Wheeled car seat
A wheeled car seat sized to hold an infant or young toddler in the seat of an automobile that can also be converted to a wheeled stroller is disclosed herein. The wheeled car seat is made from materials to protect the occupant while at the same time keeping the weight of the wheeled car seat to a minimum. When removing the wheeled car seat from an automobile, the user need not remove the child passenger while the user converts the wheeled car to a stroller, but instead only need lift the car seat above the ground and allow a pivotal chassis to swing open and expose wheels to the ground. When the wheeled car seat is configured as a car seat, the wheels are enclosed to prevent dirt from getting on the upholstery of the automobile.
1. A car seat capable of being converted to a stroller, said car seat comprising:
a shell having a seat portion, a back portion, a first side portion, a second side portion, a rear portion, and a bottom portion;
a gripping surface mounted on said first side portion and said second portion;
at least a first wheel connected with said shell below said bottom portion;
a pivotal chassis having a first arm and a second arm connected with a cross member, wherein said first arm and said second arm are connected with an axle cylinder and wherein said axle cylinder is pivotally connected with said first side portion and said second side portion;
at least a second wheel connected with a bottom surface of said cross member; and
a mechanism releasably engaging said axle cylinder to hold said pivotal chassis in a closed position wherein said bottom surface faces upward, an open position wherein said bottom surface faces downward, or an intermediate position.
2. A car seat capable of being converted to a stroller, said car seat comprising:
a seat portion, a back portion, a first side portion, a second side portion, a rear portion, and a bottom portion;
a gripping surface;
at least one first wheel connected under said bottom portion;
a pivotal chassis connected with a hollow axle cylinder, wherein said axle cylinder is pivotally connected with said first side portion and said second side portion under said bottom portion; and
at least one second wheel connected with said pivotal chassis.
3. The car seat of claim 2 further comprising a mechanism releasably engaging said axle cylinder to hold said pivotal chassis in at least one position.
4. The car seat of claim 3 wherein said car seat is configured as a booster seat when said pivotal chassis is held in said at least one position.
5. The car seat of claim 3 wherein said pivotal chassis defines a bottom surface, and wherein said mechanism releasably engaging said axle cylinder holds said pivotal chassis in a first position wherein said bottom surface faces upward and a second position wherein said bottom surface faces downward.
6. The car seat of claim 5 wherein said pivotal chassis comprises a first pivot arm, a second pivot arm, and a cross member.
7. The car seat of claim 5 wherein said at least one first wheel and said at least one second wheel are located between said bottom surface and said bottom portion when said pivotal chassis is in said first position.
8. The car seat of claim 3 wherein said mechanism is a detent.
9. The car seat of claim 8 wherein said detent comprises a sliding plate having an engaging portion and a handle portion, and wherein said engaging portion engages said axle cylinder.
10. The car seat of claim 9 wherein said sliding plate is spring loaded.
11. The car seat of claim 3 wherein the car seat is configured as said stroller when said pivotal chassis is in said at least one position.
12. The car seat of claim 3 further comprising at least one slot located in said axle cylinder, wherein said mechanism further comprises a plate slidingly attached to said bottom portion, and wherein said plate selectively engages said at least one slot.
13. The car seat of claim 12 further comprising at least one spring connected with said plate and said bottom portion, wherein said at least one spring forces said plate against said axle cylinder.
14. The car seat of claim 2 wherein said at least one first wheel is a caster wheel.
15. The car seat of claim 2 wherein said at least one second wheel is a caster wheel.
16. The car seat of claim 2 wherein said at least one first wheel is a fixed axis wheel.
17. The car seat of claim 2 wherein said at least one second wheel is a fixed axis wheel.
18. The car seat of claim 2 wherein said pivotal chassis further comprises a foot rest.
19. The car seat of claim 2 wherein said rear portion is prow shaped.
20. The car seat of claim 2 further comprising a storage compartment formed in said rear portion.
21. The car seat of claim 2 wherein said first side portion defines at least one opening.
22. The car seat of claim 2 wherein said second side portion defines at least one opening.
23. The car seat of claim 2 wherein said first side portion, said second side portion, said rear portion, and said bottom portion comprise a shell.
24. The car seat of claim 23 wherein said shell is constructed of a lightweight plastic material.
25. The car seat of claim 24 wherein said lightweight plastic material is polycarbonate.
26. The car seat of claim 2 wherein said gripping surface further comprises an extendable handle mounted on said shell.
27. The car seat of claim 26 further comprising a tote removably attached to said extendable handle.
28. The car seat of claim 2 further comprising means for engaging said axle cylinder to hold said pivotal chassis in at least one position.