초록 ▼

A method of helping to secure an infant in a child's car seat and to prevent slouching of the infant in the car seat includes the step of placing a cushion having a unitary tube shaped structure into the car seat and placing an infant into the car seat where the tube-shaped structure has an upside-d

A method of helping to secure an infant in a child's car seat and to prevent slouching of the infant in the car seat includes the step of placing a cushion having a unitary tube shaped structure into the car seat and placing an infant into the car seat where the tube-shaped structure has an upside-down U-shape including two legs with two axial ends and a base portion where the two legs are joined together. The base portion is located at the top of the back surface of the car seat and the two axial ends of the legs are located at the free edge of the seat surface of the car seat. The cushion legs engage the side walls of the car seat. The method includes the step of placing the infant into the car seat so that the infant is surrounded by the cushion base portion and legs to reduce the surface area of the car seat for the infant to occupy in order to help to minimize slouching of the infant in the car seat.

대표청구항 ▼

Having described the invention, the following is claimed: 1. A cushion for helping to secure an infant in a child's seat and to prevent slouching of the infant in the child's seat, the child's seat comprising a seat surface and a back surface extending between two side walls, said cushion comprisin

Having described the invention, the following is claimed: 1. A cushion for helping to secure an infant in a child's seat and to prevent slouching of the infant in the child's seat, the child's seat comprising a seat surface and a back surface extending between two side walls, said cushion comprising: a unitary preformed U-shaped structure having a base portion and two legs extending equidistant from said base portion, said two legs having axial ends, when placed into the child's seat, said base portion of said cushion being located at a top of the back surface and said axial ends of said legs being located at a free edge of the seat surface, and one or both of said axial ends containing an audible sound producing device, said cushion reducing the surface area for an infant to be placed in the child's seat to occupy in order to help secure the infant in the child's seat and to minimize slouching of the infant in the child's seat, wherein said audible sound producing device is one of a music box, a rattle and jingle bells, the music box being self-activating in response to an impact force exceeding a predetermined impact force threshold. 2. A method of helping to secure an infant in a child's seat and to prevent slouching of the infant in the child's seat, the child's seat comprising a seat surface and a back surface extending between two side walls, said method comprising the steps of: providing a unitary cushion having an upside down U-shaped structure with a base portion which extends between two legs of the cushion, each of the cushion legs having a central portion with a bend formed therein, positioning the cushion in the child's seat, said step of positioning the cushion in the child's seat includes positioning the base portion of the cushion in engagement with the back surface of the child's seat, said step of positioning the cushion in the child's seat includes positioning a first one of the cushion legs along and in engagement with a first one of the side walls of the child's seat, said step of positioning a first one of the cushion legs includes positioning a portion of the first one of the cushion legs disposed between the bend in the first one of the cushion legs and the base portion of the cushion in engagement with the back surface of the child's seat and positioning a portion of the first one of the cushion legs disposed between the bend in the first one of the cushion legs and an axial end portion of the first one of the cushion legs in engagement with the seat surface of the child's seat, said step of positioning the cushion in the child's seat includes positioning a second one of the cushion legs extending from the base portion of the cushion along and in engagement with a second one of the side walls of the child's seat, said step of positioning a second one of the cushion legs includes positioning a portion of the second one of the cushion legs disposed between the bend in the second one of the cushion legs and the base portion of the cushion in engagement with the back surface of the child's seat and positioning a portion of the second one of the cushion legs disposed between the bend in the second one of the cushion legs and an axial end portion of the second one of the cushion legs in engagement with the seat surface of the child's seat, and placing the infant into the child's seat with lateral sides and top of the head of the infant at least partially enclosed by the base portion of the cushion and with hips and legs of the infant at least partially disposed between the first and second cushion legs and with the hips of the infant adjacent to the bends in the first and second cushion legs to reduce surface area of the child's seat for the infant to occupy in order to help minimizing of slouching of the infant in the child's seat. 3. A method of helping to secure an infant in a child's seat and to prevent slouching of the infant in the child's seat, the child's seat comprising a seat surface and a back surface extending between two side walls, said method comprising the steps of: providing a unitary cushion having an upside down U-shaped structure with a base portion which extends between two legs of the cushion, each of the cushion legs having a central portion with a bend formed therein, positioning the cushion in the child's seat, said step of positioning the cushion in the child's seat includes positioning the base portion of the cushion in engagement with the back surface of the child's seat, said step of positioning the cushion in the child's seat includes positioning a first one of the cushion legs along and in engagement with a first one of the side walls of the child's seat, said step of positioning a first one of the cushion legs includes positioning a portion of the first one of the cushion legs disposed between the bend in the first one of the cushion legs and the base portion of the cushion in engagement with the back surface of the child's seat and positioning a portion of the first one of the cushion legs disposed between the bend in the first one of the cushion legs and an axial end portion of the first one of the cushion legs in engagement with the seat surface of the child's seat, said step of positioning the cushion in the child's seat includes positioning a second one of the cushion legs extending from the base portion of the cushion along and in engagement with a second one of the side walls of the child's seat, said step of positioning a second one of the cushion legs includes positioning a portion of the second one of the cushion legs disposed between the bend in the second one of the cushion legs and the base portion of the cushion in engagement with the back surface of the child's seat and positioning a portion of the second one of the cushion legs disposed between the bend in the second one of the cushion legs and an axial end portion of the second one of the cushion legs in engagement with the seat surface of the child's seat, placing the infant into the child's seat with lateral sides and top of the head of the infant at least partially enclosed by the base portion of the cushion and with hips and legs of the infant at least partially disposed between the first and second cushion legs and with the hips of the infant adjacent to the bends in the first and second cushion legs to reduce surface area of the child's seat for the infant to occupy in order to help minimizing of slouching of the infant in the child's seat, providing a second unitary cushion having an upside down U-shaped structure with a base portion which extends between two legs of the second cushion, each of the legs of the second cushion having a central portion with a bend formed therein, positioning the second cushion in the child's seat, said step of positioning the second cushion in the child's seat includes positioning the base portion of the second cushion in engagement with the back surface of the child's seat, said step of positioning the second cushion in the child's seat includes positioning a first one of the second cushion legs extending from the base portion of the second cushion along the first one of the side walls of the child's seat, said step of positioning a first one of the second cushion legs includes positioning a portion of the first one of the second cushion legs disposed between the bend in the first one of the second cushion legs and the base portion of the second cushion in engagement with the back surface of the child's seat and positioning a portion of the first one of the second cushion legs disposed between the bend in the first one of the second cushion legs and an axial end portion of the first one of the second cushion legs in engagement with the seat surface of the child's seat, said step of positioning the second cushion in the child's seat includes positioning a second one of the second cushion legs extending from the base portion of the second cushion along the second one of the side walls of the child's seat, said step of positioning a second one of the second cushion legs includes positioning a portion of the second one of the second cushion legs disposed between the bend in the second one of the second cushion legs and the base portion of the second cushion in engagement with the back surface of the child's seat and positioning a portion of the second one of the second cushion legs disposed between the bend in the second one of the second cushion legs and an axial end portion of the second one of the second cushion legs in engagement with the seat surface of the child's seat. 4. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said step of placing the infant into the child's seat includes placing the infant into the child's seat with the lateral sides and top of the head of the infant at least partially enclosed by the base portion of the second cushion and with hips and legs of the infant at least partially disposed between the first and second legs of the second cushion and with the hips of the infant adjacent to the bends in the first and second legs of the second cushion. 5. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said step of providing a cushion having an upside down U-shaped structure includes bending the cushion to form the base portion of the cushion into an arcuate configuration. 6. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said step of positioning the cushion in the child's seat includes moving the bends in the first and second legs of the cushion along the side walls of the child's seat into a recess formed at an intersection of the seat surface and back surface of the child's seat. 7. An apparatus comprising: a child's seat having first and second side walls with a seat surface extending between said first and second side walls and a back surface extending between said first and second side walls, and a unitary cushion having an upside down U-shaped structure with a base portion which extends between two legs of said cushion, each of said cushion legs having a central portion with a bend formed therein, said base portion of said cushion being disposed in engagement with said back surface of said child's seat, said base portion of said cushion being adopted to at least partially enclose lateral sides and top of a head of an infant disposed in the child's seat, said first leg of said cushion having a first portion which extends between the bend in said first leg of said cushion and said base portion of said cushion, said first portion of said first leg of said cushion is at least partially disposed in engagement with said back surface and said first side wall of said child's seat, said first leg of said cushion having a second portion which extends between the bend in said first leg of said cushion and an axial end portion of said first leg of said cushion, said second portion of said first leg of said cushion is at least partially disposed in engagement with said seat surface and said first side wall of said child's seat, said second leg of said cushion having a first portion which extends between the bend in said second leg of said cushion and said base portion of said cushion, said first portion of said second leg of said cushion is at least partially disposed in engagement with said back surface and said second side wall of said child's seat, said second leg of said cushion having a second portion which extends between the bend in said second leg of said cushion and an axial end portion of said second leg of said cushion, said second portion of said second cushion is at least partially disposed in engagement with said seat surface and said second side wall of said child's seat, said bends in said first and second legs of said cushion being disposed adjacent to hips of the infant disposed in the child's seat. 8. An apparatus comprising: a child's seat having first and second side walls with a seat surface extending between said first and second side walls and a back surface extending between said first and second side walls, a unitary cushion having an upside down U-shaped structure with a base portion which extends between two legs of said cushion, each of said cushion legs having a central portion with a bend formed therein, said base portion of said cushion being disposed in engagement with said back surface of said child's seat, said base portion of said cushion being adopted to at least partially enclose lateral sides and top of a head of an infant disposed in the child's seat, said first leg of said cushion having a first portion which extends between the bend in said first leg of said cushion and said base portion of said cushion, said first portion of said first leg of said cushion is at least partially disposed in engagement with said back surface and said first side wall of said child's seat, said first leg of said cushion having a second portion which extends between the bend in said first leg of said cushion and an axial end portion of said first leg of said cushion, said second portion of said first leg of said cushion is at least partially disposed in engagement with said seat surface and said first side wall of said child's seat, said second leg of said cushion having a first portion which extends between the bend in said second leg of said cushion and said base portion of said cushion, said first portion of said second leg of said cushion is at least partially disposed in engagement with said back surface and said second side wall of said child's seat, said second leg of said cushion having a second portion which extends between the bend in said second leg of said cushion and an axial end portion of said second leg of said cushion, said second portion of said second cushion is at least partially disposed in engagement with said seat surface and said second side wall of said child's seat, said bends in said first and second legs of said cushion being disposed adjacent to hips of the infant disposed in the child's seat, a second unitary cushion having an upside down U-shaped structure with a base portion which extends between two legs of said second cushion, each of said legs of said second cushion having a central portion with a bend formed therein, said base portion of said second cushion being disposed in engagement with said back surface of said child's seat said base portion of said second cushion being adapted to at least partially enclose lateral sides and top of a head of the infant disposed in the child's seat, said first leg of said second cushion having a first portion which extends between the bend in the first leg of said second cushion and said base portion of said second cushion, said first portion of said first leg of said second cushion is at least partially disposed in engagement with said back surface of said child's seat, said first leg of said second cushion having a second portion which extends between the bend in said first leg of said second cushion and an axial end portion of said first leg of said second cushion, said second portion of said first leg of said second cushion is at least partially disposed in engagement with said seat surface of said child's seat, said second leg of said second cushion having a first portion which extends between the bend in said second leg of said second cushion and said base portion of said second cushion, said first portion of said second leg of said second cushion is at least partially disposed in engagement with said back surface of said child's seat, said second leg of said second cushion having a second portion which extends between the bend in said second leg of said second cushion and an axial end portion of said second leg of said second cushion, said second portion of said second leg of said second cushion is at least partially disposed in engagement with said seat surface of said child's seat, said bends in said first and second legs of said second cushion being disposed adjacent to the hips of the infant disposed in the child's seat. 9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first leg of said second cushion and said second leg of said second cushion extend generally parallel to each other so that the infant can be positioned in a space disposed between said first and second legs of said second cushion with hips and legs of the infant between the first and second legs of said second cushion. 10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein the bends in said first and second legs of said cushion are disposed in a recess formed at an intersection of said seat surface and said back surface of said child's seat. 11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said bends in said first and second legs of said cushion having an angle of between 90째 and 135째. 12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 further including a device which is capable of producing an audible sound, said device being disposed in said axial end portion of said first leg of said cushion. 13. An apparatus comprising: a child's seat having first and second side walls with a seat surface extending between said first and second side walls and a back surface extending between said first and second side walls, a unitary cushion having an upside down U-shaped structure with a base portion which extends between two legs of said cushion, each of said cushion legs having a central portion with a bend formed therein, said base portion of said cushion being disposed in engagement with said back surface of said child's seat, said base portion of said cushion being adopted to at least partially enclose lateral sides and top of a head of an infant disposed in the child's seat, said first leg of said cushion having a first portion which extends between the bend in said first leg of said cushion and said base portion of said cushion, said first portion of said first leg of said cushion is at least partially disposed in engagement with said back surface and said first side wall of said child's seat, said first leg of said cushion having a second portion which extends between the bend in said first leg of said cushion and an axial end portion of said first leg of said cushion, said second portion of said first leg of said cushion is at least partially disposed in engagement with said seat surface and said first side wall of said child's seat, said second leg of said cushion having a first portion which extends between the bend in said second leg of said cushion and said base portion of said cushion, said first portion of said second leg of said cushion is at least partially disposed in engagement with said back surface and said second side wall of said child's seat, said second leg of said cushion having a second portion which extends between the bend in said second leg of said cushion and an axial end portion of said second leg of said cushion, said second portion of said second cushion is at least partially disposed in engagement with said seat surface and said second side wall of said child's seat, said bends in said first and second legs of said cushion being disposed adjacent to hips of the infant disposed in the child's seat, wherein said cushion is at least partially formed of a memory foam which retains a shape to which it is deflected. 14. A method of helping to secure an infant in a child's seat and to prevent slouching of the infant in the child's seat, the child's seat comprising a seat surface and a back surface extending between two side walls, said method comprising the steps of providing a first unitary cushion having an upside down U-shaped structure with a base portion which extends between two legs of the first cushion, providing a second unitary cushion having an upside down U-shaped structure with a base portion which extends between two legs of the second cushion, positioning the first cushion in the child's seat, said step of positioning the first cushion in the child's seat includes positioning the base portion of the first cushion in engagement with the back surface of the child's seat, said step of positioning the first cushion in the child's seat includes positioning a first one of the legs of the first cushion along and in engagement with a first one of the side walls of the child's seat, said step of positioning the first cushion in the child's seat includes positioning a second one of the legs of the first cushion along and in engagement with a second one of the side walls of the child's seat, positioning the second cushion in the child's seat, said step of positioning the second cushion in the child's seat includes positioning the base portion of the second cushion in engagement with the base portion of the first cushion, said step of positioning the second cushion in the child's seat includes positioning a first one of the legs of the second cushion in engagement with the first one of the legs of the first cushion, said step of positioning the second cushion in the child's seat includes positioning a second one of the legs of the second cushion in engagement with the second one of the legs of the first cushion, and placing the infant into the child's seat with lateral sides and top of the head of the infant at least partially enclosed by the base portion of the second cushion and with hips and legs of the infant at least partially disposed between the first and second legs of the second cushion to reduce surface area of the child's seat for the infant to occupy in order to help minimizing of slouching of the infant in the child's seat. 15. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein said step of positioning the first cushion in the child's seat includes positioning the first one of the legs of the first cushion in engagement with the back surface and in engagement with the seat surface of the child's seat and positioning the second one of the legs of the first cushion in engagement with the back surface and in engagement with the seat surface of the child's seat, said step of positioning the second cushion in the child's seat includes positioning the base portion of the second cushion in engagement with the back surface of the child's seat, positioning the first one of the legs of the second cushion in engagement with the back surface and in engagement with the seat surface of the child's seat, and positioning the second one of the legs of the second cushion in engagement with the back surface and in engagement with the seat surface of the child's seat. 16. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein each of the legs of the first and second cushions have a central portion with a bend formed therein, said step of placing infant into the child's seat includes placing the infant in the child's seat with the hips of the infant adjacent to the bends in the legs of the first and second cushions. 17. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein said step of providing a first cushion having an upside down U-shaped structure includes bending the first cushion to form the base portion of the first cushion into an arcuate configuration, said step of providing a second cushion having an upside down U-shaped structure includes bending the second cushion to form the base portion of the second cushion into an arcuate configuration. 18. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein each of the legs of the first and second cushions have a central portion with a bend formed therein, said step of positioning the first one of the legs of the second cushion in engagement with the first one of the legs of the first cushion includes aligning the bend in the first one of the legs of the second cushion with the bend in the first one of the legs of the first cushion, said step of positioning the second one of the legs of the second cushion in engagement with the second one of the legs of the first cushion includes aligning the bend in the second one of the legs of the second cushion with the bend in the second one of the legs of the first cushion. 19. An apparatus comprising: a child's seat having first and second side walls with a seat surface extending between said first and second side walls and a back surface extending between said first and second side walls, a first unitary cushion having an upside down U-shaped structure with a base portion which extends between two legs of said first cushion, said base portion of said first cushion being disposed in engagement with said back surface of said child's seat, a first one of said two legs of said first cushion extends along the first side wall of said child's seat, a second one of said two legs of said first cushion extends along the second side wall of the child's seat, providing a second unitary cushion having an upside down U-shaped structure with a base portion which extends between two legs of said second cushion, said base portion of said second cushion being disposed in engagement with said base portion of said first cushion, a first one of said two legs of said second cushion being disposed in engagement with said first leg of said first cushion, a second one of said two legs of said second cushion being disposed in engagement with said second leg of said first cushion, said base portion of said second cushion being adapted to at least partially enclose lateral sides and top of a head of an infant disposed in the child's seat, said first and second legs of said second cushion being adapted to at least partially enclose hips and legs of the infant, said first and second cushions cooperate to reduce surface area of the child's seat for the infant to occupy to help minimize slouching of the infant in the child's seat. 20. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said first leg of said second cushion and said second leg of said second cushion extend generally parallel to each other so that an infant can be positioned in a space disposed between said first and second legs of said second cushion. 21. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19 further including a device which is capable of producing an audible sound, said device being disposed in an a first leg of one of said first and second cushions. 22. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein at least one of said first and second cushions is at least partially formed of a memory foam which retains a shape to which it is deflected. 23. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said first leg of said second cushion has a first portion which extends between a bend in said first leg of said second cushion and said base portion of said second cushion, said first leg of said second cushion having a second portion which extends between the bend in said first leg of said second cushion and an axial end portion of said first leg of said second cushion, said second leg of said second cushion has a first portion which extends between a bend in said second leg of said second cushion and said base portion of said second cushion, said second leg of said second cushion has a second portion which extends between the bend in said second leg of said second cushion and an axial end portion of said second leg of said second cushion. 24. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23 wherein said first leg of said first cushion has a first portion which extends between a bend in said first leg of said first cushion and said base portion of said first cushion, said first leg of said first cushion has a second portion which extends between the bend in said first leg of said first cushion and an axial end portion of said first leg of said first cushion, said bend in said first leg of said first cushion being disposed adjacent to said bend in said first leg of said second cushion, said second leg of said first cushion has a first portion which extends between a bend in said second leg of said first cushion and said base portion of said first cushion, said second leg of said first cushion has a second portion which extends between the bend in said second leg of said first cushion and an axial end portion of said second leg of said first cushion, said bend in said second leg of said first cushion being disposed adjacent to said bend in said second leg of said second cushion. 25. A method of helping to secure an infant in a child's seat and to prevent slouching of the infant in the child's seat, the child's seat comprising a seat surface and a back surface extending between two side walls, said method comprising the steps of: providing a unitary cushion having an upside down U-shaped structure with a base portion which extends between two legs of the cushion, each of the cushion legs having a central portion with a pre-shaped bend formed therein at a location which is approximately half of the length of the legs, each of the cushion legs having a first portion which extends between the bend and said base portion, said first portion is at least partially disposed in engagement with said back surface and one of said side walls of said child's seat, each of the cushion legs having a second portion which extends between the bend and an axial end portion of each of the cushion legs, said second portion extending in collinear alignment with said first portion at an angle between 90 degrees and 135 degrees, said second portion of each of said legs is at least partially disposed in engagement with said seat surface and one of said side walls of said child's seat, positioning the cushion in the child's seat, said step of positioning the cushion in the child's seat includes positioning the base portion of the cushion in engagement with the back surface of the child's seat, said step of positioning the cushion in the child's seat includes positioning a first one of the cushion legs along and in engagement with a first one of the side walls of the child's seat, said step of positioning a first one of the cushion legs includes positioning a portion of the first one of the cushion legs disposed between the bend in the first one of the cushion legs and the base portion of the cushion in engagement with the back surface of the child's seat and positioning a portion of the first one of the cushion legs disposed between the bend in the first one of the cushion legs and an axial end portion of the first one of the cushion legs in engagement with the seat surface of the child's seat, said step of positioning the cushion in the child's seat includes positioning a second one of the cushion legs extending from the base portion of the cushion along and in engagement with a second one of the side walls of the child's seat, said step of positioning a second one of the cushion legs includes positioning a portion of the second one of the cushion legs disposed between the bend in the second one of the cushion legs and the base portion of the cushion in engagement with the back surface of the child's seat and positioning a portion of the second one of the cushion legs disposed between the bend in the second one of the cushion legs and an axial end portion of the second one of the cushion legs in engagement with the seat surface of the child's seat, and placing the infant into the child's seat with lateral sides and top of the head of the infant at least partially enclosed by the base portion of the cushion and with hips and legs of the infant at least partially disposed between the first and second cushion legs and with the hips of the infant adjacent to the bends in the first and second cushion legs to reduce surface area of the child's seat for the infant to occupy in order to help minimizing of slouching of the infant in the child's seat. 26. An apparatus comprising: a child's seat having first and second side walls with a seat surface extending between said first and second side walls and a back surface extending between said first and second side walls, and a unitary cushion having an upside down U-shaped structure with a base portion which extends between two legs of said cushion, each of said cushion legs having a central portion with a pre-shaped bend formed therein at a location which is approximately half of the length of the legs, said base portion of said cushion being disposed in engagement with said back surface of said child's seat, said base portion of said cushion being adapted to at least partially enclose lateral sides and top of a head of an infant disposed in the child's seat, said first leg of said cushion having a first portion which extends between the bend in said first leg of said cushion and said base portion of said cushion, said first portion of said first leg of said cushion is at least partially disposed in engagement with said back surface and said first side wall of said child's seat, said first leg of said cushion having a second portion which extends between the bend in said first leg of said cushion and an axial end portion of said first leg of said cushion, said second portion of said first leg extending in collinear alignment with said first portion at an angle between 90 degrees and 135 degrees, said second portion of said first leg of said cushion is at least partially disposed in engagement with said seat surface and said first side wall of said child's seat, said second leg of said cushion having a first portion which extends between the bend in said second leg of said cushion and said base portion of said cushion, said first portion of said second leg of said cushion is at least partially disposed in engagement with said back surface and said second side wall of said child's seat, said second leg of said cushion having a second portion which extends between the bend in said second leg of said cushion and an axial end portion of said second leg of said cushion, said second portion of said second leg extending in collinear alignment with said first portion at an angle between 90 degrees and 135 degrees, said second portion of said second cushion is at least partially disposed in engagement with said seat surface and said second side wall of said child's seat, said bends in said first and second legs of said cushion being disposed adjacent to hips of the infant disposed in the child's seat.