Appendage support for child seat

Abstract

An apparatus for supporting an appendage of a seated user, generally in a vehicle, including adjustable support arms attached to a seat with a platform disposed at a distal end of second support arms so that the appendages of the user, such as a child, are supported thereon for comfort of the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for supporting the legs of a seated user, the apparatus comprising:
 a) a base;   b) a first support arm attached to the base and extending horizontally outwardly from the base, wherein the first support arm is selectably extendible;   c) a hinge disposed at a distal end of the first support arm;   d) a second support arm coupled to the hinge such that the second support arm may swing relative to the first support arm, wherein the second support arm is selectably extendible; and   e) a platform disposed at a distal end of the second support arm.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second support arm includes an outer arm member and an inner arm member, the inner arm member configured and dimensioned to be disposed within the outer arm member when the platform is in a stored position. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second support arm is a telescoping arm. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second support arm includes a spring and ball detent. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the platform is flush with the base in a stored position. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the platform includes a lock structure. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes four legs extending from a bottom thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes no legs. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the second support arms comprise a lock arm and an extending arm. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the lock arm comprises a lock button, and wherein the extending arm comprises a plurality of lock stops. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second support arm further comprise a first slide arm and a second slide arm. 
     
     
         12 . A child seat, for use by a child that provides foot and leg comfort for growing children, comprising:
 a) a retractable support arm assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end coupled to a base of the child seat, the retractable support arm assembly including:
 a1) a first degree of extension freedom near the proximal end; 
 a2) a second degree of extension freedom near the distal end; and 
 a3) a first degree of rotational freedom between the proximal and distal ends; and 
   b) a foot rest disposed on the distal end of the at least one retractable support arm assembly.   
     
     
         13 . The child seat of  claim 12 , wherein the first degree of rotation freedom is provided via a hinge. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the hinge is sufficiently loose to swing. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first degree or extension freedom is horizontal and the second degree of extension freedom is vertical relative to the first degree of extension freedom. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the second degree of extension includes a telescoping arm. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the telescoping arm includes a lock arm functionally coupled to an extending arm. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the lock arm comprises a lock button, and wherein the extending arm comprises a plurality of lock stops. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the child seat further comprises a closure mechanism to retain the footrest in a stored position. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for supporting the legs of a seated user, the apparatus comprising:
 a) a base;   b) a first support arm attached to the base and extending horizontally outwardly from the base, wherein the first support arm is selectably extendible;   c) a hinge disposed at a distal end of the first support arm;   d) a second support arm coupled to the hinge such that the second support arm may swing relative to the first support arm, wherein the second support arm is selectably extendible, wherein the second support arm is a telescoping arm including a lock arm and an extending arm with a plurality of lock stops; and   e) a platform disposed at a distal end of the second support arm, wherein the platform includes a lock structure and is flush with the base in a stored position.