Temperature controlling seat cover

Abstract

A temperature controlling seat cover with a first flexible mesh fabric layer, an open cell flexible foam layer, a second flexible mesh fabric layer and a flexible binding strip. The open cell foam layer resides between the first mesh layer and the second mesh layer. The binding strip is sewn along the perimeter of the fabric layers. The resulting fabric and foam assembly forms a leg, buttock and back supporting mat whose perimeter is contoured to fit onto a standard baby seat. The mesh and foam construction allows for the passage of surrounding air to travel through the seat cover and to reach the back and leg portions of a person sitting in a seat that is covered by the seat cover. The seat cover is easily attachable or removable from a standard seat. A preferred embodiment includes a pocket containing a cooling or warming device.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of seat covers and more specifically to a temperature controlling seat cover.

Seat covers are a well known means to protect vehicle seats or baby car seat devices that removably attach to a standard vehicle seat. Existing seat covers are primarily sold to protect the original seat covering material or to provide a newer look to an old, and potentially soiled existing vehicle seat.

Some inventors, such as those found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,883,701 and 4,891,454, have designed disposable baby seat liners that are meant to be disposable to help preserve the unsoiled condition of the original baby seat.

The inventor of U.S. Pat. No. 6,106,057 discloses a baby car seat that allows air flow to the back of the seats occupant, however, the cover is a permanent part of the seat and can not be removed for cleaning. U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,309 discloses a seat cover that has pockets that can retain standard cooling or warming devices, however, the inventor does not take into account that standard cooling devices tend to create moisture on their surfaces when they are in use in a warm environment.

Therefore there is a deficiency in the prior technology in that the prior art does not disclose a replaceable and removable car seat cover that allows air to easily flow to the back, head and legs of the seats occupant. Additionally, the prior art does not disclose a seat cover that can be easily adjusted to accommodate seats with wider or narrower head rest areas. Finally, although the prior art does allows for a seat cover to accept a standard cooling or warming device, as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,309, it does not take into consideration the moisture created on the surface of a cooling device when placed in a warm environment such as a warm car seat.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide a seat cover that enhances the user's comfort by helping to provide a cooling effect or heating effect.

Another object of the invention is to provide a seat cover that is designed to fit on a variety of sizes and shapes of seats.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a temperature controlling seat cover comprising: a first flexible mesh fabric layer, a polyester open celled foam or batting layer, a second flexible mesh fabric layer, a flexible binding strip, said batting layer residing between said first mesh layer and said second mesh layer, said binding strip sewn along the perimeter of said fabric layers, and said resulting fabric and foam assembly forming a leg, buttock and back supporting mat whose perimeter is contoured to fit onto standard baby seat devices and other seat devices, said mesh and open cell foam of batting construction allowing the passage of surrounding air to travel through said seat cover and to reach the back and leg portions of a person sitting in a seat that is covered by said seat cover, said seat cover being easily attachable or removable from a standard seat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention in place on a baby car seat.

FIG. 2 is a side section view of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a rear plan view of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial front plan view of the head rest portion of the invention in the horizontal position.

FIG. 6 is a partial front plan view of the head rest portion of the invention in the vertical position.

FIG. 7 is a front plan view of an alternate embodiment of the invention for smaller infant seats.

FIG. 8 is a rear plan view of the alternate embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a partial section view of showing the construction of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the head rest portion of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a partial front plan view of an alternate head rest portion of the invention

FIG. 12 is a partial front plan view of a second alternate headrest portion of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a perspective view of the invention 100, 150 as it is placed on the seat and back rest surface of a standard baby seat 2 that are commonly used to help support babies while sitting in a vehicle. The car seat 2 includes straps 4 that are used to hold the baby in place in case of an accident. The leg and back portion of the invention 100 includes a sewn crease line 14 that helps the leg portion 10 remain in the bent position with respect to the back portion 16. The perimeter of the main portion 100 and head rest portion 150 are shaped to fit into a standard baby seat 2 and to accommodate the straps 4 that are associated with such seats 2.

FIG. 2 shows a side section view of the invention 100, 150 that bisects the entire invention 100, 150. The invention 100, 150 is formed of layers that include a top surface layer 10, 16, 32. An open cell foam, or open cell batting layer 26, 28, 30 and a lower surface layer 12, 18, 34. The open cell foam 26, 28, 30 is made of low density polyfoam, however a polyester batting material can be substituted in place of foam. In the preferred embodiment, the lower surface of layer 18 has a pocket 20 sewn to it that can removably retain a standard cooling or heating device 24. The device 24 is designed to be stored in the freezer area of a standard refrigerator to create a cooling effect when installed in pocket 20. Or, device 24 can be heated in a standard microwave oven and then placed in pocket 20 to create a heating effect. My experiments have shown that the difference in temperature between the ambient temperature and the cooled temperature of the device 24 creates moisture in the form of condensation on the surface of the device 24. Therefore, I have found it important to enclose the device 24 within a layer of moisture absorbent material 22. A hook type fastener 36 is sewn onto the top surface 16 of portion 100. A loop type fastener 38 is sewn onto the underside of head rest portion 150 so that head rest 150 can be removably attached to main portion 100. The head rest portion 150 is constructed in a similar way as the main body portion 100. The upper 10, 16, 32 and lower 12, 18, 34 layers are made of a mesh material that allow air to easily pass through the entire assembly 100, 150 thereby allowing cool ambient air to provide a cooling effect for the baby that is sitting in the baby seat 2. In the preferred embodiment the upper and lower layers are made of a mesh that is in itself a composite of layers as shown in FIG. 9. The mesh 32 is comprised of an upper layer 202, a middle layer 204 and a bottom layer 206 forming a single combined layer 20, 16. The top layer 202 is made of a polyester mesh that has regularly spaced apertures of approximately fifty thousands of an inch forming at least a fifty percent total air passage through the material 16, 20. The middle layer 204 is comprised of a plurality of closely spaced vertically oriented filaments which form a resilient panel and also let air flow freely between the upper layer 202 and lower layer 206. Lower later 206 is also an open weave material that includes apertures that allow free flow of air. This type of material combination 202, 204, 206 is manufactured by Anhui Triumph Co. Ltd located in Anhui, China. The overall effect of the upper mesh layer 32, the lower mesh layer 34 and the open cell foam or batting 26 creates a resilient yet fully ventilated mat portions 100, 150 that allows air to pass freely to the head, back and legs of the child sitting in the baby seat.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the front portion of assembly 100. Binding 8 is sewn around the perimeter of the assembly 100 thereby helping to keep the entire assembly together. Sewn bend line 14 also helps keep the layers together. Dotted lines 17, 19 show an alternative perimeter contour that helps the assembly 100 accommodate straps found on some baby seats. Inwardly facing contours 37, 39 as well as Inverted U shaped contour 11 also are designed to accommodate safety straps that are found on most baby car seats. Hook type fastener 36 can be clearly seen and helps retain head rest 150 as described above.

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the rear portion of assembly 100. Pocket 20 can be clearly seen. A standard cooling or heating device can be slid into the opening 21 of pocket 20.

FIG. 5 shows a partial front plan view of back portion 100 and head rest portion 150 with the head rest 150 in a horizontal orientation and being held to the back portion 100 by loop fasting portion 39. This orientation is ideal for larger baby seats such as those found in strollers or juvenile car seats.

FIG. 6 shows a partial front plan view of back portion 100 and head rest portion 150 with the head rest portion 150 being held in the vertical position by loop fastening portion 38. This configuration works best for smaller baby car seats and for seats that have raised side bumpers that protect the sides of a baby's head.

FIG. 11 shows an alternate plan view of a headrest 250 that is elliptical in shape and held in place on main portion 100 by loop fastening portion 238. It should be noted that the headrest can be made in a variety of shapes as long as resulting shape has a pair of longer sides and a pair of shorter sides. For example, FIG. 12 shows a second alternate embodiment of the headrest 350, oriented in a vertical position, which is held in place to the main body 100 by loop fastener portion 338. In this case, the headrest 350 includes inwardly contoured sides, however, it still includes a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides.

FIG. 7 shows a front plan view of an alternate embodiment of the invention 300. This embodiment is constructed in the same layered fashion as the preferred embodiment 100, 150. It includes a sewn bend line 302 which delineates the leg portion 306 from the back and head portion 304. The embodiment 300 is shorter than the preferred embodiment 100, 150. The short embodiment is approximately twenty one inches tall 308 and is meant for infants up to one year old. The preferred embodiment 100, 150 is approximately twenty eight inches tall when the head rest 150 is in the vertical position.

FIG. 8 is a rear plan view of of the alternate embodiment 300 which shows the pocket 310 that can accept a heating or cooling device. The overall contours of the embodiment 300 are designed to accommodate the location of restraining straps commonly found in infant car seats.

FIG. 10 shows a rear view of head rest portion 150. A strap 160 is fixedly attached on one end 164 and has a loop type fastening device 162 sewn on to the opposite end as shown in the dotted line version 160A of the strap 160. The strap 160 can be bent over the top and rear of a standard baby seat and loop fastening portion 162 can be attached to a mating hook fastening portion, not shown, that is attached by standard adhesive means to the rear portion of a standard baby seat.

It should be noted that the invention 100, 150 and its alternate embodiment 300 can be used in other baby seat devices such as strollers, jogging strollers, stand alone baby seats, baby carriers and height chairs. Additionally, the layered design described in the invention 100, 150 can also be used in seat covers that are intended for adult use.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. temperature controlling seat cover comprising:

a first flexible mesh fabric layer,

an open cell flexible foam layer,

a second flexible mesh fabric layer;

a flexible binding strip;

said open cell foam layer residing between said first mesh layer and said second mesh layer;

said binding strip sewn along the perimeter of said fabric layers; and

said resulting fabric and foam assembly forming a leg, buttock and back supporting mat whose perimeter is contoured to fit onto standard baby seat devices;

said mesh and foam construction allowing the passage of surrounding air to travel through said seat cover and to reach the back and leg portions of a person sitting in a seat that is covered by said seat cover;

said seat cover being easily attachable or removable from a standard seat.

2. A temperature controlling seat cover as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a pocket sewn into the surface of said second flexible mesh fabric layer;

said pocket capable of removably retaining a standard cooling or warming device;

said standard warming or cooling device encased within flexible moisture absorbing material.

3. A temperature controlling seat cover as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an attachable head rest portion fabricated in a similar way to said seat cover;

said head rest portion approximately rectangular in shape;

said rectangular shape including a strip of standard hook type fastener fixedly attached to the short side of said rectangle and a hook type fastener strip fixedly attached to the long side of said rectangle;

said hook type fasteners capable of removably attaching to a loop type fastener that is centrally located on the uppermost portion of said seat cover;

said rectangular head rest being fastened either on the short side or the long side to said seat cover depending on the width of the head rest portion of said baby seat device.

4. A temperature controlling seat cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said perimeter contour includes U shaped slots that accommodate child restraining straps found on standard baby and infant car seat devices.

5. A temperature controlling seat cover as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a flexible strap that is fixedly attached to the top portion of said seat cover,

said strap having a hook type fastener fixedly attached to its distal end;

said hook type fastener capable of being removably attached to an adhesively backed loop type fastening strip that is fixedly attached to the rear wall of a standard baby seat.

6. A temperature controlling seat cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein a batting layer is substituted for said open cell foam layer.

7. A temperature controlling seat cover as claimed in claim 3 wherein said rectangular head rest can be other shapes including elliptical and a rectangle having inwardly contoured sides as long as the said head rest shape includes a pair of longer sides and a pair of shorter sides.

8. a Temperature controlling seat cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said seat cover can be manufactured in a variety of sizes to fit baby seats that fit in standard vehicles, baby strollers, baby carriers, jogging strollers, infant seats, or seats meant to be used by adults.