Abstract: A harness adjustment and fastening mechanism for a child's car seat and method for securing a child's car seat harness. A harness made of a single belt threaded through a buckle detachably fixed to a point on the front, seat portion, of a plastic unitary seat structure. The belt is free to travel through the buckle. The two free ends of the belt pass over the child's shoulders and are threaded through the unitary seat structure to a rear portion of said structure. The belt ends each contain several loops through which a wire rod can be passed. Size of the harness can be altered by varying the loops through which the rod is threaded. The ends of the threaded rod are fitted into grooves located on the back of the unitary seat structure. A snap tab molded into the housing prevents motion of the rod out of the grooves thereby securely fastening the harness.

Abstract: A positioning device for a car seat indicates when the car seat has been properly positioned in an automobile or on a shopping cart. The positioning device includes a paper backing which is encapsulated in a plastic housing. The plastic housing includes a relief projection in the shape of an arc. A ball slides within the relief projection and against the paper backing. Printed information on the paper backing indicates when the seat is in the proper orientation according to the position of the ball.

Abstract: An infant carrier (2) for secure attachment of a shopping cart (4). The infant carrier includes a seating section (5) for supporting the infant. The seating section includes a bottom portion (6) and a back portion (8) disposed at an angle to the bottom portion. Side portions (10) are located adjacent to and substantially perpendicular to the back and bottom portions. Rear side extensions (12) are coplanar with the side portions, extending rearwardly therefrom, and include a lock (14) for securely attaching the carrier to a horizontal wire (20) of the shopping cart. The lock is disposed on a rear surface (13) of the rear side extensions in an elongated opening (26) formed in the rear surface. The lock includes a resilient cantilever member (28) connected by a connection end (32) at a lower end (30) of the opening. A latch (34) is disposed remote from the lower end for retaining the horizontal wire within a recess (22) formed in the rear side extension.

Abstract: A restraining system for a child's car seat having a pair of arms raised and lowered with respect to the seat and a shield movable relative to the arms. The restraining system includes means for retaining the selected positioning of the shield and means for releasing the retaining means to permit relative movement of the shield and arms. A plurality of recesses are formed on a lower surface of the shield. The retaining means comprises a plunger having a protrusion at one end engaging one of the recesses. The releasing means includes a lever movable in a direction substantially parallel to the lower surface of the shield. The lever includes a camming surface opposing a first biasing means biasing the plunger into its retained position. Actuation of the lever releases engagement of the plunger from the recesses. A second biasing means biases the releasing means out of engagement with the retaining means.

Abstract: A safety brake for a child's walker is constructed of a braking bar pivotally mounted to the base of the walker for rotation between a nonbraking position above the wheels and a braking position whereby a straight section of the bar extends below the wheels to lift the wheels out of contact with the floor. A releasable catch on the walker base retains the braking bar in the nonbraking position, and a spring urges the bar into the braking position upon release thereof from the catch.

Abstract: A latch mechanism is designed to secure a safety belt to the upper surface of a seat at any of a plurality of positions spaced longitudinally along the seat surface. The mechanism includes a loop extending downward from the end of the safety belt to fit into any of a series of slots arranged in a longitudinal row along the seat surface. Below the seat surface is a longitudinal channel retaining a plunger. A longitudinal row of hooks, each capable of engaging the seat belt loop, extends upward from the plunger, having the same number and spacing as the slots. The plunger is capable of sliding longitudinally inside the channel, but is biased to a position in which the hooks are aligned with the slots. Retraction of the hooks and hence release of the seat belt loop is achieved by manual manipulation of the plunger. Proper selection of a slot for insertion of the seat belt loop will comfortably yet securely retain an infant or toddler within a range of body sizes.