CA1256010A — Combination infant bed and toddler seat for shopp…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 244 words

In combination, an apparatus for supporting an infant or toddler, and a child's seat of a shopping cart, the apparatus being convertible between a cradle-like conformation useful for supporting an infant within the confines of the shopping cart child seat and a seat-like conformation useful for supporting a toddler capable of being seated within the shopping cart child seat, the child seat of the shopping cart having a substantially horizontal seat portion and a back support portion when the child seat is configured for use as a seat, the confines of the child seat further being defined by lateral side portions of the shopping cart and a rear portion of the shopping cart comprising: a body member which is generally oblong and concave when in the cradle-like conformation, the body member having a central portion substantially at a lowermost portion thereof with sides therearound and having ends defined at the more narrow sides of said body member, the body member being adapted to be positioned in said shopping cart child seat when in the cradle-like conformation with the lowermost portion of the body member being supported by the seat portion of the child seat, the body member being adapted to the seat-like conformation by folding of a lateral side portion thereof behind a central portion thereof with said ends being brought forward of the central portion to form the seat-like conformation, the shopping cart child seat supporting the folded member in the seat-like conformation.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 244 words

In combination, an apparatus for supporting an infant or toddler, and a child's seat of a shopping cart, the apparatus being convertible between a cradle-like conformation useful for supporting an infant within the confines of the shopping cart child seat and a seat-like conformation useful for supporting a toddler capable of being seated within the shopping cart child seat, the child seat of the shopping cart having a substantially horizontal seat portion and a back support portion when the child seat is configured for use as a seat, the confines of the child seat further being defined by lateral side portions of the shopping cart and a rear portion of the shopping cart comprising: a body member which is generally oblong and concave when in the cradle-like conformation, the body member having a central portion substantially at a lowermost portion thereof with sides therearound and having ends defined at the more narrow sides of said body member, the body member being adapted to be positioned in said shopping cart child seat when in the cradle-like conformation with the lowermost portion of the body member being supported by the seat portion of the child seat, the body member being adapted to the seat-like conformation by folding of a lateral side portion thereof behind a central portion thereof with said ends being brought forward of the central portion to form the seat-like conformation, the shopping cart child seat supporting the folded member in the seat-like conformation.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising means joined to the ends of the body member for releasably attaching the body member to portions of the shopping cart.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 40 words

The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising means joined to the ends of the body member for releasably attaching the body member to the lateral side portions of the shopping cart when the apparatus is in the cradle-like conformation.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 33 words

The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising means joined to the body member for releasably attaching the apparatus to the shopping cart when the body member is folded into the seat-like conformation.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising waist retainer strap means joined to the body member for maintaining the child in a supported position relative to the apparatus.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 42 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the waist strap retainer means comprise elongated belts and fastening means joined to free ends of the elongated belts for releasably joining the free ends of the belts together, thereby to restrain and hold a child.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 70 words

The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising first waist retainer strap means joined to the body member at a location centrally of the body member on that surface of the body member lying within the concavity thereof when the body member is in the oblong, concave cradle-like conformation, the first waist retainer strap means being adapted to restrain and hold in place an infant disposed within the body member.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 50 words

The apparatus of claim 7 and further comprising second waist retainer strap means joined to the body member on the surface thereof opposite the aforementioned said surface for restraining and holding in place a child seated on the body member when said body member is folded into the seat-like conformation.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 8 and further comprising means joined to the body member for releasably attaching the body member to the back support portion of the child seat.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 132 words

The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising an oblong pillow member having a pair of opposite short sides and a pair of opposite long sides, said pillow member including first and second pairs of releasable attachment means positioned near the outer edges thereof, said first pair of attachment means being positioned opposite one another on the long sides of said pillow member and said second pair of releasable attachment means being positioned opposite one another on the short sides, said pillow member being adapted to be positiond around the carriage handle or around a portion of the rear portion of the shopping cart or folded and used as a tummy or back support or, in its open position, used as a pillow when the apparatus is used in the cradle-like conformation.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 144 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the body member is formed of a central panel and first and second side panels of substantially elliptical shape, the panels having substantially pointed ends, the first and second side panels being joined respectively to opposite edges of the central panel to form the substantially oblong and concave body member when the body member is formed into the cradle-like conformation, the edges of the panels at the seams there-between being turned inwardly toward that surface of the body member forming the interior surface of the body member when in the cradle-like conformation, the body member further comprising binding joining the inwardly turned panel edges together, thereby to place an outwardly directed stress on the sides of the body member to facilitate maintenance of the cradle-like conformation of said body member when the apparatus is used as a cradle.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 44 words

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the panels are formed of a cushioned fabric having a degree of stiffness sufficient to facilitate retaining of the shape of the body member when used in the several conformations to which said body member can be adapted.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the edges of the panels are sewn together.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 265 words

In combination, a child support and a child seat in a shopping cart, the child support being convertible between a cradle-like conformation useful for supporting an . infant within the confines of the child seat and a seat-like conformation useful for supporting a child capable of being seated within the child seat, the child seat of the shopping cart having a substantially horizontal seat portion and a back support portion when the child seat is configured for use as a seat, the confines of the child seat further being defined by lateral side portions of the shopping cart and by a rear portion of the shopping cart, the improvement comprising: a body member including a central panel having first and second opposite edges and first and second ends, a first panel being attached to the central panel along the first edge of said central panel, a second side panel being attached along the second edge of said central panel, the body member being generally oblong and concave when in the cradle-like conformation, outer surfaces of at least the central panel contacting and being supported by the seat portion of the child seat of the shopping cart when the body member is in the cradle-like conformation; first retainer means joined to the interior surface of the body member when in the cradle-like conformation for holding and restraining a child within the body member; and, second retainer means joined to the exterior surface of the body member when in the cradle-like conformation for holding and restraining a child when the body member is in the seat-like conformation.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 265 words

In combination, a child support and a child seat in a shopping cart, the child support being convertible between a cradle-like conformation useful for supporting an . infant within the confines of the child seat and a seat-like conformation useful for supporting a child capable of being seated within the child seat, the child seat of the shopping cart having a substantially horizontal seat portion and a back support portion when the child seat is configured for use as a seat, the confines of the child seat further being defined by lateral side portions of the shopping cart and by a rear portion of the shopping cart, the improvement comprising: a body member including a central panel having first and second opposite edges and first and second ends, a first panel being attached to the central panel along the first edge of said central panel, a second side panel being attached along the second edge of said central panel, the body member being generally oblong and concave when in the cradle-like conformation, outer surfaces of at least the central panel contacting and being supported by the seat portion of the child seat of the shopping cart when the body member is in the cradle-like conformation; first retainer means joined to the interior surface of the body member when in the cradle-like conformation for holding and restraining a child within the body member; and, second retainer means joined to the exterior surface of the body member when in the cradle-like conformation for holding and restraining a child when the body member is in the seat-like conformation.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 78 words

The combination of claim 14 wherein the first retainer means comprises a first elongated strap having one end joined to the body member at the juncture between the central panel and the first panel, a second elongated strap having one end joined to the body member at the juncture between the central panel and the second panel, the first and second straps being thereby joined substantially centrally of the body member along the respective junctures of the panels.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 37 words

The combination of claim 14 wherein the second retainer means comprise first and second elongated belts joined to the body member at the juncture between the central panel and the second panel and centrally of said juncture.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 33 words

The combination of claim 14 wherein the improvement further comprises means joined to the body member at the ends of the central panel for releasably attaching the body member to the shopping cart.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 43 words

The combination of claim 14 wherein the improvement further comprises means joined to the ends of the body member for releasably attaching the body member to the lateral side portions of the shopping cart when the child support is in the cradle-like conformation.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 59 words

The combination of claim 14 wherein the improvement further comprises rear means joined to the juncture between the central panel and the first panel and centrally thereof on the same side of the body member as the second retainer means for releasably attaching the body member to the shopping cart when the child support is in the seat-like conformation.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 38 words

The combination of claim 15 wherein the first and second retainer means comprise fastening means joined to the free ends of the straps and belts for releasably joining the respective free ends of said straps and belt together.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 17 words

The combination of claim 14 wherein the panels are substantially elliptical in shape and have pointed ends.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 139 words

The combination of claim 14 and further comprising an oblong pillow member having a pair of opposite short sides and a pair of opposite long sides, said pillow member including first and second pairs of releasable attachment means positioned near the outer edges of the pillow member, said first pair of attachment means being positioned opposite one another on the long sides of said pillow member and said second pair of releasable attachment means being positioned opposite one another on the short sides of said pillow member, said pillow member being adapted to be positioned around the carriage handle or around a portion of the rear portion of the shopping cart or folded and used as a tummy or back support or, in its open position, used as a pillow when the body member is in the cradle-like conformation.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 43 words

The combination of claim 14 wherein the panels are formed of a cushioned fabric having a degree of stiffness sufficient to facilitate retaining of the shape of the body member when used in the several conformations which the child support can be adapted.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 14 words

The combination of claim 14 wherein the edges of the panels are sewn together.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 83 words

The combination of claim 14 wherein the edges of the panels at seams therebetween are turned inwardly toward that surface of the body member forming the interior surface of the child support when in the cradle-like conformation, the body member comprising binding joining the inwardly turned panel edges together, thereby to place an outwardly directed stress on the sides of the body member to facilitate maintenance of the cradle-like conformation of the body member when the child support is used as a cradle.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 306 words

A method for converting a child support adapted for use in association with a child seat in a shopping cart between a cradle-like conformation useful for supporting an infant within the confines of the child seat and a seat-like conformation useful for supporting a child capable of being seated within the child seat, the child seat of the shopping cart having a substantially horizontal seat portion and a back support portion when the child seat is configured for use as a seat, the confines of the child seat further being defined by lateral side portions of the shopping cart and a rear portion of the shopping cart, the child support including a body member which is generally oblong and concave when in the cradle-like conformation, the body member having a central portion substantially at the bottom thereof with first and second side portions therearound and having ends defined at the more narrow sides thereof, the child support being adapted to be positioned in the child seat when in the cradle-like conformation, with the bottom of the body member being supported by the seat portion of the child seat, the method comprising the steps of: inverting the body member to cause the interior surface of the body member when in the cradle-like conformation to become the exterior surface; folding the first side portion of the body member rearwardly behind the central portion; positioning the second side portion of the body member on the seat portion of the shopping cart child seat; positioning the central portion of the body member on the back support portion of the shopping cart child seat; and, drawing the ends of the body member inwardly and releasably attaching said ends to the rear portion of the shopping cart to form a seat-like conformation within which a child capable of sitting can be disposed.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 306 words

A method for converting a child support adapted for use in association with a child seat in a shopping cart between a cradle-like conformation useful for supporting an infant within the confines of the child seat and a seat-like conformation useful for supporting a child capable of being seated within the child seat, the child seat of the shopping cart having a substantially horizontal seat portion and a back support portion when the child seat is configured for use as a seat, the confines of the child seat further being defined by lateral side portions of the shopping cart and a rear portion of the shopping cart, the child support including a body member which is generally oblong and concave when in the cradle-like conformation, the body member having a central portion substantially at the bottom thereof with first and second side portions therearound and having ends defined at the more narrow sides thereof, the child support being adapted to be positioned in the child seat when in the cradle-like conformation, with the bottom of the body member being supported by the seat portion of the child seat, the method comprising the steps of: inverting the body member to cause the interior surface of the body member when in the cradle-like conformation to become the exterior surface; folding the first side portion of the body member rearwardly behind the central portion; positioning the second side portion of the body member on the seat portion of the shopping cart child seat; positioning the central portion of the body member on the back support portion of the shopping cart child seat; and, drawing the ends of the body member inwardly and releasably attaching said ends to the rear portion of the shopping cart to form a seat-like conformation within which a child capable of sitting can be disposed.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 26 and further comprising the step of releasably attaching the central portion of the body member to the back support portion of the shopping cart.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 26 and further comprising the step of restraining the child within the child support.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 197 words

An apparatus for retaining an infant or toddler within a shopping cart seat area, comprising: a bed member including a central panel having first and second opposite sides and first and second ends, a first side panel attached along said first side to said central panel, a second side panel attached along said second side being on the opposited side of said central panel from said first side panel; hook means affixed near the first and second ends of said central panel to said bed member, said hook means adapted to be releasably attached to the sides of said shopping cart when said apparatus is configured as a bed member; and said first side panel adapted to be folded rearwardly behind said central panel while positioning said second side panel upon the seat of said cart with said central panel in an upright position forming the back of a seat to be used for the toddler with said ends of said panels maneuvered forward with said means to attach said ends to said cart in said forward position adapted to be attached to said cart, said structure then forming a seat member adapted to hold a toddler.

Claim 33

Independent Claim 197 words

An apparatus for retaining an infant or toddler within a shopping cart seat area, comprising: a bed member including a central panel having first and second opposite sides and first and second ends, a first side panel attached along said first side to said central panel, a second side panel attached along said second side being on the opposited side of said central panel from said first side panel; hook means affixed near the first and second ends of said central panel to said bed member, said hook means adapted to be releasably attached to the sides of said shopping cart when said apparatus is configured as a bed member; and said first side panel adapted to be folded rearwardly behind said central panel while positioning said second side panel upon the seat of said cart with said central panel in an upright position forming the back of a seat to be used for the toddler with said ends of said panels maneuvered forward with said means to attach said ends to said cart in said forward position adapted to be attached to said cart, said structure then forming a seat member adapted to hold a toddler.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said panels are of a substantially elliptical shape with pointed ends.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 41 words

The apparatus of claim 30 further including a first waist retainer strap in a central portion of the central panel with buckle means to open and close the ends thereof around the infant when said apparatus is utilized as a bed.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 65 words

The apparatus of claim 31 further including: a second waist retainer strap positioned on the opposite side of said central panel in the area forming the seat of said apparatus, said second waist retainer strap adapted to hold a toddler when said apparatus is utilized in its seat mode; and means to attach the seat of said apparatus at its back to said shopping cart.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 132 words

The apparatus of claim 29 further including an oblong pillow member having a pair of opposite short sides and a pair of opposite long sides, said pillow member including first and second pairs of releasable attachment means positioned near its outer edges, said first pair of attachment means being positioned opposite one another on said pillow's long sides and said second pair of releasable attachment means being positioned opposite one another on said pillow's short sides, said pillow member adapted to be positioned around the carriage handle or around a portion of the metal structure of the seat or folded and used as a tummy or back support, or in its open position, used as a pillow within the apparatus of this invention when the apparatus is utilized in its bed mode.

Combination infant bed and toddler seat for shopping carts

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