Infant car seat system

Claim 2

A base for supporting an infant car seat on a vehicle seat having a seatback, the base comprising: a main body; a foot portion beneath said main body; a lifter between said main body and said foot portion, wherein said main body is supported by a portion of a top surface of said lifter, said lifter having a threaded recess; and a screw extending into said recess, rotation of said screw moving said lifter along said foot portion to extend or refract said foot portion relative to said main body.

Claim 3

The base of claim 1 , wherein said foot portion comprises a first end pivotably connected with respect to said main body and a bearing surface sloping towards said main body.

Claim 4

The base of claim 2 , wherein rotation of said screw causes said lifter to slide along said bearing surface.

Claim 5

The base of claim 3 , wherein rotation of said screw in a first direction causes said foot portion to pivot away from said main body.

Claim 6

The base of claim 2 , wherein said bearing surface is defined by a pair of projections extending towards said main body.

Claim 7

The base of claim 5 , wherein said bearing surface is generally concave.

Claim 8

The base of claim 6 , wherein said lifter comprises a generally convex surface that cooperates with said generally concave bearing surface of said foot portion.

Claim 9

The base of claim 5 , wherein said screw is rotatably connected to said main body and extends between said projections.

Claim 10

The base of claim 1 , further comprising an adjustment knob connected to an end of said screw on a side of said main body opposite the vehicle seatback.

Claim 11

A base for supporting an infant car seat on a seat of a vehicle, the base comprising: a main body; a first rail slideably connected to said main body, said first rail having a latch at an end thereof for connection to the vehicle; a second rail slideably connected to said main body, said second rail having a latch at an end thereof for connection to the vehicle; a first lock associated with said first rail, said first lock selectively engaging said first rail to lock said first rail in position relative to said main body, wherein said first lock is adapted to selectively engage said first rail at a plurality of non-discrete positions; and a second lock associated with said second rail, said second lock selectively engaging said second rail to lock said second rail in position relative to said main body; wherein said second lock is adapted to selectively engage said second rail at a plurality of non-discrete positions.

Claim 12

A base for supporting an infant car seat on a seat of a vehicle, the base comprising: a main body; a first rail slideably connected to said main body, said first rail having a latch at an end thereof for connection to the vehicle; a second rail slideably connected to said main body, said second rail having a latch at an end thereof for connection to the vehicle; a first lock associated with said first rail, said first lock selectively engaging said first rail to lock said first rail in position relative to said main body, wherein said first lock is adapted to selectively engage said first rail at a plurality of non-discrete positions; and a second lock associated with said second rail, said second lock selectively engaging said second rail to lock said second rail in position relative to said main body; wherein said second lock is adapted to selectively engage said second rail at a plurality of non-discrete positions.

Claim 13

The base of claim 10 , wherein said first lock and said second lock engage said first rail and said second rail, respectively, to prevent said first rail and said second rail from being extended relative to said main body, but allow said first rail and said second rail to be retracted relative to said main body.

Claim 14

The base of claim 10 , further comprising a first rail guide and a second rail guide, each of said rail guides comprising a front wall, a rear wall, and a top wall extending between said front and rear walls, said first rail extending through openings provided in said front and rear walls of said first rail guide and said second rail extending through openings provided in said front and rear walls of said second rail guide.

Claim 15

A base for supporting an infant car seat on a seat of a vehicle, the base comprising: a main body; a first rail slideably connected to said main body, said first rail having a latch at an end thereof for connection to the vehicle; a second rail slideably connected to said main body, said second rail having a latch at an end thereof for connection to the vehicle; a first lock associated with said first rail, said first lock selectively engaging said first rail to lock said first rail in position relative to said main body; a second lock associated with said second rail, said second lock selectively engaging said second rail to lock said second rail in position relative to said main body; a first rail guide and a second rail guide, each of said rail guides comprising a front wall, a rear wall, and a top wall extending between said front and rear walls, said first rail extending through openings provided in said front and rear walls of said first rail guide and said second rail extending through openings provided in said front and rear walls of said second rail guide; a first cross-member extending between said first and second rails; a foot portion pivotably connected to said first cross-member; a lifter between said main body and said foot portion, said lifter having a threaded recess; and a screw extending into said recess, rotation of said screw moving said lifter along said foot portion to pivot said foot portion relative to said main body.

Claim 16

A base for supporting an infant car seat on a seat of a vehicle, the base comprising: a main body; a first rail slideably connected to said main body, said first rail having a latch at an end thereof for connection to the vehicle; a second rail slideably connected to said main body, said second rail having a latch at an end thereof for connection to the vehicle; a first lock associated with said first rail, said first lock selectively engaging said first rail to lock said first rail in position relative to said main body; a second lock associated with said second rail, said second lock selectively engaging said second rail to lock said second rail in position relative to said main body; a first rail guide and a second rail guide, each of said rail guides comprising a front wall, a rear wall, and a top wall extending between said front and rear walls, said first rail extending through openings provided in said front and rear walls of said first rail guide and said second rail extending through openings provided in said front and rear walls of said second rail guide; a first cross-member extending between said first and second rails; a foot portion pivotably connected to said first cross-member; a lifter between said main body and said foot portion, said lifter having a threaded recess; and a screw extending into said recess, rotation of said screw moving said lifter along said foot portion to pivot said foot portion relative to said main body.

Claim 17

The base of claim 13 , further comprising a second cross-member extending between said first and second rails, said foot portion including a leaf spring extending between said second cross-member and said main body from said foot portion, said leaf spring being deflected as said foot portion is moved away from said main body.

Claim 18

A base for supporting an infant car seat on a seat of a vehicle, the base comprising: a main body; a first rail slideably connected to said main body, said first rail having a latch at an end thereof for connection to the vehicle; a second rail slideably connected to said main body, said second rail having a latch at an end thereof for connection to the vehicle; a first lock associated with said first rail, said first lock selectively engaging said first rail to lock said first rail in position relative to said main body; a second lock associated with said second rail, said second lock selectively engaging said second rail to lock said second rail in position relative to said main body; and a first rail guide and a second rail guide, each of said rail guides comprising a front wall, a rear wall, and a top wall extending between said front and rear walls, said first rail extending through openings provided in said front and rear walls of said first rail guide and said second rail extending through openings provided in said front and rear walls of said second rail guide, wherein said first lock comprises: a lock arm extending through an opening in said top wall of said first rail guide, said lock arm having an opening provided in a first end thereof, said first rail extending through said opening in said first end of said lock arm, and said lock arm being pivotable against said top wall of said rail guide between an unlocked position wherein said first rail is allowed to slide through said opening in said lock arm, and a locked position wherein said first rail is constrained in said opening in said lock arm; and a spring biasing said lock arm towards said locked position.

Claim 19

A base for supporting an infant car seat on a seat of a vehicle, the base comprising: a main body; a first rail slideably connected to said main body, said first rail having a latch at an end thereof for connection to the vehicle; a second rail slideably connected to said main body, said second rail having a latch at an end thereof for connection to the vehicle; a first lock associated with said first rail, said first lock selectively engaging said first rail to lock said first rail in position relative to said main body; a second lock associated with said second rail, said second lock selectively engaging said second rail to lock said second rail in position relative to said main body; and a first rail guide and a second rail guide, each of said rail guides comprising a front wall, a rear wall, and a top wall extending between said front and rear walls, said first rail extending through openings provided in said front and rear walls of said first rail guide and said second rail extending through openings provided in said front and rear walls of said second rail guide, wherein said first lock comprises: a lock arm extending through an opening in said top wall of said first rail guide, said lock arm having an opening provided in a first end thereof, said first rail extending through said opening in said first end of said lock arm, and said lock arm being pivotable against said top wall of said rail guide between an unlocked position wherein said first rail is allowed to slide through said opening in said lock arm, and a locked position wherein said first rail is constrained in said opening in said lock arm; and a spring biasing said lock arm towards said locked position.

Claim 20

The base of claim 15 , wherein said opening in said lock arm has a shape corresponding to a cross-sectional shape of said first rail.

Claim 21

The base of claim 16 , further comprising an actuator connected to said main body, said actuator contacting a second end of said lock arm when said actuator is deflected to pivot said lock arm from said locked position to said unlocked position.

Claim 22

A base for supporting an infant car seat on a seat of a vehicle, the base comprising: a main body; a first rail slideably connected to said main body, said first rail having a latch at an end thereof for connection to the vehicle; a second rail slideably connected to said main body, said second rail having a latch at an end thereof for connection to the vehicle; a first lock associated with said first rail, said first lock selectively engaging said first rail to lock said first rail in position relative to said main body, wherein said first lock can engage said first rail at any point along a selected length of said first rail; and a second lock associated with said second rail, said second lock selectively engaging said second rail to lock said second rail in position relative to said main body, wherein said second lock can engage said second rail at any point along a selected length of said second rail.

Claim 23

A base for supporting an infant car seat on a seat of a vehicle, the base comprising: a main body; a first rail slideably connected to said main body, said first rail having a latch at an end thereof for connection to the vehicle; a second rail slideably connected to said main body, said second rail having a latch at an end thereof for connection to the vehicle; a first lock associated with said first rail, said first lock selectively engaging said first rail to lock said first rail in position relative to said main body, wherein said first lock can engage said first rail at any point along a selected length of said first rail; and a second lock associated with said second rail, said second lock selectively engaging said second rail to lock said second rail in position relative to said main body, wherein said second lock can engage said second rail at any point along a selected length of said second rail.

Claim 24

A base for supporting an infant car seat on a seat of a vehicle, the base comprising: a main body; a first rail slideably connected to said main body, said first rail having a latch at an end thereof for connection to the vehicle; a second rail slideably connected to said main body, said second rail having a latch at an end thereof for connection to the vehicle; a first lock associated with said first rail, said first lock selectively engaging said first rail to lock said first rail in position relative to said main body; and a second lock associated with said second rail, said second lock selectively engaging said second rail to lock said second rail in position relative to said main body, wherein said first rail and said second rail can slide independently of one another.

Claim 25

A base for supporting an infant car seat on a seat of a vehicle, the base comprising: a main body; a first rail slideably connected to said main body, said first rail having a latch at an end thereof for connection to the vehicle; a second rail slideably connected to said main body, said second rail having a latch at an end thereof for connection to the vehicle; a first lock associated with said first rail, said first lock selectively engaging said first rail to lock said first rail in position relative to said main body; and a second lock associated with said second rail, said second lock selectively engaging said second rail to lock said second rail in position relative to said main body, wherein said first rail and said second rail can slide independently of one another.

Claim 26

A base for supporting an infant car seat on a vehicle seat having a seatback, the base comprising: a main body; a foot portion beneath said main body; a lifter between said main body and said foot portion, said lifter having a threaded recess; and a screw extending into said recess, rotation of said screw moving said lifter along said foot portion to extend or retract said foot portion relative to said main body, wherein said foot portion includes a generally concave bearing surface.

Claim 27

A base for supporting an infant car seat on a vehicle seat having a seatback, the base comprising: a main body; a foot portion beneath said main body; a lifter between said main body and said foot portion, said lifter having a threaded recess; and a screw extending into said recess, rotation of said screw moving said lifter along said foot portion to extend or retract said foot portion relative to said main body, wherein said foot portion includes a generally concave bearing surface.