US5514020A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Buoyant child safety seat for boats
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1995-03-16
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Granted: 1996-05-07
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Expires: 2015-03-16
Abstract
Abstract A child- or infant-sized safety seat is disclosed with relatively horizontal seat and relatively vertical back support elements designed with flotation effecting materials sufficient to keep said child or infant at the water's surface and with critically positioned and apportioned (relative to the weight of the back and seat support elements and the anticipated weight of the child) counter-weight effecting materials to result in that portion of the vertical back support element supporting the child's head and shoulders well above the water's surface. The safety seat is preferably constructed by injecting a semi-rigid, resilient polyurethane foam into a die cast mold into which the weight materials have been pre-positioned to result in the up-righting of the safety seat at the water's surface, and the foam, upon rising and curing, forms around the weighted material to fix its position.
Inventors
- 👤 Anne M. Gainforth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:43
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C44/00; B29C44/02; B29C44/12; B63; B63B; B63B29/00; B63B29/02; B63B29/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A flotation safety seating device comprising a relatively horizontal seat support element and a relatively vertical back support element each of which are at least partially constructed of a flotation effecting material and further comprising weight effecting material approximately centrally positioned below the seat support clement in an amount in proportion to the flotation effecting material to result in causing the safety seating device to be in an upright position when floating in water with at least the upper one-fourth of the back supporting element above the water's surface wherein the weight ratio of the seat and back support elements to the weight material is about 0.75-1.5:1, respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A flotation safety seating device comprising a relatively horizontal seat support element and a relatively vertical back support element each of which are at least partially constructed of a flotation effecting material and further comprising weight effecting material approximately centrally positioned below the seat support clement in an amount in proportion to the flotation effecting material to result in causing the safety seating device to be in an upright position when floating in water with at least the upper one-fourth of the back supporting element above the water's surface wherein the weight ratio of the seat and back support elements to the weight material is about 0.75-1.5:1, respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The flotation device of claim 1 wherein the flotation effecting material is polyurethane foam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The flotation device of claim 1 wherein the weight effecting material is in an amount in proportion to the flotation effecting material to result in causing the safety seating device to be in an upright position when floating in water with at least the upper one-third of the back supporting element above the water's surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The flotation device of claim 3 wherein the weight ratio of the seat and the back support elements to the weight material is about 1:1.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The flotation device of claim 1 wherein the flotation effecting material is selected from the group consisting of foam, cork, balsa, contained gases, and any combination thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The flotation device of claim 1 wherein the weight effecting material is selected from the group consisting of metal, sand, rock, cement, and any combination thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The flotation device of claim 5 wherein the foam is polyurethane foam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The flotation device of claim 6 wherein the metal is lead.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The flotation device of claim 1 further comprising a safety harness structure for securing a child positioned within the device, said harness comprising separate strap elements positioned near the top of the back support element above each shoulder of the child and terminating at a common point central to the front of the seat support element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The flotation device of claim 1 further comprising a means for stabilizing the device within a boat seat.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The flotation device of claim 10 wherein the boat seat is a bench seat.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The flotation device of claim 11 wherein the stabilization means comprises at least one vertical strap one end of which is attached to the backside of said device and having an attachment means at the other end for securing to the back of said seat.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The flotation device of claim 12 wherein the attachment means is provided by a hook-and-loop fabric.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The flotation device of claim 10 wherein the boat seat is a bucket seat.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
76 words
The flotation device of claim 14 wherein the stabilization means comprises at least one horizontal strap one end of which is attached near one side edge of the backside of said device and having an attachment means at the other end such that, by passing the strap behind the back of the seat and securing the attachment means to the other side edge of the backside of said device, the device is stabilized in said seat.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The flotation device of claim 15 wherein the attachment means is provided by hook-and-loop fabric.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-05-07 | 1999-11-06 | 2000-05-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-05-07 | 2003-11-06 | 2004-05-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-05-07 | 2007-11-06 | 2008-05-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |