Safety seat

Abstract

A buoyant safety seat comprising a seat assembly and backrest assembly. The seat assembly has an integrated safety bag system that activates upon submersion in a liquid, such as water, and emergency equipment. The integrated safety bag system deploys a bag to enclose a small individual and assist them to the surface of water. Housing the small individual helps prevent the child or infant from swallowing water and possibly drowning.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to seats for vehicles, and more particularly, to safety booster seats for children.

2. Description of the Related Art

Several designs for booster seats have been designed in the past. None of them, however, include a buoyant booster seat comprising a safety bag system that enables a child or infant to be housed within an impermeable flexible bag to float to a surface of water in the event of a vehicle accident

There are no similar safety booster seats to the best of applicant's knowledge, having an integrated safety bag system that activates upon submersion in a liquid, such as water, and emergency equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A mechanism for enclosing a child or infant in a seat assembly comprising an impermeable flexible bag that is capable of retaining a predetermined amount of air to provide temporary, yet critical, oxygen in an emergency situation involving submersion in a body of water.

The mechanism includes a buoyant backrest assembly and a buoyant seat assembly. The buoyant seat assembly has the impermeable flexible bag and a sensor that activates when submerged in the body of water to deploy the impermeable flexible bag. The impermeable flexible bag encloses a child or infant to help prevent the child or infant from swallowing water and possibly drowning until reaching a surface of the body of water.

The buoyant seat assembly comprises armrests and buoyant cuffs that may be worn around the arms of the child or infant, serving as floatation devices. The buoyant seat assembly further comprises seatbelts having a male latch having cooperative characteristics to fit and lock into a female latch and means for illumination such as a light bulb in an electric circuit having a source of power such as a 12-volt battery. The buoyant seat assembly also comprises a net for holding toys or articles and at least one cup holder.

The buoyant backrest assembly stores emergency equipment including a flashlight, glass shattering tool, floatation devices, whistles, neon lights, and an emergency mask. The buoyant backrest assembly also comprises a belt latch having channels to adjust the belt latch. The belt latch may receive a vehicle seat belt therethrough.

It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a safety booster seat that comprises a safety bag system.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a safety booster seat that is buoyant.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a safety booster seat that enables a child or infant to be housed within an impermeable flexible bag to float to a surface of water.

It is another object of this invention to provide a safety booster seat that is lightweight.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a safety booster seat that is easily transportable.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a safety booster seat that comprises emergency equipment.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a device that is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain while retaining its effectiveness.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 represents a rear perspective view of the instant invention.

FIG. 3 represents a front perspective view of the backrest.

FIG. 3a represents a rear perspective view of the seat assembly.

FIG. 3b is a representation of the instant invention with an impermeable flexible bag deployed from the seat assembly.

FIG. 3c is a representation of the instant invention with the impermeable flexible bag deployed from the seat assembly and housing a child.

FIG. 4 represents a front view of the mask assembly.

FIG. 4a represents a rear view of the mask assembly.

FIG. 4b represents a side view of the mask assembly as worn by a child.

FIG. 5 represents a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 5a is a representation of the alternate embodiment of the instant invention with the impermeable flexible bag deployed from the seat assembly.

FIG. 5b is a representation of the alternate embodiment of the instant invention with the impermeable flexible bag deployed from the seat assembly and housing an infant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral 10, it can be observed that it basically includes backrest assembly 20 and seat assembly 60.

As seen in FIG. 1, backrest assembly 20 comprises backrest 22 having sidewall 24. At a top area of sidewall 24 is zipper assembly 27 comprising pull-tab 26 secured to zipper tape 28. Zipper assembly 27 contains a survivor kit. In the preferred embodiment, the survivor kit contains items typically necessary for emergencies such as, but not limited to, a flashlight, glass shattering tool, floatation devices, whistles, neon lights, and an emergency mask 220, seen in FIGS. 4, 4a, and 4b. The survivor kit includes a strap for a user to grasp it by, not seen. Zipper assembly 27 may also contain other items for storage such as clothes, diapers, wipes, toys, medicine, bandages, etc. Sidewall 24 has belt latch 30 that is height adjustable at slots 32. A user may adjust the height of belt latch 30 by sliding it through channels 34 to the desired height. It is noted that belt latch 30 is designed to allow an existing vehicle seat belt to pass therethrough and restrain instant invention 10 in place.

Seat assembly 60 comprises seat 62 having sidewall 64. Perpendicularly extending from seat 62 are connectors 66. Connectors 66 may have cuffs 68 for ornamental and/or cushioning purposes. Cuffs 68 are buoyant and may be worn around the arms of a child, to serve as floatation devices. Extending horizontally across connectors 66, and parallel to one another, are elongated armrests 70. Extending from armrests 70 are seatbelts 72. Male latch 74 secured at one seatbelt 72 has cooperative characteristics to fit and lock into female latch 76. Armrests 70 have light covers 78 at one end. In the preferred embodiment, light covers 78 are at the end of armrests 70 opposite of backrest 22 and have a watertight seal. It is noted that armrests 70 have means for illumination within, not seen. However, such means for illumination may be a light bulb in an electric circuit having a source of power such as a 12-volt battery.

Seat assembly 60 also comprises net 80 for holding toys or articles and cup holders 82 that slide inwardly and outwardly from sidewall 64.

Seen in FIG. 2 is a rear view of present invention 10. Backrest assembly 20 further comprises rear wall 36. Extending from the lower end of rear wall 36 are a plurality of locking devices defined as locking device 38, convex in form; and locking devices 40, concave in form.

As seen in FIGS. 3 and 3a, it is noted that latches 74 have cooperative characteristics to receive locking devices 40, concave in form; and that latch 76 has cooperative characteristics to receive locking device 38, convex in form. A user may assemble backrest assembly 20 to seat assembly 60 by aligning and interlocking locking devices 40 and 38 to latches 74 and 76 respectively. In an emergency, such as when the vehicle is submerged under water, or when desired, backrest assembly 20 is removed from seat assembly 60, enabling the user to use either backrest assembly 20 or seat assembly 60 as a floatation device.

As seen in FIGS. 3b and 3c, seat assembly 60 comprises safety bag system 90. Safety bag system 90 comprises impermeable flexible bag 94 that deploys from seat 62 in an emergency, such as when the vehicle is submerged under water. More specifically, flap 92 contains impermeable flexible bag 94 within seat 62. Flap 92, comprises a sensor, not seen, that activates when submerged in a liquid, such as water. Upon activation, the sensor opens flap 92 and impermeable flexible bag 94 deploys. Impermeable flexible bag 94 is sufficiently large to house a small child within. Extending from one end of impermeable flexible bag 94 are straps 96. Straps 96 are pulled by a person capable of swimming to assist seat assembly 60, with impermeable flexible bag 94 deployed and housing the child, to the surface of water. It is noted that seat assembly 60 is buoyant. In the illustrated embodiment, backseat assembly 20 has been removed. Housing the small individual helps prevent the child or infant from swallowing water and possibly drowning.

Seen in FIGS. 4, 4a, and 4b is mask assembly 220. As previously mentioned, zipper assembly 27 contains a survivor kit that contains emergency mask 220. Emergency mask 220 comprises mask 222 generally shaped to complement the face of a human being such as a child. Extending from mask 222 are straps 224 that wrap around the head of a child as seen in FIG. 4b. Also extending from mask 222 is bellow 226 that has mouthpiece 228. Mouthpiece 228 fits within the mouth of the child and has a tube 229 that extends therefrom through bellow 226. Bellow 226 comprises edges 230 and 232. Secured to edge 230 is a tab 234 that may flip and lock against edge 232 to keep bellow 226 extended at those edges 230 and 232. In an emergency, such as when a vehicle submerges into water, a person capable of swimming may place mask assembly 220 on a child to prevent the child from swallowing water and possibly drowning. It is noted that emergency mask 220 does not have an air source, but only has the air within the bellow 226 for the child to breath until he/she reaches the surface of water.

Seen in FIG. 5 is an alternate embodiment of instant invention 10. It is noted that the illustrated embodiment is intended for smaller children and infants as compared to the first embodiment. Backrest assembly 120 comprises backrest 122 having sidewalls 124. Seat assembly 160 comprises seat 162 having sidewalls 164. Extending from sidewalls 164 are seatbelts 172. Male latch 174 is secured at one seatbelt 172 and has cooperative characteristics to fit and lock to female latch 176.

In an emergency, such as when the vehicle is submerged under water, or when desired, the illustrated alternative embodiment is used as a floatation device.

As seen in FIGS. 5a and 5b, instant invention 10 comprises safety bag system 190. Safety bag system 190 comprises impermeable flexible bag 194 that deploys from seat 162 in an emergency, such as when the vehicle is submerged under water. More specifically, flap 192 contains impermeable flexible impermeable flexible bag 194 within seat 162. Flap 192, comprises a sensor, not seen, that activates when submerged in a liquid, such as water. Upon activation, the sensor opens flap 192 and impermeable flexible bag 194 deploys. Impermeable flexible bag 194 is sufficiently large to house a small child or infant within. Extending from one end of impermeable flexible bag 194 are straps 196. Straps 196 are pulled by a person capable of swimming to assist instant invention 10, with impermeable flexible bag 194 deployed and housing the small child or infant, to the surface of water. It is noted that instant invention 10 is buoyant. Housing the small individual helps prevent the child or infant from swallowing water and possibly drowning.

The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A mechanism for enclosing a child or infant in a seat assembly comprising an impermeable flexible bag that is capable of retaining a predetermined amount of air to provide temporary, yet critical, oxygen in an emergency situation involving submersion in a body of water said bag being selectively deployed from a seat assembly and having cooperative dimensions to cover said seat assembly and child.

2. The mechanism for enclosing a child or infant in a seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism includes a buoyant backrest assembly and a buoyant seat assembly.

3. The mechanism for enclosing a child or infant in a seat assembly according to claim 2, wherein said seat assembly comprises armrests.

4. The mechanism for enclosing a child or infant in a seat assembly according to claim 3, wherein said seat assembly comprises buoyant cuffs that may be worn around the arms of said child or infant, to serve as floatation devices.

5. The mechanism for enclosing a child or infant in a seat assembly according to claim 4, wherein said buoyant seat assembly comprises seatbelts having a male latch cooperating to fit and lock into a female latch.

6. The mechanism for enclosing a child or infant in a seat assembly according to claim 5, wherein said buoyant seat assembly comprises light means including a light bulb in an electric circuit having a source of power.

7. The mechanism for enclosing a child or infant in a seat assembly according to claim 6, wherein said buoyant seat assembly comprises a net for holding toys or articles.

8. The mechanism for enclosing a child or infant in a seat assembly according to claim 7, wherein said buoyant seat assembly comprises at least one cup holder.

9. The mechanism for enclosing a child or infant in a seat assembly according to claim 8, wherein said buoyant backrest assembly stores emergency equipment including a flashlight, glass shattering tool, floatation devices, whistles, neon lights, and an emergency mask.

10. The mechanism for enclosing a child or infant in a seat assembly according to claim 9, wherein said buoyant backrest assembly comprises a belt latch having channels to adjust said belt latch, said belt latch receives a vehicle seat belt there through.