Portable support apparatus for infants and toddlers

Abstract

A portable support apparatus for supporting an infant's or toddler's head and/or upper torso when he is positioned in a seat having a seat back. The apparatus comprises a rigid back member and rigid left and right head support members which are hingedly connected to the left and right sides of the back member, respectively. The left and right head support members are pivotable from a folded position in which the left and right head support members are positioned against the back member to an unfolded position in which the left and right head support members project at a desired maximum open angle relative to the back member. The portable support apparatus also includes an arrangement for maintaining the left and right head support members at the desired maximum open angle when the left and right head support members are in the unfolded position. In use, the portable infant support apparatus is positioned in the seat, the left and right head support members are unfolded to the desired maximum open angle, and the infant or toddler is positioned in the seat against the back member. In this manner, the infant's or toddler's head and/or upper torso will be supported by the left and right head support members in a generally upright position.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A portable support apparatus for supporting an infant's head and/or upper torso when the infant is positioned in a seat having a seat back, the portable support apparatus comprising:
 a rigid back member which comprises a front surface, a rear surface and left and right sides:   rigid left and right head support members which are pivotally connected to the left and right sides, respectively;   said left and right head support members being pivotable from a folded position in which the left and right head support members are positioned against the back member to an unfolded position in which the left and right head support members project at a desired maximum open angle relative to the back member; and   means for maintaining the left and right head support members at said desired maximum open angle when the left and right head support members are in the unfolded position;   wherein in use the portable support apparatus is positioned in the seat, the left and right head support members are unfolded to the desired maximum open angle, and the infant is positioned in the seat against the back member;   whereby the infant's head and/or upper torso will be supported in a generally upright position by the left and right head support members.   
     
     
         2 . The portable support seat of  claim 1 , wherein said means for maintaining the left and right head support members at the desired maximum open angle comprises:
 a first buttress which is connected to or formed integrally with the left side of the back member and a second buttress which is connected to or formed integrally with the left head support member proximate the first buttress;   wherein the first and second buttresses are configured such that, when the left head support member is unfolded from the back member, the first and second buttresses will contact each other and thereby prevent the left head support member from pivoting beyond the desired maximum open angle;   a third buttress which is connected to or formed integrally with the right side of the back member and a fourth buttress which is connected to or formed integrally with the right head support member proximate the third buttress;   wherein the third and fourth buttresses are configured such that, when the right head support member is unfolded from the back member, the third and fourth buttresses will contact each other and thereby prevent the right head support member from pivoting beyond the desired maximum open angle.   
     
     
         3 . The portable support apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a seat member which is pivotally connected to a bottom of the back member, wherein the seat member is pivotable from a folded position in which the seat member is positioned against the back member to an unfolded position in which the seat member projects from the back member such that the infant may be seated on the seat member. 
     
     
         4 . The portable support apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising means for releasably securing the back member to the seat. 
     
     
         5 . The portable support apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the means for releasably securing the back member to the seat comprises a hook which is connected to the rear surface of the back member and is configured to engage the seat back. 
     
     
         6 . The portable support apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the means for releasably securing the back member to the seat comprises a hook which is vertically adjustably connected to the rear surface of the back member and is configured to engage the seat back. 
     
     
         7 . The portable support apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising means for supporting the back member in a reclined position. 
     
     
         8 . The portable support apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the means for supporting the back member reclined position comprises a bracket which is pivotally connected to a lower portion of the back member and which in an unfolded position is configured to engage the seat back and thereby maintain the lower portion of the back member spaced apart from the seat back. 
     
     
         9 . The portable support apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the means for supporting the back member in a reclined position comprises a pivot bar which comprises a first portion that is rotatably secured to the rear surface of the back member and a second portion which in an unfolded position of the pivot bar is spaced apart from the back member. 
     
     
         10 . The portable support apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the pivot bar comprises a generally U-shaped configuration having a middle portion and two transverse end portions, wherein each of the end portions is rotatably secured to the rear surface of the back member such that the pivot bar is pivotable from a folded position in which the middle portion is positioned against the back member to an unfolded position in which the middle portion is spaced apart from the back member. 
     
     
         11 . The portable support apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the means for supporting the back member in a reclined position further comprises a brace member which is pivotally connected to the rear surface of the back member and is pivotable from a folded position in which the brace member is positioned against the back member to an unfolded position in which the brace member projects at an angle relative to the back member, the brace member comprising at least one hook member which is engageable with the middle portion of the pivot bar to thereby maintain the pivot bar in its unfolded position. 
     
     
         12 . The portable support apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the brace member comprises a plurality of hook members, each of which maintains the middle portion of the pivot bar at a different distance from the back member when the pivot bar is in its unfolded position. 
     
     
         13 . A portable support apparatus for supporting an infant's head and/or upper torso when the infant is positioned in a seat having a seat back, the portable support apparatus comprising:
 a rigid back member which comprises a front surface, a rear surface and left and right sides;   rigid left and right head support members which are pivotally connected to the left and right sides, respectively;   said left and right head support members being pivotable from a folded position in which the left and right head support members are positioned against the back member to an unfolded position in which the left and right head support members project at a desired maximum open angle relative to the back member; and   a hook member which is connected to the back member and is engageable with the seat back to thereby releasably secure the back member to the seat back;   wherein in use the portable support apparatus is positioned in the seat, the left and right head support members are unfolded to the desired maximum open angle, and the infant is positioned in the seat against the back member;   whereby the infant's head and/or upper torso will be supported by the left and right head support members.   
     
     
         14 . The portable support apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the hook member is vertically adjustably connected to the back member. 
     
     
         15 . The portable support apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising means for maintaining the left and right head support members at said desired maxi A open angle when the left and right head support members are in the unfolded position. 
     
     
         16 . The portable support apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising means for supporting the back member in a reclined position. 
     
     
         17 . A portable support apparatus for supporting an infant's head and/or upper torso when the infant is positioned in a seat having a seat back, the portable support apparatus comprising:
 a rigid back member which comprises a front surface, a rear surface and left and right sides;   rigid left and right head support members which are pivotally connected to the left and right sides, respectively;   said left and right head support members being pivotable from a folded position in which the left and right head support members are positioned against the back member to an unfolded position in which the left and right head support members project at a desired maximum open angle relative to the back member; and   a support member which is pivotally connected to the back member and is pivotable from a folded position in which the support member is positioned against the back member to an unfolded position in which the support member engages at least one of the seat and the seat back to thereby support the back member in a reclined position;   wherein in use the portable support apparatus is positioned in the seat, the left and right head support members are unfolded to the desired maximum open angle, and the infant is positioned in the seat against the back member;   whereby the infant's head and/or upper torso will be supported by the left and right head support members.   
     
     
         18 . The portable support apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising means for maintaining the left and right head support members at said desired maximum open angle when the left and right head support members are in the unfolded position. 
     
     
         19 . The portable support seat of  claim 17 , further comprising a hook member which is connected to the back member and is engageable with the seat back to thereby releasably secure the back member to the seat back. 
     
     
         20 . The portable support seat of  claim 19 , wherein the hook member is vertically adjustably connected to the back member.