GB2584900A

GB2584900A - Booster seat

Info

Publication number: GB2584900A
Application number: GB1908907.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Carolann
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-06-21
Filing date: 2019-06-21
Publication date: 2020-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 2039-06-21
Also published as: GB2584900B; GB201908907D0

Abstract

A booster seat comprising a flexible container 2 containing a flowable filler material. The container comprises a central seat portion 3 defining a primary volume 14 and at least one expansion portion 24, 26 which extend from the central seat and has a secondary volume 28, 30. The primary and secondary volumes are in communication so that the filler material can move between them. Communication between the volumes can be prevented by folding the expansion portion. Optionally the remote end of the expansion portion has a fixing means 32, 34 for securing the remote end when folded. The seat may include seat belt guides and the filler may be polystyrene beads, pellets or dried beans. The container optionally includes a closure on the underside of the central portion for adding or removing filler material, which is concealed by a flap.

Description

BOOSTER SEAT

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of booster seats which allow the occupant, usually a child, to sit higher up in a vehicle or at a table, for example. The present invention provides such a seat which not only supports a child in those situations but may also be adapted to be used as a cushion or headrest.

Background of the Invention

Booster seats are known, and are typically used for supporting a child in order to increase the height at which the child sits, which may be in a vehicle or at a table, for example. These seats have a base or seat portion which is typically formed in a single piece from moulded plastic or foam. This means that these seats are relatively solid and whilst giving good support to the child they take up space when being stored or transported like, for example, when taken in luggage on holiday.

Another disadvantage of such seats is that their solid form means that they cannot adapt to any contours on the surface upon which they are to be used. This means that they may not be entirely secure or balanced if placed, for example, upon a wooden or plastic chair having a sculpted or contoured seat surface. Furthermore, such solid seats cannot be used for any other purpose than their original intended use.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or mitigate one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages with existing booster seats.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a booster seat comprising: a flexible container; and a flowable filler material contained within the flexible container; wherein the container comprises a central seat portion defining a primary volume therein, and at least one expansion portion which extends from the central seat portion and has a secondary volume therein, the primary and secondary volumes being in communication such that the filler material can move between the volumes: and wherein the at least one expansion portion can be folded relative to the central seat portion, such that communication of the filler material between the volumes is prevented.

The booster seat may have a pair of expansion portions which extend from opposing sides of the central seat portion and each have a secondary volume therein, wherein the expansion portions can be folded relative to the central seat portion such that communication of the filler material between the primary and secondary volumes is prevented.

A remote end of the at least one expansion portion may have a fixing means for securing the remote end to the central seat portion when folded.

The central seat portion may include a pair of integral seat belt guides for ensuring the proper location of a seat belt across a user when the booster seat is in use.

A "flowable filler material" is one which can flow between the primary and second volumes when manipulated. The filler material may comprise one or more materials selected from the group comprising beads, pellets and dried beans. Most preferably, the filler material may comprise expanded polystyrene beads.

The booster seat may further comprise at least one carrying strap. A seat belt guide ring may be attached to the at least one carrying strap for guiding a seat belt when in use in a vehicle.

The flexible container may include a closure for removing or introducing filler material into the container. The booster seat may further comprise a flap which conceals the closure. The closure may extend across an underside of the central seat portion. The closure may extend from the underside of the central seat portion into the at least one expansion portion.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings: Figure 1 is a front view of a booster seat; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the booster seat shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows the booster seat of Figures 1 and 2 in place in a vehicle.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

A booster seat according to the present invention is shown in Figure 1. The booster seat comprises a flexible container or casing 2 which is preferably formed from fabric and has the basic shape of a central seat portion, or cushion, 3. The seat cushion 3 has a base portion 4, an upper portion 6, a front portion 8, a rear portion (not shown) and a pair of side portions 10,12. The base and upper portions 4,6 are attached to one another by the front, rear and side portions 8,10,12 such that the seat cushion 3 defines an internal primary volume 14. As shown in figure 2, the primary volume 14 may be accessed through a zip closure 16 provided in the right side portion 12 of the cushion 3. The zip closure 16 is concealed behind a flap 18, which is preferably formed from the same material as the flexible container 2.

A flowable filler material (not shown) can be added or removed from the primary volume 14 via the zip closure 16. The filler material may be made up of one or more of beads, pellets or dried beans. A sufficient amount of the filler material is added such that the cushion 3 expands into the desired seat shape, with sufficient height (e.g. 13cm) to perform its primary function as a booster seat. Thus the seat is similar to a bean bag chair, for example. In a preferred embodiment, expanded polystyrene beads are used as the filler material.

The cushion 3 also includes a pair of integral seat belt guide portions 20,22. Instead of the filler material these guide portions may be filled with a foam material so as to keep a relatively consistent shape. The guide portions 20,22 ensure that the lap belt of a vehicle seatbelt will sit properly across an occupant when in use.

Extending from both side portions 10,12 of the cushion 3 are a pair of expansion portions, or flaps, 24,26. Each expansion portion 24,26 is hollow and defines an internal secondary volume 28,30. These secondary volumes 28,30 each have an opening 29,31 which is in communication with the primary volume 14 in the cushion 3. Thus, the filler material may pass between the primary and secondary volumes 14,28,30 when manipulated accordingly.

The expansion portions 24,26 are foldable relative to the cushion 3. At least the first expansion portion 24 has a female fastener 32 at its end remote from the cushion 3. The right side portion 12 of the cushion 3 on the opposite side from the first expansion portion 24 has a releasable male fastener 34 which will engage with the female fastener 32 when both expansion portions are folded under the base portion 4 of the seat 3. Thus, the fasteners 32,34 secure the expansion portions 24,26 out of the way under the cushion 3 when not in use.

Figure 2 shows the booster seat when the expansion portions 24,26 are folded under the cushion 3, but not yet secured by the fasteners 32,34. The second expansion portion 26 is folded under initially, with the first expansion portion 24 folded under thereafter so that it secures not only itself but also the second expansion portion 26 once the fasteners 32,34 are engaged with one another.

Figure 3 shows the booster seat when in use within a vehicle, resting upon a vehicle seat 40. Again, the expansion portions 24,26 are folded underneath the cushion 3 out of the way and secured by the fasteners (not shown in Figure 3). The booster seat may also have at least one carry strap 36 for carrying the seat when not in use. The carry strap 36 may also include a seat belt guide ring 38 into which the vehicle seat belt can be inserted. As is known, the position of the guide ring 38 on the strap 36 can be adjusted to ensure that the vehicle seat belt is at the correct height for the booster seat occupant when in use.

Industrial Applicability

When the booster seat is to be used for its primary function of ensuring an occupant is at the correct height the expansion portions 24,26 are folded away underneath the cushion 3 and the secondary volumes are substantially free of filler material, as seen in Figures 2 and 3. However, the seat may also be used as a general cushion support or headrest. To do so, the expansion portions are unfolded and the entire container 2 can be manipulated in order to move a proportion of the filler material out of the primary volume 14 into one or both of the secondary volumes 28,30. This allows the seat to conform to whatever surface it is placed against (e.g. an armrest or internal fuselage wall in an aircraft) so as to act as a cushion or headrest as desired by the user.

When the seat is to revert to its primary function the user manipulates to the container 2 such that the filler material moves back from the secondary volumes 28,30 in the expansion portions to the primary volume within the cushion 3. Once substantially devoid of filler material the expansion portions 24,26 are folded back under the cushion 3 and secured. When in this folded position it is not possible for filler material to pass back out of the primary volume 14 through the openings 29,31 and into the secondary volumes 28,30.

The present invention therefore performs two functions: acting as a conventional booster seat or as a comfortable cushion or headrest. Not only that but the ability to adapt the shape of the booster seat via the expansion portions means that it is easier to store and transport than rigid booster seats. It also means that the base of the seat cushion can readily adapt to the contours of whatever surface it is placed upon, meaning a safer, more balanced position for the booster seat on surfaces which are not completely flat. The expansion portions may also be used to secure the seat to a dining chair, for example, where the or each expansion portion folds underneath the seat area of the dining chair before being fastened to the cushion on the opposite side of the chair.

Although it is preferred to have a pair of expansion portions or flaps, the seat may only have a single expansion portion.

Instead of being on a side portion of the seat cushion the zip closure may be located on the base portion, i.e. on the underside of the cushion. The zip may extend across the base portion and into the, or each, expansion portion. The zip may have a concealing pocket or flap which covers the zip tab when the zip is closed. Instead of a zip closure, the container may have a closure which is secured by a hook and loop fastening.

The fasteners may be reversed, such that the male fastener is on the first expansion portion and the female fastener is on the right side portion. Equally, the location of the fasteners could be changed, whereby a fastener is provided on the left side portion of the cushion with a co-operating fastener on an expansion portion extending from the right side portion.

If the booster seat is not intended for use in a vehicle it may do without the integral seat belt guides and/or guide ring.

These and other modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A booster seat comprising: a flexible container; and a flowable filler material contained within the flexible container; wherein the container comprises a central seat portion defining a primary volume therein, and at least one expansion portion which extends from the central seat portion and has a secondary volume therein, the primary and secondary volumes being in communication such that the filler material can move between the volumes; and wherein the at least one expansion portion can be folded relative to the central seat portion, such that communication of the filler material between the volumes is prevented.
2. The booster seat of claim 1, further comprising a pair of expansion portions which extend from opposing sides of the central seat portion and each have a secondary volume therein, wherein the expansion portions can be folded relative to the central seat portion such that communication of the filler material between the primary and secondary volumes is prevented.
3. The booster seat of either preceding claim, wherein a remote end of the at least one expansion portion has a fixing means for securing the remote end to the central seat portion when folded.
4. The booster seat of any preceding claim wherein the central seat portion includes a pair of integral seat belt guides for ensuring the proper location of a seat belt across a user when the booster seat is in use.
5. The booster seat of any preceding claim, wherein the filler material comprises one or more materials selected from the group comprising beads, pellets and dried beans.
6. The booster seat of any preceding claim, wherein the filler material comprises expanded polystyrene beads.
7. The booster seat of any preceding claim further comprising at least one carrying strap, and a seat belt guide ring attached to the at least one carrying strap for guiding a seat belt when in use in a vehicle.
8. The booster seat of any preceding claim, wherein the flexible container includes a closure for removing or introducing filler material into the container.
9. The booster seat of claim 8, further comprising a flap which conceals the closure.
10. The booster seat of claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the closure extends across an underside of the central seat portion.
11. The booster seat of claim 10, wherein the closure extends across the underside of the central seat portion and into the at least one expansion portion.