Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SUN SHADE FOR AN INFANT CARRIER AND AN INFANT CAR SEAT
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a sun shade for an infant carrier a.nd an infant car
seat, particularly,
to protect the infant from the glare of sunlight.
~'oung infants are transported within an automobile using infant carriers,
while older infants
are transported within an automobile using infant car seats. Infant carriers
are generally mounted
in the rear seat of the automobile's interior, with the infant carriers facing
towards the back end of
the automobile (rear-facing configuration). Generally, traditional infant
carriers include canopies
with one unmovable canopy end fixed to the top frame of an inl:ant's carrier
and a second movable
canopy end. The second movable canopy end allows the canopy to either fold
towards the first
unmovable canopy end or to expand a partial distance away from the unmovable
canopy end. The
expanded canopy configuration helps to protect the infant's head and part of
the infant's body from
sunlight and the elements.
It is known that the eyes and skin of developing infants are fragile, and any
direct glare of the
sun's rays at the infant's eyes and skin can harm the eyes and skin of the
infant. The canopy
configuration utilized in the traditional infant carrier as described above
fails to protect the infant
from the direct glare of sunlight, particularly when the rays of sunlight is
directed at the
automobile"s rear window and is at an angle lower than what the canopy of the
traditional infant
carrier can shade.
The standard infant car seat is mounted in the rear seat of an automobile's
interior, with the
standard infant car seat facing towards the front end of the automobile
(forward-facing
configuration). Whereas, the combination infant car seat can be mounted inside
the automobile's
interior in both rear-facing and forward-facing configuration. Older infants
using either a
combination or a standard infant car seat also lack protection from the direct
glare of sunlight,
particularly when the sun's rays are at a low angle and are directed at the
infant from either the
automobile's front wind shield or the rear window. Unlike traditional infant
carriers, which
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include canopies for the infant carrier's frame, the conventional infant oar
seats do not include
canopies or any other sun shade mechanism for the infant car seat's frame.
U.S. Patent # 5538319 disclosed a U-shaped frame covered by a canopy, attached
to the
backrest of the infant car seat in a cantilever fashion. The disclosed
invention is not suitable for
use on an infant carrier, where the carrier is mounted in an inclined
position. In this position, the
frame does not provide adequate head space for the occupying infant.
U.S Patent # 5007674 and 4785838 disclosed sun shades, which require securing
to the
infant's car seat using the likes of hook and loop fasteners. This securing
fashion requires that
there be such a surface on an infant car seat for attaching one part of the
mating fasteners.
U.S Patent # 4923249 disclosed a sun shade comprised of a planar paper
product, having
supports inserted between the sides of a chair and the body of the person
occupying the chair.
Such a support structure is not practical for use on infants occupying an
infant car seat or infant
carrier.
U.S. Patent # 4978166 disclosed a canopy mounted on a rigid support structure
with a base
portion on which the infant car seat may be positioned. Such structure is
costly to produce and not
convenient to use.
CA Patent # 1225565 disclosed a sun shade for an infant oar seat that has a
flexible, sheet-
like canopy that hangs horizontally aver an infant car seat. The first canopy
end has a pocket that
fits over the top of the back of an infant car seat. The second canopy end has
a flexible tension link
for anchoring the canopy to the part of an automobile's interior. This canopy
design described
above, requires the back frame of the infant car seat to have a structure such
that the first end of the
canopy can be tied to the frame using cloth tapes sewn to the first end of the
canopy. Additionally,
this horizontal sheet like canopy does not provide adequate head space for the
infant occupying the
infant car seat. More importantly, the current traditional infant carrier and
infant car seat
framework do not contain a back frame that can be utilized for tying the cloth
tapes of the first end
of the canopy to the back of the infant car seat.
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Accordingly, the need arises for an improved sun shade that can be easily
installed,
multifunctional, provides adequate protection of the child's body from the
sun's rays at different
direction and angles, in addition to providing toy attachments for the
infant's amusement and
entertainment.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a sun shade for an infant
carrier or an infant
car seat mounted in an automobile's interior that allows for easy attachment
and removal of the sun
shade.
Another object of the present invention is to allow the user to use the sun
shade with either
an infant carrier or an infant car seat that is mounted at different
positions, in either a rear-facing or
forward-facing configuration, within an automobile°s interior.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a sun shade of flexible cloth-like
material that
resembles a canopy. The sun shade has a deep pocket at the first end for
fitting over the top of the
back of an infant carrier or an infant car seat. The pocket includes a waist-
band-like elastic for
easy stretching over the top of the back of an infant carrier or an infant car
seat. The elastic waist-
band-like pocket allows for a snug fit over the top of the back of an infant
carrier or an infant car
seat. The second sun shade end, opposite the first end, supported by a
stiffener, includes two
tension loop links, each connected at opposite ends of the stiffener. The
tension loop links allow
for flexibly anchoring the second sun shade end to part of an automobile's
interior, opposite and a
distance away from the infant carrier or the infant car seat.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a baw structure sewn
into the flexible
cloth-like material, starting at one side of the seat, curving into a bow at
the top and ending at the
opposite side of the infant carrier or the infant car seat, to allow for more
head space for the infant
occupying the infant carrier or the infant car seat.
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A still further object of the present invention is to provide a top flap in a
horizontal position,
connected to the sun shade, extending from the bow to the stiffener end. The
top flap covers over a
rectangular piece of flexible see-through material connected to the sun shade.
The top flap allows
the user to cover or uncover the rectangular see-through material below for
easy viewing of the
infant occupying the infant carrier or the infant car seat.
Additionally, there is a pair of side flaps extending vertically downwards
from the sides of
the sun shade, extending along the two opposite sides of the sun shade,
running three quarter
distance length between the bow ends to the stiffener end.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide for easy attachment of
dangling toys on
the underside of the sun shade, for the purpose of providing visual amusement
for the infant.
A further aspect of the present invention is to allow the user to wrap the sun
shade around the
infant carrier to protect the infant from sunlight and the elements while
transporting the infant to
and from the automobile.
A still further aspect of the present invention is to provide for easy
cleaning of the sun shade.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings which illustrate the embodiments of the invention:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an infant carrier with the present invention
in a pre-installation
state. Shown are the top flap in its partial open position, and the mating
tabs of the hook and loop
material which are used to securely fasten the top flap to its fully closed
position. Also shown are
the side flaps in their vertical downward positions;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the present invention installed over the top
and back of an infant
carrier mounted in the rear seat of an automobile in a rear-facing
configuration, and anchored to an
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anchor bolt assembly in the back of the vehicle. Also shown is the top flap in
its fully open
position, and the side flaps are omitted;
Figure 3 is a rear view of the present invention installed over the top and
back of an infant carrier;
Figure 4a is a fragmentary view of the elastic cords and associated S-hook,
and anchor bolt
assembly of the vehicle;
Figure 4b is a fragmentary view of the elastic cords and associated caxabiner,
and anchor bolt
assembly of the vehicle;
Figure 4c is a fragmentary view of the elastic cords and associated snap hook,
and anchor bolt
assembly of the vehicle;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the present invention installed over the top
and back of an infant
car seat mounted in the centre of the rear seat of an automobile i.n a forward-
facing configuration,
extending to the headrests of the two front seats of an automobile. Also shown
is the top flap in its
fully closed position, the side flaps in the vertical downwardly position;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the present invention installed over the top
and back of an infant
car seat mounted on the side of the rear seat of an automobile in a forward-
facing configuration,
extending to the front headrest. Also shown is the top flap in its fully
closed position, the side
flaps in the vertical downwardly position;
Figure 7 is a top plan view of the present invention, showing the side flaps
extending outwards and
the top flap in its partial open position. Also shown are the mating tabs of
the hook and loop
material, which are used to securely fasten the top flap to its fully closed
position, and to securely
fasten the rolled-up top flap in its fully opened position;
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Figure 8a is the bottom view of the present invention, showing the elasticized
hem with the side
flaps extending outwards. Also shown is the mating strip of the loop material,
which is used to
attach dangling toys for the infant;
Figure 8b is the perspective view, showing the dangling toys attached to the
back end of the mating
strip of the hook material, which is used to attach to the mating strip of the
loop material connected
to the embodiment in Figure 8a;
Figure 9a is the perspective view of the present invention installed over the
top and back of an
infant carrier and wrapped around the foot of the infant carrier, ~x~ith the
elastic cords to be fastened
to the buttons on the sides. Also shown is the top flap in its fully opened
position, and
Figure 9b is the fragmentary view of the elastic cord and the associated
button(s).
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings,
Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the sun shade of the present
invention 1 along with
the infant carrier 2 as it would appear in its pre-installation state. The
present invention has a
flexible cloth-like material resembling a canopy when in use, in an
automobile's interior 6, as
illustrated in Figures 2, 5 and 6. In this embodiment, the sun shade of the
present invention 1 is of
cloth material consisting of double layers. The sun shade has a deep pocket 7
at one end 8 for
fitting over the top 4 of the back 5 of an infant carrier 2 or an infant car
seat 3. The embodiment of
the pocket 7 includes a top pocket panel 9 and a back pocket panel 10 of which
is shown in Figures
3, 6 and 8a. The back pocket panel 10 includes a hem 11, which has an elastic
member 12 sewn
within the aforementioned hem 11 for easy stretching over the top 4 and back 5
of an infant carrier
2 or an infant car seat 3. The elasticized hem 11 of the back pocket panel 10
allows for a snug fit
over the top 4 of the back 5 of an infant carrier 2 or an infant car seat 3.
Figure 1 shows the sun shade with a second sun shade end 13, opposite the
first end 8,
supported by a stiffener 14 of wood or plastic material, includes two tension
loop links (15,16),
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each sewn to the sun shade 1 at opposite ends of the stiffener 14. The
stiffener 14 is located within
hems (17,18,19) as shown in Figures 1 and 7. The end hems (1'7,18) are of
nylon webbing
material, and the centre hem 19 is of the same cloth material as the sun shade
1. The discontinuous
hem allows for convenient removal of the stiffener 14 during laundering of the
sun shade of the
present invention 1. When in use as shown in Figures 2, 5 and 6, the stiffener
14 provides tautness
to the top canopy panel 20 of the sun shade of the present invention 1.
In this embodiment, the second sun shade end 13 includes two tension loop
links (15,16) of
the form of elastic shock cord. The two elastic shock cords (15,16) allow for
flexibility in
anchoring the second sun shade end 13 to part of the automobile's existing
interior structure.
Referring to Figure 7, the two elastic shock cords (15,16) each includes cord
locks (21,22) and
cord tips (23,24). The cord locks (21,22) allow for length adjustment during
installation, between
the second sun shade end 13 and the automobile's interior fixture. 'The cord
tips (23,24) prevent
the cord locks (21,22) from sliding off the elastic shock cords (15,16).
Referring to Figure 2, the two elastic shock cords (15,16) merge together at
the ends by
means of a hooking device 26 as shown in detail in Figure 4b, and anchored to
the anchor bolt
assembly 28 of the vehicle at the back of the automobile when the sun shade of
the present
invention 1 is installed on an infant carrier 2 mounted on the rear seat 29 of
the automobile in a
rear-facing configuration. Figures 4a, 4b, and 4c show the various devices (S-
hook 25, carabiner
26 and snap hook 27) possibly used for anchoring the second sun shade end 13
to the anchor bolt
assembly 28 within the automobile's interior.
Referring to Figure 5, therein is shown a perspective view of the sun shade 1
installed over
the top and back of an infant car seat 3 mounted in the centre of the rear
seat 29 of am automobile
in a forward-facing configuration. In this particular configuration, the
second sun shade end 13 is
anchored to part of the automobile's interior by means of two elastic shock
cords 1 S and 16, which
extend about the headrests (31,32) of the front driver's and front passenger's
seats. When the infant
car seat 3 is mounted on the rear seat 29 next to the side window in a forward-
facing configuration,
the two elastic shock cords (15,16) extend about the headrest 32 of the front
seat directly opposite
the infant car seat 3 as shown in Figure 6.
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The sun shade of the present invention 1 has a bow 30 of non-rigid plastic
material, which
extends along the adjoining seam line 34 of the top pocket panel 9 and the top
canopy panel 20 as
shown in Figures l, 2, 6, 7, 8a and 9a. The bow 30 is slotted through a panel
strip 49, which is
sewn onto the bottom side of the sun shade 1 as shown in Figure 8a. The panel
strip has a slot 50
adjacent to the bow end 47 allows for easy removal of the bow during
laundering of the sun shade.
The bow structure provides head space for the occupying infant in the infant
carrier 2 or the infant
car seat 3.
The sun shade 1 as shown in Figure 7, has a top flap 33 connected at the bow
seam line 34
and extends to the stiffener end 13. In this embodiment, the sun. shade 1
includes a rectangular
see-through section or window 35, which is sewn to the top canopy panel 20,
and extends as part
of the top canopy panel. The top flap 33 covers over a rectangular piece of
see-through section 35
of net or mesh fabric. The top flap 33 allows the user to cover or uncover the
rectangular see-
through section 35 below. The top flap 33 can be placed in a closed position
when the sun7s rays
are directed at the infant occupying the seat, and can be placed in an opened
position when easy
viewing of the infant occupying the infant carrier 2 or the infant car seat 3
is required. The mating
tabs of the hook (38,39) and loop (36,37) material located on the top flap 33
and top canopy panel
20 allow the user to securely fasten the top flap 33 to its fully closed
position as shown in Figures 5
and 6, or to securely fasten the rolled-up top flap 33 in its fully opened
position, as shown in
Figures 2 and 9a.
The sun shade as shown in Figure 7, additionally can have a pair of side flaps
(40,41),
extending vertically downwards along opposite sides of the sun shade, running
from the bow ends
(47,48) three quarter distance length to the stiffener end. Optionally, the
side flaps (40,41) can be
omitted as shown in Figure 2.
Additionally, the sun shade 1 includes a toy attachment 46 as shown in Figure
8b, which can
be easily attached to the underside of the top canopy panel using mating
strips of hook 42 and loop
43 material, which is shown in Figures 8a and 8b. The toy attachment 46 can be
used for the
infant's amusement and entertainment during a car trip. The loop material 43
portion of the mating
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strip is located on the underside of the top canopy panel 20, extending from
the left edge of the
rectangular see-through section to the right edge of the rectangular see-
through section and parallel
to the edge of the second sun shade end 13. The hook material 42 portion of
the mating strip
includes lightweight dangling toys. Different toy attachments can be used
interchangeably to
attach to the underside of the sun shade for the infant's amusement.
The sun shade 1 can also be used as a transportable carrier 2 sun shield as
shown in Figure
9a. In Figure 9a, therein is shown a perspective view of the sun shade 1
installed over the top and
back of an infant carrier 2 and wrapped around the foot of the infant carrier.
The elastic shock
cords (15,16) are fastened to the toggle buttons (44,45)(detailed in Figure
9b) located at the sides
of the top pocket panel 9, next to the adjoining seam line of top pocket panel
9 and top canopy
panel 20. The sun shade 1 used in this configuration protects the infant from
sunlight, insects and
the elements during transportation to and from the automobile.
