Shopping cart child safety restraint device

Abstract

A shopping cart child safety lock system. It includes a support post locked to a shopping cart with slideable and lockable yoke to restrain and then release a child's thighs.

Claims

1. A shopping cart safety device, comprising: a support post having top and bottom ends; a yoke restraint adjustably connected to said support post for slidable adjustable movement up and down said support post from an engaged locked position to a released slideable position; spring biased lever arms to lock and unlock said yoke restraint from said engaged locked position to said released slidable position; and a releasable fastener to attach said yoke restraint of said safety device to a shopping cart.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the support post has a removable cover.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the adjustable connection of the yoke restraint to the support post is via an elongated slot in said support post with slidable releasable connectors extending therethrough.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the releasable connectors are notched posts fitting into notches in said post.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a front view of the safety device with thigh yoke down.

(2) FIG. 2 is a front perspective view with thigh yoke down.

(3) FIG. 3 is a plan view of the safety device.

(4) FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the safety device.

(5) FIG. 5 is a plan view of the yoke post down.

(6) FIG. 6 is a rear view with yoke post up.

(7) FIG. 7 is a rear view with yoke support post cover off.

(8) FIG. 8 is a rear view with yoke support post cover off, and with the yoke support collapsed forward.

(9) FIG. 9 shows a rear view of the device with the yoke adjusted down.

(10) FIG. 10 shows the safety device mounted to a shopping cart with an infant fully engaged for safety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(11) The shopping cart infant safety restraining device 10 is comprised of a yoke 12 attached to post 14 at 16 for movement up and down post 14. The yoke support post 14 has an elongated slot 18, and a plastic connector 19 (FIG. 7) attached therethrough to connect yoke 12 to post 14 in a slidable manner. Yoke 12 has thigh cutouts 22 and 24 and at its respective ends cutout blocks 30 and 32 are attached to yoke 12 for attaching it to the wire or steel frame of the shopping cart at 30, 32. The yoke support post 12 has a back cover 34 (FIG. 5) that is removable and along each side a series of slots 36, 38 (FIG. 7) for engaging notch posts (not depicted) by pushing and releasing buttons 50, 52. The spring biased levers 40 and 42 can be moved from an engaging position or unengaging position by squeezing in on slot levers 50, 52. Biased arms 40 and 42 make this spring from engaged to open. Post 34 has a cable channel 46 and 48 in each side for connecting a cable therethrough to attach the device 10 to the shopping cart in a releasable but secure manner to assist in securement.

(12) One of the most important features of this system is how durable it is. Made of glass-filled nylon and with both ends of the restraint bar slotted to engage in the first side wire which makes it impossible to move by a stout 3 year old. Also, this system can be operated by one hand and can be set in less than two seconds. This unit can be installed by an average maintenance person with a Phillips screwdriver in less than two minutes.

(13) The NoBelt replacement system eliminates the fold-down seat surface as part of the unit of my parent case and this eliminates cost. The durable plastic material last indefinitely. By being able to be snapped away from the main cart, logo instructions and possibly a greeting can be applied easily to the device.

(14) If desired, a pressure alarm can be installed on the device to be activated by the seating of a child. This serves as a reminder to lock the restraint bar or yoke 12 down onto the child's legs.

(15) The unit is distinguishable from U.S. Publication No. 2005/0156394 A in several important ways. Most importantly, the restraint bar or yoke does not have free ends and thus holds the child much more securely.

(16) The unit is shown in operational position with an infant in it in FIG. 10. The device 10 with yoke 12 is set in the infant seat part of the shopping cart 54 and locked to the cart at 30, 32. The post is put in an upright position and then if desired further secured with a nylon rope (not depicted). The spring buttons 50, 52 (FIG. 7) are pushed and the yoke 12 adjusted downward on the child's thighs as illustrated in FIG. 10 wherein they are released and the notch post (not shown) goes into slot 36, 38 locking the yoke 12 into position across the child's thighs. It can be seen in this manner the child is locked into position without the use of straps or any cumbersome and expensive separate car-type seat. The invention therefore accomplishes at least its stated objectives in an economical manner.