only a top part of the window section 66 in the blocking position, leaving side portions 96 of the window section 66 open and exposed. If the window section 66 is made of mesh material, these exposed side portions 96 can allow additional fresh air into the versatile canopy 20, even when the shade flap 90 is in the blocking position.
Instead of removing the privacy screen 70 for accessing a seat occupant or for storing the screen, the privacy screen can be temporarily stowed in one or more optional stowed positions while remaining secured or attached to the hood 50. With reference to
The free edge 100 of the visor section 62 can include a bow 102 that will hold or bias the visor section in its extended position and that will also hold or bias the visor section in its inverted position when either position is selected. This can be accomplished by tautness in the material of the visor section, resiliency of the bow, and/or a biasing mechanism at the hub to 58. Having the visor section 62 biased to the inverted position when moved to that position will help retain the visor section and the rolled up privacy screen 70 in the second optional stowed position.
Sometimes a user may wish to quickly access the seating area or seating surface 44 to either place a child in the seat, remove a child from the seat, or contact or communicate with a seat occupant. This can be accomplished by removing the privacy screen 70 and storing the screen in the first optional stowed position of
With reference to
The disclosed versatile canopy 20 offers a number of improvements over prior known canopies. The detachable privacy screen 70 is very easy to attach or remove from the canopy structure and also is easy to deploy over the seating area of the child seating device. The disclosed privacy screen 70 is also easy to move from the deployed position to a stowed position. The disclosed privacy screen 70 can also be stowed in a variety of different ways. This creates versatility allowing the user a number of options, depending on their particular circumstances. The disclosed versatile canopy 20 also offers a sunroof-like feature with a shade flap that can be moved to block and inhibit the benefits of the sunroof or window feature or to enjoy the benefits by completely exposing the sunroof or window feature when desired. The shade flap is extremely easy to use and can be easily incorporated into the design and construction of the canopy structure.
The disclosed versatile canopy 20 can enhance the enjoyment and comfort of a seat occupant seated in a child seating device. The seat occupant can rest comfortably when the disclosed privacy screen 70 is deployed and yet can be exposed to fresh air at all times. Even with the privacy screen deployed, a caregiver will be able to hear the child if distressed or talking because the screen is a perforate mesh material. The seat occupant can also be easily accessible to the caregiver when desired. The caregiver can look in on the seat occupant through the window section of the hood without having to step around to the front open end of the canopy. The seat occupant also has side viewing capability through the window section of the hood as well as upward or vertical viewing capability through the window section. If the window section is mesh, the open side portions can also allow a caregiver to hear any noises made by the seat occupant. The window section can be provided as any one of the sections of the hood, if desired. The window can be provided on the visor section, the top section, or the rear section and yet function as intended. The shade flap can be appropriately positioned on the hood to function as described above. The window section can have a top part extending over the top of the hood and side parts extending down along the canopy sides, as in this example. The window section can instead include only the top part or one or more of the side parts.
The disclosed versatile canopy 20 is not intended to be limited to only the embodiment shown and described herein. The versatile canopy 20 is also not intended to be limited to any particular type of material used for the construction of the canopy components including the hood and its various sections, the skeleton structure, and that the privacy screen.
The hood is configured to extend over and above at least part of the seating surface, enclosing or covering that part of the seating surface. The hood is positionable to cover the seat back part of the seat. The privacy screen is configured to extend forward over and above the remaining part of the seating surface, enclosing or covering the part of the seat not covered by the hood. The combination of the canopy hood and the privacy screen create a cocoon environment whereby the entire seating area of the seat is enclosed when the privacy screen is deployed.
Although certain versatile canopy configurations and arrangements have been described herein in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all embodiments of the teachings of the disclosure that fairly fall within the scope of permissible equivalents.
Claims
1. A child seating device comprising:
- a seat with spaced apart sides, a seat back part, a seat bottom part terminating at a front edge, and a seating surface defined by the seat back and seat bottom parts;
- a canopy with a hood having an open front end, a plurality of sections, and a pair of canopy sides positioned adjacent the sides of the seat, the canopy hood extending above and positionable to cover the seat back part of the seating surface;
- a privacy screen having a perimeter with an extendable portion and an attachment portion that removably attaches the privacy screen to the canopy near the open front end,
- wherein the privacy screen can be extended forward from the open front end to a deployed position above and covering the seat bottom part of the seating surface,
- and wherein the extendable portion of the perimeter can be pulled forward and secured to the front edge of the seat.
2. A child seating device according to claim 1, wherein the canopy has a plurality of bows that are curved upwardly from and interconnect the canopy sides and differentiate the plurality of sections from one another.
3. A child seating device according to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of sections is a window section.
4. A child seating device according to claim 3, wherein a shade flap is secured to the hood and is movable between a blocking position covering part of the window section on a top of the hood and a stowed position exposing the window section.
5. A child seating device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sections include a visor section at the open front end of the hood, a top panel section immediately rearward of the visor section, and a window section immediately rearward of the top panel section.
6. A child seating device according to claim 5, wherein a shade flap is secured to the hood and is movable between a blocking position covering part of the window section and a stowed position exposing the window section
7. A child seating device according to claim 6, wherein the shade flap rests on the top panel section in the stowed position.
8. A child seating device according to claim 1, wherein the extendable portion of the perimeter includes an elastic band.
9. A child seating device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment portion includes a first part of a fastener and the hood includes a complimentary second part of a fastener that can be joined to attach the privacy screen to the canopy.
10. A child seating device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment portion includes a zipper part and the hood includes a zipper part, whereby the privacy screen can be zipped to the canopy.
11. A child seating device according to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of sections is a perforate mesh window section having a top part extending over a top of the hood and side parts extending down along the canopy sides of the hood.
12. A child seating device according to claim 11, wherein a shade flap is secured to the hood and is movable between a stowed position exposing the window section and a blocking position covering the top part of the window section while leaving the side parts exposed.
13. An infant carrier comprising:
- a seat shell with a seat bounded by a perimeter edge, the seat having a seat back part and a seat bottom part, the perimeter edge having a front edge on the seat bottom part and an upper edge on the seat back part;
- a canopy coupled to the seat shell and having opposed canopy sides, the canopy having a hood extending between the opposed canopy sides above the seat back part of the seating surface, the hood having an open front end and including a first section near the open front end, a second section, and a third section between the first and second sections, a window in one of the first, second, or third sections, a shade flap coupled to the fabric hood and movable between a blocking position lying over the window and a stowed position lying over one of the other of the first, second, or third sections and exposing the window; and
- a privacy screen having a perimeter with an attachment portion removably attachable to the canopy near the open front end and an extendable portion being elastically resilient and stretchable over the front end of the perimeter edge on the seat to be positioned above the seat bottom part of the seat.
14. An infant carrier according to claim 13, wherein the window is in the third section.
15. An infant carrier according to claim 14, wherein the shade flap is positioned between the first and third sections and can be flipped between the blocking and stowed positions.
16. An infant carrier according to claim 13, wherein the window is a perforate mesh material.
17. An infant carrier according to claim 13, further comprising a visor section extendable forward from the first section and repositionable under the first section.
18. An infant carrier according to claim 13, wherein the privacy screen can, while attached to the canopy, be rolled up and stowed under the first section above the visor section.
19. An infant carrier according to claim 13, wherein the privacy screen can, while attached to the canopy, be pulled rearward over and stowed on top of the hood.
20. An infant carrier according to claim 13, wherein the attachment portion of the privacy screen can be detached from the canopy and the privacy screen can be stowed separately from the infant carrier.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 9, 2010
Publication Date: Mar 15, 2012
Applicant: Graco Children's Products Inc. (Atlanta, GA)
Inventor: Christine D. Krasley (Glenmoore, PA)
Application Number: 12/878,975
International Classification: A47D 15/00 (20060101);