Support article for use with infant carrier device

Claim 2

A support article adapted for use with a carrier device to provide adjustable cushioned support to an infant that is placed therein in a travel position, comprising: (a) an elongated pad adapted to be interposed between the infant and the carrier device, said elongated pad having a first surface upon which the infant can be placed in the travel position and a second surface opposite said first surface and including a pair of longitudinally extending side edges; and (b) a raised cushion assembly disposed on said first surface and including a pair of transversely spaced apart cushion elements that are adjustable in position relative to one another, a first one of said cushion elements having a proximal edge portion positioned adjacent to an associated one of said longitudinally extending side edges and configurable into a folded state wherein a free edge portion of said first cushion element is releasably connected to said first surface thereby to define a channel between said cushion elements which is sized to accommodate a torso region of the infant so that said cushion assembly is operative to provide lateral stability to the torso region during transport in the carrier device.

Claim 3

A support article according to claim 1 wherein said proximal edge portion is affixed to said elongated pad along the associated one of said longitudinally extending side edges.

Claim 4

A support article according to claim 2 wherein said proximal edge portion is affixed to said elongated pad by stitching along a peripheral margin of said elongated pad.

Claim 5

A support article according to claim 1 including a pair of cooperative fasteners located, respectively, on said free edge portion and said elongated pad for releasably connecting said free edge portion to said first surface when said first cushion element is configured into the folded state.

Claim 6

A support article according to claim 4 wherein a first one of said cooperative fasteners is affixed to said free edge portion and formed as a strip of hook material and wherein a second one of said cooperative fasteners is affixed to said first surface and formed as a strip of loop material.

Claim 7

A support article according to claim 1 wherein a second one of said cushion elements has a proximal edge portion positioned adjacent to another of said longitudinally extending side edges and is configurable into a folded state wherein a free edge portion of said second cushion element is releasably connected to said first surface.

Claim 8

A support article according to claim 6 wherein each said proximal edge portion is affixed to said elongated pad.

Claim 9

A support article according to claim 7 including first and second pairs of cooperative fasteners for releasably connecting said first and second free edge portions, respectively, to said first surface, a first one of said cooperative fasteners in each of said first and second pairs affixed to the free edge portion of an associated one of said first and second cushion elements, and a second one of said cooperative fasteners in each of said first and second pairs affixed to said first surface.

Claim 10

A support article according to claim 8 wherein the first cooperative fasteners in each of said first and second pairs is formed of a strip of hook material, and wherein said elongated pad includes a single band of loop material affixed thereto and extending between said longitudinally extending side edges to define the second one of said cooperative fasteners in each of said first and second pairs.

Claim 11

A support article according to claim 1 wherein said cushion assembly is intimately secured to said elongated pad.

Claim 12

A support article according to claim 1 including a raised support pillow connected to said elongated pad and extending in an arcuate configuration around an area that is sized and adapted to receive the infant's head when the infant is placed in the travel position on the carrier device, said raised support pillow operative to stabilize the infant's head by resisting lateral movement of the head during transport in the carrier device.

Claim 13

A support article according to claim 11 wherein said raised support pillow is adjustably connected to said elongated pad whereby said area is selectively changeable.

Claim 14

A support article adapted for use with a car seat to provide a cushioned support for an infant seated thereon, wherein the car seat includes a backrest provided with a pair of shoulder straps that are operative to extend over the infant to releasably engage a safety buckle, said support article comprising: (a) an elongated pad having a first surface upon which the infant can be placed in a seated position and an opposite second surface adapted to be placed against the car seat; (b) a raised support pillow disposed on an upper region of said first surface and including a central portion extending in an arcuate configuration around an area that is sized and adapted to receive the infant's head when the infant is in the seated position; (c) a cushion assembly disposed on a medial region of said first surface and operative to provide lateral stability to a torso of the infant, said cushion assembly including a first cushion element and a second cushion element that are spaced apart from one another a separation distance to define a channel within which the infant's torso may be positioned; and (d) a crotch cushion disposed on a lower region of said first surface and centrally located in said lower region so that when the infant is placed in the seated position on said elongated pad the infant's legs can straddle a portion of said crotch cushion, said crotch cushion in the form of an elongated pad that is bent around a mid-section thereof to form a pair of spaced apart legs, said crotch cushion operative to maintain the infant in a proper travel position and to buffer the infant against impact with the safety buckle during transport in the car seat.

Claim 15

A support article adapted for use with a car seat to provide a cushioned support for an infant seated thereon, wherein the car seat includes a backrest provided with a pair of shoulder straps that are operative to extend over the infant to releasably engage a safety buckle, said support article comprising: (a) an elongated pad having a first surface upon which the infant can be placed in a seated position and an opposite second surface adapted to be placed against the car seat; (b) a raised support pillow disposed on an upper region of said first surface and including a central portion extending in an arcuate configuration around an area that is sized and adapted to receive the infant's head when the infant is in the seated position; (c) a cushion assembly disposed on a medial region of said first surface and operative to provide lateral stability to a torso of the infant, said cushion assembly including a first cushion element and a second cushion element that are spaced apart from one another a separation distance to define a channel within which the infant's torso may be positioned; and (d) a crotch cushion disposed on a lower region of said first surface and centrally located in said lower region so that when the infant is placed in the seated position on said elongated pad the infant's legs can straddle a portion of said crotch cushion, said crotch cushion in the form of an elongated pad that is bent around a mid-section thereof to form a pair of spaced apart legs, said crotch cushion operative to maintain the infant in a proper travel position and to buffer the infant against impact with the safety buckle during transport in the car seat.

Claim 16

A support article according to claim 13 wherein said crotch cushion is adapted to releasably engage said first surface.

Claim 17

A support article according to claim 14 wherein said crotch cushion is selectively connectable to said first surface at a plurality of locations longitudinally therealong.

Claim 18

A support article according to claim 14 including a pair of cooperative fasteners located, respectively, on said crotch cushion and the lower region of said first surface for releasably connecting said crotch cushion to said first surface.

Claim 19

A support article according to claim 16 wherein a first one of said cooperative fasteners is affixed to said crotch cushion and formed as a strip of hook material and wherein a second one of said cooperative fasteners is affixed to said first surface and formed as a strip of loop material.

Claim 20

A support article according to claim 13 wherein said legs are interconnected by an adjustable fastening structure so that a separation distance therebetween may be selectively varied.

Claim 21

A support article according to claim 13 including a pair of cooperative fasteners adapted to releasably connect said crotch cushion to said first surface, a first one of said pair of cooperative fasteners affixed to said crotch cushion and a second one of said pair of cooperative fasteners affixed to said first surface.

Claim 22

A support article according to claim 13 wherein said cushion elements are selectively adjustable in position relative to one another.

Claim 23

A support article according to claim 20 wherein said raised support pillow is adjustably connectable to said elongated pad whereby said area is selectively changeable.