Booster seat with stowable tray compartment and base panel

Abstract

A booster seat includes a storage compartment for a tray and/or a storage compartment for securing straps. The tray-storage compartment can be formed in a base of the seat and include an access opening through a sidewall of the base. The tray-storage compartment can include two opposite and inwardly-extending lips that support the tray in the stowed position, and a support foot that moves between a use position in the compartment where it helps support the seat and a stored position displaced from the compartment. Also, the tray-storage compartment can include ribs that engage the tray in the stowed position to retain it there. The strap-storage compartment can be formed in the base and include an access opening with a closure for retaining the straps in the compartment. A base panel can be provided for stability and support.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A booster seat comprising:
 a seat shell comprising a seating surface for supporting a child seated thereon;   a tray configured for removable attachment to the seat shell, the tray being repositionable between a use position accessible by the child seated on the seating surface, and a stowed position at least partially within a tray storage compartment in the booster seat.   
     
     
         2 . The booster seat of  claim 1 , further comprising a base panel mounted to a bottom portion of the seat shell, wherein the tray storage compartment is positioned between the seat shell and the base panel. 
     
     
         3 . The booster seat of  claim 2 , further comprising a harness storage compartment formed in the base panel. 
     
     
         4 . The booster seat of  claim 2 , wherein the base panel defines an outer periphery at least partially matching and extending at least flush with an outer periphery of the seat shell. 
     
     
         5 . The booster seat of  claim 4 , wherein the base panel comprises at least one stabilizer extension projecting laterally outwardly beyond the outer periphery of the seat shell. 
     
     
         6 . The booster seat of  claim 2 , wherein the base panel provides sufficient stability to resist tipping at a test angle of at least 20° from horizontal. 
     
     
         7 . The booster seat of  claim 2 , wherein the base panel provides sufficient stability to resist tipping at a test angle of at least 30° from horizontal. 
     
     
         8 . The booster seat of  claim 2 , wherein the seat shell comprises first and second sidewalls, and wherein the base panel extends across a bottom portion of the seat shell from the first sidewall to the second sidewall. 
     
     
         9 . The booster seat of  claim 8 , wherein the base panel defines an undulating surface contour providing structural stiffness. 
     
     
         10 . The booster seat of  claim 1 , wherein the tray storage compartment bounds the tray in the stowed position along five sides of the tray, and wherein a sixth side of the tray at least partially covers the tray storage compartment when the tray is in the stowed position. 
     
     
         11 . The booster seat of  claim 10 , wherein the tray storage compartment is formed between the seat shell and a base panel mounted to a bottom portion of the seat shell. 
     
     
         12 . The booster seat of  claim 10 , wherein the tray storage compartment is formed in a seatback portion of the seat shell. 
     
     
         13 . A booster seat comprising a base panel, first and second sidewalls extending upwardly from the base panel, a seating surface between the first and second sidewalls, and a tray, wherein the tray is selectively repositionable between a use position in front of a child seated on the seating surface, and a stowed position at least partially within a tray storage compartment formed within the booster seat above the base panel and between the first and second sidewalls. 
     
     
         14 . The booster seat of  claim 13 , wherein the base panel extends across the width of the booster seat from the first sidewall to the second sidewall. 
     
     
         15 . The booster seat of  claim 13 , wherein the tray storage compartment is between the seating surface and the base panel. 
     
     
         16 . The booster seat of  claim 13 , wherein the tray storage compartment has a compartment width defined between the first and second sidewalls, and wherein the tray has a tray width slightly less than the compartment width, whereby the tray is configured to fit closely within the tray storage compartment. 
     
     
         17 . The booster seat of  claim 13 , further comprising a strap storage compartment formed within the base panel. 
     
     
         18 . The booster seat of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second sidewalls taper inwardly from lower portions adjacent the base panel to upper portions to which the tray is attached in the use position. 
     
     
         19 . The booster seat of  claim 13 , wherein the base panel defines an outer periphery at least partially matching and extending at least flush with an outer periphery of the first and second sidewalls and the seating surface. 
     
     
         20 . The booster seat of  claim 19 , wherein the base panel comprises at least one stabilizer extension projecting laterally outwardly beyond the outer periphery of the first and second sidewalls and the seating surface. 
     
     
         21 . The booster seat of  claim 13 , wherein the base panel provides sufficient stability to resist tipping at a test angle of at least 20° from horizontal. 
     
     
         22 . The booster seat of  claim 13 , wherein the base panel provides sufficient stability to resist tipping at a test angle of at least 30° from horizontal. 
     
     
         23 . A booster seat comprising:
 a base panel;   a seating surface elevated above the base panel;   first and second sidewalls on opposite sides of the seating surface;   a seatback behind the seating surface extending upward and away from the base panel; and   a tray;   wherein the tray is selectively repositionable between a use position opposite the seating surface from the seatback, releasably attached to the first and second sidewalls where it is accessible by a child seated on the seating surface, and a stowed position at least partially within a tray storage compartment formed between the base panel and the seating surface and between the first and second sidewalls.   
     
     
         24 . The booster seat of  claim 23 , wherein the tray fits substantially entirely within the tray storage compartment in the stowed position, with a front panel of the tray substantially covering the tray storage compartment. 
     
     
         25 . The booster seat of  claim 23 , wherein the base panel comprises stabilizer extensions projecting outwardly beyond an outer periphery of the remainder of the booster seat. 
     
     
         26 . The booster seat of  claim 23 , wherein the base panel provides sufficient stability to resist tipping at a test angle of at least 20° from horizontal. 
     
     
         27 . The booster seat of  claim 23 , wherein the base panel provides sufficient stability to resist tipping at a test angle of at least 30° from horizontal.