Methods, apparatus and systems for securing an infant car seat to a vehicle seat with a tight fit and without using a detachable vehicle installation base or a vehicle seat belt, and ride-hailing methods relating to same
An infant car seat system includes an infant car seat with an integrated anchor system to conveniently secure the infant car seat to a vehicle seat, without using a detachable vehicle installation base and without using a vehicle seat belt. The anchor system is coupled to the infant car seat at one or more mechanical constraining points positioned based on the center of gravity of the infant car seat and respective anchor points at which the anchor system engages with vehicle lower anchors. The anchor system may be a rigid anchor system or a belted anchor system, and the system may include one or more of a release actuator for a quick disconnect mechanism, an adjustment foot to accommodate different vehicle seats and ensure a tight fit, and/or one or more storage compartments to store parts of the anchor system when unused.
1. An infant car seat for use in a vehicle, the infant car seat comprising:
an infant car seat shell including a front, a backside, a first side, an opposing second side, and a seat pan in which a seat pad is disposable to support an infant that is placed in the infant car seat, wherein the front, the backside, the first side, the second side and the seat pan form a non-separable shell structure;
a rotatable carrying handle including a first end-attached to the first side of the infant car seat shell via a first attachment mechanism, and a second end attached to the opposing second side of the infant car seat shell via a second attachment mechanism;
an anchor system associated with said car seat shell and including a first infant car seat anchor with a latch extending towards the front of the infant car seat, and a second infant car seat anchor with a latch extending towards the front of the infant car seat, the first infant car seat anchor being directly coupled to the first side of the infant car seat shell, and the second infant car seat anchor being directly coupled to the opposing second side of the infant car seat shell, the first infant car seat anchor being rotatable relative to the first side of the infant car seat shell about a first coupling point between the first infant car seat anchor and of the first side of the infant car seat shell, and the second infant car seat anchor being rotatable relative to the opposing second side of the infant car seat shell about a second coupling point between the second infant car seat anchor and the opposing second side of the infant car seat shell; and
at least one release actuator with at least one actuator handle coupled to the anchor system, wherein the latch of the first infant car seat anchor and the latch of the second infant car seat anchor are movable via user manipulation of the at least one actuator handle of the at least one release actuator,
wherein the at least one actuator handle is disposed out of contact with the first infant car seat anchor and the second infant car seat anchor.
2. The infant car seat of claim 1 , wherein the infant car seat shell includes a first seat shell rail and a second seat shell rail spaced from the first seat shell rail to define a space therebetween, wherein the at least one infant car seat anchor is disposed outside of said space.
3. The infant car seat of claim 2 , wherein an adjustment foot is disposed proximate to the front of the infant car seat between the first seat shell rail and the second seat shell rail.
4. The infant car seat of claim 1 , further including at least one cable that couples the first infant car seat anchor and the second infant car seat anchor with the at least one actuator handle.
5. The infant car seat of claim 1 , wherein the anchor system includes at least one storage compartment configured to store the first infant car seat anchor and the second infant car seat anchor when the first infant car seat anchor and the second infant car seat anchor are in stored positions.
6. The infant car seat system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one storage compartment includes a locking mechanism configured to secure the first infant car seat anchor and the second infant car seat anchor in the stored positions.
7. The infant car seat system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one storage compartment is a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment, wherein the first storage compartment stores the first infant car seat anchor and the second storage compartment stores the second infant car seat anchor.
8. The infant car seat system of claim 7 , wherein the first storage compartment is defined by a first seat shell rail and the second storage compartment is defined by a second seat shell rail.
9. The infant car seat of claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator handle is disposed on the rotatable carrying handle at an area remote of the first end of the handle and the second end of the handle.
10. The infant car seat of claim 9 , wherein the rotatable carrying handle includes a U-shaped body connecting the first end to the second end, wherein the first end and the second end are disposed at a relative bottom of the U-shaped body, and the at least one actuator handle is disposed at a relative top of the U-shaped body.
11. The infant car seat of claim 9 , further including at least one cable that travels through the rotatable carrying handle to couple the first infant car seat anchor and the second infant car seat anchor with the at least one actuator handle.
12. The infant car seat of claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator handle is disposed on the infant car seat shell at an area remote of the first coupling point and the second coupling point.
13. The infant car seat shell of claim 12 , wherein the at least one actuator handle is disposed within a recess formed in the backside of the infant car seat shell.
14. The infant car seat of claim 13 , further including at least one cable that travels from the recess formed in the backside of the infant car seat to couple the first infant car seat anchor and the second infant car seat anchor with the at least one actuator handle.
15. The infant car seat shell of claim 12 , wherein the at least one actuator handle is a first actuator handle disposed at a first side of the infant car seat shell, and a second actuator handle disposed at a second opposing side of the infant car seat shell.
16. The infant car seat of claim 15 , further including a first cable that travels from the first side of the infant car seat to couple the first infant car seat anchor with the first actuator handle, a second cable that travels from the second opposing side of the infant car seat to couple the second infant car seat anchor with the second actuator handle.
17. The infant car seat system of claim 9 , wherein the first infant car seat anchor and the second infant car seat anchor are rotatable via rotation of the rotatable carrying handle about an axis defined by the first attachment mechanism and the second attachment mechanism.