Child car seat/stroller

Abstract

A combination child car seat and stroller is disclosed. The car seat has a seat portion and a fastening mechanism for fastening the car seat to an airplane seat or automobile seat. A harness secures the child in the seat. A telescoping pull handle is attached to the seat back. A roller assembly is attached to the seat portion proximate to the seat back. The roller assembly includes two rollers and at least one axle. The car seat is convertible for use in an automobile, on the ground, or in an airplane without removing the child from the seat. A folding stabilizer may be used to keep the rollers off the ground when desired. A canopy may be provided. In another embodiment, a wheeled support frame is provided of the appropriate width and which has clamps for the attachment of a standard car seat.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A child car seat for transporting a child, the car seat comprising: 
 a seat portion, said seat portion being adapted to seat the child therein, said seat portion having a seat back, two side edges, a top end, and a bottom end;    a fastening means for fastening the car seat to an automobile seat and to an airplane seat;    a harness, said harness being attached to said seat portion and retaining the child in said seat portion, said harness, said seat portion, and said fastening means being adapted to protect the child in the event of a sudden acceleration;    a pull handle, said pull handle being rigid and having two slide tubes and an extension portion, each of said slide tubes being attached to said seat back, said extension portion being generally U-shaped and having two telescoping tubes and a cross, bar, each of said telescoping tubes mating with one of said slide tubes, said cross bar having two ends, and each of said ends of said cross bar being attached to one of said telescoping tubes, such that said extension portion has a retracted position and at least one extended position; and    (e) a roller assembly attached to said seat portion proximate said bottom end and to said seat back, said roller assembly including two rollers and at least one axle, each said roller being located proximate to one of said side edges, each said roller having a wheel portion, each said wheel portion being rotatable about said axle, said car seat being adapted to roll along a surface on the rollers when pulled by the handle in said extended position, the weight of the child being distributed between said rollers and said pull handle when rolling.    
     
     
         2 . The car seat according to  claim 1 , further comprising a stabilizer, said stabilizer being pivotally attached to said roller assembly, said stabilizer having a stabilizing position and a folded position, said stabilizer in said stabilizing position being adapted to prevent said rollers from contacting a surface supporting the car seat.  
     
     
         3 . The car seat according to  claim 2 , wherein said stabilizer is attached to said at least one axle, and said stabilizer when in the folded position is adjacent to the bottom end of said seat.  
     
     
         4 . The car seat according to  claim 3 , wherein said stabilizer is releasably lockable relative to said car seat in said stabilizing position and said folded position.  
     
     
         5 . The car seat according to  claim 4 , wherein said roller assembly has at least one wheel portion extending outboard of a corresponding said side edge of said car seat;  
       said wheel portion having a telescoping axle; 
 said telescoping axle having an outer section and an inner section;  
 said outer section having an outer end having a button and a spacer adjacent to said corresponding side edge;  
 said wheel portion being attached to said outer axle section between said button and said spacer;  
 said telescoping inner and outer axle portions having a parting biasing spring therein;  
 said stabilizer being pivotally attached to said outer axle section;  
 said spacer having a tab; and  
 said stabilizer having a lock so shaped and dimensioned as to interlock with said tab;  
 whereby, upon pressing inward on said button, said biasing spring is compressed, allowing said stabilizer to pivot; and whereby, upon releasing said button, said stabilizer is locked in place by means of interlocking said tab and said lock.  
 
     
     
         6 . The car seat according to  claim 1 , wherein said seat portion includes a canopy, and said canopy is attached to the top end of said seat back.  
     
     
         7 . The car seat according to  claim 1 , wherein said harness includes a harness bar, said harness bar being padded and having two ends, each said end of said harness bar being attached to one of said side edges of said seat portion.  
     
     
         8 . The car seat according to  claim 1 , wherein said seat portion includes a footrest.  
     
     
         9 . The car seat according to  claim 1 , wherein each said roller includes at least one axle support, and said axle is fixedly attached to said axle supports.  
     
     
         10 . The car seat according to  claim 9 , wherein each axle support is fixedly attached to said seat portion.  
     
     
         11 . The car seat according to  claim 10 , wherein each said roller includes two axle supports, said axle supports being so located that each said roller is inboard of each corresponding side edge.  
     
     
         12 . The car seat according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for fastening said car seat to an automobile seat or an airplane seat is a fastening aperture extending through said seat back.  
     
     
         13 . A wheeled frame for attachment to a standard child car seat for transport of a child comprising: 
 a generally rectangular lower frame having tubular uprights, an upper cross member, and a lower frame cross member;    an upper handle frame having upright members and an upper cross member;    said handle frame upright members being slidably engaged with said lower frame tubular uprights between at least a first position and a second position;    said lower frame cross member having wheels at opposing ends thereof;    said lower frame tubular uprights having respective clamps disposed therealong; and    said lower frame cross member having at least one horizontally disposed support plate mounted thereon and extending forward of said lower frame;    said lower frame and said support plate being so sized and configure as to securely receive a standard car child seat;    whereby said car child seat is supportable on said wheeled frame support plate and secured to said lower frame tubular uprights by fastening said clamps to the back portion of said child car seat, said wheels supporting said wheeled frame and child car seat for transport of a child.    
     
     
         14 . The wheeled child seat frame of  claim 13 , wherein said lower frame tubular uprights extend upward beyond said upper cross member and are open at respective open ends thereof so as to receive said handle frame uprights for telescoping movement of said handle frame relative to said lower frame between said at least first and second positions said first position being a stored position and a said second position being a deployed position for grasping by a user when transporting a child.  
     
     
         15 . The wheeled child seat frame of  claim 14 , said lower frame cross member having downwardly curved extensions at each end thereof and extending beyond respective said lower frame uprights, said wheels being mounted upright on said respective curved extensions.  
     
     
         16 . The wheeled child seat frame of  claim 15 , said curved extensions being right angle bends.  
     
     
         17 . The wheeled child seat frame of  claim 16 , said wheels having respective supporting wheel housings for attachment to respective ends of each of said downwardly curved extensions.  
     
     
         18 . The wheeled child seat frame of  claim 17 , wherein said wheels are spaced so as provide maximum resistance to sideways tipping while allowing said child seat frame to travel along a standard passenger aircraft aisle.  
     
     
         19 . The wheeled child seat frame of  claim 18 , said lower frame cross member having two horizontally disposed support plates mounted thereon and extending forward of said lower frame, said support plates being mounted inward of said lower frame tubular uprights and spaced from each other, respectively.  
     
     
         20 . The wheeled child seat frame of  claim 19 , wherein each said clamp is mounted on its respective lower frame tubular upright at points corresponding with seatbelt through-holes of a standard child seat, whereby upon securing each said clamp around its respective seatbelt through-hole, said child seat is secured to said lower frame.