Child seat

Abstract

An adjustable child seat includes a backrest and a seat base and may be used with or without the backrest. The child seat includes adjustable arm rests. The height of the backrest and the depth of the seat base are also adjustable. The connection between the backrest and the seat base is configured to prevent unintentional separation but allows simple and intuitive separation when desired. A belt guide operating in either a seat belt locking mode or a seat belt free mode is also provided.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A child seat comprising: 
 a backrest having a top portion movably connected to a bottom portion wherein the position of the top portion is vertically adjustable;    a latch connected to one of the top and bottom portions; and    notches located in the other of the top and bottom portions;    wherein the latch is positioned to engage one of the notches to fix the position of top portion relative to the bottom portion.    
     
     
         2 . The child seat of  claim 1 , further comprising a release mechanism for disengaging the latch from the one of the notches.  
     
     
         3 . The child seat of  claim 2 , wherein the release mechanism includes a member adapted to contact the latch and disengage the latch from the notch.  
     
     
         4 . The child seat of  claim 3 , wherein the latch is configured to bend when contacted by the member.  
     
     
         5 . The child seat of  claim 4 , wherein the member includes a wedged surface positioned to contact the latch.  
     
     
         6 . The child seat of  claim 2 , wherein the release mechanism includes a movable handle that is moved to disengage the latch from the notch.  
     
     
         7 . The child seat of  claim 6 , further comprising a member connected to the handle and adapted to contact the latch and disengage the latch from the notch.  
     
     
         8 . The child seat of  claim 1 , wherein the latch is biased toward engagement with one of the notches.  
     
     
         9 . The child seat of  claim 8 , wherein the latch elastically deforms during disengagement from the notch.  
     
     
         10 . A child seat comprising: 
 a backrest having a top portion movably connected to a bottom portion wherein the position of the top portion is vertically adjustable;    a tab connected to one of the top portion and the bottom portion; and    notches located in the other of the top portion and the bottom portion;    wherein the tab is positioned to engage one of the notches to fix the position of the top portion relative to the bottom portion.    
     
     
         11 . The child seat of  claim 10 , wherein the tab is biased away from a position of engagement with one of the notches.  
     
     
         12 . The child seat of  claim 11 , further comprising a movable rigid member positioned to contact the tab and control the engagement of the tab with one of the notches.  
     
     
         13 . The child seat of  claim 12 , wherein the rigid member is connected to the top portion of the backrest.  
     
     
         14 . The child seat of  claim 12 , wherein the rigid member is biased in an equilibrium position that corresponds to the tab being engaged with one of the notches.  
     
     
         15 . The child seat of  claim 14 , wherein the rigid member includes an enlarged section that contacts the tab when the rigid member is in the equilibrium position to force the tab to engage one of the notches.  
     
     
         16 . The child seat of  claim 14 , wherein the rigid member includes a narrow section that contacts the tab when the rigid member is moved out of the equilibrium position, thereby allowing movement of the top portion relative to the bottom portion.  
     
     
         17 . The child seat of  claim 14 , further comprising a handle connected to the rigid member.  
     
     
         18 . The child seat of  claim 14 , further comprising a spring for biasing the rigid member into the equilibrium position.  
     
     
         19 . The child seat of  claim 10 , further comprising a second tab for engaging one of the notches.  
     
     
         20 . The child seat of  claim 19 , wherein the notches are arranged in at least two parallel rows, each row positioned to correspond to one of the tabs.  
     
     
         21 . A child seat comprising: 
 a seat portion including a base having a seating surface; and    an object holder;    wherein the object holder is attached to the base and movable to a position at least partially under the seating surface.    
     
     
         22 . The child seat of  claim 21 , wherein the object holder is pivotally attached to the base.  
     
     
         23 . The child seat of  claim 21 , wherein the object holder includes an extension slidably connected to the base and positioned under the seating surface.  
     
     
         24  The child seat of  claim 23 , wherein the extension includes a slot, and the base includes a post positioned in the slot to limit the sliding motion of the object holder.  
     
     
         25 . The child seat of  claim 21 , wherein the car seat includes a second object holder.  
     
     
         26 . The child seat of  claim 21 , wherein the object holder is configured so that when the object holder is moved under the seating surface a portion of the object holder remains accessible, thereby providing a gripping surface.  
     
     
         27 . A child seat having a seating surface on a base and an object holder movably attached to the base and adapted to be at least partially retracted under the seating surface.  
     
     
         28 . The child seat of  claim 27 , wherein the object holder is configured so that when the object holder is retracted under the seating surface a portion of the object holder remains accessible, thereby providing a gripping surface.  
     
     
         29 . The child seat of  claim 27 , wherein the object holder is pivotally attached to the base.  
     
     
         30 . The child seat of  claim 27 , wherein the base includes a post positioned in a slot in the object holder.  
     
     
         31 . A child seat comprising: 
 a seat base including two connected portions, each portion having a top surface, wherein the connected portions together form a seating surface, and wherein the connected portions are movably connected to each other, thereby allowing the area of the seating surface to be varied.    
     
     
         32 . The child seat of  claim 31 , wherein one of the connected portions is an interior connected portion that slides into the other connected portion, and wherein the interior connected portion includes a pushbutton that engages one of a plurality of holes located in the exterior connected portion.  
     
     
         33 . The child seat of  claim 32 , wherein the pushbutton is located on the seating surface of the seat base.  
     
     
         34 . The child seat of  claim 32 , wherein the pushbutton is located on a side of the seat base.  
     
     
         35 . The child seat of  claim 31 , wherein the connected portions are pivotally connected.  
     
     
         36 . The child seat of  claim 35 , wherein a first of the two connected portions is adapted to rotate about 180 degrees from a first position, wherein most of the first connected portion is contained within the other connected portion, to a second position, wherein most of the first connected portion is located outside of the other connected portion to thereby enlarge the area of the seating surface.  
     
     
         37 . The child seat of  claim 36 , further comprising a handle for rotating the first connected portion of the seat base.  
     
     
         38 . The child seat of  claim 31 , further comprising a linkage for connecting the connecting portions together.  
     
     
         39 . The child seat of  claim 38 , wherein the linkage includes a threaded rod and an arm, wherein one end of the arm is attached to one of the connected portions and another end of the arm is movably connected to the threaded rod so that when the rod rotates the arm moves to change the position of the connected portions relative to one another.  
     
     
         40 . The child seat of  claim 39 , wherein the threaded rod is connected to a handle positioned on the side of the vehicle.  
     
     
         41 . The child seat of  claim 31 , further comprising a rod having a threaded portion, wherein one of the connected portions is attached to the threaded portion of the rod and the other connected portion is attached to another portion of the rod so that when the rod rotates the connected portion attached to the threaded portion moves to change the relative distance between the connected portions.  
     
     
         42 . A child seat comprising: 
 a base having a seating surface;    an armrest connected to the base on a side of the seating surface;    wherein the armrest is adjustable between first and second positions; and    wherein the armrest includes a connecting portion that slidably fits into a corresponding receiving portion of the base.    
     
     
         43 . The seat of  claim 42 , wherein the receiving portion includes a slot for receiving a tab located on the connecting portion.  
     
     
         44 . The seat of  claim 42 , wherein the receiving portion includes a second slot and wherein the first and second slots correspond to the first and second positions of the armrest.  
     
     
         45 . The seat of  claim 42 , wherein the tab is attached to a flexible portion of the connecting portion of the armrest thereby allowing the tab to disengage with the slot when the tab is depressed.  
     
     
         46 . The seat of  claim 42 , wherein the connecting portion of the armrest includes a pushbutton that engages one of a plurality of holes in the seat base.  
     
     
         47 . A child seat comprising: 
 a base having a seating surface;    an armrest connected to the base on a side of the seating surface;    wherein the armrest is adjustable between first and second positions; and    wherein the armrest includes a connecting portion that slidably fits over a corresponding receiving portion of the base.    
     
     
         48 . A child seat comprising: 
 a base;    a backrest;    wherein the base and the backrest are pivotally connected by a connection mechanism that includes a plurality of hooks engaged with a bar;    wherein the curved surface of at least one of the hooks opposes the curved surface of at least two of the other hooks.    
     
     
         49 . The child seat of  claim 48 , wherein the bar includes a plurality of flat sections, wherein each flat section is positioned to engage with one of the hook sections.  
     
     
         50  The child seat of  claim 48 , wherein the flat sections are arranged so that when the child seat is in a normal, installed position, each flat section of the bar faces the curved surface of one of the hooks.  
     
     
         51 . The child seat of  claim 50 , wherein the back rest and the base are configured to be separated when the backrest is pivoted about 180 degrees from a normal use position.  
     
     
         52 . The child seat of  claim 48 , wherein the bar is attached to the base.  
     
     
         53 . The child seat of  claim 48 , wherein the hooks are connected to the backrest.  
     
     
         54 . A child seat comprising a back rest having a guide for a seat belt, wherein the guide includes a locked position for locking the seat belt in position relative to the belt guide and a free position wherein the seat belt can move relative to the guide.  
     
     
         55 . The child seat of  claim 54 , wherein the belt guide includes an upper bar and a lower bar; wherein the bars are configured so that the seat belt passes between the bars when the belt guide is in the free position and wherein the seat belt passes between the upper bar the backrest when the belt guide is the locked position.  
     
     
         56  The child seat of  claim 55 , further comprising a locking tab for changing the position of the belt guide; wherein locking tab includes a slot for receiving the upper bar, wherein the locking tab pivots to force the upper bar closer to the backrest for clamping the seatbelt between the locking bar and the backrest.  
     
     
         57 . The child seat of  claim 54 , wherein the belt guide is positioned so that in the locked position the seat belt is clamped between the backrest and the belt guide.  
     
     
         58 . The child seat of  claim 54 , wherein the belt guide is positioned in an upper portion of the backrest to provide guidance for a shoulder type seat belt.