RESTRAINT FOR CHILD SEAT

Abstract

A restraint for a child seat including at least one strap having a water-resistant coating covering an exterior surface a flexible base material. The water-resistant coating facilitates cleaning the restraint by preventing food or other materials from adhering to the strap, and resists staining.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/313,918 filed Mar. 28, 2016, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of children's accessories, and more particularly to straps, harnesses and other restraints for child seats and other children's accessories that are easily cleaned without removing the restraints from the seat.

BACKGROUND

Restraints such as straps and harnesses are an important safety component of many children's accessories such as child seats, high chairs, booster seats, rockers, bouncers and the like. Such restraints are commonly provided for use in connection with children's accessories for the purpose of preventing a child from positioning himself unsafely, falling out of the seat, or causing a seat to tip over. Restraints are particularly important in high chairs and boosters, where young children of varying neck-strength are seated in a semi-upright position, because of the need for safe positioning for feeding to prevent choking.

However, many restraints are typically comprised of webbing or fabric straps, which are difficult to clean after a meal, as they stain easily and provide a surface for food particles to adhere. Unthreading the straps from the seat for daily washing would generally be difficult and impractical, and provide opportunities for the strap to be rethreaded incorrectly or unsafely. Accordingly, it can be seen that needs exist for restraints for a child seat or other children's accessory that are easily cleaned without removing said restraints from the seat. It is to the provision of restraints for a child seat or other children's accessory meeting these and other needs that the present invention is primarily directed.

SUMMARY

In example embodiments, the present invention provides a strap, harness or other restraint for a children's accessory such as a child seat that is easily cleaned without removing said restraint from the seat. In further embodiments, the invention relates to a child seat of other children's accessory including such a restraint. In still other embodiments, the invention relates to methods of fabricating or treating a restraint for a children's accessory.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a restraint for a child seat. The restraint preferably includes at least one strap, the strap including a flexible base material and a water-resistant coating covering an exterior surface of at least a portion of the flexible base material.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a child seat including a seating surface configured for supporting a child seated thereon, and a restraint for holding the child seated in position on the seating surface. The restraint preferably includes at least one strap having a water-resistant exterior surface.

In still another aspect, the invention relates to a method of producing a water-resistant strap for use in a restraint for a children's accessory, the method comprising applying a water-resistant coating material onto an exterior surface of an inner strap material to form an outer coating over at least a portion of an exterior surface of the inner strap material.

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be understood with reference to the drawing figures and detailed description herein, and will be realized by means of the various elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following brief description of the drawings and detailed description of example embodiments are explanatory of example embodiments of the invention, and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a child seat having a restraint according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a child seat having a restraint according to another example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a strap portion of a restraint according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a system and method for treating a strap to fabricate a restraint according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of example embodiments taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed invention. Any and all patents and other publications identified in this specification are incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.

Also, as used in the specification including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.

With reference now to the drawing figures, wherein like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows a children's accessory in the form of a high chair 10 in which an infant or small child C is seated, and including a restraint harness 30 according to an example embodiment of the invention. In the depicted embodiment, the high chair 10 includes a support frame 12 having a base configured for supporting the high chair on a floor or other support surface and an upper portion extending above the base, a generally horizontal seat portion 14 supported at an elevated position by the frame, a seat back 16 extending upwardly from the rear of the seat portion, armrests or side portions 18 along each lateral side of the seat portion, a crotch bolster 20 projecting upwardly from a medial portion of the front of the seat, and a tray 22 configured for repositionable placement in front of the child and above the seat.

The restraint harness 30 comprises a waist strap 32 configured for placement around the waist of a child C seated in the seat 14, a pair of shoulder straps 34, 36 configured for placement over the child's shoulders, a waist strap fastener 38 configured for detachable fastening of opposed segments of the waist strap, and shoulder strap fasteners 40, 42 configured for detachable fastening of the shoulder straps to the waist strap to define a four-point harness. The fasteners 38, 40, 42 can be buckles, clips, or any other form of harness fastener. The straps 32, 34, 36 can be formed from webbing, fabric, leather, or any other suitable flexible material. In example embodiments, the straps comprise a polyester, nylon or other woven polymeric webbing material. The restraint harness 30 is generally configured to hold and support the child C in a generally upright position, a slightly reclined position, and/or in one or more specified positions within the chair 10, for example for feeding, play, rest, interaction, and/or other activities.

FIG. 2 shows another children's accessory in the form of a bouncer seat 110 in which an infant or small child can be seated, and including a restraint harness 130 according to an example embodiment of the invention. In similar fashion to the previously described embodiment, the bouncer 110 includes a resilient bouncer frame 112, a generally horizontal seat portion 114 supported at an elevated position by the frame, a seat back 116 extending upwardly and an angle of inclination from the rear of the seat portion, and side portions 118 along each lateral side of the seat portion. The restraint harness 130 comprises a waist strap 132, a pair of shoulder straps 134, 136, a waist strap fastener 138, and shoulder strap fasteners 140, 142. In alternative embodiments, the children's accessory may be in the form of a child seat, a high chair, a booster seat, a rocker, a bouncer, or other child-supporting accessory.

In example embodiments, one or more straps of the restraint can be coated with a pliable polymer such as urethane or any other suitable material, such that the coating will resist the adhesion of food particles or other particles, stains, liquids, or other materials. FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a strap portion 200 of a restraint for a children's accessory, according to an example embodiment. In example embodiments, the strap 200 comprises an inner or base portion 202 formed, for example, from woven nylon or polyester webbing, strap or belt material, or from a strip of any suitable synthetic or natural flexible material having sufficient tensile strength to support and retain the child in place in the seat or other accessory. In example embodiments, the strap 200 further comprises an outer portion or coating 204 over all or a substantial portion of one or more exterior surfaces of the inner portion 202 of the strap.

In example forms, the strap 200 may define an external surface formed by the coating 204 presenting the outward appearance of a smooth “plastic” while maintaining the durability of the internal webbing or other material comprising the inner portion 202 of the strap. For example, a rubberized or silicone film or coating 204 may be applied over all or a substantial portion of the exterior surfaces of a polyester or nylon webbing inner portion 202 of the strap 200. In alternate embodiments, the strap 200 can be treated with a thin water-resistant coating 204, such that the strap would retain the outward appearance of its constituent inner strap material 202, but would have a water-resistant hydrophobic and stain-resistant external layer. The water-resistant coating could be, for example, a hydrophobic fluoropolymer or other surfactant, or a nano-coating such as a vacuum-induced plasma-bound hydrophobic layer. Alternatively, the coating can be any other hydrophobic or stain-resistant material known in the field. In alternate embodiments, the restraint straps themselves can be made of a liquid and/or stain-resistant extruded polymer such as a urethane or other flexible and tough thermoplastic material, with no separate internal webbing or other inner component.

FIG. 4 shows an example system and process for producing a strap 300 for use in a restraint for a children's accessory. One or more spray applicators 305 dispense a coating material 307, which is applied onto the exterior surface of a strip of inner strap material 309, to form an outer coating 311 on the strap. In the depicted embodiment, upper and lower spray applicators 305 apply the coating material 307 to upper and lower exterior surfaces of the strap material 309, respectively. The system optionally further comprises a drive motor, rollers, transmission mechanism, and/or other motive means for advancing the strap 300 past the spray applicators, or alternatively for moving the spray applicators along the length of the strap.

While the invention has been described with reference to example embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications, additions and deletions are within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A restraint for a child seat, the restraint comprising at least one strap, the at least one strap comprising a flexible base material and a water-resistant coating covering an exterior surface of at least a portion of the flexible base material.

2. The restraint of claim 1, wherein the at least one strap comprises a waist strap configured for placement around a waist of a child seated in the child seat, and further comprising a waist strap fastener for detachably fastening segments of the waist strap together.

3. The restraint of claim 2, further comprising a pair of shoulder straps, and shoulder strap fasteners for detachably fastening the shoulder straps to the waist strap.

4. The restraint of claim 1, wherein the flexible base material comprises a polymeric webbing material.

5. The restraint of claim 4, wherein the water-resistant coating comprises a pliable polymer coating.

6. The restraint of claim 5, wherein the pliable polymer coating is selected from urethane, silicone, rubber, hydrophobic fluoropolymer, a vacuum-induced plasma-bound hydrophobic nanocoating, and combinations thereof.

7. The restraint of claim 1, wherein the at least one strap comprises an extruded water-resistant polymer.

8. A child seat comprising:

a seating surface configured for supporting a child seated thereon; and

a restraint for holding the child seated in position on the seating surface, the restraint comprising at least one strap having a water-resistant exterior surface.

9. The child seat of claim 8, wherein the at least one strap comprises a waist strap configured for placement around a waist of a child supported on the seating surface, and further comprising a waist strap fastener for detachably fastening segments of the waist strap together.

10. The child seat of claim 9, further comprising a pair of shoulder straps, and shoulder strap fasteners for detachably fastening the shoulder straps to the waist strap.

11. The child seat of claim 8, wherein the at least one strap comprises a flexible base material and a water-resistant coating covering an exterior surface of at least a portion of the flexible base material.

12. The child seat of claim 11, wherein the flexible base material comprises a polymeric webbing material.

13. The child seat of claim 11, wherein the water-resistant coating comprises a pliable polymer coating.

14. The child seat of claim 13, wherein the pliable polymer coating is selected from urethane, silicone, rubber, hydrophobic fluoropolymer, a vacuum-induced plasma-bound hydrophobic nanocoating, and combinations thereof.

15. The child seat of claim 8, wherein the at least one strap comprises an extruded water-resistant polymer.

16. A method of producing a water-resistant strap for use in a restraint for a children's accessory, the method comprising applying a water-resistant coating material onto an exterior surface of an inner strap material to form an outer coating over at least a portion of an exterior surface of the inner strap material.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the water-resistant coating material is applied onto the inner strap material by spraying.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the water-resistant coating material is applied onto the inner strap material by vacuum-induced coating.