US6715830B2 — Child restraint system for use in watercraft

Claim 1

Independent Claim 124 words

A child seat to be coupled to a fixture of a watercraft for securing a child to the watercraft, the seat comprising: a bottom portion and a rear portion shaped to support a child in a seated position; a restraint for securing the child to the seat; a release mechanism for automatically releasing the child from the fixture when a portion of the seat is immersed in water; a floatation device to float the child at least partially above the water when the child is released from the fixture such that the head of the child is maintained above the water; and the floatation device comprising an inflatable bladder inflated by a gas when the portion of the seat is immersed in the water.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 124 words

A child seat to be coupled to a fixture of a watercraft for securing a child to the watercraft, the seat comprising: a bottom portion and a rear portion shaped to support a child in a seated position; a restraint for securing the child to the seat; a release mechanism for automatically releasing the child from the fixture when a portion of the seat is immersed in water; a floatation device to float the child at least partially above the water when the child is released from the fixture such that the head of the child is maintained above the water; and the floatation device comprising an inflatable bladder inflated by a gas when the portion of the seat is immersed in the water.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 37 words

The child seat according to claim 1 further comprising an immersion sensor for detecting the immersion of the portion of the seat in the water and transmitting a signal to the release mechanism upon detecting said immersion.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 43 words

The child seat according to claim 1 further comprising a ballast device for maintaining the seat assembly in a generally upright orientation when the seat assembly is floating in the water such that the bead of the child is maintained above the water.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 14 words

The child seat according to claim 1 , wherein the gas is carbon dioxide.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 34 words

The child seat according to claim 1 , further comprising a base having a bracket, the bracket comprising an aperture for cooperation with the release mechanism for releasably coupling the seat to the fixture.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 42 words

The child seat according to claim 5 further comprising a pin operatively connected to the bladder in a manner such that inflation of the bladder causes displacement of the pin relative to the release mechanism, thereby releasing the seat from the base.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 24 words

The child seat according to claim 1 further comprising padding on portions of the seat for comforting the child while secured to the seat.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 15 words

The child seat according to claim 7 , wherein the padding comprises a buoyant material.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 22 words

The child seat according to claim 8 , wherein the buoyant material comprises a natural fiber enclosed in a water resistant cover.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 20 words

The child seat according to claim 1 further comprising a handle to facilitate removal of the seat from the water.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 23 words

The child seat according to claim 1 , wherein the restraint comprises a five-point harness sizeable to secure a child in the seat.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 27 words

The child seat according to claim 1 further comprising a retractable canopy to shield the child from direct sunlight while the child is secured to the seat.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 21 words

The child seat according to claim 1 , wherein an angle between the bottom portion and the rear portion is adjustable.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 41 words

The child seat according to claim 1 further comprising one or more members of a group consisting of a noise producing device, a light reflecting material, an illuminating device, a visual notification device, a radio transmitter, and a personal floatation device.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 141 words

A child restraint system for securing a child aboard a watercraft, the restraint system comprising: a seat assembly including a restraint to secure the child to the seat assembly, wherein the seat assembly is adapted to be releasably coupled to a fixture of the watercraft; an immersion sensor for detecting the immersion of a portion of the seat assembly in water and transmitting a signal upon detecting the immersion; and an inflatable floatation device operatively connected to the seat assembly such that the floatation device is automatically inflated to float the seat assembly at least partially above the water in response to the transmission of the signal; a ballast device for maintaining the seat assembly in a generally upright orientation when the seat assembly is floating in the water such that the head of the child is maintained above the water.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 141 words

A child restraint system for securing a child aboard a watercraft, the restraint system comprising: a seat assembly including a restraint to secure the child to the seat assembly, wherein the seat assembly is adapted to be releasably coupled to a fixture of the watercraft; an immersion sensor for detecting the immersion of a portion of the seat assembly in water and transmitting a signal upon detecting the immersion; and an inflatable floatation device operatively connected to the seat assembly such that the floatation device is automatically inflated to float the seat assembly at least partially above the water in response to the transmission of the signal; a ballast device for maintaining the seat assembly in a generally upright orientation when the seat assembly is floating in the water such that the head of the child is maintained above the water.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 56 words

The child restraint system according to claim 15 further comprising a base to be secured to the fixture and to releasably couple the seat assembly to the fixture, the base comprising a rigid frame having a connecting bracket to cooperate with a connecting feature of the seat assembly to releasably couple the seat to the base.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 25 words

The child restraint system according to claim 16 further comprising a release mechanism that releases the seat from the base when the floatation device inflates.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 74 words

The child restraint system according to claim 17 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a pin operatively connected to the floatation device by a chord, the pin extending through a passage formed in a rod of the release mechanism when the rod is extended to protrude beyond the bracket, thereby coupling the seat to the base, further wherein the pin is pulled by the cable from the passage upon inflation of the floatation device.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 44 words

The child restraint system according to claim 15 further comprising a ballast device for maintaining the seat assembly in a generally upright orientation when the seat assembly is floating in the water such that the head of the child is maintained above the water.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 25 words

The child restraint system according to claim 15 further comprising a release mechanism that releases the seat from the fixture when the floatation device inflates.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 23 words

The child restraint system according to claim 15 , wherein the floatation device comprises a bladder that is automatically inflated by a gas.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 15 words

The child restraint system according to claim 21 , wherein the gas is carbon dioxide.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 49 words

The child restraint system according to claim 15 , wherein the floatation device is attached to an upright rear portion of the seat assembly such that the floatation device orients the seat assembly generally upright when the floatation device is inflated and the seat assembly is floating in water.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 38 words

The child restraint system according to claim 15 further comprising padding provided on a surface of the seat assembly that contacts the child when the child is secured to the seat, wherein the padding comprises a buoyant material.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 40 words

The child restraint system according to claim 15 further comprising one or more members of a group consisting of a noise producing device, light reflecting material, illuminating device, a visual notification device, a radio transmitter, and a personal floatation device.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 155 words

A child restraint system for securing a child aboard a watercraft, the child restraint system comprising: a base adapted to be secured to a fixture of the watercraft; a seat assembly adapted to be releasably coupled to the base in a manner to support the child in a seated position; a restraint for securing the child to the seat assembly; a release mechanism that cooperates with the base and the seat assembly when the seat assembly is coupled to the base; and a floatation device for floating the child in water such that the head of the child is maintained above a surface of the water, the floatation device comprising an inflatable bladder that is automatically inflated with a gas when the portion of the seat assembly is immersed in the water, wherein the release mechanism automatically releases the child from the watercraft when a portion of the seat assembly is immersed in the water.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 155 words

A child restraint system for securing a child aboard a watercraft, the child restraint system comprising: a base adapted to be secured to a fixture of the watercraft; a seat assembly adapted to be releasably coupled to the base in a manner to support the child in a seated position; a restraint for securing the child to the seat assembly; a release mechanism that cooperates with the base and the seat assembly when the seat assembly is coupled to the base; and a floatation device for floating the child in water such that the head of the child is maintained above a surface of the water, the floatation device comprising an inflatable bladder that is automatically inflated with a gas when the portion of the seat assembly is immersed in the water, wherein the release mechanism automatically releases the child from the watercraft when a portion of the seat assembly is immersed in the water.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 14 words

The child seat according to claim 26 , wherein the gas is carbon dioxide.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 31 words

The child restraint system according to claim 26 further comprising a ballast device to float the child in a generally upright orientation with the head of the child above the water.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 33 words

The child restraint system according to claim 26 further comprising an immersion sensor for detecting the immersion of the portion of the seat assembly in water and transmitting a signal upon said detection.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 38 words

The child restraint system according to claim 26 further comprising padding provided on a surface of the seat assembly that contacts the child when the child is secured to the seat, wherein the padding comprises a buoyant material.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 40 words

The child restraint system according to claim 26 further comprising one or more members of a group consisting of a noise producing device, light reflecting material, illuminating device, a visual notification device, a radio transmitter, and a personal floatation device.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2007-04-06	2007-10-06	2008-04-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2011-04-06	2011-10-06	2012-04-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2015-04-06	2015-10-06	2016-04-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Child restraint system for use in watercraft

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