US6079780A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Seating height indicator for car seat
Assignee: Mattel Inc
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Filing: 1998-08-27
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Granted: 2000-06-27
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Expires: 2018-08-27
Abstract
Abstract A child's booster seat is configured to be molded in a single piece, with an upper, back portion and a lower, seat portion connected by an integral hinge. The upper and lower portions can be pivoted about the hinge so that integral mortise and tenon structures are brought into engagement and can be pinned to hold the seat in an upright, use configuration. Indicia are disposed on the upper portion to show maximum and minimum suitable seated heights for child occupants of the seat. An adjustable shoulder belt positioned is disposed on the upper portion.
Inventors
- 👤 David M. Bapst
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 13:26
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/24; B60N2/26; B60N2/28; B60N2/2803; B60N2/2806; B60N2/266; B60N2/271; B60N2/2812; B60N2/2857; B60N2/286; B60N2/2866; B60N2/2875; B60N2/2878; B60N2/2881; B60N2/58; B60N2/60; B60N2/6018; B60N2002/2896; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/10; B60R22/105; B60R22/18; B60R22/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
277 words
A seat for safely restraining a child in a vehicle, the seat being suitable for use by children having seated heights ranging between a predetermined maximum seated height and a predetermined minimum seated height, said seat comprising: a shell having an upper, back portion and a lower, seat portion having a seating surface, the maximum seated height referring to the maximum vertical distance between the seating surface and shoulder of the largest seated child that can be safely restrained in said seat and the minimum seated height referring to the minimum vertical distance between the seating surface and shoulder of the smallest seated child that can be safely restrained in said seat; first and second size indicia disposed on the back portion, said first size indicium being located at a position corresponding to the maximum seated height and said second size indicium being located at a position corresponding to the minimum seated height, the first size indicium being configured such that when a parent places a child in said seat and the seated child's shoulder position is disposed above said first size indicium, the position of the first size indicium below the child's shoulder indicates to the parent that the child is too big for said seat and therefore not safely restrainable in said seat, and the second size indicium being configured such that when a parent places a child in said seat and the seated child's shoulder position is disposed below said second size indicia, the position of the second indicium above the child's shoulder indicates to the parent that the child is too small for said seat and therefore not safely restrainable in said seat.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
277 words
A seat for safely restraining a child in a vehicle, the seat being suitable for use by children having seated heights ranging between a predetermined maximum seated height and a predetermined minimum seated height, said seat comprising: a shell having an upper, back portion and a lower, seat portion having a seating surface, the maximum seated height referring to the maximum vertical distance between the seating surface and shoulder of the largest seated child that can be safely restrained in said seat and the minimum seated height referring to the minimum vertical distance between the seating surface and shoulder of the smallest seated child that can be safely restrained in said seat; first and second size indicia disposed on the back portion, said first size indicium being located at a position corresponding to the maximum seated height and said second size indicium being located at a position corresponding to the minimum seated height, the first size indicium being configured such that when a parent places a child in said seat and the seated child's shoulder position is disposed above said first size indicium, the position of the first size indicium below the child's shoulder indicates to the parent that the child is too big for said seat and therefore not safely restrainable in said seat, and the second size indicium being configured such that when a parent places a child in said seat and the seated child's shoulder position is disposed below said second size indicia, the position of the second indicium above the child's shoulder indicates to the parent that the child is too small for said seat and therefore not safely restrainable in said seat.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The seat of claim 1 wherein the vehicle includes a passenger shoulder harness and lap belt, said seat is devoid of a restraint harness and the child is restrained in said seat by the passenger shoulder harness and lap belt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The seat of claim 1 wherein each of said first and second size indicia includes a fabric marker coupled to said shell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The seat of claim 3 further including a fabric cover disposed on said back portion and wherein said fabric markers are disposed on said cover.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The seat of claim 4 wherein said fabric markers are formed integrally with said cover.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The seat of claim 1, the back portion having a center portion defining a back support surface and left and right sides, wherein said first and second indicia are located adjacent to one of said left and right sides so that a parent may easily compare one of a head and shoulder position of the seated child with said first and second indicia.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The seat of claim 1 wherein the vehicle includes a shoulder belt, further including a belt positioner adjustably coupled to said back portion for positioning the shoulder belt relative to the child.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The seat of claim 7, wherein said belt positioner includes a shoulder belt retaining member coupled to a guiding member fixed to said back portion, wherein the shoulder belt retaining member is slidable among a plurality of shoulder belt positions defined by said guiding member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The seat of claim 8, wherein said plurality of shoulder belt positions corresponds to a series of vertically spaced notches sized to releasably receive a corresponding protrusion formed on said shoulder belt retaining member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
The seat of claim 7 wherein said belt positioner is adjustable among a plurality of positions, at least one of said plurality of positions being appropriate for use with a child having a seated height equal to the maximum seated height and at least one other of said plurality of positions being appropriate for use with a child having a seated height equal to the minimum seated height.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
109 words
A seat for restraining a child in a vehicle, the vehicle including a passenger shoulder harness and a lap belt, said seat comprising: a shell having an upper back portion and a lower seat portion; and size indicia disposed at predetermined locations relative to the upper back portion indicating a height limit for a child seated in said seat, said size indicia including a first marker indicating a maximum height for the child and a second marker indicating a minimum height for the child; wherein said seat is devoid of a restraint harness and the child is restrained in said seat by the passenger shoulder harness and lap belt.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
109 words
A seat for restraining a child in a vehicle, the vehicle including a passenger shoulder harness and a lap belt, said seat comprising: a shell having an upper back portion and a lower seat portion; and size indicia disposed at predetermined locations relative to the upper back portion indicating a height limit for a child seated in said seat, said size indicia including a first marker indicating a maximum height for the child and a second marker indicating a minimum height for the child; wherein said seat is devoid of a restraint harness and the child is restrained in said seat by the passenger shoulder harness and lap belt.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The seat of claim 11, wherein each of said first and second markers includes a fabric marker coupled to the shell.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The seat of claim 12 further including a fabric cover disposed on said back portion and wherein said fabric markers are disposed on said cover.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The seat of claim 11 wherein the vehicle includes a shoulder harness and further comprising a belt positioner adjustably coupled to said back portion for positioning the shoulder harness relative to the child.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
65 words
The seat of claim 14 wherein said belt positioner is positionable in a plurality of positions, at least one of said plurality of positions being appropriate for use with a child having a seated height equal to the maximum seated height and another of said plurality of positions being appropriate for use with a child having a seated height equal to the minimum seated height.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
194 words
A method for seating a child in a child's car seat, the seat being suitable for use by children having a seated height between predetermined maximum and minimum seated heights, the seat having a lower, seat portion defining a seating surface and an upper, back portion, the maximum seated height corresponding to the maximum vertical distance between the seating surface and the seated height of the largest child suitable for said seat and the minimum seated height corresponding to the minimum vertical distance between the seating surface and the seated height of the smallest seated child suitable for said seat, said method comprising the steps of: placing a first and second size indicium on the seat upper back portion, the first and second size indicium being positioned on the seat so as to be comparable with the child's seated height; placing the child on the seat portion with the child's back against the back portion; determining whether the child's seated height is less than the maximum seated height by reference to the first size indicium; and if the child's seated height is less than the maximum seated height, securing the child in the seat.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
194 words
A method for seating a child in a child's car seat, the seat being suitable for use by children having a seated height between predetermined maximum and minimum seated heights, the seat having a lower, seat portion defining a seating surface and an upper, back portion, the maximum seated height corresponding to the maximum vertical distance between the seating surface and the seated height of the largest child suitable for said seat and the minimum seated height corresponding to the minimum vertical distance between the seating surface and the seated height of the smallest seated child suitable for said seat, said method comprising the steps of: placing a first and second size indicium on the seat upper back portion, the first and second size indicium being positioned on the seat so as to be comparable with the child's seated height; placing the child on the seat portion with the child's back against the back portion; determining whether the child's seated height is less than the maximum seated height by reference to the first size indicium; and if the child's seated height is less than the maximum seated height, securing the child in the seat.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of determining whether the child's seated height is greater than said second indicium and if the child's seated height is less than the maximum seated height and greater than the minimum seated height, securing the child in the seat.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the first size indicium is positioned on the seat back so as to correspond to the top of a shoulder of the child having a seated height corresponding to the maximum seated height and wherein said step of determining whether the child's seated height is less than the maximum seated height includes determining whether a shoulder of the child is positioned below the first size indicium.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the vehicle includes a shoulder belt and the seat further including a belt positioner adjustably coupled to the back portion for positioning the shoulder belt relative to the child, further including the step of adjusting the belt positioner according to the shoulder height of the seated child.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
The seat of claim 19, said belt positioner comprising a movable shoulder belt retaining member retained in a guiding member fixed to said back portion, wherein the shoulder belt retaining member is slidable among a plurality of shoulder belt positions defined by said guiding member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
The seat of claim 20, wherein said plurality of shoulder belt positions corresponds to a series of vertically spaced notches sized to releasably receive a corresponding protrusion formed on said shoulder belt retaining member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
44 words
The seat of claim 19, wherein said first and second indicia are disposed adjacent to said wall so that a parent may readily determine whether one of the shoulder and head of the seated child is positioned within the range of appropriate seating heights.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
198 words
A child car seat for retaining an appropriately sized child in a vehicle using the vehicle's passenger shoulder belt to restrain the child's torso and thereby retain the child in the seat, said seat comprising: a body having a side wall and an inside surface, said body defining an upper back and seating surface of said child car seat; first and second indicia disposed on said inside surface, said first and second indicia indicating a range of appropriate seated heights, the range being defined by a maximum seated height corresponding to the shoulder position of the largest child appropriately sized for said car seat and a minimum seated height corresponding the shoulder position of the smallest child appropriately sized for said car seat, wherein said first and second size indicia are positioned so as to indicate to a user whether a child is of an appropriate size for said seat by reference to whether the seated child's shoulder position is disposed below said first indicium and above said second indicium; and a belt positioner mounted on said side wall, said belt positioner being positionable among a plurality of positions between the heights of said first and second indicia.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
198 words
A child car seat for retaining an appropriately sized child in a vehicle using the vehicle's passenger shoulder belt to restrain the child's torso and thereby retain the child in the seat, said seat comprising: a body having a side wall and an inside surface, said body defining an upper back and seating surface of said child car seat; first and second indicia disposed on said inside surface, said first and second indicia indicating a range of appropriate seated heights, the range being defined by a maximum seated height corresponding to the shoulder position of the largest child appropriately sized for said car seat and a minimum seated height corresponding the shoulder position of the smallest child appropriately sized for said car seat, wherein said first and second size indicia are positioned so as to indicate to a user whether a child is of an appropriate size for said seat by reference to whether the seated child's shoulder position is disposed below said first indicium and above said second indicium; and a belt positioner mounted on said side wall, said belt positioner being positionable among a plurality of positions between the heights of said first and second indicia.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
152 words
A seat for restraining a child in a vehicle using the vehicle's lap and shoulder belt, the seat being suitable for use by children having a predetermined maximum seated height, the seat comprising: a shell having an upper, back portion and a lower, seat portion; a size indicium disposed on the back portion and located at a position corresponding to the maximum seated height; and a belt positioner mounted on said side wall, said belt positioner including: a guide fixed to said back portion and defining a plurality of shoulder belt positions; and a retaining member for releasably retaining the vehicle shoulder belt, said retaining member being slidingly coupled to said guide and positionable among said plurality of shoulder belt positions; wherein the vehicle shoulder belt is positionable across the shoulder of children having seated heights less than the position corresponding to the maximum seated height by positioning the said retaining member.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
152 words
A seat for restraining a child in a vehicle using the vehicle's lap and shoulder belt, the seat being suitable for use by children having a predetermined maximum seated height, the seat comprising: a shell having an upper, back portion and a lower, seat portion; a size indicium disposed on the back portion and located at a position corresponding to the maximum seated height; and a belt positioner mounted on said side wall, said belt positioner including: a guide fixed to said back portion and defining a plurality of shoulder belt positions; and a retaining member for releasably retaining the vehicle shoulder belt, said retaining member being slidingly coupled to said guide and positionable among said plurality of shoulder belt positions; wherein the vehicle shoulder belt is positionable across the shoulder of children having seated heights less than the position corresponding to the maximum seated height by positioning the said retaining member.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The seat of claim 24 wherein said size indicium includes a fabric marker coupled to said shell.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The seat of claim 25 further including a fabric cover disposed on said back portion and wherein said fabric marker is disposed on said cover.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The seat of claim 26 wherein said fabric marker is formed integrally with said cover.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
173 words
A child car seat for retaining an appropriately sized child in a vehicle using the vehicle's passenger shoulder belt to restrain the child's torso and thereby retain the child in the seat, said seat comprising: a body having a side wall and an inside surface, said body defining an upper back and seating surface of said child car seat; first and second indicia disposed on said inside surface, said first and second indicia indicating a range of appropriate seated heights; the range being defined by a maximum seated height corresponding approximately to the shoulder position of the largest child appropriately sized for said car seat and a minimum seated height corresponding approximately to the shoulder position of the smallest child appropriately sized for said car seat, wherein said first and second size indicia are positioned so as to indicate to a user whether a child is of an appropriate size for said seat by reference to whether the seated child's shoulder position is disposed below said first indicia and above said second indicia.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
173 words
A child car seat for retaining an appropriately sized child in a vehicle using the vehicle's passenger shoulder belt to restrain the child's torso and thereby retain the child in the seat, said seat comprising: a body having a side wall and an inside surface, said body defining an upper back and seating surface of said child car seat; first and second indicia disposed on said inside surface, said first and second indicia indicating a range of appropriate seated heights; the range being defined by a maximum seated height corresponding approximately to the shoulder position of the largest child appropriately sized for said car seat and a minimum seated height corresponding approximately to the shoulder position of the smallest child appropriately sized for said car seat, wherein said first and second size indicia are positioned so as to indicate to a user whether a child is of an appropriate size for said seat by reference to whether the seated child's shoulder position is disposed below said first indicia and above said second indicia.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
The seat of claim 28 wherein said first and second indicia includes a fabric marker coupled to said shell.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The seat of claim 29 further including a fabric cover disposed on said back portion and wherein said fabric marker is disposed on said cover.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
The seat of claim 30 wherein said fabric marker is formed integrally with said cover.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-06-27 | 2003-12-27 | 2004-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-06-27 | 2007-12-27 | 2008-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-06-27 | 2011-12-27 | 2012-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |